I've only worn it once, so I'm going to say this with a big caveat that my opinion might change on subsequent wearings. But this is going to be a very polarizing scent for CR. It opens with a lime and sea salt tropical zestiness that has become a hallmark of CR's Caribbean centered fragrances. That fades quickly after about an hour or so and then it turns into a floral, musky dry down. It definitely leans feminine, but not enough to pull it completely away from unisex. What makes this polarizing, I think, is that City Rhythm's tropical themed fragrances are all very loud, playful, boozy, and young. They're the kind of scents you wear when you're 25, on summer holiday after graduation with your friends, and you spend most of the time wandering around with an umbrella drink trying to hit up the other tourists at the bar. Key West, though, is the kind of scent you wear when you're 35 or 40, on vacation from your job, and you just want to lay by the pool, wander around the shops, and maybe read a good book. There's a maturity to it that's complex and sophisticated. I think that if you are expecting something like Miami or 2654 or Puerto Rico, or even St John's, then you are going to be disappointed by this. This is not a scent that is chasing hype or following trends, and I think it may be too feminine for a lot of people in the male fragcom. But away from those scents and on its own, I think this is a lovely scent. It's what I would wear on a cruise in the Caribbean. It's a very mature scent made for the late spring, summer, and early fall. It did well yesterday in the high heat and humidity of the afternoon wedding I worked at, and I genuinely enjoyed wear it. I'm wearing it again today, and I'm continuing to enjoy it.

Match #8 wraps up the play-in round of my 40-fragrance tournament. From here on, the field is down to 32 fragrances in the main bracket and 8 in the loser's bracket. This final play-in featured #27 seed Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum against #38 seed Gucci Guilty. These were two of the first bottles I ever bought, so there's a bit of history with both. Gucci Guilty (2011, created by Jacques Huclier) is an easygoing blend of lavender, lemon, orange blossom, cedar, and patchouli that I've always enjoyed wearing. But Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum (2023, created by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm) is something special to me. Its mix of grapefruit, incense, vanilla, and oak gives it a smooth, modern character that I really enjoy—but it's also tied to one of my favorite memories. It was the fragrance I was wearing when I first met my now-fiancée in Hong Kong, and she still tells me whenever she catches someone wearing it around the city. I almost feel bad for Gucci Guilty because this matchup never really had a chance. Ocean wins without hesitation and moves into the main draw, while Guilty heads to the loser's bracket.