Travel day vibes: Arizona to Oregon via California connection, all planes and airports. I wanted some holiday smell good vibes so I decided to spray on Addicted from the house of Aaron Terence Hughes. It went on at 8am this morning and has been the perfect cozy companion in the dry, recycled cabin air of an airplane and the neutral smell of the airport. Addicted opens with a rich, boozy cognac kick that’s both warm and inviting, like sipping something indulgent at 30,000 feet. It then settles into a delicious honeyed cinnamon with hints of chocolate. The drydown is a creamy chocolate vanilla tonka, smooth and comforting without being cloying. Beast mode performance as expected from ATH, which I’ll admit I was a bit worried spraying on as I knew it would still be projecting hours later. It’s Christmas season, however, and I effectively turned my cramped cabin seat into my own little cinnamon gourmand bubble. No complaints from row mates or those seated in front or behind me on either flight, but did get a subtle “you smell great” from a flight attendant during boarding. Success. For those that may not be familiar with Addicted, let me draw a couple comparisons to other fragrances you may be more familiar with. Addicted shares the boozy cinnamon gourmand DNA with Angels Share (that iconic cognac, cinnamon, and praline vibe), but feels less oaky and nutty and has more chocolate in the mid and dry down. Versus PDM Oajan, it’s less heavy on straight honey osmanthus spice and more chocolate forward in the base, with cognac adding a liquor edge that Oajan hints at but doesn’t fully commit to. Overall I’d say this is a solid choice for winter and holiday travel. It’s warm, uplifting, and very addictive indeed. Be warned, however, that the frag will stand out if you’re wearing this fragrance, especially if you choose to wear it while cramped in a metal tube at 30,000 ft. It may not draw a ton of comments, but rest assured it is very pleasant and everyone around you will smell you.

Hey Guys Joe A. here with another one for ya'! Today's frag: Penhaligon's Sartorial. OMG!!! So, what do a northwestern lumberjack, a south Texas cattle rancher, a NY stock exchange broker, a Miami drug kingpin, and an antebellum southern genteelman all have in common? That's right, these manly men are the images I get when smelling Sartorial!! This fragrance is the absolute king of "Barbershop" scents, hands-down. Fashioned as a fougere-like scent, I'm hit with a blast of cardamom and beeswax smoothly blended with lavender and leather. It's an absolute must have folks!! I have to say, I've worn this before, so today I limited my sprays to a paltry 4! This frag is strong and projects, I believe you can kill yourself if you overspray. Sartorial also lasts and lasts and has a large projection for at least the first four hours. It has a deep and rich scent, perfect balance between sweet and leathery. After the dry-down, the leather comes out fully and still radiates about a foot or so around you. Smelling this, I felt I had to dress a bit better. It's that good!! This scent I would characterize as the very definition of "Barbershop", refined and mature. I see older gentlemen wearing this, if you're in your twenties or so, forget about it, unless you're in your best suit (think Don Corleone) It can be used in the office but lay off the trigger!! I have no scent comparisons but it's beast mode beats out Red Tobacco!! Longevity: over 12 hrs, Sillage: Strong for 4 hrs, afterwards Moderate. Projection: Moderate. Final Verdict: Guys, even as Joe Average, save up your spare change! Look under the couch cushions, roll your quarters, pick up any loose nickels and pennies (even the face down ones). Take change from the wishing well if you have to (no, no, don't steal...) Do whatever you have to to get the funds for this fragrance. It is absolutely worth it! Fall, Winter, Spring, day or night! And because you don't need much sprays, this'll last! I give this one an 11/10 simply because it's my defining frag in this category. All others have a high bar to reach!!