Bond No 9 The Scent of Peace Review

This image is not owned by me. It is used for reference only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

hello everyone! I hope this Halloween finds you in good health and merry. Today I have a review for one of my favorite Bond No 9 fragrances, The Scent of Peace. This fragrance is aptly named. As always, if yo u want to support my work hit the blue follow button at the top right. Thanks!

I was sent a decent of this one from a friend of mine. I wasn't super impressed with it at first, but that is probably because he sent me a sample of PdM Carlisle in the same package. After a few wearings, I started to really appreciate this fragrance.

Notes:
Top- Pineapple, Juniper Berries, Bergamot
Mid- Currant Buds
Base- Vetiver, Cedar

This fragrance is a juniper bomb to me. A very fresh and clean pleasing juniper with some pineapple and a bit of refined cedar in the background. Also a slight touch of green vetiver. I don't really know what currant buds smell like, but I do get a slight vibe of blackcurrant in this, but it's faint. This fragrance is really uplifting and peaceful, as the name implies.

I get about 8 hours out of this and an hour and a half of projection. However, it has around a 2-foot scent bubble around you for at least 6 hours and then settles to a skin scent before fading away. As you probably guessed from the scent bubble, it leaves a really nice sillage trail.

I have seen some people compare this to Aventus because of the pineapple and cedar. I don't get an Aventus vibe at all from this one. This is just fresh, clean, sweet, fruity, and green with a slightly woody backbone.

This fragrance is good for the spring and summer, mostly in the daytime. I don't see this fitting as a nighttime fragrance. The notes are too light. This one is safe for work and casual situations. I wouldn't wear it formally.

A great fragrance release from the house of Bond No 9 and one of their better ones for me. It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it is a great fragrance that most people will enjoy, as long as you like juniper.

You can get 50ML of this for around $110, which isn't a bad price in my opinion:
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/bond-no.-9/bond-no.-9-the-scent-of-peace/eau-de-parfum#252450

That's it for today. Happy Halloween and be safe out there folks!

Bvlgari Man in Black Review

Hello everyone, I hope this day finds you well. Today I have a review of an amazing fall/winter fragrance, Bvlgari Man in Black.

Also, on a side note...I fixed the blue follower button so mobile users should be able to follow now, but I think you need to make a blogger account to do so. I would appreciate the support if you don't mind doing that.

Let's start off with the notes:

Top- Tobacco, Spices, Rum
Mid- Leather, Tuberose, Iris
Base- Guaiac Wood, Benzoin, Tonka Bean

This fragrance packs a punch, folks. To me, this is what Spicebomb wanted to be(Yes, I still love Spicebomb as well, but MiB is better for me). This is a rum-laden and spicy masculine bomb. In fact, I can't pick up on anything other than the rum, spices, leather, tobacco, and guaiac wood. I don't get tuberose or iris at all. I don't see much change throughout the life of the fragrance besides it becoming a bit sweeter on the dry down(that is probably where the tonka comes in with the rum) with the guaiac wood, but it still remains very spicy.

As I said, this fragrance packs a punch. It is potent. I get around 9-10 hours of longevity and 2 hours of good projection. After those two hours is still leaves a good 3-foot scent bubble until about 8 hours into it. The last 2 are relatively close to the skin.  It is an EDP concentration as well.

This is a great fragrance that I think every man should own. It's super masculine. Pretty versatile in the cold weather. It can be dressed up or down. I wouldn't say to wear this at all in over 50-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. You might choke people out.

This fragrance can be had for pretty cheap as well. Around $40 for 6oML:
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/bvlgari/bvlgari-man-in-black/eau-de-parfum#257435


Thanks again for all of the support folks. it means a lot. Have a great day!

Top 5 Fragrances for Fall (Niche Edition)

Greetings ladies and gentleman. I hope everyone is enjoying the colors and cooler weather that fall brings. I have a list of my favorite fragrances for fall in the niche category today. I will preface this article by saying this...My niche collection isn't huge and mostly consists of decants. That is why I mainly use stock images for them.

I hope you enjoy the list! If you want to support my work you can always hit the blue follower button at the top right-hand side or drop your email at the top to be notified when I post (which is usually daily).

