Armaf Tres Nuit Review

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones! Today I will be covering Armaf Green Irish Tweed. Their inspiration of my favorite fragrance of all time, Creed Green Irish Tweed. Let's get into it!


Presentation

The bottle is navy blue and triangular with the fragrance name on the front. It has a faux brown leather strap that goes around the outside with a silver buckle that has the fragrance name on it. The cap has "Armaf" stamped on the top with a circular design. It's not a flimsy cap, but certainly not high quality. The atomizer has the same design at the top of the cap, which is the standard Armaf atomizer. The atomizer performs well.


Notes

Top- Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Iris

Mid- Lavender, Iris, Spicy Notes

Base- Ambergris, Sandalwood


Scent

Armaf is very close to GIT(Green Irish Tweed) to me. It just not as rounded and polished. Of course, it is more synthetic as well. You aren't going to get a fragrance with real iris and ambergris in it for $20. However, it is very close. I will go into more detail about that in a bit.

This fragrance opens up with potency. The lemon and lemon verbena hit you right away with the fresh greenness. Some people find this very offputting, but I like it. Then the florals of iris, lavender, violet come out. Giving it a somewhat ozonic feel and making it slightly powdery. The sandalwood is very much just a supporting actor in this one in order to round it out and make it more masculine.

What this fragrance smells like to me is the countryside in Ireland or Scotland in the spring when everything is in bloom, right after a light sprinkling of rain. I love it. Anyone who knows me knows that I am Gaelic Celtic blood, which in short, means I am Scottish blood. I was born in the US though. Even though Manx and Irish are Gaelic Celts as well. So, this smells like home to me. It gives me peace of mind and reminds me of a place that I have never been. It's fresh, green, and gentlemanly.

Back to the comparison to GIT. Tres Nuit opens up much more harshly than GIT and the smell is not exactly the same. However, for $20 bucks this is a great everyday fragrance for the warmer months. I only use my GIT when I want to impress, this fragrance allows me to do that.

I get around 7-8 hours of longevity with a good sillage and an arm's length projection with it. Pretty good and pleasant for its price point.

Overall, I think it's worth a blind buy, but I might be biased due to my love for GIT. I will say this much though, this is NOT GIT. It does not smell better than GIT to my nose. It is a great alternative though. Also, if you love GIT look into Aspen(A pine forest version, which is dirt cheap) and Cool Water (an aquatic version that is a staple for many men).

That's it for today and I hope you enjoyed this review. Be sure to +1 any of my content that you enjoy, so I know which types of reviews people enjoy the most! Also, hitting that blue follow button really helps too! Thanks for all of the support!

This image is what comes to my mind when smelling this. Greenness right after a rainfall. I hope it helps you imagine it better!

Image sourced from pixabay.com.

Surprising Sleepers 4: Playboy London

Image sourced from Fragrantica.com

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope today finds you in good health and joyful. Today I am covering a fragrance that I think is pretty decent for its price point, Playboy London. Yes, Playboy. I don't agree with the magazine either, but this is just a fragrance. So, let's get into it!



Presentation

Playboy London comes in a basic glass bottle with a navy blue sticker going around the bottle. One side features the Playboy bunny with the Union Jack (the UK flag) on it. The opposite side has a sketch in gold of Big Ben and the London Bridge and featuring the fragrance name and company in gold on it.

The cap is a cheap plastic and has an engraved Playboy bunny on the top. The atomizer is pretty bad, but it gets the job done.

Overall, I like the presentation. The sketches on the back are pretty cool.



Notes

Top- Pink Grapefruit, Mandarin, Galbanum

Mid- Rose, Cinnamon, Brandy, Toscanol(a molecule that is a substitute for herbals) 

Base- Tonka Bean, Virginian Cedar

Scent
London opens up with orange and something creamy, so I am guessing that is the tonka bean. Being closely followed by some brandy and cinnamon. I get a little greenness underneath it with some soft cedar.

The fragrance only lasts about 5 hours on me. It projects for about an hour. The scent bubble is maybe about 3 feet off the skin for the first 2 hours, after that, it is a skin scent.

Overall it smells pretty good. Considering this was only $5 for 50ML. You can get this over a can of Axe or Old Spice and it smells much better. This doesn't smell expensive, but it doesn't smell like something you would pay 5 bucks for. Smells maybe like something in the 40-50 dollar range. Which is much better than a can of Axe. So, if you forgot your decants while you are visiting the family during the holidays, this is a decent one in a pinch. I have actually received 2 compliments wearing this one.

This is a cooler weather fragrance. It is somewhat light for a winter fragrance, but it's good in the fall. It would be too sweet and sticky in the heat. The warmness from the cinnamon is great for fall anyway.


Thank you for the support and helping to keep me motivated doing this. Be sure to +1 my content if you like it and hit that blue follow button. it means a lot!

I probably won't post again until after Thanksgiving. I hope all of you have a blessed holiday with your loved ones.

