We were supposed to be on shore in Cyprus today, but the sea had other ideas so another day on the ship. The weather reminded me of the Pacific where I live in the Northwest so went with this one. Some amber and warmth on a blustery day

Day one of the big AWIC Convention so three days of being “away” while in my backyard. Today is a Contractor round table followed set up for our booth. Plus we had a 40 degree temperature drop overnight to wake up to a “real feel” of 40. Bleu de Chanel L'Exclusif is an ambery-aromatic fragrance for men. This composition is characterized by its dense and sophisticated structure, with an emphasis on woody notes, particularly New Caledonian sandalwood. The fragrance features resinous cistus labdanum, amber, leather, and other woody notes, resulting in a scent that is both intense and balanced. Designed to build in slow, deliberate layers, it offers a warm, enveloping trail with a magnetic and lingering presence.

Obsession for Men OG, new, Clone, vs Alternatives. Obsession OG: The original is quite a masterpiece, and comes from an era where the note structures of fragrances were very, very complicated. If you look up the makeup of 1990’s fragrances in general, they are a conglomeration of dozens of notes. Perfumers crafted and blended to create unique smells that did not replicate experiences you found in the real world. So, for Obsession, this is no different. Detailing notes that dominate is all one can really do, because trying to tease out every note detail is impossible. Having said that, the dominant notes to my nose are the spicy, vanilla, woody, and amber notes. I’m talking cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cedar, sandalwood, amber, and a hint of musk to make it masculine. At first spray, it is strong, and I think the top notes have degraded over time. What I mean is though this is a deeper gourmand fragrance, and I suspect when it was “younger” the citrus notes would have been more prominent. Why I believe that: for the initial twenty minutes, there is an almost unpleasant top note. I think of it like citrus that has dried out and become musty. It’s kind of like potpourri citrus, and kind of like old books. My guess, therefore is that over time the top notes have aged/decayed, leaving the fragrance deeper, richer, and a bit musty. Other than that, this fragrance seems mostly linear, except it ends a little more vanilla with creamy sandalwood at the end. As for projection and longevity. It’s not bad. I’d say 5-8 sprays will project nicely for a work setting, perhaps a few more if you plan to be outside or in a large space. This is definitely a cooler weather fragrance (winter/fall), and even now, it's a bit too much as I try it on an 85-degree day. I get 6 hours easy out of it before it is a skin scent. The more I spray, and on a cooler day, I could stretch it to 8 hours. Bottom line, I love this fragrance. It was what got me into the fragrance journey, and though others can lean in more on isolated notes and projection, this one is a very suitable jack-of-all-trades, being easy to manage for intimate, outdoor, and evening use as you modify the number and placement of sprays. Super versatile and divinely elegant.

Day off and planned a big sesh in the gym, went for something a little easier than my normal stronger scents. This is actually a nice fragrance, needs some heavy spraying, but smells rather good. First released 23 years ago by the legend Pierre Bourdon, whom you might know as the guy behind Cool Water, Kouros & Green Irish Tweed. It's said to resemble Original Santal by Creed, despite being released 2 years beforehand and a hell of a lot cheaper. As an Oriental/woody fragrance its remarkable clean despite the heavy note combos. It opens with a blast of freshness led by mint & lavender. A slight sweetness is added with pineapple which I'm not a fan of, but it's not on your face and it only plays a minor role. There are more notes listed, but to pick em out is a struggle. What you get is a synthetic, laundry clean opening.The Heart turns floral/spicey with Orange Blossom, Violet, Geranium & Jasmine. The base is where the magic happens. A raspberry & vanilla notes appear giving the fragrance a sweet, creamy vibe that many like a good fabric softener. Why it won't take over CK One as my go too gym scent, it's definitely a viable alternative, clean and fresh it will work well in most situations, perfect for spring or autumn. Performance, remember it's an edt, I'm at about 4hrs max with about 12 sprays. Projection is noticable up close, but won't fill the room. It does leave a nice scent trail. I picked this up for about €20 a bargain if you ask me. My Rating 6.5/10 Scent 2 Longevity 2 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1

As I’m not marching this year but riding on a float, I’m going with Explorer Extreme by Montblanc on this chilly morning. It is a Woody fragrance for men. Top note is Bergamot; middle notes are Patchouli and Vetiver; base notes are Amber and Leather.