Clean: Parfums de Marly Galloway Review

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Hey, folks! I hope everyone is doing well today. I haven't done very many single reviews lately, so I thought I would do another quick one. This one is Parfums de Marly Galloway. I have had this one for a while and I have worn it a few times. I received it as a free sample from www.myfragrancesamples.com. Let's get into it!


Notes

Musk, Citruses, Iris, Pepper, Orange Blossom, and Amber


The Scent

Opening

Galloway opens with a burst of soft grapefruit, a dash of lemon, and orange blossom. The orange blossom is more white floral than citrusy. It gives off a very clean vibe in the opening, one that will persist through the life of this fragrance. The opening is pleasant, but it smells like it's cheap quality. There is no real definition from the notes. It just smells muddled together and soft.


Dry Down

Once the heart comes out, you get a bit of powdery iris, but not the lipstick kind. It retains a bit of its floral smell during this phase. You get the slightest hint of black pepper, but it's nothing to write home about. The citruses remain there to give a little freshness to the powdery iris and the clean musk, which is starting to emerge.

Once this fragrance dries down you are left with a bland concoction of powder with soft citruses and musk. It smells quite cheap, similar to something a $20 fragrance would smell like.


Performance

Galloway is a decent performer as a skin scent, lasting around 10 hours on skin, but with a very soft projection and sillage. This is a fragrance made to not get you noticed, so it makes sense that it doesn't project very well.


When to Wear it

This is a warmer weather fragrance. It's versatile and can be worn for anything from a casual white t-shirt to a suit.

It's distinctively unisex. It doesn't lean more in either direction.

This would be okay as a summertime office fragrance.


Overall Impression

Galloway is a huge miss for me. I love classic powdery fragrances, but this just smells cheap and boring to me. It has no life in it. There is nothing to draw you in. The ingredients seem to be low-quality besides the iris, which is actually quite nice and natural smelling. It just seems like whoever blended this fragrance wanted something safer than safe and PdM only gave them a small salary for ingredients.

This one had the potential to be better if it had more of a citrus pop and a better orange blossom note. It ultimately fails as another ordinary musky fragrance that smells like you could pick it up for 20 bucks at TJ Maxx. Such a shame.


Conclusion

I know I don't normally trash fragrances this hard, but I don't understand why this has so many positive reviews. Were they paid for them? This fragrance isn't special in any way, but maybe that is where the charm is for some people? I don't know. I certainly wouldn't pay over $40 for it. It's just not good enough and it wouldn't get any wearing because I have fragrances similar to it that have more interesting scent profiles.

I hope you enjoyed this quick review. Be blessed and have an amazing holiday season!

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Fragrances and Addiction: The Struggle

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Season's greetings! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Mine was pretty good, but uneventful, but I am still thankful for what I have.

With the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to touch on a subject that impacts all of us. At least to some degree. That subject is fragrance addiction. We all spend lots of money on fragrances, but when is it too much? Why do we do it? How can we control it? I think this is one of the most important topics that I can cover. The holidays and businesses want you to buy tons of their products, but when is it too much?

Disclaimer: I am not telling anyone how to spend their hard-earned cash. I am simply trying my best to help us all be better and happier. Even though I know someone will go into the comments section on Facebook and tell me I can't tell them how to spend their money. That is not what this article is about.

Also, I know I have had conversations in private with people on some of these issues. I can assure you that this is not targeted at anyone. These are just general thoughts.

Let's get into it!


The Addiction

We are all addicted to fragrances. Let's just be honest, you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't. Some of us only have 10 bottles, while others have an upwards of 1,500 or more. Either way, it's too much when you think about it realistically. A person only needs around 5 fragrances at most. However, I am not saying to not collect and love your hobby. I am just saying that it is too much if you think about it practically.

Now, I am not telling you to not collect fragrances. That would just be silly of me, being that I have around 250 or so myself. It would also be quite hypocritical.

What this article aims to do is tell you what I have learned from my experiences in the fragrance community for the past two years. I don't know very much, but I do know about some things I have noticed and things I have dealt with personally in regard to this matter.

I hope you enjoy this and find it insightful. As always, my opinion should not dictate your actions.


The Urge

Let's start off with the urge to buy new fragrances. We all get that excitement that is akin to a kid on Christmas morning after Santa paid them a visit when getting a new fragrance. It's like a drug. A fix for our emotional state. A momentary symphony of bliss. I said before that fragrances were therapeutic and I still believe that.

However, is the urge worth it? Oftentimes, we get so excited only to be let down. Do we do it because we just want something new and exciting? Are we bored with the other fragrances we have in our collection, even though we said they were "bangers"? Is it because we can't focus on what we have? Will anything ever sate the desires of our heart?

I am not sure. Sometimes I think it's the fragrance community instilling a mentality that we need to have that new hyped fragrance in order to be cool and recognized. Sometimes I think we just need to change things up a bit. Other times I think it's us trying to escape other things in our lives that are weighing on us.

Regardless of the reason, buying massive amounts of fragrances and going broke doing it is not a way to live, my friends.

Debt

I see some massive fragrance hauls on Facebook. Some of them probably cost around $1,000. Now, if you do this every once in a while, then you will be fine. I see some of these hauls happen quite frequently from some people. I can't help but wonder if they can afford it or if they are just showing off. It's none of my business what their finances are, but I still get curious.

Even if you aren't doing massive hauls and such, going into debt for fragrances isn't the answer. A quick sniff isn't worth financial woes. It doesn't hurt to splurge every once in a while and use your credit card, but if it's something you know you can't pay off, then I would suggest not doing it. Instant gratification only lasts a few moments, but debt can last for years.


