Introduce yourself and level-up, it's that simple! You'll get at least 5 likes (oftentimes more!) which will move you to level 2 and on your way to level 3 (these levels give you access to prizes!). What to say in your intro? Share where you're from, your reason for joining, your profession, perhaps your favorite fragrance or a picture of your entire collection! Whether you're a seasoned cologne collector or just starting, have fun engaging with the group.

One thing I’ve always struggled with is figuring out how many sprays is right. Every fragrance behaves differently. Some days it feels like I can barely smell it on myself, other times I worry I might be overwhelming people around me. I work in real estate and lending, so I’m constantly meeting clients and colleagues. First impressions matter. I want to enjoy what I’m wearing (especially after investing in these bottles), but I don’t want to choke anyone out either. Right now my usual spray map is pretty consistent: - One spray behind each ear - One on the lower neck - One on the chest - One on each inner elbow That feels balanced to me, but depending on the scent it can still come off as too much—or not nearly enough. How do you balance this? Do you have a set spray map or do you adjust depending on the fragrance and setting?

The finish line is right there, I can practically smell it (and no, it’s not the bottles in my carts). After 30 days of willpower, sweat, and probably more than a few “just browsing” late nights, we’ve got only 5 hours to go in #NoBuySept. Now’s the time to hold strong!! Don’t let a flash sale, a sneaky discount code, or a “one last splurge” moment steal victory. We’ve worked too hard to let the finish slip through our fingers this close to midnight!!!! Stay locked in, Brothers. Victory is just around the corner. #NoBuySept #Brotherhood #StrongerTogether

Day three of layering fragrances. Creed is a very common fragrance and whose DNA is very recognizable. Although I really enjoy the fragrance and often wear it on its own, I like layering it with other fragrances that I really like which I think will enhance the fragrance and smell. Today I am layering Creed Aventus with Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. The Pineapple opening is just amazing and on my skin lasts throughout the dry down. Now envision standing on the show line on the coast with fresh citrus fragrances coming off the farm behind you. This is what Wood Sage & Sea Salt brings to the table.

Brothers, I’m curious about your habits when it comes to sniffing fragrances in person! How often do you swing by retailers like Ulta, Sephora, or department stores to sample fragrances? Are you mostly checking out new releases, exploring entirely new houses or fragrances you’ve never tried, or just revisiting old favorites? Even if you’re almost entirely buying designer, or solely focused on niche/indie, are you still going and trying to sample the rest? I ask because, as passionate as we all are about fragrances on this board, I’ve noticed a surprising number of posts where people mention they haven’t tried some of the most accessible designer scents. For example, in a recent thread about the best designer fragrances of 2025, a ton of folks said they hadn’t smelled many (or any!) of the ones being discussed. It got me thinking: we spend hours here geeking out over notes and reviews, but how often are we actually getting our noses on these scents? I get that niche or indie fragrances can be tough to track down, especially if you’re in a smaller area. But most designer fragrances are pretty accessible at common retailers. For context, I’m currently in my hometown of 20,000 people, which has exactly one fragrance store: Ulta. I’ve seen some recent posts here about the new Valentino Born in Roma Ivory. I hadn’t smelled it yet, so today , on my way to the gym, I popped into Ulta for literally 5 minutes, asked if they had testers, and the associate brought out bottles of both Uomo and Donna to try. Now I can actually share my first impressions when it comes up instead of just saying, “Sounds nice!” It took me 5 minutes, I have no intention of buying anything at Ulta, or even buying the fragrance, but I was curious. I even asked if they had samples available. So, brethren, I’m also curious: • How often do you visit stores to smell fragrances? Weekly, monthly, or only when you’re on a mission? Are you sampling only what you’re truly interested or are you sampling anything new or you haven’t tried before?