@Raul Olveda Thank you for sharing your find! I had to go and get these. They’re so unique that I’m in love with all of them.

Hello! It's been a while. Apologies for inactivity, I have a lot on my plate. Some mild familial troubles, though nothing new, and trying to figure them out, along with some big stuff. My life is hitting a major transition period, as I've been called to serve a mission for my church (LDS), and I'm preparing to begin training and go on my mission in just a few weeks! I got called to California, speaking the Hmong language, so much of my time has been spent on studying, scripture reading, and studying this beautiful language. In my free time though, I spend a lot of time working on perfumes. I've started really falling in love with making them, though I still have a lot more to work on before making anything that doesn't smell too muddy, I've hit a potential gold mine, and I won't have to worry about them smelling generic. Below I've attached a little rough sketch I've been working on for my logo. The letters need better alignment, and the logo is just a pre filler sketch my friend designed for me, though I plan to make it more golden ratio-esque and slightly more minimalist, as the mollusk design I engraved on each bottle and cap. I've designed the bottles, packaging, story cards and storytelling, and currently have around twenty concepts in the works, with four being currently developed by *yours truly 💅*, and the more I do this, the more I'm realizing this is a career I want. I've also spent a long time locking in on different tastes and building little profiles for a lot of the brothers here, and so when I start releasing my stuff in a few years, you'll find things that are a little curated to your guys' tastes ;) Still an enormous thank you to Mr Centeno and this community for getting me on this journey! After a lot of time, work, effort, and money, I'm hoping to break through eventually, however long it takes. Currently we don't have any socials, but I am working on a website in its bare bones, and when I return in the two years, I'll start having these finished up, and prepared to continue the designs. I will be so happy to share this progress with you as I continue on.

I've been exploring castoreum fragrances this week and thought I'd share here for those that may be interested in this beavery magic. :) *What is castoreum?* Castoreum is a yellowish, oily, and pungent exudate produced in specialized pockets called castor sacs located near the base of a beaver’s tail in both male and female beavers. *What does it smell like?* - In its raw form, castoreum has a sharp, intense, aggressive, and somewhat unpleasant aroma with heavy notes of birch tar, leather, and musk. - Diluted and aged as a tincture for use in perfumery, it softens into a warm, rich, cozy, leathery, and animalic scent with subtle undertones of smoke, wood, tobacco, fruitiness, and a sweet quality reminiscent of vanilla or raspberries. *Harvesting Note:* Although castoreum can be harvested without harming the animal it is not generally done that way. Beavers are not hunted/farmed for castoreum, it is taken as a by-product as part of legal wildlife management. However, due to ethical concerns many perfume houses use synthetic castoreum. *Fragrances I wore this week and how the castoreum presents.* - Roja Danger PPH | Castoreum is subtle with a lightly animalic leathery note. - Meleg Canadian Gentleman | Castoreum is a bit dirty but not overly so. The overall composition is quite intimate so even being a bit dirty it is light - Caron Yatagan (80s vintage) | The funkiest of the bunch. Boldy animalic and a bit of a dirty leather vibe. - Angelo Fusco Aah | This fragrance is only available in Dr. Angelo Fusco's boutiques in Milan and Rome. A friend was kind enough to grab me a bottle. The best I can describe this is a niche version of Chanel Antaeus with brighter top notes and a richer dry down. Castoreum is present but very, very polished. I love this scent. - Bortnikoff Oud Monarch | Castoreum is pretty rich in this but fairly smooth. Anyone else enjoy castoreum in scents and have some to recommend?

Impassable Wilderness - FRAGRANCE NOTES GRAND FIR SCOTCH PINE RESURRECTION FERN RED CEDAR OAKMOSS PETRICHOR THE ANCIENT GROVE … They had me at Scotch Pine and Petrichor

The Vibe! What are you wearing? -I can se myself wearing: Babycat Royal Tobacco By the Fireplace