I recently watched a video from School of Scent where the host made a great connection—associating Parfums de Marly Layton with Superman and Parfums de Marly Carlisle with Batman. It inspired me to build out a full roster for the group for fun. In this universe: DC = Niche (Complex/Mythic) and Marvel = Designer (Polished/Modern). No women, just guys (I am not familiar with girls fragrances). The DC Niche Squad: - Batman: PDM Carlisle vs. Bruce Wayne: Creed Aventus. The shadows of Gotham vs. the power of the boardroom. - Superman: PDM Layton vs. Clark Kent: Terre d’Hermès. The heroic gold standard vs. the humble, earthy reporter. - Aquaman: Creed Erolfa vs. Arthur Curry: Davidoff Cool Water. The deep-sea King vs. the rugged man of the lighthouse. - The Flash: Xerjoff Torino21. High-voltage energy and citrus that moves at a thousand miles an hour. - Green Lantern: Amouage Epic Man. That deep, "emerald" resin and incense that smells like intergalactic authority. The Marvel Designer Squad: - The Hulk: Dior Fahrenheit (Raw gasoline power) vs. Bruce Banner: Prada L'Homme (The ultimate clean, professional scent). - Iron Man: Roja Elysium. High-tech, expensive, and smart. It’s the billionaire’s take on a designer DNA. - Captain America: Bleu de Chanel Parfum. The standard of leadership—classic, reliable, and respected by everyone. - Thor: Dior Sauvage Elixir. It hits like a hammer—powerful, spicy, and commands the room. - Spider-Man: Versace Dylan Blue. Youthful, versatile, and high-energy. It can do it all. - Black Panther: Creed Royal Oud vs. T'Challa: Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. Ancient regal power vs. diplomatic elegance. - Ant-Man: YSL MYSLF. Approachable and modern. The perfect "everyman" hero scent. - Dr. Strange: Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait. Ethereal, shimmering, and powerful. It smells like literal magic. - Hawkeye: Lalique Equus. Sharp, woody, and precise. A scent for the guy who never misses. I put Dr. Strange in Niche because he’s no longer part of the 'standard' world. While Iron Man uses the best tech money can buy (Designer/Roja), Strange uses forces that most people don't even believe in. He needs a scent that smells like another dimension.

For me, Valentino's Born in Roma Extadose wins by far. It a simple and addictive scent that is great for layering, and suitable for every season. Lavender and wood, with sweet and spice It plays well with others. If you like layering, and experimenting, Extradose is simple but loud, it last long, projects well, and is a compliment getter. I like using it as a base and adding a shot (or 2) of something else. (Coral fantasy and Dylan Blue are nice partners, but PdM's Layton seems a particularly special friend of Extradose... 3 shots of Extradose, 1 shot of Coral Fantasy, and 1 shot of Layton is my secret formula.) What scent did you use most this year, and why?