Why Italian Fragrances are the Best

 

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Hey folks! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Mine has been okay. I honestly don't have much to look forward to. I did get one present though! A reader gave me a bottle Houbigant Fougere Royale, which I am eternally grateful for. It's the only present I will be getting, but I love the fragrance so much, that it's okay. Christmas isn't about gifts anyways. 

Anyway, enough about that...let's get to the reason you are here, Italian fragrances. Italy doesn't have as many houses as France does, but I think they are overall better. Don't get me wrong, it's very close. I love many French houses as well. This article is the list of reasons that I think Italy is ahead in the game right now. 

Before I get into it, I just want to say that I have partnered with Mozzafiato. This article isn't sponsored by them, but I just want to say some things they have going on right now until December 25th. You can get 15% off gift card purchases for that one person you forgot a gift for. They are also selling subscription boxes where they will send you 4 boxes over the year, one for each season, that is filled with Italian goodies. The links provided here are affiliate links and I do get a commission if you buy anything. Anything you read here is still my own opinion. Those of you who know me, know I would never partner with a brand unless I believed in them. I have turned many brands down before, but Mozzafiato carries some hard-to-find Italian fragrances and for that alone, I think they are worth checking out. They also carry grooming products, beauty, and some other Italian-themed things. Here are the links if you're interested: Gift Cards and Subscription Boxes.

Now, let's get into the actual article!


Timeless Refinement

Carthusia Uomo

Italian fragrances have this panache to them that is both carefree and timeless. They embody classic elegance while still smelling modern at the same time. That is certainly something I can appreciate.

Take, for instance, Carthusia Uomo(Available at Mozzafiato). It's a classical composition that is modern. Clean florals, a minor aquatic feel, soft leather, and woody oakmoss with cedar. It's just how Italians do their perfumes. It's fresh, but deep and luxurious at the same time. I never thought I would say that about a fragrance with an aquatic note...


It's in the Citrus

Acqu di Parma Arancia di Capri

Sorry, France. Italy does citruses better than you. Part of their culture is built around citruses and they know them better than anyone. Whether it's a juicy freshly squeezed orange, a sparkling bergamot, or a bitter lemon...Italy knows their citruses and how to execute them perfectly. 

Acqua di Parma and Profumum Roma display this affinity for citruses the best, from what I have tried so far. They are happy, energizing, carefree, and cooling. They are also not shy about putting several different ones in one perfume. It's evident that they love them.


A Carefree Style

Missoni Pour Homme

Italian fragrances are usually not made to be as elegant as other countries like the UK and France do. They have this playfulness. This aura of a sea breeze in a white linen shirt that just makes you think about relaxing. 

They are vacation in a bottle, but not your standard tropical beach vacation. These are sunny, fresh, and almost flirty at times. There is a beautiful simplicity to them, while also being complex. That is what I love about them, 


Attention to Detail

Xerjoff Naxos

Italian perfumery isn't always about being carefree. They can still do luxury as well. Xerjoff is a brand that speaks to the Italian dedication to craftmanship. The bottles themselves present like a high-end luxury experience...and many of them are. 

Every little note is meticulously selected. They still included the citruses that Italy is known for and combine them with rich woods, tobacco, and ambers to create something that speaks of French luxury, but is still quintessentially Italian.


Conclusion

I hope to visit Italy one day and experience it for myself. But for now, I will keep experiencing it through fragrances. I will continue to discover new citruses from this country. I believe Carthusia Mediterraneo will be next since I was so impressed with Uomo. I still want to collect almost all of the Acqua di Parmas as well. It's almost Christmas and I already want a vacation thinking about those fresh fragrances. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. I am going to try to post my winter list tomorrow, so stay tuned. Remember to smell great and be kind. You never know what someone is going through. One kind word could save them. 

About my Patreon- I decided to start a Patreon to give people an inside look at my life and my actual thoughts on some things. There are going to be some very raw and unfiltered posts on there about the fragrance community and reviewing, as well as some exclusive fragrance articles. I have been doing this for 3 years now and never made any money off of it.

I am still not asking for money. This is just a way for you to support me more if you'd like and I will give you some exclusive stuff for doing so. The top tier includes you being able to choose an article topic(within reason) for me and have the article dedicated to you on this blog. I wanted to make this cheaper, but it's just not efficient for me to charge less. It takes me 5-6 hours to make an article. Sometimes more if a lot of research is required.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it if you choose to subscribe. The base price is 4 bucks and gets you access to all of the articles, which I plan on doing two per week. I already have my first post up and it's free to everyone, future posts will need a sub though.

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Unique and Safe: Vadig & Voltaire This is Him! Review

 

Happy holidays, everyone! I hope everyone is having a lovely festive time of the year. It doesn't feel quite as festive here because it's supposed to be 60 degrees on Christmas day...Southern weather for you. I can only remember one white Christmas here. Oh well...

You didn't come here to hear me blabber on about the weather like a bitter elderly man who loves his grass way too much. Today I am bringing you This is Him! from Zadig & Voltaire. This fragrance has seen a bit of hype, so I am going to break it down for you and let you know if I think it's worth it or not. 

Oh, one more thing. Some of my readers encouraged me to open a Patreon account. Yeah, I know...spending money and stuff. I am just giving you a chance to support me more and see some more of my unfiltered content. Here is a link. I will speak more about it down below. 


Without further ado, let's get into it!


The Notes


Top 

Black Pepper and Grapefruit


Heart

Vanilla and Incense

Base

Sandalwood


The Scent

This is Him! opens up with sweet grapefruit and creamy vanilla. The grapefruit isn't realistic at all to me, but it's done very well in unison with the vanilla. It's quite peppery in the opening, so I would suggest not sniffing it right away, sometimes it makes me sneeze because I am sensitive to black pepper. 

