FragComm Fridays: Joshua Hoke

Hey, guys and gals! It's time for another FragComm Fridays! This week we have Joshua Hoke, who is a long-standing member of the fragrance community and recently started doing Youtube reviews on a channel named Smells Like... He's an excellent reviewer who breaks down notes better than I do. Be sure to check him out. I will leave a link down below. Now, on to the interview!

1. What is your favorite fragrance?

Creed Aventus (I know, I know, but I haven’t found one I love more)

2. What inspired you to start a Youtube channel?
Watching YouTube reviews is how I got into the hobby. At a certain point, I just started thinking “That looks like fun!”

3. What is your favorite fragrance memory?
I have a few but one that sticks out is how my dad would let me “shave” with a fake razor sometimes next to him while he shaved and then I’d get some of his Eternity to splash on. I’ll just always have good memories with that fragrance because of my dad. 

4. Why did you start collecting fragrances?
I’ve always been kind of a collector. Like if I get into something I REALLY get into it. I tend to go full throttle into everything I do, so when I started enjoying fragrances and learning more about them something in me started really enjoying the process of narrowing down what I want and adding them to the collection. 

5. Have you ever smelled a fragrance that smelled good enough to drink? Even though you obviously wouldn't

Virgin Island Water the first time I smelled it 

6. What is your favorite guilty pleasure fragrance?Haha, I have a few... I’ll say Invictus Aqua. I love that stuff!

7. What is one fragrance that you adore that most people dislike?

Mugler Alien Man!

8. What is the best and worst thing about the fragrance community in your eyes?

Best is the people. There are some amazing folks in this community and so many really do care about helping others out.

Worst is the way money is changing things, especially on YouTube. Sometimes it feels like I’m watching a commercial (and I am), and I think that’s okay to an extent, but has the potential for being ugly. 

9. What would you like to see the fragrance community become?

There’s a lot of judgmental attitudes I don’t think are necessary. Because it’s all online some people can be really nasty and hurtful and it’s just not necessary or what people should be about. 

10. What historical person would you like to meet and why?

 I don’t know. I never come up with good answers to this question. Let’s make it fragrance related and say Coco Chanel. I’m reading a book about her right now and she was incredibly interesting and complicated and came from nothing to create an empire. 

11. Who has had the most influence in your life?

My mom and dad, in their own ways for sure but together always have had my back no matter what

12. Have any new plans for your channel that you can tell us about?

I’m just trying to reach 1,000 subs! Haha

Conclusion

 I hope everyone enjoyed this one! Have a great day and remember to always say something positive to someone! Be sure to check out Josh's fragrance reviews and music channel!


Joshua's Youtube Channel

Josh is also a talented musician, check out his music here

Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

Zaharoff Signature Review

Hey, everyone! I hope everyone is doing well today! So, I have a story about this one. I was watching Brooklyn Fragrance Lover's channel and the way Steven and Carlos explained it was amazing, so I ordered a free sample of it from him. He sent it to me with "Besh wishes. John". I then posted it on IG, saying I was going to review it soon. George Zaharoff, the owner and creator of the brand, contacted me on IG and offered to send me a full bottle. He's a super nice guy and very positive. I accepted the offer and the bottle came in last week, so here we are. This is a really great fragrance, but it was sent to me by George. My opinions remain my own, as always. Let's get into it!

Presentation

The box(not pictured) has a gold plaque like feel on the front with the box being black. A very classy feel. On the inside, there is an insert that says, "Today is going to be a good day" with a stamp that says this is bottle 279 out of 500. On the inside of the box lid, he personally wrote "Best wishes, John" on it. I really enjoyed the experience of opening the box and seeing all of the care he put into it. As you know, I love spreading positive vibes, so I whole-heartedly enjoyed it. I will link BFL and Steven's review down below. You can actually see the box in their review.

The bottle resembles a flask, as Carlos pointed out in his review. The cap is bronzed with the Zaharoff "Z" on both sides. It is plastic, but not a flimsy and cheap kind. The juice is a dark grey It says Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme on the front.

I really enjoyed the presentation on this one. The special little touches really impressed me.

Notes

I am copying these from Nordstrom's site, since they seem to be the only site that lists them.

Top
Lavender, Black Pepper, Juicy Pear, Fresh Cardamom, Blue Cypress

Mid
Temple Oud, Florentine Iris, Ginger Root, Blonde Cedar, Fir Balsam, Pimento Leaves

Base
Olibanum Tears, Creamy Sandalwood, Gold Patchouli, Black Amber, Skin Musk, Haitian Vetiver

The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens very soapy with a bit of olibanum. It's darker and potent. As Steven said in his review, it does harken back to an older fougere. I think it's more modern though. It's also much darker than any fougere I have smelled before. The lavender is very potent in this, along with the iris. I get a bit of oud and cedar in the opening as well. The oud is very westernized and tame though, so don't expect this to be an oud bomb.

