Wearing this classic woody chypre today. It’s a powerhouse classic thats bold, masculine, and very much a product of its era. It opens with a sharp, aldehydic burst of citrus, herbs, and myrrh giving it a green, slightly bitter, soapy fresh start. In the heart is a spicy warmth evolving into a rich, dry base of leather, oakmoss, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, and amber. Overall it’s aromatic, woody, leathery, earthy, and mossy. It has decent longevity for an EDT and good projection/sillage. It’s economical and performs reliably. This is a mature, confident, “man’s man” fragrance. Not a blind buy as some find it polarizing or “old-fashioned,” while some call it a masterpiece of masculine perfumery. If you’re into vintage fragrances and strong performance without sweetness overload, give it a try. It’s still widely available, and one of the last in the pre modernization of the brand to be so.

I have worn this a couple of times now. The new Gents Scents collaboration. This one is very fruity in the opening. Passion fruit, tangerine in the opening. With sandalwood and Vetiver as it dries down. I think this one smells similar to both Xerjoff Erba Pura or Michael Malul Citizen Jack Absolute. Work safe/ spring or summer/ daytime/ casual. Presentation is in the Michael Malul new bottles. Teal green bottle with gold cap that snaps into place. Same great pressurized atomizers that they use. Longevity is about 7 hours with pretty good projection in the heat 2-3 ft in the first couple of hours. This one gives me tropical vibes for sure. This is a perfect summer time choice in the heat.

Rocked this one today and it really lives up to the name. The cola and lime opening gives it a fizzy, fresh kick, while the cinnamon, vanilla, and cedar keep it smooth and easy to wear. Fun scent, different enough to stand out, but still simple to enjoy. Initially, I wasn’t convinced about this fragrance, but after wearing it for a while, I can appreciate it. It’s reminiscent of Tonka Cola by Mancera. The dry down gives me a classy feeling. I am thinking of layering it with a boozy fragrance to enhance it.

Fun pickups today! The new JPG, and the classic CK One. Ask me anything if you have any questions about the new JPG!

Sometimes, when I smell a new fragrance, I fall in love. The most stark example of this was when I first tried Creed’s Oud Zarian. Stood at the counter, scatter-gunning bottle after bottle. Picked up the brown one, with the gold cap. One sniff, and I was gone. I actually made an involuntary noise. It’s an amazing scent. Must be all the 80-year-old Oud that’s in it. Y’know, the stuff that’s definitely there. There are a fair few smells that also did me dirty. Free Coco by BORNTOSTANDOUT. Fifty Four, the Jusbox smell from yesterday. A handful of others. And now, there’s Golden Serenade. The opening? Spicy as you like. The cloves do a number, almost curbstomping themselves into the frame against a mewling saffron and a burgeoning patchouli. Oddly, I feel the latter brings a touch of the barbershop into the frame, which was a genuine surprise. It’s not full-on Colonia, but it certainly strikes some kind of nostalgic chord. Perhaps the playlist (music from a Golden Age of swing, big bands and gramophones, which I greatly enjoyed) is insinuating something. As the scent dries down, the heavily cloven spicefest brings a smooth resinous amber against a typical vanilla, all held together by a warm and welcoming Oud. It’s delicious, moreish, sultry and strong. And it projects! I sprayed on at 9am… it’s now a full 16.5 hours later and it’s still barrelling about the room like an excitable Labrador puppy. Will I buy a full bottle? I’m telling myself it’s a strong MAYBE, but there’s a hint of self delusion in that. I know myself, and this is almost definitely a YES. The only aspect that’s reining me in and stopping me deliver my verdict full throated and from the chest is redundancy. This shares a palette with a few fragrances on my shelf already… there’s probably no space for another. Ah, who am I kidding? This is a YES. I’m now eight scents into the sixteen in the box, and I’m calling a Jusbox hiatus for a couple of days. I’ll be back into them sometime next week, with the aquatic Good Morning.