As the heart shows itself, the vanilla becomes stronger and you get some warm incense. The sandalwood starts to be recognized now. It's creamy and beautifully merges with vanilla and grapefruit.

What you end up getting is a beautiful creamy sandalwood with vanilla and grapefruit, accented by warm incense and dry black pepper. 


Performance

This is Him performs very well. I get around 9 hours with moderate projection. It performs much better when it's cold or raining in my testing over the past few months. 

It's not the most powerful scent on the market, but it leaves a nice wafting sillage that people around you will be pleased by. At least that is essentially what two friends told me. 


When to Wear it

Since this fragrance captures both light and dark tones, it can be worn all year...except on very hot ways. It's much better in the cooler weather though. 

It works wonderfully with a flannel, like in the picture, or even a sweater or jumper. You could even wear it formally. It's quite versatile. 

I do think this fragrance errs on the masculine side, but a woman could certainly wear it too if she is into masculine leaning stuff. 

My Opinion

This is Him doesn't evolve much and the note structure seems simple enough, but the way it is executed is interesting, well blended, and beautiful. The way the vanilla and grapefruit work together is especially nice when coupled with sandalwood. The incense and black pepper give it a warm darkness.

This fragrance contrasts light and dark in a simple way that is very understandable. Nathalie Lorson helped compose this and it's not surprising. She's a brilliant woman when it comes to making beautiful fragrances with budget-friendly materials. 

I would give This is Him! an 8.5 out of 10 without considering its price. When you factor in that it's under 60 USD, it would be a 9. It used to be much cheaper, but it's getting harder to find now. I would still suggest sampling it first, if you can. My nose is not yours. 


Conclusion

I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season. I will try to make my winter list before Christmas. No promises though. Until next time, be safe and be kind. One kind word can change someone's life for the better. We never know what impact we can have on someone else or what they are dealing with. 



About my Patreon- I decided to start a Patreon to give people an inside look at my life and my actual thoughts on some things. There are going to be some very raw and unfiltered posts on there about the fragrance community and reviewing, as well as some exclusive fragrance articles. I have been doing this for 3 years now and never made any money off of it.

I am still not asking for money. This is just a way for you to support me more if you'd like and I will give you some exclusive stuff for doing so. The top tier includes you being able to choose an article topic(within reason) for me and have the article dedicated to you on this blog. I wanted to make this cheaper, but it's just not efficient for me to charge less. It takes me 5-6 hours to make an article. Sometimes more if a lot of research is required.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it if you choose to subscribe. The base price is 4 bucks and gets you access to all of the articles, which I plan on doing two per week. I already have my first post up and it's free to everyone, future posts will need a sub though.

Patreon Link


15% off Gift Cards at Mozzafiato.com, with code CHEER! Great last minute gifts! Hurry, offer ends Dec. 25th. face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #1c1c1c; color: #cccccc; font-size: 14.85px;">Get $10 off any https://mozzafiato.com/ purchase with my code: MUSINGS. They are a premier supplier of luxury Italian goods and fragrances. I do get a small cut of anything you purchase with my code. 

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A Gentleman's Paradise: Zaharoff Tabac Review

 

Good morning, folks! I hope everyone is having a wonderful morning today. It's pretty darn cold here. My heat seems to be failing and it got down into the 40s(Fahrenheit) in my house last night, but I will survive. 

I woke up and decided I needed something warm to give me the illusion that it wasn't so cold. That fragrance was Zaharoff Tabac. I only recently obtained this fragrance. However, I tested it a while back as well, so I am confident in my assessment of the perfume and its character. 

I have been waiting to review this ever since I tested it. Let's get into it!

 
The Notes

Top 

Rum, Cognac, Guatemalan Cardamom, French Lavender, Star Anise, and Indian Davana

Mid

Gold Honey, Indonesian Temple Oud, American Tobacco Leaf, Jamaican Pimento Leaves, and Canadian Fir Balsam

Base

Australian Sandalwood, Plum, Black Amber, Ethiopian Myrrh, and Ethiopian Frankincense 


The Scent

Zaharoff Tabac opens up with a blast of sweet spirits including rum and cognac. A spicy cardamom note can be detected amongst the swirling suavity of the blend. I can pick up the davana that lends a slight fruitiness to the booziness. The main star here is the tobacco. It can be smelled a few seconds after the opening and persists long into the dry down. It's sweet and aromatic and soaks up the sweetness of the liquors. This smells like an expensive cigar and doesn't read as synthetic in the least bit. 

As the heart unfolds, The tobacco persists with the sweetness subsiding a slight bit. The slight earthiness in the tobacco note lets you know that actual tobacco was used here and not tonka. You start to pick up on the balsamic feeling of the myrrh at this point. It almost gives off a Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille vibe because of how the myrrh is used. This fragrance lacks a vanilla note and it doesn't smell like Tobacco Vanille. It just has that same feeling to the nose. 

The base reveals a more woody approach that doesn't feature the buttery sandalwood that other releases do. At least I am not picking up on it. The sandalwood seems to display more of its dry and woody characteristics when it is combined with frankincense. This seems to be one of Zaharoff's favorite bases that was taken from Signature Noire and it's a base that you can't go wrong with. It's woody, warm, and resinous with the cardamom, tobacco, and a hint of the liquors remaining. 


Performance

Zaharoff has never been known to be a slouch when scent strength is spoken of, but this is by far his strongest offering. This fragrance will last you at least 10 hours and it projects heavily for the first 2-3 hours before pushing out moderately and finally becoming a more intimate affair. 

I tested this fragrance with 3 sprays and that was almost too much. Be careful on the trigger with this one. 