Dry Down

Some of the black pepper and cardamom give this a bit of spice to keep it decidedly masculine. The cedar, iris, lavender, and oud do stay in the picture as the front-runners though. Some of the green patchouli and amber comes out now as well. I think the amber is very dark and lends to this composition beautifully. I get a slight hint of ginger as well. I think the musk mainly accentuates the florals to give this an overall clean vibe.

Performance

I get around 8-9 hours on skin, with about 2 1/2 of those being good projection. I get wafts of this one throughout the day. It leaves a really nice sillage trail as well. It's a really good performer in all honesty and it passes my expectation for this sort of fragrance.

When to Wear it

This fragrance is deep, dark and sensual. I think it's better for cooler weather and best suited for night time, but it can certainly be worn during the day. I think it had too much depth and would be cloying on a summer day. I think it would work dressed up for the most part, but I think it could be worn casually, but not with jeans and a t-shirt. This stuff has an aura of class to it and I think it should be used when you wear at least in a sweater and khakis. This would be a fantastic date night fragrance as well.

Overall Impression

This fragrance is very high quality and very smooth. It's not cheap though, $95 for 60ml. Although, when you consider the quality compared to brands like Chanel and Dior, then this one seems pretty cheap (price-wise) compared to them, since I think it stomps both brands on a quality basis. George actually has a Youtube channel where he showed the process of finding ingredients and for this fragrance. It is a good watch. It helped me feel connected to the fragrance to see where the ingredients came from. He has more episodes coming out soon He really put his heart and soul into this fragrance and you can tell he did. It really is a beautiful fragrance. I would actually gladly pay full retail for this one. I don't say that about many fragrances, but this one is really that good. Try to get a sample from him and you will see what I mean. George is also a great person. I enjoyed his positive words and light-heartedness in our conversations. I always love helping those who seek to spread positivity throughout the world. We need more nice people.

Conclusion

I hope everyone enjoyed this one. Be sure to check out my link below to check out BFL's review and the story behind the fragrance on Youtube. I hope everyone has a fantastic day and remember to say something positive to someone today. You never know how much that can help someone. As my insert in my box said, "today is going to be a stellar day"!


BFL's Review with Steven

Buy Zaharoff Signature here

Check out the fragrance's story on Youtube!

Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

5 Alexandria Must-Haves for the Warmer Weather

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hey, everyone! Sorry that I haven't been posting as much. I have had some stuff going on in my personal life that I have had to attend to. I hope everyone is doing well and I will probably only post 3 times per week from now on, at least for right now. Today, I have 5 Alexandria must-haves for the warmer weather. It's already warming up here, so I think this is a good time to do it. Give them a little maceration time before the hotter weather hits. Let's get into it! I am not going to do pictures for this one because the bottles all look the same, at least right now.


5. Alexandria Port

This is a classic Mediterranean style fragrance with lemon and neroli. Gives off a clean and fresh white shirt type of feel. Citruses and white florals in an effortless node to casual citrus based fragrances. This one is can be used for any situation and is very inoffensive. A better performing version of Neroli Portofino and very much under the radar on most people's lists.

4. Tropical Nights

This one does smell like Creed's VIW, but it is a unique take on it. There is much more ginger in it. That ginger allows it to be more classy and suitable for night time wear, hence the fragrance name. I actually like it just as much as VIW. Even more when you consider the price. It also has less coconut and more citrus. I really enjoy this one and it's Alexandra's cheaper spray fragrance at $32 for 60ml. This one is a no-brainer, folks.

3. Citron Del Mar

This is Alexandria's take on Creed's Millesime Imperial. This one does a very good job of immortalizing the fruit on a beach type vibe. It makes you feel like you are on a tropical destination enjoying some cool fruits in the hot summer sun. This one is great if you love aquatics and fruit-based fragrances. It's decidedly unisex as well, so both genders can enjoy equally.

2. Africano

This one is Alexandria's take on Bal d'Afrique by Byredo. it's a fresh and vibrant vetiver with musk and florals. This one is a bit classy, but it can be worn casually as well. It's pretty unique as well. If Africa smells anything like this, then I need to visit there very soon. This one is very unisex as well. This one isn't spoken of very often, but it needs to be. I am loving it.

1. White Zest

This one is based off of Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche. I don't get the lemon meringue pie that others get from the Chanel, but I do get a nice vanilla and lemon fragrance that is fresh and uplifting. A perfect Sunday fragrance in my opinion. It's not very gourmandy, but perhaps as close as you will get for a warmer weather gourmand. This one just makes me confident and peaceful when I wear it.

