Had to follow upy Red Tobacco battle with something really good. Went to go visit my 101yr old grandpa, then went to dinner with wife and my mom. Back to the frag, this such a beautiful take on coffee and rose. To me, this actually edges out French Defense on my MG list.

Wearing L’Homme Idéal L’Intense today. First spray was around 12:05 p.m., and right off the top it came across warm, spicy, and very masculine. The opening gave me a faint cola-like vibe, which I’m guessing comes from the mix of almond, chili pepper, and cardamom. It’s not sweet cola, more of a dry, spiced impression, and I really enjoyed that phase. Around the 20–30 minute mark, that cola effect softened and the fragrance started transitioning into the mid. The rose came forward more than I expected, but it’s not jammy or overly sweet. It stays pretty subdued and dry, adding body without turning floral. The leather is there too, but it feels smooth and slightly sweet rather than animalic or dirty. More polished leather than raw hide. At this point, the balance feels really well done. Warm spice up top, a clean and restrained rose in the mid, and a leather note that adds structure without overpowering anything. Everything feels blended and intentional. So far, I’m really liking this one. It smells confident and put together, and I’m curious to see how the drydown develops as the base notes come through. Early impressions are very positive.