Yea know, ya think ya know somebody... We went to an outdoor music fest this evening to see a "clone" of the Beatles, and they weren't bad at all! But in anticipation of the evening which included two other couples, I thought it would be appropriate to go with a stronger Amouage frag (for once.) I gave my wife the choice. I presented her test strips of four frags: - Amouage Interlude 53, - Amouage Interlude Black Iris, - Amouage Reflection 45, - Amouage Opus XIV Royal Tobacco (would have been my choice). She said she liked them all a lot but picked the 53. In fact she was adamant that I wear the 53. I'm starting to see that ol' 53 is probably her favorite niche frag in my collection and maybe her favorite scent of all! I would have bet money she would have gone with the 45. Anyway, I've written at length about this frag and yes, I know there are several that find it completely objectionable, which is amazing to me, but we can debate that another time. For those of you unfamilar with 53, it's a flanker of the original "Blue Beast", Amouage Interlude. 53 is an experience of organized chaos to profound harmony. The high concentration (53% oil) makes the initial blast incredibly dense and rich. The opening is oregano and pimento, but it feels more integrated and less sharp compared to the the OG, which is a great frag too. The heart is where the intense incense and opoponax make a thick, smoky amber accord. IMO this stage is opulent and quite unique. This FINALLY gives way to the base, which is all about a masterful blend of DARK smoke, leather, and a little woody oud. Again, it's pure magic. Interlude 53 is a well-aged, complex masterpiece—deeper, wider, and more harmonious than the OG. Believe me brothers, I can go on and on about this frag, but I swear, even when I smell this stuff off a test strip, I get a rush like some kind of illegal drug completely engulfing my brain. Seriously, a RUSH... It's almost evil. 10.0/10.0.

Today I was walking with my wife on a christmas market and saw a new fragrance store Gent, and like anyone of us, I checked it out. It was lovely seeing some of my favorite Tom Fords, Amouage, etc. But then I saw the holy grail... Kylian. I never smelled a Kylian fragrance before and I was NOT disappointed. I've got to say that they all smell absolutely amazing, almost perfect. It was a wonderful experience to say the least. However, I'm not going to pay a Kylian price for alcohol in a bottle, which brings me to my question: Do any of you guys know a (almost) flawless dupe of Old Fashioned? I appreciate any and all recommendations. Have a blessed saturday.