Ok so I went a little crazy again getting decants. I’m not even counting the dozen or so I got through decant trades (they don’t count, right?). I had said I wouldn’t blind buy more decants in January because I’ve had such a run of bad luck finding anything I would ever wear, but clearly I have a problem sticking to my resolutions. In fact, looking at the list, I clearly rebelled against my own resolution. For what it’s worth I’ve been doing ok this month finding things I don’t hate, and even found a bunch that are full bottle worthy!
Decants / travel sizes on the way:
- Superz Lake Balaton
- Bulgari Man in Black Parfum
- Amouage Material
- Azzaro Forever Wanted Absolu
- Coach Black EDP
- Nikolai New York Intense
- Creed Oud Zarian
- Maison Margiela Never Ending Summer
- House of Cosmo Polaris and Lunar Minerale
- Hoping to get Legend Noir, Requiem and Boss Bastard at the ATH restock tomorrow
- Umm and I got a full size bottle of Curly's Gentleman's Code, coming tomorrow
Recent decant purchases:
- YSL 6 Place Saint Sulpice: Good god yes, fbw for sure. This is basically a perfect scent for me - warm rich spicy with an ever so light hint of sweetness, a leather I actually enjoy, it just makes me feel warm and happy. The only drawback is it needs some heavy spraying to project, and even then doesn't last more than a few hours on my skin. I'll need to battle this vs. the Calcologne dupe coming soon but I think I need one of them to replace the bottle of Blonde Amber I'm selling (yep - BA isn't for me after all)
- D&G Velvet Zafferano: Hellz yeah, fbw. Beautiful and elegant warm amber lightly saffrony spicy, projects softly for a few hours. The only drawback is it's a bit linear to me. I have this or D&G Velvet Incenso in my sights for a bottle
- Dior Ambre Nuit Esprit: Oh yeah, fbw. Wonderful rich warm spicy amber. The only drawback is the big red gum cinnamon blast at the open and early mids, not sure I can get past that.
- Rayhaan Aquatica: This might be fbw. Wow. Very nice lime creamy coconut soap vibes. I'm not usually a fan of coconut but here it isn’t overwhelming, it's like coconut milk not dried coconut or sunscreen coconut. Very nice. Projects for hours. Is this what VIW is like?
- Moncler Sunrise: Almost fbw. Very nice blue. First minute has a vegetable smell but it dissipates. Aromatic softly citric, very pleasant, vaguely Blue de Chanel vibes. But like zero projection - 1/2 hr into it and I can’t smell it and neither can my son
- Moncler Pour Homme: Almost fbw. Interesting woody aromatic, like a pile of freshly cut pine logs. But like zero projection. Almost worth getting at discounters just for that gimmicky bottle...
- Loewe Esencia EDP: Almost fbw. Crisp mossy aromatic dry fougere, very enjoyable -- but it’s too close to Aventus and so is redundant in my collection
- D&G pour homme: Almost fbw. Bright sparkly citrus open with some aromatic richness from sage and lavender and a hint of richness from a tobacco note. But I had to spray like 8 times to even smell anything, and it has a note that’s offputting (not sure yet what it is, maybe the choice of tobacco note)
- Nishane Papilefiko: Almost fbw. Sparkly citrus open but instantly smooth warm aromatic and woody. Kind of like Blazing Mr Sam but without the body odor opening. Slight pencil shavings but that’s not a bad thing. But... it's not blowing me away.
- Riffs Freeze: Might be fbw. Sharp minty bright citrus, aldehydic/hand soapy vibes. Very nice but kind of synthetic. Could be a good hot weather cheapie but I want to battle it with YSL Y Iced which might be worth the upgrade
- Prada Luna Rossa Black: meh but nice. Musky soapy slightly sweet floral. And that’s it. The musk is like metallic musk without the Spicebomb. But with zero projection (or did I go super nose blind?)
- Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Parfum: meh but nice. Candy sweet woody saffron Ambroxan bomb. Nice but not complex. I wanted to like it more.
- Tumi Continuum: meh. Very woody lightly oudy pencil shavings. Some people say it has a cola vibe - like, I get the vibe, but no it doesn’t smell like cola. Could maybe be good for layering.
- Ormonde Jayne Montabaco Intensivo: Meh but interesting. Fresh airy lightly sour light tobacco. Tangy bite from juniper and maybe florals. Interesting. Lightly plasticky (juniper?) though, which makes it not for me.
- Ormonde Man: Meh / cusp of get rid of. Elegant but has a plasticky and unpleasant vibe (is it the juniper? Or maybe the hemlock)? I can't wear this.
- Eight Bob OG: Meh / cusp of get rid of. Funky open but settles into spicy woody scent -- but there's something sickly (ambergris? Hazlenut?) that makes me queasy. I can't wear this