Hey, ladies and gentlemen! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I am glad that you stopped by once again. I hope the holiday season is full of joy for you so far.
So, as a few of you know from our Facebook group, I have decided to stop doing top 10s because I think it's just played out and kind of clickbaity right now. Let me be clear though, I have no issue with people doing top 10s and such, but personally, I want to be different. I am already a bit different since I choose to blog over Youtube. I don't care about my views or follower count. I am more concerned with producing quality content that is a bit unique, even though I did set a personal goal of 100 followers this year, which I haven't met yet. That is totally okay though. It doesn't mean much to me. I have produced some articles that really helped and touched people and that means much more to me than any amount of views or subscribers will ever mean. That is why you are going to see a lot more indie and classic reviews going forward. I am still going to review some clones and modern designers, but I am going to focus more on doing things that no one else is doing.
At the end of the day, the fragrance reviewing game is saturated. Which isn't a bad thing. There are a lot of reviewers now. In the last 6 months or so there has been a massive influx of them, which is good for the community, but sometimes it can create repetitive content. Especially when a lot of the top reviewers are reviewing the hyped stuff ad nauseam and they all basically say the same thing about them. It gets a bit monotonous. I have stopped watching a lot of Youtubers, but I still support them with subs and likes.
I just want some refreshing content that isn't about compliments, beast mode performance, and the newest Parfums de Marly fragrance. Early on into my reviewing journey, I wrote some articles like that, which you can still see if you look at some of my earlier reviews. Some of them aren't very good, but I have left every review up there, so I can see where I came from. It's good to be able to look back and relearn from mistakes.
Sorry for the long introduction. I want to be transparent about this. I am not trying to down any reviewer for what works for them. I am glad it does. I just want to do what makes me happy and in turn, I think it will make my readers happy as well. Writing these articles is therapeutic for me and that is why I do it. To be able to pen my emotions and thoughts on paper(figuratively) is an honor. Having people enjoy those sentiments is a bonus. It makes me proud to get messages about how people enjoy my articles and resonate with them. That people trust my opinion and nose. It's humbling. So, thank you all for that. I like to think you folks are helping me as much as I help you. It's amazing.
This article is going to be about some winter fragrances that I think are good. You might not be familiar with some of these, but others you will be. These fragrances are listed in no order. This is simply me talking about some winter fragrances I love. This is not a top winter fragrances list or anything. This is simply me sharing some fragrances I love and why I think they are good for this time of the year. There are no clones on this one. I will do a clone one later this month. I hope you enjoy it! Let's get into it!
Note: None of the purchase links in this article are affiliate links. I get nothing from you purchasing from these sources. I simply did the work and tried to find the best legitimate deal I could from various retailers.
Mugler Pure Malt
Key Notes: Whiskey, peat, fruity notes, and patchouli
Buy Pure Malt here (This fragrance has been popping up at several brick and mortar discounters for 40 bucks, so I advise checking there first)
Pure Malt is one that will be on a lot of people's lists. It's on mine too. This semi-sweet boozy bomb with a slightly smoky and earthy touch is masculine to its core. It's still unique, as most of the fragrances in the A*Men are. The new formulation isn't quite as good as the original, but it's still a must-have in my collection and I love it.
Zaharoff Signature
Key Notes: Lavender, myrrh, incense, sandalwood, and vanilla
Buy Signature here
Zaharoff Signature will make a few lists as well. It's for a good reason. It's a great fragrance for a modern guy who loves the classics, but doesn't want something that can come off as stuffy. Its smooth and semi-sweet lavender with myrrh, incense, creamy sandalwood, and oud to give it a bit of darkness works very well for a guy who wants a signature scent. No, that is not a play on words because the fragrance is called Signature. It's a clean fragrance with a bit of darkness and a touch of sweetness, but not in a gourmand way. I have been talking about this fragrance for almost a year now and there is a reason for that. It's good is why.
Alkemia Ydalir
Key Notes: Pine, spruce, juniper, and oakmoss
Sadly, this fragrance seems to come and go on Alkemia's site. Right now, it's not available. here is a link to
Alkemia's site. You might find something else of interest there.
