This is a bold, spicy, warm, yet sweet fragrance dominated by prominent notes of tobacco & vanilla. It's actually a Paris Corner release from 2021. A very affordable clone of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanilla. From the few clone/dupes of this that I've had my nose on this is my favourite too date. It opens up with a strong & spicy blast, dominated by the Tobacco Leaf note and other spices, But there is also a hint of a clove or a tea like aspect. Obviously the tobacco shines through here, it's a more refined dry leaf, it's really nice. As it develops, it becomes sweeter & creamier. The mid-notes include Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Tobacco Blossom & Cocoa. This is where the vanilla truly emerges, blending beautifully with the tobacco. The dry down introduces a touch of complexity with notes of Dried Fruits & Woody Notes, providing a long-lasting, warm finish. For a budget friendly clone, I paid like €24 for this, it's a great performer, lasting most of the day. It starts with a moderate to strong projection for the first hour or two before settling into a more intimate, yet present, scent cloud. In comparison, Charuto may have a slightly more prominent clove or dried fruit note, and the tobacco can be perceived as drier than the TF original. The main difference for most is the significantly lower price point. Best suited for colder weather. My Rating: 7/10 Scent: 2 Longevity: 2 Sillage: 2 Y/N: 1

First day of testing my Memo Paris discovery set, with fragrances coming in alphabetical order. So it's African Leather to start, followed by two more leathers. Happily, I love a leather. My favourite leather scent is, predictably, Tom Ford's Ombre Leather. I've put my nose on a lot of leathers to come to this conclusion. So it'll be the yardstick for leathers for me, as I've got it in my head that there's only one space on my shelf for a leathery fragrance... although I reserve the right to return to this decision in the fullness of time. Aftican Leather is a very warm scent, kicking off with a nice cardamom spice before popping right into Cow Town. It's nice, and dry, and warm, so it's a promising start. I take in a rose glow, maybe slightly powdery, as things develop, but it's definitely leather all the way down. Slightly suedy, still sun-kissed and perfroming well, although the projection isn't exactly electric. It's cozy, rather than commanding. After about four hours or so, the warmth and the spiciness are still present, and the leather is omnipresent throughout. It's quiet, well crafted, and smooth. I think the one thing that takes the shine off this for me is the projection. It's a choice for sure, to mute its spread, as the performance is fine and the bubble is intimate rather than unformed. But I think I prefer my leathers to kick out rather than kick back. Worthy of a full bottle? I'm sat between the Yes and No fields, firmly on the Maybe fence. First, I should answer the question on the amount of Leather scents my shelves (and budget) can handle. So, a decent start, and a scent I'm still personally enjoying after eleven hours. I''ve got high hopes for the rest. Until tomorrow!