Keeping up with the Joneses

I am not sure if this is an American saying or not, so I will explain it. Let's say your neighbor is Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones just bought a brand new Jaguar and you get a bit jealous of him. So, you go out and buy a Bentley to prove you are better. Whenever Mr. Jones gets something nice, you have to buy something better. That is what "keeping up with Joneses" means.

Now, let's say that your buddy buys a Roja that costs $600, so you go and buy one that is $800 just to look better than him. This, my friends, is not a way to live. Jealousy will eat you from the inside out and ruin your life. Just buy what you love, not something to one-up someone.


Showing Off

Yes, this does happen. Buying an expensive fragrance just to show the cool looking bottle and say it's expensive is a child's game. The same goes for trying to show off other things that might be of value. There is very little interest from the general population in this stuff.

Buy what you love, not because it's expensive and you can. There is no point in buying a Porsche that you will never drive. It's wasted money.


Hype

Hype needs to be mentioned here because it plays into our urge to buy. I have said it once and I will say it again, any reviewer who tells you to go out and buy a bottle without sampling something isn't looking out for your well-being.

As a whole, we need to start telling people to sample. The fragrance community is a family. Let's not encourage them to go broke for something they might not like, even if we do think it's amazing.

You shouldn't feel left out if you don't have the latest fragrance. We don't need to live in this fast-paced world of instantly wanting something just because we can get it. Think about it first.

I see so many people who say they need a bottle of something as soon as it is announced, even though they have never smelled it. I don't get that, but to each their own. Sample first, ladies and gentlemen.

Some reviewers hype stuff because of other reasons, but that is not something I am going to cover in this article.


Blind Buys

Blind buys are like gambling. It can be addicting. I get the thrill of blind buying and seeing if it's something amazing. However, it's not wise to do this, especially with expensive fragrances. If samples are available, then I suggest going that route.

I am guilty of blind buying myself. I need to lessen the amount that I blind buy, so I will have less useless fragrances in my collection. You will never get all of your money back from flipping a blind buy that you didn't like.


Boredom

I think boredom might play into fragrance addiction as well. We get bored smelling the same thing. So, we hear about something new and different and we feel like we need to have it.

I think we should spend more time loving the fragrances we have and getting to know them better. A fragrance isn't a one-night stand. You need to learn to love them and how to treat them as they are before they will love you back.


The Compliment Factor

If you keep buying fragrances because the last 20 you bought don't get you compliments, then please, just stop. Think about what you are doing. It's probably not the fragrance. It's probably that you are not presenting yourself in an approachable manner or you are spraying too heavily. Fragrances are an accessory and should never be the focal point of your personality and presentation.

If you have wild hairs in your beard, don't bathe, or talk to people with massive amounts of profanity, then you are less likely to get compliments. Be warm and inviting to people. Don't buy fragrances to get compliments if the others aren't working. Work on yourself as a person and you will see that the fragrances that you already have are just fine.

Also, on a side note, compliments have nothing to do with attractiveness. I am an average guy and I get unsolicited compliments, but I present myself as a clean and warm person.


The Buying Frenzy

Companies want you to buy massive amounts of their products. That is why they market them in a way that makes you want them. That is how they make money. Trust your nose, not a description that a company gives.

Especially around the holiday season. They will encourage massive amounts of spending without any concern for your financial state. Stay diligent, brothers and sisters. Spend your cash wisely.


The Sheep Mentality

This one is one I might get some backlash over, but I am going to be honest. Don't walk off a cliff because a reviewer told you to. This goes for myself as well. I am here to describe what I get from a fragrance and to tell you if I think it's good or not. I am not here to tell you to buy a fragrance. You shouldn't buy anything solely off a reviewer's suggestion.

Think for yourself and think critically about what that reviewer is telling you and how honest it sounds. If you don't, then you might end up with 6 Parfums de Marly fragrances that you don't like and end up being glorified paperweights. I hear the bottles are quite heavy, so I am sure they are good for that, but you can get paperweights for much less.


Charity

Yes, I am going to cover this. There are people around the world who don't have much to eat or clothes to keep warm. Save a few bucks and help them out if you'd like. Maybe buy them a fragrance too. It's a good thing to be humble and kind. To give without seeking anything in return.

Helping someone stay warm for the winter will feel so much better than a quick sniff of a fragrance. I can promise you that. Let's not forget about those people who need stuff just because we want stuff.

If you plan on donating to charity, then I suggest researching it first. Some charities only give a very small portion to people in need.


Conclusion

The best advice I can give you is to buy what you love and don't end up with 40 fragrances that you don't like wearing. The fragrance community is a fast-paced world that will suck you in and influence you to spend your hard-earned cash on things that you don't need. If you want something so badly, wait a month and then see if you still want to purchase it. If you still do, then get it. Tastes change.

Be wise and be a blessing to those you encounter. This holiday season is about more than fragrances. Spread joy and love, but always smell good doing it. People are still hurting during this time of the year, so speak words of kindness and life.

I started up a Facebook page for my blog. It would be awesome if you could go give it a like, review, or rating. Feel free to be honest if you think I can improve! Link

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! I also post every article I write in here, so that might be an easier way for you to see every post I do!

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10 Boring Fragrances

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Hey, folks! I am happy to see all of you once again. I hope everyone is having a lovely day today. Remember to drive safely during this busy travel week. I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving with their loved ones as well. I won't be doing much, besides having dinner with my mom. So, if you need someone to talk to then I will be around.

Today, I am listing 10 fragrances that are boring, played-out, and overhyped. Keep in mind that this is solely my opinion. Please don't get your feelings hurt if I list one of your favorites because most likely I will. I just think these are talked about way too much. I understand that many fragheads start out with these fragrances.

Keep in mind that I am not saying these fragrances are terrible, only that they are boring at this point in my fragrance journey. I have smelled close to 1,000 fragrances probably, so these ones just don't excite me as much as when I started.

