Gave Fall of Phaeton a proper wear today, and I wanted to see if this one would change my mind on the house after Triumph of Bacchus. First spray: ~2:27 p.m. Opening: Right from the start, the opening felt very subdued. The citrus notes are there on paper, but there’s no real fresh pop. I get a little bit of cardamom, but the lavender and agarwood show up early and immediately tone everything down. The ginger and bergamot don’t really get a chance to sparkle. ~30 minutes in: At this point, it shifts into a sweet, powdery profile, with the lavender leading. It’s more powdery than citrus-forward. The cardamom adds some warmth and a touch of sweetness, but I’m not getting any funk or animalic edge from the agarwood. In the air it smells fine, and projection is about two feet, but nothing here is jumping out. ~3 hours in: By this stage, it’s settled into what smells like a soft tonka-vanilla sweetness, without much leather presence. I’m not getting the animalic leather or depth I was hoping for. It’s smooth and well blended, but it never hits that “wow” moment for me. Overall: This is the second fragrance from Argos that hasn’t really clicked with me. Between this and Triumph of Bacchus, I’m starting to think this house might just not align with my taste. Nothing is badly done, but it all feels a bit too safe, powdery, and restrained for what I personally look for. Calling this one a pass for me. Curious if others have had better luck with this house, or if Argos just leans a certain way that doesn’t work for everyone.

Brothers, I want to add Burberry Hero to my collection. Which version do any of you recommend? I have never smelled any of them. Thanks for your help!