Conclusion

That's it for today guys and gals. I hope everyone has a great day! Say something positive and thank you for your continued support! Much love to everyone!

I will do a full review on all of these fragrances sometime within the next 3 weeks or so!

Buy these fragrances at Alexandria's website

Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

Alexandria Fragrances The Irish Gentleman Solid Fragrance Review

Source: www.alexandriafragrances.com

A walk through the Emerald Isles after a fresh and cleansing spring rain. The sun is shining brightly now, but the air is still wet. The recent florals are in full bloom. I am sure they appreciated the generous watering from the clouds. They seem to dance their aromas of joy into the air around me. The smell of fresh and vibrantly green grass assures me that this place is full of life. A slight hint of woodiness from the nearby forests adds to the olfactory sensation to complete an aura of complete classiness. A gentle serenade of complete euphoria. This smells like home.

Hey, folks! I am glad you all stopped by again. Sorry that I haven't been posting as frequently. I have been dealing with some stuff in my life recently. Today, I have another solid fragrance review from Alexandria Fragrances. These solid fragrances are seriously becoming a hit. If you haven't tried any yet, then you certainly should. This one is coming just in time for Saint Patrick's Day. It is nothing other than The Irish Gentleman, the fragrance that was inspired by the legendary Creed Irish Tweed. As you all know, I have an obsession with this fragrance, so you can guess where this is going. Let's get into it!

Disclaimer: I was sent this one for free to review, but my opinions remain my own.

Presentation

The presentation is the standard one for the Alexandria solids. The sticker on the front, ingredients on the back, and so forth. The only difference is that the label is a bright emerald color, which is totally fitting for this one. Remember that the caps screw off counter-clockwise.

Notes

TopIris, Lemon Verbena

Mid
Violet Leaf

Base
Ambergris, Sandalwood


The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens up with a bright blast of lemon verbena. It's like smelling freshly cut grass on a warm summer day. It's pleasant and uplifting. You get a slight hint of the florals, which gives it an aquatic or ozonic(the smell after a rain) type feel.

Dry Down

The lemon verbena tames itself a bit in this stage and mixes well with the ozonic violet leaf. The iris gives in a clean and slightly powdery vibe. This isn't the makeup type of iris. I know many people think of the Dior Homme line when they see Iris, but this is nothing like that. This fragrance is decidedly masculine. The ambergris seems to play a more supporting role here, as it does in most Creed fragrances. The Alexandria one is no different. The sandalwood is light, but it's there and makes this fragrance what it is with its masculine woody qualities. It has the smoothness of GIT captured perfectly, although not 100%. It's a close 95% to me. This fragrance does not smell cheap. It smells very expensive. Although many will mistake it for Cool Water...It is a far cry from that in terms of quality and elegance. This one is far superior and can be picked up for a few bucks more than Cool Water can be at discounters.

Performance

I get around 9 hours on the skin with this one. It projects for around 3 hours before it gets closer to the skin, but it can still be smelled in wafts throughout the day. It leaves a nice sillage trail for most of its life. Like the other solid fragrances that Alexandria carries, this one performs. It lasts longer than GIT does on my skin. I get around 7-8 from GIT.

When to Wear it

Anytime you want to. I wear GIT/GIT clones all year long. However, it is more suited towards the warmer weather, particularly spring. You can wear this casually or formally. It fits any situation. Date nights, business meetings, or drinks with the boys. This fragrance is the most versatile fragrance in my opinion. It does tend to suit more established and well-spoken men though, but a younger guy could certainly wear this one proudly.

Overall Impression

I love it. It's a version of GIT that I can take with me anywhere. I can always be sure to smell like my favorite fragrance without worrying about breaking a glass bottle. It doesn't matter if it gets beat up a bit either...or if I drop it. Plus, I can open the can and smell it at any time for a relaxing sniff of the Emerald Isles. At a price of only 30 bucks, this is a sure winner for me. Although, given its performance, I wouldn't need to take it with me for most things that I could do, but it would be great if you are traveling worldwide by plane. Given that this is also a very inoffensive fragrance.

Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to hit that blue follow button and sign up for email updates for when I post. Have a great day everyone and remember to say something positive to someone today!


Buy The Irish Gentleman

Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

I was Tagged! 4 Fragrances for Life(One for Each Season)

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hey, folks! I am sorry that I haven't posted in the last few days. I had some stuff going on in my life. From here on out, I might only post every other day. I might still post every day on occasion, we will see. Anyway, I was tagged by Daniel San on Youtube(I will link his channel down below) to do this thing that is going around for the fragrance reviewers. It's where you pick 1 fragrance for each season and that is all you can use for the rest of your life. Men, this one was much harder than I thought. The summer one was especially hard, since you folks know I love my citrus freshies. Whoever created this must love bringing about pain and torture to other people...I'm kidding, but this was quite hard. Now, let's get into it! Spring should be no surprise for my viewers, given my love affair with this fragrance.


