The Christmas tree lights turned the Aventurine dial into a small galaxy on my wrist. The sparkle shifts as you move, and the tree just helped it show off. The Erebus always walks that line between clean design and a little quiet magic. Paired it with Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Le Parfum. Smooth, modern, and steady through the day. It matched the watch’s tone without competing for attention. Simple pairing, but the two worked together well. A little shine on the wrist, a clean trail in the air.

Perfume houses are generally classified based on their brand identity, production scale, target audience, and distribution channels. The main categories are Designer, Niche, Indie, and sometimes an overarching "Luxury" tier, though the lines between these categories have blurred significantly in recent years. Here are the primary classifications of perfume houses: - Designer: These fragrances are produced by major fashion houses (e.g., Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada) as an extension of their main brand portfolio.Focus: Designer scents aim for mass-market appeal and are often trend-driven, versatile, and easy to like. They are developed to be crowd-pleasers with broad demographic appeal and availability: They are mass-produced and widely available in department stores, beauty retailers like Sephora, and online shops. Marketing: These brands rely on large marketing budgets, glossy advertising campaigns, and celebrity endorsements. Price: Generally more affordable than niche options due to economies of scale in production. - Niche: Niche houses focus primarily, or solely, on the art of perfumery itself, rather than being part of a larger fashion or lifestyle brand.Focus: Niche brands emphasize creativity, artistry, complexity, and unique scent profiles that might not appeal to everyone but are treasured by enthusiasts. They often use higher-quality, rarer, or unconventional ingredients. Availability: Historically, they were available only in specialized boutiques or high-end perfumeries, making them more exclusive. However, many have been acquired by large corporations (like LVMH or Estée Lauder) and are now found in major department stores alongside designer brands. Marketing often relies more on word-of-mouth and the story behind the scent than mass advertising. Price: Niche fragrances typically have a higher price point due to limited production, artisanal methods, and premium ingredients. - Indie (Independent): Indie houses are a subcategory of niche that are smaller and truly independently owned, often with the founder or a single perfumer (nose) responsible for the creations.Focus: They represent the most artistic and experimental end of the spectrum, with maximum creative freedom and limited commercial pressure.Availability: These are the most exclusive in distribution, often sold only directly from their website or a handful of specialized online retailers.Price: Prices can vary widely but are often premium, reflecting the small scale of production and ingredient cost. - Luxury/Artisan: These terms often overlap with high-end niche or exclusive designer lines. "Artisan" generally implies products that are handcrafted in-house in smaller batches, while "luxury" points to the highest tier of price, exclusivity, and ingredient quality (e.g., Clive Christian or exclusive lines like Dior Privée). 

Needs no introduction really. A citrusy, woodsy scent that is very mass appealing. Definitely more intense than the original.

After my experiments with ChatGpt on organizing my fragrances and trying to be more intentional about what I wear based on weather and temperature I sorted my new spreadsheet and based on today's temp. Went with Oud Alezan by Hermès. This is such a wonderful scent. Definitely flower forward, but warms up quickly. and has great projection and longevity. I really like this one. This is my Older Son's signature scent so it must run in the family!! 😎 Here is what ChatGpt can tell you about it for that are interested in more detail. Hermessence Oud Alezan – Hermès Fragrance Family: Rose–Oud / Floral–Woody Gender: Unisex Style: Clean, elegant, refined, modern oud Concentration: Eau de Parfum (Hermessence strength — smooth but persistent) Perfumer: Christine Nagel Oud Alezan is Hermès’ most romantic oud creation — airy rose, refined oud, soft florals, and a touch of citrus brightness. It is elegant, modern, and sophisticated without any harsh, dirty, or animalic oud qualities. This is oud the Hermès way: polished, weightless, and haute couture. ⭐ Scent Profile — Full Pyramid Top Notes - Pink pepper – fresh, rosy spice - Citrus zest (likely bergamot & mandarin) – bright opening - Aromatic freshness – airy, sheer, uplifting The opening is bright and sparkling, never heavy. Heart Notes - Rose absolute – luminous, elegant, pure - Floral blend (peony-like, slightly powdery) - Light oud accord – airy, woody, smooth - Fresh spicy facets – maintains a soft lift The heart is the signature: a glowing rose wrapped around a gentle oud core. This is not a smoky oud. Not a Middle Eastern barnyard oud.It is silky, refined, perfumer’s oud, designed for elegance. Base Notes - Clean oud wood – polished, soft - Cedar & dry woods – structure and elegance - Soft musk – smooth, skin-like - Low amber warmth – subtle, not sweet The dry down is woody, rosy, slightly spicy, and beautifully soft. 🌹 How Oud Alezan Smells (Plain Language)

One man’s junk is this man’s treasure today. I’m wrapping up a job and as I’m leaving the superintendent’s office I see this cardboard box with frags in it collecting dust so I ask him about it. He told me one of the residents at the property sadly passed away then he ended up receiving these bottles. Lucky for me he’s a simple 2-3 bottle kind of guy as it is and after taking the two bottles he did like he gave these all to me 🤯. Granted these are all used some more substantially than others but hey, the Layton and double black was enough of a win for me alone. All the others are just a bonus. Og Nautica, tumi awaken, polo double black, Layton, JV XX artisan, BLV pour Homme, and Henry rose sheep’s clothing. At first sniff none of them seem to be spoiled either. It’s a good day to be a fraghead.