@@Malick_ibn_dinar I agree with you, but sometimes they might induce people in blind buying fragrances not so easily findable in stores (e.g. arabic ones)
We need more videos like this since we live in an era where 16 year olds are wearing freaking grand soir because their favorite influencers said that its good. I swear from 20s to 50s all fragrance influencers are pushing out the same stuff, everyone smells the same these days
@OmarZ77 to an extent I agree, but we do associate fragrances with age ranges. A 59 year old man wearing a sugary bubblegum fragrance would just feel jarring, even though there's nothing wrong with him doing so
I downsized my collection of about 100 frags to around 12 or so. So much not being used just because I found it for a good price and influences said it was good. Yet I still found myself going back to the same 4 frags I've been using since 1995. Green Irish Tweed, Miliseme Imperial, Polo Green and Chanel no.5 which I know is a women's fragrance but my god does it smell amazing off my skin
I think instead of gold man Idk...I think of Hermes equipage. Maybe that's wrong. It's been years since I've tried smelling gold man but I stuck with equipage and polo green! Such an amazing masterpiece. Wow. Also if you want something really good from amouage try jubilation XV or portrayal man love them both year round. Beach hut also is good if you love a deep ivy minty fougere!
A good idea if you like an expensive fragrance is to buy a small decant. Every other year I buy a 5ml of pdm Carlisle wear it for a few special occasions in winter, then every other year buy it again
I recently found your channel and I love it! You don't try to convince us that we need this or the other perfume. You just share with us your experiences as a consumer. Thank you ❤
Instant crush was one for me. I blind bought it, and i honestly love how it smells … just not on me. My skin makes it go sweet. For one, my batch has NUCLEAR projection and longevity, but every time i wear it I overhear some female complimenting it to someone but they refer to it as a female fragrance. Like they say, “that smells so good, i think it’s that perfume we smelled at Sephora” or something very similar to that. Stopped wearing it after the 3rd time that happened. Glad i got it on a discounter but still a chunk of change i wish i could get back..
I think every collector hits this point of finding scents they love then they don’t appreciate it as much after a year or two or reformulation. That being said everyone’s nose matures differently, You might go back to some of these scents later on and actually enjoy them. My only thing is, If your buying a fragrance you should be testing it first with samples before buying a hole bottle especially if the bottle is $100 or more, just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s going to smell good or get you compliments. Also you shouldn’t be buying a fragrance with the mindset of trying to get compliments or thinking people will like it, you should buy it because you enjoy fragrance and appreciate the art form for your self don’t let people sway your opinion.
@ it’s all apart of the journey. First time i smelled Tuscan leather I was hooked so i bought a travel atomizer from the bouquet I used the hole bottle but wasn’t in love with it as much fond cuir intense from Guerlain it had that leather note mixed with woods and some florals it’s a hard wear at first but if your looking to test another leather scent that’s one it’s the dry down for me as well as Russian tea by masque Milano but get testers
I recently found a bottle of Hugo boss number 1,completely forgot I had it,wore for few days recently and numerous compliments,I stopped wearing it years ago but because I had not worn it for ages it was like discovering a new fragrance,I think that you can definitely become nose blind to a fragrance regardless of how nice it smells.
Your two most recent videos are excellent. Thank you for actually being yourself! So often I have to be aware of being shilled things online. It’s nice to watch fragrance related content that’s relaxing and personal. Cheers!
I have to agree with that. They have gone downhill significantly. Their fragrances used to be evocative, creative and unique. Now they just rip themselves off
There is an “Emptiness” that fragrances should be approached with. As a picky person I’ve become aware of this and it has surprisingly helped me with fragrances 😂. I smelled Grand Soir and I did not understand the hype. I sprayed it on skin to give it the benefit of the doubt and it was not something I would buy. This is a great video and I hope the younger people that are diving into fragrances can understand how they can buy fragrances they actually like. Sometimes we just grow out of things but a few tips to help you land fragrances that you like: 1.Be comfortable with the idea there are many fragrances you will have to walk away from. Learn to say “I can respect this scent but its just not for me”. 2. Ultimately the question is this: Do you see yourself wearing this? How often? On what occasions? Visualize yourself wearing it, then make a judgment. 3. Do not buy fragrances until you really like them. That means buy a 5ml/2ml and wear it for a few days then take a break and then revisit. Test on strip in store, if it’s intriguing, test on skin. If you like it on your skin then get a 5ml/2ml or you need to go into the store another day and test it on skin a few more times. Do not be shy to try these in stores, fragrances are extremely subjective. 4. If you are in store, come prepared with what you want to smell. Come with hands and arms that are not sprayed with anything. A sales rep will likely be hovering around you, be firm on the things you want to check out, you have a limited amount of skin to use. Sometimes sales reps take people on trips and have you smell a bunch o things and it’s not really productive. Focus on what you came for, take your time with what you’ve tested, jot down some notes about what you liked and didn’t like. After that, you can go into a more exploratory mode and let the sales rep make suggestions to you. When you start to know what type of scents you like, sales reps can be extremely helpful! If they show you something you don’t like, say it. They’re trying to get a feel for what you like. Overall just be honest and don’t be shy. Everyone has their own taste!
Love your review because you are not an influencer you are speaking from a consumers perspective 😅. Could you do another video of your 10 favorites that you would definitely keep or buy again. Personally I went through that loop of buy and give and now I have settled on 3 alone😂
As a fragrance it has become almost part of your outfit/style. I like to think as them like shoes. You have gym shoes, work shoes, leathers, flip flops boots and etc… we all have our favorite sneakers that are the most comfortable and just fitting for our style, what are the fragrances that you reach for the most just for the overall quality and style those scents give
I’ve been really like the transparency between your videos! I’ve also been really taking a liking to your fragrance videos. Keep up the good work! Cheers 🎉
I’ve come to realize that a huge part of someone’s opinion on a fragrance, just comes down to what they associate the fragrance with. So, if you associate it with good times, a good date, etc. you will love it, and viceversa. If you associate it with a day you felt low confidence, stress, sick, etc. you will hate it. Making things EVEN MORE subjective.
Your zoo story-time reminded me of when I attended my sister’s graduation and there was this guest who wore a really strange yet strong fragrance which filled our entire half of the auditorium. At the time, I was a little put-off by it, but now, i can’t help but think about it in a positive light often. She left such a strong impression on me and I only hope to one day have the confidence to wear my fragrances that unapologetically 🤣🙌🏼
@@hey.alexedwards hahaha she must have because it was the farthest thing from mass-appealing as a fragrance could get. It smelled a little bit like how a bitter melon shot tastes. If you know you know hahaha
Appreciate this honesty SO much! I also fell for Grand Soir at the counter but thank God I just got a decant and then I ended up never even wearing that. I was bored with it even though I think the fragrance is quite beautiful.
I like your videos. It’s telling a history, a real experience with the fragrances. I’m tired of the videos about one fragrance that’s you get today with two sprays and tell to everyone is good, you need to have it now.
I think your nose changes or sometimes you just want a change honestly. You can start out wearing a fragrance for years but just get tired of it. Nothing wrong with that! Everyone's olfactory is different and I imagine changes as we age. Young kids like the bubblegum type scents but as men get older gravitate to the darker scents. Similar to people's palates. Great vid!
I agree with most of these but not with Terre D'Hermes just because it's my signature and I hope you make a list of the 10 fragrances you will be rebuying
I like Terre EDT but grew a bit tired of it, especially its black pepper. But I found Eau Givree to be much more enjoyable and easier to wear. I suggest trying it if you haven’t.