My Top 5 Fragrances for Thanksgiving

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Hello everyone! I hope this day finds you well and in good health! Today I am going to be covering my top 5 fragrances for Thanksgiving. I am doing this early so that you have time to go pick them up if you want to. Thanksgiving is a time of warm spices, pumpkin pie, wet leaves, and cozy sweaters. I love this time of year and Thanksgiving just says "fall is here" unlike any other holiday. It's my second favorite holiday next to Christmas! Let's get into it!

Number 5: Creed Viking

Image Sourced from Fragrantica.com

Warm, spicy, and woody, while being a bit fresh and cooling with lemon and peppermint. The warmness from the spices makes this one an excellent fragrance for the holidays. Pretty expensive, but good nonetheless.

Viking Full Review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/11/creed-viking-review.html


Number 4: Bvlgari Man in Black

Spicy, woody, and boozy. This warm and classy fragrance showcases pure mature masculinity. It's warm and inviting nature, with a bit of dark mystery is a sure crowd pleaser for Thanksgiving. This one projects so much that you will warm the whole house up before the turkey starts cooking.

Man in Black Full Review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/bvlgari-man-in-black-review.html

Man in Black vs Bentley for Men Intense
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/11/bvlgari-man-in-black-vs-bentley-for-men.html


Number 3: Lacoste Pour Homme

Image Sourced from Fragrantica.com

Sweet, boozy, vanilla and cinnamon. This scent is a bit lighter and a different take than the spicy ones I mentioned before. Plum is the front-runner here and makes it an excellent Thanksgiving fragrance, paired with some sweet vanilla accented by creamy sandalwood and cinnamon. It also has a noticeable rum note in there. One of my favorite designer fragrances.


Number 2: Burberry London

What Thanksgiving would be complete without this gem? This is the quintessential holiday fragrance. It invokes so many memories. It really is an excellent fragrance. I won't say too much on this one because I have spoken of it before.

Top 5 Cheapie List for Fall
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-top-5-cheapie-list-for-fall.html

Burberry House Review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/11/burberry-house-review.html


Number 1: Penhaligon's LP No 9

Image Sourced from Fragrantica.com

Spicy, a little sweet, and a clove bomb. This one smells like the holidays to me and it will be the one I swear for Thanksgiving this year. London was my go-to until I found this beauty.  Clove, amber, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Do you need anything else to consider it a perfect holiday fragrance?

Full Review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/penhaligons-lp-no-9-review.html

Thanks, everyone for the support. Remember to +1 this and hit the blue follow button to support my work. I hope everyone has a safe and blessed Thanksgiving with their loved one. Please drink responsibly! Let me know what you will be rocking for Thanksgiving in the comments!

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Creed Viking Review

Image sourced from fragrantica.com.

Hello ladies and gentlemen. I hope today is finding you in very good health and happiness! Today I will be reviewing the newest men's release from the house of Creed, Viking. Shoutout to Nathan Geck for sending me a sample of it! Let's get into it.

Notes

Top- Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian Lemon, Pink Pepper

Mid- Pepper, Bulgarian Rose, Peppermint

Base- Indian Sandalwood, Haitian Vetiver, Indian Patchouli, Lavandin

Scent
Creed describes their newest fragrance with this caption taken from Creedboutique.com:
"Viking, a fiery men’s fragrance that bottles the fearless spirit of boundless exploration for the modern man who goes against the grain. Inspired by the incredibly crafted longships, a centerpiece of the Viking Age and one of the greatest design feats of the ninth century. A symbol of a voyage and undeniable perseverance, longships were carefully designed for the skilled seaman who embodied unbridled determination to conquer. Viking marks the brand’s first major men’s scent since the introduction of the cult best-selling Aventus in 2010."

This fragrance opens with a sharp burst of lemon, peppercorn, and peppermint. I don't mind it, but it could be off-putting to some. After a few minutes, it starts settling into a warmer spicy fragrance, while still being fresh with the lemon and peppermint. The sandalwood then comes out to give it a spicy woody feel with the lavender and rose to keep it clean, but not overly powdery.

Many people have likened this fragrance to Old Spice. While it does share some similarities with Old Spice, it is a completely different fragrance. It's a spicy aromatic fragrance, just like Old Spice. Viking is fresher and more modern. It's gentlemanly and classy, as you would come to expect from a house like Creed.

People also say this one is "mature". I couldn't see a teenager wearing this, but any working professional could pull this off. I am 32 and I do love Old Spice and I love this one as well.

Performance is great on me. I get about 3 hours of projection and 8-9 of total longevity with a great sillage trail.

Personally, I really love this. I wasn't a huge fan at first, but it grew on me after a few wearings. However, I will not buy a full bottle of this one. It's just not worth $500 for 100ML. I think it is fully worth $250(at a discounter) though. So, with that being said I will stick to a decant of it once my sample runs out.

