I personally despise summer. It's hot, heat makes people angry, and you can only wear so little to cool down. Especially facing days of 105-115F in the mostly arid climate of the NorCal valley. I'll take arid over humid any day (I did spend 10+ years in Florida for comparison). However, what I struggled with the most after dealing with Spring allergy season, was finding a summer-friendly fragrance. My tastes have always leaned toward cold weather. Gourmands, heavy delicious food, coats, scarves, boots, newsboy hats... but sadly, fragrance-wise, the dreaded description of "cloying" must be considered. It was challenging to find something appropriate that I also liked. However, that's where I'm grateful to be exploring the middle-eastern market. I initially tried Lataffa Ramz Silver because of its affordability and fruity notes... only to find a little too late that it's a less mature-smelling version of JPG's Ultra Male (and I'm already much happier with the superior clone of Rayhaan's Lion EDP). I still like it and plan to use it, but I needed something... more tropical. Several videos, search engine AI questions, and countless time scrolling around Fragrantica, I finally settled on Hawas Tropical. Only $40 on Amazon. Top: Coconut water, fig leaf, ginger. Middle: Coconut, fig, and mint. Base: Sandalwood, tonka bean, musk. Essentially a near-superior clone of JPG's Le Beau Paradise Garden. Even right out of the bottle (after 10 sprays to get the initial often synthetic smell out), I really liked the creamy coconut, slight fruit, and comfortably musky smell. I like that it's fresh-smelling without being marine. Personally, most marine or blue fragrances remind me too much of cheap stuff like Axe, or too commonly used.

In following my last ingredient post regarding Davana flower, wanted to highlight possibly one of the rarest ingredients due to unique region, maturity, and refinery attributes for conducive potency and quality: Tuscan Orris Root. The Iris pallida plant, cultivated primarily in the Tuscany region of Italy, is often referred to in the fragrance world as "white gold". Why? Not just because the Tuscan variety is the most desirable and supply is already limited (competing sources are China and Morocco, but considered less potent than Tuscan), but because it takes 3 to 5 years to undergo a natural oxidation process that creates irones, the aromatic compounds responsible for its signature scent. Much like wine, it's kept in warm cellars to mature. If that weren't enough, it requires one ton of rhizomes to produce just a few kilograms of orris butter or absolut. Synthetic substitutes? Not directly, no, but ambroxin, basically synthetic ambergris, adds warm animalic qualities (such as leather scents). All that effort... and what does it smell like? A floral violet tone and a warm, creamy, earthy quality with a powdery, woody and leathery texture. That is from the Society of Scent, though a Brave search also describes it as: Velvety, powdery, and elegant, with notes reminiscent of vintage lipstick, suede, and cool earth. Cool story, bro, but tell us what we really want to know: - Which fragrances? - Cost? - TUMI Continuum (2021) is a notable modern example, listing Orris Root as a key middle note alongside tobacco leaf and amber, creating a sweet, spicy, and powdery profile that reviewers describe as high-quality and niche-like. Shockingly, only around $40. I'll personally be investing in this down the road. - CK One: This classic unisex scent features orris root in its floral heart, balanced by citrus top notes and a woody base. $64 - Chanel No. 19: While often considered unisex, this elegant, green, and powdery perfume uses Orris root centrally to add sophistication and depth. The EDP 3.4 oz spray typically retails between $160 and $230. - Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist: A dominant iris-focused fragrance known for its powdery and earthy characteristics. The official Serge Lutens website lists the 75 ml Eau de Parfum (sold without a spray mechanism) at $347.00. For a cheaper clone, there's Afnan's Supremacy Silver at around $30. - Prada L’Homme: Frequently compared to TUMI Continuum, this fragrance is renowned for its clean, powdery iris note. Around $100. - Dior Homme Intense: A popular masculine scent where orris/iris provides a soft, powdery contrast to cocoa and other notes. Around $130.

Enjoying my trip down the knock-off rabbit hole of colognes (the Middle Eastern market has some serious clone game!). After watching several more videos, heard good things about Jean Paul Gaultier, and came across Rayhaan's Lion eau de parfum (equivalent to JPG Ultra Male). So, $80-$150+ vs $35 per bottle. For now, I'm exploring cheaper options. Scent profile: - Top notes/initial burst: Pear, lavender, and bergamot (first 10-20 mins) - Middle notes: Cinnamon, clary sage, and cumin (next 20+ mins) - Heart: Warm gourmand; dominated by vanilla, amber, and cedar (1 hour+ after full dry-down) Estimated lasting time? Varies per skin, but reported between 5 hours to 24 hours. Suggested application amount: Minimal - 1-2 sprays (one on skin, one on clothing). Suggested setting: Somewhere with good air circulation/open-area; definitely not a regular everyday signature scent or office-friendly cologne. Reported to linger in the air in passing... I'll have to test that. Bottle presentation? Very nice for what it is. I especially like the copper with antique finish lion head, and 3D Arabic brand inscription on the back. Magnetic cap is a nice bonus. Feels solid in my hands, and the black + copper/gold color matches my home interior decor theme. At first spray, this actually reminded me of a cologne I'd forgotten an ex of mine from 20 years ago used to get for me - Jaguar (classic blue). However, as it settles, I'm picking up more of the scent profile. It's been about 30 mins since application and I can tell the top notes are slowly yielding to the next level. This is despite being a bit stuffy from allergy season. Maybe it'll grow on me, I do like that it has such potent time-releasing layers... but I honestly like my Cremo Spice and Black Vanilla the most so far as a regular signature scent.

While exploring the fragrance world has been a fun deep dive, it's started feeling addictive. That's why, thankful for payment plans, I'm stopping for a while with this new crowning jewel to my collection: Armani Stronger With You Absolutely. At this point, I'm happy with what I have, with a variety to choose from. While I'm still happiest with the Cremo Spice and Black Vanilla as a daily go-to signature scent, I really did want something from the luxury tier. Something complex and sophisticated, with great longevity, subtle layers, and amazing sillage (said to linger for over a kilometer). Why Armani SWY Absolutely? After doing my research, watching several non-sponsored reviews, and thinking hard about what I like and what a partner might like, this seemed the best bang for the buck. As per my previous post about the davana flower, it's an ultra unique fragrance, as the davana will add my own skin chemistry to the mix in how it reacts to the overall scent compilation. While the initial scent doesn't hit as hard as, say, Cremo, it lasts; especially following dry-down. Cremo is only a surface scent and doesn't last. However, if you use ASWYA as a base layer, then 1-2 sprays of Cremo S&BV on top, it layers well. Bonus tip: Lotion. Either unscented, or something like Viking Revolution Spiced Vanilla, holds the fragrance even more effectively. Not to mention we should all be moisturizing our skin properly anyway.

In exploring the affordable middle eastern fragrance market, I came across this very interesting find: Jawhara Oud Velvet. Yes, with tax, it comes to only $15 (though I saved $2-$3 with a digital coupon). Rather than add the scent profile here, I've attached that in picture form. Oddly, for such a low-priced fragrance, while it does have that "cough drop" smell on initial spray, once it settles, is quite nice. Like smoked rose and spicy incense. The longevity is, quite frankly, amazing! I sprayed it on a new Merino wool V-neck shirt last night, as well as my wrists, and I STILL smell it 12+ hours later! That being said, while I don't like it enough as a dominant or sole fragrance, I love it as a base when layering. This morning, I layered some Rayhaan Lion eau de parfum on my torso, then Cremo Spice and Black Vanilla on my neck. The result is utterly amazing, and all the notes play well off each other (especially since all 3 have vanilla in some form).