Picked up a long overdue haul from the Dubai Perfume Shop. Picked up some new releases and a truckload of samples which no doubt the kids will acquire 😂 It's gonna take a moment to work through this lot. Honestly my nose went blind on three occasions in store. Have a great weekend brothers 🙏 Full bottles: Aromatic Royal Taboo - French Avenue Amber Empire - French Avenue Qannad - Le Falcone Shouq Le Falcone Prometheus - Ahmed Al Maghribi Intoxicate - Le Fede Samples: Qamarain for Him - Amaran 8th Wonder - French avenue Risala Autograph - Le Falcone Kaaf Noir - Ahmed Al Maghribi Nomad - French Avenue Oud & Roses - Ahmed Al Maghribi An Equestrian Series Pierce - French Avenue An Equestrian Series Haydan - French Avenue Oud Afghano - Ahmed Al Maghribi Shiyaaka Shadow - Khadlaj shiyaaka Snow - Khadlaj Kola -Amaran Kafu Al Roses - Amaran

This is a true modern classic, launched way back in 1998 and composed by master perfumers Annick Ménardo and Christian Dussoulier. It’s the fragrance that put Hugo Boss firmly on the map and spawned dozens of flankers over the years, yet the original remains the benchmark. Classed as a fruity‑woody‑spicy scent, it sits right in that late‑90s era alongside releases like CK One and Burberry Weekend — but in my view, it’s far more polished and better balanced than either. Funny enough, it’s also the only fragrance I own where I have a cheap clone (remember Xbolt from my review last year?) that sits at 99% identical to the real thing; that tells you just how straightforward and well‑defined its formula is. The scent profile is layered but never complicated. It opens bright and juicy with apple, plum, lemon, and bergamot, softened by touches of oakmoss and geranium — giving you that instantly recognisable fresh‑fruity‑clean start. The heart is listed as having cinnamon, though I’ve never really picked that up myself; instead, mahogany and carnation take centre stage, smoothly shifting the focus from fruit to warm wood with just a hint of soft floral. The dry‑down is where it settles best: vanilla comes through clearly, followed by sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and olive tree. It stays smooth, slightly sweet, and gently green right to the end — no harsh edges, no weird synthetic turns, just consistent, easy‑to‑read composition. Performance is actually solid for an EDT, easily lasting 6–8 hours on skin with decent projection for the first 2–3 hours before sitting close. The only real letdown is the price these days: my local shop is charging €63 for just 50ml, which feels steep for what it is. I paid a fraction of that when I bought mine, and honestly, at full retail it’s hard to justify when you can get near‑identical dupes for a quarter of the cost. Still, it’s a keeper in my collection — versatile enough for office, casual days, or evenings, safe enough for any setting, and one of those scents that never goes out of style. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s done right, and that’s why it’s stuck around for nearly 30 years.

I just recently took a chance on a bottle of Mast Boozy, and let me tell you, I am pleasantly surprised. I find this scent very appealing, and I will update this post with further opinion after I wear this scent for a bit. In the meantime, here’s a graphic on the scent…