I was about to make this a SOTD post, butt changed my mind as this question popped into my head. I know we all have and are still building collections. We all start out and are in different places in this journey. But I noticed how my FBW criteria has changed since I started and was curious about the other brothers. When I first started, I would hear about a scent, if I smelled it and liked it in the store it was an immediate bottle purchase not wear testing, not sample grabbing just straight to the bottle. Over time I have become a bit more discerning, now don't get me wrong I have still bought a couple of bottles by falling victim to the shopping excitement, but I have been lucky enough to still be happy with those. Now I am at the point that I will wear my samples a few times before I make a decision to add it to the FBW list. Because of the relationships at the stores I have made I have a crazy amount of samples to go through and I am doing that lately and just doing my samples that were either given to me by the salespeople or by my family at Christmas. and making some decisions. I'm wearing BTV - Hasu today. Now I know that Boadicea is a polarizing house. You either love it or hate it and most of the hate I have read online comes from pricing. I had worn this one a few months back and thought hmmm 🤔. this is nice, I'll have to revisit it. I chose it for today and both of my harshest critics gave me compliments. My wife and my book keeper both of whom never hold back (even when I think they should 😜). So this one will be added to the FB conversion list. So let me know. 1) What is your criteria to convert to a full bottle? 2) do compliments play a roll in your decision? Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!!

Going with Maison Asrar Kegacy for that Blue Talisman influence. Really nice grapefruit sbc florals with a touch of sweetness. Decent performance for me.

Going with Cartier Declaration EDT on a cooler summer day. Very crisp, arromatic with a very mature green backbone. Strong performance off my skin.

The latest release as part of the Le Beau line, this is a Floral Woody Musk edp created by perfumer Quentin Bisch. It’s not named for narcissus flowers, so don’t go looking for that green, heady floral here. Instead, it’s built as a softer, creamier alternative to the sharper, fruitier Le Beau editions that came before. It leans heavily into amber-musk warmth with tropical hints, aiming for something approachable rather than bold or groundbreaking. After wearing it for weeks, it feels like Gaultier’s take on a safe but likable crowd-pleaser. First spray hits with bright bergamot mixed right away with coconut,no waiting around. The citrus is fresh but not zesty enough to cut through; the coconut is milky, sweet, and soft, not synthetic or suntan-lotion sharp. Within 30–45 minutes, the musk and orange blossom take over. It turns powdery, smooth, and skin-close, almost like a clean, creamy second skin. No sharp florals, no heavy spices. The drydown settles into tonka bean, vanilla, and a faint touch of vetiver that keeps it from turning too sugary. It’s consistent, smooth, and predictable, no weird turns or off-notes on my skin. Performancewise, let’s be real: it’s super solid but not impressive. Longevity sits around 6hrs, while projection is moderate for the 2hrs, then it shrinks into a soft, intimate skin scent. It works great for spring, summer, and casual daytime wear, it's light enough for warm weather, sweet enough for evenings if you spray a touch more. Is it original? Not really, it sits somewhere between a clean musk and a light tropical vanilla. But if you want something easygoing, non-offensive, and good for office or everyday use without screaming fragrance, it delivers exactly that. A nice addition to my bottle of Paradise Garden My Rating 7/10 Scent 2 Longevity 2 Sillage 2 Y/N 1

London was launched back in 2006, created by perfumer Antoine Maisondieu, a scent that's firmly rooted in the woody‑spicy‑aromatic family. It's an enjoyable fragrance, said to have been designed to capture the character of the city itself: It's warm, structured & slightly smoky. It came out at a time when “woody spicy” was king, and unlike many modern releases that chase trends, this one has a timeless qruality. Nothing flashy, nothing sweet, just solid, well‑built fragrance DNA. It’s not a clone, not a cheap copy, and not trying to be anything other than exactly what it is: a proper, grown‑up, designer fragrance that was made to last, and honestly, it’s aged better than most from that era. With a bright opening, the zesty bergamot cuts straight into sharp, spicy cinnamon & black pepper. The lavender adds a clean, herbal edge, stops it from being a spice bomb. At its core, cedarwood takes centre stage, the dry, pencil‑shavings mix well with saffron to bring that rich, golden, slightly metallic/spiced warmth. Mimosa adds soft, powdery, floral depth without being sweet. At its base, a dry tobacco leaf, mixes with an earthy patchouli. Then a sweet‑resinous Opoponax gives that warm,balsamicb vibe which is paired with a clean musk to anchor it. Performance here is ok, nothing beastly though. I get about 4 hours on skin, it projects well for the first 60 to 90m. Let it get on your clothes and it will linger all day long. It's still a descent scent,, considering it's age. It is 100% autumn/winter, night‑time, smart‑casual to formal office, dinners, dates, weddings, or anytime you want to smell sharp, trustworthy, and well‑dressed. If you’re into rich, dry, woody scents with real depth and zero gimmicks, this is exactly the kind of thing you’ll appreciate. My Rating 6.5/10 Scent 2 Longevity 2 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1