This list is not in any order. This is not a top 10 list. It's simply 10 fragrances that no longer excite me. Yes, I do own most of these.

Remember to not take any offense to my opinion. My opinion does not dictate what you love. Let's get into it!


10. Dior Sauvage

Sauvage is a headache-inducing ambroxan bomb with a zesty synthetic bergamot note and a good dosage of pepper. Every style Youtuber puts this on their list, which pretty much delegates it into boring territory on its own.

People overspray this one way too much. It's very strong and aggressive. The scent DNA just isn't exciting. It's not a terrible fragrance, but its own success has been its downfall. It's also overly synthetic and I smell it everywhere, even in a small country town of 30,000 people.


9. Paco Rabanne 1 Million

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1 Million is like Sauvage, in the sense that its own popularity has been its downfall. The bubblegum sweet DNA that Paco Rabanne created here has been copied and mimicked across all of fragrancedom. This is a fragrance that is mainly used by people who go to clubs now. It's loud, synthetic, and way too sweet.

I do enjoy Prive, which is a flanker of this one, but the OG is just played out and boring at this point. There are so many other sweet and spicy fragrances that have depth on the market now. There is literally no reason to purchase this fragrance.


8. Versace Eros

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Eros is well known as a clubbing fragrance. I own this one and I do wear it every once in awhile, even though I don't go clubbing. I do like the mint note in it, but the vanilla and potency of this fragrance are too much for me most of the time. Overall, it's pretty mundane outside of the mint note. It comes off as feminine to my nose, even though most of you know I wear Guerlain Shalimar EDP and Mitsouko. This one is just too much and it's just pretty uninspired to me.


7. Jean-Paul Gaultier Ultra Male

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Do you want to smell like a teenage girl? Well, Ultra Male is for you. This candy-sweet concoction smells like it would be released by Britney Spears and marketed towards teenage females. Sorry, guys. I just think this one is very feminine. I only see this working for teenagers or college kids who have raging hormones and want to get compliments. I will admit that it does work for that.

The reason it's boring is that it smells like a Britney Spears perfume to me. There are dozens of those candy-like teenager fragrances around and this one is no different to my nose. If you are over 25, then you have no business wearing this.

As always, wear what you love. This is just my opinion.


6. Bleu de Chanel

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Bleu de Chanel is probably my favorite from this list, which isn't say too much. It's super versatile. That includes all 3 versions of it. Being so versatile means it doesn't excel in any category, but it is okay for most of them. That means it pretty generic. Even though this fragrance started the "blue" fragrance trend, it's still played-out at this point and there are more unique options out there that are versatile.


5. Dior Homme

Dior Homme started a trend with lipsticky iris in men's fragrances. I respect that, even if it's not for me. There are many interesting options that are similar to this one, such as Givenchy Gentleman EDP. Dior Homme is just sort of plain when compared to its flankers and other fragrances in this genre. As I said, I do respect it starting the trend, but it's a boring fragrance now.


4. Dolce & Gabbana The One

It almost pains me to put this one on this list. As you can see from the juice level in the picture, I do wear this one. I do enjoy this one, but at this point, there are so many other tobacco fragrances that have a lot more going for them. There are also tons of more unique options for a date night that won't make you smell like the 40 other men who have worn La Nuit de l'Homme or The One on a date with her. 

3. Boss Bottled

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Another fragrance that I actually like. Boss Bottled has been around for a while and gracing men with its apple pie type aura. It's a good fragrance, but there are better apple pie type fragrances with more unique notes in them, such as Gallagher Rose All Dae and Parfums de Marly Oajan. This is another one that its popularity brought about its own spiral into mediocrity. It's still totally wearable and you will get compliments, but no one is going to tell you that you smell different.


2. John Varvatos Artisan Pure

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Artisan Pure was hyped up as a unique fragrance. I disagree. The opening is very nice, but it dries down to a musky and herbal fragrance that isn't anything special. It's worth the 20 bucks you can find it for at discounters, but this is far from unique. I do think it's a decent fragrance, but I guess the hype of everyone saying how unique it is let me down. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to find this one unless I happened to find it at TJ Maxx on clearance.


1. Aventus/Club de Nuit Intense Man(CDNIM)

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Aventus and CDNIM are two of the hottest topics in the fragrance community. Every day someone posts something about the compliment factor of CDNIM or how Aventus it the "king". When a fragrance is dubbed in such an authoritative fashion, then it's bound to be mundane. The DNA is getting quite played out. Is Aventus a decent fragrance? Yes, it is. However, its massive popularity has made it pretty bland and unoriginal at this point.

The same goes for CDNIM. Its massive popularity and dry down have made it just as boring as Aventus, even though it is an inferior fragrance compared to Aventus. Don't try to change my mind on that because you won't. At least Aventus smells good.

I know this one might make some people angry, but after all, it's my opinion. These fragrances have been bled dry from constant memes, SOTDs, and arguments. The fruity pineapple, with an apple and zesty bergamot opening with a smoky pineapple dry down is nothing new at this point and that is why it made this list.


Conclusion

This list contains many fragrances that people start with. They spend hundreds of dollars on these fragrances because of the hype. I am here to tell you that there are better options to spend your hard-earned cash on and not to waste it on fragrances that you could grow out of in a year. I know this because when I started, I had a bunch of these fragrances and I quickly became bored with them when I explored more fragrances.

Some people are content with just having these fragrances. That is fine. If you don't want to explore more unique stuff or you are just a guy who wants to smell good, then these fragrances are fine choices. However, as a fragrance collector, I think there are much better fragrances that have passionate perfumers behind them that aren't aiming at making a quick buck.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this article, even if I did trash your favorite fragrances. Our sense of smell is subjective. Love what you love.

Be kind and respectful. Spread love and passion. Say kind words to people. You never know who you could help.

