Hey Guys Joe A. here with another one for ya'! Today's frag: Penhaligon's Sartorial. OMG!!! So, what do a northwestern lumberjack, a south Texas cattle rancher, a NY stock exchange broker, a Miami drug kingpin, and an antebellum southern genteelman all have in common? That's right, these manly men are the images I get when smelling Sartorial!! This fragrance is the absolute king of "Barbershop" scents, hands-down. Fashioned as a fougere-like scent, I'm hit with a blast of cardamom and beeswax smoothly blended with lavender and leather. It's an absolute must have folks!! I have to say, I've worn this before, so today I limited my sprays to a paltry 4! This frag is strong and projects, I believe you can kill yourself if you overspray. Sartorial also lasts and lasts and has a large projection for at least the first four hours. It has a deep and rich scent, perfect balance between sweet and leathery. After the dry-down, the leather comes out fully and still radiates about a foot or so around you. Smelling this, I felt I had to dress a bit better. It's that good!! This scent I would characterize as the very definition of "Barbershop", refined and mature. I see older gentlemen wearing this, if you're in your twenties or so, forget about it, unless you're in your best suit (think Don Corleone) It can be used in the office but lay off the trigger!! I have no scent comparisons but it's beast mode beats out Red Tobacco!! Longevity: over 12 hrs, Sillage: Strong for 4 hrs, afterwards Moderate. Projection: Moderate. Final Verdict: Guys, even as Joe Average, save up your spare change! Look under the couch cushions, roll your quarters, pick up any loose nickels and pennies (even the face down ones). Take change from the wishing well if you have to (no, no, don't steal...) Do whatever you have to to get the funds for this fragrance. It is absolutely worth it! Fall, Winter, Spring, day or night! And because you don't need much sprays, this'll last! I give this one an 11/10 simply because it's my defining frag in this category. All others have a high bar to reach!!

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.