I have been eyeing The Spirit of Dubai for some time, but the price point always gave me pause. Blind buying a full bottle felt too risky, and even their sample sets run around $140, making the house feel slightly out of reach. Fortunately, I found a deal at Scent Angel. They were running a sale on testers for $100, and an additional 10% discount brought a 50ml bottle of Ajyal down to just $90. The only drawback was the lack of a cap, but considering a bottle with the cap was an extra $95, I can definitely live without it! Describing this fragrance is extremely difficult. After wearing it back-to-back for two days, I’m still trying to figure it out—it’s like wearing multiple fragrances in one. In the opening, I get a vibe similar to Xerjoff’s Erba Pura but with a distinct hit of mango. Interestingly, the official notes don't even list mango, but that tropical fruitiness is definitely there. This part projects heavily for about three hours before it starts to shift. It transforms into an awesome floral aroma that feels very green and fresh, definitely staying away from being overly feminine. It eventually ends with a great musky, patchouli, and woody dry down. Overall, it’s a fantastic summer fragrance with elite longevity, lasting 10+ hours on skin and over 24 hours on clothes. If you can live without the beautiful, fancy cap, a tester is the way to go.

For those of you who celebrate, today is the traditional holiday of Beltane, which celebrates the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It's traditionally when the fields were fertilized, and the hopes for a strong fall harvest were planted. It was often celebrated with fertility rites - the May Pole is a remnant of these celebrations. There is often a bonfire, a feast, weddings, and celebrations that go well into the night. I'm celebrating with my friends, though the rain is putting a damper on things. I have a wedding tomorrow, and there will be a bonfire and celebrations after. I picked Amouage Overture Man as my SOTD. It's resinous, sensual, a little boozy, and mysterious with a bit of an animalic undertone. I'm meeting a date, and we are going out for a little celebration. Should be a good time. I wish everyone a bright blessing and wonderful Beltane holiday!

I’m in Neiman Marcus and there are only six fragrances, no arrangements with the distributor to restock.