A bunch of upcoming releases either coming soon or already released… Gucci Guilty EDT Intense Armaf Club De Nuit (Creed Wild Vetiver inspired) Riiffs Freeze In Flames French Avenue Aromatix Ora Khadlaj Island Sun Kilian Midnight Express Kilian Pina Paradiso Maison Crivelli Tobacco Carnaval Amouage Decision 42

The last of this rounds testers from Mancera. Windwood was released in 2014, by Pierre Montale. This opens bright and lively right away, mandarin brings a sharp, juicy freshness that cuts through nicely, while pink pepper adds a gentle, spicy warmth that never gets harsh. The fresh herbs round out the top with a crisp, green, almost outdoorsy lift. It’s a really pleasant introduction. Z isesty enough to catch your attention, but balanced so it doesn’t feel like a generic citrus blast. Everything settles down quite quickly though, making way for the heart to take over after about 15 or 20 minutes. The heart is where the real character of this fragrance starts to show. Patchouli leaves bring that earthy, slightly damp richness, but it’s not the heavy, sweet kind you get in some orientals, here it’s greener and lighter. Oakmoss steps in with that classic damp-forest depth, giving it a vintage feel that reminds me of older, more sophisticated scents, and vetiver adds a dry, grassy, smoky edge that keeps everything grounded. It’s a really smooth combination, three notes that complement each other perfectly without any one fighting for the spotlight. In the base it all wraps up into something warm, refined and surprisingly long-lasting. Cedarwood provides a solid woody backbone, amber adds a soft, golden sweetness, and the leather gives it just enough smoky, smooth texture to feel substantial without being overpowering. White musk ties the whole thing together with that clean, skin-like finish that Mancera does so well. Performance is reasonable, easily 6+ hours on skin with decent projection, and it works just as well in the office as it does for evenings out. My Rating 7/10 Scent 2 Longevity 2 Sillage 2 Would I rebuy? 1

I’m have room for one classic, easy to wear and elegant citrus woody aromatic warm weather freshie. Well fine, I don’t actually have room but I love these both so much that I’ll make room. - Hellenist Les Dieux Aux Bains: delicious fresh bright aromatic that’s got a relatively uncommon fluffy texture (maybe from the eucalyptus?) and is electrified by a non-sharp juniper and minerals. This one was heavily hyped in the community, but for good reason IMHO. - Atelier des Ors Riviera Drive: this is aromatic citrus woody freshie perfection in a bottle. It’s just absolutely perfectly done - smooth aromatics with a twist, the absinthe and marjoram give it an uncommon but not unusual profile. Both of these are super addictive, and in a large collection I would have no hesitation to get both. But… There can be only one. Unless I sell my bottle of Boss Collection Vigorous Cologne and make room for both, I guess

Enjoying this extremely rare beauty tonight. When I wear this, it's like visiting someone who has been around the world, seen and experienced things that most people never will. You sit across from this man and you know the conversation and the stories will be ones to remember. Sitting in his office, only lit by a fireplace, surrounded by old books, aged leather seating, cigar and drink on the table. Notes of this exclusif beauty: Vanilla, Tobacco, Blond woods, Black Musk, Amber, and leather

Match #52 in the second-chance bracket features the now-defunct Galleria Parfums By the Yuzu Grove versus Givenchy Gentleman Original (2024)—two fragrances that approach masculinity from completely different directions. By the Yuzu Grove has one of the most powerful and delicious citrus openings of anything I've tried. Yuzu, lemon, and mandarin explode off the skin, with ginger adding a little spice over a base of vetiver and cedar. There's not a great deal of development as it dries down, but when the basic scent profile is this enjoyable, I'm not sure that's much of a complaint. Givenchy Gentleman Original (2024) goes decidedly old-school, with patchouli, leather, tarragon, and woods creating a classic barbershop-style fragrance. It's mature, masculine, and very nicely put together. As usual, though, the deciding question isn't which fragrance is more complex or sophisticated—it's which one I'd rather wear. And today, that answer is easy. Give me that huge blast of yuzu and citrus. By the Yuzu Grove survives and advances in the second-chance bracket, while Givenchy Gentleman Original is eliminated from the tournament.