Another standout fragrance from the Niche Emerati line. They really do seem to be attempting to bridge a gap between the middle eastern & the western niche perfumeries. This one was an early 2025 release with a close resemblance to PDM's Althair. But unlike the popular alternative, Liquid Bruhn, this is not a direct clone, Yes it does have some of that gourmand DNA, it goes off in a more leather/Spicey direction. All in a rather pleasant twist. The opening is an immediate statement. It hits with the warm, metallic tang of saffron & the aromatic punch of green cardamom. The cumin adds a slight earthy, skin ike warmth while the violet gives an airy, powdery softness that keeps the spices from becoming too heavy. As the initial spice settles, the heart reveals its true character: Suede. This isn't a harsh leather; it's a soft, velvety, brushed suede. The osmanthus adds a faint peachy- loral sweetness that smooths out the edges of the cloves & nutmeg, giving the fragrance a textured depth. The dry-down is where the Stone in the name makes sense. It feels grounded & solid. The ambergris provides a salty, mineral shimmer, while the woody notes & oakmoss give it a classic, masculine-leaning backbone. The musk ensures a clean, lingering trail that stays on the skin for hours. This will last you at least 7hrs on Skin, and it will stay on clothes until they are washed. Projection is solid too. It creates a noticeable bubble around the wearer for the first 3 hours without being cloying. It is best suited for evening wear, formal events, or cold weather daytime use. Its spicy-leather profile makes it a perfect companion for a leather jacket or a sharp suit. Think a bottle is needed for my shelf. My Rating: 9/10 Scent: 3 Longevity: 2.5 Sillage: 2.5 Y/N: 1

We finally arrived to Barcelona, Spain port, the final cruise destination. Tomorrow, we are flying to Paris, France. Therefore, it was the moment to go to Zara and get all the fragrances I liked, since here they can be found at half of the price they sell them in U.S. Here are the ones that convinced me: - Zara Blue Temptation Bold €25.95 - Tobacco Collection Rich Warm Addictive (2021) €15.95 - Zara Vanilla Collection 02: Unique, Hypnotic, Seductive €15.95 - Zara Vanilla Collection 02: Cold Caramel €15.95 - Zara Vanilla Collection 03: Spicy, Playful, Magnetic €15.95

Yesterday I cleaned out my ridiculous sample collection so I could do some organizing. I'll post what I have done so far in another post. That being said, I had taken all of my full bottles and moved them to our basement (finished) so that my wife and I can figure out how we want to display our ever growing collection. A little while back, I started making decants of each of my bottles so I can keep them in my closet for daily use. So while I still have a lot of samples to go through, I am developing a plan to work through them, but for the next little while as the seasons are changing, I am wearing scents I have full bottles with. SOTD: Brunello Cucinelli - Pour Homme This is such a fresh scent with Bergamot, ginger and some woody undertones. It comes out strong on the citrus in the opening and then drys down into a wonderful fresh sweet/spicy almost floral notes. This is Office friendly and a great compliment getter!