Saw the ladies from Particle reminding me of the challenges faced to be a gentleman and I checked off I open doors, pick up the check, save myself for marriage (well two out of three ain’t bad!). And most importantly I smell like one to get their attention. Have a good Sunday afternoon.

I was hunting for a decant of Monkey Special. Found what is labeled as a 15ml travel spray from Aura. Never ordered from them. Not worried about authenticity but wondering if it’s a brand sample, or if they do their own decants? Cheapest price I’ve seen other than this is $30 for 5ml from DecantX. So $40 for 15ml seems much better. Thoughts? https://www.aurafragrance.com/products/tony-iommi-monkey-special-xerjoff-unisex-edp-1

Wore Instant Crush today and logged it through the day to see if it lives up to the name. This was a decant graciously gifted to me by the group's Mancera Expert and an all round awesome dude @Thomas Chavez. Tommy Boy this was an Instant Crush for me! First spray: ~1:04 p.m. Opening:Right from the first spray, the saffron (self confessed Saffron Whore here) stands out immediately, but it’s smooth, not aggressive. The ginger adds a little zing, while the citrus is present but very subdued. There’s a soft, comforting creaminess already showing up, and even early on I’m getting hints of sandalwood. The opening is warm, rounded, and honestly beautiful. If the opening alone were the test, this really is an “instant crush.” ~30 minutes in:The saffron is still very present, and the ginger keeps things lively without being sharp. The citrus fades into the background. Florals and saffron feel tightly blended, and the sweetness from the vanilla starts creeping in. It’s hard to isolate individual notes at this point because everything feels well stitched together. ~3 hours in:This settles into a sweet, musky, creamy profile. Sandalwood is noticeable, patchouli shows up as dryness rather than earthiness, and the oakmoss doesn’t read green unless I smell very close in areas with less airflow. In open air, it feels smooth and balanced. Really pleasant and very wearable. Drydown (around 5 hours):By this stage, it’s mostly a skin scent, but I still catch soft wafts when I move. The drydown is a sweet vanilla-musky base, calm and comforting. This is absolutely something I’d spray a little heavier without worrying. Overall:Instant Crush delivers exactly what I was hoping for. Warm, creamy, saffron-forward, sweet without being cloying, and very easy to wear. This is full-bottle worthy for me without hesitation.