My Fragrant Thoughts on 2019

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happy New Year! I am thankful to say I have lived through another year. 2019 was a good year for me. I just thought I would put together a compilation of my thoughts from this year, both good and bad, to show you folks how some of my opinions have changed or haven't changed. Some of these statements might be new to my regular readers and others might be things you have read before.

I usually say not to judge me for my opinion, but I am not going to say that anymore. We are all adults. This is just scented water. If you feel the need to demean someone and call them names over an opinion then that is your problem and not mine. Enjoy! Let's get into it!

Any information about companies on here is my own opinion. None of these companies even know they are included in this article until I post it. I get literally nothing from telling you folks about the good and bad things about these companies.


The Good

- 2019 saw a huge boost in the indie market.

With companies like Perfumology, Zoologist, and Jusbox consistently dropping new stuff we have had no shortage of new and unique scents to explore. The indie game seems to be thriving amidst every other designer and niche company. copying the blue trend or making Aventus clones. I am certainly glad to see these companies doing well.

- 2019 saw a major increase in members of the fragrance community.

We have had thousands of people join many different groups. Hundreds of new reviewers have started putting out content. The fragrance community as a whole is growing exponentially. This is certainly a good thing.

- Happyland Studio is my favorite house that was launched in 2019

E.J. Wells consistently makes daring fragrances and masculine fragrances. He's my kind of guy. He loves the dark stuff and leather. I really respect this house and E.J. Cuir Cafe, Homme for the Holidays, Rhyolite, Barbershop, Se7en, and Signature are excellent fragrances. I know some people might think it's just hype because of free bottles, but I truly believe in Happyland. They have been on many of my lists and I still wear one of his fragrances every week in my collection of over 250 fragrances. I trust E.J. to make stuff that appeals to me. There is only one fragrance that is just "okay" to me. The rest of them are cherished fragrances in my collection.

- Fragrenza is a house that everyone needs to check out.

Fragrenza hasn't caught on like Alexandria has, but I think they are the same quality as Alexandria. They have some really unique originals too. Bonta smells like shaving cream. It's not totally unique, but the quality is there and it's a great barbershop fragrance. Ice Musk is just what you think it is, aa cool musky fragrance. Venice Seduction is an original date night fragrance with tobacco and sweetness. Their clones are as good as Alexandria as well and they are launching tons of new fragrances in 2020. Give them a shot.

- Cremo is worth it. 

There have been a lot of contrasting opinions on Cremo. However, I quite enjoy the brand. The quality is there for their pricepoint. They don't tout themselves up as a luxury brand. they offer simple products that work better than the price suggests. They are what they say they are, so there is nothing wrong with that.

- SCENTual Obsessions and Genre Parfums are the most honest clone houses.

Both of these companies are 100% transparent about how they make their products. They have no issue with making a public post about it. Their prices are very fair. The owners are responsive to messages as well.

I am not saying other houses are dishonest, so don't take it as me saying that. I am only saying that SCENTual Obsessions and Genre are more public about how they do things. Everything from shipment updates to a juice not making the cut and them having to push back the launch.

Also, they have some really solid originals. Devin at Genre actually works with perfumers to perfect his originals and he makes them unique. They aren't just blends like some other companies are doing. There is nothing wrong with blends, but if you want something unique, then check out Genre.

SCENTual Obsessions also makes soaps and has beard oils dropping soon. His prices are pretty amazing, so be on the lookout for them

If you haven't tried either of these houses, then it's time to do so. Their honesty alone will take these companies to the top. You can quote me on that one.

- Daniel Gallagher is a fragrant genius

Rose All Dae is a masterpiece, through and through. This is coming from someone who prefers classic and masculine fragrance. Rose All Dae is decidedly unisex, but there is something about it that draws me in. Carpe Cafe is a solid offering. It's like sitting next to a Christmas tree and sipping from vanilla coffee.  I hope Daniel brings this one back. He said he might.

- I had around 32k views last year.

That surpassed my goal of 25k(I think). These are just soft goals I set for myself, but I am not disappointed if I don't meet them. I don't care that much about the views. I haven't made a single penny from doing this for over a year.