Totally agree with most of these.... Though I honestly think terre d'hermes is the SAME as Sauvage but just ten years older.... it’s a different group of guys that have overworn that to death… I’m a gay guy and I can tell you that there isn’t a gay man my age (50) who has not owned that fragrance. It IS classy and formal and gorgeous but it's sooooooo overdone... I think you're too young to realize it but it was THE BIGGEST THING prior to that absolute nightmare by Dior.... 😂 Regarding sycomore and your thinking that "it was better in store"... I know you're not going to believe this but... It's totally psychological.... i’ve worked in the fragrance industry for decades… And I have even been gifted testers that I wore daily and then took THE SAME BOTTLE home a month later and.... Yup... Not even close.... It's in your head... Unreal, right?? 😮
I appreciate your insights! I typically enjoy more mature fragrances (Beau De Jour, Prada Amber Pour Homme, Habit Rouge), but Terre D'Hermes has just fizzled out for me. Also having worked in the fragrance industry myself, I still have no idea why this happens haha. Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm the opposite.I don't like buying in stores. The people working there are always bothering me, and i feel like they're expecting me to buy something. I always feel pressured to purchase something when i try something in store.
Glad to have found your channel recently. I've been finding myself agreeing with and appreciating your perspective on many of the fragrance related matters you've addressed so far. Would also be interested in hearing more about those less expensive options in your collection which you feel do Tony Iommi Monkey Special's job well enough to make it not worth the price tag. Cheers.
I agree with you on Grand Soir. Of all my MFK fragrances, that’s the one I come so close to selling on eBay but my girl likes it on me. I personally think it’s something I don’t enjoy smelling on myself. But as you mentioned, the bottle is so gorgeous and elegant with the orange juice but it’s pretty much a bottle in my collection just for the sake of saying I own it. I did manage to score a decent deal on it year ago with reward points on Maxaroma but still…it’s just THERE. I try to give it more wearing but I have so many other options it doesn’t make my rotation. Good content Keep them coming
I've been enjoying a lot to watch collections declutter and understanding what are the 10/15 perfumes that fragrance collectors really love and want to keep and why so. Also enjoyed your previous video, as I'm just starting my collection I don't want to commit those mistakes and get a huge collection of just because fragrances. I want to find around 10 that I love and set them to be my collection/rotation, so far I found 2. Thanks for posting and nice content :)
Finally someone serious those fragrance influencers are not being real they all lie finally somebody serious we need more like you those influencers lie all the time quick story I almost blind bought jazz club from maison margiela based on the those Videos from those influencers but for some reason I decided to buy a Sample First and thank God I did Jazz Club smells Like burnt ashes I 100 percent believe they all get paid to recommend stuff this was so garbarge
I liked your sober and realistic assessment of the overrated olfactory offenders on your list. Maybe perhaps with the exception of the two TFs. On a tangential note, I like the watch you have on. Is it a Cartier Tank? Or a Seiko perchance?
@@hey.alexedwards Seiko's are great watches, and nothing to scoff at either. Incidentally, if possible, try getting your hands on a CREDOR Tank style watch directly from Japan. Well, that is of course only if you can bring yourself to purchase it online. 😉
Amazing video Alex ! You mentioned a lot of times you know better alternatives for the mentioned Fragrances so why not make a "Buy this instead of this" type of video ?
Thank you. The reason I don't suggest other things is because I believe fragrances are all personal taste. I don't want to make recommendations on any fragrances, and will only share my own personal thoughts on what I own, etc.
I just started getting into fragrances and already know what you are feeling about Sauvage mate 🤣. It’s just that Sauvage has something VERY special about it initially, but at the same time , once you get used to that special characteristic, the whole fragrance just loses its seduction. Haven’t had this with any other fragrance yet. Quite the opposite, most of the fragrances I started liking EVEN more after wearing them many times. By the way, absolutely LOVE the accent mate: which part of Australia are you from? Do you know any other Aussie channels that deal with fragrances? I already know one young bloke, but you can TELL he is young, which is why I don’t really follow his chanel much 😅. I lived in Melbourne for two years and absolutely enjoyed the vibes in Australia, hence I am always happy to find Aussie content creators and feel a bit nostalgic when listening to you guys 🇦🇺 (such as Andy cooks, but that’s a different topic haha) . Wishing you all the very best from Germany mate!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts mate! I'm in South Australia, and don't really follow any other channels. I do like one Aussie guy called The Scentinel. He's from Melbourne I believe, and has quite a relaxed nature in his videos too.
Great video! I believe most of the current fragrance world is simply marketing and influencing. The issue we have with memories of most older ("dated"} classic masculine fragrances stem from the fact our fathers/grandfathers/uncles 1) wore them without bathing, 2} wore them with dirty clothes, 3) wore too much or, 4) all the above.
My opinion is ( and I believe that I am right ), that we are socially conditioned on what fragrances that we are to like. This comes about through advertising and social media ( TH-cam and Tik Tok Influencers ). If someone says that we should like fragrance X because we will get compliments and success with the Ladies, then many go out and buy that fragrance ( and many Guys are disappointed because the fragrance didn't work ). If fragrances ultimately brought people happiness, then Jeremy Fragrance would have been married by now and had a great job instead of now acting like a clown.
Jeremy is the best example of how much bs is behind the 'panty dropper' nonsense. Too many men watch women for fragrance advice, not even straight women. They're lured in by the cleavage and smut. As a woman, my advice would be to avoid any woman that will drop her pants over a fragrance. 😂
I have a huge collection, and Tobacco Vanille is my absolute favourite. Out of bottle/opening can be weird or even off putting for some people, but the dry down is divine imo. Other than that I mostly agree!
Your two most recent videos are excellent. Thank you for actually being yourself! So often I have to be aware of being shilled things online. It’s nice to watch a fragrance video that’s relaxing and personal. Cheers!
I totally agree with all of them. I’m so glad that I bought iommi for $140 fragrancebuy had a huge sale. I would have been mad if I payed the full price. It’s not that special and I feel the same way about grand soir I don’t enjoy it.
I just made a video today where I also shared that I don’t like buying online, you and I have a lot of opinions in common although different parts of the world, different age and different gender. Chanel’s prices have gone through the roof, but I love Le Lion SO much. I wish I had gotten the bigger bottle when the prices were lower.
Dude you were right. I was shocked at the decision to get rid of MFK Grand Soir but even more so with Terre D’Hermes as it’s so cheap considering you can pay £95 for a 200ml bottle online here in the UK! Many including Sebastian (The Perfume Guy) have called it a ‘masterpiece’ and I agree. Bleu de Chanel was my signature scent before discovering TDH. But you made your arguments and I respect them especially as fragrances are so subjective. I really enjoyed the video. Great content, brother.
This is so informative, I'm also at the start of my journey in collecting perfumes, so I will try to keep it very limited to the most unique, breathtaking, and most niche type perfumes, so always very high quality over quantity.
You had a few of my faves on here like Terre D’Hermes, La Nuit De L’Homme, and even Sauvage Parfum. I guess not everyone can love everything the same and that’s ok. I do wish they would’ve kept LNDL closer to the original formula, I agree that it is a shadow of its former self.
Hey Alex, I just came across your channel and wanted to say that the format of your videos are great! Do you have any experience with Initio Side Effect? Would love to know your thoughts. Thanks
Your comments on YSL ring so true for SO many fragrances. What’s the actual truth is it recent regulatory changes forcing reformulations of beloved classics or is it industry wide shrinkflation that conveniently coincides with regulation measures ?
I have a 2mL decant of Grand Soir. It was pretty underwhelming, tbh! Just a faceful of amber. My partner doesn't really like it, either. After hearing it being gassed up so much by reviewers, it was a bit of a shock.
