Taking the family to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra for our annual Christmas outing. As this show borders on heavy metal, I’ve decided to go with an homage to Tony Iommi. Looking forward to a great afternoon with the fam. Smell your best, always!

Wearing Himeros today. First spray was around 10:55 a.m., and about 20 minutes in it’s clearly in the mid phase. The opening moved quickly, but it was enjoyable. I initially got a cardamom-like spice impression, even though cardamom isn’t listed. Looking at the note breakdown, that makes sense. The combination of Sichuan pepper, clove, and tobacco leaf creates a warm, aromatic spice effect that can easily read as cardamom in the first few minutes. It was a nice, lively opening before the fragrance settled. Once it did, the leather came forward fast and strong. This is a very leather-forward scent in the mid. Masculine, direct, and confident. I initially thought to compare this to Tom Ford Ombre Leather, so I sprayed Ombre Leather and Tuscan Leather side by side. That comparison didn’t really hold. Both Ombre Leather and Tuscan Leather are much smoother leathers. They’re tempered by sweetness and feel more polished. Ombre Leather has a subtle sweetness that rounds the leather, and Tuscan Leather also carries a smooth, slightly sweet tone that softens the edges. Himeros is different. This feels like a more raw, unfiltered leather. Drier, rougher around the edges, and much more forward. It’s not animalic, but it’s also not suede-soft or cushioned by sweetness. The leather is clearly the focus right now. So far, the opening spice was pleasant, and the mid is very masculine and assertive. I haven’t reached the drydown yet, so I’m curious to see whether it softens or stays this direct as it continues to wear. I’ll update once it settles further.