My Best Winter Pick-Up So Far: Scentstory 24 Gold

Hello ladies and gentleman! I am glad to see you stop by once again. Today I have a fragrance that I literally slept on for a long time, Scentstory 24 Gold. This was hyped as a cheapie a while back, but then it was discontinued, from what I hear, so prices started to skyrocket. I picked up a 50ml bottle in the old packaging for $21 at www.fragrancebuy.ca. So, that was a good deal. I am not sure which batch this is because I was unable to find any site that showed Fox or Scenststory as a brand to check batch codes, but I do believe this is an older formulation due to the packaging and how strong it is. Now, enough about batches codes and formulations...Let's do this!

Also, I just made a Facebook group the other day. The only rule I have is no sales/swaps. I don't want to have to moderate those. I would love to build a community of positive people who love fragrances. Feel free to join it here. Also, reviewers and bloggers feel free to share your content and thoughts there.


Presentation

24 Gold comes in a golden bottle with a reflective shine on it. The cap is plastic and light and does not click into place. I guess expenses had to be spared somewhere, right? The bottle is thick and sturdy glass. The atomizer works decently.

Notes

Top
Oud, Jasmine, Guaiac Wood

Mid
Sandalwood, Cedar, Star Anise

Base
Vanilla, Amber, Ylang-Ylang


The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens up with a strong burst of vanilla, amber, slightly medicinal oud. The sandalwood is dry and certainly there as well. It's pretty potent and one spray can fill up an entire room. The amber is warm and smooth and slightly dusty. The vanilla is sweet has a sort of cake icing feel to it.

Dry Down

When this fragrance dries down the vanilla tames itself and blend wonderfully with the amber. The oud turns a little smoky. The dry woods are still there and there is a little bit of jasmine in there, but I think it plays more of a supporting actor role to the vanilla. I can't detect any anise in here, so it must be light. It's probably playing into the sweetness as well. This fragrance is very Middle Eastern in composition. It's not super aggressive with the oud though, but you can certainly tell this is an oud fragrance.

Performance

This fragrance is a beast mode performer. If I made my beast mode list again today, this would top it. I am getting anywhere from 16-18 hours out of this. Possibly even more. being that I am sleeping during part of it, I am not totally sure. The projection is about 4-5 hours and it's massive. This stuff will announce your presence to every within a city block...Okay okay, not that much, but it will fill a room. After that, it leaves a pretty massive sillage trail for most of its life.

When to Wear it

I would suggest only wearing this one in cold weather, 50 Fahrenheit and below. This thing is a massive performer and will be very cloying in the heat. I would also suggest 3 sprays at most, 2 would be better though, I think. This fragrance is better casually I think, but with business casual, it would be fine. Not formal though.


Overall Impression

As the title states, this has been my best find so far this winter. This fragrance is amazing quality for the price. It's hard to believe that an EDT can perform like this. This fragrance smells expensive. Scentstory is actually a niche house and this fragrance costs pennies compared to what it smells like.

As good as I think this fragrance is, I don't think it's a good blind buy. It's very strong. If you love vanilla, amber, and oud then I would say go for it. If you can get it as cheap as I did, then it might be a safe one as well. If you are a hardcore oud lover, then this fragrance will be weak on the oud to you.

This is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I am planning to get another bottle soon in case it becomes even hard to find. I don't really hype many fragrances, but I truly think this one is totally worth it.


I hope you enjoyed this one. This is a fragrance I certainly love. Hit that blue follow button to support my work. Much love to all of you and remember to say something positive to someone today! You never know how much it could help!


Buy 24 Gold here

Buy quality decants at a low price at www.whatsmyscent.com. Use the code MUSINGS10 to get 10% off your order. Today, January 31st, is the last day this code will be active!

Affordable Niche: Pierre Guillaume L'Ombre Fauve Review

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Hello, ladies and gentleman! Welcome back! Much love to all of the new faces and old ones alike. Today, I have a fragrance that not many have probably heard of, L'ombre Fauve by Pierre Guillaume. This is actually Mark Mobley's favorite fragrance and he sent me a sample pf it with my last order. Let's get into it!


Notes

Woodsy Notes, Patchouli, Incense, Amber, Musk


The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens with some dusty amber and warm and animalic musk, similar to civet. There is some smokiness and incense in there as well. It is slightly sweet which could be caused by a vanilla accord in the amber or the patchouli. I am not totally sure which, but I am leaning more towards the amber being responsible. It is quite strong on the opening, but not too offputting, at least not to me.

Dry Down

The dry down gets a bit tamer. The incense, smoke, slight sweetness, and musk join up with some dry, woody, and earthy patchouli to form a very warm and inviting scent. It harkens forth an image of a small furry forest creature, similar to a fox, curled up by a fireplace after a day of playing in the woods.

Performance

Longevity is really good. I get around 9 hours as a skin scent. 2-3 hours of those as projection. The sillage trail is really nice and cozy and leaves a strong trail behind you. Even after the projections this one still stays about 8 inches off the skin. Really good performance.

When to Wear it

This fragrance is best in the fall and winter. As I said before, it's very warm and inviting. It's also very rich. It would be too cloying for the warmer months. This fragrance can be worn casually or formally. It would be a great date night fragrance as well, since it draws you in.


Overall Impression

I can see why Mark loves this scent so much. It's not my favorite fragrance ever, but it is certainly a very good one. For only having 5 notes, this one has a ton of depth and character. The performance is great. The price is fair for a niche. A 50ml will run you about $125 at Lucky Scent. Perhaps, you can you find it cheaper on eBay. Personally, I think $125 for a fragrance that smells this natural is a really good deal and I would consider paying full retail for it. I like it that much. I do suggest buying a decant from Mark before committing to a full bottle. This is animalic and won't be pleasing to everyone.