Spring: Creed Green Irish Tweed

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This one should be no surprise to you folks. It is my all-time favorite fragrance. I only have a decant of it right now because my funds do not allow me to have a full bottle. However, I have Alexandria's Irish Gentleman and Genre's Irish Rainfall that suit me fine. I love both of them, but if I had to only have one, I would choose the real GIT. It's gentlemanly, classy, and versatile. It's effortlessly awesome. It's simple and linear, but it has character.  I struggle with words to describe this fragrance. I know it's called "Green Irish Tweed", but I think this is probably how the fields in Scotland smell after a nice spring rain. As most of you know, I am Scottish blood, so this just smells like home to me. Just a heads up, the Irish and Scots are the same race, Gaelic Celts, but they are different countries.


Summer: Bond No 9 Scent of Peace

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I had a hard time with this one. I wanted to choose AdP Colonia Essenza, but I figured I already had a clean fragrance in GIT, so that would make Colonia Essenza redundant if I could only have 4. Not that they smell alike, but they can serve the same purposes. This one is more casual. It's an inoffensive juniper and pineapple bomb that has monster longevity and projection. It's really is a peaceful fragrance. I love it. My decant is running on fumes and I need to get a full bottle. I prefer this one over similar fragrances like Aventus or Cedrat Boise. They all smell different, but they are in the same vein.


Fall: Penhaligon's LP No 9

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I hyped this one a lot during the colder weather. I think it's a vastly underrated gem. It's not very expensive either(if you get it from discounters). It's a great fall and holiday fragrance with plenty of spicy cloves and cinnamon in it. It smells like Christmas cookies baking to me or mulling spices used for hot cider, minus the apple. It has very good performance and I really do love this one. I still have about 10ml left and I will be getting a full bottle when this one runs out.


Winter: Scentstory 24 Gold

I just recently picked up this one. Well, a few months ago. It was instant love at first sniff. Oud, vanilla, and amber mingled together perfectly. Those are 3 of my favorite notes. This is actually quickly becoming my most complimented fragrance. The second time I wore it I had two unsolicited compliments. Every other time I wear it I get a compliment. That never happens to me. This one is a bargain at its price point. It smells very high quality. I love the whole Middle Eastern take on this one, without it being overly cloying or offensive. This is a comfort fragrance for me. It just warms me up and relaxes me. I love it.


Conclusion

I hope you folks enjoyed my picks! It was hard to do. I almost threw in Alexandria Hafez 1984 and Genre Noble Soul in there, but the ones I picked edged them out by a bit. There are so many great fragrances in my collection. This just made me realize which ones that I really love and which ones I could do without. It was sort of an enlightening experience.

Now, I want to tag a few people to do this. Wi Solano from the channel, Solano. I would also like to tag Kenny Walker, my fellow blogger from the blog, The Fragrance Shark.

I hope everyone has a great day! See you next time! Don't forget to say positive things today! Feel free to follow with the blue follow button or sign up for email updates!


Daniel San's Channel

Solano's Channel


The Fragrance Shark Blog


Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

A Trip to Amalfi: 10 Mediterranean Fragrances

Amalfi Coast, Italy. Source: www.pixabay.com

Hello, everyone! Welcome back! I am happy to see all of you here once again. As many of you know, I am a big fan of Mediterranean style fragrances. Abundant citrus trees which fragrance the landscape with captivating freshness, savory herbs that are used in cooking, and the smell of a fresh salty ocean. As some of you may or may not know, I also follow a Mediterranean diet, so I think this style of fragrances allows me to stay on track with that as well. But enough about that, let's look into the fragrances that make me think of the Mediterranean. I have never been there, so keep that in mind. These are just fragrances that I imagine it smelling like. These are in no particular order, they are just numbered for the cleanliness of the list.


1. Maison Margiela Under the Lemon Trees

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Fresh zesty lime...Wait, lime? It's called "Under the Lemon Trees", but yes, it is a lime accord/ It does come off as a tart lemon at times, but it's still lime. It's mixed with green tea, mate, and other green notes. It is supposed to give off the vibe of sitting under the cool shade of the citrus trees in Italy with a cool breeze blowing. I must say, it captures it perfectly. This is surprisingly long lasting for a citrus fragrance as well. In my eyes, this is the best release of 2018. No clickbait included.


