I recently gave the men’s style brand Intelligent a go when I picked up their fragrance tester set (OK, I kind of gave into the hype from all of TLTG’s glazing). What I found was a nice little line of relatively good quality inspos. I ended up using the gift certificate that came with the set to buy a bottle of Iron (which to my nose is an inspo of ADG) but they had several others that I think were full bottle worthy at that discounted price. Well today, I noticed that in Intelligent sells on Amazon and they are having a 30% off sale on most of their line. For 50 to 60 bucks, I think a bunch of their frags are worth it. For what it’s worth, here are my raw notes on all of their offerings. I have a nose that’s pretty sensitive to certain notes, and I think a few of their frags have a musk that rubs me the wrong way - so take my notes with a grain of salt. - Intelligent Platinum: nice but not quite fbw for me. Lightly juicy sweet fruits, aromatics. Kind of like Polo 67 / Coach EDP - Intelligent Silver: cusp of fbw. Aromatic woody soapy. Some bite/sourness in the mids that takes away a bit from the experience. - Intelligent Iron: full bottle worthy. Woodsy aromatic earthy green, kind of like a more earthy ADG. - Intelligent Neon: cusp of full bottle worthy. Very bright citrus. But something bitter - the musk choice? Open is a bit harsh otherwise a very hearty citrus - Intelligent Carbon: full bottle worthy? Earthy lightly rich warm leathery, very easy to wear. Reminds me of a Moncler. But super weak performance on my skin. - Intelligent Cobalt: meh but interesting. Zingy musky aquatic aromatic. Loud and kind of grating, possibly the musk choice. - Intelligent H2O: full bottle worthy? Yep it’s a sweet smooth aquatic scent, a higher quality take on Invictus Aqua. Faintly fruity. Easy to wear. - Intelligent Hydrogen: meh but interesting. Aromatic tangy musky. Something offputting and animatic - musk? orconox? - Intelligent Argon: cusp of fbw. Lightly sweet elegant aromatic lavender cinnamon and spice. Like a more elegant and refined Spicebomb EDT, but easier to wear. Also a bit like Rehab

Initio Wild Rush is designed to evoke emotion and deliver an energy boost. Initio places it in the Supercharged collection, which is meant to trigger joy, and the official Wild Rush page presents it as a fragrance that brings an immediate surge of energy and confidence. The brand also describes it as an aromatic fougère built to awaken confidence and drive. To my nose, it comes across like a modern sweet fougère. The bergamot and lavender give it a fresh, aromatic opening, but the vanilla, caramel, and red berries quickly pull it into a smoother, sweeter direction. The sandalwood and patchouli underneath keep it grounded, so it never feels too airy or too simple. If I’m not mistaken, this seems like Initio’s first true fougère style release in the line. Wild Rush also reminds me a bit of Valero by Parfums de Marly in the way it feels fresh, polished, and easy to enjoy. To my nose, though, Wild Rush comes across sweeter, smoother, and a little more playful, while Valero feels less sweet and more grown. Final thoughts: Wild Rush is a fresh, sweet, energetic fragrance that feels far more approachable than something darker and more mysterious like Oud for Greatness. If you want a more youthful, uplifting scent from the house that feels easy to wear almost every day and in almost any weather, this one makes a lot of sense. To me, Wild Rush and Valero share a similar overall DNA, but Wild Rush leans softer, sweeter, and more mood-lifting, while Valero feels more mature and restrained.

Memo Paris is one of those houses that really pulls me in.There’s something about the way they do fragrance that feels a little like escaping somewhere else in a bottle. Whether it’s the fresh tea and citrus scents or the darker leather and woodier ones, the house has a style that feels rich, memorable, and transformative fragrance experience in my scent growth. I’ve been spending more time with Memo lately, and now I’m curious what everyone else thinks. What’s your favorite Memo Paris fragrance? If you could only keep five from the house, which five would you choose? Have you tried others that aren’t as popular and think it should be? I’d love to know which one really stands out to you and you would love to own or own and love as well.