@@hey.alexedwards yes I g egg that. Some fragrances just don’t work in some skins or for some people. Grey vetiver I never liked it can’t understand why people spend on it but I guess is the same for tobacco vanille for me. Good work Alex.
Tobacco Vanille, & Grand Soir are 10/10 fragrances. I’d suggest trying PDM Goldophin instead of Tuscan Leather. Goldolphin is a better version, that I think you’d like.
Thank you - I'm done with buying new fragrances now. I've got 42 now (down from 100+) and I'm trying to get down to 15ish. I know what I love and I want to stick with those now.
You can still find older BNIB LNDL around on ebay and mercari. I got a BNIB 2013 bottle for around 130 on mercari last year. Just learn how to spot the batch and formula codes.
I love Grand Soir, but to each their own. I also haven't bought a full bottle of it, but just a sample and a travel bottle, that was included in the wardrobe set that I got from Nordstrom, on sale this past summer. That travel set and the Roja one that I just got last week have been two of my favorite fragrance purchases so far! I've gotten to try both of them at the fancy mall a few hours drive away, but they don't have them near me. I wish that I would've ordered two of those MFK travel sets, that were on sale for $220 during the anniversary sale, and includes eight 11 ml bottles, including Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait, Oud Satin Mood EDP, Grand Soir, and a few more, and the Roja Aoud travel set included Aoud, Amber Aoud, Enigma Aoud, Sweetie Aoud, and Taif Aoud! And I got that on sale for $225, but the regular price is only $250, and both of these travel sets cost a lot less by volume for the fragrances, than buying full bottles. I did the math with the MFK one, by looking up the full price for each one, for the same size bottles and then comparing each individual price, and multiply that ratio by the total price of $220, that I paid for the set. The BR540 Extrait only cost $45 for the 11 ml bottle!!! I'm pretty sure that's less by volume than if you bought the largest bottle they offer!
So its either an old designer that is way overdone, or a niche fragrance. Same with me, it is VERY hard for niche fragrances to justify their price imo, i left only Alex2 Xerjoff and Enigma by Roja. Great vid
100%. I've been largely disappointed by most niche fragrances I've tried. Creed, for all their performance issues, are the only brand where almost every single one of their fragrances has impressed me scent-wise.
I wear terre d'hermes when going to a hike or walk in the woods. That's the perfect occasion imo. Formal fragrance is something like prada l'homme intense
I was like “I agree, Ok yeah I can see that one” but sauvage elixir is my guilty pleasure 😂 love these style of videos though man. A nice change up from feeling like missing out on a fragrance to realizing I don’t need it!
I appreciate your honesty and i will subscribe to your channel after this comment is written for that reason alone. What I've learned so far in my fragrance journey is that your can't really trust the hype and others opinion are often influenced by different factors. There are not many channels i completely trust, so ill look into your reviews and words and hopefully see that you are one of the good ones bringing out honest opinions. Keep it up. That's special. And to the topic. I agree that there are so many fragrances and houses that are overhyped and are charging a lot nord than what you get and what it is. Obviously there are many that deserves i high price for what's in the juice, the blend etc. Not exactly the same topic but here is some examples from the house of Mancera where the fragrance is overhyped by influencers and I've tested it several of times on skin and just don't get the hype. Red Tobacco Intense. Smells great from the bottle and strip. But from the mid and into the dry down it's a whole other fragrance. Awful drydown. Same with Silver Blue. Can't understand why French Riviere and Aoud Lemon Mint are hyped. Smells synthetic and has a strange blend. Cedrat Boise Intense and Aqua Wood thou are two from Mancera that i really enjoy. Much better blended and natural smelling 👌
Thanks for your comment! I'm not necessarily a fragrance channel, but I've had a couple videos that seem to be popular. You may like my other video talking about fragrance addiction.
Man i feel like i know who hyped some of these 😂 i personally like LNDL blue electrique. The versatility is really nice, despite smelling like laundry detergent. Your sauvage opinion is hella spot on man. Finally. Not only is it so popular, it just smells like a bunch of chemicals. Not bad definitely, but given the many options one can wear... Putting it on always feels like a missed opportunity. Nice vid mate. Have a nice day.
Thanks man! I agree with you Bleu Electrique is one that I enjoy too. It's a decent bit stronger than the OG and I enjoy how it's a little more fresh. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who thinks this was about Sauvage.
I guess I've had some underwhelming fragrance purchases too, like I wasn't going to buy another Xerjoff, after I blind bought Naxos, and it mostly just smells like licorice to me. I paid like $250 for the 100 ml bottle from Amazon, and I'm confident that it's authentic. Then I tried more Xerjoff fragrances at this fancy mall, that's a few hours drive from home for me. I've taken two little vacations to try and buy fragrances so far, where I try a bunch and buy one bottle. I got Roja Sweetie Aoud the first time, from Neiman Marcus and Chanel Le Lion from the Chanel boutique the second time. But the funny part is that I've ordered Xerjoff Alexandria II and Erba Pura since then, because I love how they smell, and I really want to get the Tony Iommi fragrances too, but everyone online says that Naxos is blind buy safe, but the other ones aren't!
Great video. I appreciate your honesty. We can get caught up in the hype by fragrance influencers. I have a bottle of Grand Soir that I have had at least 5 years. I’ve hardly worn it. It’s too heavy of a scent and is more fitting for cold weather. I only get 4 months of cold weather. I’ve owned 3 bottles of Hermes fragrances and I can’t wear them. Too much vetiver. It’s important to buy fragrances that fits your lifestyle and climate. Every fragrance is not worth having a bottle particularly seasonal fragrances. Buy decants and you really only need one type of a particular fragrance for example amber, vetiver, tobacco etc..
I find 10mls more than the best option if you like something but don't want to commit tna full bottles especially sweet frags that are more situational. For eg. I buy frags like Oajan and noir extreme in 10mls and my noir extreme is half way down after about 6 months and that's me wearing it even to work.
Finally someone has the same opinion that I have on grand soir. To me it’s just a super basic vanilla scent with this weird balsamic thing going on that throws me off. I also bought it in store and basically forced myself to get it but recently traded it for Naxos and I’m so much happier with that one
I love Monkey Special, too. I got my 50ml bottle for about $150 usd. At that price, I'll re-buy it when I run out. It's worth it. I mostly blind buy everything online since I live in a very rural area, and the only places to buy fragrances are Walmart or Walgreens. I've bought a few expensive designer bottles in person, and I definitely prefer it, but honestly, shopping for fragrances online at grey market discounters works best for me. Paying retail for something like Tom Ford, PDM, or Creed, just as a few examples, is almost as crazy as blind buying everything, lol. Speaking of Creed, i wouldn't buy Aventus ordered any Aventus clone again. I've tried to like it. I've worn it so many times hoping that I'd come around to it, but it just smells really bad to me .
I recently started buying decants, usually 4ml so I can get a bunch of legit wears out of them to decide if it's worth buying a full bottle or not. It's satisfied my addiction to smelling something new fairly often without spending a ton of money.
Hello Alex, nice video, I was thinking about buying LNDL but with the performace and almost no versatility I am not going to. Also I definitely undestand the "I want to love it but I don't".., happened to me too many times". Can I ask a few questions - what are your TOP 5-10 designer fragrances? (overall). Also, between JPG Elixir, Prada Luna Rossa Black and Spice bomb Extreme, which one do you like the most? (again, overall - for colder months of course).
Thanks for watching! I will make a video on my personal favourites. As for the last part, I don't actually like JPG at all, and haven't smelled Luna Rossa Black so I'd say Spicebomb extreme. Although in my opinion, the original Spicebomb is superior.