2. Acqua di Parma Fico di Amalfi

Source: www.fragrantica.com

What is a list of the Mediterranean without Acqua di Parma? Spoiler alert: There is another AdP on this list as well. They are a quintessential Mediterranean style house. They do some of the best citrus bases fragrances you can find. In this fragrance, you will get ripe figs, green fig tree, and a melange of fresh and juicy citruses. This is one of the best smelling fragrances on the market to my nose. The only downside is it doesn't last very long. I don't care though, it's absolutely breathtaking.


3. Alexandria Fragrances Tropical Aura

Source: www.alexandriafragrances.com

This one is a fruity bomb! An inspiration of Sospiro's Erba Pura that fires off on all fruity cylinders. People in the Mediterranean consume high amounts of fruit daily, so this one makes me think of that. It comes off like a piece of fruity chewing gum like Bubble Yum or Juicy Fruit, so yes, it is a bit synthetic. It is beautiful though. I love fruity fragrances and this one always cures that itch.


4. Alexandria Fragrances Alexandria Port

Source: www.alexandriafragrances.com

I always loved Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino, but its performance left me wanting. As you folks know, I am not huge on performance, but that one is seriously lacking in that department. So, I am glad Alexandria came out with this. It's neroli and citruses with orange blossom. It's fresh, clean, and versatile. This one will be a go-to for more dressed up summer events, along with the next one I mention. It's can certainly be worn casually as well.


5. Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza

Source: www.fragrantica.com

A modernized version of the classic Colonia. It's similar to Neroli Portofino/Alexandria Port, but instead of lemon, it has more tart and tangy grapefruit. The neroli does give a soapy clean with fresh citruses.  vibe. This is a white linen shirt fragrance to me, but it could be worn with anything, Classicly Italian and classicly Mediterranean, but with a wearable modern edge.


6. Ferrari Noble Fig

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Figs are native to the Mediterranean, so it's only fair that a few fig fragrances appear on this list. This one is most of a fig leaf fragrance over a ripe fig. the fig leaf gives off a coconut type vibe. It's very light and safe for office wear. This is one that is not going to offend anyone, but it's very subtle, so you might not get compliments with this one.


7. Ferrari Radiant Bergamot

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I just picked up a small decant of this one, but at first sniff, this said "Italian" to me. Of course, Ferrari is Italian as well. It's a bright and fizzy bergamot accented by warm spices of ginger and nutmeg which give it that fizzy vibe. The melon is also a major player in here. I haven't been able to properly gauge the performance, but I do know this one smells very good and it's quality of smell far surpasses its price point. Same as Noble Fig.


8. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This one is more of an aquatic take than the others. It has the feeling of standing by the Amalfi coast with grapefruit trees nearby. The sour tartness of the grapefruit mingling with the salty ocean air. It's beautiful to me. It's nothing super special, but it is pleasant and it does bring images af the Italian coast to my mind.


9. Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This one has a huge note breakdown, but all I get is orange peels. I have tested it for 2 days straight, so it hasn't been tested thoroughly enough. I do like it though. It's a fresh and natural orange peel smell. Performance isn't great, like most of this line in general, but I do like it and it does make me think of the Mediterranean coast and their love of oranges.


10. Mancera Aoud Blue Notes

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This one is a bit synthetic, like most Manceras are. That doesn't make it bad though. This one has an interesting leather note in it. It makes me think of driving a convertible Italian car with expensive leather seats down the coast with the smell of the woody fruit trees blowing in your face. It's a very pleasant fragrance, but it is quite loud and forthcoming. It's a powerhouse in longevity as well, for a fresh type fragrance at least.


Conclusion

Mediterranean fragrances are some of my favorites. I simply love bright citruses and fruity fragrances. I know there are others I did not cover such as Creed Jardin d'Amalfi, Jo Malone Lime, Basil, and Mandarin, Creed Erolfa, and some others that I am testing. I do have some Oil Perfumery impressions of these, but I haven't reviewed them. I will soon though. I do wantto try many more fragrances in this style. If you have any you would add to the list, then let me know in the comments.

Feel free to hit that blue follow button and sign up for email notifications for when I post. Thanks for the support everyone! My blog hit 10k views yesterday, which might not seem like much, but I am very happy about that. Also, this will be my 97th post. So my hundredth is coming up very soon. I want to do something special for it, but I am not sure what. If you have any ideas feel free to message me through the contact form or on Facebook . So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Have an amazing day and remember to say something positive to someone today!


Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

5 Things that the FragComm Should Stop Doing

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hello, folks. I hope today is finding you well. As I sit here tonight, I am thinking about some things. These things are recurring in the fragrance community. Now, I do not make this post to sound condescending. I simply want to make us all better. Some of these things are purely my opinion and can be cast off as such. Some of these things are legitimate problems within the ranks. This post probably will not get looked at favorably due to my number 1 reason, however, I still feel like this needs to be said. So, I am sorry for all of you who come here for positive posts. 98% of my articles are like that. However, this one is not. Let's get into it, 5 things that we all need to stop doing. Number 1 is negotiable and only my opinion. I think the rest are true for all of us.

