The last of my new 25ml bottles, Shaghaf Oud Elixir. Honestly, I like OG Shaghaf Oud more. Nothing wrong with this. Its very close to the OG, just a touch sweeter, and maybe fresher. A rose/oud/saffron bomb! Lasts forever, projects into space. More than 1 spray could be fatal Power for pennies. Shaghaf Oud elixer is cheap and unbelievably strong! I prefer the original, but i can see how others could like this more. 7/10

I sampled I WILL by Giorgio Armani while traveling through London Heathrow Airport, and what a lovely fragrance it is. It has a warm, sophisticated, and confident character, with a rich, modern scent that feels both elegant and effortlessly masculine. I was immediately taken with it and can easily see why this fragrance caught my attention. Looking forward to adding the one to my collection.

Today's SOTD continues my exploration of Parfums de Marly with Herod. I've actually had this sample for many months, but I think this is only my second time wearing it. Fortunately, there's still plenty left in the atomizer—and after today's wear, I'm very happy about that. Herod is unquestionably a tobacco fragrance. The tobacco is prominent from the beginning and remains the star throughout the wear, but what impresses me is that it never becomes overbearing. It's featured rather than dominant—if that distinction makes sense. Around it, vanilla and spices provide exactly the right backdrop, adding sweetness and warmth without competing with the tobacco. Cinnamon and pepper give it some spice, while the woods and incense underneath add depth. Everything seems to know its role, and the blend is beautifully smooth. This is exactly the kind of cool-weather fragrance I enjoy: rich, warm, mature, and distinctive without needing to beat everyone in the room over the head. And unlike some of my other PDM samples, I'm not wondering whether I like Herod enough to keep testing it. I'm wondering whether I'll buy a bottle when the sample runs out. Wow. Current status: Full-bottle contender. This just moved very high on my Parfums de Marly list.

I had been researching a fragrance that would be a step up from Polo Black; It wasn't tough, but the fragrance need to have a Mango note, a special part of Polo Black's character. God of Fire was going to be my next pick. But a review on Fragrantica suggested Vertus Serenade. This was, believe it or not, a $129 blind buy. But it was worth it. I've never been this complimented over a fragrance. Magnetic cap, high quality atomizer, excellent box and bottle presentation. Alongside Polo Black EDT (my work/travel fragrance) it's among one of my signature scents. Apply between three to five sprays. Sticks well on clothes, and for me, it has strong performance and sillage. Spring and Summer fragrance but can be versatile. TOP: Bergamont, Mandarine, Grapefruit, Juniper, Mango HEART: Osmanthus, Patchouli, Lavender, Magnolia BASE: Musk, Vetiver, Labdanum, Ambroxan, Oakmoss

Today's SOTD is YSL MYSLF Le Parfum, and this is one of those fragrances that's very easy for me to like. Orange blossom gives it a fresh floral character, while vanilla, amber, and woods add warmth and sweetness underneath. It's smooth, modern, versatile, and extremely easy to wear. I could see reaching for this in almost any season and for plenty of different occasions. So yes, I enjoy it. But do I love it? That's where I'm not quite convinced yet. There's nothing here that bothers me, but when I'm deciding which samples eventually deserve to become full bottles, "nothing bothers me" isn't exactly a compelling argument. And before buying anything from the MYSLF line, I want to explore it more thoroughly. MYSLF L'Absolu is particularly high on my want-to-sample list, and I'd like to try a couple of the other versions before deciding which one—if any—earns a spot on the shelf. Fortunately, there's no hurry. I'll enjoy the rest of this sample while I track down the others for comparison. Current status: Like it, don't love it—at least not yet. Keep sampling the MYSLF line before making a decision.