After all the chatter about closing and @Andrew G. post, I received this today. Glad I disputed my order, as they are master letter writers @Ben E @Scott Ripley you are correct,

I was excited to see this but wasn’t expecting it so soon after the release of Yesterday Haze 2nd Edition. Imaginary Authors typically does two releases a year with either a reformulation or a limited edition fragrance for a third one. If they follow the pattern this is their last release for 2026, but I would t be surprised if they had another Holiday promotion. Anyway, it is very woody and reminds me a lot of cape Heartache but without the powdery strawberry note. The focus is on woods and petrichor (the smell of rain on damp ground after a downpour). It’s been rainy and grey for the last few days, so this makes perfect sense for the weather. So far I’m really enjoying it. These kinds of scents resonate very well with me, and it will definitely be a fall and spring staple. The bottle is beautiful, too. I have yet to see the movie it’s inspired by, but all indications are that its extraordinary. And just for fun, do yourself a favor and shout “Petrichor!!” Like Michael Scott doing parkour in the office. You will never hear the note the same way again.

After all these years, changes in tastes, various phases of my collection, almost complete change in my collection, this has survived it all and still remains in my top 10. I still haven't tried the OG Initio Paragon, but I just can't see how it can be better than this and for the extra cost, but I should be considering it, especially where I am with my collection now. Update: literally 2 minutes after posting this, my connect had Initio Paragon for sale and gave me a deal, so now I will have the OG coming.... Woot woot!

So I decided I needed to get my nose on a whole bunch of highly hyped offerings from Middle Eastern brands along with an RDZ I’ve been interested in trying out. Believe it or not, I’m really feeling like I’m starting to run out of things I want to try, it’s getting harder and harder since I’m probably at over a thousand+ fragrances researched and tested over the past two years… But between this haul and an upcoming haul of Montagne decants, I think I’m scratching what itch I have left lol. I do feel like I’m going to be winding down buying anything new (decants or bottles) pretty soon, as I feel like I’m closing in on my “final” collection, which will land at about 85 bottles total. I got this haul from Tryscents - they have a pretty good selection and good prices, but the thing that won me over is their high quality pressurised atomisers. This haul includes: - Jo Milano Craft Stone (Outlands inspo). So far I like this better than Terra. - Maison Asrar Ameer (Decision inspo). So far I like this better than Vantage. - Arabist Prestige Ramad Earthy (Sinbad/Elsewhere inspo) and La Di Da (original creation). So far Ramad Earthy is not for me (like a spicy leathery burnt apricot stew) and La Di Da is a pleasant enough designer-like aromatic vanillic - Swiss Arabian Opulence of Dubai and Enigma of Taif (original creations). This is my last effort to see if I can tolerate wearing anything with rose in it… - Adnan Stardust (Angels Share OTR inspo). So far, the crisp sharp grapefruit in the open is pretty enjoyable and is a twist on the OTR. - Riiffs Veloce (Angels Share OTR inspo) and Momento Liquid Gold (original creation). So far Veloce is an ok Angels Share interpretation but Momento Gold is not for me, weirdly sweet with a screechy edge. - RDZ Wooder Ice (my first time sniffing anything from this house). So far this is an interesting bright zesty musky sweet and bright citrus bomb.

I debated on gatekeeping this combo, but whats the fun if you don't share. I put on about 6 sprays of Dua Starboard, dupe of Loumari Porthole. I then proceed to sniff the atomizer of MITH Ferris Wheel Sunset, an excellent alternative to LV L'Immensite, for those with facial know this, it got on my mustache a bit. Went outside and at first I thought my Dua changed a lot and was like WTF, this smells so good then I realized it was the hints of MITH that changed the game on this. I did a quick spritz of MITH, just enough to add an aromatic touch to Starboard. I don't know if I will be able to wear Starboard any other way now. I may try this with the OG Porthole and the Dapper version as well.