Over the past couple of months, I've been actively taking some advice of several brothers, and taking some time to enjoy the modest collection (12 bottles) I own, and really utilise them. It's been a very useful exercise, and has really helped to clarify my thinking in terms of which of the full bottles I own - I really, truly enjoy, which ones I quite like, but probably would look to move on from - and highlighted certain styles of fragrance I'd really like to explore in more depth - so first of all - thank you for the suggestions and guidance. My follow-up though was to ask you - what is your opinion on an 'ideal' sample size when you look to sample a scent you've never tried, but are intrigued by? Typically, when testing a new scent, I've opted for the 2ml version, (partly taking account of the pricing min/max analysis), however, I am now pondering whether 2ml is really sufficient, as it only affords one to two wears max. Am now thinking that ideally I need more wears to really get under the skin of a scent and fully understand if its worth pulling the trigger? What do you guys think?

Released in 2016, Marfa was created by Aliénor Massenet — the same perfumer behind so many of the Memo Paris favourites I've reviewed before. This one draws its inspiration from the strange, artistic desert town of Marfa in Texas, and that sense of wide-open space, dry heat, and surreal beauty is exactly what comes through in the bottle. It's a unisex floral woody musk, but let me be clear, I used to think k that this leaned slightly on the feminine side. But this is not your soft, timid floral. It's bold, creamy, and substantial, and it's one of those scents that might divide opinion because it doesn't apologise for being loud. If you're on the fence about heavy white florals, this one might be a lot, but if you can appreciate tuberose done properly, it's a masterpiece. It opens withbright mandarin and peach, too give you a soft, fruity sweetness right off the bat, light and easy on the nose. But that doesn't last long before the heart takes over, and this is where Marfa really makes its statement. Tuberose is the star here, thick, creamy, almost buttery, with that characteristic edge that gives it depth and stops it from being just another sweet floral. Ylang-ylang and orange blossom sit right alongside it, amplifying the richness, and there's an agave accord tucked in there too. Its a subtle green, dry edge that hints at the desert landscape and keeps it from tipping over into cloying. It's a full, lush white floral bouquet, but it feels grounded rather than overwhelming. It dries down beautifully into something warmer and more velvety where vanilla and tonka bean add a smooth, comfortable sweetness, while Virginia cedar and sandalwood give it that woody backbone that Memo do so well. White musk wraps everything up soft and clean. Longevity is excellent — easily 6 to 7 hours on skin, and it leaves a noticeable trail, so go easy on the trigger. What I find most interesting about Marfa is how it manages to feel both opulent and minimalist at the same time — the florals are rich and heavy, but the overall vibe is open, dry, and spacious, just like the place it was named after. It's a statement scent.

Picked this up somewhat at random as part of a sample pack. I agree with many reviews that its very similar to Aventus in terms of overall style - with that combination of top citrus and underlying woody notes. I personally didn't find the opening overly harsh (I've seen some commentary around this), rather I found it fresh, and quite well balanced, the longevity and projection are somewhat average. However, its a pleasant alternative to Aventus, at a much more accessible price point. If I were considering an Aventus alternative, I think I'd likely opt for something like Afnan's Supremacy Not Only - which has a bit more potency, decent quality, and can be picked up for under £50.

Grabbed some Mancera samples this week - this is the first one I've tried - very impressed. prominent spice, leather, nice blend of subtle floral - backdrop of tobacco and mild vanilla. To me, there is something of the original Opium profile here, finely balanced with no small nod to Ombre Leather - would opt to wear this more in cooler and/or evening settings. decent projection and staying power too.

Picked this one up a while back as part of a small haul, and first time wearing it today - the citrus, pepper, and vetiver blend is definitely there, can also detect a hint of lavender as well - so for me the core DNA is appealing. Given the citrus prominence, it seems to have very decent longevity so far, 5+ hours. I'm not sure I'd go with this as an evening scent, but decent for daytime wear - though that might be done to my personal preference more than anything. It's one of those where I'm not 100% sold on it just yet - perhaps need a couple more wears, I often find it tricky to be overly conclusive on the first try........