SOTD — Memoirs of a Perfume Collector Tales from Zanzibar Today I’m wearing Tales from Zanzibar, and this is exactly the kind of tropical fragrance I like because it doesn’t smell like the typical coconut suntan-lotion scent. Right from the opening I get a big blast of juicy fruit, especially guava, mixed with lime, mandarin and this cooling mint that keeps all that sweetness from becoming too much. The guava is really what separates this one for me. It gives it that exotic tropical-fruit smell instead of just another citrus freshie. As it settles down, the coconut starts showing up, but it stays more in the background rather than taking over. The drydown gets sweeter and slightly musky with the candied fruits, ambergris, moss and that very transparent oud underneath everything. I really wouldn’t call this an oud fragrance at all. It’s there more to give the fragrance some depth and keep all those fruits from smelling too simple. What I really like about Tales from Zanzibar is that it smells like a tropical vacation without smelling cheap or juvenile. It’s bright, sweet, fruity and refreshing, but there’s enough weight underneath it to make it feel like an actual niche fragrance. Definitely one of those fragrances that gets your attention when you first spray it. Tropical, juicy, different and extremely easy to enjoy. Tales from Zanzibar is a winner for me.

Match #47 in the second-chance bracket features two affordable, easy-to-wear warm-weather fragrances: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme versus Montblanc Starwalker. Starwalker (2005, created by Michel Almairac) flies under the radar a bit. I don't see it discussed much on fragrance forums or YouTube, but it's a very pleasing woody spicy fresh fragrance, with bergamot, mandarin, bamboo, ginger, sandalwood, cedar, and musk. My biggest complaint is performance—it simply doesn't last as long as I'd like. Light Blue (2007, created by Alberto Morillas) certainly doesn't have an anonymity problem. Its blend of grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin, juniper, pepper, and woods has made it a warm-weather staple for years. It's bright, citrusy, slightly spicy, and about as easy to wear as it gets. This was actually a tough call. I like both quite a bit, and either is an easy summer grab. But I'm going to break with popularity today. There's something about Starwalker's fresh woody character that appeals to me just a little more when they're side by side. Montblanc Starwalker pulls off the upset and advances in the second-chance bracket, while Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue is eliminated from the tournament.