With that being said, let's get into this. I have an honorable mention in this one.

Honorable Mention #1: Alexandria Fragrances Mr. Sillage

Yes, Alexandria Fragrances is considered niche. Maybe it's because of what this fragrance means to me (The man who it was created in honor of) or maybe it's because I love the vanilla in this one with a bit of spice from the myrrh. It's a good fragrance regardless and lasts forever with great projection. Perfect for the fall season. This could easily be a top 5 and barely missed out on the list.

Check out my full review of it here:
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/mr-sillage-review.html


Number 5: Mancera Cedrat Boise

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Mancera Cedrat Boise is a fruity and creamy fragrance with a bit of spice from the cedar and a bit of leather. Some say it smells like Aventus, but I think it smells closer to Reyane Insurrection Pure II, with Cedrat Boise being the higher quality of the two. The reason this one is not higher on my list is I think it's only good for early fall when the temperatures are 60-70 Fahrenheit. It's a real banger for summer though.


Number 4: Creed Royal Oud

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Another great fragrance coming from the house of Creed. This one is spicy, woody, and slightly green. The oud is very subtle. It smells luxurious and is best suited for a suit and tie or at least business casual wear. I get about 10 hours out of this one. One of Creed's best in my opinion.


Number 3: Penhaligon's LP No 9

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

A great fragrance coming from a company with an amazing pedigree. This one smells like Christmas in a bottle, but the spiciness is great for fall. It's very clove heavy, but that is what I love about it. This one also has great performance and works well to warm you up on a chilly day.

Check out my full review here:
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/penhaligons-lp-no-9-review.html


Number 2: Parfums de Marly Herod

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Herod is a beautiful cherry tobacco fragrance with some vanilla and spice. Has a slightly boozy cherry cough syrup opening, but then settles down into something sweet, lovely, and warm. One of the most popular PdM fragrances for a good reason. It lasts about 8 hours on me with good projection for 2 hours or so.

Number 1: Parfums de Marly Carlisle

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Yes, another Parfums de Marly fragrance. I can't get enough of this one, it's such a beautiful fragrance. One of the longest lasting ones too. The apple and sandalwood are so beautiful in this fragrance. I can't say enough good things about this one. It topped my list by a good margin. Numbers 2-4 were pretty close, but this one was a clear winner for me.

Check out my full review here:
https://musingsofafraghead.blogspot.com/2018/10/parfums-de-marly-carlisle-review.html


Thank you once again for the support. I hope you all enjoyed the list. Have a great day!

Top 5 Fragrances for James Bond

I do not own these images. Credit goes to Everett, Keith Hamshere/Getty, Columbia Pictures/Everett. This is used for reference purposes only.

James Bond, a legend in the style game. A man that many men would love to spend a day living his life. The style, cars, women, firearms, and adventure that he portrays. What is not spoken about so often if the fragrance that he wears. Yes, I know that Ian Fleming once said*** that Bond wears Floris No. 89. I have not smelled that one, but the reviews I have read put it spot on with Sean Connery and Roger Moore. There was also a mention of Guerlain and Floris in the books.


***- He said this off the record and there is still speculation on if he actually stated this or not.

So, with that being said, we will stick to Floris No. 89 for all of the Bonds until Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. This list will be about fragrances for them. This is purely opinion, nowhere does it say that Bond would wear these.

With that being said: Let's get on with the list. These are not in numerical order. I just have them listed as so for the orderliness of the list.

Number 5: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Now, this pick here is for one reason. Bond tends to go to seaside villages a lot in Europe and I think this fragrance embodies what he would look for when going there. Yes, I know the longevity isn't amazing, but we are talking about James Bond here. We all know he will get into some sort of fight before the 4-hour mark. Thus leaving this fragrance ineffective through all of the dirt, blood, and sweat. I think it's a fine pick for him in these areas. Fresh, clean, and perfectly suited to Bond's preference for white in the summer.


Number 4: Green Irish Tweed

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

I think this one would be spot on for Pierce Brosnan. Although, Daniel Craig could certainly rock this one too. Cool, clean, confident, and refined. The gentlemanly demeanor of Bond suits this fragrance perfectly and I think it exudes the same type of casual class that he does.