1. The Hype Train

Hype is a major thing in the fragrance community. I totally understand that. When you find a new and amazing fragrance then you want to share it with everyone. A lot of the hype is justified, for most anyways. However, I see some people who hype everything they get their nose on. Which isn't a horrible thing. However, they have a constantly rotating top 10 list and every new fragrance breaks into that list. It just makes people take your opinions less seriously. I am not saying hype is bad. Feel free to share that amazing fragrance you found. I am just saying when every fragrance that you try breaks into your top 10, then you might not be taken as seriously. Just something to think about. To each their own, this is just my opinion. Don't roast me for it.

2. Calling Out Scammers

I get it. Scammers are dirtbags and should be called out. However, it's the means as to how people go about doing it that bothers me. I think we should settle this with group admins and make sure there are no misunderstandings. I have seen many innocent people get called out for no reason at all. Sometimes mistakes happen. Just because you didn't get an answer in 15 minutes doesn't mean that person is trying to scam you. Some of these guys have families, jobs, and busy lives in general. They don't always have time to respond right away.

If we all contacted admins in these occurrences it would help for two reasons. One, you would say innocent people from losing respect. You can hurt an honest person's reputation by being too hasty on this. As I said, mistakes happen. Two, the admins could keep a list f people who have been suspected of doing this or doing shady business. This would keep it private if you don't want to call them out in public and it would help admins track potential problems before they blow up and that person has scammed a lot of people, if they are indeed a scammer.

3. Snobbery

Everyone has what they like. There is no need to mock people for loving cheap fragrances or clones. Also, there is no reason to call someone a snob because they prefer high-end niche. We are all on this journey together and we should encourage one another to explore what they love. Your nose is not more developed because you love niche. Your $20 clone might smell amazing, but it is not 99% identical to the original. Clones are great, I love them. However, I have yet to find one that is exactly identical, so I don't think we should judge each other on the price of a fragrance. We are in this together to share our emotions about fragrance and help others explore new ones. So, let's stop all of the petty talks about niche versus designer. We are all better than this.

4. Compliments

Compliments are great, they really are. It makes you feel good when someone thinks you smell amazing. It's a euphoric feeling. However, some people overexaggerate this greatly. I saw one person post that he received 16 compliments in one day. Come on, man. Unless you were at a family gathering, then that is highly unlikely. I mean, I am aware that I am not the most attractive guy, but I never get compliments of that magnitude. The most I have received in one day is 3. One of those was from a friend too, so only 2 unsolicited ones. I think part of this goes back to Jeremy Fragrance and his obsession with compliments from the ladies. What people don't realize is his compliments are forced. He walks up to women and asks if they like the smell. I don't know what one seeks to gain from overexaggerating this, but to each their own I guess.

Then you have the people who ask about compliments on someone's SOTD post. Also, the people who ask for the highest complimented fragrances with the ladies. I am going to let you gentleman in on a secret. I am 33, so I am not old or young, but the best way to get compliments from women isn't your fragrance. It's your personality. Be respectful, cordial, and polite. Most women, at least in my age group, don't enjoy the whole playboy persona. They want a well-mannered man who treats them with respect. This is just my personal experience. Your experience could vary. A fragrance is an accessory. It's not the main focus. If you dress like a teenager in destroyed denim, super baggy t-shirts, or anything else that comes off as youthful, then you probably won't get as many compliments, regardless of how good you smell. I personally think using a fragrance to try to get in someone bed is a disgrace to the art of perfumery, but again, to each their own. I am still single, so maybe I have it wrong as well.


5. Being Rude

Rudeness is a huge thing in the fragrance community. You can get your point across without being a jerk about it. I fully expect some people to be rude to me about this article, but I don't really care. If I can make one person think about their actions from this article, then I will take it gladly.

Just because that person is wearing Nautica Voyage, which is a cheap and safe fragrance, doesn't give you the right to trash what that person likes. You can respectfully say that it's not your style, but you are glad that he likes it. You don't have to tell everyone that you love their fragrance, but let's stay away from insulting someone's tastes because they aren't like your own. Again, let's be well-spoken gentleman and ladies. High school is over, for most of us at least.

Disagreements will happen. Our olfactory senses are highly subjective. Just like our sense of hearing, taste, and touch. Some people love rock, some do not. Some people love fish, others hate it. It's all subjective. We need to learn to accept and embrace the diversity within all of us instead of insulting it.


Conclusion

I will just note, that I am guilty of some of these things as well. We all need to work on improving our community. That includes me. Don't take this as me talking down to you. I am guilty of the same things. A community isn't just one person and their opinions. It's a group of people. That means we all need to work together to make this an awesome and inviting place for all fragrance lovers.


