Effortlessly Amazing: Carthusia Uomo Review

 

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

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

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

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


The Notes

Top 

Lemon, Bergamot, Freesia, and Green Leaves

Mid 

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

Base

Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, and Sandalwood 

The Scent

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

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

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


Performance

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

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

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

How to Wear it

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

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

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

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




My Opinion

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

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

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


Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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Invigorating: Sean John 3 AM Review

 

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

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

Without further ado, let's get into it!


The Notes


Top 

Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, and Cardamom


Heart

Fig Leaf, Geranium, and Orange Blossom 


Base

Tonic Water and Leather


The Vibe

Happy summer days with a refreshing sparkling drink.

Long summer days on the beach in the shade. 

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

The cool spring dew.

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


The Scent 

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

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

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


My Opinion

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

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

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

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

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


Conclusion

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

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

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

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A Rosy Affair: Zaharoff Signature Rosé Review

 

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

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

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


The Vibe

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

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

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


Notes

Top 

Turkish Rose 
Bulgarian Rose Otto

Mid

Gold Amber
Jasmine 
Red Peony 
Bulgarian Rose

Base 

Australian Sandalwood 
Madagascar Vanilla Bean 
Sugar Cane 
Chinese Oud 
Myrhh
Frankincense 


The Scent

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

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

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

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


My Opinion

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

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

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

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


Conclusion

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

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


Buy Signature Rose here

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

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My Favorite Mint: Diptyque Eau de Minthe(EDP) Review

 

Good evening! I hope everyone is having a wonderful evening. I am doing well. We actually had a "large" tornado south of my county today. A little too close for comfort, but everything is fine here. 

I love mint. I grow spearmint in my garden. I love using it for tea. I also love the smell of it. It's relaxing and revitalizing at the same time. I have been pretty impressed at the quality that Diptyque offers. It doesn't come at a budget-friendly price, but they are worth it. Eau de Minthe is my favorite, along with Philosykos. It's a shame that they don't get the credit they deserve.

This fragrance was gifted to me by a friend of mine. This friend has no connection with any fragrance store or Diptyque. The bottle came from ZGo Perfumery. My opinions are my own, as always. 

This is a top 5 fragrance for me. I am excited about this one. Let's get into it!


The Story

Springtime always has this energy about it. The earth coming alive after winter's chill. Showing its vibrancy with the sun warming our skin once more. It's also a time when we ditch the hermit lifestyle next to our heaters and fireplaces to venture out again. 

Spring is also a time of vivid olfactory bliss. The greenery peeks out and shares its fresh nuances. Flowers take root and smile at the sun-bathed rays of life. It's a time of reawakening, of both the body and soul. It is an unforgettable sensation and it motivates us to push on their the bitter cold of winter to embrace these emotions once more. 

The Notes

Top

Peppermint and Nutmeg 

Heart 

Geranium and Rose 

Base

Patchouli 


The Scent 

Eau de Minthe opens up with a cold and bracing peppermint that is beautifully paired with a vividly clean rose. This opening is very realistic and smells natural. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually natural. If you are a mint lover, then the opening will surely put a smile on your face.

The heart reveals a bit of spiciness from the geranium and nutmeg. I wouldn't consider this a spicy fragrance, since the spices are so soft and elegant. This seems to be intentional so that the cleanliness of the fragrance is not detracted from. The choice to skip the lavender and use geranium in a fougere is beautiful and creative. Yes, it's not the first time it has been done, but it is done so effortlessly here and it fits perfectly. The slightly minted edge of geranium perfectly plays into the theme. It perfectly boosts the peppermint note. 

In the base, the patchouli comes out. This isn't an earthy and dirty patchouli note. It's very clean and woody. Patchouli is also a member of the mint family and can have minted nuances. It wouldn't surprise me if it was lending to the mintiness as well. 

You end up with a clean and minty modern fougere with a woody base. The mint does fade into the background around 4-5 hours in. You are then left with a soft and clean patchouli with clean florals and a slight mintiness.


My Opinion

Well, you saw the title. This is a top 5 fragrance for me. It's absolutely a masterpiece to me. I have had this fragrance for several months and I have loved it since day one. The use of geranium is beautiful. It's probably the cleanest fougere I have ever smelled. It's modern, but pays homage to the classics. It's just incredible. 

This fragrance is versatile enough for any situation and any season. It works the best in the spring and summer. That is why my story was about spring. It makes me think of it. I get around 8-9 hours on my skin, which is impressive for a mint fragrance. A woman could wear this, but I think it leans more masculine with its fougere style. 

I know I had very high praises for this one, but do not blindly buy this fragrance. It is 180 USD for 75ML. You can find samples of it at many niche stores. Not everyone will like it. If you like fig, then I also suggest picking up a sample of Philosykos while you are at it. 

