Joseph Abboud Dark Woods and Charcoal Sandelwood. Base Notes Sandalwood, Amber Musk, Leather, Patchouli Middle Notes Violet Leaves, Blue Iris, Coffee Accord Scent Profile Dark Woods Top Notes Cardamom, Pink Pepper Charcoal Sandelwood The opening notes of orange peel, saffron, and ginger blend seamlessly as their scent lures you in. At the heart of this empowering fragrance are warm notes of tobacco leaf, earl gray tea leaves, and cardamom, while a base of tonka bean, redwood oak, and dark leather enrich this eau de parfum with an enduring finish. Both are pleasant. Not sure of lasting power. Did not buy them.

It's not getting above freezing today. Seems like a good time to discuss warmer weather. I feel pretty good about my collection for when it warms up, but I feel that something is missing. I'll say up front that I'm not crazy about highly green scents or fougeres in general, although there are a few exceptions. The DNA my collection has includes Aventus, Renaissance, Costa Azzurra, VIW, Venetian Blue Intense, Eros Energy, Percival, Y and Profondo. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for?

I’ll be fair to Dua Fragrances — I don’t think their best work is always the “inspired by” stuff. Where they really shine for me is their originals and especially their hybrids. Here’s why I think Dua actually excels when they’re creating their own blends: 1) Their hybrids feel like a real lane, not just cloning. A lot of brands copy one scent and call it a day. Dua’s hybrids usually take DNA from two (or more) familiar profiles and mash them into something that feels genuinely new. Sometimes it’s hit-or-miss, but when it hits, it’s a fun “what if these two had a baby?” kind of scent. 2) “Beast mode” is basically their signature. Even if someone doesn’t love the refinement, it’s hard to deny the longevity and projection. Their originals/hybrids are usually built to perform like crazy, which is a big reason people become fans in the first place. 3) Their originals tend to smell richer than people expect. When Dua is on, their blends come across smooth, dense, and saturated, like they’re not afraid of using heavier materials or pushing sweetness/woods/ambers harder than a lot of designers. You can tell the goal is impact. 4) They’ve got real “concept scents,” not just copy-paste profiles. Some of their originals lean into a specific vibe—spa-clean, candy/gourmand, nostalgic, etc.—and commit to it. Stuff like Luxurious Spa Day or Spell Of Cotton Candy, as well as the other originals and one hybrid I took pictures of. (if you like that style) are good examples of Dua doing something that feels intentionally themed, not just “close enough to X.” 5) Value is a huge part of the appeal. End of the day: you’re getting niche-style intensity and weird/fun creativity without paying niche-house pricing. Not everything is going to be perfectly refined, but for performance + creativity, the originals/hybrids are legit. I would basically rate all the originals and hybrids a minimum of 8/10 Plus!!! I have to edit this to include pictures from my phone!!!