When to Wear it

Zaharoff Tabac is a very masculine-leaning fragrance. That's not to say that a woman can't pull it off, but the targeted audience here is certainly of the male persuasion. I would say the fragrance is also for men who are over 30. This isn't a sweet and cloying tobacco fragrance like Herod. This is natural, refined, and classy. 

Tabac would pair well with a sweater/jumper and some khakis. You can pull it off in a suit or jeans and a flannel. I would sweat it with joggers and a hoodie though,. It's a bit too refined and nuanced to fit that vibe. 

Cold weather is where this will shine. It is too rich and resinous for the warmer months, unless it's a cooler spring evening. 


My Opinion

Tabac is Zaharoff's best creation yet. I still think Rose and Signature are close. However, Tabac is much more in my wheelhouse. This smells exactly like a gentleman who enjoys an expensive cigar and even more expensive liquors. It is a man with taste who is classical and modern at the same time.

This fragrance makes me picture a man in a crimson felt robe smoking a cigar and having a drink. A fireplace is roaring nearby and the smell or quality wooden furniture lingers about in the air. This is an atmospheric scent that reimagines a man's place of contemplation and renewal. 

The materials that George uses are absolutely phenomenal for the price. I don't imagine he makes a ton of profit on his fragrances. I know how much some of the ingredients he uses cost. I can tell you that they are not cheap and this is more of a labor of love than a profit-seeking endeavor. That can be said for all of Zaharoff's line though. Real rose isn't cheap at all. Look at the prices of natural rose fragrances compared to Signature Rose and you will understand what I mean. 

Samples are readily available for this fragrance. This is not a standard tobacco fragrance, so I would encourage sampling it. I know my tastes are somewhat peculiar at times, so don't just take my word for it. Sample it and see if it's for you. We are so used to things like Herod and Pure Havane that I am unsure if people know what tobacco smells like(outside of cigar aficionados, which I am not). I did see that Zaharoff sent out a few cigars with some orders. I saw that George posted that they were expanding into the cigar and spirits business as well, so I am excited about that. I am not much of a smoker, but I would be willing to try it as a treat. Lord knows we all need a treat after these past few years...


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Some Stunning Fall Fragrances

 
Hello! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day today. I am in a pretty chipper mood today and I felt motivated by the chilly morning air to write my first list in quite a while. Those of you who have followed me know that I don't like doing top 10s. It's just not my style. I don't know how many are on this list, but they are in no order. These are all beautiful fragrances. 

The crispy air nips at your ears. The smell of wet leaves is in the air. The pumpkin spice craze reignites. Bonfires, hayrides, and apple dunking contests. Fall is here once again. For some folks that brings about a sense of dread. For folks like me, it brings about a sense of joy. I absolutely love the cooler weather and everything that comes with it. It is time for another fall list. I have a bunch of stuff you might not have heard of before on this one. Enjoy. Let's get into it!

Note: All prices are in USD. 

None of the links in this article are sponsored. I get nothing out of you clicking on them.


Genre Parfums Apples & Aces

Price: $50(50ml) 
Link: Genre Parfums
Character: Sweet, boozy, and warm
Performance: Very strong
Key Notes: Apple, Cognac, Amber, Tobacco, and Wine
Gender: True Unisex
Situations: Casual to formal
Weather: Cool to cold


Genre Parfums is a house known for making affordable clones. However, some of their originals are simply breathtaking. This is probably the best one. I quite enjoyed RAMC and Expletive, but this one is on a different level. 

A booze-soaked apple with warm amber and sweet tobacco. This is a holiday party in a bottle. I am normally not a huge fan of sweet fragrances, but I like this type of sweetness. It's grown-up and boozy. Go easy on the sprays, folks. This is a very strong fragrance. 


J-Scent Sumo Wrestler 

Price: $80(50ml)

Link: Sumo Wrestler
Character: Warm, powdery, and woody
Performance: Strong, but the projection is soft
Key Notes: Anise, Sandalwood, Heliotrope, and Musk 
Gender: More Masculine
Situations: Any
Weather: Any, but it favors cool to cold. 


"Sumo Wrestler? John, I do not want to smell like a large sweaty man!"

Well, neither do I. Luckily that is not what Sumo Wrestler smells like. The Japanese house J-Scent captured the essence of bintsuke, which is the hair oil that sumo wrestlers use. I was scared at first too, but this is a stunningly beautiful barbershop done in a Japanese way. Creamy sandalwood, heliotrope, warm anise, and powdery musk combine to create a warm and clean scent that is suitable for year-round wear, but it really shines in the cooler months. 

The fragrance is unique as its namesake. This one floored me, from a house that almost no one knows about and they should. J-Scent has many unique scents. One of my favorites is Hanamizake, Which is a cherry blossom and sake fragrance themed after a Japanese tradition that entails sitting under a cherry blossom tree while drinking sake and enjoying nature. Outstanding!


4160 Tuesdays Shazam!

Price: $130(100ml) $90(50ml)
Link: Shazam! 
Character: Warm, woody, and smoky 
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Juniper, Amber, Cedar, Cocoa, and Olibanum
Gender: Unisex
Situations: Casual
Weather: Cool to cold


4160 makes some great fragrances, but many of her creations are gourmands, which isn't really my thing most of the time. I still recognize her ability to be creative and create amazing fragrances though. This is one of them. 

Whoosh! Boom! Shazam! hits you right in the olfactory sense with sweet tangerine and some juniper right off, followed by a trail of peppery cedar and warm and smoky incense. AT the base there is a hint of cacao. It makes me think of drinking hot chocolate next to a fireplace in a cabin. You gotta love the fragrances that take you to a time and place. Sarah McCartney is a true storyteller with her perfumes.