Also, the Eau de Minthe shower cream is excellent, but it isn't cheap. 


Conclusion 

I hope you enjoyed my review of this one. I certainly enjoy it. Diptyque is a house that often gets overlooked, but they deserve some attention. Their quality is outstanding with everything I have smelled from them. 

Remember to say a kind word to someone today. You never know what is going on with them. One kind word could be the difference between life and death if someone feels like no one cares. Be that light. 

Keep smelling great and being great. Thank you for the support. Until next time, be safe. 


Buy Eau de Minthe from ZGo Perfumery (This is not an affiliate link. I have no affiliation with Zgo Perfumery)

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A Mediterranean Lagoon: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Living Stromboli Review

 

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a lovely morning. I am doing just fine. As much as I love the colder weather, I am starting to come around to the warmer temperatures. The fresher fragrances of spring and summer always put a pep in your step and that is a welcomed relief. 

Flankers are often overlooked. There are a few that get some love, but they are few and far between. The Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue line has numerous flankers. In fact, they release a new one every year. I haven't heard much mention of the 2012 release, Living Stromboli, so I naturally had to check it out. 

I will try not to ramble on this time...Let's get into it!


The Story 

We travelled all day exploring the coastline of Italy and all of its wonderous landmarks and food. We were hot and the sun was just above the waters. It was time for a swim to cool off before the nighttime festivities begin.  

We walk up the sandy shore until we see come upon some rock formations in the distance. These rocks are giving shade to the water. This is the perfect place. 

Upon entering the water, we immediately feel the crispness of the shady water. Pure and unadulterated, almost like this place was here just for us. The aromas of the fresh water mingling with various flowers around the coastline make it even more blissful. Calm and tranquil, a direct opposite of the crowded cities we were navigating earlier. This is peace embodied as orange and purple hues paint the sky with a beautiful tinge. This is a place that rejuvenates the soul.  


The Notes

Top

Pink Pepper
Citrus Accord

Heart 

Watery Notes 
Geranium 

Base 

Vetiver 
Patchouli 
Amber


The Scent 

Living Stromboli opens with a watery citrus accord right away. I can't exactly pick out what citrus notes are in this, but if I had to guess then grapefruit would be one of them. The watery aspect of this fragrance is by far the strongest note throughout the life of this fragrance. You will also get a clean rosy pink pepper not. It adds a dimension of cleanliness to the fragrance. A cool geranium note is also detectable, which gives this fragrance a cool and crips feelings with the watery notes. 

As the heart comes out, I can detect a fair bit of clean musk. It's not listed in the notes, but I do detect it. I also pick up some sort of sweet fruit. I can't directly identify it, but it smells tropical in nature. 

In the deep dry down, the fragrance reveals a bit of soft vetiver and patchouli. They aren't very dominant and the watery notes and muskiness certainly overpower them, but they are there to give it a nice base to rest upon. 

This fragrance lasts around 5-6 hours. I think that is perfectly acceptable for the type of fragrance it is. 

This is a summertime casual fragrance that could be unisex, slightly favoring the masculine side. 


My Opinion

Living Stromboli is a great fragrance. I thoroughly enjoy its cold and clean watery feel. While this fragrance is nothing new or extraordinary, it is solid for what it is. I like this one even more than Light Blue Eau Intense. This just smells more Mediterranean to me. It's a more realistic take on water, even though it's still obviously synthetic. 

I think this one is okay to blind buy. I paid $24 for 40ml. I think it's slightly more now. I would only pick this one up if you love aquatics and can handle musk. I don't think it's efficient to sample this one. I haven't even seen samples of it before and decants would cost more than it's worth. 


Conclusion

I hope you folks enjoyed my take on this. Don't forget to say something positive to someone today. It's free and you never know who you could help! Be blessed and be safe. Keep smelling great and doing great!


Buy Living Stromboli here (This is not an affiliate link. I have no affiliation with Fragrancenet or any other company. I get no kickbacks from any links in my articles.)

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A Classic Woody Fougere: Cerruti 1881(1990)

 Good morning, once again! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day so far. I am doing pretty well today. I have been sampling some great fragrances that I will be reviewing in the next two weeks. I think you folks will enjoy them.

I have reviewed Cerruti 1881 before, but I wasn't happy with it. My nose has evolved so much in the past 2 years that I thought I didn't do this beautiful fragrance the proper justice. That review will stay up. I like to remember where I came from, so I never delete any of my articles.

Well, that's enough backstory. Let's get into it!


The Story

Here I am once again. The golf course. Why do my friends love this game so much? I guess because it doesn't require teamwork. You can only blame yourself for your scores.

