NOTE: Instead of a Scent Of The Day, I am introducing a fragrance I wore for going out on a date, attending a party, or simply enjoying the evening. Thanksgiving Day is the start of the holiday season that will last until January 6 (Epiphany), including such festivals as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Since there are so many events packed into this period -- dinners, social gatherings, religious ceremonies, even shopping -- I have decided to dedicate two fragrances just for those events. CHRIS COLLINS SWEET TABOO TOP NOTES: clary sage, cardamom, cinnamon MIDDLE NOTES: geranium, cacao, coffee BASE NOTES: benzoin siam, tonka bean, vanilla, musk A spicy gourmand, I wore this fragrance on Thanksgiving Day for our family dinner and evening movie. Sweet Taboo leans into the classic, comforting and celebratory aromas associated with the holidays, but with an upscale, slightly seductive twist. The cinnamon, cardamon and vanilla scream cozy holiday treats as associated with cookies, coffee shops, and spiced baked goods. Moreover, the warming, gourmand nature of Sweet Taboo is perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings, Christmas morning and general cold-weather comfort. The cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla create a sweet, spicy profile that feels familiar yet luxurious, while the coffee and cacao add a nice roasted, dark depth. It has a high-quality "expensive dessert" feel. Perfect for daytime, casual gatherings and general festive warmth (think Thanksgiving dinner, cozy weekends, or Christmas shopping). CHRIS COLLINS DANSE SAUVAGE TOP NOTES: cognac, plum, saffron MIDDLE NOTES: pepper, chili, rose BASE NOTES: cedarwood, vanilla, oud A dark and complex fragrance, I wore this scent at the first holiday party held two nights after Thanksgiving. Danse Sauvage has an intoxicating opening with an assertive blend of sweetness, warm spice and woods. The primary notes I discern are nutmeg, cedar, cognac and plum, with the cedar and cognac being the most prominent.

Today is the day to again to dust off and remove finger prints off some of the bottles. Wondering how often do you guys clean up your collection?

NOTE: Instead of a Scent Of The Day, I am introducing a fragrance I wore for going out on a date, attending a party, or simply enjoying the evening. As much as I love Chris Collins' boozy fragrances and Boadicea The Victorious' opulent scents, they lack a fragrance featuring one of my favorite notes—tobacco. For my birthday, I decided to branch out from my CC/BTV ecosystem and add a new fragrance from another house. After conducting some research (including using ChatGPT and Android's Gemini) to find a fragrance that would enhance my existing collection and wearing some 2ml decant samples, I chose Carolina Herrera Mystery Tobacco. Released in 2016, Mystery Tobacco is part of the Confidential Collection private line that is largely sold in Europe. Mystery Tobacco has a ginger, fruity opening that dries into a spiced pipe tobacco lifted by some drier tobacco leaf vibes. What really stands out is the pipe tobacco note that smells like it came out of a cigar -- exactly the feel I want in a tobacco-forward fragrance. The combination of tobacco, ginger, vetiver, tonka bean and osmanthus creates this woody, spicy and boozy scent. It's refined, a bit restrained (at least compared to Mancera's Red Tobacco) and very smooth. I think the patchouli note also lends to the appeal. The bottle arrived just in time for my birthday, so I'm excited to wear this one and add it to my winter fragrance rotation. And yes, I will get a backup bottle (something I thought I would never say about any fragrance, but the Confidential collection is essentially a niche line). It also looks like Carolina Herrera has discontinued it, based on the CH website listings. NOTE: The notes breakdown chart is courtesy of Fragrantica. The images are courtesy of Carolina Herrera's website.

This stuff is really nice... I bought a discovery set of 4 x 10ml and it's about time I tear into it. It's a little chilly (?) and rainy in the desert today and for a Friday, this should be perfect. I got a long day ahead today, so I'm going to make things as pleasant as possible. (did I ever mention how much I love lawyers? Where would we be without them...😑) In any case, this is a 10.0/10.0, and don't argue with me about that rating.

I have recently found out that the term "Perfume" is used for ladies and "Cologne" is for gentlemen.. Do you use these terms accordingly or it does not really matter.. If so I have been using them the wrong way? What are your thoughts gents?