Look at your collection, no matter what size it is. What do you think is the weak spot in it? And no, I'm not referring to FOMO. It's not about chasing the latest release or completing a lineup. I'm talking about what area seems to be lacking? It could be a situation (formal events, work options, etc.). It could be a season. I live in the South, so it's summer (or at least warm) the majority of the year. I focused on building that part up this year and feel good about where that part is now. I'm good with fall and winter. But my weak spot is spring. That time of year I find myself scrambling to find options that seem to fit the way I'd like. What are you working on with your collection?

Do you guys use deo sticks? And if so, do you go for a generic one, or do you try to follow in the same track as the perfume you use at the time? Since I work at a hospital, I tend to use a non perfumed generic one.

If you're anything like me, you must have experienced this at some point where you really wanted to like either the house or the line. And no matter how many times you sniffed it, you're like it's a pass. For me there's more than a few, but it's definitely YSL and Le Male. Don't get me wrong. I've smelled both on other people and was like oh that's intriguing and then every time I smell it either on strip or on my own skin I'm like: Nope. Also Aqua de Gio - but that's because it gives both me on mywife an instant heafache. So I think it's just more a concentration)ingredient issue. I used to have the same thing with Boss - and then Bottled got me and I'm slow warming up to the scent line. So I'm wondering if anyone else has that same experience where you really want to like a fragrance line or house and they just kind of never do it for you. And as a follow-up bonus, when has that been proven wrong for you? Just thought this might be an interesting convo for a Sunday evening or Monday morning or Tuesday afternoon. Stay sniffty my friends!

Bvlgari Man in Black was launched back in 2014, created by the legendary Alberto Morillas, the nose behind some of the biggest fragrances in modern history, and this one stands tall among them. It was released to mark Bvlgari’s 130th anniversary, drawing inspiration from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and the forge. The bottle is a total work of art too: sharp, volcanic black glass with that signature pink-gold cap, it looks more like a luxury accessory than a fragrance bottle, and it commands attention sitting on any shelf. Over a decade later it’s still widely discussed and sought after, and you’re looking at roughly €145 for the 100ml bottle here in Ireland depending on where you pick it up. The opening hits you straight away with vibrant spices accord and that obsessive ambery accord, there’s no delicate citrus or soft introduction here. It’s warm, rich, resinous and enveloping from the very first spray. The spices don’t come across as sharp or peppery; instead they’re rounded out by that thick, deep amber, giving it an almost incense-like warmth that feels expensive and substantial. As it settles into the heart, tuberose absolute and leather accord take centre stage and this is the part that catches a lot of people out. Tuberose is a big, creamy white floral you usually find in feminine fragrances, but here it works perfectly. It doesn’t read feminine at all; instead it brings this lush, narcotic creaminess that wraps around the leather, softening it just enough while adding real depth and intrigue. The leather isn’t harsh or rugged, it’s smooth, refined, and pairs beautifully with that creamy floral contrast. In the drydown it deepens into Benzoin Siam absolute and guaiac wood essence, and this is where the fragrance really finds its feet. The benzoin brings that rich, balsamic, vanilla-like sweetness, smooth and warm, while the guaiac wood adds a distinctive soft smokiness and dry woody depth that grounds everything. It’s that combination of sweet resin and quiet smoke that gives it such a sophisticated, expensive finish. Performance not exactly what I expected. Considering some comparisions to my be loved Spicebomb Extreme. I only get about 4 to 5hrs on skin with this, but it lingers on clothes well into the next day. This is absolutely an evening and cooler-weather fragrance; it's a tamer more refined older cousin to SBE. Although the was released first? you wouldn’t be reaching for it on a hot July afternoon, but when the evenings draw in and you’re heading out for dinner, drinks, or anything that calls for presence? It’s hard to beat. Dark, refined, warm and quietly powerful a proper modern classic that earned a spot on my shelf

I decided to go with elegant for tonight‘s Christopher Cross/Toto concert, and I arguably have a no more elegant fragrance in my collection than YSL Tuxedo. There’s a reason that apart from Aventis, this is possibly the most duped modern fragrance. This is a spectacular citrus-patchouli-vanilla-amber blend with increasingly impressive performance. When I first acquired it, I would only get about four hours’ wear. Now it’s about 10 hours. Supposedly elevated-level designer fragrances are pre-macerated. I don’t know about that. The term “masterpiece” is thrown around much too cavalierly today with respect to fragrances. This is a masterpiece.