A is for Akro Rise I had meant to write this as my SOTD last week, but after spending an hour typing it out on my phone in the app, I accidentally hit the back button and completely lost everything I had written. I was a bit heartbroken over it, and I've been too busy to spend the time to rewrite it. This is the second in my personal challenge to wear samples from different brands, starting with each letter of the alphabet. I'm trying to use up each one in an effort go through as many of my sample stash as possible over the summer. I received this sample as part of the TPG Mystery Box #4 back in 2024. The 2mL sample yielded a total of 4 full wearings spraying 6 to 8 sprays per wear. Akro is an independent niche brand run by Olivier Cresp and his daughter Anais. They focus on gourmand scents, though recently they have released some themed around ink, spices, malt, and tobacco. Rise is a summer oriented gourmand centered around the concept of having Piña Coladas on a faraway beach. The notes are: Top - Coconut Water Middle - Piña Colada, Tiare Flower Base - Sandalwood Scent: 6.5 - This is definitely a summertime scent. It's very coconut forward, and I pick up a sunscreen vibe that I'm not really in love with. It's slightly feminine, though the sandalwood in the base does butch it up a little bit. The notes are very well blended, and it is a very high quality experience. You can tell there is real artistry and craftsmanship here. Performance: 6.5 - On my skin, it dissipates after about 4 or 5 hours. That's not necessarily a bad thing if you are wearing this in the summer. It is an EDP concentration, but I don't think this is meant to be a beast mode fragrance. It leans on the quieter side of projection, making it a discovery scent, not something that enters the room 5 minutes ahead of you. Package Design: 8.0 - The 100mL bottles are big and heavy and feel like they are worth what you are paying for them. The boxes these come in are really cool. This was just a sample, but I have the full presentation for Awake and Dark, and the boxes they come in are really pretty and very well designed. They feel like little art pieces, and I have them displayed on my bookshelf next to my Imaginary Authors and Argos boxes.

Thoughts? Opinions? I figured this article would be right up the alley of @Stephen DeMent , but figured the rest of you might have some thoughts in this area. https://www.gq.com/story/i-went-on-a-quest-to-find-the-perfect-wedding-cologne