This is one that I am pretty confident you won't hear anyone else talk about. Most folks won't give this company a chance. Which is almost criminal. Alkemia makes some of the highest quality fragrances on the market for a rock bottom price. This one is not mass appealing. It has a real charred pinewood accord. It's not one accented with resins like elemi to pretend to be smoke. No, Ydalir has actual charred wood in it. It's realistic in every aspect. It's a bit damp from the oakmoss and juniper combo.
This is an amazing and artistic fragrance that takes you into the mild of the woods on a cold winter night and puts you right beside a campfire. Don't let the price and the fact that this is a roll-on oil fool you, Alkemia is legit and they make quality stuff.
Perfumology Clutch
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Key Notes: Elemi resin, cedar, ginger, vanilla, and leather
Buy Clutch here
Perfumology Clutch seeks to put you in the driver's seat of your dream car. It wants you to feel the exhilaration of speed and the adrenaline rush that comes with it. The fragrance comes off as a smoky and sweet leather fragrance with resins. I thought this fragrance would smell like tires when I read the description, but it doesn't. I don't get any sort of rubber accord from it like I expected. It's quite pleasing and beautifully composed. I don't really think of a car when I smell this, but I do think of peace and contentment. Everyone gets something different from fragrances, but I really enjoy this one nonetheless.
Xerjoff Naxos
Key Notes: Honey, tobacco, cinnamon, vanilla, and lavender
Buy Naxos here
This is another somewhat popular one, but it had to make the list. I think this is much better than Parfums de marly Herod in every way. I am speaking on the tobacco genre only. Herod and Naxos smell nothing alike.
Naxos is a beautiful honeyed tobacco fragrance with a bit of sweetness from the vanilla on top of a bed of dry cinnamon. It also has a roasted tonka bean accord. This fragrance is labeled as unisex, but I think it's completely masculine. It's overall a somewhat dry fragrance and that means it's masculine to me.
Happyland Homme for the Holidays
Key Notes: Coffee, cinnamon, clove, and maple
Buy Homme for the Holidays here
Happyland really stepped it up with this one. Not that their other offerings are bad. In fact, I love most of them. However, Homme for the Holidays is a tier above the rest for me. A truly masculine gourmand that employs dark coffee as the main note and adds a slight sweetness and some spice. This isn't a buttery smooth Xerjoff Lira. This fragrance isn't ashamed to tell you it's a coffee fragrance and that is why I love it. If Happyland ever stops making this I might cry. Literally.
Burberry London
Key Notes: Tobacco, cinnamon, leather, opoponax, and lavender
Buy London here
This one is probably the most popular one in this article. It deserves its spot every year, so it will always be in my articles. The quintessential holiday fragrance. It has so much depth that it can smell like port wine, wet leaves, or a Christmas tree. Burberry made something truly unique here and no one has been able to accurately copy this one yet. They managed to bottle Christmas memories and that is why this one is so popular.
Creed Bois du Portugal
Key Notes: Bergamot, sandalwood, lavender, and cedar
Buy Bois du Portugal here
Creed's Bois du Portugal is a thing of beauty, majesty, and regalness. Clean lavender, spicy cedar, creamy sandalwood, and Creed's signature Calabrian Bergamot with its uplifting zestiness. This smells like a guy who has it all together. A family man who is traditional. This is one of my favorite fragrances and I just had to put it on here.
Creed Viking
Key Notes: Peppermint, pink peppercorn, black peppercorn, bergamot, lavender, and sandalwood.
Buy Viking here
I still think Viking is a bit pricey for what it is. However, I do really enjoy this one and I had to put it on here. The spicy and refreshing peppermint is amazing in this fragrance, accented by powdery assets of lavender and pink peppercorn with added spices from black peppercorn and some woodiness from sandalwood. This is a clean and classy modern barbershop fragrance. No, it doesn't smell like Old Spice. Stop saying that. I said it before in my review when I first smelled it, but after spending some time with it I realize they are nothing alike, besides maybe the spiciness. Viking is unique and stands on its own, but it's still pricey for a barbershop style fragrance.
