This one rekindled my interest in the Montblanc line. Their latest release the shiny metallic bottle that is a fingerprint magnet. This Oriental Fougère came from the noses of Antoine Maisondieu & Guillaume Flavigny. As a parfum this is the strongest concentration of the Legend line. What stands out it that Amber vibe that I really enjoy. The initial impression is fresh & vibrant, with the citrusy aromatic notes of bergamot & lavender taking center stage. The addition of pink pepper & cardamom adds a subtle spicy twist, making the opening both invigorating & interesting. As the fragrance settles, the heart notes begin to unfold. The iris adds a touch of elegance, while the cinnamon provides a warm, comforting sensation. The clary sage & Pomarose add layers of complexity, creating a well-rounded scent. The base notes give the fragrance a long-lasting, memorable finish. The vanilla is rich & creamy, without being overly sweet, & the Ambrofix™ adds a woody, amber depth. The benzoin, cistus & labdanum add to the resinous, earthy character of the drydown. Despite this being an elixir, the claims of 8 to 10 hrs are bogus. What you will get is 5hrs at best, which is kinda disappointing. It will last longer on your clothes but that's not the point. It projects well enough for about 90m after which it settles down to a skin scent. Performance issues aside, it is a very enjoyable fragrance that will work well in almost any setting. It will work a lot better in the cold for obvious reasons, but can easily work in the warmer climate. My Rating 7/10 Scent 2.5 Longevity 2 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1

Separation anxiety is not just something you see with dogs or humans. Fragrance collectors deal with it too, and I think a lot of people in the hobby do not talk about it enough. There is something strangely hard about getting rid of fragrances, even the ones you never wear, the ones that do not fit your style anymore, or even the cheapies you know you could replace without much effort. On paper, letting them go should be easy. In reality, it usually is not. Part of it is simple attachment. Once a bottle has been in your collection for a while, it stops feeling like just another fragrance. It starts feeling like part of your journey. Maybe it reminds you of a phase when you were first learning notes. Maybe it was one of the first fragrances that made you realize there was more out there than the average designer counter scent. Maybe it was a blind buy that taught you what you do not like. Even a fragrance that is not great can still hold value because of where it fits in your story as a collector. Another part of it is the “what if” factor. What if your taste changes later? What if one random day that cheapie ends up being exactly what you are in the mood for? What if you sell it and later realize it did something unique that your higher-end bottles do not do? Fragrance collecting is emotional, and a lot of bottles stay because of possibility, not reality. They stay because of what they could be, not what they actually are in your day-to-day wear. Then there is the money side, but not always in the way people think. Sometimes it is not that the bottle was expensive. Sometimes it is the opposite. Because it is a cheapie, there is not much financial reward in selling it, so you tell yourself you might as well keep it. It becomes easier to justify hanging onto ten bottles you never wear because each one feels too insignificant to bother moving. But over time those “not worth selling” bottles start taking up physical space and mental space. They clutter shelves, drawers, and even your decision-making.

So I did cave and grabbed the Azzaro Wanted By Night EDP. I mean at better than 50% off RRP it was basically Free 😂 RRP is $190 AUD (135 USD) and selling for $89.99 AUD (64 USD) for the 100ml I just caved and added it to my small collection. I will give it a wear tomorrow, but so far my 8 year old Daughter and my MiL think it smells nice.

This was my second Innvictus purchase, after initially choosing the Platinum version over this, but thankfully I picked it up a few wekks later. This has a nice warm spicey profile with a bright opening. Somewhat different from the OG invictus dna which is more of a fresh aquatic. It still retains that unique trophyesque bottle but I must say, that atomizer is an absolute joke. I have had water pistols that spray better. This one is more of a dribble. The opening is quite brite with a fresh citrusy burst of Lemon, contrasted with that pink pepper that I love. The middle leans into a warmer vibe with a woody/resionus touch from the Frankensense paired witha clean/herbal Lavender note. But its the drydown were Victory comes together with a very dominant creamy blend of Vanilla & Tonka bean. With added depth & warmth from the Amber This is a really well structured scent, with all the individual parts doing their job to create something rather good. It lasts around 7 solid hours and projects really well for 3 to 4 hrs with a rather pleasant scent bubble. ( I like to be able to smell my fragrance in the air throughout the day, not too concerned if others can). Solid fragrance, just wish they would sort out that crappy atomizer. My Rating 8/10 Scent 2.5 Longevity 2.5 Sillage 2 Y/N 1

So today I’m wearing D&G The One EDP. I love this fragrance but after applying it this morning my wife asked what it was and said she didn’t really like it. How do you all react to your spouse not enjoying your fragrance. Do you wear it less. Not wear it at all. Or completely ignore it and wear what you like.