r/ScentHeads

Waiting to receive a Frederic Malle D’hiver and I am stacked AF

Got my hands on King Blue today. Have to say it beats everything else I've ever smelled.

Just received Armani Code Parfum. First time smelling it and a blind buy. Loving it so far.

Quite expensive though. I paid around 110$ for 50ml

Smelt it in the store , thought opening was amazing and it’s quite unisex not fully feminine

So i bought Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille 100ml and yes again a blind buy after Tuscan Leather & Ombré Leather Parfum!

Review- Opening is sharp Tobacco & the vanilla note working so nice behind it. Still a classy scent in winter you can wear! Some Aromatic & spicy top notes i can smell and that dry down with a strong tobacco and sweet same time! And cocoa & dry wood i can smell.

Longevity- 9/10
Scent- 9.5/10
Projection- 10/10

It’s an incredible perfume for winter 10/10. Definitely people will notice you after wearing this! Definitely lasting over 10-12 hours on your skin.
I have some niche fragrances and still i would say Tom Ford give you a niche quality of perfumes in designer bottle. :)

2 years ago I discovered that there are other fragrances out there other than Stronger with you intensely and Davidoff cool water and I fell in love with perfumery. I’ve been slowly slowly growing my collection and I got to a point where I now kind of know what I like and thought I’d give my 5 cents on the ones that made it to my shelf. I’ve sampled propably 50+ niche designer and affordable ME fragrances and also gifted/sold/traded a lot of stuff. Some of my favourites I’ve tried I can’t afford yet but I’m saving up with time. Absolu Aventus, Gris charnel Extrait, PDM Haltane, Absolute Aphrodisiac and City Rhythm Miami are next.

Club de nuit intense man edt 6/10
Definitely a skip. When you familiarise yourself with higher quality fragrances you can understand how cheaply made it is. I’m sure for someone out of this hobby this is more than enough but if you care about the perfumery and blending this is bottom of the barrel I’m sorry

9pm night out 6.5/10
It’s like a person that has never gone to a club made a clubbing fragrance. It does remind you of that but falls sort to other staples of that genre(Eros, Paco rabanne, ultra male). The dragon fruit note is bright and synthetic with a tropical feel drying down to a suede toffee that’s actually quite pleasant

Lattafa khamrah 6.5/10
My first ME fragrance. It smells nice but it’s really waxy up close. I like smelling it on someone else but not so much on me. Leans quite feminine.

Dior Sauvage EDT 7.5/10
This is incredible for what it is. Ultimate versatility, masculine, doesn’t smell offensive and people seem to respond great to it. It does become a little basic and boring and everyone owns it so I tend to choose scents that have more personality.

Versace Eros EDT 8/10
Sooo this is a weird one for me. It smells mass appealing and boring but the sweet fresh combination with the punchy projection gets complimented so much. It’s so simple smelling that it works. My summer time going out scent

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra male 8/10
I actually prefer this to Eros but it’s too cloying in the high heat. Smells really good, propably the most mass appealing scent in my collection. Bubblegummy sweet with some mint and lavender to freshen it up. The pear and vanilla are amazing. The only caveat is that ultra male lives in the shadow his younger brothers.

French Avenue Liquid Brun 8.5/10
I haven’t had as much time with this one but it’s an amazing comforting spicy vanilla that feels masculine. This stuff for the price I got it at is unbelievable. It leaves an amazing scent trail and i think it will be a staple for the upcoming winter.

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb extreme 8.5/10
Amazing spicy vanilla with a bright peppery opening that dries down to sweet cinnamon tobacco. This is incredible for winter and one of the best designers of all time. My issue is that for this scent profile there are higher grade fragrances that perfect it, leaving this one behind if you can afford them. If you can’t tho this is the best spicy sweet affordable for winter. 50€ for 90ml on discounters is insanity.