That's it for today, folks! I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I did writing it! Hit teat blue follow button if you want to support my work! Much love to all of you! Remember to say a kind word today. It could be just what someone needs to hear!


Buy L'Ombre Fauve decants here

Buy a full bottle here (on backorder at the time of this article)

Jojn the Musings of the Fragheads Facebook Group here

Al-Rehab and Nabeel First Impressions

The Dead Sea. Source: www.pixabay.com

Hello, ladies and gentleman! Thanks for coming back and visiting my blog! Much love to all of you! This past week my friend, Carlos Colom decided to give me a birthday present and with it, I decided to dip my toes into some Arabic fragrances. I went cheap to start and ease my way into it, so I decided on two from Nabeel and two from Al-Rehab. You can find all of these on eBay for anywhere between 4-6 USD. Sorry for the bad photos ahead of time. I will take better ones for the full review. I am also not going to list notes and go into detail, I will save those for the full reviews. Let's get into it!

Al-Rehab Shaikhah

This stuff is potent. When you first apply it I would suggest not sniffing it too closely. I did and it made me cough. Very medicinal oud and sweet rose right off the top. This fragrance has a very long dry down. In about an hour you will see the magic happen. That first hour is pretty harsh though. It turns into a dry woody fragrance when the medicinal oud tames down. Add a bit of spicy saffron and cardamom and you have a nice warm fragrance. If you can get through the first hour, then this one is nice.

Al-Rehab Sultan Al Oud

This one has a much more pleasant opening than Shaikhah. The oud is woody and smoky and only slightly medicinal.  It has some good spice to it to keep it warm. It has some nice vanilla in there as well to make it sweet. A very comforting and warm fragrance that is very oriental.


Nabeel King of Sultan

This one doesn't have oud in it. It's citruses and herbs to me. Sweet, fresh, and herbal. I get a lot of lime and herbs from this one. I haven't given it a full wearing yet since it seems like a warm weather fragrance, but it has promise for sure.


Nabeel Macho Man

Macho Man is supposed to be a clone of Tom Ford's Tuscan Leather. It does smell a lot like it with amped up sweetness from the raspberry. However, the rollerball didn't want to turn very well, so I am not sure if I applied enough to really get a feel for it. Hopefully, I can figure out how to get it to work better later.


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you to all of my new followers. If you would be so kind as to click the blue follow button then I would be very appreciative of it! Also feel free to share my content anywhere! 

Get good deals on decants here. Use my code MUSINGS10 until January 31st to get 10% off your order!

Join the Musings of the Fragheads FB Group here!

Tips for People in the FragComm

Source: www.pixabay.com

Good morning folks! I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the day (or evening, depending on which side of the globe you're on)! The FragComm is a wonderful place to share your ideas, opinions, and to learn about fragrances. Most people are very helpful and kind. This article is mainly centered towards people who are new to it. Maybe a few veterans can learn a thing or two from this as well. We are all on this adventure together and it never hurts to help someone else out. So, here are a few tips to help you learn about etiquette and how some things work. These rules go for most of the Facebook groups, but be sure to check the rules of the groups you are in to be sure they are in accordance with them. Enjoy!


Posting your SOTD is Encouraged!

Did you just get a new fragrance? Did it put you in a state of euphoria? Are you testing it out and wondering if others are getting the same vibes as you? Are you wearing your signature scent and you want to tell everyone else why it's so amazing? Then post it up in the groups as your SOTD/SOTN(Scent of the Day/Scent of the Night)! We want to know what you are wearing! We all learn from each other and you might be rocking someone else's future GOAT(greatest of all time) fragrance. So, let us know!

Don't be ashamed if it's a cheapie. A lot of us love a good cheapie, myself included.  Just rock what you love. There is a chance that some others will agree with you on it. You never know until you try!


Don't Bash on People's Fragrances

If someone else is rocking that cheapie that made you have a headache because it was so synthetic, then don't tell them "it's a steaming pile of trash". Smell is so subjective and is deeply linked to memories. I believe in diversified opinions and transparency, but it's totally fine to say something is not for you and why you don't like it. I also believe in being tactful. So, use polite words when you say something is not for you. There is a difference between saying something in an adult manner and saying that someone's fragrance is trash and smells like Shrek's underpants and only a novice would wear such a gross fragrance. If you say that, then everyone else will think you are the novice because you can't accept that people have different senses of smell.


Don't Troll

Trolling is normally not acceptable behavior. People will not take your opinions seriously if you do. So, if you ever need anything from someone and you are known to be a troll, they probably won't take you seriously. It's okay to make funny posts. In fact, they are encouraged. However, taking it to the extent of trolling is a whole new ballgame and most people will just ignore you for it.


Don't Try to Sell Fragrances without Prices

Selling is only allowed in a few groups. Be sure to check if that group allows it before posting your sale. Makes sure you have pictures and prices on there. Not putting prices on there is seen as an effort to give it to whoever offers you the most. It's not seen as doing straightforward business. Put your prices up and sell it for that price.

Also, always use Paypal Goods and Services to make transactions unless you know the seller. Most people in the FragComm are honest, but there are a few who might burn you. Be sure to protect yourself when doing these transactions.


