Hey guys, quick pause from the brackets for a moment!! I just want to say how genuinely grateful I am for the participation, the conversations and the passion you’ve all brought to The Booze Wars so far. These wars aren’t just about picking winners, they’re about sharing experiences, discovering new scents and giving some well-loved favorites the respect they deserve. My goal has always been twofold: to introduce you to fragrances you may not have explored yet, and at the same time support the ones many of us already love and reach for. None of that works without your votes, your comments and the back-and-forth that makes this community what it is. So thank you for showing up, engaging and making this more than just brackets on a screen. This thing only works because of the #Brotherhood and I don’t take that lightly! Now… let’s finish this the right way! Get out the Vote!

Every fragrance enthusiast has a "Point of No Return." It’s that first bottle that made you realize scent isn't just about "smelling clean" - it’s about identity, confidence, and how you choose to command a room. It was the moment you stopped grabbing whatever was on the bathroom counter and started building a signature. Today, we’re kicking off a 7-day challenge to find the "Gateway Scent" that started your journey. The Challenge: "The Scent That Started Your Journey" We want to hear about the specific fragrance that opened your eyes. Maybe it was a gift that made you feel like a man for the first time, or a scent you saved up for because you saw it on someone you respected. What was the bottle that turned "getting ready" into a ritual? HOW TO JOIN (Super easy) Drop your story in the comments under this post. Use this quick format: 1. The Scent: What was the fragrance that started it all? 2. The Origin: Who wore it, or how did it find its way into your hands? 3. The Representation: What did that scent represent to you at the time? (Sophistication? Power? A new chapter?) 4. The Journey: Where has your fragrance journey taken you since that first bottle? Optional: Feel free to attach a photo of the fragrance. HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS - Challenge will run for 7 days (starting today until Jan 23rd) - Post your story in the comments of this post (not separate posts) - Our team will personally pick the winner at the end - Winner will be announced next week Friday Jan 23rd - Winner gets a surprise gift from Antonio 🎁 WINNERS WILL BE PICKED BASED ON - Detail and quality of your comment (70%) - Thumbs up from others (5%) - Paid members will have plus points. RULES & LIMITATIONS - Must be Level 5 or higher to win - Free shipping (USA only; forwarding addresses accepted) The floor is yours. Which bottle changed the game for you? Tell us the story that started your fragrance collection below. 👇

(1) Maison Martin Margiela Jazz Club vs (2) Amouage Interlude Man This final isn’t about the drink, it’s about the night. Jazz Club captures the quieter moment, where rum-soaked woods and tobacco cling to the air and nothing needs to be said. Interlude Man fills the room with smoke, incense, and aftermath, heavy and immersive like the bar after last call. It’s atmosphere versus familiarity, and the Barfly stays for one more round. What say you?

(4) Mugler A*Men Pure Malt vs. (2) By Kilian Angels’ Share This is memory versus immediacy. Pure Malt brings malted warmth, smoke, and nostalgia, a whiskey remembered through time. Angels’ Share delivers rich cognac sweetness and oak right up front, indulgent and impossible to ignore. Both honor the barrel, but only one defines whether time is meant to be felt slowly… or enjoyed now. What say you?

(1) Nasomatto Absinth vs (7) M. Micallef Gntonic Two philosophies enter the glass. Gntonic is crisp, balanced, and sharply executed, a cocktail mixed with precision and restraint. Absinth is raw, bitter, and uncompromising, capturing the spirit itself without polishing the edges. This final asks the ultimate Mixologist question: Do you value control… or truth? What say you?