Got a solid spray to the hand at Macys, which is plenty to get a sense for it. My first reaction: Meh. It’s just meh. The good: it’s pleasant and it actually projects fairly well, I have been catching pleasant whiffs of it for a few hours now. And the woody, powdery vanillic drydown is pleasant. And… that’s all I can really say. The bad: I can’t really say there’s anything bad about it either (although there is a sharpness at the open, probably from violet leaf, that I don’t care for). This to me is just a very pleasant, super mass appealing sweet smooth lavender floral vanilla. To my taste it’s actually very unisex, like straight down the middle. Pretty light on the cardamom & leather and so it’s light enough that I think this can be used safely in all but hot summer days. I honestly don’t see this being the next big thing for Armani - there are of tons of sweet lavender vanilla aromatic choices eg in the BIR line, Invictus Victory and 1 million and Phantom line, Bad Boy line, Gisada Gold, even Ferragamo F Black all coming to mind. I’m not saying all those smell alike or that this smells like those, more that my first impression was oh man this is kind of like things I’ve smelled so many times before and this isn’t so great that it stands out from them, at least to me anyway. Not that the SWY line was groundbreaking or anything, but when I sniff things from that line, I don’t think oh this is similar to so many other things I’ve smelled before (except of course the dozen other SWY flankers lol). I guess what I’m trying to say is the SWY line has some character that I think this release is lacking. I’m honestly a little disappointed, to me this isn’t even decant worthy to test further. But hey, this is just my opinion - go out and sample it for yourself, let me know if you think I need to give this another chance!

Match #37 features two heavyweight fragrance houses and two bottles I expect to keep in my collection for years: Prada L'Homme Intense versus Parfums de Marly Greenley. Prada L'Homme Intense (2017, created by Daniela Andrier) is a fantastic blend of iris, amber, patchouli, tonka bean, sandalwood, and leather. It's powdery, woody, rich, and beautifully smooth. I struggled when buying it because the original Prada L'Homme is also terrific, but the added depth of the Intense eventually won me over. It's certainly not an ideal summer fragrance, but I'm staying home today, so who cares? Parfums de Marly Greenley (2020, created by Nathalie Templer) couldn't be more different. That opening blast of green apple and bergamot over cedar and other woods is bright, crisp, and wonderfully balanced. It's become one of my favorite spring and summer fragrances. I love both of these, and neither is going anywhere when this tournament ends. But I'm a Prada fanboy, and L'Homme Intense is just too good. The richness, depth, and that gorgeous iris ultimately carry the day. Prada L'Homme Intense advances to the quarterfinals, while—somewhat unbelievably—I just sent a Parfums de Marly fragrance into the loser's bracket. Wow.

A true classic, and one that flies a little too far under the radar these days especially for me. I'm a big fan of these old school Chypre. Released back in 1955, & created by Henri Robert. If that name rings a bell, it should, he’s the guy behind some of Chanel’s most enduring work, and he crafted this to be the definitive masculine counterpart to the house’s feminine staples. It’s been reformulated over the years, but the DNA remains remarkably intact. Fun point of interest: this is widely considered one of the first truly modern men’s fragrances, before it, men’s scents were mostly heavy, dense colognes. Pour Monsieur was said to have changed that by being clean, structured, and sophisticated. Seems like it was a benchmark for gents scent ever since. It’s an Aromatic Chypre, its sharp, citrusy, herbaceous, and grounded in oakmoss. Nothing flashy, nothing screaming for attention. It opens bright and crisp: Sicilian lemon leads, supported by orange, verbena, and petitgrain, with Tunisian or Grasse neroli adding that distinct, refined citrus-floral lift. Zesty and airy, never sharp or soapy. As it settles, the aromatic spice comes through — cardamom and ginger provide a gentle warmth, while coriander and basil add a cool, herbal edge. It’s sophisticated, well-judged, and never shouts. But there is without a doubt, a lavender vibe lurking in the background. My nose is nowhere near attuned to distinguish, but I'm guessing it's something along the lines of Lavendin or Linalool. Then the base takes over, this is where it earns its reputation. Oakmoss is the undisputed star: earthy, slightly bitter, and deeply elegant, anchored by Virginian cedarwood and a Patchouli or Vetiver. Dry, woody, and perfectly balanced, zero sugar, zero synthetic sweetness, just proper, grown-up composition. It’s easy to see why it’s lasted 70 years. On skin, it’s polite. Longevity is roughly 5 hours on a good day, which is decent but not spectacular. Projection is moderate, it stays close enough that you’ll smell it, and others will notice you, but it won’t fill a room. That’s by design, though, this was never meant to be a beast. It’s a signature, not a show. Wear it to work, to meetings, on dates, anywhere you want to smell put-together without announcing yourself. It feels expensive, tailored, and timeless. The downside? Chanel’s pricing — you’re paying for the interlocking Cs as much as the juice. But if you want a piece of history that still smells modern, clean, and unquestionably classy? This is it.