Speaking of fails...That is probably why I don't like this game. I am terrible at it. I would have a higher score shooting BB's at flies. Sacrifices must be made for your friends though. You can't always do stuff that only you want to. That is greedy. 

It's my turn to tee off. Oh boy, here comes the embarrassment again. I try to keep my form with my swing while putting power behind it. Clink! Well, at least I hit the ball. That is a good start. 

I watch as the ball goes high in the air and moves left...Right into a wooded forest area. Yep, this is par for the course. Pun intended. This is going to be a long day. I should have stuffed a hammock in my bag to take a nap over here. It's going to take me a while to get out of this. I might get par...for the entire 18 holes in this forest. What a day...At least the air is fresh.


The Scent 

Cerruti 1881 opens with an herbal freshness with powdery lavender. It's not ashamed to be a green fragrance. The fir needles of pine and juniper meet clean carnation and woody vetiver. A soft, but peppery cedar lingers in the background. 

The story was motivated by the thoughts of both a forest and a golf course that this fragrance brings to my mind. Also, my total lack of skill in playing golf. There is a reason I sold my clubs years ago.

Essentially, this is an oakmoss and lavender forward fragrance with fir needles, carnation, and cedar to back it up. It's woody, upscale smelling, and not overbearing. It smells like it came from the 80s, but it's not one of those thick and cloying fougeres. This one is a bit lighter and has some freshness to it. It's suitable for any season. 

It does come off as a bit more synthetic than other offerings in this time period. I am not sure if it was originally this way, or if regulations forced it to become this way. I still get a solid 6-7 hours out of it. 


My Opinion

Despite it being more synthetic than others, I do enjoy this one. I wouldn't consider it a must-buy though for classic collectors and lovers. I don't consider anything a must-buy though. You can pick up a 100ml for just under $30(link below). It seems reasonably priced for what it is.

Overall, it has its place in my collection. It's a nice fragrance, but it's not outstanding. A good refined mix of the 70s and 80s woody forest fragrances and a lighter style that would proceed into the 90s. So, I guess this fragrance was a bit ahead of its time...and a bit behind it at the same time. Such an anomaly.  


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed today's review. Have a great day and don't forget to say some kind words. You never know how much it could help someone. These are troubled times and everyone needs a boost of joy in their life. Much love to all of you who still support me. Keep smelling great and being great. 


Buy Cerruti 1881

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Beach Days: Cremo Iced Citron & Driftwood Review

 

Greetings! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day today. It actually just started raining after I took this picture, so I got out there just in time. Maybe a few raindrops would have helped, but I like it regardless. 

Today I am covering a new release from Cremo, Iced Citron & Driftwood. Cremo has been reliable in creating solid fragrances for the money thus far, so we shall see if they continue that trend. This will be the first fresh release that I have covered from them. 

Cremo did send this to me for free. I am not sponsored by Cremo and none of the links in this article are affiliate links. All that means is that I don't get anything from you clicking or purchasing this fragrance through anything in this article. As always, I will be transparent about how I feel about the fragrance. 

I know a lot of you have been asking me about this one. Let's get into it!

The Story

The sun peaks over the ocean on a cool summer morning. Its bright orange glow dances over the gentle waves in delight with the heralding of its warm embrace. You hear a distant seagull trumpeting it familiar call, it must be breakfast time for them. The sound of the waves gentling washing against the shore relaxes you. 

You sit on the dock and the sun's warming rays gently caress your face. The cool salty air still lingers from the chill night. It's a breath of fresh air. A moment of solitude within nature's divine system. It's worked out to absolute serenity. The contrasts, sounds, and ambiance are undeniably fascinating.

There is something that man always craves in nature. We long to be a part of us, to participate in its simple, yet complex cycle. A time away from the hustle and bustle of human life. You get lost in the moment, blankly staring across the massive body of water, until reality sets in.

Human life requires you to contribute to society. I will be back again, old dock. You are my place of solitude in this crazy world. My clairvoyance of mind before the day starts. That simple wooden structure is very special to me. 

The Scent

Iced Citron & Driftwood opens up with a cool citrusy blast that will remind you of something like Mercedes-Benz Cologne, but only vaguely. It's not nearly as bright as the Cologne. Cremo seems to be aiming for a mature vibe with this one. When I say mature, I don't mean something suitable only for elderly men. I mean mature as in a man who is a working professional. The citrus isn't as playful and the musk has been toned down in Cremo's creation. 

They threw in some salty notes, along with some light woods. It makes me think of something similar to the wood and salt in Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt. Only those two notes together, not the whole fragrance. I am also picking up something that smells like ginger in here, but it's not very strong.

Overall, what you get is a more serious version of Mercedes-Benz Cologne, with a pinch of Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt. Now, this fragrance isn't copying either one of those. Those are simply the closest fragrances I can use to describe what I get from it. 


