A cool day here in Michigan today, so I reached for BdC L’Exclusif. This is my personal favorite BdC flanker, even though it’s not a versatile as the EDP or the Parfum. The added ambery, resinous notes create a depth, richness, and warmth that the others don’t really have. It is Bleu de Chanel’s DNA dressed to the nines; elegant and classy, yet it doesn’t need to be restricted to only “black-tie” occasions. It’s still just versatile enough to break out occasionally as a leisurely SOTD.

Dua's version of Dries Van Noten Rock the Myrrh, which I haven't had. On its own this is fantastic and I really want to do a side by side, regardless I want the OG or at least a decant of it....maybe on one of the splits that I will host😃

Got my hands on a bottle of Aaron Terrence Hughes’ new release Gin Sling today and am giving it a test wear. It literally just got listed on Fragrantica and I think I’m the very first person to rate it (beyond the one vote for “I have it” which I made, at the time I’m writing this no one else had it listed as “I have it” or “I want it“). First impressions are positive - 4 sprays to the arm and it’s very softly projecting, the open is a tart but lightly sweet lime with a hint of bitter tanginess and mild effervescence that’s vaguely reminiscent of tonic water. I don’t really get a lot of gin or even anything juniper-berry like. It’s very well blended and seems mass appealing for sure. There’s something in here that is reminiscent of other ATH‘s (this actually reminds me a bit of last year’s special release Electric Fever, swapping out the aromatics for this tangy effervescent lime) so it’s unmistakably his. I was worried that this would be redundant vs my beloved GNTonic, but thankfully that’s not the case as they are actually pretty different. Frankly, I prefer GNTonic - that one to me is pretty groundbreaking and unique, and really captures the essence of a gin and tonic, whereas this one doesn’t seem very revolutionary to me. That said, it is easy and pleasant to wear. Not really sure what the longevity is like – we’ll see how the four test sprays on my arm do. I did try two sprays to the hand earlier today and after 4 1/2 hours it was barely a skin scent, so hopefully with more sprays this will last longer than that.