Don't Get Discouraged

If you see someone else getting tons of compliments then don't feel bad that you are not. There are several reasons for this. That person might work around a ton of friends each day and that is why the people are more open to telling them that they like the fragrances. Some people do inflate these numbers, I think, but not everyone does. I only get about 1 per week. Sometimes not even that. The most I have had in one day is 2. Unsolicited comments are pretty rare and there is a difference between someone going up to someone and asking if they like it versus someone who tells you that you smell good without you asking. The latter scenario is quite rare.

If someone else is getting beast mode performance and you're not then don't feel bad either. This has several causes:

1. You received a fake bottle. Post pictures and see if others can help you tell if it's legitimate or not.

2. You went anosmic(nose-blind) to the smell. Ask other people around you if they can still smell it to see if you went anosmic or not.

3. You aren't properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water to help your skin not absorb as much moisture.

4. Your skin is dry. Put an unscented lotion on before applying the fragrance to create a barrier for the fragrance to sit on and last longer.


Share your Stories

We want to hear what fragrances you enjoy. We want to know what the fragrances mean to you. Feel free to post about what you love about the fragrances and any memories attached to them. We always love to see passionate people. It keeps us all motivated on our journeys.


Don't Ask about Women's Reactions

This happens a lot. I like to call it the "Jeremy Syndrome". I have nothing against Jeremy, but some of his reviews do tend to lean in that direction. A fragrance isn't only good because of compliments and performance. It's what the smell means to you. So, I would encourage you to not ask about compliment factors. Like I covered above, there are factors that play into that. Fragrances are a work of art and are used for personal expression.

Yes, sometimes I use fragrances to get compliments. Compliments are nice. However, that is not the sole reason I wear them. While you are free to hold the opinion of wanting compliments from your fragrances, a lot of people frown upon this type of behavior in the FragComm. Do what makes you happy though, I am just simply giving you my point of view and you are free to yours.


Be Positive!

People in the FragComm tend to flock towards positive people. You will make a lot of friends you never thought were possible by simply being a nice and genuine person. Encourage others to explore more fragrances and find out what they love. Tell people you love the fragrances that they are wearing. A kind word goes a long way.


Cologne or Fragrance?

Some people will not take you seriously if you call it cologne or perfume. Given that those are concentrations of fragrances. The most accepted term for scented water is fragrance(s). If you want to say cologne, then that is fine. Some people just have an issue with it. Juice is also a widely accepted term. Up to you what you'd like to call it though.



Support the Reviewers

There are a lot of Youtubers and bloggers in the FragComm. Support them if you enjoy their work. It's always encouraging to see new people enjoy our work. I know Youtubers spend a lot of time editing videos. I personally spend 4 hours per day on my blog. sometimes more. I post every day. So, it amounts to about as much time as a fulll-time job. It helps to be encouraged that we are doing a good job.

Some Reviewers I support and watch:

Gents Scents

Joy Amin

Redolessence

Brooklyn Fragrance Lover

Mr. Smelly

Smells Like...

Daniel San

Carolina Fragrance Reviews

FragranceView

Agnes Eva

Big Beard Business

J Copeland

Smelling Great Fragrance Reviews

Chaos Fragrances

AGentlemansJourney

Luxury Fragrance Boss

Fragrance Rx

Max Forti

Scented Waters

Scentitar Fragrance

Solano

2 Scents Worth

Benjamin Chavez

AllAboutFragrance

FragRant

OutLaw Frags

Scent Land

ScentSense

Mr. Sillage

Fragrance Reviews for Men

Frag-Mental


Blogs to Follow:

The Fragrance Shark

Mine, duh!


FragranceNet is Legit

One of the most common questions I see is asking if the grey market sites are legit. Most of them are. Most of these retailers get overstock products from authorized retailers, so they are able to sell it at a much cheaper price than retail. It's like Ross, TJ Maxx, Burlington, or Marshall's with clothes, but they carry only fragrances. Here is a list of sites that I have used to purchase items and have received legit products.

www.fragrancenet.com

www.fragrancebuy.ca

www.whatsmyscent.com (Use my promo code MUSINGS10 to get 10% off your order until January 31st)

www.myfragrancesamples.com

www.fragrancex.com

Here are some sites that I have not used, but I know are legit:

www.maxaroma.com

www.perfumania.com

www.decantboutique.com

www.perfume.com


Sites that I have used and are legit, but I do not suggest:

www.scentbird.com

www.scentbox.com


People to message on Facebook to get some great deals on niche fragrances: 

Krystal Turner Montgomery
Website: www.krystalfragrance.com

Alan Berdjis
Website: www.beverlyhillsperfumery.com


Be Careful with eBay and Amazon!

eBay and Amazon can score you some great deals. However, if they have Creed Viking for $25...You can bet that it's a fake. Prices too good to be true normally aren't real fragrances. eBay gives a money back guarantee. On Amazon, they will only do it for a posting that says it ships from Amazon. It is also safe to buy if it ships from the company who made the fragrance itself. Amazon will refund you if you ordered from them and got a fake, but not from third-party sellers (as far as I know).

On eBay make sure to scour the reviews. Just because someone said they received a fake product doesn't mean they actually did. A lot of non-fragheads aren't aware of reformulations and design changes. So, keep that in mind. If you doubt the legitimacy of a product, then it's best to just not order it.


Clone Houses are Great

You will see some hate directed towards clone houses. They provide a different type of service, but it helps a lot of people smell nice on a budget and they are happy with the products that they receive. Alexandria, Genre, and DUA are great places to pick up some nice clones for cheap. Parfums VIntage is nice as well, but a bit more pricey. Don't fall into the lies about them making fragrances in bathtubs. That is far from true. There are lots of satisfied customers with these brands, including myself. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how the fragrances were made, as long as the customer is happy with the price they paid.


