In the backyard tonight with a cigar going and this combo could not be more fitting. Zaharoff Tabac brings that boozy, sweet tobacco base, cognac and rum up top with honey and oud in the middle, drying into vanilla, amber, and myrrh. Warm and rich on its own. Layered on top of that is the Boond Tabaq attar, a traditional Indian tobacco attar handmade in Kannauj using old world methods, no alcohol, no synthetics. It adds a darker, smokier, more animalic edge that pushes the whole thing into a different territory. Together this is a heavier, more complex tobacco experience than either one wears alone. With the cigar smoke in the air, this pairing is exactly what tonight called for.

Super random but Got a late birthday gift from a friend who visited. When he walked in i saw a dior bag in his hand. I was skeptical. He knew i loved perfumes but didn’t know i dislike sauvage. I was hoping it was not sauvage but when I opened it the devil was in front of me. Luckily it was the parfum which i have never tried but heard its the most tolerable sauvage. Lesson learnt. If you hate something enough it comes to you. Now i hate all of the xerjoffs, ysl private lines, Manceras and amouages.

Heading to a friend’s place tonight to smoke cigars and hang out, mid 80s in Long Beach but that’s not stopping me. This was a recent pickup at the Amouage boutique in Beverly Hills for my wife’s birthday and it was love at first sniff. Only three notes here, oud, birch tar, and vanilla, but they’re blended incredibly well. Opens raw and animalic, real barnyard oud, and I get why that turns some people off. But as it dries down the vanilla takes over and smooths everything out into this rich, almost chocolatey, gourmand finish. This is one that changed how I think about oud. Perfect one for tonight.

Perfect pairing for a cigar tonight. This one is built around saffron, and it comes through with that spicy, almost metallic edge that makes saffron so distinct. The musk underneath gives it a creamy, smooth feel, while the incense brings in a smoky depth that ties the whole thing together. Compared to something like Baccarat Rouge 540, this one leans more masculine. Less sweet, more spice and smoke. With the cigar going, this is an easy favorite for tonight.

Got a decent haul this week. Sold a few bottles to free up space for these babies. - Amouage Beach Hut Man - this has been on my radar for a couple months and in its current presentation has been discontinued. Rumors of it be re-released in a new bottle, already making this a collectors bottle. Minty, herbal, with a touch of a resinous note in the base - Naxos - don't need describe this beauty. Snagged it locally from FB Marketplace, brought a a sample to compare smell, even one of my Xerjoff caps to confirm it was legit. - Tiziana Terenzi Kirke - fruit basket banger, got to try it when I was in Italy and both wife and I loved it, she said she would share with me. Snagged the bottle in a sweet bundle deal with the Zaharoff Signature Tabac. Very similar to Xerjoff Erba Gold without the musk. Sold the Xerjoff and kept this one. - Zaharoff Signature Tabac - fantastic photo realistic tobacco and surprisingly kinda fresh take on the profile, can be worn year round. - Moschino Toy Boy and Marwah - grab these 2 in a cheap bundle deal. Wife bugged me long enough to get Toy Boy, I just resisted for so long because of the bottle design, haven't worn that one yet. Marwah was also blind, but heard it was dupe of LV Imagination which everyone races about, $35 for both, shoot why not!?