Number 3: Bentley for Men Intense

Bentley for Men Intense? A cheapie!? No way would James Bond wear such a cheap fragrance! Hear me out though... Bond is a man who loves his rum, nice cars, and cigars. This fragrance has a vibe of all of that. Smoky incense, strong and potent rum, and smooth leather (although not car seat type leather). This fragrance exudes class as well, and I think it would fit a man like him perfectly after a night out relaxing. He does get those every now and then, right? Plus Bentley is British after all...

Number 2: Creed Royal Oud

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Creed Royal Oud is a great suit and tie fragrance, which we all know Bond wears a lot of suits. Woody, spicy, and somewhat green. This would be what he smelled like at one of those socialite parties he has to attend while saving the world. On top of that, it embodies the charm and sophistication that we all have come to love from him. It's a serious fragrance for a man who is serious about his duty.

Number 1: Tom Ford Grey Vetiver

This image was taken from Fragrancenet.com and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only. All credit goes to the original photographer.

Yes, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. Why not Guerlain Vetiver? It's not because I like either of them more than the other. Part of it stems from the idea that Bond has worn quite a few Tom Ford pieces in his recent movies, so I think this fragrance would suit that theme perfectly. It's gentlemanly, a little dark (or grey if you will), with a bit of brightness from the citruses. I think this would be Daniel Craig's signature fragrance will playing the character. Perfect for those rainy London days as well.



That's it for today ladies and gentleman! I hope you enjoyed this list. If you like the content I am putting out be sure to hit the follow button and leave your email at the top of the page to be updated when I post new content (Which is almost every day).

Surprising Sleepers 3: Ermenegildo Zegna Uomo

Hey everyone! I hope this day finds you in good health and smelling super! Today I have another installment of "Surprising Sleepers". I hope you enjoy. Hit that blue follow button if you want to see more of these!

I will start off with the notes on this one. Citruses, Violet Leaf, Calabrian Bergamot, Vetiver, and Cedar. Apparently, the bergamot is sourced from real bergamots in Italy.

This fragrance is different. It's ozonic and fairly linear. To me, it smells like the wet air that you smell after a thunderstorm passed through while you are standing beside a cedar tree. There isn't much evolution past the top notes besides the cedar coming out a bit more towards the end. It also takes on a slight wet cucumber vibe at times.

I love this fragrance on a spring or summer rainy day, it vibes perfectly. It is able to be fresh and somewhat dark at the same time.

This fragrance has decent performance. Longevity is about 6 hours with about an hour and a half of projection. It leaves a decent sillage trail.

Overall, a good buy for the money. It's fairly unique in my collection and it has a special place there.

$13 for 50ML makes this juice a decent blind buy at that price. You won't lose much if you don't like it.

https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/ermenegildo-zegna/zegna-uomo/edt#241511

That's it for today guys! Have a great day!

Surprising Sleepers 2: Dsquared² He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood

Greetings ladies and Gentleman! I hope this day finds you in good healthy and fabulously fragrant! I have another "Surprising SleeperS" episode for you today. Today I will be covering Dsquared² He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood (I will be calling it RMW from here on out, that name is just so long!).

Now, I will start by stating that I did not find this fragrance on my own. Joy Amin (A great Youtuber who covers a plethora of fragrances in his videos) did a review on this one and influenced me to try it. I still don't think anyone else is really talking about it. I still consider it a sleeper because of that.

RMW comes in a nice squared bottle with a dark wooden shell (I guess that is what you call that?) on the outside and the fragrance name etched into the side, a black plastic cap, and a beautiful grayish green juice. The cap is cheap, but the bottle looks really nice. The atomizer is of a decent quality.

Notes:

Top- White Pepper, Lily, Violet
Mid- Vetiver, Incense
Base- Cedarwood, Amber, Musk

This is what I get from it. There are a few different resources that list different things.

