So on my recent trip to Belize I ran across these in port. Needless to say I didn’t indulge. They had tons of “designer” and “niche” fragrances. All for the low low price of $18 USD 🙄 I didn’t get photos of them all but they had any creed and PDM you could think of.

As many of us here in the Beginning stages of the fragrance community and our hobby, we followed lots of fragrance influencers. I want opinions on who you feel sold out? And who you feel stayed the course or is honest. Debate is welcome; all opinions matter. If you cant take it or get hurt feelings, please dont participate. I would also love to see Examples of why you believe either way. Let the Challenge begin!!! I’m not saying every big fragrance influencer is dishonest, but I’m cautious with the ones who constantly push top-10 hype lists, affiliate links, discount codes, sponsored bottles, and “beast mode compliment getter” content. Once every new fragrance sounds amazing and there’s always a code attached, it starts feeling more like sales than honest reviewing.

Continued with the Replica set from Maison Margiela. Today was Bubble Bath. It opens very clean and airy with a strong soap bubbles accord backed by a bit of bergamot brightness and a soft pink pepper sparkle. Quickly moves into the heart where lavender, jasmine and rose give it that fresh laundry and hotel spa vibe. The drydown is mostly white musk with a smooth coconut creaminess and a very faint patchouli base adding a bit of depth. The name makes sense, but not in a literal bubbly bath way. It smells more like stepping out of a hot shower, using luxury hotel soap and wrapping yourself in a fresh towel. Performance is mid. Projects nicely for around 2 hours before sitting closer to the skin. Around the 6 hour mark it becomes faint and disappears soon after. Nice scent, very cosy, but it feels too soft for the price which is a shame. I have heard ALT. Fragrances makes a near 1:1 version that lasts longer so i might look into that. Overall a 7.2/10. Clean, cosy and comforting but not the best performer, generic and leans feminine. They have to start making edp versions of these. Im one of the guys who prioritises performance as much as profile so MM is falling short here.

I’m planning to get 2 x 10 ml bottles this time. I already own Addicted and Aura, so I’d love some suggestions for must-try picks.

Well the ATH marathon continues with 8 left to go after today. Sadly the weather is working against me somewhat with the temps 30-40 degrees colder than yesterday. Odyssey+ is a wonderful citrus marine frag with a TON of depth due to the basenotes. Sadly discontinued though. I feel lucky to have the 30ml in the collection. Performance is typical ATH even with this being a “freshy”. I say often with ATH that Aaron pulls me out of my normal preferences in parfum. I’m absolutely not a freshy guy normally. As usual the quality of composition here is what pulls me in. Delicious and mass appealing, O+ is work safe and long lasting. 3-4 sprays lasts longer than any freshy I’ve ever owned. One word that comes to mind when I smell ATH frags is SMOOTH. Ability to obtain and price are the only downsides to the house imho. If I had to guess, maybe 2-4 brothers here actually own this as it came out in 2024 and is discontinued now. Not a long time. Be well and warm brothers.