This one does get some disdain in the fragrance community and I think it is unjustified. Aventus was a huge success and this one doesn't follow in the same footsteps. However, this is a showing of what the Creed house really is, more classic fragrances. I am glad that Creed has shown they are still willing to make fragrances like this. Not just mass pleasing ones like Aventus.

I hope you enjoyed the review! Have a great day and remember to +1 this post and hit the blue follow button! Thank you for all of the support!


Buy a full bottle here:
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/creed/creed-viking/eau-de-parfum?mv_pc=fragrantica&utm_campaign=306335&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=fragrantica#306335

Buy a decant from my friend Mark at Myfrangrancesamples:
https://www.myfragrancesamples.com/product/viking/

Pino Silvestre Review

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day! Today, I am reviewing something that was requested by a few people, Pino Silvestre. This is a classic fragrance that was first released in 1955. This fragrance has been around for quite a while and has a number of followers and haters. Let's get into it.


Presentation

Pino Silvestre is a pine based fragrance. The bottle is shaped like a pine cone (see image below). It's green resembling pine needles. The atomizer sprays a lot of juice, but it leaks as well, which isn't  a huge problem considering its price point.

A pine cone. Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Notes

Top- Juniper, Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon, Basil

Mid- Carnation, Clary Sage, Cumin, Geranium, Pine Needles

Base- Tonka, Amber, Musk, Oakmoss, Cedar


The Scent

Pino Silvestre opens up with a lemony pine smell. Very light and refreshing. Synthetic lemon, but natural smelling pine. It's more of a pine sap accord than the smell of pine needles. I really like the opening.

When it starts to dry down the oakmoss and herbal qualities come out. Normally, this is where a fragrance made in 1955 would show its age, but Pino manages to stay avoid that with the citrus top and pine sap.

When it is fully dried down the lemon fades out and the pine does tend to get this pine tar accord at times. I am not sure if it's the herbals mixing with the pine or what is causing that, but I notice it is much less prominent in the cooler weather. It gets a bit more of a dry aspect in the full dry down.

It pretty much smells like the name suggests, a pine forest. I actually like this one. I am not a fan of the pine tar note at times, but overall I like the fragrance. I love the outdoors and this one takes me there.

I still think this fragrance is better suited for 35+. Keep in mind, that I am 32 and wear this sometimes. So, wear what you think expresses your personality best.

This is a cooler weather fragrance, but can be worn on warmer days, just not warm ones. I would say anything over 60 Fahrenheit would be too much for this one. It's pretty casual and not for formal events at all.

The longevity is pretty good. I get around 7-8 hours with a solid 2 hours of projection. It also carries a pretty decent sillage trail.

Thank you, everyone, and have a great day! Be sure to hit that blue follow button or +1 this on Google. It would be very much appreciated. I leave you with a picture of a forest to give you more of an idea of what this fragrance manages to encapsulate.

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Buy Pino here:
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/pino-silvestre/pino-silvestre/edt#288878

My Top 10 Favorite Fragrance Notes

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Hey everyone! I hope you are having a fantastic morning. The sun is about to rise over here and I have a nice cup of hot Earl Grey and it's raining once again. There is no better time to write a blog post! Today I will be covering my favorite fragrance notes and why I love them. Enjoy!

Be sure to hit that blue follow button if you want to support my work! Let's get into it!

Honorable Mention: Vanilla

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Vanilla is an amazing sweet fragrance note that can add luxury or playfulness. It's a very diverse note that is used religiously in fall and winter fragrances. It can be creamy, sweet, or dry. Its role as a supporting note in fragrances is well loved by many. I just had to include it on this list.


Number 10: Ginger

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Ginger...One of the healthiest things on the planet. It has tremendous healing properties. It just so happens that it tastes good (I love it in tea as well!) and it smells amazing. Dry and spicy, ginger has the ability to warm up a fragrance. That spiciness you get from Dolce & Gabbana The One is mostly attributed to ginger. While cinnamon and cardamon are also amazing spicy notes, I am giving the nod to ginger.


Number 9: Sandalwood

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Sandalwood is actually a very precious and expensive fragrance note. Most companies are going to use synthetic versions of it, but it still smells really good. It can smell like dry wood, a lumberyard, pencil shavings, or it can lend itself to vanilla and smell quite creamy. A very diverse and amazing note that is used in both warmer weather and colder weather fragrances. If you want to try out  a good sandalwood fragrance check out Guerlain Santal Royal, Davidoff's Amber Blend, or Parfum De Marly Carlisle.

Number 8: Incense

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Incense is a very polarizing note for some. It tends to be quite strong and a main player in most fragrances it is in. Smoky and somewhat spicy, it is reminiscent of Catholic churches and ancient rituals which burned incense as an honor to something. It has been used for thousands of years.


