Memo Ithaque is one of the freshest and most polished fragrances in the Memo lineup. It opens with bergamot, bitter orange, and citrus, accented by blackcurrant, red berries, juniper, and aromatic spices. The result is bright, green, lightly fruity, and woody rather than a straightforward citrus scent. As it dries down, cedar and patchouli provide a smooth, elegant foundation while preserving its fresh Mediterranean character. Performance is impressive for a fresh fragrance, lasting about 7–9 hours with moderate projection early on before settling closer to the skin. It remains noticeable without becoming overpowering. On my skin, it gives solid longevity and stays fresh throughout the wear. Seasons - Primary: Spring & Summer - Secondary: Early Fall - Best in warm weather and daytime wear. - Works especially well when you want something fresh, clean, and versatile. To me, it sits somewhere between a niche citrus-woody fragrance and a refined Mediterranean aromatic, with touches of: - Creed Aventus without the smoke or pineapple. - Creed Green Irish Tweed without the heavier green notes. - Louis Vuitton L'Immensité, but with more emphasis on blackcurrant, berries, cedar, and spices. - The airy sophistication of Memo Paris Italian Leather, only fresher and easier to wear. Overall, Ithaque gives me the feeling of a sunlit Mediterranean island filled with citrus trees, aromatic herbs, cedarwood, and blackcurrant bushes. Fresh, elegant, versatile, and easily one of the most wearable fragrances from Memo for the warmer seasons.

Gifted a bottle of Torino 24. Fragrance forums seem to like Torino 21 more but I preferred 24. Will wear it in good health.

Hey guys, Joe A. here with another one for ya’! Well, what was supposed to be a quick opportunity to ask a couple of questions turned into a great hour-long conversation with @Marcelo Oillataguerre and I’ve got to say, it was a real treat!! One of the things that really stuck with me was Marcelo’s reminder that perfume is about pleasure. Simple idea, but man, we forget it sometimes. In this hobby, it is easy to start turning every fragrance into a chemistry exam, a performance spreadsheet, or a debate over batch codes, note pyramids and whether the opening has enough artisanal Laotian oud or Cambodian oud (haha)! But at the end of the day, fragrance is a human experience! We also talked about the difference between niche and designer fragrance, and I appreciated the way he framed it. Designer fragrances often have to serve a broader market. They need to be wearable, sellable, recognizable and profitable. That does not make them bad. We all know there are plenty of designer fragrances that deserve respect. But niche, at its best, starts from a different place, a place that truly appreciates the artistry of fragrance! Of course, Marcelo also gave a few fragrances worth getting our noses on, and you know I had my ears open like somebody said “free decants.” A few that came up were Lubin Black Jade, Ramon Monegal Oud on Fire, Ramon Monegal Soul of Oud, and Varanasi from Meo Fusciuni. And honestly, that is the kind of recommendation I enjoy most. Not just “this gets compliments” or “this lasts 14 hours,” but fragrances that invite you to slow down, experience them and maybe understand the artistic side of the hobby a little better. Big thanks to @Marcelo Oillataguerre for being generous with his time and for reminding me that while we can talk notes, houses, performance and price all day, perfume still comes back to pleasure. Big thanks of course to our host, @Antonio Centeno

Recent additions this month. Frag Flex, FragranceNet, Joma Shop and Ulta is where I got this haul. Hugo Boss Striking Lavender- smells similar to Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce or PDM Percival Montblanc Legend Elixir- I had high hopes for this one. But again no originality here. But smells similar to YSL Myslf Absolute, Coach Pure Platinum, Jimmy Choo Parfum or Prada Paradigm YSL Myself EDT Intense- smells in the same ballpark as The EDP but with a bit more of a bite. Better performance of my skin. Rabanne Invictus Elixir- smells similar Victory Elixir but with a hint of coconut to it. Narciso Rodriguez for him Musc Santal- smells similar D&G Light Blue Capri in Love even. Hugo Boss Selection- just a clean fresh everyday scent similar to Boss Bottle Infinite.. French Avenue Zenith Santal- very good clone of Stronger with You Sandalwood. Best smelling one of the bunch imo Khadlaj Shiyaaka Snow- smells similar to Narciso Rodriguez For him EDP or LV Meteore Khadlaj Icon- Clone of Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif. Again very good alternative for a fraction of the price. MAISON Alhambra Jean Lowe Summer Vibes- clone of Louis Vuitton Sun Song. Nice summer neroli scent MAISON Alhambra Jean Lowe Verde Aura- clone of discontinued Louis Vuitton Cactus Garden. The most unique smelling of the bunch, fresh, green and a lemongrass note. MAISON Alhambra Fantasme- clone of Louis Vuitton Imagination. Solid clone, I like others better like Marwa MAISON Alhambra Kalos- clone of PDM Kalan MAISON Alhambra- Perseus clone of PDM Pegasus Rasasi Hawas Malibu- very good clone of JPG Le Beau Parfum

Hey guys, Joe A. here with another one for ya’! So this next meetup is a pretty cool opportunity to talk with @Marcelo Oillataguerre , aka, The Niche Fragrance Collector, and since time will be limited, I personally don’t want to waste the moment asking the usual “what’s your favorite fragrance?” type of questions! Don’t get me wrong, favorite scent questions are fun. We all love hearing what someone with a serious nose reaches for. But when you’re talking to someone who has smelled deep into the niche world, traveled through a lot of brands, explored different styles and built a real point of view around fragrance, I think the better question is not just 'what do you like?' It’s more like 'how do you think about fragrance now?' Right now, one question I’m leaning toward is this: ----------“With niche fragrance becoming more mainstream and more expensive, what separates a truly artistic niche release from one that is just wearing the "costume" of niche?”---------- That one interests me because we are living in a strange fragrance era. Everything is “exclusive,” everything is “extrait,” everything has a dramatic bottle, a moody campaign and a price tag that looks like it comes with a monthly payment plan. But does that automatically make it art? Or are some brands just throwing on a velvet jacket and charging admission? The other question I’m considering is: ----------“After smelling as much as you have, what has changed the most about your own taste over the years?”---------- Because honestly, that might be the real collector question. Most of us start this hobby chasing compliments, performance, hype or whatever bottle the algorithm keeps shoving in our faces. But over time, your nose changes. Your patience changes. Your standards change. Sometimes the fragrance you've ignored two years ago becomes the one that finally makes sense! What say you, guys? If you only had a few minutes with a serious niche fragrance reviewer, what would you ask? Would you go for something practical, like underrated houses and buying advice, or would you ask something deeper about artistry, taste and the direction of the hobby? Conversely, what is one fragrance reviewer question you are absolutely tired of hearing? Love to hear from ya'!