Good morning Frag Family and happy Tuesday. It’s a brisk start to the day, the kind of cold that wakes you up fast and makes you reach for something bold and comforting. I’m rocking Oud 01 by Swiss Arabian this morning, and it’s doing exactly what it does best. The performance is outstanding with strong longevity that just keeps pushing through the day, wrapping you in that rich, confident oud presence. A perfect scent choice to cut through the chill and carry some warmth and authority into the rest of the week. Stay warm and smell great, fam.

Hey guys, Joe A. here with a follow-up for ya’! First off, @Jeff Beason had a great couple of questions regarding what proper handling, contamination avoidance and best decanting practices actually entails. Let’s start with proper handling, because that’s the foundation. A fragrance should be treated like what it is, a carefully blended chemical composition, not just “juice in a bottle.” That means storing bottles away from heat, direct sunlight and constant temperature swings. When decanting, clean hands are a must (I like using disposable gloves), work surfaces should be wiped down and bottles should be open only as long as necessary. Less air exposure = better integrity of the scent. A reputable decanter treats every bottle like it’s their own collection, not something to rush through. Next up: avoiding contamination! Contamination happens when foreign substances like old fragrance residue, dust, oils, or even moisture, get introduced into the fragrance. This is why dedicated/disposable tools matter. Atomizers, syringes, funnels, and transfer tools should either be brand new or thoroughly cleaned and dried between uses. I've found that 99% alcohol works phenomenally with cleaning glass! Mixing tools between fragrances without proper cleaning is a big no-no. Even something as small as reusing a pipette without cleaning can alter the scent over time. Clean tools, clean bottles, clean process, sounds simple, but it's uber critical. Now let’s talk about the best way to decant, the right way.The gold standard is minimizing air exposure and avoiding unnecessary contact. Many experienced decanters (like good ol' Joe A. here) use syringe-based extraction or controlled spray transfers, depending on bottle design, always into high-quality atomizers that seal properly. The atomizer itself matters more than people think as cheap sprayers can leak, clog or allow excessive evaporation. Teflon tape is a good add, but I caution that excessive use can unseat a sprayer and do more harm than good. A good decant should spray evenly, seal tightly and protect the fragrance just like the original bottle would.