Despite not making anything from this, I have had a blast meeting, conversing, and exploring different fragrances this year. As I said before, it's about passion, not money.

- This blog is still agenda-free.

You won't find any affiliate links on my blog. I get no kickback from any of them. They are simply the best place to find the fragrances that I am covering.

I have worked with many companies. None of them have paid me. None of them have coerced me to review their fragrances in a positive light. Every word on this blog is my opinion and the truth in my eyes. Going into 2020, this will not change. I don't care about money. I wish I had more to buy some new fragrances that I want to try and review. Mainly Rogue Perfumery Mousse Illuminee and Dasein Winter Nights, along with some real oud. However, I don't care if I don't get the chance to. I am very blessed to know awesome people who have sent me stuff to review. I am forever thankful to all of you for helping to keep my blog going.

- Creed still wishes they had the history of Guerlain

Whether you believe Creed's historical claims or not is not the point of this topic. The fact that Guerlain has been successful for almost 200 years is a testament to the quality that this house puts out consistently. All I will say on that is that Guerlain, Floris, Penhaligon's, and Acqua di parma have proof that they have been doing this a long time. Their fragrance quality also proves it. Guerlain is the best house in the game to me and no one is going to top it any time soon.

Creed still makes some outstanding fragrances though, so don\t take this as me saying Creed is a bad company overall. It is quite sad when a company like Hollister has a bottle with a metal cap and Creed has plastic, considering the price difference.

- Alkemia is my second favorite company that I discovered this year

They make high-quality perfume oils. They are natural and smell amazing. They also have decent performance and they are very budget-friendly. Ydalir has an actual charred wood accord instead of something mixed with resins to give it that vibe. If you love indie stuff and haven't tried Alkemia, then you are doing yourself a disservice.


The Bad

- Aventus is still as mediocre today as it was it was in 2018.

Now, I don't hate Aventus. I just don't understand the obsessive fanfare over it. A fruity-sweet fragrance with a spicy/smoky dry down. I am not denying its success or the fact that people love it. For me personally, it will never be in my top 10 or even in my top 25. It is relegated to mediocrity after going through several different batches.

- Parfums de Marly is decent at best.

PdM gets a lot of hype from reviewers who get free bottles. The only PdM I would consider purchasing is Carlisle. I will admit that Carlisle is very good. Galloway, Layton, and Herod are okay, but they use too many synthetic accords. The best fragrances have both natural and synthetic accords to create a full-bodied fragrance with depth and nuances that tickle your senses. All of the PdM fragrances I have tried are flat, linear, and just not exciting, outside of Carlisle.

I will say that I have only tried 6 or 7 from them, but that is enough to turn me off of the house. That and the constant hype they get on their release days make me think they pay for good reviews. Maybe they don't. If so, then some reviews might just have bad tastes in my eyes.

- Most complimented videos need to stop

Now, I am not telling anyone how to run their channel. If people want to do that, then that is up to them. I still support reviewers who do them. I support reviewers who enjoy PdM as well. Disliking their taste is different than disliking a person. their fragrant tastes do not dictate who they are as a person.

However, the most complimented videos are getting tiresome. I know why they do them. they get a lot of views from people. It's pretty sad when a most complimented video gets more views than a single review of an unknown fragrance that is simply breathtaking.

If you, the fragrance community, wants this to stop, then you need to start telling people this. I have done a most complimented article before and it was one of my most viewed articles. However, I will not do that anymore. I don't care about my view count or followers. I care about passion.

- Top 10s are also getting old.

I stopped doing top 10s at the end of 2019. I wanted to separate myself from other reviewers in a world of clickbait and fast fashion fragrances. Most of them are fragrances we have seen before or the most hyped PdM of the season. I just don't see anything positive from top 10 lists.

Again, I support reviewers who still do these. I just won't do them anymore myself. I have done any of them in the past. they are still there. I don't delete any of my articles. I prefer to know what I came from and not try to hide anything from my readers.

- People are still telling outrageous compliment stories.