RMW opens up with dark vetiver and a hint of florals, mostly violet and a touch of spiciness from the pepper. About 20 minutes in the vetiver tames itself and the beautiful violet note comes out. This isn't the powdery kind of violet. It is the ozonic type. After that, you get some smoky incense and cedar for the dry down with a hint of violet in the background and some vetiver lingering around. Also in the base, you get this type of mineral amber accord, that smells like a rock(I guess that is why they call it Rocky Mountain Wood).  It smells like a walk through a forest, right after the rain. It does lean on the darker side though and the ozonic feel adds to that. It is very natural smelling.  The violet note in this fragrance takes it above and beyond. It is unique and as Joy Amin says, this is truly a niche quality fragrance.

This fragrance lasts about 9 hours on me, but it sits close to the skin. This fragrance is meant to have class and not to be intrusive. It just adds to the beauty of this fragrance. It does project for an hour or two and leaves a decent sillage trail for most of its lifespan.

This fragrance is best suited for early spring/winter, but it can be pulled off in the fall as well. It's certainly a cooler weather fragrance.

My overall impression of this fragrance is that it is a true sleeper. It really is an expensive smelling fragrance that performs and is unique. It is also quite cheap, around $25 for 50 ML on Fragrancenet. You won't find many fragrances with quality like this in that price range, outside of maybe Encre Noir, which is in the same ballpark as this one.

https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/dsquared2/he-wood-rocky-mountain/edt#197878

I want to thank all of you for the support you have shown me once again! It really means a lot! Be sure to hit the blue follow button if you want to support my work or leave your email at the top of the page to receive updates when I post.

Also, check out Joy Amin's Youtube. He's very passionate and a classy guy. He explores tons of fragrances that people don't know about.

Joy's Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXf2ConvI79TbrUlI3198A

Joy's review on Rocky Mountain Wood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9PECfc5eNw

Surprising Sleepers 1: Hollister Wave

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope this day finds you well and fervently fragrant! I am starting a new series on my blog called "Surprising Sleepers". This series will be about fragrances that aren't well known or spoken about very often that I think are deserving of a little more love.

Today, we have a fragrance from Hollister. Yes, that company that embodies the surf lifestyle that most of us loved as a kid. The company targets the younger crowds 15-25, so that is why it is surprising to find a decent fragrance from them. Considering I am 32 and my days of rocking destroyed Hollister jeans and a T-shirt with the iconic seagull on them.

Hollister Wave is an aquatic beachy fragrance, as you would have guessed if you know anything about the company. It opened with a strong and sharp yuzu/grapefruit with a touch of lavender, but it still manages to give a fresh vibe. About 20 minutes later you start getting some clean musk, fresh bamboo, salt, and cypress. There is also some sweet tonka bean in here, playing a supporting role to make this fragrance stay fresh. On the dry down, the driftwood starts coming out with a decent, but not overpower dosage of salt. It has a somewhat spicy vibe to it as well. I am not sure what that is, maybe the cypress?

The bottle is pretty nice and heavy with a silver metal cap that is filled with hard plastic. The bottle has this wave like effect on it.  The atomizer is pretty bad though, it shoots like a squirt gun, so be sure to hold it back a bit when spraying.

The official notes are as follows:

Top- bamboo leaf, yuzu, and grapefruit
Mid-  cypress, lavender, and neroli
Base- tonka bean, driftwood, salt, and musk

This fragrance is synthetic, as you can tell from the juice color, so if you are turned off by unnatural smells...Stay away.

This is already a different fragrance in Hollister's lineup because it's an EDT. Most of Hollister's fragrances for men are EDCs. I get around 6-8 hours from this one with a solo 1 1/2 to 2 hours of projection.

Overall, I enjoy this one, despite it being synthetic. It is slightly more for the younger crowd. It errs on the side of playful, but it could be pulled off by any age.

This retails for $38 for 50ML. The best part about this is that I picked up 50ML for $13 at Fragrancenet. So, I think it's worth a try if it sounds like something you would like.

https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/hollister/hollister-wave/edt#285002

Again, thank you for the support and be sure to click that blue follow button and sign up for email notifications at the top if you like my content. Have a great day everyone!

Parfums de Marly Carlisle Review

The image was taken from Fragrantica and is not my own. It is used for reference purposes only.

