My Fragrance net samples arrived yesterday and I have used the TF Noir Extreme today. I Definately get the Nutmeg and Saffron on application, and the Middle Florals come through very nicely on Dry down. Just need to see how it develops though out the day and see if I cant the Vanilla, amber and woody notes.

It is incredible how the universe connects the dots of our healing when we finally step into the light. Only this week, I experienced a beautiful moment of clarity about how my health journey has unlocked an entirely new, unexpected dimension of my life. Out of deep respect for everyone’s private health battles, I believe our medical remedies are sacred and personal. But today, I feel guided to share a piece of my own revelation. As a diabetic, my recent check-up brought overwhelming gratitude. My health is thriving—miles ahead of where I stood in the dark days of late 2022. That shift happened because I finally chose to love myself on every level: through therapy, deep spiritual awakening, and shedding the physical and emotional weight of a 300-pound man. I stopped dressing to hide my shame and started dressing to celebrate my existence. In the Spring of 2023, right before finding my community here, the fog began to lift. For the first time in years, I could see my own neck. I could look past the "Daddy belly" and see my own feet. Simultaneously, my soul was seeking a new sensory language. I finished my very first bottle of DedCool’s Milk. Looking back, I realize how symbolic that was. My entire fragrance collection was filled with sharp aquatics, salty notes, and crisp scents. Yet, during this profound era of rebirth, I was inexplicably curiously drawn to the warmth, sweetness, and comfort of gourmand fragrances. This curiosity led me to a perfumer called Pinrose, where I took their sensory quiz to find my signature scent. I was skeptical at first. I took the quiz a few more times to be sure, screenshotting the results before purchasing their discovery set. When it finally arrived in those nostalgic, old-school fragrance wipes, the results were uncanny. I drifted heavily toward Pillowtalk Poet, while the quiz's top recommendation for me—Secret Genius—was absolutely spot-on, though I didn't fully understand why at the time. Recently, curiosity led me back to the site. I assumed that after two years of immense personal growth, my aromatic palate would have completely changed. But nothing had changed at all.

So I just saw Antonio's last video, and it got me thinking. If I had to downsize to 10 bottles what would they be. I'm curious what are your thoughts on this and what bottles would you keep? Here are my 10: 1. Masculin Pluriel - Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2. Royal Oud - Creed 3. Naxos - Xerjoff 4. Sartorial - Penhaligon 5. Herod - Parfums de Marly 6. Silver Mountain Water - Creed 7. Polo 67 - Ralph Lauren 8. Venetian Blue - The Merchant of Venice 9. Meraki Bliss - Patek Maison 10. 1723 - Superz. https://youtu.be/2Y_ZqorggsA?si=Vcx6z8vk21dDMs1p

This sounds very crazy but I have hired a Master Perfumer & this is going to be an exciting journey !!

Alexandria Fragrances is one of the better-known American clone and inspired-by fragrance houses. They built their reputation by recreating expensive designer and niche fragrances while usually offering stronger concentrations, good performance, and a lower price than the fragrances they are copying. I consider Alexandria one of the better clone houses overall, especially when compared with many of the cheaper Middle Eastern houses. Their fragrances are usually smoother, better blended, and closer to the original scent profile. You do not normally get the same harsh opening, overwhelming sweetness, or rough synthetic feel that you can get from some budget clone brands. That does not mean Alexandria is always equal to the original. Some of their fragrances get extremely close, while others capture the general idea but miss the finer details. The opening may be accurate, but the fragrance can become heavier, sweeter, or more concentrated as it dries down. Alexandria often turns the volume up, which can improve performance but occasionally takes away some of the balance and airiness of the original. One of Alexandria’s strengths is that they do more than simply create cheap copies. They have released hybrids, twists, and original compositions that give the house more personality than a basic clone company. Fragrances such as Hafez 1984, Mango Hurricane, Tropical Mojito, Suede Pineapple, and Limited #78 show that Alexandria is capable of creating fragrances people enjoy without always relying completely on someone else’s name. Performance is normally one of the stronger parts of the house. When I say performance, I am mainly talking about projection and sillage, not just how long something stays on the skin. Many Alexandria fragrances project well and leave a noticeable scent trail. Some are stronger than the originals, although stronger does not automatically mean better or more refined. My biggest criticism is consistency. Alexandria has some excellent releases, but the entire catalog is not on the same level. Some fragrances smell smooth, polished, and very close to the inspiration. Others can be dense, overly sweet, oily, or slightly synthetic. Like most clone houses with a large catalog, there are definite hits and misses.