This is the darker, more serious iteration in the Bad Boy line. To be fair, it's where the range finally finds its proper voice. Released in 2022, and interestingly crafted by three perfumers: Quentin Bisch, Louise Turner, and Yann Vasnier. That's a serious amount of talent on one project. Point of interest: this was built as the richer, more mature follow-up to the original Bad Boy — stripping away the playfulness and leaning straight into warmth, spice, and a cocoa note. It's an Ambery Aromatic Woody — designed for cooler weather, evening wear, and making a proper impression. The lightning bolt bottle gets the black-and-gold treatment — looks sharp, though you're paying for the shape as much as the juice. It opens with a ginger and sage combo for a sharp, spicy-herbal kick that wakes you up immediately. The ginger adds real heat, not synthetic spice, and the sage keeps it grounded and aromatic rather than sweet. That brightness softens reasonably fast, and the heart takes over with cocoa and vetiver. This is where it stands apart from everything else on the shelf: smooth, dark chocolate richness paired with vetiver's earthy, smoky-green depth. It's gourmand without being edible. Its warm, and genuinely interesting. Then the dry-down: tonka bean and patchouli. Creamy, sweet, slightly resinous, anchored by that earthy patchouli depth. The tonka gives it a smooth, almost vanilla-like warmth, but the patchouli ensures it never loses its backbone. Nicely balanced, with equal amounts of sweet, spice & wood, all in the right measure. This one delivers. On skin I'm getting almost 5 hours easily, with solid projection for the first 90m. Its noticeable without screaming, then settles into a rich, close scent bubble that lingers on clothing. A few well placed sprays does the job, it doesn't need more. That said, it's not a year-rounder. This is strictly autumn and winter territory — the ginger, cocoa, and tonka combo would most likely turn flat in heat. Wear it evenings, dates, dinners, nights out — anywhere you want to feel put-together and confident. If the original Bad Boy felt a bit too light and playful for you? This is the one. Darker, richer, proper.

I'm not sure if it's me, where I'm at in the hobby, or if it is just generally not a great release year, but I've been struggling to get excited about most of the new releases this year. Flankers for brands and lines that I'd been collecting up to this point seem boring and flat. Is anyone else finding this year's releases less than stellar? I'm just wondering if it's that or perhaps I've hit a saturation point in my collection. M aybe it's both? Curious as to others experiences this year, and as always, open to recommendations to things that might be more exciting that you've discovered this year.

The Black Dinner by Anomalous Parfum is a limited-edition niche fragrance released on August 1, 2026, priced at $210.00 and restricted to just 100 bottles. Inspired by the historical Scottish political betrayal of 1440, the scent emotionally mirrors a feast turning into execution with a dramatic and dark note breakdown. Fragrance Profile - Top Notes: Raspberry, wine, and dried fruits - Heart Notes: Metallic blood accord, Bulgarian rose, and jasmine sambac - Base Notes: Amber, vanilla, fruity Prachin oud, Siberian deer musk, and white musk accord [1] Concept and Background - Inspiration: Named after the infamous "Black Dinner" where young clan leaders were lured under a false pretence of peace and beheaded. - Artisan House: Created by perfumer Zackariya Ibn Hossain for his independent Australian niche line, known for utilizing complex natural raw mate