Di Ser Kagiroi

Price: $250(33ml)
Link: Kagiroi
Character: Woody and spicy
Performance: Moderate. Projection is intimate
Key Notes: Hinoki(Japanese Cypress), Yuzu(Japanese Grapefruit), Shiso(Japanese Mint), and Sansho(Japanese Pepper)
Gender: Unisex
Situations: Any
Weather: Any

Di ser is an all-natural Japanese house. Their perfumes don't come cheap, but you will not find the Japanese attention to detail as strongly in any other brand. Yasuyuki Shinohara has a commitment to use some of the purest materials on the market, which are sourced directly from his garden or in Japan. Most of which comes from his native prefecture of Hokkaido. 

Kagiroi starts off with the most beautifully juicy yuzu note you will find. Combined with a vibrant shiso note, it starts out very fresh. The sansho joins shortly after to join the hinoki and vetiver in the dry down. What you end up with is a beautiful hinoki scent and the best on the market, in my opinion. I usually don't pay this much for fragrances, especially only 33ml of it...but this is truly worth it.


Meleg Perfumes Mushin

Price $170(50ml)
Link: Mushin
Character: Creamy, resinous, and woody
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Osmanthus, Sandalwood, Coconut, and Oud
Gender: Unisex
Situations: Any 
Weather: Cool to cold


Perfumer Matthew Meleg lived in Kyoto, Japan for a while. He wanted to recreate the smell of the incense that wafted from the temples there. This is what he came up with. I am not sure how accurate it is, but it smells darn good. 

You get osmanthus right off the top. That peachy aroma is unmistakable. It combines with incense, oud, and sandalwood with a slight hint of coconut to create a beautifully creamy incense fragrance with a hearty backbone of woods. This fragrance uses some expensive materials and is a steal at the asking price. It's my favorite of his line by far, and he has some nice offerings.

Also, I promise this is the last Japanese-inspired fragrance on the list. I wanted to include Comme des Garcon's Incense: Kyoto, but I couldn't find it.


Zadig & Voltaire This is Him

Price: $41(50ml)
Link: This is Him!
Character: Woody, peppery, and resinous
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Sandalwood, pepper, vanilla, and incense
Gender: Masculine
Situation: Any
Weather: Cool to cold

This is Him is probably one of the more well-known ones from this art8cle, but I think it's still underappreciated. At 41 bucks for 50ML, this is a fantastic value.

This is Him opens up with a bit of astringent grapefruit with dry pepper. The dry down is where the magic begins. Creamy sandalwood, slightly sweetened vanilla, and dark incense round out the composition to create a creamy and dark woody fragrance that smells very masculine. To think this came from a designer brand is almost unfathomable. This is niche quality, albeit a tad synthetic, but that doesn't bother me at all for the price.


Marc-Antoine Barrois Ganymede

Price: $210(100ml)
Link: Ganymede
Character: Mineral, suede, and ozone
Performance: Very strong
Key Notes: Mineral Accord, Violet, Suede, and Mandarin
Gender: Unisex, but it leans masculine to me
Situation: Any
Weather: Any

Ganymede is an amalgamation of notes that shouldn't work together, but they do. Ozonic violet to create a watery feel, soft suede, mineral accords, and mandarin. It creates something that is hard to explain. It is synthetic, but that is part of its charm and creativity. Nothing else on the market smells like it. It draws me in and keeps me coming back for more. Ganymede is that strange person that you don't know what to think of at first, but you soon find out that they are something you needed in your life. 


Jesus del Pozo Tobacco Wood Nights

Price: $63(100ml)
Link: TWN
Character: Sweet, woody, and spicy
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Cardamom, Tobacco, and Leather
Gender: Unisex leaning masculine
Situations: Any
Weather: Cool to cold

Jesus del Pozo has an entire Arabian Nights collection and all of them I have tried are good. I also own Dark Saffron Nights. Their quality is far above their price. 

Tobacco woods night is an aromatic tobacco and leather fragrance with spicy cardamom. It smells like a fragrance Tom Ford would make, but no one knows about it because many don't like to explore new things. They make us reviewers spend money to find those for them. This is a better tobacco fragrance than Herod, even though it doesn't smell like Herod. 64 bucks is a steal for this.


Amouage Jubilation XXV

Price: Around $200.
Link: You can find it at many different places.
Character: Woody, resinous. and sweet
Performance: Nuclear
Key Notes: Blackberry, Honey, Oud, Opoponax, and Myrrh
Gender: Masculine
Situations: Semi-casual to formal
Weather: Cool to cold

Jubilation XXV is probably the most popular on this list. I just had to include it. I traded my old bottle and decided I wanted to keep it. So, I traded the bottle as promised and bought a brand new bottle the same day. 

Dark juicy blackberries with rich honey, dusty and smoky resins, and a woody backbone. It has much more than that, but I will save it for a full review. It has so many little nuances that make it amazing. The blending and attention to detail in this perfume are hard to beat.


Pasha de Cartier Parfum

Price: $70-100 
Link: Check eBay
Character: Woody, ambery, powdery, and warm
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Liquor, benzoin, Sandalwood, and Balsam Fir
Gender: Masculine
Situations: Any
Weather: Cool to Cold


This one got a bit of hype too. I reviewed it last week as well, so I won't go too far in-depth. It's basically a boozier, warmer, more modern take on the original Pasha de Cartier. It's absolutely beautiful and I love it. Check out my review if you'd like.


Al-Rehab Choco Musk

Price: $12
Link: It can be found on eBay easily
Character: Gourmand, creamy, and powdery
Performance: Nuclear
Key Notes: Chocolate and vanilla
Gender: Unisex
Situations: Casual
Weather: Cool to cold

Al-Rehab's Choco Musk is the cheapest and best value on this list. If you want to know what it smells like...It's pretty much creamy and powdery hot chocolate. It smells just like a cup of hot chocolate. I am not a fan of gourmands that much, but I love hot chocolate, so this one just does it for me. Especially for that price. 