Number 7: Whiskey

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

My favorite boozy note. Malty, elegant, and gentlemanly. Whiskey has been a favorite fragrance note for many men. It exudes class and refinement and pairs very well with other heavy notes. A good example of a whiskey fragrance is Mugler's Pure Malt.


Number 6: Apple

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Apple is a note loved by most people. From the smell of mom's apple pie to a cool and crisp apple orchard. It's sweet, fruity, and relaxing. It can be used as a fruity accord in summer fragrances or in the cooler monther lending itself to cinnamon and vanilla to create an apple pie accord. I haven't found many who do not like this note, both male and female alike.


Number 5: Chocolate

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Chocolate, we all know it. From Hershey's bars as a kid to dark German chocolate to creamy Swiss. It tastes good and also smells amazing. Ranging from dark to creamy...It's just a great note that is in most gourmands. One of my favorite chocolate fragrances is Valentino Uomo.


Number 4: Amber

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Amber is a synthetic note. It cannot be produced naturally. It has a warm vanilla type accord. From smooth and warm to dark and earthy, amber has found its way into the hearts of many fragheads. One of my favorite ambers is the one in CK One Shock, hiding under the sweetness and spice. Also, Davidoff Amber blend is amazing.

Number 3: Violet

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Fresh, clean, powdery, or ozonic. This flower does it all. Lending itself to soapy compositions. It just smells clean and refined. It can also smell like rain in some fragrances. It's just an amazing note that I thoroughly enjoy. Burberry Touch is my favorite violet fragrance (Even though it is technically violet leaf).


Number 2: Coffee

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Anyone who knows me knows I love coffee. The smell waking up to another day. It mostly lends itself to gourmand fragrances that are dark and sensual. but it can also be in more casual fragrances. I haven't found that one amazing coffee fragrance yet, but Rochas Man is serving me well right now.


Number 1: Tobacco

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Again, for those who know me, this will come as no surprise. Dark and wet or sweet and cherry-ish. I love the smell of tobacco. I look forward to fall and winter every year to wear my tobacco fragrances. It can be used in more formal fragrances or young and playful ones. It's an amazing note that can take center stage or play a lending hand to other notes.  It's very gentlemanly and luxurious in most compositions. A winner for sure, at least for me.

Thanks for the support and I hope you all have a wonderful day. Let me know what your top 3 favorite fragrance notes are in the comments!

My Most Worn Summer Fragrances 2018(Designer)

Image sourced from www.pixabay.com

Hello ladies and gentleman! I am not sure why I am posting this. It's a chilly rainy day here and I just felt like doing this topic, so here it goes! My most worn summer fragrances.

Honorable Mention: Kenneth Cole Mankind

This is a nice fragrance for its price and I wore it a decent bit. However, it is rather generic and safe. It would make a great summertime work fragrance. It smells very good, it's just nothing special.

Honorable Mention: Hugo Boss Iced

An iced black tea with a sprig of mint and an orange peel in it. That is what you get with this one. It's very light, green, and fresh. It's a sporty type fragrance, but it's nice. It's uplifting and really freshens you up on a hot day and makes you feel cooler.

Honorable Mention: Nautica Life

Another green and sporty fragrance. The bottle is really cool. A fresh and green marine fragrance that is not overly impressive, but great for the gym or casual outings. Longevity is only 4-5 hours. The projection is weak. It's a good person fragrance though to make you feel fresh.

Number 5: Moschino Uomo

This was my casually clean fragrance for milder summer days. Anice citrusy and musky fragrance that smells more expensive than the price indicates. An easy dumb reach with okay performance and projection. Nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done.


Number 4: Armaf Derby Club House Blanche

This is a clone of Creed Silver Mountain Water and it's a pretty good one. Obviously more synthetic than the Creed version. I mean it costs around 20-25 bucks, so you can't expect the ingredients to be high quality. It's still a classy summer fragrance. Smells expensive and is great for more formal summer events, but it can be worn casually as well. Has a metallic smell to it, but that just adds to its charm.

Number 3: Nautica Voyage N-83

The lesser-known flanker of the ever popular Nautica Voyage. Musky, fresh, salty, and slightly soapy. Performance is mediocre, but I like the smell. It's a good workhorse fragrance, meaning it can fit most situations. Not nearly as good as the original Voyage, but still worth its measly $15 price tag and it's different. Almost everyone has Voyage, so this one isn't as well known.

Number 2: Hollister Wave

Beachy, salty, woody, and citrusy. This is a very underrated fragrance. It's quite nice. I won't say too much on this one because I have a full review on it which I will link at the end of this article.

Number 1(Tie): Dior Sauvage

Yes, the ever popular Sauvage. Aggressive, peppery, and fresh. This fragrance is popular for a reason. It just works. It lasts forever as well. Super versatile and the most hated fragrance from fragrance purists, but regardless of that I still like it. I wear it when I am in the mood to get compliments.

