Good morning everyone. While I am recovering from my knee surgery and was basically feeling like I was under “house arrest” I decided to go through my closet and check my fragrance collection ( I don’t display my fragrances and leave the in their respective boxes). I discovered that I unconsciously have been wearing the same 10-12 scents and really ignoring the rest. One fragrance I re-discovered was Dua’s Angelic Man. This is rather complex as its composition is lavender, coriander, bergamot, Carmel, patchouli, honey, milk, lily-of-the-valley, coffee, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, amber, sandalwood and musk. I liked this fragrance the minute I sprayed it on and am glad I took the opportunity to re-discover such a pleasant fragrance. Shopping in one’s own closet is a very pleasing experience.

XERJOFF XJ 1861 NAXOS Going Beyond the Notes: Understanding the Materials Behind the Fragrance Today, we're taking a closer look at one of the most recognizable fragrances in the niche perfume world: Xerjoff Naxos. Naxos is part of Xerjoff's XJ 1861 collection, inspired by Italy and its rich cultural heritage. It brings together aromatic freshness, honeyed sweetness, warm spices, and tobacco. But for this Perfumer's Edition, we're going beyond how the fragrance smells and exploring the raw materials Xerjoff discloses, their odor profiles, their functions in perfumery, and how the remaining accords might be constructed. THE OFFICIAL NOTE BREAKDOWN Top: Lemon, Bergamot, Lavender, Incense from Oman Heart: Jasmine Sambac, Honey, Cinnamon, Cashmere Base: Vanilla, Tobacco Leaf, Tonka Bean Now, let's get into the chemistry behind the fragrance. THE KNOWN RAW MATERIALS Unlike simply reading the note pyramid, we can examine Xerjoff's published ingredient declaration, which identifies a number of actual botanical materials and aromatic compounds. 1. Linalool: Smell: Fresh, floral, lavender-like, slightly citrusy and woody. Purpose: Frequently used to build lavender and aromatic floral accords. It creates freshness, contributes floral lift, and helps connect citrus notes with the floral heart. 2. Linalyl Acetate Smell: Sweet, clean, lavender-like, slightly bergamot-like, and fruity. Purpose: One of the characteristic odor compounds associated with lavender. It softens herbal sharpness and contributes a smooth, fresh aromatic quality. 3. Coumarin Smell: Sweet freshly cut hay, tonka bean, almond-like warmth, and subtle vanilla. Purpose: A foundational material in many fougère fragrances. It adds sweetness, warmth, and a distinctive hay-like character. It can help bridge lavender, tobacco, and gourmand accords. 4. Vanillin Smell: Sweet, creamy, familiar vanilla with warm balsamic nuances. Purpose: Adds recognizable vanilla sweetness, warmth, and body. It can soften harsher woody or tobacco-like effects and enrich gourmand compositions.

Part 6 - Coffee Beans Reset Your Nose Between Fragrances: THE MYTH: "Smell these coffee beans. They’ll clear out the last fragrance and reset your nose so you can accurately smell the next one." THE REALITY: Coffee beans don’t provide a proven, special reset for your sense of smell. They introduce another odor, and smelling something different is not the same as restoring your sensitivity. THE EXPLANATION: We’ve all seen the little containers of coffee beans sitting on fragrance counters. After several fragrances, someone hands you the beans as if they’re an eraser for your nose. But your nose doesn’t need cleaning out. With repeated or prolonged exposure, your sensitivity to an odor can decrease. This involves olfactory adaptation and habituation, often casually called nose fatigue or nose blindness. Coffee beans have actually been tested for this purpose. In a 2011 exploratory study, participants repeatedly smelled fragrances, then sniffed coffee beans, lemon slices, or plain air before trying to identify an unfamiliar fragrance. Coffee beans did not produce better performance than lemon or air. That doesn’t settle every possible testing situation, but it doesn’t support treating coffee as a reliable reset button. You may feel refreshed after smelling coffee. You’ve changed the smell and paused your fragrance testing. That feeling alone doesn’t prove your ability to distinguish fragrances has returned. My practical advice is to slow down: - Step away from the fragrance counter and its cloud of competing scents. - Breathe normally in relatively unscented air and give yourself a break. - Test fewer fragrances at a time. - Come back later if everything starts smelling similar or difficult to distinguish. Some people like briefly smelling an unscented area of their sleeve or skin. That can be a familiar reference, but I wouldn’t present it as a scientifically proven reset either. A shirt carrying detergent, fabric softener, or perfume simply adds another scent.

Had a late lunch with a couple of friends this afternoon and a discussion about fragrances came up. One guy asked about Gravite and if anyone’s tried it after seeing the commercials, or Bella Vita, TCZ, and Gumoon which beautiful women on TikTok “guaranteed would drive women wild.” I mentioned I have tried Gravite and found it to be a very good, but an unremarkable, fragrance IMHO but have never heard of of the other three as I’m not familiar with TikTok or what products they promoted. Anyway, out or curiosity I thought I would ask the group if anyone was familiar with the TikTok fragrances. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

Good morning gentlemen. This is perfect for a cool Autumn day (or any day really)