Lattafa Raghba

Price: $25
Link: Check eBay
Character: Ambery, woody, and smoky
Performance: Strong
Key Notes: Amber, Oud, and Incense
Gender: Unisex
Situation: Casual
Weather: Cold

For years I raved on 24 Gold. I love the Kalemat style of fragrances. I didn't think I needed this one because I had 24 Gold. Boy, was I wrong? Raghba is even better to me. That sweet creamy ambery goodness with smoky incense and oud. It smells so luxurious for its price. You really can't go wrong with this one, unless you spray more than 3 times.


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this one. I will probably do another one at some point, but it might not be until the holiday season. I am going to focus mainly on single reviews for now. 

Until next time, be safe and remember to say a kind word to someone. You never know who it will help. Be great and smell great. 


Get $10 off any https://mozzafiato.com/ purchase with my code: MUSINGS. They are a premier supplier of luxury Italian goods and fragrances. I do get a small cut of anything you purchase with my code. 

Want to see what is going on in my group and vote on my upcoming articles? We also discuss fragrances and fragrant topics in a drama-free environment. You won't see any troll Aventus and CDNIM posts in my group! Join my Facebook group!

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Effortlessly Amazing: Carthusia Uomo Review

 

Hey folks! I hope everyone is having a lovely day today! I am super excited to bring you this Carthusia Uomo today. If you enjoy Italian fragrances, then this is one you want to check out. 

Before I begin, I must be transparent and tell you that this is a sponsored article by Mozzafiato. They are an Italian luxury store that sells some fragrances that are somewhat difficult to find in the US. They also have shaving accessories, soaps, and a lot of different products to make you smell good. I do have a personal discount code for you: MUSINGS(make sure to type it in all caps!). I do get a small kickback if you use this link to purchase anything. This has no impact on my review of this fragrance. 

I usually don't do sponsored articles. However, a friend linked me up with the owner and I looked over their site and listened to his reviews of the store and I was sold. I wouldn't do a sponsored article if it wasn't a brand I believed in. Anyone who has followed me for any length of time knows that I absolutely adore Italian fragrances and how they do citruses. You folks also know how I love helping smaller brands out and Mozzafiato falls under that umbrella.

Now that that is out of the way, let's get into it!


The Notes

Top 

Lemon, Bergamot, Freesia, and Green Leaves

Mid 

Geranium, Cedar, Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, and Patchouli

Base

Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, and Sandalwood 

The Scent

When we think about an Italian fragrance, what do we think of? For myself, I think of bergamot and clean freshness. Carthusia Uomo opens up with a melange of petitgrain-esque freshness. Citrus-laced green leaves with an aquatic freesia and a hint of fresh rosy geranium. Basically, this smells like you are in Italy by the seaside, sans the saltiness. It's fresh, vibrant, and aquatic. 

As the heart starts to develop, you start picking up on a slightly spiced cedar and more of that aforementioned rosy geranium. Soapy jasmine and clean white musk follow to give the geranium the clean edge that it needs. The notes from the top still linger, but this perfume is masterfully blended and the notes all meld seamlessly with one another. None of them attempt to upstage the others.

As the base starts to shine, you get a bit of clean oakmoss which makes this fragrance lean almost in a fougere direction. The freshness from the top is still there. You would think that it would die down, but it doesn't. An almost leathery nuance shows up. It's soft, clean, and beautifully crafted., The fragrance finishes with a warming blanket of cashmeran. 


Performance

Italian fragrances typically aren't known to be very long-lasting. This one breaks that mold. This is not a forceful fragrance and it comes off as very gentlemanly. It's not one that is going to fill a room, but people will smell it on you. I get around 9 hours on skin with this. The projection is quite mild which is to be expected with the note breakdown.

It's cooler here now, so maybe in the warmer months it will last longer and be a little more aggressive, but I doubt it considering the genre of fragrance that it is. These gentlemanly scents are rarely overbearing, like a gentleman himself is. 

Let it be noted that I only wore 3 sprays of this perfume while testing. Overspraying this will make it too forceful and ruin the charm that the fragrance is trying to convey. 

How to Wear it

This perfume is meant for a discerning man. A man who has a career, but still comes home to play with the kids and helps his wife. It's classy, elegant, but also casual. It's quite versatile. You can pull this off with a T-shirt and shorts or a lightly colored suit at the office. This is a fragrance that Bleu de Chanel wishes it could be...and I like Bleu de Chanel. 

This fragrance does lean masculine, but I could see a woman pulling it off as well. I wouldn't call it unisex, but I wouldn't say it's in the genre of completely masculine either.

This is probably best suited for men over 30. While it does have some playfulness in it with the aquatic nuances, I think it leans a little more mature than a college-age person would want. The composition is classic, but it's made with modern ingredients and doesn't smell "old" at all. 

Spring and summer are probably the best time of the year to wear Carthusia Uomo, but I am sitting here wearing it in 50F temperatures and it still works beautifully.




My Opinion

This fragrance is simply beautiful to me. It's versatile enough that I can wear it all year long. The way the blend comes off so effortlessly smooth and there are so many little nuances at play makes it smell much more expensive than it actually is. This fragrance is only $84 for 50ml and that blows my mind for the quality you get here. It might sound like a lot to some, but this is 100% worth it. Plus, you get 10 bucks off with my code, which makes it even better. I promise that I am not just saying this because it's sponsored. Look at the reviews on Fragrantica or Base Notes. This is a gem that hardly anyone knows about. 

This makes me dream of an Italian summer by the seaside, drinking some lemonade while watching the waves crash while the birds sing their song of summer. It just hits some sort of euphoric happiness in me. A place of bliss and peace, which is something I honestly needed after this year.

