The other night my wife made the comment about another event I was wearing. “You better buy a bottle” “you can’t run out” That lead us here! Sample to bottle conversions. The fortunate part for me is that she loves scents as much as I do and we can share some of our growing collections. Not a bad way to end 2025!!

The wife and I went on a fragrance safari at Macy's just before Christmas. We tried several different brands for both of us. I knew what I was buying her, Coco Chanel No-5 and Chanel Mademoiselle. However, I told her buy the fragrances she liked best for me and walked away. She bought me Burberry's Hero EDT and a Ralph Loran gift set containing Polo 67 EDT/EDP, and Red Polo EDT. I was delighted haven't used the Red Polo or Polo 67 EDP yet. However, I have used the Burberry Hero and Polo 67 EDT and like both of them.

I am not going to give a doctoral thesis, but I would like to point out a few things, especially for some of the newer brothers here in the group. I know I keep saying certain articles and videos are advertisements, and to me, that's all they are. Whether it comes from a magazine or Gentscents, which I adore, it is still just advertising to me, as these writers and YouTube influencers have created a business out of fragrance. Even our own Antonio does not post his YouTube videos on his own group, which he created. Like Most of us here, we are Fragrance lovers who love the art of Perfumery. I started my Journey with Dupes or Clones, as we put it, because I did not have the funds to jump in immediately. But my journey started in my youth and in college, as I always had 1 or 2 of the top designer fragrances that worked for me. The reason I joined this brotherhood was the opportunity to interact with brothers and to learn from them. With like-minded people who share a love of this hobby. That being said, I will always ask what the performance is, etc., etc., because there is a bond that develops and a mutual trust, as now I am getting advice from someone whom I personally interact with on almost a daily basis. I get a real, live accounting, sometimes varying, accounting of what and how the fragrance performs with a real, live person who I interact with and is giving me thier real, live opinions!!! We all have access to magazine articles, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, Magazines, Articles, books, etc. If I wanted info from that, I would be able to pull it up myself. I could interact with total strangers and possibly Schills in the comment sections!!! No, I joined this to get and compare real-life notes with brothers whom I trust, not strangers or salespeople, but brothers who share the same passion and who may have had a better or worse experience with said fragrances, so I can compare notes and learn!!! Anyway, just some food for thought, as it seems like we are letting outside influences take up a large portion of the group. I do not care what Mr Dua has to say or Mr Chaos fragrance!!! or even Mr Gent Scents!!! I can find all that out on myself. I dont care what the GQ or Vogue writers have to say or what brand they are pushing for more Ads, as I can read that on my own!!!

I have mostly been a lurker here because as a scent newbie I stand by the “ remain silent and be thought a fool rather than speak and remove all doubt” statement. I have elected to pay to stay here and continue to learn but I know some of you will leave and I wanted to make sure you each knew you were appreciated. I feel not about paying for access but helping to continue to support the group and pay my share. If I was in Antonio’s shoes it would be hard for me to swallow my pride and ask for help. At any rate you guys are awesome and I wish you the very best no matter your choice.

This year absolutely delivered on the gift exchange. I gave my wife two watches, a Springbreak Bubblegum and a Michele chronograph. She also received two scents, which landed perfectly in her rotation. I made out pretty well too. Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Parfum joined the lineup, and I finally restocked John Varvatos Original EDT after running it dry. That one feels like welcoming an old friend back home. Somehow, without planning, my wife and I also gave each other cashmere sweaters. Same taste. Same timing. Still laughing about that. The real win was the day itself. My goddaughter, my sister-in-law, and my wife’s best friend and her husband all around the table. Great meals. Games that got loud. Zero rush. Just being present. Merry Christmas to everyone in this forum. Grateful for the conversations, the curiosity, and the shared love of scent.