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?

First from the house and i had to go big. This one was in the locker for a bit but now that its the weekend and the weathers a bit cooler I finally decided to try it out. Great opening with some bergamot, saffron and rose. Tried and tested rose-oud combo opener but done nicely. Nothing obnoxious like BR540. Give it a few minutes and the freshness tones down and the leather, “oud” and tonka shows up. Makes everything deeper, warmer and sweeter. At this point i can draw a comparison to Shaghaf oud edp but less jammy and more complex. Once it has fully dried down you get the oakmoss, sugarcane and musk. Imo the best phase of the progression. Everything now is balanced and a bit unique. A great twist on your average rose oud profile done closer to my taste. Apparently most of London smells like this fragrance. At least thats what @Aditya Choksi claimed when i last met him. Performance is good. Easy 7+ hours with strong projection in the initial hours. Closer to skin by hour 7. Id like to mention that this is without any moisturiser so on a regular day its 9+ hrs. No complaints with that. A very gentle sillage on my skin unlike what others say online. Very impressed by the fragrance and the house. I was always a D1 Mancera glazer so obviously i expected greatness from its sister. Safe to say the threshold is met. I remember smelling chocolate greedy in selfridges and my god that was delectable. Probably my next from the house. Any other suggestions are very much appreciated. Overall this one is a very easy 9/10. Loses points on versatility and uniqueness. End of the day they didn’t reinvent the wheel. Just perfected an existing template. But they perfected it well. Price is solid too. 100ml under £100. Definitely a must try in my books. And with this newfound knowledge, ill be a serial sniffer on the streets of london the next time i visit.

“10/6” from Aaron Terence Hughes drops Friday: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/e2q4xudrLi0

Well my brothers, I was visiting Macy’s today, and saw this on the counter. And I knew it was time to give this one a try. And I might I just say, while a lot of the designer releases haven’t been all that great, this one blew me away. Now before we get into review here, I am a bit biased. Sauvage elixir is one of my favorite designer fragrances, and I find the spice blend both nostalgic and intoxicating. Needless to say, my expectations were high, and even at the threshold, it still exceeded them. This is one of those fragrances that smell quite different on paper. It has to be experienced on skin before any reviews can be truly made. On paper, it’s dry, herbal, and intensely spicy. On skin, it’s intense, but made clearer and warmer, with more of an amber behind it. If it was dry smoke on paper, it’s a reignition of the flame on skin. Whilst the original Elixir had its own distinct style from Francois Demarchy, Francis K, the perfumer of Baccarat Rouge, and various other fragrances, much from Dior’s Private Collection, took that DNA, and put his own approach to it. The opening is a completely different take, of a completely different take, of the original Sauvage. It’s basically unrecognizable, while still maintaining that core DNA. Like Sauron being reborn in the flaming eye after his defeat. You get the classic Ambroxan, Lavender, and Bergamot, but it’s mutated into something different. Something much more strong. And the combination with the spices and woods make it so. The core note is just one, singular note, and the only one needed. Vietnamese Oud. It gives it a leathery, borderline animalic feature, but in a restrained way. This isn’t a sweet, appealing oud, but it’s completely wearable, and not a barnyard fecal oud either. Something in between. Like it’s restrained, but capable of being dangerous. The drydown is where you get that beautiful elixir DNA best, but still with its own style. A blend of two styles of cedarwood, patchouli, and vetiver. The combination of citrus and lavender in the opening with the woods and vetiver here are what give it the slight, barbershop vibe, but the intense spiciness and oud make it much darker and more ambery.

I know this fragrance isn’t for everyone but it’s a powerhouse. The notes blend together nicely and the longevity is nearly endless. The fiery ginger & juicy pineapple notes ignite the senses, while creamy coconut wood deepens the allure. Anchored by sensual ambergris, sandalwood, and tonka bean, this scent is crafted to captivate.