Number 1(Tie): Azzaro Chrome Legend 

This one is a monster of a fragrance. Synthetic, metallic, and fresh. It lasts on me for about 10 hours and projects for almost 3-4 hours. This is a compliment getter. Think of this one as the more casual version of Silver Mountain Water. They smell nothing alike, but they are in the same category. I will never be without this one in my collection. It's very uplifting and energizing to me.

I hope you enjoyed it! Be sure to hit that blue follow button if you want to support my work! Until next time, have a great day!

Hollister Wave Reviewhttps://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/surprising-sleepers-1-hollister-wave.html

Kenneth Cole Mankindhttps://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/kenneth-cole/kenneth-cole-mankind/edt#259477

Hugo Icedhttps://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/hugo-boss/hugo-iced/edt#296117

Nautica Lifehttps://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/nautica/nautica-life/edt#255800

Moschino Uomohttps://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/moschino/uomo-moschino/edt#120541

Nautica Voyage N-83https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/nautica/nautica-voyage-n-83/edt#247769

Hollister Wave https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/hollister/hollister-wave/edt#285003

Dior Sauvage (Yes, Sauvage is cheaper to purchase at retail than at discounters)
https://www.sephora.com/product/sauvage-P400057

Azzaro Chrome Legendhttps://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/azzaro/chrome-legend/edt#154655

Mugler Pure Malt Review

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope everyone is doing well and smelling great! Today I have a full review for Thierry Mugler's Pure Malt from the A*Men line. My favorite from Mugler. Let's get into it!

Notes:

Top- Fruity Notes, Bergamot, Orange

Mid- Malt, Patchouli, Coffee, Cedar, Whiskey

Base- Peat, Vanilla, Amber, Musk


Pure Malt...There are so many things to say about this one, but I will try to keep it relatively short.

This is a masterpiece to me. Yes, it has been reformulated. I still get a good 8-9 hours with it and solid projection for up to 3.  It's not as boozy as the original, but it's still a great fragrance.

Sweet fruits, whiskey, coffee, and chocolate.  Gourmand, sweet, and a good dose of booze. The fruits make it sweet. The coffee adds to the warm characteristic. The standard chocolately patchouli that the A*Men line uses. This is a sweet boozy gourmand. It does that well.

One of my favorites in my collection, even in its reformulated state. Don't let the exaggerated reviews of it being weak dissuade you. It still performs very well. Just not as well as the original.

This is for colder weather only. Even now, this fragrance still packs a potent punch and would be super cloying in the heat. To me, this one is more casual, but it could be worn with business casual clothing. It's not safe for work for me, it smells too boozy. It's a great night out fragrance in the fall and winter.

Thank you all for the support once again. Hit that blue follow button if you'd like to support my work even more.

Top 5 Cheapie Fragrances for Fall
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-top-5-cheapie-list-for-fall.html

Veteran's Day Special Part 2: My Top 5 Fragrances for Depression

My cooking crew at our Christmas party. I am on the bottom left.

Hey ladies and gentleman! This is part 2 of my "Veteran's Day Special". These are the fragrances that helped me the most during days of depression. Some of these are more recent acquisitions, but they help if it pops up again.

First off, thank all of you for the tremendous support on my last post. It really means a lot and I am glad that my writing was able to reach and touch some people. I am truly humbled that you let me into your lives, even if only for a brief moment!

"I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think."- Socrates

That quote sums up why I made this blog, not really to teach as the title suggests, but to make people think about them in a different light.

Onto the fragrances now! I will only give a description of each one relating to how it helped me with depression. I will do full reviews on these fragrances in the future if I don't already have one, which will include notes, performance, etc.

Honorable Mention: Mont Blanc Individuel

The reason why this one is only an honorable mention is it doesn't illicit powerful emotion like the rest, but it's still very nice. It smells like clean laundry with a touch of sweetness. That is always a good emotion to smell clean things. This one does that.

Number 5: Burberry Touch for Men

This happens to be one of my favorite fragrances. The reason why this is on here is that it has a very powdery violet leaf note in it that is super relaxing and calming to me. I wear it to bed to help me relax to sleep sometimes, I love it.

Number 4: He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood

This is the one that I was talking about smelling like a forest in my previous post. It smells like the mountains. Trees, rocks, all of it. Accented with a beautiful ozonic violet note that gives it a feeling of the mountains and forest after a nice light rain. Takes me back to some of my hikes through the Appalachians.

Number 3: Rochas Man

Yes, you could laugh at this one just due to the bottle design and that would lift your spirits alone. I like to keep it family friendly here so I will talk about the memories it invokes. It smells like a sweetened vanilla latte with some lavender. So, it reminds me of a coffee shop. I love coffee shops and the way they smell. This one just brings a smile to my face thinking about coffee. It says "Man" on it, but I think a confident woman can pull this off.

Number 2: Bvlgari Aqva Amara

I know the picture is bad, but it's hard to get a good pic with this bottle design.