I would be rich if I got a nickel for every time someone did this. I am not saying all of these stories are false. However, there are a few repeat offenders that cook up the most elaborate stories known to man.

I am telling you guys, girls are not going to flock around you like a murder of crows going for a carcass, waiting to get a peck in. It's not realistic. Maybe some guys have that kind of charisma, but I doubt these guys would feel the need to brag about it on Facebook. I get compliments sometimes, but you have never seen me make a post about getting them.

If you feel your self worth is caught up in getting a few likes on Facebook or getting a compliment, then bro, I will pray for you. That is no way to live your life seeking the approval of others. Be your own man and pave your own path. At the end of the day, these stories don't amount to anything, especially if they aren't true.

- Some people still take "panty dropper" serious and think it's a literal word.

No fragrance is going to get you into someone's bed. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. You don't need amazing charisma or an amazing smell to attract a woman. Just be a nice and genuine guy. Besides, if you are the type of guy who only wants to get laid, then you need to reevaluate your life and see what your real priorities are. This isn't American Pie. I watched that movie in my teens. It was horrible. Be realistic and find out how to treat women with respect. You can keep telling yourself you will grow up in two years, but I keep telling myself I will grow taller next year. It still hasn't happened. Heck, I might start getting even shorter soon.

- I missed my goal of 100 followers this year.

I was 12 followers away, but that is okay. I have learned to not try to count my success by the numbers of followers I have. I have made plenty of friends and received comments about me helping people find great fragrances. That means I am being successful. People also like how brutally honest I am. I am successful despite my follower and view count.

- Some fragrance groups can't go one day without some edgy guy memeing about CDNIM and Aventus.

I am beating a dead horse here. Just stop it. No one cares anymore. Stop seeking negative attention. That is all.

- Armaf is the worst clone house.

I know, some people love them. Feel free to do so. I strongly dislike them. They are cheap, synthetic, and brash. They lack the refinement of the fragrances they copy. I am not a fan until I smell something from them that will change my mind. Don't tell me CDNIM will. I have smelled it and it's terrible, even in the dry down.

- The blue trend needs to die

Okay, blue fragrances aren't terrible, but it's been done to death at this point. We need something new with less ambroxan in it. Let's start making some more masculine smelling fragrance sin 2020 and pay homage to the classics, but with some modern ingredients. That is my hope for 2020, but I know it won't happen. It never hurts to dream though, right?

- Guerlain Shalimar and Mitsouko smell more masculine than most of today's masculine offerings.

It's sad when a woman's fragrance from the early 1900's that has been reformulated countless times(which is normal for a fragrance of that age) smells more manly than today's offerings. How did a company like Paco Rabanne go from making one of the most masculine fragrances ever to a sweet bubblegum fragrance company for clubbers? I don't know, but I guess money and modernism changes things. A lot of the times it's not a good change in my eyes.



Conclusion

I probably have many more thoughts I could write down, but I will keep this one relatively short. I hope you enjoyed this one. I hope everyone has a safe and blessed 2020.

Remember to smell great, be great, and treat people with kindness.

My goal for 2020 is to be different than other reviewers and be as informative as I can be. Also, to get a new camera so my pictures aren't so blurry lol.

Also, I am debating on doing something outside of this blog to be more interactive with my readers. Stay tuned and we will see if I can work that out.

Shoutouts

Alexandria Fragrances
Mattie Fuller for some decants
Addam Brown for some decants
Genre Parfums
SCENTual Obsession
Daniel San for some decants
Carlos Colom for being a brother like no other
Nathan Geck for some decants
Raymond Ford/SwiftScents for some decants
Cremo
Fragrenza
Happyland Studio
Babylon Fragrances
Cameron Byrd for some DUA decants
Kenny Walker for making my logo
Ryan Richmond
Alkemia
An anonymous friend for some fragrances
Susana for sending me a bunch of fragrances and samples
Sphinx Beard
Mark Mobley and MyFragranceSamples.com

(I think that is everyone, if I missed anyone, then I am truly sorry. My memory isn't what it used to be lol)

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