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum 9/10
Sharing the throne for the best Date night designer along with Noir Extreme by Tom Ford. Iris with cardamom and vanilla making it a sensual classy scent with intimate projection perfect for closer encounters.

Arabiyat Prestige Marwa 9/10
This is propably my most used from my collection after SWY. It’s so easy to wear inoffensive but also unique. It’s perfect for what it does and I haven’t even mentioned the price. 30€😂. It’s what I put on when I don’t want to stand out too much but still smell good. Gym, errands and so on.

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir 9.2/10
This is my Fall/Winter going out staple. It’s what it was made for. Loud Attention grabbing mass appealing youthful and f*ckboyish. I don’t care if it’s hyped or basic or whatever. This is the only scent that has consistently gotten me compliments from random strangers and it’s perfect for clubs, bars and places you want to be noticed and smell addictive. Niche snobs will spend 900€ on The night by frederic Malle and wonder why people gag when they walk past. It’s popular because it works.

Armani Stronger with you intensely 9.2/10
Objectively should not be this high rated but the sentimental value bumps it up. It was the only fragrance along with Cool Water I had from 14 to 19. I met my first gf cause she chased after me asking why I smell so good. This is the perfect fragrance for a guy at that age range. Its youthful sweet cozy and for lack of better words huggable. It projects well and everyone likes it. Now that I’ve started digging my nose into more complex and unique creations this is admittedly a little boring.

Yves Saint Laurent Myslf L’Absolu 9.5/10
This could go up to a ten. One of my most used. Incredible easy to wear uni office signature versatile scent that just works. Smells amazing and gets complimented. Projection isn’t crazy but that’s what you need from a fragrance like that. Bergamont ginger and orange blossom perfection. I’ve worn it on dates in the summer and it actually worked incredibly well for that as well. It’s what I pick up when I want to smell amazing regardless of the situation.

Sospiro Vibrato 9.7/10
Propably top 3 summer scents on the market and this one is propably the number 1. Fresh fizzy uplifting grapefruit and ginger with musk and magnolia in the base. This is loud and long lasting and does what it promises perfectly. No need to say more

Tom Ford Ombré Leather 9.99/10
This is my signature scent. This is what I want people to remember I smell like. Buttery leather with cardamom to spice it up and jasmine to give it a floral smoothness. I’ve tried other leather scents like London, African Leather, the brother Tuscan leather but nothing comes close to this masterpiece. I can’t explain how much I love this stuff. Soft to moderate projection perfect for a leather scent since they tend to choke people out and outstanding longevity.

By Killian Angels Share 9.99/10
This is my newest pick up but I’ve been scouting it for a year. Go to date night scent or when you want to smell sexy(I cringed a little saying that but this is what it is) Absolute gourmand addictive perfection. Women love it Men Love it Your Mom loves it. Fragrance will not make you get laid but this is one of the few that might help lol. I tried affordable alternatives nothing comes close. I tried a few niche like oajan or sugar leather that smell similar and I prefer AS to them. By a mile actually. On the rocks would compete if the opening lasted and didn’t dry down to a diluted version of this.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille 10/10
I’ll start this off by saying I know that this is very popular and kind of basic but I couldn’t care less. This is for me the pinnacle of fragrances. I just love it. The tobacco wrapped in vanilla sweetness with the dried fruit and cocoa supporting the whole thing is just perfection. Like it was made to appeal exactly to my taste. It’s quite linear but I love how this smells so that’s not really a negative. Performance and sillage are also a 10/10. I tested multiple tobacco fragrances before I committed to a 100ml of this and it was better than all of them. Some of the ones I tried were Herod, Triupmh of Bacchus, Arabesque, Zaharoff Signature Tabac and some dupes that were honestly a joke. Definitely not versatile and oriented towards special occasion or going out.

Honourable mentions of my 2 ultra expensive 10ml decants that I tested thoroughly and keep only for special occasions.

Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade 9.5/10
Ultra masculine Oud Rasberry and leather fragrance. It’s quite simple but incredible smelling. It smells expensive, unique and dominates every other smell in the room with how potent it is. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a bottle due to the price but I use 2-3 sprays a few times a year on really important events in my life where I want something special.

Clive Christian Jump Up And Kiss Me: Hedonistic 9.5/10
This was my date night scent before I bought angels share. This is the highest quality frag in my collection and it honestly feels more like art than a fragrance - I can’t really describe it. It’s so beautifully blended that you can’t exactly pick out the notes except this cherry that everything else wraps around it. Amazing niche perfumery that balances the line of mass appeal and artistry perfectly. This was probably made for noses way higher class and paygrade than my cheap a** but even an untrained hobbyist like me can appreciate how wall done this is.

Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk😂
I hope it made sense and it was easy to understand. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these and your opinion on them and I’m open to suggestions for future additions.

I don’t think I can afford (or justify) buying all the originals these are inspired by, so I’m taking the considerably more affordable route instead. It also gives me a chance to enjoy the scents for what they are without worrying too much about how closely they replicate the originals.

Anyone else perfectly happy buying the inspired versions and simply enjoying them on their own, rather than eventually getting the originals?

Not pictured: drawer stash - Clive Christian Blonde Amber, Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman Extrait, LV Pacific Chill, LV Symphony, D&G Light Blue eau Intense, YSL Y EDP, ADG EDT, TDH Parfum, DG The One EDP, Shiyakka Snow, Shiyakka Sky, Dior Homme Cologne, YSL Myslf Absolu

I’m into collecting frags as a casual. I’m a truck driver who collects for the love of the game. I don’t socialize much or even go out to the scenarios I’m specifically buying these scents for. I have a scent for a “night out on the beach” I haven’t touched the beach in years but I love coming home, picking things up, and smelling them just to appreciate different scents.
I love getting whiffs of myself after a 12-hour shift and thinking, “Damn, I smell good.” But I’ve gotten to a point now where things I used to think were disgusting are actually stimulating a specific part of my brain, and I think I’m ready for the nasty, stanky stuff but also something a little more beginner-friendly to ease myself into it.
I just want some excitement and heavy, wintery stuff now. I’m sick of everything fresh, aquatic, green, musky, or just spicy.
Here’s what I have, and I also have a list below. LMK if anyone has some good recommendations for what to try or pick up next.

Fragrance Collection

A–D

* Abdul Samad Al Qurashi — Satin Body Oud
* Acqua di Parma — Colonia Essenza
* Afnan — 9PM
* Afnan — Supremacy in Heaven
* Arabiyat Prestige — Ramad
* Argos — Adonis Awakens
* Argos — Birth of Venus
* Argos — Danaë
* Ascent Fragrances — Oud Implosion
* BDK Parfums — Gris Charnel Extrait
* Belad Al Misk — brand unknown / Saudi Arabia
* Boadicea the Victorious — Hanuman
* Bvlgari Le Gemme — Gyan
* Bvlgari Le Gemme — Tygar
* Byredo — Bal d’Afrique Absolu
* Byredo — Rose of No Man’s Land Absolu
* Cal Colognes — Thriller
* Casamorati — Lira
* Davidoff — Cool Water
* Davidoff — The Game
* Dior — Homme Intense — 2014 batch
* Dior — Homme Sport
* Diptyque — Do Son
* Diptyque — Eau Capitale
* Diptyque — Eau des Sens
* Diptyque — Eau Rihla
* Diptyque — Fleur de Peau
* Diptyque — Ilio
* Diptyque — Olène
* Diptyque — Orphéon
* Dkhoon Leather — brand unknown
* Dubai Musk — brand not confirmed