@@hey.alexedwardsagree, original Spicebomb is better. The extreme has too much vanilla, not that much of that 'what' that?' factor. The price is also great, 60% of the SB Extreme, for me the OG is better.
@@hey.alexedwards So if I have the original SB (which I like a lot) the Extreme is redundant? 🙂thank you for the answer and I am looking forward to seeing next videos
I wish more people loved ysl myslf le parfum it’s such a beautiful easy sent. It lasts forever on my skin and days on my clothing. Then again I respect your opinion on it, that’s the good thing about fragrances they’re all subjective.
i agree with all of them and i have majority of them 😂 MFK Grand Soir was exactly the same for me mate, literally word for word! i went for the 30ml and i force myself to wear it because it costs an arm and a leg. Tbh, all of my main disappointments come from Niche and a couple expensive designers, to the point i'm cutting down my collection from 58 to 12. They've become so overpriced and shite longevity that it's messing up my hobby. nice content mate 🔥
I love my deep and dark fragrances - these are just a few that I'm not the biggest fan of. Some of my favorites are Gris Charnel Extrait, Gentlemen Reserve Privee and Black Orchid.
As for in store experience- it’s always deceiving for me. Every time I try out something in store it doesn’t smell the same. I guess the smells are mixing up together in the air with other fragrances and things. The worst is Sefora- many times I came there, there was too many people in fairly small space. And even when there is nobody- it’s still not perfect- the whole store smells like beauty products. Better to get a decant or a small vile and try it out at home, walk out and spend time with a scent you’re interested in.
As a female I truly understand the problem with orange blossom. So many fragrances are unbearable for me because of it- one of them YSL Libre, especially Libre intense. But i love the way it smells. YSL uses the same accord in Myself line. On the other hand I adore soapy neroli like in Atelier Cologne Orange blossom or Neroli Portofino. Or very gourmand variety like in DG Devotion or Oriana PDM- both are orange blossom based and very sweet- but so enjoyable and not annoying
Strongly dislike both. A) they're WAY too overhyped B) they both produce average fragrances at best C) byredo fragrances are extremely weak and short lived
Tuscan leather was a blind buy for me around 2016 when I first started getting into the frag community. I really didn’t enjoy it so I traded it for pdm Layton which is in my top 10 frags for life.
In 6 weeks of going down the rabbithole of fragrances I bought 45 bottles. That number has been reduced to 27 at the moment. My rule of thumb is if it’s heavily shilled by zoomers or if the brands marketing is in that condescending TikTok influencer approach I’m more reluctant to buy into it. Don’t get me started on that Bujairami crap that seems to flood Facebook marketplace after “only a few sprays”. Really is a matter of discerning a personal relationship with material and knowing the niche. CubaKnow had the same reaction to Royal Tobacco I did by being love at first sniff. I’ll admit he did sell me on house of Franck Olivier and Exclusif Tabac for budget bangers. Joy Amin got me on to S.T Dupont because he kept shilling it over the years and the smaller channels all mentioned similar things. Mags Frags got me into Afnans Supremacy line with his reviews. Gents Scents and a few others also helped me make a few decisions regarding the middle eastern dupes since in Australia I was getting Private Blends ads. Out of all of the fragrances bought after considering TH-camrs opinions was Ana Abiyedh, only cos it gave me a headache.
You won't rebuy a fragrance you love unless you can get it in store? Never heard such a ridiculous reason in all my life! Store stock is from the same warehouses as online stock so if you buy from a reputable retailer what are you worried about? Btw Monkey special is pure class. If that's too expensive you're in the wrong game.
Yep. Some people just prefer doing things a certain way. I personally don't like shopping online. It's just a thing. There's no real reason, I just prefer not to. Don't know why you have such a problem with that. Also, if I don't feel the need to spend another $500 on a fragrance when I have another 30 that give the exact same energy/vibe, that's my choice. Not everyone has to do things the way you see fit.
@hey.alexedwards well you never gave the reasoning you had 30 other similar frags. I'm questioning the reluctance to shop online. You still haven't given an actual reason why you don't want to do it therefore it makes no sense. Nobody shops in person any more that's yesteryear. Your reluctance to embrace change is probably the reason you have so many issues. Like thinking people are telling you what to do for example. I never said such a thing. I think you need to speak to a psychiatrist perhaps.
I love grand soir. as opposed to your experience, i didnt like it that much at first finding it very simple but after spending some time with it im in love.
But its same here with ysl myslf. i will not buy it again because it does not blow me away. And, i hate iommi. i just sprayed once on my hand at the store to observe how it transforms on my skin but from top notes to the base it really irritated me then i washed my hand because i couldnt bear with it anymore::)))
if you layer grand soir with mercedes club black it turns into the most seductive scent you will ever smelled just saying if you have it and you're not loving it lately try that out and you will love it again
I'm neither! I just value simplicity. Part of that is de-inluencing things like fragrance. Fragrance is a huge hobby for me, and I think it's being ruined by influencers online, so it's one of the many topics I'll be talking about from a more honest and unfiltered perspective!
@@hey.alexedwards looking forward to more content from you. I don't mind watching a few fragrance channels to get an idea of what fragrance smells like. I never blind buy because I need to see how it works on my skin & if it's actually any good. I probably don't need any more fragrance but every now and then, something beautiful comes up & I pull the trigger.
although i have all of Terre d´Hermes (Eau Tres Fraiche, Pure Parfum, Eau Givrée) - i agree with you - EDT is not for formal settings because of rotten orange vibe - spraying this on white shirt is complete disaster when you work 8 hours at office and start to sweat - it mixes together and the result is .... everybody who wears Terre into office daily knows how it reacts .... and am same type of guy like you, going against commercial trends - always trying to be unique, individualist - don´t care about popularity at all - happy with my own private life :)
wooohooo - Sycomore there :D i love you for that honesty!!!!!! that´s bloody brilliant - i wanted to blind buy Le Lion and glad i didn´t - do you have any experience sniffing Le Lion?
I do! I have a Le Lion tester, and it's absolutely ATOMIC. If you are looking for something extremely dry that smells like a literal smoky desert, then you may enjoy it. If not, it may not be for you.
@@hey.alexedwards wooohoo 😀 i have Ambre Sultan, Musc Ravageur and Shalimar Edp - some prople say it’s a mixture of these three ones + coromandel/cuir de russie but much stronger …. I wanted to buy something not too offensive that you can wear for formal business settings more than twice a year …. What do you think about this scent profile of le lion? Thanks in advance
@miles-178 If you're okay with potentially offending people in business settings, go for it! Personally I love it, but be aware, it's going to absolutely offend people.
@hey.alexedwards I can attest to that. The only strong, "beast mode" French perfume I've smelled is Le Lion by Chanel. Even other Chanel fragrances I've tried turn into skin scents very quickly
Don't worry about what I think of it - fragrance is completely personal. We could have completely different taste, so what I think of it shouldn't mean anything to you. Enjoy it!
we need more fragrance influencers not over hyping every fragrance
Agreed
@@Flea997 the influencers do the homework for me and I sample some of their recommendations to see what I truly enjoy . Scent is subjective
@@Malick_ibn_dinar I agree with you, but sometimes they might induce people in blind buying fragrances not so easily findable in stores (e.g. arabic ones)
@@Malick_ibn_dinar They might put you onto new fragrances, but their opinions are usually not authentic. They say whatever the brand wants them to say
@ you right some people do fall for their traps lol
We need more videos like this since we live in an era where 16 year olds are wearing freaking grand soir because their favorite influencers said that its good. I swear from 20s to 50s all fragrance influencers are pushing out the same stuff, everyone smells the same these days
I agree completely. Someone needs to speak up!
“everyone smells the same these days” 😂 you should’ve be around in the the early 90s 😂
@@sealedindictment haha good point actually.
