Lagerfeld Classic
Lagerfeld
1978 Eau de Toilette

Version from 1978
Lagerfeld Classic / Lagerfeld (1978) (Eau de Toilette) by Karl Lagerfeld
Bottle Design:
Marc Rosen
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7.2 / 10 747 Ratings
A perfume by Karl Lagerfeld for men, released in 1978. The scent is spicy-oriental. The longevity is above-average. It was last marketed by Coty.
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Main accords

Spicy
Oriental
Sweet
Woody
Powdery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
AldehydesAldehydes Clary sageClary sage TarragonTarragon BergamotBergamot Green notesGreen notes LemonLemon
Heart Notes Heart Notes
TobaccoTobacco PatchouliPatchouli SandalwoodSandalwood CedarCedar JasmineJasmine Orris rootOrris root RoseRose
Base Notes Base Notes
AmberAmber Tonka beanTonka bean MuskMusk OakmossOakmoss VanillaVanilla

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.2747 Ratings
Longevity
8.3628 Ratings
Sillage
7.9609 Ratings
Bottle
7.2617 Ratings
Value for money
8.5281 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 07/24/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Lagerfeld Classic / Lagerfeld (1978) (Après Rasage) by Karl Lagerfeld
Lagerfeld Classic Après Rasage
Musk for Men (Cologne) by Jōvan
Musk for Men Cologne
Super Fragrance for Men (Eau de Toilette) by Aigner
Super Fragrance for Men Eau de Toilette
Bel Ambre by Jacques Fath
Bel Ambre
Boisé Vanillé by Montale
Boisé Vanillé
Diaghilev (Parfum) by Roja Parfums
Diaghilev Parfum

Reviews

24 in-depth fragrance descriptions
10
Pricing
7
Bottle
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
8
Scent
ScentGrail

105 Reviews
ScentGrail
ScentGrail
Very helpful Review 11  
Great affordable amber
Lagerfeld Classic by Karl Lagerfeld was created by Ron Winnegrad and was launched in 1978. Not only it is one of the best cost-efficient amber fragrances on the market, but it’s also the one that had endured passing trends.

I feel like many of the perfumes from the powerhouse era of the 1970s, and 1980s, just smell plainly dated and feel like empty shells of their former glory days. But, not this vintage gem.

One thing that made late Karl Lagerfeld a different fashion designer from the rest of the crowd is a well-known fact about his personal involvement in creating designs for his perfume bottles. Yes, he designed this one as well.

Now, what does Lagerfeld Classic smell like? I know that younger generations may get an impression o their dad or grandpa’s perfume as soon as they get the first sniff of this magnificent composition, but I disagree.

Lagerfeld opens up orangy aldehydes that lift up the scent and give airy transparency that sits as the blanket over everything else in the first couple of minutes.

The magical opening continues into the middle notes, where you are welcomed with honied and powdery amber, that feels rich, three-dimensional, and verges on the unisex side of the specter.

But the best is left at the end, and oh my God, is it gorgeous. I didn’t want you to feel scared of wearing something from the ’70s, but after a couple of wears, you will start to notice a strange “funk”, even at the first spray. I know I asked myself what is that note just outside my reach of getting what it really is, and it hit me.

That funk is a combination of musks, leather, ambers, and dried tobacco.

*Check out my Parfumo profile to find out how can you read full reviews on my website.*
1 Comment
10
Bottle
9
Sillage
9
Longevity
10
Scent
11Mic22hael

9 Reviews
11Mic22hael
11Mic22hael
Top Review 9  
A Genius Creation
Lagerfeld Classic is a gorgeous soft brown leather, spicy orange and tobacco masterpiece of the art. Hopefully it will never be discontinued again. I highly recommend to all enthusiasts with a word of advice, wear it sparingly or spray under the shirt because it is a beast!
2 Comments
MasterLi

375 Reviews
MasterLi
MasterLi
Very helpful Review 6  
Ambient spice...
I do like this one, a lot. I think if you are just getting into fragrances, this one might take you by surprise. This fragrance shows you why the scents made in the 1970's were in a class of their own. Karl Lagerfeld - Classic is a soft oriental full of amber, vanilla, carnation and spice. I get nutmeg, carnation, patchouli, all combined with a sweet, almost syrupy amber with vanilla and creamy sandalwood. I even get a hint of 'candied orange' in the beginning.

I do see how this scent belongs to a certain era. I find it very playful and almost borderline gourmand in it's vibe. I find it has good projection, sillage and longevity (many eau de toilette concentrations from the 1970's and 1980's were stronger than they are today).

I also see this as being unisex, so a confidant woman could certainly pull this off. I would recommend this for mature noses and generally for people who are well-seasoned in vintage perfumes. They don't make 'em like they used to!

