This week, I tried out my sample of Pasha Edition Noir by Cartier, and I was eager to see how it compared to Noir Sport, which I've enjoyed in the past. Thankfully, the regular Noir edition did not disappoint. Upon application, the opening is surprisingly fruity and citrusy, reminiscent of pineapple and citrus. It bore a hint of Explorer by Montblanc, but it certainly isn’t a dupe; rather, it's like Explorer with an intriguing twist. After about five minutes, a fresh, powdery accord emerges. The iris adds to this powderiness, keeping the scent light and preventing it from feeling heavy. The midnotes give off an odd yet appealing profile—fresh, powdery, slightly wet, and just a touch minty. It may sound unusual, but Cartier has seamlessly blended these notes together. Eventually, a woody base note joins in, guiding the scent until its gentle fade. In terms of performance, this fragrance doesn't project aggressively but maintains a classy presence throughout wear. This is exactly what I expect from a brand like Cartier. It's not loud or overbearing; instead, it conveys maturity, making it perfect for the office or a sophisticated night out at a cocktail bar. The longevity sits at just over five hours, so you might need a quick touch-up during the workday, but it's just right for date night. Overall, Pasha Edition Noir is a refined blue scent that caters to the more mature man who appreciates a clean, pleasant aroma without being overwhelming. It's a fantastic addition to any fragrance collection for those who value subtlety and elegance.

Well my brothers, I was visiting Macy’s today, and saw this on the counter. And I knew it was time to give this one a try. And I might I just say, while a lot of the designer releases haven’t been all that great, this one blew me away. Now before we get into review here, I am a bit biased. Sauvage elixir is one of my favorite designer fragrances, and I find the spice blend both nostalgic and intoxicating. Needless to say, my expectations were high, and even at the threshold, it still exceeded them. This is one of those fragrances that smell quite different on paper. It has to be experienced on skin before any reviews can be truly made. On paper, it’s dry, herbal, and intensely spicy. On skin, it’s intense, but made clearer and warmer, with more of an amber behind it. If it was dry smoke on paper, it’s a reignition of the flame on skin. Whilst the original Elixir had its own distinct style from Francois Demarchy, Francis K, the perfumer of Baccarat Rouge, and various other fragrances, much from Dior’s Private Collection, took that DNA, and put his own approach to it. The opening is a completely different take, of a completely different take, of the original Sauvage. It’s basically unrecognizable, while still maintaining that core DNA. Like Sauron being reborn in the flaming eye after his defeat. You get the classic Ambroxan, Lavender, and Bergamot, but it’s mutated into something different. Something much more strong. And the combination with the spices and woods make it so. The core note is just one, singular note, and the only one needed. Vietnamese Oud. It gives it a leathery, borderline animalic feature, but in a restrained way. This isn’t a sweet, appealing oud, but it’s completely wearable, and not a barnyard fecal oud either. Something in between. Like it’s restrained, but capable of being dangerous. The drydown is where you get that beautiful elixir DNA best, but still with its own style. A blend of two styles of cedarwood, patchouli, and vetiver. The combination of citrus and lavender in the opening with the woods and vetiver here are what give it the slight, barbershop vibe, but the intense spiciness and oud make it much darker and more ambery.

Just out of curiosity are we all keeping or get rid of your Fragrance Boxes , I’m obviously the Keeper

So I sampled Dior Sauvage Extrait yesterday and my goodness, the performance on it was crazy! I don't think I've ever come across a scent that strong. Has anybody else tried it?

There have several interesting threads recently about collecting fragrances and philosophies behind collections. I'm only about two years into my own journey and have been buying new bottles regularly. (I think I have 42 or 43 bottles now.) And I've been thinking about trying to design an ideal (for me) fragrance wardrobe of 28 bottles: seven for each season. So just a quick poll: what's the ideal collection size for you? And if you'd like to explain in the comments, even better. Thanks, gentlemen.