I started up a Facebook page for my blog. It would be awesome if you could go give it a like, review, or rating. Feel free to be honest if you think I can improve! Link

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! I also post every article I write in here, so that might be an easier way for you to see every post I do!

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Under the Seven Seas: Zoologist Squid Review

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Hey, folks! I hope everyone is doing wonderful today! Welcome back. I appreciate all of you taking the time to read another article. Your support keeps me going.

Today, I have the pleasure of bringing to you Zoologist's newest release, Squid. I know Zoologist has been sending out samples of Bee, but it hasn't officially released yet. I did not get my sample from Zoologist. My friend, Mattie Fuller, sent me a sample of it to check out.

What is Zoologist? They are a company that makes fragrances that reimagine the biomes of certain animals. Some examples are: Tyrannosaurus Rex smelling like a place with ashen volcanoes, Panda smelling like a bamboo forest, or Bat smelling like a cave in which fruit bats store their fruit. I have not personally smelled any of those, but that is what I have heard about them. So, Zoologist is quite unique in its approach to fragrances.

Squid is the first aquatic-themed fragrance from them. These enormous sea creatures scour the deep depths of the ocean with their threatening tentacles and the ability to blind predators with their ink glands. It's quite an interesting creature to name a fragrance after. I have no idea what a squid biome would smell like, but I guess part of Zoologist's objective is to include some sort of fantastical ideas to imagine the places that they mimic. Which is a good thing, taking us to places we have never imagined is pretty neat.

I will stop running my mouth now. Let's get into it!

This is only a sample, so I will not cover the presentation here.


Notes

Sea Salt, Incense, Solar Salicylates(Yeah, I had to Google what that was as well), Benzoin, Ink Accord, Pink Pepper, Musk, Opopanax, and Ambergris


The Scent

Opening

I watched a lot of reviews on this fragrance before Mattie sent me a sample. Many of them acted like this was a general beachy aquatic. That may be what they are perceiving from it, but I disagree. If you are expecting a mass pleasing opening like Invictus, then you will be let down.

The opening is a bit harsh and offensive to me. I get mostly salty ink and incense. There is a tad bit of underlying sweetness, which is probably the benzoin and opoponax. Perhaps it is the salicylate note as well, since it's supposedly green and floral, so I could see a bit of sweetness coming from that as well.

Overall, the opening is not pleasant to my nose. However, instead of scrubbing it, I decided to wait it out. It's my job to give you a full picture.


Dry Down

Squid becomes much more pleasant in the dry down. It remains salty, but the ink accord now dances in harmony with a bit of smoky incense, sweet benzoin, and slightly honeyed opoponax. It really comes together to meld beautifully with each note being blended very masterfully into this composition. It does retain a floral aspect from the pink pepper with a dash of green notes from the salicylates. I think that is what I am getting from what I read about them.


Performance

Zoologist perfumes are highly concentrated and are never lacking performance. Even though this is an aquatic fragrance, I still get around 10 hours on skin, with around 2 1/2 hours of arm's length projection. This fragrance still projects a good bit for most of its life. Around the last 2-3 hours, it finally becomes a skin scent.


When to Wear it

I agree with other reviewers who have stated this is very wearable, at least when you get past the opening. The dry down is very beautiful.

This is a casual fragrance. I wouldn't wear this with a suit or for a date night. It's more of a carefree fragrance, even with the bit of darkness the inky accord provides.

This fragrance is unilaterally unisex and can comfortably lean either way.


Overall Impression

I was not a fan of the opening, but the dry down is magical and I like it a lot. It smells like the deep depth of the sea with an inky accord. I think the sweetness is an interpretation that squids are large creatures, but they are not inherently aggressive and are often misunderstood. The sweetness represents that they just want to survive like any other creature and that they don't wish to harm you. It also has a warmness about it that reiterates this focal point to me in this perfume.

Most indie houses wish to tell a story with their offerings and Squid is does not break that mold. I think anyone who calls this a general aquatic is criminally underrating the beauty of the tale that this fragrance wishes to tell you.

So, my overall impression is this is a very deep fragrance that you have to spend time with so that you can understand it.  When you do seek to comprehend it, then you get the image that the perfumer was trying to tell. At least that is my take on it. I am sure there are many ideas about this one and none of them are incorrect. I do quite enjoy my version and I think it's very sympathetic and impactful. This is a wonderful fragrance.


Conclusion

Thank you for all of the support! Your comments and messages keep me wanting to write every day! I sincerely appreciate all of you. Below I will link Mattie's channel and Facebook group if you'd like to support him. He's a pretty great guy.

Remember, always seek to find beauty in the unknown. You never know what you can learn by stepping out of your comfort zone. As always, keep smelling amazing and keep making the world amazing with positive and uplifting comments! You never know how much you could help someone!


Mattie's Youtube

Mattie's Facebook Group

I started up a Facebook page for my blog. It would be awesome if you could go give it a like, review, or rating. Feel free to be honest if you think I can improve! Link

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! I also post every article I write in here, so that might be an easier way for you to see every post I do!

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Green Irish Tweed and Tobacco Vanille? Happyland Green Irish Tobacco Review

Source: https://www.happylandfragrances.com/

Hey, folks! I apologize for not posting for almost a week. My nose has been a bit stuffed up off and on, so I didn't feel confident reviewing anything with a malfunctioning sniffer. It seems to have cleared up a bit, so hopefully, it stays that way. I hope everything else is having a fantastic day and you are enjoying this holiday season so far.

Today, I am bringing you a Facebook exclusive(meaning it is only sold on the Happyland Facebook group) from Happyland Studio, Green Irish Tobacco. It's a blend of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille and Creed Green Irish Tweed. I will admit, that I had no idea how these two would mix. Lord knows I would have never thought of layering them. So, was this a success or something way out there? Let's get into it!