Carthusia Uomo is a breathtakingly realistic adventure into the core of Italian perfumery. Carefree yet still dressed up would be my description of the perfume. It's just simply amazing what gems you can find when you aren't even looking. 


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my review of Carthusia Uomo. It was an absolute delight to test this one out. This one will get some heavy wearing during spring and summer, even though I am wearing it in autumn as well. 

I appreciate all of your support and don't forget to say a kind word to someone today. You never know who you might help. You might just keep someone from the brink of darkness with one kind word. Use it well and often. 

Until next time, I wish everyone good health and happy times. Smell amazing and be amazing!
 

Buy Carthusia Uomo Here(DOn't forget to use MUSINGS for $10 off)

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Invigorating: Sean John 3 AM Review

 

Good evening! I hope you folks are doing well tonight. I am trying to catch up on a ton of reviews, so you will be seeing a lot of content from me. I will have a lot of non-mainstream stuff coming up soon. 

I always saw people speak about this fragrance, but I never picked it up. I had a friend send it to me, so thank you to that friend for the gift. He also sent me Lagerfeld Bois de Vetiver, which might not be reviewed until the spring. 

Without further ado, let's get into it!


The Notes


Top 

Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, and Cardamom


Heart

Fig Leaf, Geranium, and Orange Blossom 


Base

Tonic Water and Leather


The Vibe

Happy summer days with a refreshing sparkling drink.

Long summer days on the beach in the shade. 

That first blast of cold water as you jump into a lake. 

The cool spring dew.

The feeling of wearing a white linen shirt on a hot summer day. 


The Scent 

3 AM opens with invigorating sparkling bergamot with ice-cold tonic water. A slight touch of fresh and juicy orange adds to the refreshing nature of this composition. I think there is a little bit of cardamom in here, but it is used to make the composition feel effervescent. Cardamom is often used for that in these types of fragrances. 

As the heart emerges, a beautifully fresh and slightly creamy fig leaf comes out. This is the best fig note I have smelled in a fragrance within this price range. It just smoothens out the blend. I am a huge fan of fig. My boy, Carlos Colom, got me into it and now I am obsessed with the note. He also got me to expand my horizons into licorice and anise, but that is a story for another time. 

In the deep dry down, it retains that a little bit of the tonic water, but it's mostly a very soft and clean leather note with that fig leaf and a pinch of spice. It's still on the refreshing side. It doesn't turn cheap and generic in the dry down, which is shocking considering the price of this perfume. 


My Opinion

3 AM is a fragrance that completely blew me away. I review a lot of niche and indie stuff and I love supporting those brands, but this fragrance seriously captured my heart. This is a fragrance that instantly makes me happy when I spray it. Yes, the atomizer is amazing. The hype is real on that.

The way 3 AM comes together with its fresh and cooling sensations that are grounded by leather and not woods, makes it read as a masculine offering. It's mostly a summer or spring scent, but I have been wearing it in 40F weather just fine as well. 

Let's talk about performance for a bit. I am not someone who speaks on this often, but I will for this one. I think most people are not judging this one accurately. I did the same thing. I wore it and it lasted 4-6 hours in the peak of summer. However, I went through a phase when I was having a rough time in my life, so I wasn't wearing many perfumes. After around 2 weeks of not wearing something, I picked this 3 AM to uplift my mood. To my surprise, this fragrance was still very noticeable after 8 hours. This fragrance seems like it lasts a lot longer than we think. We are just used to spraying heavy fragrances which probably make it so we can't smell this one in the heart and dry down.  I was certainly pleased to find this out because I adore the smell of this perfume.

I was also surprised by how unique it is. I wouldn't say it has niche appeal, but it doesn't smell like anything I have tried on the market. The blending of notes is so smooth and well-composed. I would expect this fragrance to be from a high-end designer brand if I smelled it blindly. 

You can purchase 100ml of this fragrance for under 20 USD wherever you might look. I am not sure if everyone will love it like I do, so I would suggest sampling if you can, but it's not an expensive blind buy if you go that route. I think it's pretty safe, but I know not everyone has the cash to just throw at fragrances, so don't solely take my word on it. My tastes are not yours. I like it so much that I bought the body wash, deodorant, and aftershave to go with it. 


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my review. Thank you for all of the support and for continuing to read my articles. It really means the world to me. 

Remember to say a kind word today. You never know what someone is going through beyond the surface. Their world could be crumbling and a kind word could help them get through it. 

Have a blessed day everyone. Until next time, be great and keep smelling great. Much love to all of you. 

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Warm and Cozy: Pasha de Cartier Parfum Review

 

Hey, folks! I am sorry that it's been so long since I have done a review. I keep saying I will do more, but life keeps getting in the way. As some of you know, my grandmother passed away in June. My mother broke her hip, then she caught COVID, and now she is in a nursing home. It's been a rough year, but I am trying to pump out some more reviews now. I have quite a lot to go over. 

I have had Pasha de Cartier Parfum for a while now and I have had time to fully explore it. I am excited about this one. Let's get into it!


The Vibes

A gentleman sits in his recliner with an amber-colored drink in his hand. It's a cool winter night and the fireplace is roaring. He is a man of taste and refinement, but he is also a modern man, but he enjoys a few classic things as well. He is well-spoken and confident, but not arrogant. 

His home speaks of classic tastes, but with modern edges to it. The old reliable recliner is a relic of the past, while the fireplace is cold and austere on the outside, while still giving that warm glow that feels like a hearth. A perfect combination of classic values with new world ideas. 