My Opinion 

Cremo has provided another fragrance that is solid for its asking price. While this one isn't totally unique, I do think fans of the "lemonade" type of fragrances will enjoy this one. However, be warned that this one is not as fresh as the Dior or Mercedes-Benz. Given how difficult those two are becoming to find, then you might appreciate this one. 

The performance is adequate for this genre, clocking in at around 6 hours when it's warm outside. If you are looking for projection, this one only projects for around an hour, as far as I can tell. It's quite difficult to properly judge projection with everyone wearing masks and social distancing. So, don't take my word as set in stone on that. 

It's not very effective to try and sample Cremo fragrances because they are so affordable to begin with. If you like the fragrances that I compared this one too, then I think this one is a safe blind buy. I don't think it will blow you away, but I think you will enjoy it for the price you will pay for it. 

Note: This is a Wal-Mart exclusive fragrance. You cannot buy it from the Cremo site or Target. You can buy it online at Wal-Mart, but it sells out quickly. I will provide a link so that you can check up on it.


Conclusion

I am planning on picking up some more offerings from Cremo, including some of their shaving products, body washes, soaps, fragrances, and shampoos. They seem to know what they are doing when it comes to value for money and I respect that. When I do get around to purchasing those things, I will certainly review them for you folks. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Keep being great and doing great things. Remember to say a kind word to someone today. You never know what they are going through. You can make someone's day for free. Try it. It doesn't hurt.


Buy Iced Citron & Driftwood at Wal-Mart

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Not Worth the Hype: Azzaro Ginger Lover Review

 

Source

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I hope everyone is doing well today. I am doing just fine. I have been testing a lot of stuff and dealing with something in the family, so I haven't had as much time to write lately. I should have a few new reviews published over the course of the next few days. 

I saw a few YouTube videos hyping Azzaro's Ginger Lover, so I decided to purchase a decant of it. The fragrance contains ginger, lime, and vetiver. I love all three of those. Well, I will give you my opinion in a bit.

I purchased my decant from Mario Sharvae who is a legitimate seller and has great prices. One of my bottles leaked and another one the atomizer broke. He sent me a new atomizer and 10ml of MFK's Masculin Pluriel to make it right. Both of those things were out of his control, but he still made it right. So, I can recommend doing business with him. I will use him again if he has what I want. My review of this fragrance isn't a reflection on him. He didn't make the fragrance. 

Just to be clear, I have no relationship with Mario and this is not sponsored. I purchased the decants from him. I was just pleased with my transaction and his willingness to make it right, so I thought I would give him a shoutout. 

Let's see where Ginger Lover failed for me. Let's get into it!


The Scent

Ginger Lover starts out with a fresh and spicy lime accord accentuated by a prominent ginger note. The opening is actually quite beautiful and it's my favorite part of the fragrance. After 30 minutes the lime dies down and becomes barely noticeable in the back, only signified by a very slight fresh sweetness in the dry down. What you then get is just a dry ginger accord with woody vetiver. There isn't greenness in this vetiver. It's only dry and woody. It's certainly a more fantasy version of vetiver. 

This woody ginger lasts for the life of the fragrance, which lasts around 8 hours in total. This is marketed towards men, but I think women could wear this as well. This is a fragrance that can survive high heat as well. 


My Opinion

The opening of Ginger Lover is the best part. the dry down is simple, boring, and uninspired. Does it smell bad? No, but it's just flat. There is nothing exciting once the lime dies down. Maybe they should have used lemon or grapefruit as a longer-lasting citrus note to give this one some life. 

I honestly don't get why people hyped this one. This fragrance has no soul and it's just a money grab to me. It could have been so much more interesting than it is. This is exactly the reason why I always tell people to buy decants before committing to a full bottle, even though this one is inexpensive. 

Now, if you love Ginger Lover, then wear it. I am not trying to insult your tastes or what you like. I am just giving my personal opinion about it. I tried to come up with a good story for this one, but the fragrance didn't inspire me at all. I don't like doing negative reviews because it's much more difficult to write about things that don't inspire you. However, with this one being hyped up recently, I figured I might want to give a contrasting opinion to what others are saying out there. 

My overall take is that it's not a bad fragrance, but it's not exciting. It's certainly not one I will be purchasing a full bottle of. There are much more interesting ginger and citrus-based fragrances, even in the same price range. Azzaro Pour Homme still holds the crown in the Azzaro lineup for me. 


Conclusion

I hope everyone has a lovely day. Be well and do well. Remember to say a kind word to someone today. You never know how much it could help them. Kind words are free to use. Be blessed and stay safe!

