Match #23 · Brotherhood Of Scent

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Match #23

Match #23 in my 40-fragrance tournament features two fragrances that couldn't be much further apart: #11 seed Lattafa Mashrabya versus #22 seed By the Yuzu Grove from the now-defunct Galleria Parfums.

Mashrabya is dark, smoky, and sweet, with tobacco, apple shisha, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and oud creating a dense cold-weather fragrance. I can definitely see the appeal on a freezing winter night, but that smokiness gets a little too intense for my tastes.

By the Yuzu Grove goes completely the other direction. Yuzu, lemon, and mandarin orange deliver one of the biggest citrus blasts I've encountered, with a woody base giving it enough substance to keep things interesting. It's bright, energetic, and just plain enjoyable to wear.

This one really comes down to personal taste. Mashrabya may have plenty of character, but I'm much more likely to reach for that terrific citrus explosion from By the Yuzu Grove. The citrus carries the day and By the Yuzu Grove advances, while Mashrabya heads to the loser's bracket.

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Match #23