DUA Fragrances

Alexandria Fragrances

Genre Parfums (link goes to the Genre Facebook group because his site is not up yet)

Parfums Vintage


I hope everyone enjoyed this one! I am sorry if I forgot anyone for the Youtube reviewers! I tried to remember all of them! If you would like to support my work then it would be awesome if you hit that blue follow button on the right-hand side! Also, feel free to share this with your friends who are new to fragrances! Have a fantastic day everyone!

I have also created my own Facebook group for fragheads. Feel free to join!

Musings of the Fragheads Facebook Group

Le Labo Santal 33 Review

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Good morning ladies and gentleman! I hope everyone is enjoying a hot cup of coffee (or tea, my personal favorite) and reaping life's blessings. Today I am reviewing Le Labo Santal 33. This decant was sent to me by www.whatsmyscent.com for review. You can still go pick up some decants there and use my 10% off code: MUSINGS10 until January 31st. Now, let's get started!


Notes

Sandalwood, Cedar, Cardamom, Papyrus, Violet, Leather, Amber, Iris


The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens up and I get a burst of dill pickles from it. Something that turns me way off. I am not sure if it's the leather doing that or what, but it is very unpleasant to my nose. That vibe settles down a bit and you get some very dry smelling cedar, sandalwood, and papyrus.  I think I can detect some dusty amber underneath that as well.

Dry Down

The dry wood smell continues on into this phase, but sadly so does the slight pickle vibe. Sometimes I smell just dry wood and sometimes the pickle vibe comes out. This fragrance is fairly linear to my nose, so there isn't much difference between the opening and dry down, besides some notes taming themselves and becoming more composed.

Performance

Santal 33 performs very well. I get around 10 hours from it and projection for about 4. it leaves a sillage trail for most of its life. It also conjures a scent bubble about 6 inches from the skin after the projection dies down. So, it's a really good performer.


When to Wear it

Mild to cold weather. This fragrance is somewhat heavy on the woods. Too much for hot weather. I think this fragrance would be better casually than in formal situations.


Overall Impression

I was excited to try this fragrance, but unfortunately, this one is a pass for me. I hate pickles and that vibe it gives off sometimes makes me dislike this fragrance. To my nose, the woods are dry and boring. They smell muted to me. I just don't see this as a very interesting composition to my nose. Especially for the price that it sells for. I think the Wild West was the theme for it. They got the dryness part down, but the leather just smells like a saddle that has had tons of butt sweat on it and has never been washed. After the opening dies down it doesn't get this vibe anymore, but I still feel like the scent is bland to my nose. This smells great on others from what I hear, but sorry folks, this one is just not for me.

Sometimes, I do get faint whiffs of some nice lumber type cedar, but that is few and far between. I don't like to trash fragrances. I am sure this one smells good with someone else's chemistry, but with mine, I just don't like it. I would certainly try this one before you buy it. It might be up your alley.


Thanks for the support folks! Remember to hit that blue follow button to support my work! Until next time I hope everyone has a great day and keeps smelling amazing!

FragComm Friday: Carlos Colom

Carlos and his wife, Aixa

Hey ladies and gentleman! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day and you are in good health and spirits! I am starting a new series that will come out every Friday called "FragComm Fridays". These posts will be short interviews with people in the FragComm. It will include group admins in the Facebooks groups, Youtubers, bloggers, business owners, perfumers, and just generally well known and kind people from the FragComm. I thought it would be a good way to learn about each other and spread some positive vibes through the FragComm.

I cannot take full credit for this idea. Carlos Colom helped me come up with it. So, I thought it was fitting to interview him first and give him credit for it.

Carlos is my closest friend in the FragComm and one of the top 3 nicest and kindest guys I have ever met. He was my first friend in the FragComm and he checks up on me at least every other day to be sure that I am doing okay. He is always down to talk about anything with me, even though most of our conversations revolve around finding cheapies that no one knows about or finding something that we think each other would love. He has become a brother to me and I love him for that.

You don't know how much your friendship has meant to me, hermano. Words cannot describe it. Thank you so much for helping me get into this FragComm thing.


The Interview

Me: What was your first fragrance?

Carlos: Drakkar Noir and Futuros by Mauboussin.

Me: What is your favorite fragrance?

Carlos: I don't have a clear favorite. Zegna Milan, Roberto Cavalli Uomo, Bvlgari Man in Black Essence, Baldessarini Ultimate, Animale Animale, and Police Icon Intense. Those make me feel great wearing them.

Me: What is your favorite smell that you wish they would capture in a fragrance?

Carlos: Most smells that I like there's already a scent with it.

Me: What is your favorite memory with a fragrance?

Carlos: I started collecting when I was 16 when I started driving and going out. Stooped when my mom died. I lost the interest in it. I didn't buy another fragrance until like 4 or five years ago when my best friend died. We used to go fragrance buying together when we were teens to impress the girls. His death triggered childhood memories of better times. Subscribed to YT channels that were about stuff we did back then. G.I. Joes and He-Man toys. 80s movies we used to rent on VHS and fragrances. Fragrance collecting won. 

Me: Around how many fragrances do you have in your collection?

Carlos: More than 300. I keep them boxed in an extra room I have so my wife doesn't know how many actually there are. 

Me: Which fragrance Youtuber influences you the most?

