This one surprised me. Sunkissed Sands is one of those fragrances that reminds me that you don’t have to spend $300–$400 to get something that smells really good and feels put together. Right from the opening I get this bright, juicy tropical freshness. The mango is definitely there, mixed with grapefruit and bergamot, but it doesn’t come across like some overly sweet tropical fruit cocktail. There’s enough citrus and freshness around it to keep everything bright and wearable. As it develops, the iris, jasmine and pink pepper smooth everything out and give it a little more sophistication. Then you get amber, vetiver and agarwood underneath it. That woody base is important because it gives Sunkissed Sands some backbone and keeps it from becoming just another fruity summer fragrance. This is exactly the type of scent I like in hot weather—fresh and tropical, but with enough depth that it doesn’t smell thin or cheap. And that brings me to the biggest thing here: value. Sphinx lists the 100 ml at $139.99, which in today’s fragrance world is relatively inexpensive, especially considering how many niche fragrances are pushing $250, $300 and well beyond that. And when they run a sale close to 100.00. Performance is also very good for this style of fragrance. It pushes off my skin nicely and leaves a noticeable scent trail without becoming obnoxious. For a warm-weather fragrance, that’s exactly what I want. Scent: 9/10 Projection: 8/10 Sillage: 8/10 Value: 9.5/10 This is easily one of the better Sphinx fragrances I’ve smelled and one I think deserves more attention. Highly rated by me, relatively inexpensive, easy to wear, and it smells considerably more expensive than what you’re paying. Also highly rated on Parfumo and Fragrantica!!! Sometimes we get so caught up chasing expensive niche bottles that we forget a fragrance doesn’t have to cost $350 to be excellent. Sunkissed Sands is proof of that.

Explore one of perfumery’s most mysterious and misunderstood materials - ambergris. Formed inside the digestive system of sperm whales and transformed by years at sea, it’s been prized for centuries not just for its scent, but for what it does to a fragrance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PduV2llkLKQ