Hello ladies and gentleman! I hope this day finds you well and fragrant. Today I have a review of a fragrance that has been receiving some hype lately, Parfums de Marly Carlisle. I hope you joy it. Be sure to hit the blue follow button or submit your email at the top of the page if you want to be notified every time I post! Thank you all for all of your support!

I was fortunate enough to be have been given a small sample of this from a friend in the fragrance community. I will just go ahead and let the cat out of the bag on this one. This juice is what dreams are made of. Seriously, it's that good to me.

Carlisle opens up with a quality boozy apple accord. It then transcends into a sweet and dark seductive fragrance with vanilla, saffron, and a very noticeable dry sandalwood base. I also swear I get cinnamon in this, but it's not a listed note, so I have chalked it up to the nutmeg giving that vibe. It really has a warm cozy feel, while also being seductive and intriguing. The notes are blended very well and it is quite difficult to discern what you are actually smelling. The only thing I get super strongly in this one is the boozy apple and sandalwood with some sweet vanilla and spice. I looked at some other reviews on this and it seems as though many people are getting different vibes from this. Just a testament to how well blended it is.

Carlisle lasts forever. Okay, not quite forever, but I do get a good 9-10 hours out of it. The last 2 hours or so is mostly the dry sandalwood with a touch of sweetness, but it is still very nice. I get about 3 hours of projection with it. It leaves a beautiful sillage trail for almost the entire life of the fragrance.

Don't overspray this one. 2-3 sprays at the most. This stuff is pretty potent and can be overbearing if you go trigger happy.

This fragrance was a love at first sniff for me. I haven't smelled anything that immediately made me fall in love with it like this one did since I first smelled Green Irish Tweed. I cannot wait to get a full bottle or decant of this, being that my sample is now gone.

I hope you enjoyed this review! Have an amazingly fragrant day and don't forget to say a kind word to someone today. You never know how much of an impact that can make!

Penhaligon's LP No. 9 Review

Image Sourced from Fragrantica.com

Penhaligon's...Ah, such a storied house with a premium pedigree. Not many houses can claim such deeds that Penhaligon's has accomplished. In the same league as other houses that have held royal warrants such as Floris and Creed.

This image was taken from Penhaligons.com and is not my own. It is used for reference only.

So, here we have one of their releases from 1999, with a modern take on things, but still maintaining the traditional Penhaligon's quality. To me, this smells like Christmas. It opens up with a strong cloves smell, so strong that it almost makes me sneeze, which then settles in fairly quickly and gets joined with some cinnamon, nutmeg, earthy patchouli, and warm amber on the dry-down. It gives off a slight licorice vibe, which as some of you might know, I hate licorice, but this isn't too overpowering to make me dislike it. The clove is strong and persistent throughout the entire life of the fragrance. I have started to call it the "Christmas Spicebomb" and yes, I know Spicebomb did release a Christmas flanker a while back. This is a fragrance that evokes memories of a cold Christmas day and being inside in the warmth with a nice cup of spiced eggnog and Christmas cookies being baked in the kitchen.

The longevity on this one is solid, I get about 9 hours and 2 of projection. Just don't spray it just before you leave the house, the clove can be overpowering for the first 20 minutes or so. One spray on my neck and one on my shirt are all that is needed. Do not go overboard with this one. It can make people sneeze.

Overall, I think it is a great release and it is somewhat unique, given that many fragrances aren't so clove heavy. If you can pick this up as a discounter then I think it is worth the purchase, but I would not suggest blind buying it since the clove can be too much for some.

Also, I used a stock image of the bottle because I bought a decant from Myfragrancesamples.com. He also included a sample of Robert Graham Valour, which I do like and will review soon. He is a fabulous human being and a gentleman who provides great customer service. Here is a link to his site:
https://www.myfragrancesamples.com/

A Fragrant Vocabulary

Hey guys and gals! I hope this day finds you all well and fragrant! I just thought I would throw out a small informational post for people who might be new to fragrances and explain some of the acronyms and slang we use in the Fragrance Community because it can be a bit overwhelming for new folks to understand the difference.

