I’m thoroughly enjoying this new Kilian Midnight Espresso. It opens with a coffee that’s less intense than Black Phantom’s Chocolate and Rum, but it dries down to an intoxicating, creamy, and addictive vanilla. The coffee’s note is short-lived, but you’re left with a creamy chocolate vanilla scent that makes you irresistible to those close to you. My girlfriend kept complimenting me when she got close to me to smell it. I’m not a big fan of coffee and chocolate notes, but I genuinely enjoyed this new release from Kilian. I had to get it and now have something to counter my Black Phantom or layering them both. People who have smelled it have described it as having a “boozier Bianco latte” aroma with a “hint of Angel’s share.” I’d love to hear your thoughts on it once you’ve had a chance to try it.

I own over 50 DUAs. Lots of them I really enjoy, so this is not me bashing the brand. Is DUA good? Yes and no. DUA is a clone house / inspired house. That is what it really is. They make inspired versions, hybrids, designer copies, niche copies, discontinued copies, and stronger extrait-style takes on popular scents. Some of them are good. Some perform very well. Some smell great in the air. And to be fair, I think a lot of their hybrids and originals are excellent. That is one area where DUA can actually be fun, because they mix ideas and create scents you may not find anywhere else. But let’s also be honest: DUA is still hit or miss. Some can smell sharp, oily, heavy, synthetic, or just too dense compared to the original. Another thing with DUA is the price per ounce. You have to be careful. A lot of times, once you break down the bottle size and price per ounce, DUA can actually be more expensive than the designer fragrance it is cloning. So, just because it is a clone does not automatically mean it is the better value. I don’t have a problem with clones, but I do have a problem with people acting like every strong clone “replaces” the original. Most clones may capture the scent profile, but they usually do not capture the same quality, smoothness, development, transitions, or expensive finish of the real fragrance. That is why I think DUA should be judged against other clones first. Is it better than Alexandria, Montagne, Genre, or another clone of the same fragrance? Is it smoother? Does it smell better in the air? Does it actually hold up after the opening? That is a fair conversation. But when people say, “This replaces the original,” I think that is where the hype starts. If you have never smelled the original or you have not compared it to other clones, then how can you really say that? To me, DUA is a fun clone house with some strong performers, some good hits, and some excellent hybrids and originals. But it is not the same thing as owning the original fragrance. I would judge it for what it is: a clone/inspired brand, not a niche house.

I enjoy Memo Paris a little too much, but is that a problem if I'm not suffering, and my wallet isn't either? What is your most cherished and collected house in your collection?

I hope you smell good today!! See graphic.

Dancing on the Moon is that “clean but different” scent you wear when you’re tired of generic blue colognes but still want to smell fresh and approachable. It’s cool, airy, and floral‑musky in a way that feels confident on a guy, not perfumey or sweet. How do I describe this fragrance: Top: Think moon dust and cold chrome aldehydes that give a fizzy, metallic brightness, like stepping out into crisp night air. Heart: Iris, jasmine, frangipani; but instead of bouquet‑in‑your‑face, it’s soft, creamy, almost like a minimalist white‑floral filter over your skin. Base: Cashmeran, musk, ambergris; smooth woods, salty skin, and clean musk that make it feel very wearable and familiar if you already like fresh or gym‑friendly scents. If you’re used to clean musks, soft woods, or those easy “skin” fragrances, this will slide right into your rotation. It just swaps citrus for a cool lunar sparkle and subtle florals. Performance: You’re looking at roughly 6–8 hours of wear, so it easily covers a workday or a night out without ever feeling heavy. The scent stays in a comfortable bubble around you: noticeable up close but never overpowering the room, which makes it safe for the office, dates, and those gym‑adjacent moments when you want to smell good but not loud. If you want a first step into florals that is still masculine‑friendly, imagine your usual clean musk and soft woody scent taken to an arthouse sci‑fi movie on the moon, still you, just quietly upgraded and a bit more interesting.