Carlos: Ashton because his group was the first one and only for a while I ever participated or posted on. He is cool as hell. Chad from A Gentleman's Journey. Not only on his views on fragrances but as a member of the community. He is always looking out for all the other YTbers and working with them and giving them bottles to try and stuff like that. I BARELY see he getting the love and appreciation back. Joy Amin because he is humble. Your Two Scents and Dollars and Scents for their great content. Ifishares and My two Scents cause I know their tastes in fragrances, they've been friends since before they started their channels. Carlos of BFL and Mr. SILLAGE...cause they are/were/will always be family. Oh and Musings of a Fraghead when I wanna read a nice blog. 😊

Me: What do you wish to see the fragrance community become?

Carlos: I wish the snobbery and trolling ended and that there were more interesting threads than what to wear for a wedding or a job interview or a date. Ultimately, you like what you like and not what others say. 

Me: What do you think is the best and worst thing about the fragrance community?

Carlos: I wish we'd all realize that fragrance collecting should be fun. Lose the fun and why do it?  Niche is lovely but I like the challenge of smelling great with less. With a lot of money, anyone can look or smell great. Smelling clean will never go out of fashion.

Me: What is your favorite fragrance that your wife hates?

Carlos: Wy wife HAAATES Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker. 


Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out with this, Carlos! I hope everyone enjoyed this. If you'd like to support my work you can hit that blue follow button at the right-hand side. If you need any help with navigating my blog, then feel free to email me or message me on Facebook and I will be more than happy to assist you. I hope everyone has a great night!

Need some decants? Hit up www.whatmyscent.com and use the code: MUSINGS10 to get 10% off your order. The customer service is great over there and you will be happy with your purchase. 

Givenchy Gentleman EDP Review

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Good evening everyone! Much love to all of my returning views and all of the new ones! I hope everyone is doing well. If you would be so kind as to hit the blue follow button on the right-hand side then I would be most appreciative of it. Tonight I will be reviewing a fragrance released in 2018, Givenchy Gentleman EDP. I think it is just now getting recognition because of the cooler weather. Buckle up folks, let's get into it!


Notes

Top 
Black Pepper, Lavender, Bergamot

Mid
Orris Root(Iris), Cloves, Cinnamon

Base
Patchouli, Black Vanilla, Tolu Balsam, Benzoin, Tonka Bean


Presentation

I only have a decant of this, but the bottle is black and looks heavy. Also, I hear the cap clicks into place. My decant is from Mark at www.myfragrancesamples.com


The Scent 

Opening 

This fragrance opens up sweet and balsamic with some warm spice. It's quite rich. The Iris is the powerhouse here. It is lipsticky, but not to the point that Dior Homme is. So, it's not as powdery and you won't smell like makeup. The tolu balsam gives off a bit of the sweet ambery vibe.

Dry Down

The dry down brings in some chocolate vibes from the patchouli. It's similar to the type in Mugler's A*Men, but not nearly as strong. The vanilla and tolu balsam is still strong, along with the iris. The vanilla is no doubt amplified by the tonka bean. I get some more of the warm spices like cloves and cinnamon than others are reporting along with the black pepper. The pepper is mild and warm. It's not sneeze-worthy at all. So, what you end up getting is iris, sweet vanilla, with some ambery nuances accented by warming spices.

Performance

The performance is decent for me. Around 7-8 hours on the skin with 2 of those being projection. It does leave a nice sillage trail. For the price of this one, it's not a bad performer and you can certainly get much worse.

When to Wear it

This one is way too sweet to wear in anything but late fall and winter. It's more of a night time fragrance to my nose. but it could work during the day. This is a seductive fragrance that is a good option for a date. This fragrance has class and allure and should be worn when you want to exemplify that.


Overall Impression

I agree with some other reviews that this is one of the best releases of 2018. However, I have not smelled all of them yet. It's sweet, seductive, and it does its job well. It's a very solid release and well worth it once it hits discounters.

 I get the comparisons to Valentino Uomo Intense and Dior Homme Intense, but this is still a different fragrance. I like it better than those two. The warm spices really set this one apart for me. It just seems like a fragrance with more depth than the other two. It's more intriguing. It does share a very slight similarity to the balsamic feel of Davidoff Amber Blend, but only in a minor fashion. I do believe Amber Blend is a better fragrance than this one, but that is just my opinion.

I hope you enjoyed the article. Thank you all for supporting me thus far. Have a great day and keep smelling fantastic!

If you are looking to pick up some cheap decants then go hit up www.whatsmyscent.com and use MUSINGS10 for 10% off your order. The code is good until January 31st. Happy shopping!

Alexandria Mr. Sillage: The Second Review

Welcome back, everyone! Thank you for stopping by once again and I hope all of you have a fantastic day! Today I am reviewing a fragrance that I already reviewed, Alexandria's Mr. Sillage, but  I thought I could do better. Plus, the fragrance has matured more since I reviewed it, so I thought it was only fitting to review it all over again. I will still leave the first review up as well. Let's get into it!



The Story

Mr. Sillage is a fragrance that was dedicated to Chris Georgio, also known by his Youtube name Mr. Sillage. He was a fragrance reviewer who was just now breaking onto the FragComm scene. He was gaining a lot of popularity and followers due to his unique and friendly style. He was a kind man. One that always looked to help people when he could. He was always on other reviewer's Youtube channels and commenting on their videos. It didn't matter if they had 40 subscribers or 400K. He was always there telling them what a good job they were doing and commenting on their videos. He was just a fun and positive guy.

Well, I was just getting into his content, so I cannot claim to have known Chris personally. I see the impact that he left and what he did for others though. I was watching a livestream where he was talking about being ex-military. I am also ex-military so I was going to chat him up and try to be friends with him. I figured it was something we could relate on. Sadly, that live stream was the last time we saw him. He was found passed away in his apartment on August 3rd, 2018.

