Thanks go out to @Mark DiCiero for the heads-up about Sebastian being in my area. I met him. He's a nice guy, but honestly the two people accompanying him were more interesting. One was a woman whose family owned the House Tiziana Terenzi. She was really nice with some serious knowledge about frags and the history of the industry. The other was a gentleman that was blending frags to "suit your mood or the vibe you're looking for..." It was fun chatting it up for a while. Stopped by Burlington, TJX and Ross Discount on the way home. Big selection, but it was a bust for me.

As my experience grows and I learn more and more, I’ve noticed that my tastes have changed quite a bit. There are a few fragrances in particular that I fell in love with at the beginning, but now I find myself less and less drawn to them. There’s always a prettier bottle or a cooler scent profile or a new hype beast to draw my eyes away. These are the biggest ones that I bought a full size bottle of: 1). Andrea Maack Coven. Once I considered this my favorite and signature scent. It was my intro to the house and I was ride or die for it. I bought multiple samples, including g the discovery kits (which I am still going through) and ultimately bought a full 50mL with the discount code from the kit. But the last time I wore it, I found myself eager to wash it off or for it to dry down and fade out. I don’t reach for it anymore. It’s too specific of a scent with a very unique profile. And there are so many others from the house that I like and wear more: Flux is one of her best, Magma, Pavillion, Osmo, Jest, Lightsource, and Solstice all rate higher for me now. 2). Givenchy Gentlemen EDP Extreme. This was my intro to coffee and dark chocolate scents. It was the second purchase I made from the house (after Reserve Privee) and was my go to for client office visits and holiday parties. I wore it the other night and it just doesn’t hit right. There’s a very synthetic plastic rubber smell in it that I can’t quite shake. And I’ve since found so many better coffee and chocolate scents that this just isn’t something I think of now when I’m wanting that vibe. It’s still sexy, just like an 8.5 in a room full of 10s. 3). Versace Man Eau Fraiche. This hurts. It was the very first scent I bought that got me into this journey. It was the very first to get me compliments, and it’s the favorite of my goddaughters, my best friend, and my assistant. While I enjoy it, it’s just a little too sour and acidic for me. It’s okay in the high heat but that sourness reminds me a bit too much of body sweat, and there are so many other summer scents that I like so much more.