E–L

* Essential Parfums — Bois Impérial Collector’s Edition
* Ex Nihilo — Blue Talisman
* Ex Nihilo — Brompton Immortals Extrait
* Frédéric Malle — Carnal Flower
* Frédéric Malle — Portrait of a Lady
* Gissah — Hudson Valley — 2 × 200 mL
* Guerlain — Spiritueuse Double Vanille — 200 mL
* Hayati Elixir
* Hellenist — À l’Ombre d’Artémis
* Hersh — Lehab
* Hersh — Mehwar
* Ibrahim Al Qurashi / Ibraq — Emerald Soul Diamond
* Ibrahim Al Qurashi / Ibraq — Grey Pearl Diamond
* Ibrahim Al Qurashi / Ibraq — Purple Heart Diamond — 200 mL
* Ibrahim Al Qurashi / Ibraq — White Regent Diamond
* Initio — Musk Therapy
* Initio — Oud for Greatness
* Insignia — Ermine
* Kayali — Vanilla 28
* Khadlaj — Le Prestige Royal
* Khalifa — brand unknown
* La Persona — Whispering Kiss
* Lamas — unknown fragrance #1
* Lamas — unknown fragrance #2 (one appears to have “Patchouli” in the name)
* Liis — Floating
* Liquid Brun
* Louis Vuitton — Imagination
* Louis Vuitton — Météore
* Louis Vuitton — Ombre Nomade
* Luka Milano — Artemis Midnight

M–R

* Mancera — Cedrat Boise
* Maison Margiela Replica — By the Fireplace
* Maison Margiela Replica — Jazz Club
* Maison Margiela Replica — Under the Stars
* Matiere Premiere — Falcon Leather Extrait
* MDCI Parfums — Péché Cardinal
* Michael Malul — San Lucas
* MFK — Gentle Fluidity Silver
* Milestone — Imperial (dupe; exact inspiration not important)
* Montale — Arabians Tonka
* Moonstone Bleu (dupe; exact details not important)
* Nishane — Wulong Cha
* Nissaba — Mali Nadu
* Omanluxury — Nasaj
* Parfums de Marly — Althaïr
* Parfums de Marly — Layton — 2018 batch
* Perfumehead — 1272
* Pernoire — Anelo
* Prada — Paradigme
* Precious Liquid — Salt & Pepper
* Precious Liquid — White Incense
* Prisma — Amethyst
* Reef — DSJ
* Renier — Oudmanthus
* Roja — Elysium EDP
* Roja — Taif Aoud
* Room 1015 — Love-O-Matic
* Room 1015 — Wavechild
* Rasasi — Al Wisam Pour Homme
* Rasasi — Hawas

S–Z

* Sospiro — Dolce Melodia
* Sospiro — Vibrato
* Sultan Al Layl
* Thameen — Carved Oud — 50 mL
* Tom Ford — Beau de Jour
* Tom Ford — Jasmin Rouge
* Tom Ford — Ombre Leather
* Valentino — Born in Roma Ivory
* Van Cleef & Arpels — Moonlight Patchouli
* Viktor&Rolf — Spicebomb Extreme
* Xerjoff — Alexandria II
* Xerjoff — Erba Pura
* Xerjoff — Naxos
* Xerjoff — Richwood
* Xerjoff — Torino21
* Yves Saint Laurent — La Nuit de L’Homme Bleu Électrique
* Zaharoff — Signature Rosé

Snagged a couple more dupes from Yom & Layl today.

First Wave 3 ml - inspired by Argos Birth of Venus
Reyees 30 ml - inspired by Mind Games Grand Master
Absolu Legend 30 ml - Inspired by Creed Absolu Aventus
Basic Instinct 30 ml - inspired by Mind Games French Defense
Limitless 100 ml - inspired by Mind Games Blockade
Master Yoda 100 ml - inspired by Mind Games Mentor

EDIT: total cost of everything here was $280 shipped.

Started out in June, have made some progress since. Mostly buying decants & then full bottles of those that I like, although a few of these were early purchases.

I have BDK Charnel on the way. I also have another display with Liquid Brun, Acqua Di Gio, YSL Y & Dior Homme Parfum which don’t get as much play as these ones.

What else do I need to add?