This one is the beach one I mentioned in part 1. I think of this when I smell it. You are sitting on a dock with an orange juice. You can smell a little bit of the wood. The air is salty and you can smell the waves crashing against the rocks. If that isn't a happy place, then I don't know what is. It is still topped by my number 1.

Number 1(Tie): Alfred Sung Hei

Many of you probably haven't heard of this one. It's a really great one. This fragrance evokes the feeling that you are doing a daily meditation in the middle of a bamboo forest in China by a stream, the water gently flowing and surrounded by a meadow of jasmine flowers. 

It's a very peaceful and serene fragrance. Somewhat resembling a floral bar of soap with a slightly woody undertone. This one is unisex to me as well, even leaning slightly feminine, but men can certainly pull it off.

Number 1(Tie): Zegna Uomo

I am a self-proclaimed pluviophile. Which means I love rain. In fact, it's raining while I write this. This smells like the rain on a beach after a thunderstorm. That wet air smell that lingers after the rains. It's beautiful and understated. Rain calms me and so does the smell of it. I absolutely love this one. If you love ozonic fragrances, this is a must try.

Rochas Man review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/rochas-man-review.html

Burberry house review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/11/burberry-house-review.html

Rocky Mountain Wood review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/surprising-sleepers-2-dsquared-he-wood.html

Zegna Uomo review
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/surprising-sleepers-3-ermenegildo-zegna.html


Thank you, everyone, for the support. It means a lot. Feel free to hit the blue follow button to support me even more. Let me know what your favorite uplifting fragrances are in the comments! Have a great day!

Veteran's Day Special: Fragrances and Curing Depression/PTSD

My cooking crew in the Army. I am at the bottom left. Photo Credit: Julia Mathis Ebenboeck

Hey guys. Today is Veteran's Day. A day to celebrate everyone who has served in the US Military. I served myself from 2005-2013. This is going to be part of my story of how fragrances helped me with PTSD and depression and hopefully how they can help you if you struggle as well.

During my 8 years in the military, I did a tour in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. I won't go into detail as to what happened, but it took it's toll on me mentally for years. From being afraid of a simple Coca-Cola can in the road to hating fireworks. From paranoia of crowds to thunderstorms. They all stressed me out. Anything that was loud or reminiscent of things that happened there. It put me in a deep depression. Always worrying about what happens next.

It started getting better with time, but it was never completely gone. That is until I found fragrances. They took me to a better place. Instead of taking me back to the smell of smoke and carbon they could take me to a beach with the smell of the salty air and a fruity drink. They could take me to a forest with such intense smells that I could hear the mosquitoes buzzing. They could take me to a coffee shop with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the first taste to wake you up in the morning. They could take me a mountain top with the mineral smells of a rock baking under the hot southern sun overlooking the Blue Ridge forest. They could take me on a hayride in the fall, with that first taste of cool crisp autumn air after a hot summer. Also, memories of campfires, snow, marshmallows, and scrumptious sweet food. They could take me anywhere...away from the memories.

Was it a crutch? Perhaps. It helped me get started into fragrances. It soothed me. It helped give my mind a break. It allowed me to overcome. Well, fragrances and some Jesus.

Thankfully these two things had my back. Now I am much better than I was. It does rear its ugly head every now and then, but I have some backup now.

Fragrances are strong emotional tools. They can put you in a better place. They can help you free your mind and focus on better things. It's a step by step process of replacing one negative thing with something positive. Day by day it gets better. Before long you notice the change and you work harder because you know you can get better. You can do it.

I think fragrances are a viable solution to help with depression. I know everyone is different and it won't work for everyone, but it did for me. Now, I enjoy fragrances even more now, even though I don't use them for that anymore. It started me on a road of passion and I didn't even realize it at the time. I am super thankful to all of the content creators and friendly people in the Facebook groups who helped me learn and grow. They say Veteran's Day is for veterans. Well, I say this Veteran's Day is for you kind folks. From a veteran, thank you.

Tomorrow I am going to post a fragrance list of some that helped me during this time. So, stay tuned and hit that blue follow button if you want to support me. It is greatly appreciated!

Let me know your stories in the comments and if you agree or diagree. Feel free to PM me on Facebook if it's private or shoot me an email on here! Have a fantastic day everyone!

Cerruti 1881 Review

Hello ladies and gents! I hope everyone had a fantastically fragrant day! Today I have a classic fragrance review for you, Cerruti 1881. One of my favorites in this genre. Let's get into it!

Notes:

Top- Lavender, Carnation, Galbanum, Cypress, Bergamot, Juniper, Elemi Resin

Mid- Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Lily of the Valley, Cassia

Base- Musk, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Cedar, Pepper, Pine


As you can probably tell from the note breakdown, this fragrance is a classic one. Originally released in 1990. Cerruti is an Italian house and it's evident in this fragrance. It comes in a frosted glass bottle at the front and back with "1881" stamped on the front, with a smooth glass on the sides that says "Cerruti 1881". The cap is plastic. The atomizer is very good and distributes a good amount of fragrance.