I think that this fragrance, like many of it's peers, could be released today and it would be a niche unisex scent. All the more special that this is widely available as it is. The closest male fragrance I can think of comparing it to would be Aramis - JHL. Having said that, this is lighter, more playful and overall more versatile and fun. I love it!
1 Comment
9
Pricing
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
9.5
Scent
VTrancoso

34 Reviews
VTrancoso
VTrancoso
Very helpful Review 5  
Powerful and Romantic
This review is about the original (1978, EDT pre-reformulation) Karl Lagerfeld Cologne for Men “splash” (now called the “Karl Lagerfeld Classic”).
A comfortable leather jacket that opens leaving a trail of honey and incense. There is an aura of musky spice, nutmeg, tarragon and aniseed, and a sweetly scented tobacco from a pipe that comes from childhood memories.
Karl Lagerfeld for Men opens with lemon and orange blossom that fade to be replaced by notes of tarragon, anise, nutmeg and cinnamon on top of pure golden honey and amber.
Over time, the creamy leather accord and honey get stronger, but there begins to be a slight scent of powdery rose and a hint of jasmine, mixed with resins.
The leather (sandalwood + iris?) is a direct cousin of the Knize Ten and is warmed by the warmth of tonka bean, sandalwood and musk.
We feel powerful and capable of leading a fascinating and romantic adventure.
If Puredistance's M is compared to the interior lining of James Bond's car with Daniel Craig behind the wheel then this Lagerfeld will be the leather of Sean Connery's Aston Martin DB5 chasing Goldfinger.
Referred to by some as the male version of Shalimar, it differs from subsequent reformulations because these new versions only smell like “cheap synthetics” with a hint of synthetic Musk and because they have “Karl Lagerfeld Classic” written on the box and bottle.
0 Comments
7.5
Bottle
7.5
Sillage
5
Longevity
10
Scent
Flavorite

240 Reviews
Flavorite
Flavorite
Very helpful Review 5  
Smooth, Powdery, Soft, Handsome
Back in the day-I had a boyfriend who wore this scent; he was neither smooth, powder nor refined- in fact, he was a rogue of an angry drunk Scotsman with a penchant for inappropriate public behavior. Like all undomesticated animals, eventually he had to be released back into his natural habitat. The glaring juxtaposition between his big, loud, often garish personality and his soft silky smooth, refined signature scent has just now hit me. I just retested this handsome scent and it is a mellow late night jazz, totally secure in your own self type of scent. It has the kind of lasting power famous in the 90s. Eight to ten hours easily, but a fairly soft sillage that wouldn't even be caught in the same nightclub as Drakkar Noir or Polo Classic. This is a honey-colored suede jacket with jeans and the laid back but intelligent, reserved demeanor of a Taurus, steady quiet confidence Capricorn or the artistic doe eyes of a Pisces. Not in sync with brashness of an Aries or the flamboyant and regal Leo. For my part, this is Tarragon and Bergamot with a good dose of 90s aldehydes over an oakmoss slightly sweet Tonka and dry vanilla (but far less so than say- [gag-me-with-a-spoon!] Givenchy Pi's- honeyed nature). This dries to a powdery orris root woody base with a smidge of golden amber. I dabble in unisex/men's classic fragrances, so thought I could pull off myself, but trust me ladies...let the men have this one; it really expands in depth and complexity better on their skin- on my skin it just fizzled into the smell of a musty cedar chest filled with patchouli resin dried roses and maple cured ham. In the end, this goes out like a lamb, not a lion; making it ideal, very attractive and snuggle worthy to my watery moody hedonistic Cancerian persona.
3 Comments
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Statements

8 short views on the fragrance
WusubiWusubi 4 months ago
8
Bottle
5
Sillage
6
Longevity
7.5
Scent
Gentle opening. Fizzy citrus with a hint of green.
Bitter tobacco, soapy florals, spicy patchouli.
Warm drydown. Dusty amber, musky vanilla.
4 Comments
TheDunkPapaTheDunkPapa 5 months ago
7
Bottle
5
Sillage
5
Longevity
5
Scent
A light oriental that's focused on amber and creamy florals layered with leather? Patchouli? Quite sweet, contemporary. Not my cup of tea.
0 Comments
Rolk70Rolk70 5 years ago
10
Bottle
8
Sillage
7
Longevity
10
Scent
How I long to get my nose on this again. It has been over 30 years.
0 Comments
RobbieXRobbieX 4 years ago
10
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
A soapy and powdery unique and lovely fragrance. Lasts ages - more a parfum strength. The silage is sublime. It IS a classic - a gem
0 Comments
ElysiumElysium 5 years ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
Ain't sweet, far from it, it's a very amber and dusty accord, and it's not openly green like its peers of that time such as Krizia Uomo.
0 Comments
KingPinKingPin 6 years ago
5
Bottle
2.5
Scent
Used it as young. Tried it again just now. Nope. Doesn’t work as it used to. Or as teen daughter said: “What is this monstrosity?!”.
0 Comments
TwilightZoneTwilightZone 1 year ago
Karl Lagerfeld Classic is about orange liqueur with amber, vanilla and a hint of incense in the back seat. A classic composition indeed
0 Comments
TsoTso 6 days ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
9.5
Scent
Sticky sweet warm tobacco. A classic.
0 Comments
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