Let me know what you think! If you have anything to add that I missed then feel free to let me know. If you like the content I putting out then please feel free to hit the blue follow button at the top right. It helps people be able to find my blog better and I would be super grateful for the support! Now, without further ado, let's get into it!

One of the most common things that I see people confused about is sillage (pronounced see-aj) and projection.

Sillage-  A scent trail that you leave behind you as you walk by someone.

Projection- How well the fragrance comes off your skin and how far away spmeone can smell it on you.

Longevity- How long the fragrance lasts. This includes it being a faint skin scent.

Cologne/fragrance/perfume/scent/juice
These are all words that are used to describe a fragrance. Technically cologne and perfume (derived from the word parfum) are concentrations of oils. So, technically speaking, calling men's fragrance a cologne and women's fragrance a perfume is incorrect...it is still widely accepted as proper in most circles. While juice is a slang term for any fragrance. Fragrance and scent are the most used terms to describe a fragrance in the Fragrance Community and are accepted as proper.

EDC/EDT/EDP/Parfum/Extrait de Parfum (Parfum Extrait)
These all deal with the concentrations of oils that fragrances contain.

EDC(Cologne)- Eau de Cologne- 2-4% concentration. The weakest concentration you will find in men's fragrances.

EDT- Eau de Toilette- 5-15% concentration. The most commonly found in men's fragrances.

EDP- Eau de Parfum- 15-20% concentration. These are mainly richer and denser fragrances for the cooler months, but there are some EDPs for warmer weather as well. (all of Creed's fragrances are EDP from what I have seen)

Parfum- 20-30% concentration.

Extrait de Parfum(Parfum Extrait)- 15-40% concentration. This is sometimes called "Pure Parfum" as well.

Miscellaneous Terms 

Note- The aromachemicals or ingredient that create a single smell,

Accord- Several notes strung together to create a feeling of what a fragrance smells like.

Aldehydes- A synthetic note in fragrances that creates an airy, almost sky type feeling.

Ozonic- An accord that means it smells fresh. Sort of like rain.

Animalic- Containing notes derived from animals. Musk, civet, castoreum, leather, etc. Although most are synthetically made now, they still "smell" animalic.

Barbershop- A fragrance that smells like the aftershaves they use in barbershops. There is no real definition of this type of fragrance, but most commonly you will find them containing oakmoss, tonka bean, and lavender. There smells herbal, dry, and slightly spicy typically.

Oud- Another term used for Agarwood. Which is a tree that produces a resinous sap when it is injured. This sap is what they use in fragrances. It can smell woody, animalic, smoky, or earthy. The real stuff is very expensive, so most fragrances synthetically make it now.

Chypre- a fragrance that typically has a bright citrus top note with an oakmoss base.

Balsamic- A sweet, warm, and vanillic accord.

Top notes/opening- the lighter notes in a fragrance that usually fade within the first hour. Examples: Lavender, bergamot, lemon, and neroli.

Middle notes/heart- Slightly denser notes that come into play 30 minutes to an hour into the fragrance's life. Examples: pepper, cardamon, nutmeg, and cedar.

Bottom notes/base- The densest notes in a fragrance that usually are the strongest things you smell in the drydown. Examples: leather, oud, musk, sandalwood.

Although the density of the notes can differ depending on how concentrated they are in the fragrance, the examples I used are typical, but not set in stone.

Uomo- An Italian word meaning "man".

L'homme- A French word meaning "the man".

Cuir- A French word meaning "leather".

Nuit- A French word meaning "night".

Noir- A French word meaning "black".


That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to add your own words that I missed!

5 Popular Fragrances that aren't Worth the Hype

As the title states, this will be 5 popular fragrances that I do not think are fitting of the hype that they receive.

*Disclaimer: This is my opinion. If you love these fragrances, then that is fine. They just aren't for me personally*


Number 5: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male

Credit goes to Fragrantica for this image.

JPG Ultra Male is certainly a legendary fragrance in the Fragrance Community. Its longevity, sweetness, and projection are enormous. Those are the reasons I don't like it. It's too sweet. It's too loud. The pear note in this fragrance is original. Not many men's fragrances have pear in them. So, I respect that this fragrance is original and unique,  but it's just too sweet and intrusive for me.