Fragrances have nothing to do with age though…
@OmarZ77 to an extent I agree, but we do associate fragrances with age ranges. A 59 year old man wearing a sugary bubblegum fragrance would just feel jarring, even though there's nothing wrong with him doing so
I downsized my collection of about 100 frags to around 12 or so. So much not being used just because I found it for a good price and influences said it was good. Yet I still found myself going back to the same 4 frags I've been using since 1995. Green Irish Tweed, Miliseme Imperial, Polo Green and Chanel no.5 which I know is a women's fragrance but my god does it smell amazing off my skin
That's great! I'm yet to try Chanel no.5 on my skin, but I adore GIT and MI. You have excellent taste.
Try Amouage Gold Man. It’s very similar to Chanel no. 5 with a more masculine twist. You might like it.
@bmar4735 great suggestion!
I think instead of gold man Idk...I think of Hermes equipage. Maybe that's wrong. It's been years since I've tried smelling gold man but I stuck with equipage and polo green! Such an amazing masterpiece. Wow. Also if you want something really good from amouage try jubilation XV or portrayal man love them both year round. Beach hut also is good if you love a deep ivy minty fougere!
A good idea if you like an expensive fragrance is to buy a small decant. Every other year I buy a 5ml of pdm Carlisle wear it for a few special occasions in winter, then every other year buy it again
I need to pull out Carlisle again. I have a small tester but forget about it.
I recently found your channel and I love it! You don't try to convince us that we need this or the other perfume. You just share with us your experiences as a consumer. Thank you ❤
Thank you - that's my goal. I don't want people buying things just because I like them. I'm just sharing my personal thoughts
Nice to see some honesty about these fragrances. Most TH-camrs just hype everything to get affiliate sales.
Dont apologize for not liking something. Who cares if you affend anyone. Your channel will benefit from being 'real" unlike most of this community
No apologies here! Just too self aware and can't help but preempt the negative comments haha. I'm doing this for me.
Appreciate the support!
These are some of iconic fragrances we all hype them up, own them but don't really wear them XD Curious to know which other ones you'll rebuy tho!
I'll make that video too!
Instant crush was one for me. I blind bought it, and i honestly love how it smells … just not on me. My skin makes it go sweet. For one, my batch has NUCLEAR projection and longevity, but every time i wear it I overhear some female complimenting it to someone but they refer to it as a female fragrance. Like they say, “that smells so good, i think it’s that perfume we smelled at Sephora” or something very similar to that. Stopped wearing it after the 3rd time that happened. Glad i got it on a discounter but still a chunk of change i wish i could get back..
That's a shame!
My favorite Mancera, and my most complimented Mancera. To each his own... that's part of the beauty of fragrances! 😊👍
I think every collector hits this point of finding scents they love then they don’t appreciate it as much after a year or two or reformulation. That being said everyone’s nose matures differently, You might go back to some of these scents later on and actually enjoy them. My only thing is, If your buying a fragrance you should be testing it first with samples before buying a hole bottle especially if the bottle is $100 or more, just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s going to smell good or get you compliments. Also you shouldn’t be buying a fragrance with the mindset of trying to get compliments or thinking people will like it, you should buy it because you enjoy fragrance and appreciate the art form for your self don’t let people sway your opinion.
I agree with you - I've just been impatient in the past. It's a character flaw that I totally embrace haha.
@ it’s all apart of the journey. First time i smelled Tuscan leather I was hooked so i bought a travel atomizer from the bouquet I used the hole bottle but wasn’t in love with it as much fond cuir intense from Guerlain it had that leather note mixed with woods and some florals it’s a hard wear at first but if your looking to test another leather scent that’s one it’s the dry down for me as well as Russian tea by masque Milano but get testers
I recently found a bottle of Hugo boss number 1,completely forgot I had it,wore for few days recently and numerous compliments,I stopped wearing it years ago but because I had not worn it for ages it was like discovering a new fragrance,I think that you can definitely become nose blind to a fragrance regardless of how nice it smells.
Your two most recent videos are excellent. Thank you for actually being yourself! So often I have to be aware of being shilled things online. It’s nice to watch fragrance related content that’s relaxing and personal. Cheers!
Thank you. I'd like to not pigeonhole myself into becoming a fragrance channel, but think this will be a popular topic
@@hey.alexedwards I think channel variety is fantastic!
When you consider ysl brought us opium, rive gauche and kouros, I can’t help feeling sad for what they launch today.
I have to agree with that. They have gone downhill significantly. Their fragrances used to be evocative, creative and unique. Now they just rip themselves off
There is an “Emptiness” that fragrances should be approached with. As a picky person I’ve become aware of this and it has surprisingly helped me with fragrances 😂. I smelled Grand Soir and I did not understand the hype. I sprayed it on skin to give it the benefit of the doubt and it was not something I would buy.
This is a great video and I hope the younger people that are diving into fragrances can understand how they can buy fragrances they actually like. Sometimes we just grow out of things but a few tips to help you land fragrances that you like:
1.Be comfortable with the idea there are many fragrances you will have to walk away from. Learn to say “I can respect this scent but its just not for me”.
2. Ultimately the question is this: Do you see yourself wearing this? How often? On what occasions? Visualize yourself wearing it, then make a judgment.
3. Do not buy fragrances until you really like them. That means buy a 5ml/2ml and wear it for a few days then take a break and then revisit. Test on strip in store, if it’s intriguing, test on skin. If you like it on your skin then get a 5ml/2ml or you need to go into the store another day and test it on skin a few more times. Do not be shy to try these in stores, fragrances are extremely subjective.
4. If you are in store, come prepared with what you want to smell. Come with hands and arms that are not sprayed with anything. A sales rep will likely be hovering around you, be firm on the things you want to check out, you have a limited amount of skin to use. Sometimes sales reps take people on trips and have you smell a bunch o things and it’s not really productive. Focus on what you came for, take your time with what you’ve tested, jot down some notes about what you liked and didn’t like. After that, you can go into a more exploratory mode and let the sales rep make suggestions to you. When you start to know what type of scents you like, sales reps can be extremely helpful! If they show you something you don’t like, say it. They’re trying to get a feel for what you like. Overall just be honest and don’t be shy. Everyone has their own taste!
Love your review because you are not an influencer you are speaking from a consumers perspective 😅. Could you do another video of your 10 favorites that you would definitely keep or buy again. Personally I went through that loop of buy and give and now I have settled on 3 alone😂
Thank you. The world doesn't need more influencers but it's in desperate need of real people with real opinions.
I can definitely do that.
As a fragrance it has become almost part of your outfit/style. I like to think as them like shoes. You have gym shoes, work shoes, leathers, flip flops boots and etc… we all have our favorite sneakers that are the most comfortable and just fitting for our style, what are the fragrances that you reach for the most just for the overall quality and style those scents give
I agree with what you're saying. I'll make a video on my most worn fragrances.
I’ve been really like the transparency between your videos! I’ve also been really taking a liking to your fragrance videos. Keep up the good work! Cheers 🎉
Thank you for that!
I’ve come to realize that a huge part of someone’s opinion on a fragrance, just comes down to what they associate the fragrance with. So, if you associate it with good times, a good date, etc. you will love it, and viceversa. If you associate it with a day you felt low confidence, stress, sick, etc. you will hate it.
Making things EVEN MORE subjective.
100% agree
Which fragrances are you keeping? That would be such a fun video !!
That may be the next video - keep an eye out!
