Wearing one of my summer favorites in the heat! Watching the final round of The Masters…doesn’t get much better than this!!

Got hold of a sample today @Brett Sutton you were spot-on brother - what a delightful scent! The grapefr, then leaningi nto the apricot, just gorgeous.

Could this be the “fragrance haul” of the Century? Not because of the number of fragrances, but for the price! So about 2 weeks ago a guy at work said “man you always smell good!” What would you recommend for me? I only have Acqua Di Gio and D&G Light Blue but I want some more. So of course I told him about fragrance discounters and he asked me to some to his cart that I would recommend. I added 5 and he bought 3. He bought Creed Silver Mountain Water, JPG Le Beau Le Parfum and Paco Rabanne 1 Million. I was trying to think of mass appeal and ease him into niche with the Creed. So this guy comes in today and says “man I don’t really like any of them, since you like them would you want to buy them off of me?” I asked what he was looking to get out of them and I was stunned by his answer. He said to give him $80 and come pick them up. So I said you want $80 each or $80 for all of them? $80 for all of them! That is absolutely insane to me and I gave him the $80 before he had a chance to change his mind! 😁 this has to be the best buy ive ever ran across!

This is just my take, but I think a lot of people jump into niche fragrances too early before their nose is really developed. There is nothing wrong with niche itself, and I am definitely not against it, but I do think the experience hits a lot differently when you actually have enough time in the game to understand what you are smelling. A lot of niche fragrances are more abstract, more challenging, or more subtle in the way they are built, and if your nose is not trained yet, it becomes easy to confuse price with quality or uniqueness with greatness. To me, having a developed nose means you can actually pick up on the blending, the transitions, the texture, the balance, and how the fragrance evolves from the opening to the drydown. That is when you really start appreciating what makes a scent special. Without that foundation, I think a lot of people end up buying off hype, reputation, exclusivity, or what they heard from other people instead of what truly connects with them. That does not mean you cannot start with niche, because anybody can wear whatever they like, but I do think the journey is a lot more rewarding when you have taken the time to smell different styles, learn notes, compare quality, and really build your taste. At that point, niche stops being just expensive bottles and starts becoming something you can genuinely understand and appreciate for yourself. Less expensive designers, quality clones, decants, and sample sets are often the smartest way to build your nose first without overspending. Why: - Designers usually help you learn the basics more easily because many are more wearable, more structured, and easier to understand. - Clones can help you explore profiles tied to expensive originals without paying full niche prices. - Decants and samples are probably the best route of all because they let you smell more and buy less. I think the best path is balance. Some people jump into niche too early before their nose is developed, but on the other side, too many people get stuck in the clone and designer world because of price, and never explore the full hobby. Budget matters, but if you never branch out, you can end up limiting your understanding of fragrance, quality, and creativity.

Reviewing Dua's Poseidon’s Absolu Elixir. This is clearly inspired by Creed Aventus Absolu, and I’d put it at about 85% close. The DNA is there—you get that bright citrus opening with bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit, backed by a subtle fruitiness from blackcurrant and pineapple. As it settles, you’ll notice a mix of spice and warmth—ginger, cardamom, a touch of cinnamon—balanced with patchouli and vetiver. It’s a well-structured scent, but compared to the original, it doesn’t have the same depth or richness. It feels lighter, a bit more wearable, and less heavy on the skin. Performance is solid. I got all-day longevity, and it was still noticeable 4–5 hours in. Projection is moderate—present, but not overpowering. Overall, if you like the Absolu Aventus profile but want something a bit easier to wear day-to-day, this is a strong option. It delivers the core experience without going as deep or as bold as the original.