The opening is what you might expect from these notes. A green aromatic fougere. It smells like an Italian forest, Yes, it does have that old school dry oakmoss vibe, but this one is not aggressive and in your face. It has some barbershop qualities to it, probably coming from the dry oakmoss/juniper and the spices with a powdery effect. It's not cloying, it somehow maintains a class to it while being relatively strong. This one does have a spicy aromatic composition and is very masculine.

As I said before this one reminds me of an Italian forest, granted I have never been to Italy, but this is what I imagine they would smell like in the summer. You can smell the oakmoss, cedar, lavender, and the pine very well. It's a great fragrance if you want to reminisce about walks in the forest.

This one lasts about 8 hours on me and projects for 3. it has a large scent bubble that lasts most of the life of the fragrance. People will smell this on you.

This fragrance is casual, but I think you could make it work with business casual, just not something formal. I would say that this is for more mature men, in both age and mentality. It has a classy old school vibe to it. This fragrance is best on warmer days, but you can make it work in the winter as well. I find it to be pretty versatile.

Overall, this is my favorite fragrance pre-2000s outside of Green Irish Tweed/Cool Water/Aspen or Moschino Uomo. I think it has stood the test of time, even though it does have a somewhat dated vibe, I think it still holds up well and is perfectly wearable today and I don't think it gets much love anymore and it should. One of the most underrated fougeres on the market.

I hope you enjoyed the review folks! Be sure to hit that blue follow button so you will be notified when I post new content. I have some stuff in the works very soon that you will certainly want to be following my blog for! Have a great day!

Parfums de Marly Herod Review

Image Sourced from Fragrantica.com

Hey folks! I hope everyone had a great day! Today I will be reviewing one of my favorite tobacco fragrance (tobacco is one of my top 3 favorite notes). So, let's get into it!


Notes:

Top- Tobacco, Pepper

Mid- Osmanthus, Tobacco, Incense, Labdanum

Base- Vanilla, Cypriol, Cedar, Vetiver, Iso E Super, Musk


This fragrance opens up like cherry cough syrup with a slight metallic bite, sort of like the smell of an unlit cigarette. It quickly tones down that metallic smell and dries down to a sweet cherry tobacco with some vanilla and cinnamon. It smells intoxicatingly good. When it dries down the cedar and a bit of smokiness pops up a bit stronger, but the cherry tobacco with vanilla and spices are still there. It's very well blended and I have a hard time picking out each note outside the ones I listed.

I really love the sweetness that this one has. It's blended so well and it's very smooth which makes it classy.  Best in class for niche tobacco fragrances. I do like CK One Shock more, but it doesn't smell like this one. This one is a real compliment getter and it generally mass-pleasing.

I get around 6-8 hours on this one with a solid two of projection. The sillage leaves a heavy scent bubble for most of the life of the fragrance.

This one has a bit of class, but can be worn casually. It's pretty sweet and not for everyone. Colder weather only. This thing gets sickly sweet like cough syrup in the heat.

If you are looking for a smooth cherry and vanilla fragrance that is masculine and has some class, check this one out.

Thanks and have a great day! Hit the blue follow button if you want to support my work!

Burberry House Review

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting for a few days. I hope everyone had a great weekend! Today I am going to give you a review on one of my favorite houses: Burberry. I have not tried all of their offerings, but I will include a short review of each one I have. Enjoy! As always feel free to hit that blue follow button to show your support!

Burberry is a British house founded in 1856. They are most notably known for their trench coats and signature tartan patterns. They were granted a royal warrant to make clothing for the royal family. They didn't create their first fragrance until 1981.

Now onto the fragrances...

Burberry London

I have mentioned this one in another review for my top fall cheapies of 2018. It's still an amazing fragrance. Sometimes I get the smell of wet leaves in the fall on the opening and other times I get a port wine type smell. On the dry down it smells like a Christmas tree sometimes and other times it smells just like Christmas memories. It's hard to describe and it's amazing how one fragrance can conjure up so many memories. This should be in every man's collection for the holiday season.

Burberry Touch For Men

This one I consider my signature fragrance. It's an easy dumb reach that works all year and for any situation. You can dress it up or down. Casually or formal. In the heat or in the cold. This one does it all.

A beautiful powdery violet leaf accented by some spice and soft musk. Clean, classy, and a workhorse. It's not original or groundbreaking, but it's an excellent fragrance for anything and a great one to start a collection off with. As a bonus, I get 8-9 hours with this with 2-3 of solid projection and a nice scent bubble until the 7th hour. I will keep this one in my collection forever.