The presentation is the same as the others from Happyland, so I will forego that topic.
 Happyland did send this to me for free to review. It doesn't change my opinion in any way.

Notes

Happyland never listed any official notes, so I will just tell you what I pick up. I know for a fact that there are more notes in this one than Tobacco Vanille and Green Irish Tweed. Also, I tried layering Tobacco Vanille and Green Irish Tweed together and I did not get the same result as I do in Green Irish Tobacco.

Lemon Verbena, Vanilla, Tobacco, Iris, Dried Fruit, and Spicy Notes


The Scent

Opening

Green Irish Tobacco opens up with a bubblegum sweetness, which I find quite strange because neither fragrance has a bubblegum vibe. It's not bad, don't get me wrong. It just threw me off a bit. You get the greenness of the lemon verbena. I don't pick up on its citric properties. I think that is foreshadowed by the tobacco in here, along with the vanilla and dried fruit.


Dry Down

As it dries down the bubblegum sweetness fades a bit. It then morphs into a minty tobacco fragrance. It's not minty like fresh spearmint, but more like a powdered sugar gum with mint sweetness...If that even makes sense. It's strange for me to describe this one. Even though Tobacco Vanille and Green Irish Tweed are two of my favorite fragrances. There is a dash of dry spices in this as well.

My best guess to what I am getting in this is: The iris is powdery and it pairs with the dried fruit accord to create a sweet sugared vibe. The lemon verbena lends its green and citric profile to the tobacco and makes it smell minted. That is my best guess, but I could be totally off on this one.


Performance

Like all Happyland fragrances, this one performs well. The owner, E.J. Wells, actually said he might have made this one too strong. I disagree, but it is very strong. People will smell this coming off you. One spray will fill a room with this fragrance for almost an hour.

On skin, I get around 12 hours of longevity, with 3 of those being arm's length projection. So, like the others in the line, this one is beastly.


When to Wear it

Green Irish Tobacco is a cool weather fragrance. It will work best in the fall, winter, and spring. The tobacco with the sweetness would make this one cloying in the summer, especially given how much it projects.

This fragrance does have a touch of refinement to it, so I would say it would be fitting to wear it with casual clothes or a suit. I just wouldn't rock this one in a tuxedo.

I really don't see a woman wanting to wear this one. Although, I don't think it wouldn't be totally out of place on a female. Wear what you love, but I think it leans masculine.


Overall Impression

I will be honest with you. This isn't my favorite from Happyland. I don't dislike it though. It's just okay to me. It's good enough that I will wear it and enjoy it, but it's not one I see getting a craving to wear.

I will also say that I thought this fragrance was a mess when I first got it. I wore it quite a bit and it grew on me a lot. I mention this because it could still turn into a strong like for me, but only time will tell. Right now, it's just okay and I am not just saying that because I don't think it's not my thing. It's just very different to my nose.

I do appreciate Happyland creating something different outside of "Hey guys, let's mix Aventus or BR540 with everything and see how it sells". There is nothing wrong with that, but it's starting to be done to death at this point.

Keep in mind, I am not huge on blending two fragrances together most of the time. Even though there are some blends that I do enjoy. I still prefer the depth and complexity of a single fragrance.

Oh, I almost forgot. E.J. only made 100 or so bottles of this. I am not sure if he will make any more. So, if you want to check this one out, then I suggest doing it sooner than later.


Conclusion


I appreciate all of you stopping by once again! I am humbled by all of your support and comments on my articles. It keeps me going. Keep smelling amazing and being amazing.

Until next time, be corny and love like there is no tomorrow. Do everything with passion and purpose.


Buy Green Irish Tobacco on the Happyland Facebook Group

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10 Interesting Houses to Explore

Source: www.pixabay.com

Good afternoon! I hope everyone is doing well today. It's quite windy here, so I am just lounging around the house and had an idea, so I thought I would do another article today. This one is based on mostly indie houses with a few niche ones. Most of these are creative houses that lean more artistic than practical. Although, some do have a few mass appealing and wearable options. Some of these houses I have tried and some I have not. I just thought it would be a fun one to do.

These are not in any sort of numerical ranked order. They are just numbered to keep the article looking clean. Let's get into it!


1. Imaginary Authors

Source

Imaginary Authors is a company that makes fragrances as the company name implies. They are short stories by perfumer Josh Meyer. With creative names like Every Storm a Serenade, Cape Heartache, and A City on Fire you know these are interesting fragrances.

What Josh Meyer does is create an author who doesn't exist and link it to some type of story about the author's life. A long lost love, a catastrophe, or emotions on paper are a few of his focal points around his fragrances.

I love fragrances that tell a story and have a dose of passionate inspiration behind them. I don't think anyone would short Josh on passion and creativity. I haven't had a chance to try any of his stuff yet, but I am looking forward to doing it at some point.


Website


2. Alkemia

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Alkemia makes a lot of perfume oils, but some come in a spray form. I have had the pleasure of trying out two of their creations and I will tell you, they smell very realistic. I was quite pleased with their quality, especially considering that they are the most affordable house on this list.

Their fragrances generally focus on a specific place. Such as a forest cabin in the winter, a dip in the lake in the summer, or a historical event. They can take you to whatever place they are trying to bottle easily and that is why I am a big fan of this house and I can't wait to try more from them.

I just noticed that I never reviewed the second fragrance I received from them. I will do that one very soon.

Website


3. Gallivant

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Gallivant is a fragrance company that seeks to bottle up a destination and bring it to you. All of their offerings are themed around certain cities around the world. The whole idea of destination-based perfumery excites me since I love traveling and exploring new lands and cultures.

