Third pick from my Maison Margiela discovery set. Luckily the weather was a bit cooler, so it felt like the perfect time to try it. The bottle says it’s meant to smell like woodfire and chestnut. The opening is the best of the 3 I’ve tried so far. Everything felt smoothly blended until the dry down. It has cloves, pink pepper, orange blossom, chestnut, guaiac wood, juniper, vanilla, Peru balsam and cashmeran. I could not pick out individual notes as much as I could feel the proportions shifting. The opening leaned lighter and more floral with sweet spices from clove and pepper. As it dried down, the spices softened and it became a sweet, smoky resin. I’m genuinely glad that a SWY-type scent finally lasts on my skin. If you didn’t know, SWY fragrances rarely last more than 2 hours on me, and that has been true for every fragrance from the line. This one, despite being an EDT, lasted longer on my skin than all the SWY fragrances I’ve tried combined. I expected to be disappointed with the performance, but this one really surprised me. It has been around 10 hours since application and it is still on my skin. Overall performance is roughly 10–12 hours, which is crazy for an EDT. Projection was solid at around 2-2.5 feet, becoming close to the skin after hour 5. By hour 9, it turns into a proper skin scent. By far my favourite from the set and easily one of the best winter fragrances I’ve tried. It is sweet, spicy, fuzzy, resinous, nutty and woody, all blended seamlessly. The vanilla is done beautifully and is incredibly addictive. It makes sense why I love it so much. This was created by Marie Salamagne, who was also behind YSL Muse, still my highest-rated fragrance. It feels like a full-circle moment because a Maison Margiela rep gave me a sample of Muse. I’m giving this a 9.4/10. I am nitpicking, but I still feel it is slightly overpriced and the profile lacks some complexity. That said, if I were to buy something from the house so far, it would be this. Also going forward should i post a picture of the samples i try or stick with google images?

What can I say about this absolute classic that hasn't been said before. This Aromatic Aquatic from 1988 made some major waves, back in the day, excuse the pun. Created by master perfumer Pierre Bourdon, it was one of the early fresh scenes of the time, moving away from the heavy, spicy powerhouses of the 1970s and 80s. Interestingly, just 3 years prior he worked on Creeds Green Irish Tweed. Both fragrances whilst not the same, do share some DNA. Bourdon utilized a revolutionary overdose of Calone, a synthetic molecule that provides a distinct sea-breeze aroma, to capture the raw energy of the ocean. Not only did it become a best seller and influence all the aquatics that followed, but it's still a popular must have in any collection over 38 years later. It all kicks off with a bracing blast of sea water, peppermint, and lavender, supported by green nuances & rosemary for that sharp, clean, herby opening. As the initial saltiness settles, the heart reveals a more sophisticated floral & woody structure where geranium, neroli & jasmine add a touch of soapy elegance, balanced by the creaminess of sandalwood. In the dry-down, the scent transitions into a masculine earthy base. Here, the lingering freshness is anchored with oakmoss, cedar & musk, there is also a subtle hint of tobacco & ambergris in the mix, which gives a skin-hugging warmth. Cool Water is a reliable daily performer, I get a solid 4hrs of longevity on the skin, which is fine for an edt, you can either top up throughout the day or switch to something else for the evening. Its projection is moderate, with a clean scent bubble for the first 90m, before settling into an intimate scent trail. Best suited for the spring/summer months, as heat helps to project the mint/marine notes. It is still exceptionally versatile for casual daytime wear, the gym, or the office. My Rating 7/10 Scent 2.5 Longevity 2 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1

On my too two favorite summer fragrances from the house ( along with Galloway ). All kinds of citrus with a fresh mint up top. Lavender, geranium, olibanum and Rosemary round out the mod. And there's a soft touch of vetiver ( although not enough to make it smell dirty), with cedar, sandalwood and a healthy dose of ambroxan that makes it push for way longer than most Freshies. I really enjoy it. In my opinion this is definitely the longest lasting and highest projecting freshie in the line. What are your experiences with this?