Number 4: John Varvatos Dark Rebel Rider

Credit goes to Fragrantica for the image

This fragrance isn't as popular as Ultra Male, but it still has a loyal following of fans. The leather note is too smoky and rubbery for me. Reminds me a bit of Bvlgari Black (the one in the round bottle). It just gives me a headache because of the leather note in it.


Number 3: Dior Fahrenheit

Credit goes to Fragrantica for the image

This fragrance is wildly popular and a legend in its own right. However, the gasoline smelling top is just too much for me. I was a mechanic for 2 of my 8 years in the Army and I am not too keen on smelling like gasoline until it dries down. The drydown is quite nice when it's blended with the iris, but I can't stomach it while I wait for that to happen.


Number 2: Bond No 9 New Haarlem

Credit goes to Fragrantica for the image

I do like this fragrance, but I don't love it. I do not think it is deserving of its price tag. It smells like pancake syrup to me. While that is not a bad smell, it is not one that I want to smell like often. I much prefer Rochas Man over this one. It's priced well for what it is. New Haarlem is not.


Number 1: Creed Aventus

                                 

Credit goes to Fragrantica for the image

Yes, Creed Aventus. The fragrance that has been dubbed as the "king". While I do like this fragrance, I do not think it is deserving of that title. Don't get me wrong, this fragrance is great and it shattered many barriers. It's just not the number 1 fragrance of all time for me. Especially for its price. I much prefer Mancera Cedrat Boise over Aventus. It's creamier and fruitier with less smoke. Even though Cedrat Boise is a different fragrance from Aventus, they have the same vibe and uses.


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All of the images were taken from Fragrantica and they do not belong to me. They are used for reference purposes only.

Mr. Sillage Review

This fragrance is a personal favorite of mine, not just because of the smell, but because of what it represents. So, let me tell you a little story first...

Chris Georgio, also known as Mr. Sillage on Youtube, was a fragrance reviewer and very active in the fragrance community. He always had a kind word to say to people and was a gentleman without equal. His content was creative and original. His style, new and refreshing. I was just getting into his content and missed this one live stream he did on July 31st, 2018. I was rewatching it the next day and listening to him say he was in the military and did a tour overseas. I was going to contact him soon after to try to be friends with him since I have dealt with some of that stuff as a combat veteran myself. I never got the chance to, Chris was found passed away in his apartment on August 3, 2018.

Mr. Sillage comes from the house of Alexandria Fragrances and their perfumer/owner Hany Hafez. Hany is such a kind person and donated the sales (not just the profits) from the first 50 bottles sold to Chris' family. The fragrance is an inspiration of Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka, which was Chris' favorite fragrance.


The fragrance opens up with myrrh and vanilla, with some creamy tonka and a bit of lavender. It's almost gourmand-like in nature, but with some added class from the myrrh. The projection is pretty strong for about 4 hours and lasts about 10.

I have never smelled Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka, but if it smells anything like this, then I see why Chris loved it. It is simply a beautiful and classy fragrance, casual and gentlemanly, just like him.

Gone too soon, Chris. A lot of people miss you.

Here is a link to Chris' Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw8eV5qBM0t2ov02eoBHEcw

Here is a link to Alexandria Fragrances, where you can buy Mr. Sillage:
https://alexandriafragrances.com/products/mr-sillage

On a side note, Hany is a world-class human being and does a lot from the Fragrance Community. Give his company a shot. I don't think you will be disappointed!

Rochas Man Review

Do you like coffee? Vanilla? Lavender? Perhaps you enjoy a vanilla latte in the morning to warm you up for a brisk fall morning? Well, friends, this is your fragrance!

It opens up with a bit of a potent lavender, which can be somewhat off-putting to some. However, this fragrance is like a fine wine and it gets better with time. About 30 minutes in it morphs into a warm and sweet (probably from the raspberry note) vanilla latte accord with some freshness from the lavender sitting on a bed of creamy sandalwood. It projects for about 2 hours and lasts for 8.