From what I can collect for his descriptions, these are places that the owner, Nick Gallivant, has been to. So, essentially these are his scent memories we are exploring, which I think is really neat. Some of his offerings include London, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

On his website, he has vivid descriptions of the fragrances and what they seek to embody and why certain accords were chosen. It's always nice to know the story and inspiration behind a fragrance. We need more companies that are willing to do this.

Website


4. Zoologist

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What list of interesting houses would be complete without Zoologist? Quite possibly one of the most unique houses out there. Victor Wong, the owner of the company, seeks to recreate the habitats that animals live in with his offerings.

There is nothing else like what Zoologist offers on the market. Most companies aren't daring enough to do what Victor does and I have a ton of respect for him for doing what he does. Some of the fragrances offered here are Squid, Chameleon, and the feared Tyrannosaurus Rex.

These fragrances are mostly for people who appreciate art. A lot of them can be polarizing, but he has some more mass appealing fragrances like Squid, Panda, and Camel. I have only tried Squid and Rhinoceros, which from what people have said, are lighter offerings from the house. They are still completely unique and interesting.

I do look forward to trying more from this house because I am a huge animal lover and I think these fragrances to be enticing and captivating due to the stories you can associate with them. His next release is Bee, which looks to be very interesting as well.

Victor, if you happen to see this, I am still waiting on a Penguin or Polar Bear one. I want to see your take on the icy and snow-laden surroundings of an animal habitat.

Website


5. PK Perfumes

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PK Perfumes, named after the owner and perfumer Paul Kiler, is an indie house that strives to use the best possible ingredients while bringing you a completely unique olfactory experience. Paul Kiler also makes Zoologist Rhinoceros and he made the old formula of Panda. They changed the formula of Panda because of not being able to source the materials, not because Paul's creation wasn't fitting.

I would say Paul certainly accomplishes compositions that you won't find anywhere else. His fragrances don't carry a common theme like other houses. At least as far as I can tell. His creations seem to be born out of his own imagination and inspiration he interprets from the world around him. So, similar to Gallivant, Paul takes us on a journey into his mind and how he perceives things. Again, that is an awesome thing to experience.

PK Perfumes are often said to not be wearable. I disagree. Ere is one of the best foresty fragrances on the market and uses notes that no one else has even thought of. Cuir Moderne is a beautifully executed bad boy leather fragrance. Cafe Diem is a cozy coffee fragrance with smoke. Let his fragrances grow on you and you will understand them. I need to try out his take on some gourmands next. I think Paul is a genius perfumer and he should get more credit for his work.

Website


6. Gallagher Fragrances

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Daniel Gallagher is another perfumer who I would say is a genius. I don't mean the other perfumers on here aren't geniuses as well, but some of them I haven't had a chance to try yet, so I cannot rightfully call them that.

Gallagher Fragrances seems to rely on the theme of taking something pleasing to most people and putting a spin on it. Such as Rose All Dae, a sweet gourmand fragrance with stainless steel. Also, Carpe Cafe, a Christmas tree type fragrance with vanilla coffee. Who would have thought these would work and be balanced enough to be wearable? Daniel did and he made it work.

I will have to obtain a sample at some point and see what other things he thought up.

Website


7. Lush

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Lush is a fragrance company that relies on art and trendy subjects. Their fragrances are natural(they list every ingredient on their site and bottles and what is natural and not). They are also vegan and handmade in the UK. Have no fear, my American brethren, Lush is also available in the United States.

I had the pleasure of trying one of their fragrances because one of my readers decided to send me one. It was What Would Love Do?. Now, I won't spoil too much because I plan on reviewing it soon, but I was blown away by the quality and how long it lasts for a natural product. They are also very fairly priced for what you are getting. This is certainly a house that I want to explore more.

Website


8. The 7 Virtues

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The 7 Virtues is a company that is all about promoting positivity and enriching people's lives. That alone is something I can get behind. This is another one the reader who sent me the Lush fragrance sent me 3 bottles of.

Noble Rose of Afghanistan contains a natural rose that they pay a "fair market price" for to be grown in Afghanistan instead of the farmers growing black tar heroine. If you didn't know, Afghanistan the world-leading provider of heroine. So, they are taking something illegal and allowing these farmers to make a living doing something legal. That is pretty amazing.

Having a 7 Virtues fragrance feels like you are connected to something larger. Something that makes a difference. That alone is something to get behind.

Also, they use a lot of natural ingredients, so their fragrances have a lot of depth and character. Another house that I am looking to explore more.

Website


9. Olfactive Studio

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Olfactive Studio is inspired by a moment of inspiration from a photograph. Their fragrances seek to embody a sensation within that. I think it's a pretty cool theme. Photography has always been something I wanted to get into. Yes, I know, my camera is horrible, but someday I will get a decent one and be able to take nice photos for my articles.

However, that is not what we are here to discuss. Olfactive Studio did get a bit of hype a few years ago with Still Life in Rio. Their fragrances lean on artistic, but they are very wearable, from what I hear at least. I haven't had the chance to try them out, but I am certainly eager to do so.

Website


10. Perfumology

Source

Perfumology is actually a store that carries many of the brands listed here. Nir Guy, the owner of the store, decided to make his own range of perfumes that were inspired by his time growing up in Pennsylvania.  That is why I included them on this list.

I haven't had a chance to try any of them out, but I have seen some glowing reviews about them and it certainly piqued my curiosity. His newest release, L'ima was named after his grandmother, who tended a garden every day. I  think it's really inspirational that Nir decided to pay homage to such an important woman in his life.

He also just moved to a new location in Philadephia(I think?), so if you are in that area go pay Nir a visit. He's a passionate guy who loves to talk about perfumes.

Website


Conclusion

The world of perfumery is vast and expansive. One must wonder if we have enough time to explore even 10% of what is offered. There is a little something for everyone. These brands might be artistic, but don't let that dissuade you from checking them out. You might just find that one fragrance you have been searching for. Also, supporting small businesses that are very passionate is a noble thing to do.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day. Keep being positive and speaking positive words. You never know who is watching and how much you could help them. You might just save someone's life with a single act of kindness.