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

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Go Green: Genre Parfums Expletive Review

 

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day today. I am doing just fine. The sun is shining and I am alive, so that always makes for a good day, even if I do prefer rainy days over sunny ones.

I have a new Genre Parfums fragrances for you today. If you don't know who Genre Parfums is, they are a small house our of Louisiana in the US. Devin Breaux is the creative director of this house. They started off making inspirations of other fragrances, but he is working a lot more on creating his originals now. Expletive is an original creation. I can go ahead and tell you that it's quite unique.

Full disclosure: I was sent this for free from Genre. It does not impact my view on the fragrance. I have given negative reviews on stuff that I have received for free before. If any of you know Devin, then you know he is all about transparency. That is what he expects in this review. I would not be an honorable friend of Devin's if I told him everything was perfect and never gave him room to improve. Yes, I do consider him a friend, but we aren't super close or anything like that. Devin does work with perfumers to create his originals.

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


The Story

A meadow in a forgotten place, the sun shines brightly, and the grass grows unchecked by human hands. A meadow of fresh green grass growing tall once more. As you walk through the meadow with your arms at your side, feeling the blades of grass caress your fingertips, the sun warms your face and urges the freedom of a smile. A new life, a new start, freshness embodied. Nature is all of its cleanliness. The raw mystery of the earth caressing your senses and emboldening you to dig deeper into its splendor. The music of crickets chirping in a melody that gives the final ambiance. This is spring.


The Scent 

Expletive starts out with an explosion of very tart bergamot, that comes off similar to grapefruit to my nose. The sweetness and sparkle identify it as bergamot, grapefruit is a bit sourer when it's tart. A freshly cut grass accord merges with white musk to create a clean and soapy feeling to me. The camphorous qualities of hemp and rosemary join in creating a pungent, but also a lingering fresh feeling. I pick up an accord that smells like the aroma as if you took a dandelion stalk and split it in two. I am not sure what is causing that, but I get it quite vividly. A pinch of fresh basil leaves are delicately placed into the middle of this fragrance. I have a garden where I grow fresh basil, so this note might be more apparent to me than others. I can also pick up a slight hint of soft jasmine when the heart comes out. It's not indolic at all. There is a very faint woody accord as the base that I assume is cedar, but it's difficult to directly identify it. 


My Opinion

Expletive is a very green fragrance. Devin has been using #GoGreen for this fragrance and I totally see why. It's very, very green. It's citric, fresh, tart, a bit soapy, and slightly medicinal. It really embodies a spring day here in South Carolina. The aroma of plants and grasses with soft delicate florals lingering in the air. For this reason, I am going to say this is Genre's best fragrance that I have smelled to date. However, don't take this as hype. You certainly need to sample this one. It's also the most niche one I have smelled from the house.

The accords are crafted in a way that works with each other and they weave through different phases throughout the life of this fragrance. The notes used in this fragrances are very intentional. This is not two clones mashed together. This was built from the ground up with a vision in mind. 

This fragrance performs much better when the sun hits your skin. The warmness causes this fragrance to project heavily to those around you. However, this fragrance will not be cloying as all. It's too green and fresh for that. Overall, this fragrance projects for around 2-3 hours, depending on the weather conditions and can last for up to 8 hours total on skin. 

I usually don't go over the presentations anymore, but I have to say that Genre stepped their game up on the bottles for their originals. I love the gold plaque on the front with the Genre logo. The atomizers are much better and the caps are improved as well. This bottle can compete with most indie houses out there and I think it's a huge step up from their old bottles.


Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my take on this fragrance. Sadly, you cannot purchase it yet, but it should be available around the middle of  August for purchase. I will leave a link to Genre's Facebook group. In that group, you can see when Devin opens up the ordering cycles and how to order from Genre. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Remember to keep saying positive things to people. It doesn't cost you anything and you can make someone's day so much better. Keep smelling great and being great. 


Genre's Facebook Group

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Frapin 1270 Review

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Hey, everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful day. Another doubleheader today because I have a lot of reviews that I need to catch up on. This one was also a sample that was sent to me by Kyle Stevens. Thank you once again, Kyle! This one is from a relatively unknown house, as far as what fragrances I commonly see in the Facebook groups at least. The story behind this fragrance is that Frapin was created in the year 1270 and became famous for high-quality wines in France. This fragrance is boozy, so it fits that much. Let's get into it!

Notes

(Taken from https://www.luckyscent.com/product/22600/1270-by-frapin?utm_source=fragrantica&utm_medium=www.fragrantica.com&utm_campaign=5325)

Exotic Woods, Spices, Raisins, Vine Flowers, Pepper, Candied Orange, Nuts, Hazelnut, Prunes, Cocoa, Coffee, Leather, Woods, White Honey, Vanilla

The Scent

Opening

1270 opens up with a nice melange of dried fruits. You certainly get the prunes in there. The coffee and cocoa also add a warmness to it. The hazelnut and honey also accentuate this. It's a very inviting opening. It's warm and cozy and draws you in.

