https://youtube.com/shorts/MNzpRFm9yfs?is=Sq9tADXP2vdLx5N2

I was about to make this a SOTD post, butt changed my mind as this question popped into my head. I know we all have and are still building collections. We all start out and are in different places in this journey. But I noticed how my FBW criteria has changed since I started and was curious about the other brothers. When I first started, I would hear about a scent, if I smelled it and liked it in the store it was an immediate bottle purchase not wear testing, not sample grabbing just straight to the bottle. Over time I have become a bit more discerning, now don't get me wrong I have still bought a couple of bottles by falling victim to the shopping excitement, but I have been lucky enough to still be happy with those. Now I am at the point that I will wear my samples a few times before I make a decision to add it to the FBW list. Because of the relationships at the stores I have made I have a crazy amount of samples to go through and I am doing that lately and just doing my samples that were either given to me by the salespeople or by my family at Christmas. and making some decisions. I'm wearing BTV - Hasu today. Now I know that Boadicea is a polarizing house. You either love it or hate it and most of the hate I have read online comes from pricing. I had worn this one a few months back and thought hmmm 🤔. this is nice, I'll have to revisit it. I chose it for today and both of my harshest critics gave me compliments. My wife and my book keeper both of whom never hold back (even when I think they should 😜). So this one will be added to the FB conversion list. So let me know. 1) What is your criteria to convert to a full bottle? 2) do compliments play a roll in your decision? Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!!

First launched in 2021 and created by perfumers Anne Flipo, Loc Dong & Carlos Benaïm, this is an aromatic‑woody flanker that reworks the loud, sporty energy of the original Invictus into something cleaner, sharper, and far more grown‑up. Unlike the sugar/aquatic feel of the standard release, Platinum leans hard into green & herbal territory. it feels less like a stadium scent and more like a well‑groomed, modern office‑friendly fragrance. Small detail that matters: the spray mechanism here is miles better than the dribbly atomiser you get on the Victory edition; it gives a fine, even mist rather than globs that just slide down the bottle. The opening hits bright & sharp: juicy, zesty grapefruit leads the way, backed by that distinct bitter‑green kick of absinthe that cuts right through any sweetness before it settles. Within 10–15 minutes, it softens into a crisp heart where mint brings a cool, fresh edge, while lavender adds that familiar aromatic, soapy‑clean vibe that keeps it feeling sharp rather than heavy. The drydown is grounded by cypress — giving it that green, slightly resinous structure — and earthy patchouli that adds just enough depth to stop it from turning thin or watery. I do pick up a faint, almost unplaceable bubblegum‑like sweetness deep in the background, plus a subtle hint of ambroxan that gives it that smooth, modern “clean skin” radiance common in many contemporary designer scents. On my skin, it lasts a solid 5 hours, with decent projection and sillage for the first 2 hours before it pulls in closer and turns into a soft skin scent. It’s one of the most versatile Invictus variants out there — works perfectly in warm or cool weather, office settings, casual days, or evenings out, without ever shouting too loud. If you find the original too sweet or synthetic, or Victory too heavy‑fruity, Platinum hits that sweet spot: it still has the recognisable Invictus DNA but feels refined, balanced, and like a fragrance you won’t get sick of after a few wears.