When we were at D'or Prestige on Saturday I had to try out Hypnotizing Fire by The Harmonist, since I love the Dua version. I kept going back to it. Joe was cool and he hooked me up with a sample. I couldn't wait to check it out and give it a wear and compare. This isn't a review just some quick notes about what is same and different as well as my thoughts. Opening, the pimento and pepper in the OG is more noticeable. Dua hits you with dirty patchouli out of the gate. Dua is also a louder, but I don't want to give that too much weight the sample atomizers are mostly junk and Dua might as well be a fire hose in comparison. About 15 min in, I am picking up some rose and praline, but it is start to settle. Dua is still pumping hard, not as dirty in the opening, rose and praline are faint. About an hour in these 2 fall extremely close in both scent, projection and richness. Only thing separating the 2 is the Dua has a very slightly more resinous balsamic touch to it. Final Thought: Both are equally fantastic and the first 45 min or so they seem more like flankers, but near identical in the dry down. This is tough, I love the OG, bang for buck, Dua has this one hands down, but if I could find the OG for under $200 I say it is worth it for the collector mindset. Until that time comes for a deal on the OG, gonna stick to Dua.

Day three of my Armani adventures brings the Intensity. Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely by Giorgio Armani is an Oriental Fougere fragrance for men. Top notes are Pink Pepper, Juniper and Violet; middle notes are Toffee, Cinnamon, Lavender and Sage; base notes are Vanilla, Amber, Tonka Bean and Suede.

I’ve seen this one on here several times so I won’t bore you with a breakdown. It’s the best dupe there is of Bond’s Lafayette St. https://www.skool.com/bos/sotd-game-of-spades-wildcard-5fa4c095?p=898fcfa3

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.

Another one that I have been excited to try and it did not disappoint. The original flanker Gentleman Society holds a special place with me and this one is an excellent continuation of it, has the DNA but enough change to call it its own and not redundant. Another one with the small bottle in my future.