I hope you enjoyed this article. If not, feel free to roast me. I can take it.  I am so glad that we have such a diverse fragrance community that is full of kind and helpful people. You folks who have supported me and my endeavors have helped me through some tough times. You have brightened my world when it was dark. I care about all of you and I want us all to succeed. Thank you for letting me have a few minutes of your life to read my articles. I am working on making my content more entertaining. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

As always, feel free to hit that blue follow button and sign up for email updates! Even though this article was sort of negative, I will still say positive things to people today! I implore you to do the same! I hope everyone has a great day!


Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

Alexandria Fragrances Fructus Virginis Review

Sweet seductive cherries willingly lend their smoothness in a dance with an amaretto accord. So sweet, breathtaking, and alluring. The vanilla wants its turn as well, but it's too shy to ask for the center stage, so it bashfully hides in the corner, but manages to make its presence known. The sweet tonka manages to convince the vanilla to dance with it. Together, they become a beautiful concoction. They dance the night away in joyful synchrony. They don't care who is watching. They are doing their thing and doing it in their own style. It works for them and they are happy with being who they are. Together, their splendor exudes an aroma of pure bliss. This is the 5-star performance that much of the world will not see.

Hello, everyone! Good morning! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day today! Forgive the corny intro, but I am trying to be a bit more poetic. Let me know if you like it or not in the comments! Today, I have a new release for you, Alexandria's Fructis Virginis, which is inspired by Tom Ford's Lost Cherry. This fragrance should release sometime this week. "Should" is the keyword. Hopefully, it will. People are really comping at the bit to get their hands on this, and rightfully so. This was sent to me by Hany, since it's not for sale yet, then I didn't purchase it. My opinions are still my own. Hany never asks me to say anything about his fragrances.

Presentation

The presentation is slightly different than the other Alexandrias. It has a red label. This is the first Alexandria fragrance to have that. I like that touch because it makes it easier to spot in my growing Alexandria collection. Everything else is the same, so I will not cover those details.


Notes

Black Cherry, Bitter Almond, Cherry Liqueur, Griotte Syrup, Tonka Bean, Peru Balsam, Cedar, Sandalwood, Turkish Rose, Vetiver, Jasmine Sambac, Vanilla

(I added vanilla in there because I certainly pick it up in this)


The Scent

Opening

Fructus Virginis(FV from here on out) opens up with a blast of tart cherry flesh. It is by far the most dominant note in this fragrance. Drizzle in some vanilla and griotte syrup(sour cherry syrup) to add some sweetness. Also, I get an amaretto accord from the almond note mixed with the cherry liquor. It's very sweet and powerful in the opening. It smells very rich, deep, and decadent.

Dry Down

The cherry notes start to mingle in a more friendly manner with the amaretto, vanilla, tonka, and cedar here. It turns into a more blended fragrance. The cherry is still the focal point and it only likes to share the stage with the amaretto during the entire life of the fragrance. The vanilla, tonka, cedar, and balsam mingle in a friendly manner behind those two notes. It's a very sweet and gourmand fragrance. It's simply breathtaking. I don't notice any sort of vetiver or jasmine in this one. I do get a slight hint of what could be some candied rose. The sandalwood is creamy and is a supporting actor to the sweetness of this fragrance. After a while, the cherry elements fade to the back and this fragrance becomes more of a balsamic sandalwood with vanilla scent.

Performance

I get around 8 hours of longevity. 2 hours of that are projection. It's a much better performer than Lost Cherry, or so I hear at least. I have not tried Lost Cherry. It leaves a decent sillage trail for about 6 hours. I think once it ages a bit more then it will get even better performance. This is a new release, so the batch is only about 3 weeks old.

When to Wear it

FV is a very sweet fragrance, as I have already stated a few times. It works best for cool to cold weather and at night time. This is a great date night fragrance. It has an err of sophistication about it, so I don't think this would be a clubbing fragrance, despite its sweetness. It can be worn by any age and gender, but I think it suits a working professional more than someone in college.

Overall Impression

Fructus Virginis is a very good release, considering the richness and depth of this fragrance. I cannot compare it to the Tom Ford, but as a standalone fragrance, this is one of the best Alexandrias I have tried to date. I really enjoy this one. I just wish it was released earlier in the year. It's already warming up a bit here, so I won't get too many wearings out of it. However, that will let it age nicely for when it cools down again. This one will get a huge amount of hype. It's just a very likeable fragrance and you will regret it if you are late to try this one out.

Make sure to put it on your wishlist, so that you will be notified when it purchasable. This one might sell out a few hours after it drops, so be mindful of that. Don't be the guy/gal that is behind and has to wait for a restock.



Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this one. Have a great day everyone! Remember to say something kind to someone today. You never know how much it could help them!

As always, take care until next time and hit that blue follow button and sign up to receive email updates if you enjoy my work. It really helps me!



Buy Fructus Virginis here

They are also releasing a solid version with it. Purchase that here

Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!

A Spring Must-Have: Guerlain Vetiver

Source: www.fragrantica.com

It's a hot summer day in the French countryside. A gentle spring breeze softly caresses your skin. The smell of soapy green grass enters your nostrils with the feel of the warm sun on your skin with a touch of the nearby woods. The breeze slowly a little stronger and you get a nice waft of the nearby citrus trees. You can also catch whiffs of the spice market in the small village you spent the night in. The harmonious serenade of the natural earth relaxes you and brings the smell of freedom to the forefront of your mind. It makes you wonder why you didn't put on your finest tweed jacket and tee off that morning.

Hey, folks! I am glad you could join me once again. Sorry if that was a bit corny, but I am trying something new. Let me know if you liked it! As you can tell, I am quite passionate about this fragrance. This is Guerlain Vetiver and I truly believe this is an absolute masterpiece. I don't call many fragrances that, so you know that I truly think this one is excellent. I will stop blabbing now and get to the review!

Introduction

Perfumer: Jean-Paul Guerlain
Release date: 1961 (rereleased in 2000)
Class: Woody Aromatic
Scent profile: Classic


Notes

Top
Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Coriander

Mid
Nutmeg, Pepper

Base
Tobacco, Vetiver, Tonka Bean

(Many sites list different notes for this one, so my note breakdown might not be totally accurate)


The Scent

Opening

Vetiver opens with a blast of lemon and bergamot accented by neroli and fresh vetiver. It's like a blast of spring air after the snow clears. It's refreshing, beautiful, and uplifting. You get some of that soapy neroli in there as well. Which helps the vetiver smell so clean and fresh. The vetiver is bright and green, but also has earthy nuances, which leads me to believe it's of the Haitian variety. The lemon and bergamot are bright and uplifting, but not like juicy freshly cut citruses.


Dry Down

During the dry down it gets a bit drier. The citruses fade into the background. They are still there, but they are faint. This is where the nutmeg and pepper start to beautifully pair with the vetiver and neroli. It works to concoct a masculine aroma of a gentleman. A nice touch of dry tobacco is in there and something that resembles oakmoss, although I am not sure it's an actual note in here. It also has something that resembles some animalic civet, which was popular in fragrances at the initial release of this fragrances. It's not strong enough to call this fragrance animalic though.

Performance

This isn't a projection monster. It does project for about an hour and a half. It projects more than just a skin scent though for most of its life. I put it on at 3pm one day, then I woke up at 9am the next morning and was doing some stuff on my computer and I smelled something. I smelled my hand and Vetiver was still there. Granted it was only a vetiver and oakmoss fragrance by then, but I was still getting wafts of it. It lasted until noon that day. So, around 21 hours on my skin. It leaves a pretty decent sillage trail though. People will smell this on you, just not from far away.


When to Wear it

This fragrance works best in the warmer weather, but I think it would make a good signature scent and could be worn all year. I am not sure how well the notes would hold up in the winter, but I would still wear it. This is a gentleman's fragrance. I would say to wear it in at least business casual. This would be a perfect year-round fragrance for work. It's inoffensive, classy, and clean. This fragrance best suits men 30+. It does have an old school vibe, but I think it's totally wearable today. It's like a wool sweater that you never throw out because it still works perfectly fine.

Overall Impression

Guerlain Vetiver is a masterpiece, as I said earlier. I cannot even fathom the words to explain how this fragrance makes me feel. I love it. It just takes me to another world every time I smell it. I am sad that I only have a decant of it. I need a full bottle very soon. This has Guerlain all over it. Refined, classy, and ageless. This is a must-have for any man who takes himself seriously. Although this one works so well for me, it is more classic in composition, so I would not suggest a blind-buy on this one. Some might find it dated and old. However, I 100% suggest you sample this beautiful concoction. I also suggest checking out Guerlain's other offerings if you like this one. They are my second favorite house, besides Acqua di Parma. This one has thoroughly and deservedly earned a spot on my top 10, which doesn't change very often.


Conclusion

I hope you folks enjoyed this one! This fragrance is something that I am excited about! I hope everyone has a good day! Remember to say something positive to someone today! Let me know what you thought of the new format in the comments!


Want to learn how to support my work? Click here

Want insider news as to what I am working on? What I am testing? Any giveaways I might hold? Want to decide what topics for me to cover on my blog? Then join the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook group here!

Follow me on Instagram!