The Notes

Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli, and Balsamic Notes


The Scent

Pasha de Cartier Parfum opens up in an enveloping mist of ambery booziness. It's a very cozy feel, akin to sitting by a fireplace to me. It just has a feeling of contention about it, while still retaining something slightly powdery from the original Pasha de Cartier. This allows the fragrance to be slightly clean, but not soapy in any way. 

As the heart emerges, a beautiful warm and creamy sandalwood because the focal point of the composition. This is one of the best sandalwood fragrances I have smelled. Even though it is synthetic, it doesn't read as cheap or rough. An ever so slightly dark and woody patchouli is noticeable as well. It's probably there to light the woodiness of the sandalwood.
 
In the dry down, it's mostly a creamy sandalwood and amber scent, but it retains that ever so slight powdered feel, which I think might be lavender and not a powdered amber. I think the amber is what gives this fragrance the boozy and warm feel, but I could be wrong. The original Pasha has lavender and I believe it is the same in this one, but it's not listed. 
 

My Opinion

This is a remarkable release. Cartier is a very underrated and dependable house. This fragrance speaks volumes about Cartier's ability to understand their market and to bring it into the modern era while still retaining its roots. 

This is a very long-lasting fragrance. I am clocking in at around 9-10 hours total with it. It has heavy projection for the first 2 1/2 hours, so I suggest only going 1-2 sprays with it. 

Pasha de Cartier Parfum is a very masculine release, but of course, women can wear it. It's best suited for cold days. It's a very rich smelling fragrance and it's not suited for warmer days. It's probably best suited for men over 30. This is a luxury fragrance and should be dressed up. This is not a hoodie and jeans scent. This is a statement about class and taste when you are at least slightly dressed up. 

I wouldn't label this as a masterpiece, but it would toe that line for me. It's 100% worth $120 to me. Cartier does it time and time again. They release fragrances that blow me away for their price. The quality and attention to detail from their watchmaking has certainly traverses into their perfume selections.


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my review of Pasha de Cartier Parfum. Remember that this is just my opinion and you should always sample any fragrance I suggest before purchasing. My nose and tastes are not the same as yours.

I did make a GoFundMe if you want to help out during these times. I don't like asking for money, but people told me to start one. Don't feel obligated to donate. Words of support mean enough to me. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and don't forget to say a kind word to someone today. You never know when it can bring someone back from the brink. 

Keep being kind and always smell amazing. Until next time, take care!


GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/johns-costs

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A Rosy Affair: Zaharoff Signature Rosé Review

 

Good evening! I hope everyone has been doing wonderful lately. I have so many new things to review for you folks, but I didn't know where to start! I decided to go with Signature Rose because people have been asking me what my take is on it. I have also had a travel spray of it for a while, so I have been able to fully test the scent out. 

Now for the disclaimer, I am friends with George. I am a big fan of him. However, I did purchase this bottle with my own money for the preorder price of $125. I have attached a screenshot as proof. My friendship with George doesn't change my opinion of this fragrance. After all, I thought it was good enough to purchase for myself. 

So...with all of that out of the way, let's get into it!


The Vibe

Roses are arguably the most legendary flower in existence. Many cultures believed that the rose symbolized something important. Everything from a yellow rose to a dark red one, people have always been fascinated with this sacred flower.

In perfumery, rose is often romanticized into a sultry mix of dark exotic woods to show off the rose's ability to be seductive. Sometimes it is paired with lighter florals with its green lemony zest and soapy nuances. Rose is such a diverse note, but real rose comes at a hefty price. They say that 1ml of rose oil requires 3 liters of rose petals. Now a single rose isn't overly expensive, but when you need to strip a rose of its petals to make 3 liters of oil, that is a lot of roses. This is why real rose oils are so pricey. It takes quite a few roses to make a single fragrance. Anyone who tells you that you can make a natural rose fragrance for 10 USD is lying to you and has no idea about what they are saying.

So, what is it about roses that make us want to pay their steep prices? Well, roses just smell that good, obviously. They add a layer of intimacy, wealth, and sophistication, Just like the stoic rose blooms for the world to see its beauty and inhale its essence, so does the person who enjoys rose. It's a smell that almost all humans can recognize and it's telling of who you are. Rose has as much class as the people who enjoy them, mostly.


Notes

Top 

Turkish Rose 
Bulgarian Rose Otto

Mid

Gold Amber
Jasmine 
Red Peony 
Bulgarian Rose

Base 

Australian Sandalwood 
Madagascar Vanilla Bean 
Sugar Cane 
Chinese Oud 
Myrhh
Frankincense 


The Scent

Signature Rose opens up with a rich honeyed raspberry-tinged rose with a lemony green rose underneath it. It plays on a slight citric vibe with a sweet rich rose to bolster it. Despite the sweetness of the Bulgarian rose, this is not sickening or cloying because it's real rose. Real rose doesn't become overbearing even when it's sweet. It's just a beautiful honeyed rose to me. 

When it starts to dry down, you start getting some of the resins. The frankincense gives a very slight whiff of smoke. It's so slight that you could miss it if you weren't looking for it. Sweet and effortlessly spicy myrrh mingles with a rich vanilla note. This could be the amber as well. I am not entirely sure on that one.

I am not entirely sure what sugar cane smells like. There is some sweetness in here that I don't attribute to the rose or amber/vanilla, so I am guessing that it's coming from the sugar cane. You also give a very faint whiff of the buttery sandalwood that Zaharoff loves to use in his creations.

Like most of the other Zaharoff fragrances, I do not pick up the oud. I am not sure if I am just not familiar with Chinese oud or that he uses it in small amounts and I can't detect it.  


My Opinion

Zaharoff Signature Rose is my favorite Zaharoff thus far. It's rich, complex, yet versatile enough to wear in the heat. I do think it's better for cooler weather though. The sweetness of the rose reminds me a little bit of the Declaration D'un Soir's rose. It's not completely like that, but a minor similarity. It doesn't smell like the Cartier, but if you like the Cartier, then you will probably enjoy this one as well. 

