Had a late lunch with a couple of friends this afternoon and a discussion about fragrances came up. One guy asked about Gravite and if anyone’s tried it after seeing the commercials, or Bella Vita, TCZ, and Gumoon which beautiful women on TikTok “guaranteed would drive women wild.” I mentioned I have tried Gravite and found it to be a very good, but an unremarkable, fragrance IMHO but have never heard of of the other three as I’m not familiar with TikTok or what products they promoted. Anyway, out or curiosity I thought I would ask the group if anyone was familiar with the TikTok fragrances. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

Halfeti Amber is a Dubai Mall exclusive. Not an easy one to get in the US but worth the hunt IMO. It keeps what I love about Halfeti but rounds the edges with beautiful amber and soft suede, and performs much better than the OG on my skin. Solid 10/10.

If you know Slumberhouse, you know this indie house has a serious cult following. Their limited drops often sell out in less than a minute. I was lucky enough to time the latest drop from Fumerie in Portland just right and score a bottle. And it was delivered this afternoon! For those unfamiliar, Slumberhouse is an independent perfume house out of Portland, Oregon, founded by self-taught perfumer Josh Lobb. He’s known for creating bold, unconventional fragrances that don’t smell like much else out there. This stuff isn’t cheap, especially considering you’re only getting 30ml, but the quality is undeniably there. So what’s Sådanne like? Think rich, juicy strawberries, jammy rose, white wine, ambergris, and woods. The strawberry is definitely the star here, sweet and almost syrupy, but there’s a tart, slightly boozy quality that keeps things interesting. The rose adds a floral richness while the ambergris and woods bring a darker depth. It’s fruity and sweet, but there’s something sophisticated and almost mysterious underneath it all. This is my second experience with Slumberhouse, but my first exploring this side of the house. It’s quite a departure from the darker, heavier fragrances they’re typically associated with. First impressions? I’m impressed! It’s a unique take on a fruity floral that manages to feel playful and luxurious at the same time. Definitely not your typical strawberry fragrance. I’m looking forward to spending more time with this one and seeing how it develops on skin. Anyone else have experience with Slumberhouse or sampled any of their offerings? Curious to hear your thoughts and impressions!

One of my favs from Roja. Luxurious, rich, spicy, leathery, and animalic. Just the way I like it.

Part 6 - Coffee Beans Reset Your Nose Between Fragrances: THE MYTH: "Smell these coffee beans. They’ll clear out the last fragrance and reset your nose so you can accurately smell the next one." THE REALITY: Coffee beans don’t provide a proven, special reset for your sense of smell. They introduce another odor, and smelling something different is not the same as restoring your sensitivity. THE EXPLANATION: We’ve all seen the little containers of coffee beans sitting on fragrance counters. After several fragrances, someone hands you the beans as if they’re an eraser for your nose. But your nose doesn’t need cleaning out. With repeated or prolonged exposure, your sensitivity to an odor can decrease. This involves olfactory adaptation and habituation, often casually called nose fatigue or nose blindness. Coffee beans have actually been tested for this purpose. In a 2011 exploratory study, participants repeatedly smelled fragrances, then sniffed coffee beans, lemon slices, or plain air before trying to identify an unfamiliar fragrance. Coffee beans did not produce better performance than lemon or air. That doesn’t settle every possible testing situation, but it doesn’t support treating coffee as a reliable reset button. You may feel refreshed after smelling coffee. You’ve changed the smell and paused your fragrance testing. That feeling alone doesn’t prove your ability to distinguish fragrances has returned. My practical advice is to slow down: - Step away from the fragrance counter and its cloud of competing scents. - Breathe normally in relatively unscented air and give yourself a break. - Test fewer fragrances at a time. - Come back later if everything starts smelling similar or difficult to distinguish. Some people like briefly smelling an unscented area of their sleeve or skin. That can be a familiar reference, but I wouldn’t present it as a scientifically proven reset either. A shirt carrying detergent, fabric softener, or perfume simply adds another scent.