Your zoo story-time reminded me of when I attended my sister’s graduation and there was this guest who wore a really strange yet strong fragrance which filled our entire half of the auditorium. At the time, I was a little put-off by it, but now, i can’t help but think about it in a positive light often. She left such a strong impression on me and I only hope to one day have the confidence to wear my fragrances that unapologetically 🤣🙌🏼
Hahah I wonder if that person has ever received any strange comments about their fragrance
@@hey.alexedwards hahaha she must have because it was the farthest thing from mass-appealing as a fragrance could get. It smelled a little bit like how a bitter melon shot tastes. If you know you know hahaha
@majdolinealbaijan398 that sounds kind of good ngl haha
@@majdolinealbaijan398Nasomatto Fantomas?
Appreciate this honesty SO much! I also fell for Grand Soir at the counter but thank God I just got a decant and then I ended up never even wearing that. I was bored with it even though I think the fragrance is quite beautiful.
It's a strange one. Just a little underwhelming I think
I like your videos. It’s telling a history, a real experience with the fragrances. I’m tired of the videos about one fragrance that’s you get today with two sprays and tell to everyone is good, you need to have it now.
Thank you! I've definitely spent some solid time with these
I think your nose changes or sometimes you just want a change honestly. You can start out wearing a fragrance for years but just get tired of it. Nothing wrong with that! Everyone's olfactory is different and I imagine changes as we age. Young kids like the bubblegum type scents but as men get older gravitate to the darker scents. Similar to people's palates. Great vid!
Very true - people change and so do their preferences
I agree with most of these but not with Terre D'Hermes just because it's my signature and I hope you make a list of the 10 fragrances you will be rebuying
Thanks for sharing! A lot of people adore TDH and that's what makes fragrance so personal!
Honestly, Brut is better smelling than almost any expensive fragrance.
Brut is classic
Sartorial imitated Brut in my opinion!
I have purchased Old spice Fiji antiperspirant and smells better and it is more potent than an expensive perfume. I was shocked. 😅
You can hate the price of grand soir or even it's straightforwardness, but it is no less than divine.
It's pleasant, but it's not special to me
@@hey.alexedwards yeah nothing special
Appreciate the honesty. It's always refreshing. I had the same experience as you with Sycamore.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one!
I like Terre EDT but grew a bit tired of it, especially its black pepper.
But I found Eau Givree to be much more enjoyable and easier to wear. I suggest trying it if you haven’t.
@@OmarZ77 I agree with you on that. Eau Givree is awesome
Yeah but it lasts like five minutes.
@@tfpp1 not in my experience.
And I’m happy to reapply anyway. Worth every penny of the $80
Totally agree with most of these.... Though I honestly think terre d'hermes is the SAME as Sauvage but just ten years older.... it’s a different group of guys that have overworn that to death… I’m a gay guy and I can tell you that there isn’t a gay man my age (50) who has not owned that fragrance. It IS classy and formal and gorgeous but it's sooooooo overdone... I think you're too young to realize it but it was THE BIGGEST THING prior to that absolute nightmare by Dior.... 😂
Regarding sycomore and your thinking that "it was better in store"... I know you're not going to believe this but... It's totally psychological.... i’ve worked in the fragrance industry for decades… And I have even been gifted testers that I wore daily and then took THE SAME BOTTLE home a month later and.... Yup... Not even close.... It's in your head... Unreal, right?? 😮
I appreciate your insights! I typically enjoy more mature fragrances (Beau De Jour, Prada Amber Pour Homme, Habit Rouge), but Terre D'Hermes has just fizzled out for me.
Also having worked in the fragrance industry myself, I still have no idea why this happens haha.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm the opposite.I don't like buying in stores. The people working there are always bothering me, and i feel like they're expecting me to buy something. I always feel pressured to purchase something when i try something in store.
I get that. In person I don't mind saying "I'm not looking for help. I'll ask if I need it."
But yeah the workers are relentless
Glad to have found your channel recently. I've been finding myself agreeing with and appreciating your perspective on many of the fragrance related matters you've addressed so far. Would also be interested in hearing more about those less expensive options in your collection which you feel do Tony Iommi Monkey Special's job well enough to make it not worth the price tag. Cheers.
Absolutely! That's a great idea. Thank you for watching
I agree with you on Grand Soir. Of all my MFK fragrances, that’s the one I come so close to selling on eBay but my girl likes it on me. I personally think it’s something I don’t enjoy smelling on myself. But as you mentioned, the bottle is so gorgeous and elegant with the orange juice but it’s pretty much a bottle in my collection just for the sake of saying I own it. I did manage to score a decent deal on it year ago with reward points on Maxaroma but still…it’s just THERE. I try to give it more wearing but I have so many other options it doesn’t make my rotation. Good content
Keep them coming
I agree with you on that!
I've been enjoying a lot to watch collections declutter and understanding what are the 10/15 perfumes that fragrance collectors really love and want to keep and why so. Also enjoyed your previous video, as I'm just starting my collection I don't want to commit those mistakes and get a huge collection of just because fragrances. I want to find around 10 that I love and set them to be my collection/rotation, so far I found 2. Thanks for posting and nice content :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I enjoy that type of content too.
Finally someone serious those fragrance influencers are not being real they all lie finally somebody serious we need more like you those influencers lie all the time quick story I almost blind bought jazz club from maison margiela based on the those Videos from those influencers but for some reason I decided to buy a Sample First and thank God I did Jazz Club smells Like burnt ashes I 100 percent believe they all get paid to recommend stuff this was so garbarge
@@chris-jy4im I agree! Jazz club smells like an ashtray tbh. Thanks for watching
I relate to everything. Very nice video and realistic descriptions. Subscribe deserved
Thank you :)
I liked your sober and realistic assessment of the overrated olfactory offenders on your list. Maybe perhaps with the exception of the two TFs. On a tangential note, I like the watch you have on. Is it a Cartier Tank? Or a Seiko perchance?
Thanks! This is a Seiko. I like it because I don't have to worry about damaging/losing it.
@@hey.alexedwards Seiko's are great watches, and nothing to scoff at either. Incidentally, if possible, try getting your hands on a CREDOR Tank style watch directly from Japan. Well, that is of course only if you can bring yourself to purchase it online. 😉
@rezathenightfly haha watches are a little different, I don't mind buying them online! Credors are sick.
Amazing video Alex ! You mentioned a lot of times you know better alternatives for the mentioned Fragrances so why not make a "Buy this instead of this" type of video ?
Thank you. The reason I don't suggest other things is because I believe fragrances are all personal taste. I don't want to make recommendations on any fragrances, and will only share my own personal thoughts on what I own, etc.
If he does that, then he becomes another influencer
@@chimezieobiwulu1347 exactly right. That's what I'm avoiding
Great content keep posting! 👍
Thank you! Will do!
I just started getting into fragrances and already know what you are feeling about Sauvage mate 🤣. It’s just that Sauvage has something VERY special about it initially, but at the same time , once you get used to that special characteristic, the whole fragrance just loses its seduction. Haven’t had this with any other fragrance yet. Quite the opposite, most of the fragrances I started liking EVEN more after wearing them many times.
By the way, absolutely LOVE the accent mate: which part of Australia are you from? Do you know any other Aussie channels that deal with fragrances? I already know one young bloke, but you can TELL he is young, which is why I don’t really follow his chanel much 😅. I lived in Melbourne for two years and absolutely enjoyed the vibes in Australia, hence I am always happy to find Aussie content creators and feel a bit nostalgic when listening to you guys 🇦🇺 (such as Andy cooks, but that’s a different topic haha) . Wishing you all the very best from Germany mate!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts mate! I'm in South Australia, and don't really follow any other channels. I do like one Aussie guy called The Scentinel. He's from Melbourne I believe, and has quite a relaxed nature in his videos too.
I’m sure others have asked but can you give us your 10-15 top fragrances. Thanks!