Dry Down

The dry down starts to turn boozier, I can't pick out exactly what it is, but I am going to assume it is cognac since that is what they were known for. I have never had cognac, so I am not sure what it smells like. The spices and some light woods start to come out, no doubt giving the impression that this boozy fragrance was aged in a wooden barrel of some sort. You also get some more of the vanilla mixing with the coffee and cocoa to give it even more depth.

Performance

This fragrance smells really good, however, it is short lived. It becomes a skin scent is less than an hour and has very soft sillage and projection. The longevity is around 5 hours. So, this is more of a personal fragrance which shocks me due to it containing gourmand notes which normally perform well. Given the price ($165 for 100ml) I would expect a bit more performance.

When to Wear it

The performance is so soft that I will say you can get away with wearing this all year and it won't be cloying to anyone. However, it would be best worn in the cooler months or at night. Would be a decent first date fragrance if you are unsure if your date enjoys stranger fragrances or not. This can be worn casually or dressed up in a suit.

Overall Impression

This fragrance smells very good. I thoroughly enjoy it, but the performance is certainly lacking. I cannot justify spending that much on this fragrance given that. It is a high-quality fragrance and I still think you should pick up a sample to see if it works better on your skin. It is worth a shot...even if you can only smell this for a few hours. As I said, it does smell very good.

Conclusion

I hope everyone has a great day and remember to say something positive to someone! Don't let my somewhat negative review dissuade you from trying this one. It could very well work for you, but I highly suggest sampling it first! Until next time, be safe.


Buy 1270 here

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Memo Irish Leather Review

Source: www.fragrantica.com

Hey, folks! I am glad you all stopped by again. Today I will be reviewing a fragrance that I have had for quite a while, but forgot about it. That fragrance is Memo's Irish Leather. My friend and fellow reviewer Daniel San sent me a sample f this a while back and I just forgot to review it. I seriously have about 50 fragrances to review, so content should be coming at a decent pace now. I hope you enjoy it! I will forgo the presentation on this one since I only received a sample.

Notes

Leather, Juniper Berries, Tonka Bean, Mate, Amber

The Scent

Opening

Irish Leather opens up with a beautiful leather note. It is strong, but not overpowering. It is furthermore accented by some green herbal notes from the mate. If you aren't aware of what mate is, it's also called yerba mate. A tea type drink from South America. This version is certainly the dried leaves of mate. There is also a slight dry gin vibe from the juniper, but I wouldn't say it's potent enough to call this fragrance "boozy".

Dry Down

The dry down doesn't change too much. Like most fragrances, the notes just calm down a bit and get along with each other more than in the opening, which is somewhat scattered. The amber is dry and the overall composition of this fragrance is dry. There is no sweetness here at all. The overall vibe is dry and earthy, not a prominent leather like the name would suggest. At times it smells like dry dirt and grass that was cut a few days prior. It has an overall "countryside" vibe to it.

Performance

My nose picks this one up for about 8 hours with 2 of solid projection. The sillage trail is pretty good too. It's not beast mode and you would expect better performance and projection considering it's a leather fragrance and costs a fair bit of cash, but it's still not a terrible performer.

When to Wear it

This is an amazing fall fragrance. It suits the vibe of it very well. Overall, stick to cooler months with this one. It's super dry and not fresh enough to be worn in the heat. This is mostly a more casual fragrance, give it's "country" type vibe. I wouldn't wear this one for a date unless I was going to the county fair or something. It would pair perfectly with a flannel, jeans, and leather boots.

Overall Impression

I do enjoy this one. I am not huge on leather fragrances, but this one has more depth than just a leather fragrance. The cost of this fragrance is prohibitive though. It's not worth the full retail price to me, but it is worth it if you can manage to pick it up at a discounter. This fragrance clocks in at $150 for 50ml(retail), which I think is too high. It would be acceptable at $100 for 50ml. Luckily there are also clones of this fragrance. I hear both Alexandria Carve On and Rasasi Al Yuqawam AmberGris Showers are good impressions of this. DUA has one called Cuir de Irlandes as well, but I haven't heard much about that one.

Conclusion

I hope everyone has an amazing day and thank you for stopping by. Also, thank you all for stopping by and still supporting me while I was away. It means a lot to me to still have support! Remember to say something positive to someone today!


