Do people really hate designer fragrances? I do not think so. Designer fragrances are still what most people know, wear, and enjoy. They are easy to find, usually very wearable, and many of them smell great. I think most of the hate comes from deeper fragrance communities where some people start believing niche automatically means better and designer automatically means basic. That is simply not true. When you look at the fragrance market as a whole, designer fragrances still sell the most by a large margin. Niche comes behind designer, clones, and inspired fragrances continue to grow because of their lower prices, and true small-batch artisan perfumery is probably the smallest category in total sales. Artisan may be the smallest, but it can also be one of the most creative because those perfumers are not always trying to appeal to the largest possible audience. Clone fragrances can appear much bigger than they actually are because of Facebook groups, YouTube, TikTok, influencers, and online fragrance communities. When you are inside a clone-focused group, it can seem like Lattafa, Armaf, DUA, Alexandria, Montagne, and other inspired houses control the fragrance market. In the real world, major designer houses still sell on a completely different level because of department stores, worldwide distribution, advertising, gift sets, airports, and general name recognition. Niche fragrances usually sell fewer bottles than designer fragrances, but they can make more money per bottle because of the higher prices. Artisan houses normally have smaller production, fewer retailers, and less advertising, so they are not competing in volume. They are often selling creativity, craftsmanship, unusual materials, and a more personal vision instead of trying to create something for everyone. Another part of this discussion is where the raw materials and fragrance formulas come from. A relatively small group of major fragrance-and-flavor companies—including Givaudan, DSM-Firmenich, IFF, and Symrise—has enormous influence over the industry. These companies create aroma chemicals, process natural ingredients, develop exclusive captive molecules, employ many of the world’s leading perfumers, and formulate fragrances for major brands. They work across the market, from everyday consumer products to prestige and fine fragrance.

I'm torn between Hawas Black, Afnan Supremacy Not Only Intense, and Club de Nuit Precieux I. In my mind, they all sort of run in the same lane and function in pretty much the same type of way. I can smell them all, but not all at the same time to compare (different locations and such), and so I'm having a difficult time with my memory. Out of those three, what do people prefer and why? Just tryna gather some opinions. Thanks in advance!

As a chess player and frag head I feel like mind games should be on my list. What has been your experience with the brand. How are they and how do they perform.

One of my first fragrances that I bought even before I got really into them is about to be empty. I feel weird just throwing the bottle away but I also don’t know that I need to keep it around in the interest of space. Other than buying a new fragrance to replace it, what advice do you guys have for what to do with your empty bottles?

I realize there are a lot of variables that can affect how we interpret a given fragrance. But can specific fragrances smell different depending on a person’s mood or possibly illness or maybe emotional disposition? I tried a fragrance awhile back and really didn’t like it when I first smelled it. A few weeks later I tried it again and I actually liked it better. I also tried a fragrance a couple of weeks ago when I was dealing with some sinus headache issues and didn’t like it at all, but now I find it somewhat appealing. I guess I’m wondering if individual fragrances ever come across differently to a person, depending on that person’s circumstance at the moment. Just curious! (stock photo)