Match #9 kicks off the first full round of my 40-fragrance tournament, and we're starting with a heavyweight matchup: Burberry Hero Parfum versus Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir. Not exactly a summertime pairing, but with gray skies and steady rain today, it felt like the perfect time to compare them. Burberry Hero Parfum (2024, created by Aurélien Guichard) is the fragrance that started my collecting journey. It's all about wood—cedar, amyris, cypriol, and incense—and it has a warm, confident character that I never seem to tire of. Le Male Elixir (2023, created by Quentin Bisch) goes in a completely different direction. It's a rich blend of lavender, mint, vanilla, honey, tonka bean, and tobacco that somehow manages to be both sweet and sophisticated. This one really came down to mood, because I'd happily wear either on a date with my fiancée. Today, though, I'm giving the edge to Le Male Elixir. It feels just a little more complex and keeps revealing new facets as the day goes on. Burberry Hero Parfum certainly made it a battle, but Le Male Elixir advances to the next round.

Match #8 wraps up the play-in round of my 40-fragrance tournament. From here on, the field is down to 32 fragrances in the main bracket and 8 in the loser's bracket. This final play-in featured #27 seed Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum against #38 seed Gucci Guilty. These were two of the first bottles I ever bought, so there's a bit of history with both. Gucci Guilty (2011, created by Jacques Huclier) is an easygoing blend of lavender, lemon, orange blossom, cedar, and patchouli that I've always enjoyed wearing. But Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum (2023, created by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm) is something special to me. Its mix of grapefruit, incense, vanilla, and oak gives it a smooth, modern character that I really enjoy—but it's also tied to one of my favorite memories. It was the fragrance I was wearing when I first met my now-fiancée in Hong Kong, and she still tells me whenever she catches someone wearing it around the city. I almost feel bad for Gucci Guilty because this matchup never really had a chance. Ocean wins without hesitation and moves into the main draw, while Guilty heads to the loser's bracket.

Hey peeps of fragrances! Got my little bottle of BTF that I bought on that Canada Day sale. For sure in my top 3 winter frags, genuinely addicted..😅 Waited a while for this one to be on sale. Question if you know: was 75 CAD a great price for 30 ml of this? Suprisingly, I'v learned from this order : i'll never order in the summer time again... The person delivering my package decided to leave it on the unshaded part of the porch, where it stayed around 1 and a half hours on the scorching sun, 29 celsius. Ouch. I got lucky though. First thing I did was open it and smell it, making sure the heat didn't change the scent. It didn't, and even smelled it again two days later and we're in the clear. Next time i'll order in the autumn or such. Good day to all!😎

Match #7 in my 40-fragrance tournament was one of the closest so far: #30 seed Burberry Touch against #35 seed Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme. Burberry Touch has a soft, classic feel that reminds me a little of a barbershop fragrance, with violet leaf, musk, pepper, and smooth woods. It’s understated, comfortable, and performs better on my skin than Light Blue. Light Blue Pour Homme goes in a brighter direction, built around grapefruit, bergamot, orange, pepper, and clean woods. It’s lighter and more casual, but that crisp citrus profile appeals to me just a little more. I’d happily keep both on my shelf, and Touch probably wins on performance. But this tournament is ultimately about which scent I’d rather wear, and today that was Light Blue. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme advances by the narrowest of margins, while Burberry Touch drops into the loser's bracket.

Match #5 in my 40-fragrance tournament featured two budget-friendly classics that both deliver excellent value: #31 seed Kenneth Cole Black versus #34 seed Davidoff Cool Water. Kenneth Cole Black (2003, created by Harry Fremont and Sabine De Tscharner) combines mandarin, ginger, basil, incense, suede, cedar, and musk into a fragrance that's fresh with a darker, spicy edge. It has a bit more personality than you might expect at its price point. Davidoff Cool Water (1988, created by Pierre Bourdon) is one of the defining aquatic fragrances, blending mint, lavender, coriander, jasmine, sandalwood, and musk into a clean, marine-inspired scent that's been a staple for decades. I enjoy wearing both of these, but today the Kenneth Cole Black got the nod. I simply prefer its spicy citrus profile over the cooler marine and mint character of Cool Water. Both are great values, but Kenneth Cole Black advances to the next round, while Cool Water drops into the loser's bracket.