Daniel San's Youtube

Buy Irish Leather here (Note that this is a big 6.7oz bottle. I suggest ordering a sample first)

Alexandria Carve On

Rasasi Ambergris Showers

DUA Cuir de Irlandes


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Ryan Richmond: Rich Mess Review

Hello, everyone! I hope everyone is doing fantastic. I am back at it again with another review for you. This time all of you leather lovers will appreciate this one. Also, you folks who love huge projection and longevity will as well. Ryan did send this to me for free, but as always my opinions are my own.


Presentation

The one he sent me was the rollerball version, but I am not sure if it's pure perfume oil or not, but it most likely is. It also comes in a spray form. There isn't too much to say about it. The label is black and white with Ryan's name on it and the fragrance name. The cap screws off to reveal a steel rollerball.

Notes

Top
Bergamot, Fig, Grapefruit

Mid
Saffron, Vanilla, Sandalwood

Base
Leather, Atlas Cedar, Lily


The Scent

Opening

Rich Mess is a very potent fragrance, even in the rollerball form. The saffron's leather-like accord mingling with the actual leather note mixes to make a very potent leather accord. It's a little bit dirty, but sophisticated at the same time. I guess that is why he called it "Rich Mess", knowing it was a bit dirty. Others on Fragrantica get the bergamot and fig, but I get mainly leather and a bit of the spiciness in this phase.

Dry Down

The leather calms down a bit, but it still pretty stout, but it refines itself a bit. The cedar starts to show a bit, bringing its spicy woodiness to the composition and turning this into an entirely masculine fragrance. I still don't detect the fig individually, but it does have an underlying greenness to it, which I assume is created by the fig note. It does have complexity and you pick up more notes, but I am not able to detect what they are exactly. It also has a healthy dose of sandalwood with its light woody nuances.

Performance

This fragrance is nuclear on my skin. I am getting around 12 hours with 4-5 of projection, even in a rollerball form. I heard that the spray form is 22% concentration, so that is some potent juice. This isn't a fragrance for people who don't want to be noticed.

When to Wear it

This is a cooler weather fragrance to me. The leather is super strong and would be cloying in the heat. You might be able to get away with it on a cooler spring night, but I don't see it being wearable in the summer. I will have to try it on a warmer day to determine that. This is like a guys night out fragrance. It's labeled as unisex, but I find it entirely masculine. This is also a nighttime fragrance to me.


Overall Impression

I do like this fragrance. It's very high quality and has depth. For myself though, I can't find many places that I would wear this. Part of that is probably my stigma that I should wear a leather jacket with a leather fragrance. Regardless, if you love leather based fragrances and want something that is big on performance and has a lot of quality to it, then I suggest ordering a sample of this. It is worth the price tag if what I described it as sounds good to you, even though it isn't the cheapest fragrance on the market, which is understandable given the angle Ryan wanted to go with this.


Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Have a fantastic day and remember to say something positive to someone today! Sorry that I have not been around as much, but I should be reviewing on a more regular basis now. Be safe everyone!

Buy Rich Mess here

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5 Alexandria Must-Haves for the Warmer Weather

Source: www.pixabay.com

Hey, everyone! Sorry that I haven't been posting as much. I have had some stuff going on in my personal life that I have had to attend to. I hope everyone is doing well and I will probably only post 3 times per week from now on, at least for right now. Today, I have 5 Alexandria must-haves for the warmer weather. It's already warming up here, so I think this is a good time to do it. Give them a little maceration time before the hotter weather hits. Let's get into it! I am not going to do pictures for this one because the bottles all look the same, at least right now.


5. Alexandria Port

This is a classic Mediterranean style fragrance with lemon and neroli. Gives off a clean and fresh white shirt type of feel. Citruses and white florals in an effortless node to casual citrus based fragrances. This one is can be used for any situation and is very inoffensive. A better performing version of Neroli Portofino and very much under the radar on most people's lists.

4. Tropical Nights

This one does smell like Creed's VIW, but it is a unique take on it. There is much more ginger in it. That ginger allows it to be more classy and suitable for night time wear, hence the fragrance name. I actually like it just as much as VIW. Even more when you consider the price. It also has less coconut and more citrus. I really enjoy this one and it's Alexandra's cheaper spray fragrance at $32 for 60ml. This one is a no-brainer, folks.

3. Citron Del Mar

This is Alexandria's take on Creed's Millesime Imperial. This one does a very good job of immortalizing the fruit on a beach type vibe. It makes you feel like you are on a tropical destination enjoying some cool fruits in the hot summer sun. This one is great if you love aquatics and fruit-based fragrances. It's decidedly unisex as well, so both genders can enjoy equally.

2. Africano

This one is Alexandria's take on Bal d'Afrique by Byredo. it's a fresh and vibrant vetiver with musk and florals. This one is a bit classy, but it can be worn casually as well. It's pretty unique as well. If Africa smells anything like this, then I need to visit there very soon. This one is very unisex as well. This one isn't spoken of very often, but it needs to be. I am loving it.

