Got a bunch of samples from my last store visit: - Boss The Scent EDT - Montblanc Explorer (new batch) - Terre d’Hermès EDP Intense - Moncler Pour Homme & Femme (couples duo) - Moncler Sunrise EDP I also tested two fragrances in-store. First was Maison Margiela Up At Dawn. It’s an airy, earthy, musky rose. Very uplifting and clean. Feels properly unisex to me, though for a lot of people it would probably lean feminine. If you like rose, this is a must-try. It smells like walking through a fresh rose garden like it says on the bottle. Then I tried Scandal Elixir. Opening has a really nice cherry note. It feels like JPGs take on Stronger With You Powerfully. From a first impression, Absolu is still my favourite flanker. Same core perfumers here, with additional support from Louise Turner, which is interesting given her iconic work on Lost Cherry. I think this one needs a full skin test. It feels like it could evolve quite differently off paper. Definitely one I want to try properly before warmer weather kicks in.

Hey guys, Joe A. here with another one for ya'! During my #Journey, I've come across decants and samples as being the one of the best ways to ease into fragrance collecting. Being a decant business owner myself (www.joeasdecants.com), I definitely fully endorse that route, especially for guys just getting started. They let you explore a wide range of scents, test what actually works on your skin, and figure out what you truly enjoy without absolutely castrating your wallet in the process. Because let’s be honest, full bottle buying can get real expensive real fast. A fragrance may sound amazing on paper, get hyped to the moon by reviewers, and still end up not being your thing once it hits your skin. That’s where decants and samples really earn their keep. They take a lot of the risk out of the hobby and replace blind-buy regret with actual experience. Then you’ve got discovery kits, which I think are a whole different kind of fun. Those give you a chance to sit down with one house and really get a feel for their style, their quality, and their creative direction. Instead of trying one random fragrance and calling it a day, you get a smattering of what that house is trying to say. Sometimes you discover one gem, and sometimes you come away realizing, “Alright, this brand just isn’t for me.” Either way, that’s good information! What say you, guys? Have you had much experience with decants and/or discovery kits? Did one ever lead you to a full bottle you now love? Or have you tried one that made you realize a whole house just wasn’t your style? Love to hear from ’ya!!