Part of me wonders if I would have contacted him sooner if I could have helped him, since I did a tour in Ramadi, Iraq myself and I know some of those demons. However, that doesn't matter now. All we can all do is remember and honor who he was and how he touched us. He was a shining example of what the FragComm needs to be and some mottos to live by. Be kind, be generous, and most of all, be positive.

Chris' favorite fragrance was Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka, so Mr. Sillage is inspired by that. Hany Hafez, the owner of Alexandria fragrances did such a kind gesture, the donated the earnings from the first 50 bottles sold to Chris' family to help with expenses. It was originally a limited edition fragrance, but Hany decided to keep it in the line-up and I am thankful for that. Sorry that this section is so lengthy, but I feel the story needs to be told. It is a part of why this fragrance is so great.


Notes

Top
Lavender

Mid
Myrrh

Base
Almond, Tonka Bean, Vanilla


The Scent


Opening

This fragrance opens with some very sweet vanilla that is undoubtedly accented by the tonka bean with a strong punch of rich myrrh. Sweet incense is basically what you get. This fragrance does not smell cheap at all.

Dry Down

The vanilla and myrrh persist throughout the fragrance with the sweet tonka bean. The almond comes into play and the fragrance ends up being balsamic. Some people say they get a lot of lavender, but I don't really detect much. This fragrance is sweet and rich, The quality and attention to detail are apparent in this one.


Longevity

This one performs extremely well. 10-11 hours of longevity with 3-4 of those being projection. This fragrance also leaves a massive sillage trail, hence the name, Mr. Sillage. I see what you did there, Mr. Hafez 😀. Go easy on the trigger folks, this stuff is potent and will fill an entire room with a single spray.


When to Wear it

This fragrance is very sweet and the myrrh is quite heavy. Cool weather only. Cold weather is the most ideal. This fragrance favors night time use with its sweet and seductive aura, but it can be worn on cold days too. This fragrance has class, so it should be worn in more than jeans and a long sleeve shirt. You could pull it off in jeans and a sweater though. I think it's more seductive the more dressed up you are. This fragrance is better for men 25+.


Overall Impression

A fitting tribute to a great man that is sorely missed. This fragrance is great for cold weather dates. It draws people in. This one is a crowd pleaser, as long as you go light on the trigger. If you go heavy then you will choke people out. The fragrance isn't for people who just want to impress people and get compliments. It's for a man who has class and shows himself to be a gentleman. This isn't a clubbing fragrance. This is the only Alexandria I have tried and I am wanting to try more, which hopefully will be soon. it's a beautiful rendition that deserves much more praise than it gets.

Rest in peace, Chris. You were taken too soon. Even though I never knew you personally, I learned a lot about you from my friends. You will forever be engrained in our hearts and minds. Warriors never die, brother. they just fade away.


I hope you enjoyed this article. I enjoyed writing it. I know it's not my usual style, but I am glad you stopped by to read it. Thanks for the support folks. Until next time, "Go frag yourself!". (That was Chris' motto).



Buy Mr. Sillage here

My first review of Mr. Sillage

Genre Parfums House Review

Good evening everyone and thanks for stopping by. I hope you all had a fantastic day! Tonight, I will be reviewing one of my favorite houses that I have found lately, Genre Parfums. I have already reviewed two of their fragrances and this house is a must watch for upcoming releases. Let's get into it!


The House

About the Company

Genre Parfums is owned and ran by Devin Breaux. A well-spoken and cordial man who operates his business out of Louisiana in the United States. Devin started up a fragrance company with the intent to replicate high-end fragrances that no one else was touching. He also has a dream of helping to bring more business to his area in Louisiana and put it on the map.

He has been making inspirations of high-end fragrances that other houses like Alexandria and DUA aren't touching. He does have some standard offerings that other houses off as well, so it's not all unique inspirations, but he does put his own take on them in these fragrances. Both of the ones I tried were very good inspirations.

He is releasing some original creations here soon, before Spring arrives. He sent out some samples with some orders and they have been well-received by the ones who got the chance to try them. Specifically, one called R.A.M.C.(stands for Ran After my Car). As you can see, Devin is quite clever in naming these fragrances.

Cost

A 30ml will run you $25, which is far cheaper than any other inspiration house. He has been making some 60ml in a few select fragrances and they cost $45. The original creations will only be available in 60ml and will cost $50. All are very fairly priced for the quality you get.

You can also order samples that are fairly priced at 3 10ML for $25 and 3 5ML for $12. You can also 1 10ML for $10. He will make samples of anything that he has in stock.

Presentation

The bottles come in a simple, yet stylish format. A small round cylindrical bottle with a black label and the golden insignia of Genre Parfums on it. The fragrance name, concentration, and size is in white text and clearly readable. The cap is plastic, but not flimsy. It fits well into place on the bottles and you can pick them up by the cap without any fear of dropping them, unless you just ate at Burger King and have grease all over your hands. The atomizer is black and distributes a modest amount of juice with each spray.

Genre Parfums does not use boxes for their fragrances. Instead, they come in this nifty leather bags with a drawstring. The bags aren't real leather, but they look really nice and have the Genre Parfums logo on them.

They also come with a bottle cleaning cloth with the Genre Parfums insignia on it. A very nice and thoughtful touch! I have been using it a lot on my smudged bottle and it works wonderfully. I have never known any fragrance company to do this before and it's just an example of how Devin tries to think outside the box and how much he values his customers.