I started up a Facebook page for my blog. It would be awesome if you could go give it a like, review, or rating. Feel free to be honest if you think I can improve! Link

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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! I also post every article I write in here, so that might be an easier way for you to see every post I do!

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Coffee Overload: Happyland Homme for the Holidays Review

Good morning! I hope everyone is in good health and spirits today. Welcome back! I have quite the treat for you folks today. Any of you who have followed me for any amount of time know that I am a huge fan of coffee and tea. I have tons of different varieties of coffee and tea and I tend to collect them, just like fragrances. Although, not nearly as many because they can go bad.

I have been searching for a coffee fragrance for a long time. Ever since I started collecting fragrances. There are some amazing coffee fragrances out there, but the coffee note was generally in the background or blended with notes to not make it stand out. I want a powerhouse coffee fragrance. One that unapologetically states that coffee is the main notes and doesn't back down from that.

With that said, I bring you Happyland Homme for the Holidays. This is the coffee fragrance I have been searching for. I know I can also count on Happyland to bring the potency, but I never expected him to create something that I have desired for so long. I know this introduction spoils my thoughts on this fragrance, but I am just trying to paint a bit of a backstory.

Now, without further ado, let's get into it!


Presentation

Homme for the Holidays comes in the standard bottle that Happyland uses for their fragrances. The same amazing atomizer and everything. You folks have seen my other reviews, so I won't touch on that aspect very much.

However, what is different it the label. This is a release for men, even though I think a woman could wear this. So, you have the mustached gentleman which is standard for all Happyland men's releases, but this time he has a little Santa hat on. I think that is so clever and very fitting. The label is also a Christmassy red in color with hollies around the top left and bottom right corner.

The actual fragrance name is clever as well. Homme is the French word for "man" and a play on words for "home for the holidays".

Needless to say, this is my favorite presentation yet. I love the whole Christmas theme and that Happyland decided to play off of that and make a creative label. It's super cool.

A better image of the label since my camera is terrible. Source: www.happylandfragrances.com

Notes

Dark Coffee, Maple Absolute, Pumpkin Spice, Amber,  and Musk


The Scent

Opening

Homme for the Holidays opens with a huge burst of dark roasted coffee. TLTG Reviews said it smelled like Starbucks' Sumatra Blend, but I don't get that. Sumatra is a smoky coffee to my nose, this is smoother, akin to Folger's Dark Silk to my nose. Perhaps he picked up a bit of smoke where I did not. Smell is subjective, so who knows?

This potent dosage of coffee is caressed by golden maple syrup. In the background, you have some nondescript spices which will make a more vivid appearance later on. They are just checking things out and assessing the situation until it's their turn.


Dry down

As the heart comes out you start to get a bit of warm spiced amber. The vanillic facets of this note give a slight sensation of a vanilla creamer in the coffee. It gives it a bit more depth and allows you to take this fragrance in a more three-dimensional manner.


Soon after, the spices start coming out. Nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are what I detect the most. They are dry, spicy(Duh, they are spices, John), and warming. A slight hint of actual pumpkin lingers in the background. I am not sure if pumpkin is an actual note in this or if this is triggering my scent memory and making me think it's there. Regardless, I get a bit of pumpkin.

Musk is listed as a note, but I don't detect it. Perhaps it's just there to give the fragrance a base to make it last longer. I am not sure, but I don't get it at all.


Performance

Happyland is known to be no slouch with performance. This one is no different. In fact, this is probably one of their strongest fragrances. I get a good 10-11 hours with around 3 of projection. I don't think this fragrance sits close to the skin until maybe the last 2-3 hours of its life. This is a beastly fragrance. As TLTG said, 2-3 sprays at most for this one.


When to Wear it

Homme for the Holidays will take over the spot that Penhaligon's Lp No 9 had last year and Burberry London the year before as my holiday party fragrance. However, you can wear this fragrance for anything during the fall and winter. You can dress it up or down.

As I said before, I do think this fragrance is unisex. It smells like a festive coffee. Everyone wants to smell like that, right?


Overall Impression

Happyland never ceases to amaze me with their creations. I love Happyland Signature a lot. However, this one is far above that one for me. My favorite from Happyland by a large margin. As I said previously, I was searching for a potent coffee fragrance where the coffee stood out and I have found it. I am absolutely thrilled to have this in my collection.

If you love coffee fragrances, then I would suggest sampling this. This is a must-have for the holiday season for me. It could be one for you as well, if you enjoy it. I will probably cry if Happyland ever discontinues this. Seriously. I am not trying to hype it, but I think it is that good.


Conclusion

Happyland has concocted a wonderful holiday-themed fragrance. They really outdid themselves this time. As good as I made this sound, remember to always sample first. What is amazing to me, might not be for you. I think it's worth it to pick up a sample pack of Happyland fragrances anyways, they make some really good stuff and I think everyone should at least give them a chance.

I hope everyone enjoyed this one. I loved making this review. Until next time, be kind and uplift people. You never know who is watching and how much a few kind words can mean to people.  Have an amazing day!


Link to purchase it here: Homme for the Holidays

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Got Beard? Sphinx Beard Oil Review

Source: www.sphinxbeard.com

Hello, ladies and gentleman! Probably mostly gentleman for this one, unless we have any Dwarven ladies out there! I hope everyone has had a fantastic week. I just wanted to say that I appreciate the outpour of support from everyone because of my last article. I enjoyed hearing all of your stories that you shared publicly or the ones you messaged to me. It really warmed my heart to see such love and support go around. We need more of that!

