I decided to explore more niche fragrances this year and I am starting of with some Mancera. Hindu Kush really struck a cord for me. It's said to have been inspired by the rugged mountain range that spans the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is a dense, resinous, and deeply atmospheric fragrance. From the initial 10 fragrances that I got it is probably the most unique from this house, moving away from the typical "rose-oud" DNA to explore something more herbal and mystical. Released in 2018 by Perfumer Pier Montale, the founder of both Montale & Mancera. ​It is an Amber Woody fragrance. Despite the name, it does not smell like a head shop. I was actually taken back when I tried it first as I don't enjoy cannabis in my fragrance, but the The note here is green, botanical, and oily, rather than smoky or skunky. ​The opening hits with an explosion of dry spices. You get a prominent hit of black pepper, clove, and saffron. Very quickly, the incense and cannabis notes emerge. The cannabis here is "green" and resinous, providing a thick, herbal texture. ​As the initial spice settles, the heart becomes much woodier. Patchouli takes center stage, t’s earthy but clean. This is paired with dark wood accords and a touch of terpenic resin (labdanum) that keeps the fragrance feeling balsamic and rich. ​The base is where the Mancera signature shines. It softens into a warm, slightly sweet foundation of amber, white musk, and Madagascar vanilla. The guaiac wood provides a lingering smokiness that ties back to the incense in the opening. When I first tried it, it smelt somewhat different must have been the scent cloud as I was running 4 or 5 different scents up each arm. Performance wise, this is an easy 9hr wear. It projects rather heavy for the first 3 hrs , this will fill a room so spray with caution. Perfect for the colder weather, Hindu Kush is a masterpiece for those who love "dark green" fragrances. It’s spiritual, mysterious, and commanding. If you enjoy scents like Amouage Interlude or Tiziana Terenzi Laudano Nero, this will likely be a hit for you.

Picked up a great haul from the @dubaiperfumeshop.ie today, some amazing fragrances and oils. They always look after me really well. Got a great promo going on too Musk Mood - Lattafa Karlus Secret Musk - Khadlaj Aftermath - Fragrance World Frost Ice - Ahmed Al Maghribi (freebie) Reef 31 - Reef Red African - Al Haramain Exotic - Ahmed Al Maghribi Samples: Classic Stone - Niche Emerati Reef - Reef 33 Mousuf - Ard Al Zaafaran Simply Oud - Lattafa Khalid - Niche Emerati Art of Universe - Lattafa Toleen - Lattafa Antique - Lattafa Tuwaiq Arabs - Reef

Usual routine for a Saturday with my wife: visit to the Trafford Centre for lunch, with clothes shopping and fragrance testing galore. Got a lot of things on card, including a big swing through the Initio line and a trawl through the Acqua di Gio flankers. And, as always, four spots of real estate on my arms for frag testing. I went in with a list, and got three of them plus a wildcard for the 4th. - Armani Acqua di Gio EDP - Went through this line heavily, testing all we could find (EDT, EDP, Elixir, Profundo EDT, Profundo EDP), and concluded this was the freshest and best for me. Skin wear went well, and wife reacted VERY well to this whole line. A full bottle is definitely on the horizon (will hunt down a test of AdG Parfum first, for the set). - Barbour Coastal for Him - Lovely marine fresh opener that became sadly nondescript in the drydown. The Barbour line has great tops but their mids and bases are so underwhelming. Think I'll stick to their jackets. - Jo Malone Bronze Wood and Leather - Tried on the recommendation of Sean Kavanaugh in this group. Notes seem absolute fire. Skin test went okay, was hoping for a little more kick from the grapefruit in the middle. May spring for a 9ml sometime in the future. Thanks for the tip, Sean! - Tom Ford Cherry Smoke - A private blend fragrance that was my wildcard (after nothing from the Initio line took my nasal fancy). Brilliant smoky cherry top that mellowed into a sweet cherry heavy smoky middle, reminiscent of liquor and speakeasy and rich leather furniture. I think the mid cherry might be a bit too forward, but I do like this. I'm after a smoky fragrance, and while I don't think this is it, it's a good smell for sure. Should be popping back again for another round of 4 sometime in the week ahead. Fun!

Polo Sport for the run/walk 5k. Been two weeks with out running since the cold the past too weeks but warmed up here and almost 80s for the high the next couple of weeks. Fyi watch the RMRS recently fragrance video when taking the screen shots.

Magara goes for that deep-blue, oceanic-mineral profile: salty air, wet rocks, and an airy “marine” accord that feels both fresh and intense at the same time. It’s not a simple “shower gel aquatic.” This is more stormy coastline than beach resort—briny, slightly metallic, and a bit musky/ambery in the drydown. It has that “open water” vibe, but it’s a touch smoother and less aggressive than the raw, wild edge you get from Megamare. Scent rating: 8.2/10 Sillage Magara projects strongly in the first hour or two, then settles into a noticeable scent bubble that follows you around. People will catch it when you walk by, especially in warm air or indoors with movement. It’s not shy at all, but it’s usually more wearable than Megamare’s nuclear blast. Sillage rating: 8.5/10 Longevity This one hangs on. On skin, you’re looking at 8–10 hours pretty consistently, and on clothes it can easily push longer. It keeps that salty-mineral DNA deep into the drydown without turning muddy. Longevity rating: 8.7/10 Comparison: Magara vs. Megamare Similarity: Magara is clearly built in the Mare/Megamare lane—salty, marine-mineral, airy-musky, “ocean power” style. Key differences: - Megamare is more feral, louder, and more abstract, with that aggressive mineral/ambergris feel that can come off sharp or overwhelming. - Magara is slightly cleaner and more controlled, with a smoother wear and a friendlier drydown. Which to pick? - If you want the closest thing to an ocean-scented pressure wave, go Megamare. - If you want that vibe but more wearable day-to-day (and less likely to offend a room), Magara is the smarter reach. Wear it like this - Best seasons: spring/summer, but it works year-round if you go light. - Best settings: outdoors, casual, warm weather, daytime. - Spray advice: start with 2 sprays. Don’t get brave until you learn it.