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KL Homme 1986 Eau de Toilette

8.5 / 10 147 Ratings
A popular perfume by Karl Lagerfeld for men, released in 1986. The scent is spicy-oriental. The longevity is above-average. It was last marketed by Parfums International.
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Main accords

Spicy
Oriental
Sweet
Woody
Animal

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
OrangeOrange RosewoodRosewood BergamotBergamot LemonLemon
Heart Notes Heart Notes
CinnamonCinnamon PatchouliPatchouli GeraniumGeranium JasmineJasmine RoseRose SandalwoodSandalwood CarnationCarnation
Base Notes Base Notes
BenzoinBenzoin CivetCivet AmberAmber MuskMusk VanillaVanilla

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.5147 Ratings
Longevity
8.4115 Ratings
Sillage
8.0110 Ratings
Bottle
7.5107 Ratings
Value for money
7.532 Ratings
Submitted by Kankuro · last update on 10/14/2025.
Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
KL Homme (After Shave) by Karl Lagerfeld
KL Homme After Shave
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Reviews

12 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Drseid

828 Reviews
Drseid
Drseid
Helpful Review 3  
Orange? Check. Amber? Check. Absolutely Fantastic Smelling? Check!...
KL Homme opens with a very nice amber and orange duo leading to a smooth rosewood note that blends right into the opening accord. During the heart phase the rosewood remains as does the amber, now with the orange fading but still detectable while a supporting floral carnation and rose duo joins the party as well as some mild nutmeg-like spice. As the scent enters the dry-down the amber remains as the rosewood and floral notes dissipate, while a sheen-like slightly powdery vanilla joins in as well as a moderate amount of castoreum to give the base a bit of supporting weight. Projection is average and longevity is very good, with the scent lasting 10-12 hours on skin.

KL Homme is really one of a kind. Its dark orange juice gives a great idea of what the scent smells like, as it dominated by a soft orange and warm amber tandem at its core. The scent of the whole is just slightly sweet and powdery overall, never getting even close to becoming overly so on either count. Also it should be noted that KL Homme is very potent, so a little goes a long way providing excellent value. There are some notes in the official pyramid that are a bit misleading as I really do not smell a few of them, instead swapping in similar notes like animalic castoreum for the listed civet, and nutmeg spice for the cinnamon. That said, while I may find the official notes listing somewhat wanting, there is absolutely *nothing* wrong with the end result, however it was achieved. The bottom line is the sadly discontinued KL Homme smells absolutely fantastic and is definitely worth seeking out for trial and prospective purchase on the aftermarket, earning an excellent rating of 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.
0 Comments
ChicoRoch1

163 Reviews
ChicoRoch1
ChicoRoch1
3  
Spicy oriental beast
I never really cared for Karl Lagerfeld or his fragrances either with the exception of the beautiful Lagerfeld Photo, the vintage original from 1990 and not the embarrassingly stripped down IFRA neutered crap from recent days. 1990 was my senior year in high school and i wore Photo almost daily. Sillage and longevity lasted for days especially on my clothing. Then there is the original pour homme from 1978 which i also did not care for but now i like BTW. Last and certainly not least there is KL HOMME which i recently acquired a few months back, vintage of course. This juice rocks and rolls and makes me wish i was back in the 1970s when just about EVERYTHING was made better than the slop that's out there now. Take me to tbe orient! A great spice laden masterpiece which chokes out my wife while i marvel at it's beauty strength and power. This is what a man's fragrance should be all about. This present era we are in just eludes me because i simply don't belong here in this time in history. There will be no suicide because I'm a chicken shit that's afraid of deatb so live on i must and while i do i will continue to shun all the weak sissy unisex aquatic scents out there and will continue to overpay for vintage brilliance. Witb KL HOMME my wife would beg me to scrub it off! That's how i know this stuff is nuclear. I love it. 5 stars all around and around and around.
0 Comments
Krmarich

227 Reviews
Krmarich
Krmarich
1  
Orange spice dessert...
In 1986 I had to get a large bottle that I used until the last drop. I could almost drink this. It boosted my confidence and commanded attention. I grabbed another bottle before it was sadly discontinued.

The light oriental character is boldly presented. The patchouli-rose bond gives it a powdery quality. It's not unlike a visit to an old-fashioned barber. The jasmine is obvious. The dry down is nothing short of epic. Sweet creamy vanilla, cinnamon, amber and civet musk create a sexy aura.

Lagerfeld loved Shalimar and this is a loving tribute. Whenever I need a bust of sunshine on a gloomy day, I wear it. It's great in the winter.
0 Comments
Can777

257 Reviews
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Can777
Can777
Top Review 44  
Hunter and Gatherer
It is often said about us men that we are hunters and gatherers. I would say that this is probably true! The passion for hunting and gathering can take many forms. It seems to be in our blood. It can be watches, antiques, cars, wines, art, or pictures. For us men here at Parfumo, it includes perfumes among other things. Perfumes are also art. They are like a painting or an antique. Only we don’t hang these paintings on the wall as is customary with a picture. We wear the painting on our skin and under our shirt. KL Homme by Karl Lagerfeld is such a scent-painting, not least because its value has been steadily increasing recently!

