Dear Mr. Carotti, Thank you for reaching out and for your patience. At this moment, we expect your order to ship within the next 2 to 3 weeks. While we are working hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible, we greatly appreciate your continued understanding during this time. We will notify you as soon as your order is shipped and tracking information becomes available. Thank you for your continued support. Best regards, Customer Support – The Parfums ------- (I ordered one bottle.........on February 9th...........)😭

Hey, everybody. It’s been a LONG time!! Just wanted to pop in and say hey to all my old friends from the community that I used to chat with and welcome anybody that has joined during my absence. I also wanted to post a SOTD for old time’s sake! Anyway, my SOTD today was a relatively new favorite of mine: Blue Talisman by Ex Nihilo. I really enjoy how light and refreshing it is while being a bit different from your typical “blue” fragrance. It does have some feminine qualities to it, but is still masculine enough for me with the musk and slight woodsy notes. It can be really nice when layered with something slightly more woody or something with a light leather note. In fact, there is an inexpensive, but quality, “inspired by” dupe by Arabiyat Prestige called “Kohl Opulence” that takes the Blue Talisman DNA and adds a slight leather and amber facet to the composition. This adds a slightly darker, richer, more masculine character to the fragrance that is REALLY pleasant. Cheers, everybody! —Jordan

So last fall I got my hands on ATH’s Hombre and man, I hated it - it’s got a clary sage note front and center that really didn’t appeal to me. I sold my 50ml bottle and moved on. Then earlier this year, I got my nose on Penhaligons The Cut, which also has a prominent clary sage note - but I kind of liked The Cut. I got a decant and it’s grown on me even more. Could it be, I’m starting to like clary sage? To find out, I umm re-aquired a 10ml bottle of Hombre and tonight I’ve got it on my left arm with The Cut on my right arm. I’m sitting in a cloud of clary and… not hating it. Hombre opens much much brighter, with a citrus zing that makes that clary sage just vibrate. The Cut opens warmer, I get maybe a bit of mint to give it a little brightness but I’m mainly getting some woodiness and definitely some more aromatics to round out that clary sage. Let’s see how they develop, 20 minutes in and Hombre is louder for sure. I seem to be enjoying both but right now I’m preferring The Cut for being warmer, more rounded and more aromatic. But I think the Hombre bottle is a keeper this time. Who knew???

I'm still struggling to limit myself to one new purchase a month, but the effort is there. My fiancée's new acquisition for May is Gucci Bloom and mine is the Acqua di Gío Profondo. I have the OG ADG, but I love that extra marine element in the Profondo. Longevity still isn't going to set any records, but I love the fragrance.

I feel like almost all fragrances are inspired by something. No fragrance really comes out of nowhere. Most fragrances are built off something older, whether that is a classic fragrance, a traditional scent family, a proven accord, or a style that people already recognize. That does not mean every fragrance is a clone. There is a difference between being inspired by a fragrance, sharing a similar DNA, and directly trying to copy something. A fresh blue fragrance may remind you of another fresh blue fragrance. A rose oud may remind you of other rose ouds. A smoky fruity scent may remind people of Aventus-style fragrances. That is how scent categories work. Also, certain accords and notes naturally go with each other. Citrus works well with woods and musk. Vanilla works well with amber, tobacco, and spices. Rose pairs well with oud, patchouli, and incense. Lavender goes well with tonka, coumarin, and barbershop-style fragrances. These combinations are used over and over because they smell good together and people already respond to them. To me, fragrance is a lot like music. A song can be rock, country, rap, or R&B without being a direct copy of another song. It may use the same type of beat, mood, or structure, but still have its own personality. Fragrance is the same way. There are only so many scent styles people recognize and enjoy, so brands keep building around those ideas. The difference comes down to how it is done. Is it smooth? Is it blended well? Does it have quality? Does it perform? Does it add something different? Or is it just trying to be a cheaper version of something already famous? That is why I think we should be honest when talking about fragrances. If something is clearly inspired by another fragrance, say it. If it only shares a vibe, say that too. Not everything similar is a clone, but pretending fragrances are never inspired by each other is not realistic either. Most of this hobby is built on inspiration, interpretation, history, and personal taste.