Match #48 in the second-chance bracket is a study in contrasts: Lattafa Mashrabya versus Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum. Mashrabya (2024) is an affordable powerhouse—a rich amber vanilla fragrance built around apple shisha, cinnamon, tobacco, caramel, vanilla, oud, and patchouli. It's sweet, smoky, and strong, and I can certainly see reaching for it when the weather gets seriously cold. Prada Luna Rossa Ocean EDP (2023, created by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm) feels much fresher, particularly in the opening, with grapefruit leading into incense, vanilla, amber, and woods. It has plenty of depth, but it's considerably more versatile than Mashrabya. And ultimately, that's the test I've been using throughout this tournament: which one would I actually reach for more often? For me, it's Prada every time. Add in the emotional connection—Ocean was one of the first fragrances in my collection and the one I wore when I first met my fiancée in Hong Kong—and this decision becomes even easier. Prada Luna Rossa Ocean EDP survives for another round, while Lattafa Mashrabya is eliminated from the tournament. I'm glad Ocean is sticking around. This bottle has a story attached to it.

Today we had a lunch with our business personnel in a restaurant beside the sea and this was a perfect opportunity to wear this marine, aquatic fragrance. We had a good time and my wife complimented & rated 9.2/10. That’s tough to beat in today’s ambient, sad is discontinued but what a beautiful fragrance for being close to the ocean.