Today, I have my first ever beard oil review. It's from Sphinx Beard, which is a company owned by Hany Hafez's brother, Mohamed. As the story goes, their family has been making beard oils for a long time. They recently set up operations in the US to start producing them here and sharing them with American customers. Which is lucky for us.

Now, I will be the first to tell you that I am not an expert on beard oil. I have tried my fair share of beard oils though. So, take this as a perspective from a guy who loves fragrances, but also has a beard. I will do my best. Let's get into it!

I did receive a sample kit for free to review from Sphinx Beard. I was not compensated or influenced for a positive review in any way. All of my opinions are strictly my own.


Presentation

As I said previously, I received a sample kit from them. It includes 6 1 dram vials with an assortment of fragrances. The box it comes in is quite nice. I couldn't get a good picture of the box, but I will link a Youtube review of someone who showed the box to you.

Here is that Youtube review. This guy knows much more about beard oil than I do as well.

The box is black in color with "Sphinx Beard Oil" printed on the front in silver foiled text with a traditional sphinx character as the logo. The box closes with a magnetic flap, which I think is a cool touch that adds a bit of luxury to it.

The oils themselves come in a small black bottle that is snuggly fit into 6 foam slots. Each one has a black sticker with the Sphinx logo on it and the name of the scent printed on it.


The Scents

Some of the fragrances are inspired by other fragrances. Some of them are original creations from Alexandria's line. I assume Hany let his brother in on some of his recipes.


Chokecherry

Inspired by Tom Ford's Lost Cherry

Black Cherry, Bitter Almond, Cherry Liqueur, and Tonka Bean

A delectable scent of dark and juicy cherries with warm almonds and vanillic facets. A gourmandish delight for cherry lovers.


Smolder 

I think this one is Hafez Intense from Alexandria.

Coffee, Oud, Leather, Saffron, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Jasmine, and Tonka Bean

A dark and seductive concoction of leather, oud, and coffee with a touch of sweetness. The oud is slightly smoky and woody. It's not offensive at all. It's actually quite smooth and refined. A modern gentleman's scent.


Ancient Kingdom

Inspired by Parfums de Marly Herod

Tobacco, Vanilla, Incense, Cinnamon, and Osmanthus

A meticulous blend of tobacco, vanilla, and spice. Another darker fragrance. This one is a great beard oil for a date night. Super masculine, but with a softer side from the sweetness.


Black Desert

Inspired by Kilian's Black Phantom

Rum, Caramel, Dark Chocolate, and Coffee

A sexy and smooth blend of rum, chocolate, and caramel with a touch of roasted coffee. This one would be a great beard oil for a Christmas party.


Cinnamon Crumb

Inspired by Parfums de Marly Oajan

Honey, Cinnamon, Osmanthus, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, and Benzoin

This one smells like an apple pie. It's sweet and spicy. The tart and sweet osmanthus gives it the baked apple type vibe that people get from this one.


Hawaiian Pineapple

I think this one is Alexandria's Crazy Pineapple

Bergamot, Citruses, Pineapple, Green Apple, and Musk

This is pretty much just all of the citruses from Aventus without the woody notes and vanilla. It's a fruity Aventus with musk. Personally, my favorite parts are in here, so I quite like this one.


Performance

I have tried a lot of beard oils. Ranging from brands like Mountaineer to Jack Black. Most of them seemed about the same to me. They lasted about 4 to 5 hours. Sphinx's beard oils last much longer. Each blended has different carrier oils to work with the fragrance of the oil, so they vary a bit in how long they last. None of them lasted under 8 hours. The Smolder one lasted 12.

Needless to say these beard oils keep your beard happy for at least an entire workday. It also makes their 1oz bottles last a lot longer. Keep in mind that I trim my beard to be somewhat short, so if you have a longer beard, it might take more oil per application. I also have thick hair, so take that into account.

I am not sure how long the fragrances in these actually last. I assume for most of the duration of how long they last in your beard, but I don't think the scent projects very much, except for maybe the first hour or so.


Why Beard Oil?

A common thought process is that beard oil is for your beard, which isn't directly true. It's made for the skin under your beard. Your skin dried out because it uses its natural oils to nourish your beard. Beard oil helps nourish your skin, as well as your beard and reduces the amount of itch you will have.

Also, if you plan on growing out a beard, then beard oil is very useful in helping to reduce the itch while it grows. Some people claim it helps it grow faster, but I am not sure if I believe that and there is very little science to prove it.


Conclusion

I am just going to outright say it. These are the best beard oils I have tried so far. They work for what I need them for and they are very fairly priced. They also last 3 times as long as any other beard oil I have tried, including brands that are much more expensive.

Honestly, at first, I wasn't expecting too much from these because I know they deal mostly in fragrances. I was actually blown away and I quite enjoyed sampling these.

Now, don't take that as hype or anything. I fully suggest ordering a sample pack and seeing if they work for you. Everyone else who has tried them has loved them.

They have also started making beard balms, which I haven't been able to try yet. However, given the quality of these beard oils, I am certainly interested in them.

Also, Mohamed said he plans on adding 20 more scents to the lineup soon, so that is super cool. They already have quite a few options.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day. It was a pleasure to bring you my first beard oil review. Let me know in the comments or in a PM on Facebook if there is anything I could improve on or any information I left out. I plan on doing some more beard oil reviews. I might even bring in some candle reviews. Let me know if those would interest you as well.

Until next time, be kind. Love a lot and uplift people. You never know how much impact your words can have. I realized that after I posted my Veteran's Day article and people shared with me how my story impacted them. It's easy to be a jerk. It's difficult to be a gentleman. Stay bearded, my brothers.

I started up a Facebook page for my blog. It would be awesome if you could go give it a like, review, or rating. Feel free to be honest if you think I can improve! Link

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! I also post every article I write in here, so that might be an easier way for you to see every post I do!

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