Today im testing the last of my new Shaghaf scents, Vanilla Toffee. I didnt like it at all when I sprayed it on. I almost washed it off before going out, but as it calmed down and my nose adjusted, I decided it wasnt terrible. I went out for lunch a bit concerned that it was too strong, but my waitress/friend said it was very light, comforting and pleasant. This is a sweet gourmand with toffee, vanilla, coffee, nuts, and cardamom. A bit smokey/woods at the base. I've been wearing it for about 4hrs now and i keep flipping between liking it, and not liking it. I smell like some kind of Starbucks Carmel drink and I can't decide if thats a good thing or not. Its showing no signs of slowing down, so I assume it will last forever, like most of the Shaghaf line does. I felt the projection was huge, but my waitress's comments leave that in doubt. Definitely a cold weather frag. Id say its true unisexed. Perfectly suitable for men and women. On first wear, im putting this as my least favorite of the line, but it may grow on me with time. I'll wear it all night at work, and if my opinion changes, ill let you know. 6/10

Finally a decent not one or two mail call. 1. House of Cosmo Limited Edition: Dark Matter reformulated with Lux Prima 2. Tree of Tuba Antares and Arcturus 3. Superz Budapest Smesh and Morroco

I sampled I WILL by Giorgio Armani while traveling through London Heathrow Airport, and what a lovely fragrance it is. It has a warm, sophisticated, and confident character, with a rich, modern scent that feels both elegant and effortlessly masculine. I was immediately taken with it and can easily see why this fragrance caught my attention. Looking forward to adding the one to my collection.

I think we are going to see a lot more coming out of Asia over the next few years, especially in niche and artisan perfumery. As someone who enjoys exploring beyond the usual houses, this interests me. We often talk about French, Italian and Middle Eastern fragrances, but China, South Korea, Japan and India deserve a place in that conversation. These countries have their own scent traditions, ingredients and talented perfumers, and more of those creators are reaching an international audience. The growth forecasts are substantial. Grand View Research projects the Asia-Pacific perfume market reaching approximately $18.9 billion by 2030, compared with $11.5 billion in 2024. That is a forecast, but it gives you an idea of the opportunity companies see in the region. Here is how I see the different countries fitting into this: China: A major market for premium fragrance, with growing competition from its own perfume houses. Brands are using Chinese culture, familiar scents and personal memories to establish an identity. Euromonitor reports that the top two companies lost some of their combined market share between 2020 and 2025 as niche competition developed. To me, that suggests buyers are becoming more willing to explore beyond the established names. South Korea: This is a market I expect to gain more international attention through its fragrance brands, packaging and retail experiences. Houses like Nonfiction, Tamburins and Elorea are bringing their own perspectives to perfume. Some emphasize quieter, intimate scents, while Borntostandout shows that Korean perfumery can also be bold and unconventional. There is no single Korean fragrance style. Japan: The direction here appears to be toward premium and niche fragrances. What is interesting is that recent sales growth has come with relatively stable volume, meaning people are spending more without necessarily buying more bottles. I see this as a market where a distinctive fragrance and the discovery experience could matter more than simply flooding the shelves with releases.