Burberry Weekend

This one was not pleasant when I first purchased it. It was a blind buy and came off as a citronella cand;e (You know the ones that keep mosquitoes away?). Then I looked at the notes and saw it had ivy and lemon...and it created that vibe. While I don't find it as intolerable as I did at the start. It grew on me, but I still think it's the worst from the house (that I have tried), It's a decent summer casual scent for a barbeque or running errands. Weekend is a fitting name. It's also synthetic. It lasts about 5 hours for me. Overall not impressive, but not horrible either. I will not be repurchasing this one.

Burberry Brit(not pictured)

A spicy powdery rose. Slightly sweet, but still remains elegant. A nice fragrance overall. I plan on getting a full bottle soon. Like the others on this list...nothing groundbreaking, but still a solid fragrance. Longevity was around 7 hours with 2 of projection and a small scent bubble. Ladies seem to love this one.


Overall, Burberry is a great fragrance house that is often overlooked. London has some hype around it and Touch has received a bit as well. For the price paid on discounters they are very good value for the price paid.

London
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/burberry/burberry-london/edt#142002

Touch
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/burberry/burberry-touch/edt#147655

Weekend
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/burberry/weekend/edt#120285

Brit
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/burberry/burberry-brit/edt#133498

Thanks everyone! Have a fantastic day! Let me know in the comments your thoughts on any Burberry fragrances you have tried!

The Most Overhyped Thing in the FragComm

This image is owned by me. Credit goes to yanhongbin / 123RF Stock Photo

I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the fall season! Today I have a somewhat controversial subject that I know many will disagree with me on it. That is fine, these are just my thoughts on it. I hope you enjoy this article.

I was thinking about the most overhyped thing in the FragComm...Trying to think of the fragrance that is talked about the most...then it hit me...It's not a fragrance at all. What is it then you might ask? It's longevity and projection. Also known as performance.

Now, before you get angry at me please hear me out. What is the one thing that you see the most on SOTD(Scent of the Day) posts on Facebook? It's not "What does this smell like to you?", even though some do ask that. It's usually not an opinion of the fragrance itself. It seems that there is always someone who asks "How is the performance?".

Now, performance isn't a bad thing, not in the slightest. Let me play "Devil's Advocate" for a bit on this one. So, why is it that we are more concerned with how long a fragrance lasts? I mean, if one only lasts for 2-3 hours, then that is obviously a problem. Why are people so enamored with it? If I want to wear Sauvage(just an example) to work that day, then come home and wear some CH Men Prive to go out with the boys that night...then Sauvage and its inability to be scrubbed off before 12 hours certainly poses an issue in achieving that.

On another note, why is projection so important? Do we have to announce to the world every day that we are wearing a fragrance and force everyone to smell us? I think in certain situations(ie. on a plane, a close quarters restaurant, in a movie theater, etc.) this could be considered as rude.

Why are fragrances like D&G The One and YSL's La Nuit de L'homme considered to be poor performing? Because they don't last 8 hours and project? I think part of the charm of these fragrances is due to them being seductive. To just give you a faint whiff to draw you in closer to experience it more. Yes, I am aware that the original formulations of La Nuit de L'homme were much stronger. It's like the difference between "Rock you like a Hurricane" by The Scorpions and "Killing Me Softly" by Frank Sinatra. They both have their places and situations and neither one is superior.

Another thing to take into account is going anosmic to the fragrances. Just because we cannot smell them does not mean others cannot. I go anosmic pretty quickly to Sauvage, but I have received compliments 10 hours into the life of it before. Same with D&G The One. Some people say it lasts 3 hours on them, well I have garnered a compliment 6 hours after applying before. Yes, I know skin chemistry plays a lot into this, but still, it's better to test with someone else's nose than your own.

One last thing I want to touch on. Just because someone doesn't say anything doesn't mean your fragrance didn't bother them. I know as for myself, I try not to say anything unless it is kind or constructive criticism. About 2 months ago I walked past a guy who probably did 8 sprays of Sauvage. I could smell him about 20 feet away. I didn't say anything to him, but it gave me a massive headache. That goes for any fragrance guys, if you spray 20 sprays of Versace Eau Fraiche then people are going to view you as the "guy who wears too much cologne". I don't care what fragrance it is. I think you should go no more than 5 sprays on anything. If it's a fragrance like Sauvage, one is enough. Be courteous to those around you.

Once again, I am not saying performance is a bad thing. I even mention it in my reviews because I know people want to know about it. I am just saying that I think we should look at the overall picture the fragrance is painting and not just how long it lasts or projects. I know I am probably in the minority here, but these are my thoughts.

If you are someone who values performance and that is how you enjoy fragrances then keep doing what you are doing. Love fragrances the way that you do. I am just trying to give an alternate view to possibly open someone's mind to a different way to enjoy fragrances. As I said, I was playing "Devil's Advocate" here.

Be sure to let me know your opinions in the comments!

I hope you enjoyed the article. If you like my content be sure to hit that blue follow button to show me your support. Have a fantastic and fabulously fragrant day!