Well my brothers, I can't believe I'm making this post here, and apologies for my lack of a lot of engagement the last few weeks, it's been quite hectic and busy for me. As you guys know, I'm preparing to serve a mission for my church, and so as a result I'll be gone for 24 months. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't that long, but all of that being said, I'll still miss you guys a lot. I'll be able to stay in contact through email, however, so shoot me a DM and i'll be able to add you guys there to my list, and we can stay in contact there :) I just wanted to genuinely give this community my thanks and love, for being so supportive, kind, generous, and guiding me along the way. A lot of perfume collectors and communities can become snobbish or condescending, and rude to newcomers and make them feel less, but this community is the complete opposite, and allowed me to grow from inexperienced, to ambitious, to where I am now, successfully developing the tastes I've been able to have, and to the point where I've fallen in love with this hobby so much, that I want to start my own house one day. That right there is life changing, and honestly fragrance changed the course of my life, and gave me something to hope for, that I felt like I belonged in, perfectly. I've struggled to make friends a lot outside. Felt people who related to me. Felt like an oddball, like I didn't belong, and as a result I've felt so incredibly lonely and by myself, but building confidence, finding groups like this one, and ones outside in my real life have changed me so much. I know who I am now. I feel happy and comfortable in my skin. I've found my genuine style, passions, and dreams for the future, and I'm ready to start moving. So before I leave, I wanted to give you all shoutouts. To those who mean so much to me, I love you all, and I mean it. @Sean Kavanaugh, you've been such a wise and caring figure in my life, all with a strong sense of discipline, working, and hustling toward your goals. Your daily posts and quotes from Andy Frisella really helped me, and I've really missed hearing from you. Sending love and prayers, and hoping all is going well for you, my friend.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPLAQfFQk/ Not sure if anyone follows Noel, but his account was banned for comparing Amouage and Creed to more affordable dupes he was recommending for people on a budget. Sounds like it is happening to more and more fragrance creators.

Today's SOTD is Parfums de Marly Layton, and unfortunately, this is the final wearing from my sample. RIP, Layton. You will be missed. Of all the Parfums de Marly fragrances I've been exploring over the past several months, Layton is certainly one of the standouts. It's a gorgeous combination of vanilla, apple, lavender, and sandalwood, with enough richness and depth to make it feel luxurious without becoming excessively heavy. The apple and lavender give the opening a lovely fruity, aromatic freshness, while the vanilla and sandalwood bring warmth, sweetness, and a wonderfully smooth character as the fragrance develops. And what a beautiful combination it is. This is a powerful fragrance, but it's also remarkably inviting. There's a romantic quality to Layton that makes it seem almost tailor-made for a cool evening with someone special. It's sophisticated without being stuffy, sweet without becoming cloying, and substantial without sacrificing elegance. I can easily imagine wearing this one throughout autumn, winter, and spring. Summer would probably be a little too much, at least in my part of the world, but that still leaves plenty of opportunities to enjoy it. And as someone who's become increasingly fond of fragrances that balance sweetness with woods and aromatic notes, Layton checks an awful lot of boxes. The only real obstacle is the price. I've enjoyed exploring the Parfums de Marly collection, and several of its fragrances have earned serious consideration for future purchases. But with a growing collection already on my shelves, I'm not particularly inclined to pay full retail for another expensive niche fragrance. Find me a good sale from a reputable discounter, however, and Layton could very easily find its way into my collection. Current status: Sample finished, enthusiasm undiminished. A gorgeous, romantic cool-weather fragrance and a definite future purchase contender at the right price.

I was just wondering if how often if any, do you guys have a fragrance free day? I find myself everyday choosing a scent. I never think of going with zero sprays or no scent on at all at this point.

Wore Hombre to dinner last night, came home, got some sleep, and I can still detect it on my skin several hours later. That’s a good result, especially from a fragrance built around citrus, aromatic herbs, and woods. What it smells like: Bergamot, lemon, and sweet orange give Hombre a bright citrus opening. Think fresh citrus peel with some sweetness from the orange. Clary sage brings an herbal, slightly earthy character, connecting that freshness to the vetiver and cedarwood underneath. As the brighter notes settle, the fragrance moves toward dry woods and earthy vetiver. It’s a straightforward combination on paper, but there’s plenty of room for texture and development. Fresh enough for daytime, with a woody foundation that suits an evening out. What makes Hombre interesting: It has COSMOS Organic certification. That means it meets an independently assessed standard covering ingredient origin, required organic content, permitted processing methods, manufacturing, and packaging. It goes beyond simply putting “natural” or “organic” on a label. ATH also states that Hombre uses organic grain alcohol, is suitable for vegans, and contains no BHT. BHT stands for butylated hydroxytoluene. It’s a synthetic antioxidant used in some perfumes to slow oxidation helping protect fragrance ingredients from changes in smell and color caused by exposure to oxygen. It’s generally there to help stabilize the formula, rather than add a scent. When ATH says Hombre is BHT-free, it means that antioxidant isn’t included. That alone doesn’t mean the fragrance is safer, better, or longer-lasting. The certification doesn’t automatically make a fragrance smell better or last longer. What interests me is having those production standards alongside a fragrance I enjoy wearing and, on this occasion, staying power that carried through dinner and sleep. Performance: Several hours later, it’s still detectable close to my skin. That’s longevity, rather than a claim that it’s still projecting strongly or leaving the same trail it did earlier.