A classic iris bomb fragrance. Very well done in my opinion. Not much else needs to be said about it.

Tonight's selection was specifically chosen in honor of my friend and brother @Thomas Chavez and his new status in this community as a Level 9. In my opinion, this selection exemplifies the essense that I believe is personified by our fellow brother and gentleman. It is a classy, timeless and pleasing fragrance that has endured and has been appreciated for decades. We all know the name Lalique as the pinnacle and benchmark in the fine crystal industry. We also know that Lalique does not play off the status of their name as others have, but instead simply focuses on providing top-notch quality fragrances at prices accessible to all. Lalique Pour Homme, often referred to as the "Lion" is a classic woody, aromatic fragrance launched back in 1997 and crafted by the renowned perfumer Maurice Roucel. It's a scent that embodies a sense of timeless, understated elegance and quality far exceeding its typical price point. This fragrance offers a beautiful and sophisticated journey of notes from the opening to the dry-down. The initial spray is a bright, aromatic burst of citrus and herbs. Notes like lavender, rosemary, bergamot, and mandarin provide a refreshing and slightly spicy kick that quickly transitions to the mid. The mid introduces a refined floral-woody accord. You'll find a dry, cedar mid balanced by the powdery touch of iris and maybe a little hint of jasmine. This is where the scent gains its classic, "gentlemanly" character, sometimes referred to as a "barbershop" frag. The base/dry-down is deep, warm, and comforting. It includes a blend of oakmoss, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, and amber for a lasting base. The vanilla is dry and ambery, not overly sweet, giving it a sense of sophistication and maturity. The overall aroma is complex. It evolves from fresh and zesty (love that word) to a dry, woody, and slightly smoky finish (my favorite) which is often compared to Creed Bois du Portugal, and much like Lailique, our brother @Thomas Chavez, both are classy yet unpretentious.

Friendly reminder, tis the season for fakes and knockoffs to hit the streets. Although they are always around, this time of year it ramps up, I am seeing a flood of them hit the FB Marketplace and eBay is full of it. You will see common frags posted multiple time by multiple people, Sauvage, Initio, Valentino, YSL, Chanel, etc. If you can't verify 100% I say just walk away. I actually hit up one person, told them I would like to meet up and compare it to the bottle that I already have and running low on, if this is fake, just ignore me. They read the message and ignored me......lol

Good evening, Brotherhood! Man, today had me running around like a caffeinated squirrel, but I finally carved out some time to tap in with you all. First off, huge honor hitting Level 9, not because the number looks cool, but because it’s a reminder of how much I’ve learned, how much I’m still learning, and most importantly, the connections made along the way. That alone is worth its weight in protein powder, creatine, AND a full tub of pre-workout! So today I dove into a few samples from the House of Dastan, and the one I landed on was… You? Who, me? No no… YOU? Yep, the fragrance is literally called “YOU?” According to the brand, this one is inspired by “discovering who you are and who you aspire to become.” And honestly, with a note list longer than my holiday shopping receipts and some wild, unexpected ingredients, I’m convinced this one is meant for you to interpret however your nose wants. It really leans into that “define what makes you, YOU” vibe. This is a Floral Fruity Gourmand from 2024 by Richard Herpin. The opening hits you with this waxy fig citrus combo dusted with cinnamon. It took me a minute to figure out what I was smelling, had me questioning my entire olfactory education. I had to keep re-spraying just to wrap my head around the opening because it doesn’t stay long before shifting into a smooth, milky, slightly vanillic, creamy phase with a woody base. On skin vs. clothes? Night and day.On skin, that milky vibe hangs around like it paid rent.On clothes, the jasmine, bergamot, and brighter florals take over and stay lively. Later in the dry down, the white chocolate makes an appearance, and surprisingly… it’s not bad. Actually, kind of unique. Overall, this is a very distinctive unisex scent definitely one of those “your nose tells its own story” types. For me personally? A bit too milky. Not quite my jam. But my wife? She’d absolutely rock this one and probably smell amazing doing it. Performance is above average still catching whiffs 6–7 hours later. Projection is just under an arm’s length, and the sillage is present but not beast mode.

Michael Malul / Amber + Smoke