I discovered quite a while ago that the Cartier is a brilliant fragrance to blend. It works well with Aventus, Layton, Interlude, Mancera Red Tobacco, Individuel and SEVERAL others. When I first got it, I found it challenging because it's hyper-sweet from the caramel, tonka and sugar notes. But it has a smoky vibe too and I love my smoke. At this point, I'm perfectly happy just spraying it straight, though I wouldn't recommend that for most. Anyway, tonight I wanted to do a rerun of the Noir Absolu with the Lattafa Dukhan. I tried it several months ago and it was simply wonderful. This combination has a niche-like, exotic vibe, and with smoke, resin, and that Middle Eastern soul that I love. As a pair, the fragrance is quite powerful and IMO easily rivals fragrances that cost several hundred dollars. I layered the Lattafa on top of the Cartier after a couple moments to allow the Cartier to dry down a bit. The opening hits with a spicy-woody scent while the Dukhan rises over it with its incense smoke and warm resin. NO harshness here, in fact it’s smooth and refined. The mid seems to actually warm the skin (perfect for a cool evening), and becomes dense to the point where I'm constantly smelling my wrist! I just love the amber core with smokiness. The finish has that smoke & sexiness (so I hear) to it. The smoke becomes smoother over time while the fragrance is solidly masculine, even given the overall sweetness of the blend. Honestly, this is one of my favorite scents and one of the very few times that I would prefer to blend rather than spray the individual bottles. Each bottle can be had for less than $50, but combined I think the fragrance rivals bottles costing over $200! This is a 9/10 for me.

Another one that I have been excited to try and it did not disappoint. The original flanker Gentleman Society holds a special place with me and this one is an excellent continuation of it, has the DNA but enough change to call it its own and not redundant. Another one with the small bottle in my future.

Is it just me or does anyone else have an olfactory disorder that makes you think anytime you smell a new banger, for a short time you feel that it is the 🐐 lol. Also, I have some that I just hated, then later, became my favorite everyday scent. One in particular is Afnan Supremacy Collectors Edition. The opening was great, but the birch on the drydown just didn't sit well with my nose. I even purchased a decant of Aventus Absolu, but it also didn't work for me. Here it is one year later and I can't stop spraying SCE and have ordered Absolu, simply because it has become my favorite goto scent dna. Oh, and this occurred over the last week. Am I nuts or do others find this a common comical olfactory shift.