For me, Valentino's Born in Roma Extadose wins by far. It a simple and addictive scent that is great for layering, and suitable for every season. Lavender and wood, with sweet and spice It plays well with others. If you like layering, and experimenting, Extradose is simple but loud, it last long, projects well, and is a compliment getter. I like using it as a base and adding a shot (or 2) of something else. (Coral fantasy and Dylan Blue are nice partners, but PdM's Layton seems a particularly special friend of Extradose... 3 shots of Extradose, 1 shot of Coral Fantasy, and 1 shot of Layton is my secret formula.) What scent did you use most this year, and why?

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say a proper goodbye before the group turns paid. Being part of a community that shares my love for perfumes has been amazing, even though my collection is still small—something I hope to grow over time. Reading and learning about perfumes with all of you has been a completely different and wonderful experience. It’s been great to discover what’s new, share opinions, and just enjoy the world of fragrances together. Unfortunately, with the group moving to a paid subscription and my situation here in Egypt, I won’t be able to continue as a member. It’s a shame because I truly enjoyed being part of this community. Currently, I have a couple of perfumes from my wishlist, and I’ll keep working toward completing my main collection: - Armani Code Parfum - Dior Homme Parfum - Bleu De Chanel Parfum - Brazilian Tobacco (owned) - Top Notch (just gifted by my fiancée ❤️) I’ll still be active on LinkedIn, Instagram, and I have a Fragrantica account as well—so if anyone wants to connect, I’m always open to it! Thank you all for the great conversations and inspiration. I hope our paths cross again in the future!

I’ve been getting more into beard care lately, and one thing I’ve been thinking about is how to balance or match beard oil scents with perfumes. Do you guys prefer to keep your beard oils unscented to avoid clashes, or do you actually layer intentionally — like pairing a woody beard oil with an amber fragrance, or a citrusy one with something fresh and green? Curious to know how you treat it: Is your beard oil part of your overall scent profile, or do you keep it completely neutral?

I don’t mean “old-fashioned” — more like something you’d wear to an important meeting, interview, or classy dinner. Is it about the notes (like woods, leather, iris), or more about the vibe — clean, serious, composed? I’m curious how you all define “formal” when it comes to scent.

I picked up Armani Code Ultimate as a replacement after not finding Armani Code Parfum. It turned out gentler than I expected — the bergamot in the opening is really appealing, then it gradually becomes sweeter in the mid and base. I’ve been wearing it to work, and it gives me a quiet confidence. I actually got a negative comment when I first wore it — it was different from what people were used to smelling on me. I used to wear Armani Code Profumo, which many had come to associate with me. But I realized that’s exactly what I liked about Ultimate — it stands out more, doesn’t smell like everyone else. I spray it on my wrist every morning so I can catch whiffs of it throughout the day. Its sweetness feels uplifting, and I like how it evolves from morning to evening — though I can see how that changing profile might bother some. It’s probably not something I’d add to my “main list,” but I still enjoy it. It works great for days when I’m working from home — it gets me in the mood to focus without projecting too much. It’s more of a scent for myself, not for others.