Great video! I believe most of the current fragrance world is simply marketing and influencing. The issue we have with memories of most older ("dated"} classic masculine fragrances stem from the fact our fathers/grandfathers/uncles 1) wore them without bathing, 2} wore them with dirty clothes, 3) wore too much or, 4) all the above.
Well said!
My opinion is ( and I believe that I am right ), that we are socially conditioned on what fragrances that we are to like. This comes about through advertising and social media ( TH-cam and Tik Tok Influencers ).
If someone says that we should like fragrance X because we will get compliments and success with the Ladies, then many go out and buy that fragrance ( and many Guys are disappointed because the fragrance didn't work ).
If fragrances ultimately brought people happiness, then Jeremy Fragrance would have been married by now and had a great job instead of now acting like a clown.
Very true!
Jeremy is the best example of how much bs is behind the 'panty dropper' nonsense. Too many men watch women for fragrance advice, not even straight women. They're lured in by the cleavage and smut.
As a woman, my advice would be to avoid any woman that will drop her pants over a fragrance. 😂
@sharfalor4244 haha! Solid advice.
Thank you so much. You have really opened my eyes and have already saved me thousands of dollars. Please keep going with the videos!
I'm glad this resonated :)
I have a huge collection, and Tobacco Vanille is my absolute favourite.
Out of bottle/opening can be weird or even off putting for some people, but the dry down is divine imo. Other than that I mostly agree!
That's interesting! It smells like old milk in the dry down to me.
Your two most recent videos are excellent. Thank you for actually being yourself! So often I have to be aware of being shilled things online. It’s nice to watch a fragrance video that’s relaxing and personal. Cheers!
I totally agree with all of them. I’m so glad that I bought iommi for $140 fragrancebuy had a huge sale. I would have been mad if I payed the full price. It’s not that special and I feel the same way about grand soir I don’t enjoy it.
Lucky you got it at a cheaper price
I just made a video today where I also shared that I don’t like buying online, you and I have a lot of opinions in common although different parts of the world, different age and different gender. Chanel’s prices have gone through the roof, but I love Le Lion SO much. I wish I had gotten the bigger bottle when the prices were lower.
Le Lion is a powerhouse! Thanks for being here
really refreshing honesty here... boy i've tried to love grand soir too but it just doesn't click for me either
I appreciate that, and agree completely.
Dude you were right. I was shocked at the decision to get rid of MFK Grand Soir but even more so with Terre D’Hermes as it’s so cheap considering you can pay £95 for a 200ml bottle online here in the UK! Many including Sebastian (The Perfume Guy) have called it a ‘masterpiece’ and I agree. Bleu de Chanel was my signature scent before discovering TDH. But you made your arguments and I respect them especially as fragrances are so subjective. I really enjoyed the video. Great content, brother.
Thanks legend! All personal preference
This is so informative, I'm also at the start of my journey in collecting perfumes, so I will try to keep it very limited to the most unique, breathtaking, and most niche type perfumes, so always very high quality over quantity.
Great idea - my previous video talks more about quality over quantity
You had a few of my faves on here like Terre D’Hermes, La Nuit De L’Homme, and even Sauvage Parfum. I guess not everyone can love everything the same and that’s ok. I do wish they would’ve kept LNDL closer to the original formula, I agree that it is a shadow of its former self.
That's the great thing about fragrances - they're all personal! Thanks for watching.
Hey Alex, I just came across your channel and wanted to say that the format of your videos are great!
Do you have any experience with Initio Side Effect? Would love to know your thoughts.
Thanks
Thank you! I've never tried anything by Initio
Your comments on YSL ring so true for SO many fragrances. What’s the actual truth is it recent regulatory changes forcing reformulations of beloved classics or is it industry wide shrinkflation that conveniently coincides with regulation measures ?
I wish I knew. All I know is it frustrates me beyond belief
I have a 2mL decant of Grand Soir. It was pretty underwhelming, tbh! Just a faceful of amber. My partner doesn't really like it, either. After hearing it being gassed up so much by reviewers, it was a bit of a shock.
Totally agree
I have a 2024 bottle of LNDL and it performs very good on me and smells fantastic. Sucks to hear not everyone has the same experience
Sounds like you're one of the few who have had a great experience with the new batches. Lucky!
I looove tobacco vanille. That’s the one I’m keeping from this list.
That's the great thing about fragrances - they're such personal choices! Thanks for watching
@@hey.alexedwards yes I g egg that. Some fragrances just don’t work in some skins or for some people. Grey vetiver I never liked it can’t understand why people spend on it but I guess is the same for tobacco vanille for me. Good work Alex.
@xl576 exactly right - thanks!
I’m curious to see the colognes you do enjoy
Will definitely make a video on this
Tobacco Vanille, & Grand Soir are 10/10 fragrances. I’d suggest trying PDM Goldophin instead of Tuscan Leather. Goldolphin is a better version, that I think you’d like.
Thank you - I'm done with buying new fragrances now. I've got 42 now (down from 100+) and I'm trying to get down to 15ish. I know what I love and I want to stick with those now.
You can still find older BNIB LNDL around on ebay and mercari. I got a BNIB 2013 bottle for around 130 on mercari last year. Just learn how to spot the batch and formula codes.
I've heard of a few people getting scammed on Mercari. It's put me off a little
I love Grand Soir, but to each their own. I also haven't bought a full bottle of it, but just a sample and a travel bottle, that was included in the wardrobe set that I got from Nordstrom, on sale this past summer.
That travel set and the Roja one that I just got last week have been two of my favorite fragrance purchases so far! I've gotten to try both of them at the fancy mall a few hours drive away, but they don't have them near me.
I wish that I would've ordered two of those MFK travel sets, that were on sale for $220 during the anniversary sale, and includes eight 11 ml bottles, including Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait, Oud Satin Mood EDP, Grand Soir, and a few more, and the Roja Aoud travel set included Aoud, Amber Aoud, Enigma Aoud, Sweetie Aoud, and Taif Aoud! And I got that on sale for $225, but the regular price is only $250, and both of these travel sets cost a lot less by volume for the fragrances, than buying full bottles.
I did the math with the MFK one, by looking up the full price for each one, for the same size bottles and then comparing each individual price, and multiply that ratio by the total price of $220, that I paid for the set. The BR540 Extrait only cost $45 for the 11 ml bottle!!! I'm pretty sure that's less by volume than if you bought the largest bottle they offer!
That's insane!
So its either an old designer that is way overdone, or a niche fragrance. Same with me, it is VERY hard for niche fragrances to justify their price imo, i left only Alex2 Xerjoff and Enigma by Roja. Great vid
100%. I've been largely disappointed by most niche fragrances I've tried.
Creed, for all their performance issues, are the only brand where almost every single one of their fragrances has impressed me scent-wise.
I wear terre d'hermes when going to a hike or walk in the woods. That's the perfect occasion imo. Formal fragrance is something like prada l'homme intense
I agree completely
I was like “I agree, Ok yeah I can see that one” but sauvage elixir is my guilty pleasure 😂 love these style of videos though man. A nice change up from feeling like missing out on a fragrance to realizing I don’t need it!
Glad you enjoyed this one!
I appreciate your honesty and i will subscribe to your channel after this comment is written for that reason alone. What I've learned so far in my fragrance journey is that your can't really trust the hype and others opinion are often influenced by different factors. There are not many channels i completely trust, so ill look into your reviews and words and hopefully see that you are one of the good ones bringing out honest opinions. Keep it up. That's special.
And to the topic. I agree that there are so many fragrances and houses that are overhyped and are charging a lot nord than what you get and what it is. Obviously there are many that deserves i high price for what's in the juice, the blend etc.
