u/Jertob

Especially from the random account names that have their profiles locked. Astroturf marketing is a very real thing on all social media especially on Reddit. There seems to be a misconception like this community is safe from it almost like it's so out of the scope of the mainstream like who would come here to a clone sub and waste their time with marketing, and you would be wrong and that's precisely what they hope you would think.

Aside from the "you should always buy decants first" train of thought, I see way too many people in glaze posts asking more questions to the op and appearing to be sold on a purchase after their reply reassuring them the fragrance is truly an S tier frag. There's also the possibility that at least some of those accounts asking the questions which then claim they are sold and can't wait to buy it are also part of the marketing.

Here's something that you need to get comfortable with... The majority of people in this sub and I think all of the cologne community are currently under the impression that anyone reviewing something on YouTube or tiktok or Instagram are total shills and are doing it in hopes of eventually getting those free bottles from the houses sent their way. But they also believe everything in this sub is totally organic and way more trustworthy because we're such a close-knit community and we're better than those guys etc whatever. There is a fairly unwarranted sense of exclusivity bias. By nature you believe more of what you read here than what you watch on YouTube. Do not let yourself fall into that trap.

If you want an example of what goes on here with astroturfing, videogame marketing firm Trap Plan ran roughly 100 "organic-style posts and comments" across gaming subreddits for War Robots: Frontiers, formatted so most players wouldn't realize they were marketing, and then published a blog post bragging about how well it worked. Reddit users found the post. The firm deleted it, the developer publicly distanced itself, screenshots survived. That's the rare case with a paper trail, because they confessed in writing.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/game-marketing-company-takes-down-blog-post-bragging-about-how-good-it-is-at-astroturfing-reddit-after-reddit-finds-the-post/ar-AA1Qbnun

Nearly a decade on now, a 2017 Forbes investigation showed a marketing agency openly bragged on a phone call about manipulating Reddit conversations and finding several such agencies took the reporter a few hours of basic Googling https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2017/02/20/reddit-is-being-manipulated-by-big-financial-services-companies/

Then there is the University of Zurich affair. This isn't marketing, but it's a crazy proof of concept: researchers ran AI bots on r/changemyview using personas including trauma counselors and assault survivors, posting over 1,700 comments while analyzing users' histories to personalize persuasion. Reddit's chief legal officer called it wrong morally and legally, banned the accounts, and filed complaints with the university. Nobody spotted it organically. https://decrypt.co/318649/reddit-cracks-down-ai-bots-infiltrated-debate-forum

Also here's something to keep in mind that might be contrary to what you believe should be the case. It is much more likely a small YouTuber or tiktoker that is willing to put their face out their publicly with a negative statement attached to a product is giving a more truthful view on it than someone writing text while hiding behind a locked profile with an auto generated account name that is glazing a frag.

Case in point and actually part of the reason I felt I needed to make this post is this video where the guy claims that the new frag Cedrus Blanc smells disgusting . I watched this earlier in the day. Then maybe an hour ago I happened across a post in this sub giving a review of that frag with heaps of glaze attached to it and I'm thinking geez I realize scent subjectivity exists but sometimes you just have to wonder. (EDIT: and their display name I noticed is SmellTheBestForLess, which definitely doesn't imply anything to do with sales at all, right? Totally organic average frag enjoyer public facing name) Think about it, what exactly does a locked account with a random user name get long-term out of putting effort into writing up a positive review and dropping it into a sub like this with no links to a YouTube channel or anything else otherwise that shows the person is trying to do this as a means to grow something to be noticed, grow a brand etc., and not seeming like it's just a one-off paid shill? https://youtu.be/DOI5PTxK4ys?is=1TExaNg2La1Fvpp5

Anyway be careful out there and don't be naive.

I bought this blind based on some hype since I dig the spicy/dark type scents like Halfeti, Tuxedo, Babycat, Outlands, etc.

Actually did not like it on first test. There was some weird bite to it like animalic something in the deep end of the scent that was offputting

Few weeks later (last night), decided to try it for my girlfriend before I sold it just in case and she actually loved it. Smelled much better to me as well.

On the drydown a few hours later as you can see in the chat message, it actually smells to me like a spicy unsweetened chocolate. What the spice could be I'm not sure, maybe cinnamon? With an unsweetened honey mixed in? The "Other two" mentioned was Initio Rehab and Musk Therapy.

Anyway, regardless of what notes are supposed to be in it, just telling you what it smells like to the average nose. So give this a whirl if you like these kind of scents, supposed to be an inspo of Amouage's Sinbad/Elsewhere.

May take a few weeks to age after initial spray to settle in.

Reminder astroturfing exists on Reddit, and you should be extra skeptical of every glazing review.

Ramad Earthy went from barf on first test to pretty good a few weeks later (GF loves it)

Man catches odd shadows being cast on the ground during his UAV flight during clear skies.

Has anyone here ever layered a Sauvage with a Farenheit?