Certain things I avoid when buying or wearing perfume and why: 1. Rack-store older fragrances: I have bought them, worn them, and had people comment that I smell like their grandfather or some old boyfriend from high school. Scent memory is very real. The smells that can invoke memories in coworkers, customers, friends, and the opposite sex are very real. Sure, I thought I smelled great, but I could hear others talking about me in the background, and it was pretty bad. Now I do my homework. To be honest, it is sometimes better to get other people’s opinions. It’s like the kid who wears high-water pants; he thinks he looks good, but everyone else is silently laughing. 2. Over-spraying “beast mode” juice in the office, stores, or anywhere people can’t walk away: I used to think more was better. If it lasted 12 hours and filled a room, I figured I was winning. Then you start catching the side comments. “Somebody’s wearing a lot of cologne today.” Or you notice people leaning back when you walk up. Same scent-memory problem as the old rack stuff, except now they remember you as the guy who walks in smelling like he dumped the whole bottle on himself. I still like strong fragrances. I just learned the difference between “this projects” and “this is announcing itself before I even get through the door.” 3. Super sweet bakery/candy/dessert bombs around people who didn’t sign up for it: I love a good gourmand. Vanilla, caramel, coconut, that whole lane. But I learned the hard way that what smells like a treat to me smells like a candle store or somebody’s grandma’s kitchen to half the room. You think you’re wearing something expensive and interesting. They’re thinking, “Why does he smell like cookies at 9 a.m.?” Same thing as the grandfather comment people already have that smell filed under something else, and it’s usually not “this guy has great taste.” 4. Wearing the exact same scent every single day until it becomes “your smell”: I did this with a couple favorites. Felt consistent, felt like a signature. Then people start saying “you always smell like that,” and it stops being a compliment. If they like it, fine. If they don’t, now they associate the dislike with you. Switching it up doesn’t just keep it interesting for you; it keeps other people from locking one smell onto you forever.

Giving my new bottle of this Stronger With You Sandalwood clone a go for the first time today. I contemplated letting it sit for a while but after my initial sprays after I got it I decided it's too good to not wear it. This fragrance is right in my wheelhouse. After the initial opening of saffron it goes into this chestnut and lavender mid and the dry down is this amazing sandalwood and vanilla. Sweet but not too sweet. To me it's a more upscale, mature fragrance but still has a little modernity in it from the vanilla with great performance. I haven't tried the OG so I can't say how close it is but after trying this, I'm really in no rush.

Apparently I've been working my way through the Dior Homme line lately, more by coincidence than design. I've recently sampled Dior Homme, Dior Homme Cologne, and today's SOTD is Dior Homme Intense (2025). This one isn't really auditioning for the collection. I've already bought a bottle, so today's mission is simply to continue to finish off the travel spray and clear another sample out of the box. And I'm quite happy with the purchase. That powdery iris is the star for me, surrounded by woods and a subtle sweetness that gives the fragrance richness without making it overly heavy. It's smooth, elegant, and sophisticated—the kind of fragrance that doesn't need huge projection to make an impression. I probably wouldn't reach for Homme Intense during the blazing heat of summer, but during the other three seasons, I can see plenty of opportunities to wear it. Fall in particular seems like its natural habitat. The more Dior Homme fragrances I sample, the more I'm appreciating just how different the various interpretations can be. Current status: Sample being finished. Full bottle already secured—and very happy to have it.

Day 2 of the Nor' Easter, chilly, windy and rainy, I'm going to ride this out with some West Loop. It's discontinued but I was lucky enough to find this in Marshalls a few months ago on the cheap. Spices, cinnamon, tobacco and woods with a touch of almond that almost smells like vanilla. Well balanced and smooth and great performance. I'm going to have to keep an eye on how much I use this. One of those times when you say to yourself, "How can they discontinue this? It's so good".

Finally have a good cool day to give this a full try and it's been sitting impatiently for a few weeks getting ready. All I can say is "Wow!" I have a sample of the original which I like a lot but this one is on another level. Smoother, a little darker, more refined and I really can see myself wearing this a lot in the future to the detriment of my other fragrances. The cherry, rum and the woods and the rest are just *chefs' kiss*. The performance so far seems above average. (Not to mention the better half likes it a lot).