This fragrance seems to be somewhat unisex. It could be worn by either gender. Some people find it to be masculine though, so go with what your nose tells you. That is just my opinion. It is a very delicious gourmand fragrance. Great for office wear or casual wear. Any age group can pull this off.

This fragrance is also super cheap. I think I picked up 50ML for around $18. A steal for this fragrance, truly.

Fragrancenet link for Rochas Man
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/rochas/rochas-man/edt#122403

My Top 5 Cheapie List for Fall 2018

It's that time of year again. When the leaves start turning and the air gets crisp. We put away our shelf of citrus freshies and light soapy fragrances and start reaching for the oriental, heavier wood, and sweet ones. It's such a fantastic time of year and I personally love the fragrant smells of fall and the atmosphere around it. With that being said, the prices of fragrances seem to be more expensive this time of year. Probably due to most of the concentrations being Eau De Parfum instead of the citrus ones, that are mostly Eau De Toilletes. So, here is a list of my favorite fall fragrance that can be had for under $100.



I apologize ahead of time for the poor quality photos. I really need a new camera. My phone just isn't cutting it.



Number 5: Bvlgari Man in Black

Bvlgari Man in Black is an excellent oriental spicy fragrance. The spice really comes through in this one. With the added note of rum to make it more classy and mature (in attitude, not age) with some smooth leather in there as well. This is an outstanding fragrance. It lasts for about 10 hours on me and projects for 2.



Number 4: Bentley for Men Intense

This is another spicy fragrance, It has a very strong rum and leather not. Add in some incense and patchouli and you have a fragrance fit for a wealthy CEO. This one exudes class and sophistication. Be light on the sprays with this one, it is very potent. You can seriously fill up a room with this. I get about 12 hours out of this one with 4 hours of projection. This can be purchased for around $30 which is an absolute steal for the quality of this fragrance.



Number 3: Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau De Toillete

This one is a legend. Smooth dark tobacco and with some ginger and amber. This is an excellent fragrance that is very versatile for this time of year. Great for a date night or a daytime office scent. I have found maybe 3 people in my lifetime that do not like this one. It's a crowd pleaser. Some people complain about longevity, but I get a solid 6 hours. The lack of projection in this fragrance adds to its charm. It would be overbearing if it projected a lot. It just draws you in closer to make you want a whiff of its seductive aura.


Number 2: Burberry London

This is the quintessential "fall in a bottle" fragrance. It starts off with a port wine smell. Sometimes the opening reminds me of wet leaves in the fall as well. Then it dries down to a Christmas tree type smell that is also reminiscent of Christmas parties. I am not sure how Burberry captured so many memories and emotion in one bottle, but they did and it's simply amazing. Dark tobacco, cinnamon, and leather. I get around 8 hours from this one. This is a must-have in any guy's collection.


Number 1: Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Malt

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


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


Sweet fruits, whiskey, coffee, and chocolate. Semi-gourmand, sweet, and a touch of booze. The fruits make it sweet. The coffee adds to the warm characteristic. The standard chocolate patchouli that the A*Men line uses. 

This is my favorite fragrance for the fall. It is simply amazing. I can't get enough of it.


I hope you enjoyed this list and found out some new loves for your fall rotation. Thank you for taking the time to read this if you got this far.
All of these fragrances were purchased at Fragrancenet and will leave you the links down below.

Bvlgari Man in Black
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/bvlgari/bvlgari-man-in-black/eau-de-parfum#257435


Bentley for Men Intense
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/bentley/bentley-for-men-intense/eau-de-parfum#257046

Dolce & Gabbana The One
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/dolce-and-gabbana/the-one/edt#160216

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

Mugler Pure Malt
https://www.fragrancenet.com/cologne/thierry-mugler/angel-men-pure-malt/edt#191878

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my blog. My name is John and I am a fragrance enthusiast and collector. At the time of this post, I have around 80 bottles of fragrance and I plan on getting more. I have only been collecting for about a year and a half now.

A little background information on me:

- I am 32 years old

- I was in the United States Army for 8 years.

- I am an animal lover.

- I am also very interested in tea, coffee, and style.

- I love the smell of old books.

I hope you will enjoy your time here and reading my random thoughts on fragrances and possibly some other things as well.