So much for no-decant-blind-buy January 🤦‍♂️

🔥

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:

Valentino Purple Melsncholia
Penhaligon’s Inimitable William
TF Grey Vetiver Parfum
Prada Amber Pour Homme
Chopard Oud Malaki
Tumi Atlas
Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura
Gravitas Pour Homme
Mugler Cologne (Come Together)
Superz Lake Balaton
Bulgari Man in Black Parfum
Amouage Material
Azzaro Forever Wanted Absolu
Coach Black EDP
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 lightly 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.
Nikolai New York Intense: This might be full bottle worthy. Sparkly aromatic citrus with some warmth in the mids (backbone of resins, hint of musk, and tonka). Vwet nice, not blowing me away, but is much what I’ve been looking for in a daily driver
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
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. Fresh airy lightly sour light tobacco. Tangy bite from juniper and maybe florals. Interesting. Lightly plasticky (juniper?) though, which makes it not for me.
D&G pour homme: Meh / cusp of get rid of. 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 screechy and offputting (maybe the neroli)
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

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