My next round with Michael Malul begins today with the first of four of another discovery set. New Journalist by Michael Malul Londonis an Oriental fragrance for men. Top notes are Apple Leaf, Mandarin and Lemon; middle notes are Lotus, Blue Lavender and Geranium; base notes are Sandalwood, Vetiver and Amber. The Feeling: Leaning back into an Adirondack chair by the lake, you crack open a craft IPA and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Your perfectly worn denim jacket beams under the sun. Surrounded by trees, nature, and good friends is where you feel the most at-home. The Fragrance: Fruity and aquatic notes of lemon, mandarin splash, and apple leaf soften into floral notes of blue lavender, geranium mist, and lotus before warming into earthy base notes of vetiver, sandalwood, and amber.

Hey guys, quick pause from the brackets for a moment!! I just want to say how genuinely grateful I am for the participation, the conversations and the passion you’ve all brought to The Booze Wars so far. These wars aren’t just about picking winners, they’re about sharing experiences, discovering new scents and giving some well-loved favorites the respect they deserve. My goal has always been twofold: to introduce you to fragrances you may not have explored yet, and at the same time support the ones many of us already love and reach for. None of that works without your votes, your comments and the back-and-forth that makes this community what it is. So thank you for showing up, engaging and making this more than just brackets on a screen. This thing only works because of the #Brotherhood and I don’t take that lightly! Now… let’s finish this the right way! Get out the Vote!