1968 they sold an aftershave so irresistible that every bottle came with *SELF DEFENSE INSTRUCTIONS" to fight off the women ⚡😬 That wasn't a joke, that was the actual marketing.😎📺 did you wear this cologne? 👇 #60s #retro #nostalgia #vintageads #backintheday

Match #32 closes out this round of the second-chance bracket. Tomorrow we'll return to the main bracket, but today's elimination match is a battle of nostalgia: Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum versus John Varvatos Star USA. Both fragrances carry special memories for me. Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum (2023, created by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm) is the fragrance I was wearing the first time I met my now-fiancée in Hong Kong. To this day, she tells me whenever she catches someone wearing it around the city, so it will always be tied to that unforgettable trip. John Varvatos Star USA (2011, created by Rodrigo Flores-Roux) brings back a different chapter of my life. It was a gift many years ago when I was living in South Florida, and that bright citrus opening immediately takes me back to Fort Lauderdale and Miami whenever I wear it. As much as I appreciate the memories behind both bottles, this matchup is an easy call. Ocean is simply the more complete fragrance—richer, smoother, and far more compelling from start to finish. Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum advances to the next round, while John Varvatos Star USA is eliminated from the tournament.

I got a sample of this one a couple of months ago and knew I was going to end up buying it eventually. It's probably a good thing I didn't have this bottle when I started my fragrance tournament. It would easily be a contender. Tuxedo is one of those fragrances that completely lives up to its reputation. Released in 2015 as part of Le Vestiaire des Parfums and created by Juliette Karagueuzoglou, it opens with violet leaf, bergamot, and coriander before revealing a heart of rose and black pepper. The star of the show, though, is the beautifully refined base of patchouli, ambergris, and bourbon vanilla. What makes Tuxedo so special is its balance. The patchouli is rich and earthy without ever feeling dirty, while the vanilla softens the edges just enough to create a fragrance that's elegant rather than sweet. It manages to feel both modern and timeless—dressy without being stuffy. For me, this is an ideal evening fragrance for fall and winter, whether it's a date night, a dinner out, or any occasion where you want to smell polished and confident. Sophisticated, distinctive, and remarkably smooth, it's easy to understand why so many people consider Tuxedo one of Yves Saint Laurent's finest creations.

hello gents, I hope you are all doing well, its been long I haven't shared anything on this platform. I started my journey back in 2017/18 as far as I can remember with budget fragrances from the supershops and then gradually made my way to designers . Throughout my journey in the beginning having 10+ in my collection was a very interesting idea however the more I got into this hobby I realized I wanted a small collection, I dont like fragrances sitting in my closest collecting dust. I've had experience with designers such as Dior , Mont Blanc, Polo , Ysl , Hugo , Davidoff, Issey , Versace to name a few along with Middle Eastern fragrances such as Afnan Now at 23 , my collection is only 4 and I actively sold several of my other used fragrances. My go to is ADG 2024 edt (my signature) , Versace Dylan blue (2nd signature) ELDO You or someone like you ( one nich that I adore) and By the fireplace (a winter fragrance) and what i love about it that all the 4 serve a purpose and get used accordingly. I realized its not about what mainstream media tells you to buy or try , its about whether you will reach for that one fragrance over and over without getting bored or not . It took me quite a few years of trial and error but I'm pleased to say I found my genre of fragrances that I actually enjoy.

I want to preface this post by mentioning that I understand Interlude is NOT for everyone - by a long-shot! If you're not into that Middle Eastern vibe (in this case very intense smoky, incense, etc) this is not going to be your thing. In fact, you may (probably will) hate it. Unfortunately, this is not the case for me. At first sniff (damn you guys at the House of Dubai in Rosemont, IL - Basheer, Aftab, Rahil) was hooked like an addict. Since my first smell of Interlude, I drained my bank account, sold all my worldly possessions and started living on the street just so I could get my next fix of Interlude and the flankers. I lost all my friends and my family doesn't speak to me anymore. It's been rough... That being said, my good friend @Thomas Chavez exposed me to a clone of Interlude, Midnight Oud by Ard Al Zaafaran, in an effort to placate my jones for Interlude with a much more affordable option. Given I am currently holding on to two other Interlude clones (plus the OG and a couple of flankers), I thought I would revisit my two clones along with Midnight Oud. Let's start with the OG, Amouage Interlude (aka The Blue Beast) (currently going for about $300 online): This starts off with a (serious, but controlled) blast of spicy, smoky, incency, ambery oregano. It becomes immediately apparent that this fragrance is not here to make friends. Then it transitions to a dry down of a very rich "smoky" scent that perfectly exemplifies that Amouage frankincense, agarwood(oudy) scent. If you're not hooked by this time, count your lucky stars and move on. It's deep, powerful, yet always in control. If you foolishly spray it on your clothes, it will own that article of clothing for a few days whether you like it or not. To summarize: smoky, incensy, deep and intense. Midnight Oud by Ard Al Zaafaran (about $25 online): This is a very good interpretation of the OG. It captures the smokiness and the resin for the most part. It's a drop "sweeter" to my nose and a bit more synthetic (no surprise there) but an outstanding value. After several hours, it stays true to itself and maintains that Interlude DNA to the best of its ability. You can expect it to last every bit of 7-9 hours.