Collection "Completed"
I thought I might share a little bit of my journey on building up my collection. First, a little bit about me. I'm a middle aged guy, married, living in the northern US. That means we have weather wise everything from -10 degrees F with snow to 105 degrees F with high humidity and everything in between. I'm also a professional who travels quite regularly for work. Basically, what this means is I wanted scents that worked for almost any season, temperature, and occasion. This was all driven by the realization that my wife has always liked it when I "smelled good", and that is what led me here.
I am also not the type of guy who has ever invested in things like clothes, my hairstyle or anything. I have found fragrances an amazing way to express myself - my mood, my feelings, etc. And over this journey I was amazed at how a good fragrance can actually affect my mood as well. Sometimes you can pick a scent to help you feel more confident, suave, relaxed, etc. That was something I never expected.
So, over the past while, I tried decants, samples, researched, watched videos, and yes, even used AI for suggestions and overlap comparisons, in an attempt to try to build up a collection that:
- Stayed Masculine-ish
- Focus on quality
- Wearability (some scents, while amazing, I could just not actually find a situation where I could/would actually wear it. Looking at you Royal Tobacco and Black Phantom)
- Was unique in my own way (that is, not JUST buying the latest trend)
So, with all that out of the way. I figured I could talk about each scent and its profile, but you can read reviews from people better at all that than I am. So instead, I am going to just talk about why I chose each one.
40 Knots — Xerjoff
Living in the north by water, I do find myself out on the water at times, either on the beach or on a boat. This is the perfect "Ahoy! I'm sailing!" fragrance. Everything aside, something about wearing this while being out on (non tropical) water, it just fits.
Absolu Aventus — Creed
To be frank, this just smelled good. And the whole day when I would get a sniff of it I found it made me feel a bit more confident and yet relaxed.
Angélique Noire — Guerlain
This one was almost too feminine, powdery scents walk that line. But the underlying vanilla kept on on the masculine side. But look, I'm going to smell pretty, then I want to smell like the prettiest princess of them all.
Aventus — Creed
It may get some hate online, but I still found this to be a unique scent that I haven't really experienced much. Maybe where you live you smell this everywhere, certainly influencers would tell you that everybody and their uncle can afford glazing in Aventus, but ya know what, I had never smelled it before, and I liked it. It kinda reminded me of the smell of like a JW Mariott hotel - but not in the way that gives you a headache, in the way that just smells clean and luxurious. Like you splurged on yourself. I felt upscale.
Bois du Portugal — Creed
This one grew on me over time. It felt old, but the middle level was just warm and comforting in a "come and hang out in my log cabin" kind of way.
Cuir Béluga — Guerlain
Vanilla deliciousness. Yum.
Gentle Fluidity Silver — MFK
The opening of this made me immediately think of being outside. I actually wore it out at a Farmer's Market and just enjoyed when the breeze would blow and I could smell it. Felt clean, upscale, and it did well in the heat.
Grand Soir — MFK
Something about the resin/amber at the end was just absolutely divine. But a little softer and balanced that some of the others I tried. This felt like the kind of thing you would wear to a fancy dinner, or on a cooler fall night. I really went back and forth on it, but something about the amber just drew me in - just couldn't get enough of it.
Imagination — Louis Vuitton
Everybody has opinions on this one. It's fancy soap. But, it is executed flawlessly. And sometimes, there is beauty in simple perfection.
Incident Diplomatique — Jovoy Paris
I started exploring vetiver, and this was just intoxicating in the middle and end. My wife kept saying "I love that". It was also the first scent I wore that somebody actually did compliment me on.
Jubilation XXV — Amouage
This was a tricky one, when I found Amouage everything felt so strong at first, but as I relaxed a bit and gave in a bit more to the profile, I really fell in love with the complexity. I loved how this changed throughout the day. They talk about feeling like a king? Yeah, totally, I get that.
L'Homme — Prada
Speaking of powdery, this one walks right up to the line of "too feminine" for me, says "Sup?" and doesn't cross that line. But, it is soft and refined in a way that just felt perfect for the office. Not too floral, not super projection, but clean, and fresh, and honestly a little unique.
L'Homme Intense — Prada
Not gonna lie, this was a blind buy. I thought it would work well for work events in the evening. After sampling it, I was right
L'Immensité — Louis Vuitton
Something about this just screamed summer outside to me. It does great outside in warmer weather while still being refreshing. Sometimes citrus can either be too bright or too heavy, and this walked the balance so well of being refreshing, not to bright, and airy. Just very pleasant all around.
Le Beau Paradise Garden — JPG
I gave into the hype. A blind buy because I got it cheap. Now it smells...artificial? Eh, it smells like cheap beach, probably end up using it on beach days when I'm slathered in sunscreen anyway (us northerners have 2 tones pale while and burned to a crisp). It's good, reminds me of a tripcal beach, so its got a little bit of "vacation in a bottle".
Le Male Elixir — JPG
I liked Le Male Le Parfum, and this was cheap (good deal)
Le Male Le Parfum — JPG
Ok, this was my second bottle ever, before I really started my journey. A blind buy, but a good one! Makes you feel sexy.
Millésime Impérial — Creed
This will sound silly, but the second I put this on it reminded me of a hotel my family stayed at on a recent vacation. A lot of happy memories there so it instantly went into the collection.
Naxos — Xerjoff
It's complex, and fun to just smell all day. Makes me feel happy I na sophisticated kind of way.
Orig. Santal — Creed
While I like this, it caused my wife to bury her face in my neck. Put it in the collection!
Orig. Vetiver — Creed
Reminds me of plants, and being outside, and the smells of growing things. A scent that helps you feel full of life.
Oud Stars Alexandria II — Xerjoff
A blind buy I got lucky on. Makes you feel like some old aristocrat/royal line
Outlands — Amouage
The scent, and feelings, this evoke are...complicated, in a good way. Like, why is X your favorite food? I dunno, but I want more!
Pacific Chill — Louis Vuitton
Just lasts forever and reminds you of beaches, and summer, and those happy memories walking along the shore barefoot feeling the waves on your feet.
Reflection 45 — Amouage
More resin! Dripping luxurious, almost hedonistic
Richwood — Xerjoff
Who doesn't love wood!?
Royal Oud — Creed
Made me want to order some stocks "Corner on the market on Wheat!" or go tell a banker what to do. Made you feel strangely powerful/confident
Sauvage — Dior
My first bottle. "Hey Google, what is a good cologne" and here we are....
Spicebomb Extreme — Viktor&Rolf
Had some of this on my wrist, and the whole day working was just thinking "Wow, what smells so good!". It just smells good. No excuses.
Spiritueuse Double Vanille — Guerlain
Sometimes you just want to smell edible.
Torino21 — Xerjoff
I like mojitos, and this is a Mojito in a bottle! Makes me think of sitting outside in a Hawaiian shirt having a drink
Torino24 — Xerjoff
My wife really liked it. A lot.
Tuxedo — Yves Saint Laurent
Its suave in a bottle
Virgin Island Water — Creed
Its like going to the Caribbean, for a few hours at least
XXI Art Deco Blonde Amber — Clive Christian
This was the closest thing I could find the the amber/resin finish of Royal Tobacco while still being something I could actually wear.
So anyway, this was probably more fun for me to write than for you to read, so I guess, thanks? And I'm sorry you made it all the way to the end. But hey, you are done now!