KL Homme
KL Homme is probably one of the most significant works of art for men that Karl Lagerfeld created. A citrusy opening of dried orange peel and a splash of bergamot introduces the top note. It is still unclear where the journey will lead. But relatively quickly, it heads in a spicy direction. Cinnamon is the first to be recognized and is supported by the spicy-floral tones of carnation and a slight herbal note of geranium in the heart note. A light accord of rose flashes up now and then. Never really there, but also not really gone. All the fragrance notes become creamier at a certain point, which is most likely due to the sandalwood that gradually blends with an earthy-soft patchouli. The perfume has a relatively quick development in the top and heart notes. They follow one another very quickly. Until then, the scent can still be classified as spicy-floral. However, this quickly changes in the base. KL Homme develops into an extremely sensual and warm-hearted oriental. Powdery tones of resinous amber and dry-dusty vanilla envelop the composition and are further refined by a waxy-soft and creamy-delicate benzoin. KL Homme receives a hint of gentle animalic quality through the addition of leathery-sour civet. This note breathes the final nuance of passion into the perfume that made it unmistakable.

Conclusion
KL Homme is a work of art and has now almost become an antique, enjoying cult status among connoisseurs. Very precious and very hard to come by. A perfume that is still highly sought after by many men around the world and is therefore very rare. Personally, I was able to get a bottle relatively cheaply, if you can call 125ml for €250 cheap! I have also seen the same size for €3,400 in the universe of the internet. It may sound utopian, but even this will one day be sold. I am sure of that! With KL Homme, Karl Lagerfeld made one of the greatest hits with KL for women and Lagerfeld Cologne in his career. Unmistakable and unique! Just like Karl Lagerfeld himself and the bottle, which for me is one of the most beautiful of its time and is strongly reminiscent of Art Deco in its design. Wonderful!

So gentlemen,...the hunt is on!
Then do honor our reputation and embark on the hunt if you feel the need to possess this scent and have it in your collection. Prices have been continuously rising since the passing of Mr. Lagerfeld. This also applies to all other fragrances from the first generation. And if you actually manage to get this scent-painting, then wear it on your skin. Although it also looks great on the wall!

You will be envied,...that’s for sure!
26 Comments
FabianO

1009 Reviews
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FabianO
FabianO
Top Review 16  
Slightly animalistic, wonderfully spicy Oriental classic - why was it discontinued?
On one hand, parfumo brings so much joy through the discovery of new (old) fragrances. On the other hand, one gets particularly annoyed when testing good scents that have long been unavailable.

"KL Homme" is one such candidate. After the even older "Lagerfeld Classic," which I find to be overly heavy-sweet for an Oriental, Lagerfeld tried again with the Oriental theme about 8 years later.

And behold: Significantly improved!

"KL Homme" greets you with a rich orange-benzoin blast, garnished with lighter citrus notes. The rosewood adds a nice core to it.

This is quite voluminous, striking, and extremely characteristic. Perhaps a bit too much benzoin power, but otherwise really beautifully rich and Mediterranean.

The Oriental doesn't take long to appear; the patchouli and cinnamon aromas of the heart soon join the dark fruity-spicy opening, complemented by slightly sweet and resinous-smoky nuances.

Particularly noteworthy is the quite present animalistic touch from a nice portion of civet, slightly sweet-animalistic, thus in a pleasantly wicked degree. Quite a bit less civet than in "Kouros," but still noticeably present.

Clove and rose add slightly herbaceous-floral elements and deepen the impression of pronounced aromatic complexity.

In the base, the fragrance settles into a smooth, slightly vanillic, amber-toned spectrum, with a slightly bitter musk note maintaining the masculine undertone.

Once again, a fragrance where one doesn't understand why it was discontinued. Other scents would have deserved it far more. Thus, the fragrance world has lost an extremely interesting, distinctive Oriental.
3 Comments
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Statements

35 short views on the fragrance
1
Civet spiced bomb with a vanilla outline. Similar to the original Lagerfeld from 1978
0 Comments
50
92
behind bitter citrus peels
clove-cinnamon spice
of passion in the
amber-warm beating heart
sandalwood elegance vanilla dust
dancing with cats!
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92 Comments
39
30
Thanks, Karl.
Oriental, very hyped 80s classic.
Sweet, spicy, floral.
Earthy and ambery in the base.
It came in 120 ml buckets.
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30 Comments
38
73
I would still wear KL Homme today, just like the women's scent. A great, richly spicy oriental with delicate animalic notes and fine flowers.
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73 Comments
37
31
Rose patchouli for the second time.
Caron delivers woods, resins, Blofeld cat.
Powdery sweet-citrusy.
Laurence from Zartabien.*
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31 Comments
33
29
Hot day
Zibi sweats out sweet cream & rubs it lavishly on soapy flowers. Treats herself to a few fresh oranges & dusts herself with clouds of cinnamon.*
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29 Comments
25
33
Hallelujah!!!
I almost wrote that this one is really awesome.
Dried orange, cinnamon, perfectly balanced animalic notes.
Wonderful*
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33 Comments
4 years ago
25
17
It's amazing how a scent that is actually sweet, with cinnamon standing out, can be so good thanks to a touch of old perfumery art.
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17 Comments
19
24
The cunning Karl first teases with orange oil, only to then spread sweet-bitter spices and flowers into a colorful carpet. A truly......
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24 Comments
17
13
After a sharp-spicy start (tears in my eyes)
It becomes woody-earthy-cinnamony
Towards the base, warmer-resinous-rounder
Fine, but I still prefer Team KL-Classic
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13 Comments
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Images

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