I think I made my first frag purchase in November / December 2024, and until then I was relying on a 30+ year old bottle of Polo Green given to me by my father-in-law back in the 1990s. In 2025 for some reason (GLPs, I think) my interest in fragrances was all consuming. I've bought niche, designers, clones with reckless abandon. Some purchases were brilliant, some not so much... I don't need to tell you what I'm talking about. In the middle of the summer I decided that the only answer to this newfound obsession was going to have to be a trip to the motherland of Middle Eastern fragrances, Dubai. Anyway, we're leaving this Wednesday (?, maybe Tuesday...) and my wife has finally come to the realization that I'm going (ever so slightly) overboard to get questions answered. Besides, I want to see what the heck it's like in that part of the world. You guys have GOT to check out this video. If this isn't what I'm looking for, I GIVE UP! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR7_qCCDN33/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA%3D%3D

This was definitely one of my splurge purchases back in the Spring while doing some traveling for work. Due to some flight delays the airline actually ended up paying for this one and my bottle of Aventus, but I didn't know that at the time. I actually got this originally for my wife but she said it smelled like rubber tires on her and amazing on me. So win-win I guess. Anyways, after a few months macerating a bit sweeter more ambery than I remember from the last time I wore it a couple months ago. The extremely smooth leather that reminds me of oiled saddle leather from my youth growing up on cattle ranches or at least near them, two of my uncles were cattle ranchers, we just grew hay. Anyways, thought I would ring in the new year with a statement that I wanted 2026 to be fabulous. 2025 was a good year in some ways, started the Year by taking my health more seriously and dropped 30 lb to get my health and weight back to a healthy level. As part of that I got into this hobby joined this brotherhood. It was also really challenging in others as work and life tend to be. But usually every year I'm ready to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new so thanks to 25 and here is to 26. In terms of notes, this one is a blend of taco bean leather. Amber and what they call aromatics I get a little bit of something green and herbasciuos but subtlety. Is it worth the price point? That's up to the individual, I don't regret buying it, but would I buy it again possibly? Possibly it's a little less approachable I think than the original so definitely worth getting your nose on skin rather than strip as my wife said it smelled like rubber tires on her skin. Wishing everyone a wonderful year! May the road rise up to meet each and every one of you 🙂🤠