1. White Zest

This one is based off of Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche. I don't get the lemon meringue pie that others get from the Chanel, but I do get a nice vanilla and lemon fragrance that is fresh and uplifting. A perfect Sunday fragrance in my opinion. It's not very gourmandy, but perhaps as close as you will get for a warmer weather gourmand. This one just makes me confident and peaceful when I wear it.

Conclusion

That's it for today guys and gals. I hope everyone has a great day! Say something positive and thank you for your continued support! Much love to everyone!

I will do a full review on all of these fragrances sometime within the next 3 weeks or so!

Buy these fragrances at Alexandria's website

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Alexandria Fragrances The Irish Gentleman Solid Fragrance Review

Source: www.alexandriafragrances.com

A walk through the Emerald Isles after a fresh and cleansing spring rain. The sun is shining brightly now, but the air is still wet. The recent florals are in full bloom. I am sure they appreciated the generous watering from the clouds. They seem to dance their aromas of joy into the air around me. The smell of fresh and vibrantly green grass assures me that this place is full of life. A slight hint of woodiness from the nearby forests adds to the olfactory sensation to complete an aura of complete classiness. A gentle serenade of complete euphoria. This smells like home.

Hey, folks! I am glad you all stopped by again. Sorry that I haven't been posting as frequently. I have been dealing with some stuff in my life recently. Today, I have another solid fragrance review from Alexandria Fragrances. These solid fragrances are seriously becoming a hit. If you haven't tried any yet, then you certainly should. This one is coming just in time for Saint Patrick's Day. It is nothing other than The Irish Gentleman, the fragrance that was inspired by the legendary Creed Irish Tweed. As you all know, I have an obsession with this fragrance, so you can guess where this is going. Let's get into it!

Disclaimer: I was sent this one for free to review, but my opinions remain my own.

Presentation

The presentation is the standard one for the Alexandria solids. The sticker on the front, ingredients on the back, and so forth. The only difference is that the label is a bright emerald color, which is totally fitting for this one. Remember that the caps screw off counter-clockwise.

Notes

TopIris, Lemon Verbena

Mid
Violet Leaf

Base
Ambergris, Sandalwood


The Scent

Opening

This fragrance opens up with a bright blast of lemon verbena. It's like smelling freshly cut grass on a warm summer day. It's pleasant and uplifting. You get a slight hint of the florals, which gives it an aquatic or ozonic(the smell after a rain) type feel.

Dry Down

The lemon verbena tames itself a bit in this stage and mixes well with the ozonic violet leaf. The iris gives in a clean and slightly powdery vibe. This isn't the makeup type of iris. I know many people think of the Dior Homme line when they see Iris, but this is nothing like that. This fragrance is decidedly masculine. The ambergris seems to play a more supporting role here, as it does in most Creed fragrances. The Alexandria one is no different. The sandalwood is light, but it's there and makes this fragrance what it is with its masculine woody qualities. It has the smoothness of GIT captured perfectly, although not 100%. It's a close 95% to me. This fragrance does not smell cheap. It smells very expensive. Although many will mistake it for Cool Water...It is a far cry from that in terms of quality and elegance. This one is far superior and can be picked up for a few bucks more than Cool Water can be at discounters.

Performance

I get around 9 hours on the skin with this one. It projects for around 3 hours before it gets closer to the skin, but it can still be smelled in wafts throughout the day. It leaves a nice sillage trail for most of its life. Like the other solid fragrances that Alexandria carries, this one performs. It lasts longer than GIT does on my skin. I get around 7-8 from GIT.

When to Wear it

Anytime you want to. I wear GIT/GIT clones all year long. However, it is more suited towards the warmer weather, particularly spring. You can wear this casually or formally. It fits any situation. Date nights, business meetings, or drinks with the boys. This fragrance is the most versatile fragrance in my opinion. It does tend to suit more established and well-spoken men though, but a younger guy could certainly wear this one proudly.

Overall Impression

I love it. It's a version of GIT that I can take with me anywhere. I can always be sure to smell like my favorite fragrance without worrying about breaking a glass bottle. It doesn't matter if it gets beat up a bit either...or if I drop it. Plus, I can open the can and smell it at any time for a relaxing sniff of the Emerald Isles. At a price of only 30 bucks, this is a sure winner for me. Although, given its performance, I wouldn't need to take it with me for most things that I could do, but it would be great if you are traveling worldwide by plane. Given that this is also a very inoffensive fragrance.

Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to hit that blue follow button and sign up for email updates for when I post. Have a great day everyone and remember to say something positive to someone today!


Buy The Irish Gentleman

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