I was around 14 yrs old when I got a bottle of Preferred Stock for xmas. I probably went through 5-8 bottles of the stuff during my high school years. Then when I moved out on my own, perfume was a luxury a poor working teen couldn't justify spending his money on... so i wore nothing, but deodorant, for many years. Wearing Sauvage Elixir today, and it has a faint resemblance to my old favorite. (They share a number of notes) What was you first fragrance? Is there a modern scent that reminds you of it?

“Be curious and have confidence in what your nose is telling you.”— Julie Massé Confidence grows when you trust what you notice instead of waiting for someone else to confirm it. Stay curious today, follow the details that catch your attention, and let your own perspective guide the next step. Enjoy the #Journey. Love to hear from ya’!

Brothers, I have recently acquired a fragrance that I would love to review for y'all, but i just cant find the words. Nothing seems to do it justice. I looked at what "professional reviewers" had to say about it. I came to the conclusion that 90% of them are just faking it, using a note breakdown and saying things that sound smart, but are ultimately meaningless and unhelpful. I can tell you what its not, but describing what it is seems an impossible task. Even using memories doesn't help. The strongest memory it invokes in me is a personal experience that only one other person on earth has shared. So how do I do this wonderful fragrance justice, and share this unique scent with the group? As i dive into niche houses and less known scents, I suspect I will have this problem again. (Probably today when the mailman arrives) Any advice is appreciated Thank you all in advance

Well gents, ive been wanting to get my nose on this one for about 6 months and the mailman delivered it today. Its only been 30 mins of wear, at first spray I wasnt super impressed, but it wasnt bad... but its growing on me. I opened the mail, sprayed on too much and went out for brunch. While placing my order, i received 2 compliments from women, with the caveat that it was a bit strong and room filling, but not offensive. Mandarin, suede, saffron and minerals are definitely in there... but it also kinda smells like an electric concrete saw at work, 2 stroke exhaust, and maybe a faint hint of soft rubber (like a bicycle's inner tube) ... pause to eat... It seems to get stronger and more enjoyable with time. I definitely oversprayed, but it doesnt seem to matter with this frag. Its LOUD but its soft about it. Im going to wear this today, and set it aside for a while so I can test drive all my new frags, then ill give it a proper few weeks straight of wear. It also goes very well with labrador. A dog at the restaurant seemed to love it. She had her head on my lap getting pets while I waited for my order. Now I smell like ganymede and labrador... which means despite its power, it doesnt knock out other smells. I have a 10ml decant, so plenty of juice to play with. Its very unique. Very well made. Im not going to rate it, until Ive put it through its paces, but its good... probably even great. 2 compliments in 30 mins of wear is a heck of a start for a new frag.

Match #67 in the second-chance bracket features Dior Sauvage EDP versus Prada L'Homme Intense—two terrific fragrances that make their strongest impressions at different stages of the wear. For me, Sauvage wins the opening. That blast of bergamot and pepper is bright, spicy, energetic, and immediately appealing. It's one of the reasons Sauvage has become such a massively popular fragrance. Add excellent performance and tremendous versatility, and it's easy to understand why it has survived this deep into the tournament. But then the Prada starts doing its thing. L'Homme Intense opens with that distinctive iris and powdery character before gradually becoming darker, richer, and more complex. Amber, patchouli, tonka, leather, and woods emerge as it develops, and the drydown is where this fragrance really shines for me. It's beautifully blended, rich, smooth, and sophisticated. So this matchup essentially came down to a question: Do I choose the fragrance with the opening I prefer or the one I enjoy more several hours later? At this stage of the tournament, I'll take the drydown. Prada L'Homme Intense survives. Dior Sauvage EDP is eliminated from the tournament. And with rumors continuing to circulate that L'Homme Intense has been discontinued, I'm increasingly glad there's already a bottle sitting in my collection. The Prada fanboy gets his way today.