Chanel holds its marketing and retail in a death vice, and you will almost never see its fragrances on sale. In fact, I’ve noticed that some discounters actually charge more than the Chanel boutique or website! There is one workaround, and that is when a large department store like Macy’s offers its several-times-a-year 15% off fragrances such as is going on right now. You generally cannot buy these at Macy’s online but must walk into the store, and you can get 15% off on Chanel. This is about the only time I purchase Chanel, and about the only time you will find it on sale at retail.

I recently acquired a 10ml decant of Loumari’s Porthole. An absolutely fantastic fruity floral that’s geared towards summer nights, linen pants and quiet company. Reading many in-depth reviews of clone houses, I looked into Alexandria Fragrances and took a chance on their version, Loophole. I was blown away at the nearly perfect match. The iodine note was missing but from the opening to the dry down and beyond were amazing. Overall, the performance was spot on. Longevity was even better, lasting an extra 2 hours in side by side comparison. That said, I’d recommend Loophole from Alexandria as a great alternative. I think it plays above expectations here. It certainly did for me.

While the name on this one is slightly confusing, the effect is not. Another hot and humid day seemed like the perfect excuse to give this sample a proper wear. I've always enjoyed the Y line, but the fresh and striking icy mint is what sets this one apart. Rather than taking the fragrance in a completely different direction, it feels like it builds on the familiar Y DNA while adding an unmistakable cooling effect. If you like fresh fragrances, this one is a yes.

Had the chance to meet up with @Lon Chaneyfield today at the brand-new Day Three boutique in San Tan Village, Arizona, and spend some time visiting with perfumer Michael Paul. While we were there, we got to sample a few upcoming releases, but the only one I think I’m allowed to talk about is Frost. Frost takes an accord from Edge of Eden and builds on it with additional fixatives to create a true fragrance enhancer. The result is something that can either elevate and extend another fragrance or stand completely on its own as a clean, metallic skin scent. I’ve been wearing it on both hands for the past few hours, and I’m impressed with how versatile it is. Whether you’re looking to boost performance, add a unique element to another scent, or simply wear it solo, Frost has a lot of potential. Really excited for this one and can’t wait to see what people think when it officially releases in a few weeks.

Most of us will lift our wrist to smell our fragrance. This is how we test to see how the fragrance smells. There are a few reasons for that, and that is because in the long run, most of us cannot smell it projecting off our body.. you are not alone! The main reason is olfactory adaptation (sometimes called nose blindness). When you apply a fragrance, your brain quickly learns that scent is “background information” and starts filtering it out so you can focus on new smells in your environment. The perfume may still be projecting strongly to everyone around you, but your brain stops paying attention to it. A few other factors contribute: 1. Continuous Exposure The fragrance is constantly rising from your skin and clothing. Because you’re exposed to it nonstop, your olfactory system becomes desensitized. 2. Scent Cloud Position Much of your fragrance projects a foot or more away from your body. Other people walking into your scent trail may smell it more strongly than you do. 3. Molecules You’re Less Sensitive To Some ingredients are notorious for causing nose blindness: - Ambroxan - Iso E Super - Certain musks - Cashmeran - Modern amberwoods Many people think a fragrance disappeared when these materials are still projecting heavily. 4. Spray Location If you spray directly under your nose (neck, chest), adaptation happens faster. Spraying farther from the nose—back of neck, shoulders, forearms—can sometimes help. 5. Humidity, Heat, and Air Movement In a dry climate like Phoenix, fragrance can disperse differently than in humid climates. Sometimes the scent leaves your immediate breathing zone but is still noticeable to others around you. A Simple Test If you think a fragrance is gone: 1. Leave the room for 10–15 minutes. 2. Come back. 3. Ask someone else if they can smell it. You’ll often find that what seemed “dead” is still projecting. A Common Fragrance Mistake Many fragrance enthusiasts overspray because they stop smelling their scent after an hour or two. In reality, others may still smell it 6–10 hours later. This is especially common with fragrances like Louis Vuitton Imagination, Amouage Reflection Man, and Xerjoff Torino21, which can become intermittent to the wearer while remaining detectable to others.