Devin did tell me that he special ordered boxes for his original creations and that the bottles will look slightly different. I have not seen these yet, but I am excited to see what he came up with.


Shipping

Devin ships really fast when he is in town. That is the only downside to this house. He works a job doing some kind of electronic work in the oil fields and sometimes has to be out of town to work and cannot ship orders until he is back in town. As he said though, "It helps me make money to put it back into Genre"(Paraphrased). It's worth the wait though. Devin is a one-man crew right now and tries his best to get orders out as quickly as possible. Sometimes his wife helps him out as well.

The shipping charge is $4 unless you order over $50, then it is free. That is for the continental US only. He does ship to other countries, but you will have to contact him for information and pricing on that.

Fragrance Selection

This listing is current as of 1/21/2019

63 inspirations and 4 originals. He has quite a selection for just starting out. Plus he has many more ideas coming in the future. You could buy his entire lineup for the price of 3 Creeds at retail. That's really good pricing. You will also notice that he has made some inspirations of fragrance no one else has, such as Byredo Pulp(which I really want to try since I love fig), Replica By the Fireplace, Replica Jazz Club, and one of his new releases, SoOud Nur.


The Fragrances

Irish Rainfall and Noble Soul are easily some of my favorite fragrances. While they are not my favorites overall, they are both really solid and I will certainly be wearing a lot of them. Noble SOul is my favorite gourmand right now because I don't consider Carlisle to be gourmand, even with its strong apple note.

Devin does macerate all of his juice before he sells them. So, there is no waiting to spray them. You don't have to sit them in a dark and cool corner of the room and wait 2 weeks to a month like other companies. Even though that only applies to fresh batches with them.Just another example that shows how Devin places his customers first.


The Facebook Group

I figured this one needed a mention. Do you know what #FullDoug is? Well, you would if you were in this group. It is full of caring and passionate people discussing Genre fragrances and sometimes just life. Devin responds to every single post on there and he is very interactive with his customers. We joke around and just have a general good time on there and it's one of the nicest and most respectful communities in the fragrance community. You are more than welcome to join us and ask questions and someone will be more than happy to help you out.

Facebook Group Link


Conclusion

Devin has created something special with this community and house. He has worked his tail off to get where he is and he deserves a lot of credit for what he does. This is why I support him and his brand so fervently. His attitude and demeanor is something I can get behind and support without fear of him caught up in some scam or lie. By supporting him, I am putting my reputation on the line as well and I take that very seriously. I take it seriously will all of the companies I support. Devin did not tell me a single word to put in this article. He didn't even ask me to do it at all, this is all on my own merits and this is all my sole opinion on Genre Parfums and Devin.

His fragrances and attitude are quality. He doesn't put out something he would not wear himself. He is constantly looking for something new and exciting to stand outside of the box of other houses like his and he has excelled in doing this. Now, I am not saying Alexandria and DUA are bad. they are all great. I am just saying that Genre is rather unknown compared to those companies and Genre deserves to be in the same spot as they do.


If you would like to order from Genre Parfums then feel free to message Devin(his name is a link to his Facebook profile). If you would just like to inquire about anything feel free to message him as well. He is always willing to chat with people.

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Feel free to hit that blue follow button on the right-hand side(feel free to message me here or on Facebook if you can't find it). Much love to all of you who have supported me and my new viewers alike. Thank you all for keeping me motivated! Seriously though, check out Genre. You won't be disappointed! Until next time, have a great day and keep smelling great! Remember to be kind and positive to one another. We are what makes the fragrance community great by being positive and showing kindness!

10 Fragrances that I Look Forward to the Warmer Weather to Wear

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hello, ladies and gentleman! I am so glad that you could join me again today! Much love to all of my returning viewers and all of my new one. If you would be so kind as to support my work and hit the blue follow button on the right-hand side! I would really appreciate it. Today I am going to go over 10 fragrances that I am looking forward to wearing in the warmer months. I live in South Carolina, so by March, we are already in what most areas would consider summer temperatures. So, some of these are summer fragrances. Let's get into it!


10: Perry Ellis 360 Red

This spicy ADG inspired fragrance is one of my favorites for really hot days. Yes, the DNA is somewhat dated, but I still love it and the added cinnamon helps it translate to the modern days better because it's not just an ADG citrus fragrance.

9: Moschino Uomo

This fragrance is diverse and can be worn in any season, but I think it is the best on mild days in the spring and fall. An Italian take on a soapy fragrance. Classy, refined, and slightly mature. Also, it's dirt cheap, I really like this one when I don't know what to wear. It fits the bill for any situation.



8: Hollister Wave

This one isn't talked about much. I think I am the only one who does talk about it. It's really good for what it is. It's synthetic and not unique, but it smells really good to me and has good performance. It just has this bright feel that makes me feel good when I wear it.

7:  Azzaro Chrome Legend

This fragrance is a beast. Lasts a really long time and projects. It is metallic though, but it's fresh and clean. It's like a more playful/youthful Silver Mountain Water by Creed. This is one of my most complimented fragrances as well. This one is much better than the normal Azzaro Chrome to me.



6: Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I just picked up a decant on this one. I am still getting used to it. It's is a bright citrus fragrance, which AdP is known for. It hasn't been warm enough to truly test this one out yet, but I am looking forward to getting to it when it warms up.


5: Ferrari Noble Fig

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I picked up a decant of this one too. I know it's pretty cheap already, but the decant was cheap too. Again, I need some warmer weather to truly test this one out, but it seems like a nice easily wearable warmer weather fragrance. One that will not offend anyone. I love the smell of figs and this one is my first fig fragrance, so hopefully, it will not be my last.