Old Spice
Key Notes: Cinnamon, geranium, nutmeg, and benzoin
Buy Old Spice here
Yes, I put Old Spice on here. Some people think it's dated, but I love it and still wear it. For all of you who care about compliments, this one actually gets them. Even from women in my age bracket (early 30s). I won't describe the smell, all of you should know it. It's something familiar, cozy, and inviting. That will never go out of style. The current formulation is a shell of its former self, but it's still a great fragrance when you look at the fragrance itself and not its older versions.
Bvlgari Man in Black
Key Notes: Rum, tobacco, leather, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, amber, and guaiac wood
Buy Man in Black here
Man in Black is the better and more mature Spicebomb. It's cheaper too. The rum note really sets it apart with the dry spices, earthy tobacco, smooth leather, and guaiac wood resin. It's one of my favorite fragrances for nighttime wear in the cooler months. The spices will warm up any chilly night. It's simply a good value fragrance that is unabashedly masculine.
Guerlain L'Instant de Guerlain EDT
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Key Notes: Anise, cocoa, patchouli, and lemon
Buy L'Instant here
L'Instant de Guerlain isn't a gourmand, despite its note structure. Maybe you can pass it off as a "gentleman's gourmand", but even that might be a stretch. This is a very classy fragrance with a strong licorice vibe. Yes, I hate anise and licorice, but it just works in this one. The powdery cocoa and woody-chocolatey patchouli mix to provide a bit of darkness and sweetness while the lemon gives it a slightly fresh vibe. It's really a complex fragrance. I only wear it dressed up though.
Azzaro Pour Homme
Key Notes: Lavender, anise, oakmoss, coumarin, leather, basil, and clary sage
But Azzaro Pour Homme here
Another classic fragrance, Azzaro Pour Homme is a family man's fragrance. A classic barbershop with a minty anise note to keep it interesting. I must really be coming around to anise and licorice notes. Strange. This is one of my dumb reaches for the winter. It just works. If you want to smell like a man and don't want to shell out the dough for a Creed, then consider this one. It's been around since the 70s for a reason. It's good.
Lush What Would Love Do?
Key Notes: Tangerine, benzoin, and lavender
Buy What Would Love Do? here
Lush is a small indie brand that produces natural fragrances. What Would Love Do? is a smooth and clean lavender with sweetened benzoin, freshened up by tangerine oil and limonene, with cinnamal to give it a bit of spice. It has amazing depth due to the natural nature of its notes. It's clean, a bit sweet, and a bit warm. It's only an EDC, but lasts an entire day. Lush makes you wonder why some niche brands charge $300 bucks for synthetic fragrances when you can get something natural and high quality from Lush for 30 bucks for 30ml. Yes, 30 bucks. $1 per ML which is less or equal to some clone houses. Check Lush out if you want something different.
PK Perfumes Ere
Key Notes: Juniper, fern, fir, and hay
Buy Ere here
Paul Kiler is one of the most underrated perfumers in the business. he creates beautiful and unique fragrances. Ere is more of a resh fragrance that is good for warmer weather, but I would wear it in the cooler weather too. It's a green forest fragrance with balsamic hues. One of the best and most realistic forest fragrances on the market. He actually harvests a special sort of fern native to the Sierras to use in this fragrance and the quality really shows. It's hard to put everything into words, but it's a green foresty fragrance with woody tones and a mossy touch. This is my favorite fragrance from his line.
Gallagher Rose All Dae
Key Notes: Plum, apple crisp, stainless steel, and honey
Buy Rose All Dae here
This is the sweetest fragrance on the list, but I don't care. This stuff is intoxicating. The masterful blend of honeyed patchouli, dark and sweet plum, apples with cinnamon, and stainless steel is mouthwatering. It smells like a holiday dessert in a baking pan. I simply love this stuff. One of my readers, Mattie Fuller, sent me 10ml of this stuff and I am very thankful to him for it. One spray goes a long way, so it will last a while.
Conclusion
I could list probably 20 more, but I will stop here. I might do another one before the winter is over. I am not sure yet. I hope you enjoyed this one!
Have an amazing day and remember to speak positive words and dare to be different. Much love to all of you. Stay safe and keep smelling amazing.
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