Just got a Ysl Y edp microperfume’s sample and it smells amazing and I’m gonna buy a full bottle eventually.

Hello frag fam, Joe Average here with a different type of review for you guys! This week I’d like to tackle some of the most well-known decant providers out there. Quick recap, a decant is where someone, or a company, rebottles a small bit of fragrance and sells it to the general public. This is seen as an “affordable” way of sampling what would otherwise be a very expensive “full bottle” purchase. You easily see commercials and endorsements for many of the bigger decant companies, but who can you trust? There are several companies that do this, as well as several individuals online in forums like Discord, Facebook, et. al. Well, I did a bit of my own research and I’m happy to report what I’ve experienced with five of the most well-known companies out there. Joe A. will give it to ya’ straight and hopefully this will help you! Real quick disclaimer (of course, you guys know all this I’m sure…) I don’t, nor ever have been, affiliated with any of these companies. I do not receive any royalties, commissions or kickbacks for my reviews. All of the information I provide is accurate to the best of my abilities and I’d be happy to discuss anything that isn’t clear. Now… The five companies I’ve decided to look at are DecantX, MicroPerfumes, Perfuum, Scents Angel and Scent Split. Now I know there are more, but just five is alot to review! I’ve looked at things like: available selection, available sizes, available shipping options, perks, discounts and prices for some of the most common fragrances. In the name of research, I ordered the exact same fragrance decant from each site on the same afternoon and will tell you the price I paid, how long it took to get to me, the packaging (shipping and of the fragrance) as well as other tidbits that I may think is important for you to know. There’s going to be a lot of information, so I’m breaking up the reviews, one per day. At the end of the week, I’ll have a summary sheet that I think I can attach as a pdf, if not; maybe I can do a link to it!

If you know Slumberhouse, you know this indie house has a serious cult following. Their limited drops often sell out in less than a minute. I was lucky enough to time the latest drop from Fumerie in Portland just right and score a bottle. And it was delivered this afternoon! For those unfamiliar, Slumberhouse is an independent perfume house out of Portland, Oregon, founded by self-taught perfumer Josh Lobb. He’s known for creating bold, unconventional fragrances that don’t smell like much else out there. This stuff isn’t cheap, especially considering you’re only getting 30ml, but the quality is undeniably there. So what’s Sådanne like? Think rich, juicy strawberries, jammy rose, white wine, ambergris, and woods. The strawberry is definitely the star here, sweet and almost syrupy, but there’s a tart, slightly boozy quality that keeps things interesting. The rose adds a floral richness while the ambergris and woods bring a darker depth. It’s fruity and sweet, but there’s something sophisticated and almost mysterious underneath it all. This is my second experience with Slumberhouse, but my first exploring this side of the house. It’s quite a departure from the darker, heavier fragrances they’re typically associated with. First impressions? I’m impressed! It’s a unique take on a fruity floral that manages to feel playful and luxurious at the same time. Definitely not your typical strawberry fragrance. I’m looking forward to spending more time with this one and seeing how it develops on skin. Anyone else have experience with Slumberhouse or sampled any of their offerings? Curious to hear your thoughts and impressions!

So I thought I’d spin the wheel and try out the new re-release of JPG Fleur de Male. Woof, it is absolutely not for me. And I think… it’s not going to be for everyone. What I can say is it is very well balanced, relatively complex with a lot going on that all work together, but is just wholly unappealing to me. I’m not the biggest fan of florals (I’ve tested Le Beau Narcisse and Flower Edition and reacted pretty negatively to those) but was wondering if I’d like this one based on the interesting note breakdown. The florals in this don’t work for me the same way they don’t work for me in Le Beau Narcisse - something about the orange blossom has an edge that doesn’t sit well with me, it’s less smooth and less crowd pleasing than say what you find in YSL Myslf. But on top of that, there’s some really weird stuff going on in this new release - a fair amount of bright powdery green, with a hint of pine that I do like, but a dusty earthy undertone (maybe from the hay or tobacco note?) that to me really takes this in an unappealing direction. In the air it’s not terrible - but up close it’s not appealing to smell which is a must have for me (if I’m not sniffing my arms like a monkey all day, it’s not a keeper…). There’s kind of a retro feel about it as well, in a nod to the OG I think this will appeal to fans of the OG and maybe people who tolerate florals or more interesting : challenging designer compositions - but unfortunately this one is not for me. Anyone here tried the new one or love the OG?

I was too busy to make a SOTD post when I wore this, but its another new addition to me and i should at least mention my first opinion of it... Mandarin Sky Elixer may be my least favorite purchase of the year, but its still a good frag. A touch too sweet for my personal tastes. Carmel and orange isn't a bad mix at all. If i was 20, id probably love this stuff! Its sort of a blend of JPG's Scandal and Invictus Victory Elixer. Its strong and long lasting, but I wouldn't call it "beastmode." There's nothing wrong with it. The price was low (under $30 Canadian for 100mls.) I'll wear it a couple times a year when im in the mood for sweet. Pros: good performance, pleasant scent, low price. Cons: Funny looking odyssey bottle, odd sized stem on the atomizer. Overall 6/10 (but only because the scent isn't for me)