4: Mancera Aoud Blue Notes

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This is also one I picked up recently as a decant. It's fruity, leathery, and woody. I am not sure if it can handle the hot summers here yet, but I am hoping the leather doesn't come out too much when it does get hot. We shall see, but right now I am enjoying it. it's only 41 degrees(Fahrenheit) today, so I need to test it some more. i wanted to try Aoud Lemon Mint over this one, but they didn't have it in stock.



3: Mancera Cedrat Boise

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Cedrat Boise is a more playful and fruitier than Aventus. They are in the same genre, but different fragrances. This one projects and lasts for a long time. It pulls a lot of compliments as well. It's one of the best offerings from Mancera.



2: Genre Parfums Irish Rainfall

This inspiration of Green Irish Tweed is superb. It doesn't last quite as long(about 7 hours), but for $25 I can't complain. it smells almost identical to it. It might last longer when it warms up a bit. I will have to test it some more and see. I am certainly looking forward to wearing this one a lot in the spring. I was using Tres Nuit before it was way harsher. I can use this one and save my decant of GIT(which is almost empty) for special occasions. Once my GIT runs out then I will just buy some more of this. The slight quality different doesn't merit over a $100 differennce (at discounters). So, I will just stick with this one and not worry about wasting expensive juice.



1: Bond No 9 Scent of Peace

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This is my favorite summer fragrance right now. Performance is out of this world. It's amped up juniper and pineapple. No folks, just because it has pineapple and cedar does not mean it smells like Aventus, contrary to popular belief. This fragrance has a beautiful and fresh juniper. It's very high quality. The name Scent of Peace rings true, this is a relaxing and uplifting fragrance.


Thanks for stopping in folks! Have a wondering day and keep smelling great! Remember to be kind to one another! Not everyone is a veteran in this fragrance game and it's up to us to be shining examples of the kindness of the fragrance community!


Need some decants? Why not head over to www.whatsmyscent.com and pick up a few? Use teh code MUSINGS10 to get 10% off your entire order. The code is active until January 31st. Enjoy!

My Top 10 Favorite Fragrances of this Winter(So Far)

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hey folks. Much love to all of my returning viewers and the new ones alike! Thank you for stopping by today. I am going to be covering my top 10 fragrances that I have worn/anticipate wearing this winter. I know we still have a bit of winter left, but there are my picks so far...Let's get into it!


10: Davidoff Amber Blend

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Davidoff Amber Blend is a beautiful almost Middle Eastern style fragrance with warm and vanillic amber and some spice with dry sandalwood. It also contains tolu balsam and rum. So, you can imagine it's balsamic and sort of dry which gives it a desert type fee/ I really like this one, but it is not easy to find on discounters.


9: CK One Shock

CK One Shock is a great cheapie. Around $20 for 200ML? Who cares if the performance isn't as good as it used to be? That is still dirt cheap. Sweet tobacco with cardamon and chocolately patchouli laying on a bed of warm and smooth amber. Such a beautiful fragrance. Gives off an almost cola vibe.

CK One Shock Review


8: Creed Royal Oud

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Timeless, elegant, and gentlemanly. This woody spicy fragrance with a sophisticated green vibe is great for dressing up in the winter. This fragrance is for confident men who know what they want. I haven't worn this one as much as I would like, but it's still one of my favorites.

Royal Oud Review


6: Parfums de Marly Herod

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This tobacco and spice monster always makes you feel warm and cozy. A great fragrance all around. It has some sweet vanilla in it to keep it interesting. I think this fragrance is best sitting by a warm fire wearing a sweater and drinking some hot chocolate while chatting with your friends. It just has that inviting feel to it.

Herod Review


5: Givenchy Gentleman EDP

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I just recently acquired this one. A full review will be in order soon. I won't go into much detail yet, but it has the balsamic vibe of Davidoff Amber Blend. This one is a bit sweeter and has orris(iris root) with some more spice and masculinity in it.


4:  Penhaligon's LP No 9

Source: www.fragrantica.com

This warm and cozy clove bomb is one of my favorites around the holidays. Outside of them too. The fragrance is so warm and inviting. It just smells like holiday spices. It's pretty dry, but I like it that way.

LP No 9 Review 


3: Mugler Pure Malt

This booze bomb never gets old. Whiskey, coffee, chocolate, and fruits make up this beautiful fragrance. Gourmand-ish and masculine. This one fits in anywhere and is still one of my favorite designer fragrances. Cuts through the cold like butter too.

Pure Malt Review


2: Genre Parfums Noble Soul

Thanks to Justin White for the picture again!

This sexy inspiration of Kilian Black Phantom is amazing. Like a piece of candy with a bit of chocolate powder, caramel, and rum. This one is a dream for chocolate lovers(which I am). Considering the price point for this, you can't go wrong. Right now I am wearing this one 2-3 times per week.

Noble Soul Review


1: Parfums de Marly Carlisle

Source: www.fragrantica.com

I have been raving about this one for a while. I love it. I still don't have a bottle and my sample is long gone, but if I had this one I would be wearing it 3-4 times per week. I can't get enough of this fragrance. It's not exactly the most niche fragrance, but it's still one of my great finds of 2018 and a full bottle will be in order soon. I will have to pick up a decant in the meantime.

Carlisle Review

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Be sure to hit that blue follow button on the right-hand side and sign up for email alerts so you will be notified when I post. Many thanks to all of you who keep me motivated to keep doing this every day!

Be sure to visit www.whatsmyscent.com to pick up some decants. Use the code MUSINGS10 to get 10% off your order! The code is valid until January 31st.