Phew! Finally done building my new display shelves. They turned out OK, not great. I couldn’t get more of the same woodgrain tape that I used in my first set, so there’s a bit of a mismatch. But worse, as I was jamming the new shelves into the snug cabinet space, one of the cables tore out and now the bottom LED shelf won’t light up, which is kind of a bummer. That said, I think it still looks pretty good, and anyway I’m really happy that now I can have my full collection out - I’ve pretty much got the cold weather and transitional season frags on the lower shelves, and the year-round and warm weather frags on the top shelves. I might need to rejigger things a bit, but basically they’re pretty well organized. The new shelves give me space for just a few more bottles, which is good because I’ve set a personal goal not to get too many more. I’ve got a bottle of Oud Bleu Intense on the way and have my eye on maybe one or two more cool weather and one or two more year rounders. Then that’s it! I’m not gonna show the grab and go frags I keep on a bathroom shelf because then everyone will yell at me about not keeping them in the bathroom 🤪

Hey 👋 guys (and gal)!!! So I’m at work and most people have noticed my different scents everyday. I get many compliments (not looking for them) and I found another “scenthead” from my variance of smells. Anyways, me and this guy are talking, exchanging sites, new scents, sig scents yada yada yada and the GRUMP at work inserts himself… “what a stupid hobby, colognes have a shelf life of like 3 years then go bad, what a waste”. I thought they change a little from being “fresh” and macerate into “fine” like wine. Am I wrong? Will my collection truly be wasted?!?

I guess this was my first introduction to niche fragrances & the reason I believe dupes have a place in the fragrance world. They are affordable gateways into the niche world. Maison Alhambra is a subsidiary of Lattafa which has gained a considerable following for specializing in reverse-engineering high-end niche profiles. Afro Leather is a blatant clone of the Memo Paris classic, African Leather. They never even attempted to hide the fact, even coping the bottle and front design. You never get a perfumer credited with many of these ME houses,The scent is developed by the in-house team at Lattafa Perfumes Industries in the UAE. AL is not an animalic leather. Instead, it is a dry, spicy, and "safari-esque" scent that focuses on the interplay between cardamom and greenery. With opening notes of Cardamom,, Cumin, Bergamot. You are immediately hit with a blast of cool, green cardamom and sharp cumin. It is zesty and aromatic rather than "food-like" spicy. The bergamot provides a fleeting brightness that keeps the opening from being too heavy. At its heart notes of Absolute Geranium, Leather Accord & Saffron combine as the fragrance settles. As the leather emerges It’s a clean, suede-like leather rather than a smoky or dirty leather. The geranium adds a floral, slightly minty freshness that mimics the airy quality of the original Memo fragrance. The drydown contains notes of Patchouli, Oud, Vetiver & Musk. Here the scent moves to an earthier vibe.The vetiver and patchouli create a dry, woody base, while the "oud" note is very subtle, used more for structural depth. Performance for a dupe is rather impressive, with an easy 7hrs on skin. Projection is rather strong for the first 2 hours, then it settles into a consistent, noticeable scent bubble. Again, this is best for the cooler months or evening wear. It has a mature/expensive vibe that suits formal attire or a confident, casual look. In fairness they did a good job here, it's 90% identical to the og which I also own. The Memo original is slightly smoother and uses a more natural-smelling cardamom. Afro Leather is a bit sharper in the opening. Considering the price difference, this is a perfect gateway fragrance.

What to say in your intro? Share where you're from, your reason for joining, perhaps your favorite fragrance, watch or a picture of you dressed sharp! It's a small action, but a HUGE step in you getting value from this community becasue you go from being a lurker to an ACTIVE member. In fact men that introduce themselves are 10X more likely to the actions to becoming their best selves. Bonus Point - By introducing yourself you're guaranteed to level-up. Seriously, you'll get at least 5-20 likes/points (oftentimes more) which will move you to level 2 and possibly level 3. And just like that you have access to more of this community!

I finally opened my bottle of Venetian Blue by The Merchant of Venice, which I had picked up during my visit to their boutique in Venice. The experience of exploring the store was unforgettable, and I was instantly drawn to this fragrance. After wearing it a few times, I’m excited to share my thoughts. Upon the initial spray, I’m greeted with a refreshing burst of apple and citrus, complemented by a hint of marine aroma—perfect for a spring day. This opening is not only fresh but also carries a slight sweetness and an earthy quality that I find quite appealing. It’s truly one of the reasons I decided to purchase it during my trip. Approximately 20 minutes in, the scent evolves into rich woody notes, with the earthy undertone becoming more pronounced. At this point, the middle phase reminds me of a designer blue fragrance. After about two hours, we transition into the drydown, which evokes the aroma of Aventus. After looking up the notes, its clear the birch, moss, and ambergris in the drydown as the elements that connect these two fragrances. In terms of performance, Venetian Blue has great projection during the first two hours, settling closer to the skin as it dries down. Overall, it lasts about six hours before fading away. When I first encountered this scent at the boutique, I was drawn to its familiar vibe, though I couldn't quite place it. After multiple wears, I realize it embodies a hybrid character for me. The opening feels reminiscent of a fresh marine scent similar to Aqua di Giò, while the drydown aligns with the Aventus. Overall, Venetian Blue is a wonderful example of a slightly matured blue scent, making it a versatile option for any man throughout the year. It beautifully merges two iconic fragrance families into one remarkable perfume.