George has taken a note that can be difficult to make unisex and made it super versatile and wearable by anyone. I love this and I see the care that George put into selecting the ingredients for this one and pairing it with his popular Signature Noire base. 

This is also a fragrance that lasts 10 hours on me. So, don't overspray this one. It's much stronger than you might think it is. 

This one is well worth even the $145 price tag to me, but I still suggest sampling it first. If you don't like Rose, then you won't like this. It is very rose dominant. 


Conclusion

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening. Remember to say something positive to someone today. You never know how much one kind word can help someone. Be the change that you want to see. 

Much love to all of you. Until next time, keep smelling great and being great


Buy Signature Rose here

I get nothing from you clicking this link. I have no affiliate links and I am not sponsored by anyone.

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The Night Life: City Rhythm Manhattan Review

 

Photo Credit: Niles Ramadhin

Hello! I apologize for being absent for the last month. I have been quite busy lately. I meant to get this review out last week, but my grandmother passed away, so I didn't feel motivated to write anything. I have quite a few things to review. I just have to find time to do it. 

Some of you have probably seen this brand floating around Facebook recently. It's called City Rhythm and it's a small house headed up by Niles Ramadhin that is making scents inspired by major cities. So far, he only has the one I will be covering, Manhattan. He posted that he will be releasing one called Miami soon, which will be a more tropical fragrance from the looks of it. I am not sure if he will just be doing American cities or he will be branching out to other locations around the world. 

Niles did send me a sample for free. I have spoken with him a bit over the past few weeks and he's a nice guy. I am not close friends with him and I get nothing out of this review. It's not sponsored by him. I simply got a sample of it from him. My opinion still remains my own and always will be.

Without further adieu, let's get into this!


The Notes

Top

Bergamot, Cinnamon, and Violet Leaf 

Mid

Tea, Incense, and Labdanum

Base

Tobacco, Vanilla, Cedar, Vetiver


The Vibe

You never know what you will find in the city at night. You could find adventure, turmoil, or even love. That is part of what makes people flock to the city. There are so many things to do and so many mysteries.

Skylines from around the world have always been a vivid fascination of mine. I actually have some photos in my house of them. Tokyo, Seattle, Beijing, Manila, Dubai...They all hold their own cultural uniqueness. A tribute to the people who choose to call these places home. The darkened sky is illuminated by the liveliness of those denizens themselves. The very image of moving, even when captured by a still image. It's similar to the joy of a child seeing a Christmas tree light up. I still love Christmas trees. I am not sure if that is because I never grew up or my "manly side" says, "look! Something shiny!". Regardless, they hold a fascination for me similar to that of the colorful lights that pain each skyline. 

What wonders do these brightly lit wonders hold? Passion, joy, fun, mystery, and intrigue. This is what Manhattan captures for us. While it might not specifically be only for Manhattan(which is in New York, if anyone didn't know), it captures the romance of those skylines and the intrigue they hold. 


The Scent

Manhattan opens with some sweet bergamot and warm cinnamon. Some ambery hues of labdanum peek forth shortly after. It's an early arrival to the main show that begins around 20 minutes after application. 

When the heart comes out, you pick up what I interpret as a malty black tea note that melds into the cinnamon and the slight bit of sweet bergamot that is left over. The incense emerges as a sweeter and drier variety. I don't detect smoky nuances in it. Cherried tobacco with vanilla then comes forth to steal the show. It brings up an image of Parfum de Marly's Herod, but less aggressive and not cloyingly sweet. This is a more realistic tobacco note that combining with the tea for an interesting and luxurious accord, malted cherry tobacco.

The base brings out some smooth and slightly peppered cedar, while the tobacco, vanilla, cinnamon, and tea hold on to form the general vibe of this fragrance throughout most of its life. The tea eventually fades and you are left with tobacco, vanilla, and cedar scent. 


My Opinion

I have seen a few people hyping this up as the greatest thing ever. I  don't agree with that. However, I do agree that this is an excellent fragrance. I will be purchasing a full bottle here soon. Yes, I will be purchasing it. it will not be given to me.

The allure of this fragrance for me is that it smells like what Herod should have been. To me, Herod is a sweet and cloying mess. This fragrance has some sweetness, but it's not aggressive or overstated. It's well-mannered and classy. What makes this fragrance for me is that tea note in the heart. I am a big fan of tea and oftentimes it's used very poorly in fragrances. This is not one of those times. It creates an intriguing accord with the tobacco. 

This is a gentleman in a suit fragrance, but that doesn't mean you have to wear a suit with it. You can dress it down or up. It would be best for the cooler weather though. This fragrance does lean masculine to me, but a woman might be able to pull it off. Wear what you want.

People always ask me about the performance of fragrances, so I will start covering it again. This isn't as loud as Herod. It's not going to reach the heavens with projection. It's more of a gentlemanly scent, as I stated before. People will smell this on you for a good 2-3 hours after application, but the fragrance is softer. I like that and think it's part of its charm. The total time it was lasting on my skin was 8-9 hours. 

The only thing I will knock off from the fragrance is that it is somewhat sticky on your skin. It's not a big deal for me, but I know some people don't like that. I just had to mention it. 


Conclusion

I am excited to see Niles' next release, as this one is quite good for the price of 55 USD for 30ml(link below). He sells samples as well, which I will also link below. I do suggest sampling this one if you are a tobacco fan. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of your day. Be amazing, kind, and spread the love. Remember that kind words are free. You never know how much you can help someone by just being nice to them. 

Keep smelling great and being great. Until next time, be safe. 


Buy Manhattan samples

Buy a bottle of Manhattan

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