Not exactly the same topic but here is some examples from the house of Mancera where the fragrance is overhyped by influencers and I've tested it several of times on skin and just don't get the hype.
Red Tobacco Intense. Smells great from the bottle and strip. But from the mid and into the dry down it's a whole other fragrance. Awful drydown. Same with Silver Blue.
Can't understand why French Riviere and Aoud Lemon Mint are hyped. Smells synthetic and has a strange blend.
Cedrat Boise Intense and Aqua Wood thou are two from Mancera that i really enjoy. Much better blended and natural smelling 👌
Thanks for your comment! I'm not necessarily a fragrance channel, but I've had a couple videos that seem to be popular. You may like my other video talking about fragrance addiction.
@hey.alexedwards Aah i see 😄
I'll have a look at your other videos 🙏
Man i feel like i know who hyped some of these 😂 i personally like LNDL blue electrique. The versatility is really nice, despite smelling like laundry detergent.
Your sauvage opinion is hella spot on man. Finally. Not only is it so popular, it just smells like a bunch of chemicals. Not bad definitely, but given the many options one can wear... Putting it on always feels like a missed opportunity.
Nice vid mate. Have a nice day.
Thanks man! I agree with you Bleu Electrique is one that I enjoy too. It's a decent bit stronger than the OG and I enjoy how it's a little more fresh.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who thinks this was about Sauvage.
Bro AGREE TOTALLY WITH LDNL for me is so annoying and powdery and nauseating i can't even understand how people like this.
I love LNDL, it's just not what it used to be for me
I guess I've had some underwhelming fragrance purchases too, like I wasn't going to buy another Xerjoff, after I blind bought Naxos, and it mostly just smells like licorice to me. I paid like $250 for the 100 ml bottle from Amazon, and I'm confident that it's authentic.
Then I tried more Xerjoff fragrances at this fancy mall, that's a few hours drive from home for me. I've taken two little vacations to try and buy fragrances so far, where I try a bunch and buy one bottle. I got Roja Sweetie Aoud the first time, from Neiman Marcus and Chanel Le Lion from the Chanel boutique the second time.
But the funny part is that I've ordered Xerjoff Alexandria II and Erba Pura since then, because I love how they smell, and I really want to get the Tony Iommi fragrances too, but everyone online says that Naxos is blind buy safe, but the other ones aren't!
I don't even think Naxos is blind buy safe. Doesn't matter how popular or loved it is, everyone has completely different preferences
I can see your point with all of these , except for Sycamore - which is a love for me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it WAS a love for me too. Just disappointed by my bottle/batch I think.
There is a recent reformulation of Sycamore edp. It’s a major improvement from the original edp batch.
@@MrBassrazz Don't tell me that haha. I'm trying to stop buying at the moment.
I was thinking about to get a Van cleef fragrances and I wasn’t so sure which to get but I glad you brought it up
I've only tried this one, and love it. Not sure about their other ones but I would assume they're pretty solid.
Great video. I appreciate your honesty. We can get caught up in the hype by fragrance influencers. I have a bottle of Grand Soir that I have had at least 5 years. I’ve hardly worn it. It’s too heavy of a scent and is more fitting for cold weather. I only get 4 months of cold weather. I’ve owned 3 bottles of Hermes fragrances and I can’t wear them. Too much vetiver. It’s important to buy fragrances that fits your lifestyle and climate. Every fragrance is not worth having a bottle particularly seasonal fragrances. Buy decants and you really only need one type of a particular fragrance for example amber, vetiver, tobacco etc..
I agree, it's important to buy fragrances that you enjoy, and that fit your lifestyle and climate
Can you please make a video of the top 10 in your collection?
I can!
Never used or smelled Dior. I was thinking to ask if it is good to use as a woman. 😄I was thinking to buy a small bottle.
I find 10mls more than the best option if you like something but don't want to commit tna full bottles especially sweet frags that are more situational. For eg. I buy frags like Oajan and noir extreme in 10mls and my noir extreme is half way down after about 6 months and that's me wearing it even to work.
That's a smart move
Finally someone has the same opinion that I have on grand soir. To me it’s just a super basic vanilla scent with this weird balsamic thing going on that throws me off. I also bought it in store and basically forced myself to get it but recently traded it for Naxos and I’m so much happier with that one
Glad you were able to pick up Naxos - what an amazing fragrance
I love Monkey Special, too. I got my 50ml bottle for about $150 usd. At that price, I'll re-buy it when I run out. It's worth it. I mostly blind buy everything online since I live in a very rural area, and the only places to buy fragrances are Walmart or Walgreens. I've bought a few expensive designer bottles in person, and I definitely prefer it, but honestly, shopping for fragrances online at grey market discounters works best for me. Paying retail for something like Tom Ford, PDM, or Creed, just as a few examples, is almost as crazy as blind buying everything, lol. Speaking of Creed, i wouldn't buy Aventus ordered any Aventus clone again. I've tried to like it. I've worn it so many times hoping that I'd come around to it, but it just smells really bad to me .
I recently started buying decants, usually 4ml so I can get a bunch of legit wears out of them to decide if it's worth buying a full bottle or not. It's satisfied my addiction to smelling something new fairly often without spending a ton of money.
That's fair enough! Thanks for watching
Hello Alex, nice video, I was thinking about buying LNDL but with the performace and almost no versatility I am not going to. Also I definitely undestand the "I want to love it but I don't".., happened to me too many times".
Can I ask a few questions - what are your TOP 5-10 designer fragrances? (overall).
Also, between JPG Elixir, Prada Luna Rossa Black and Spice bomb Extreme, which one do you like the most? (again, overall - for colder months of course).
Thanks for watching!
I will make a video on my personal favourites.
As for the last part, I don't actually like JPG at all, and haven't smelled Luna Rossa Black so I'd say Spicebomb extreme. Although in my opinion, the original Spicebomb is superior.
@@hey.alexedwardsagree, original Spicebomb is better. The extreme has too much vanilla, not that much of that 'what' that?' factor. The price is also great, 60% of the SB Extreme, for me the OG is better.
@horiaatanasiu3173 100%
@@hey.alexedwards So if I have the original SB (which I like a lot) the Extreme is redundant? 🙂thank you for the answer and I am looking forward to seeing next videos
@@horiaatanasiu3173 JPG Elixir, Prada Luna Rossa Black and Spice bomb Extreme, which one do you like the most?
Loved the video new subscriber 😊 this is what I love about fragrance each to their own ❤
Thank you! And I agree. It's such a personal hobby
@ absolutely i think it’s some you should do on your own so your no swayed 😊
@@jackc3899 100%
I wish more people loved ysl myslf le parfum it’s such a beautiful easy sent. It lasts forever on my skin and days on my clothing. Then again I respect your opinion on it, that’s the good thing about fragrances they’re all subjective.
Thank you - it all comes down to personal preference. If you love it, that's literally the only thing that matters
i agree with all of them and i have majority of them 😂
MFK Grand Soir was exactly the same for me mate, literally word for word! i went for the 30ml and i force myself to wear it because it costs an arm and a leg. Tbh, all of my main disappointments come from Niche and a couple expensive designers, to the point i'm cutting down my collection from 58 to 12. They've become so overpriced and shite longevity that it's messing up my hobby. nice content mate 🔥
Completely agree with you on that. I've been hugely disappointed by most niche fragrances I've tried. Thanks for sharing your thoughts mate
Hi please retry the more deep dark fragrances in winter. Trust me. My taste even changes in autumn vs winter
I love my deep and dark fragrances - these are just a few that I'm not the biggest fan of.
Some of my favorites are Gris Charnel Extrait, Gentlemen Reserve Privee and Black Orchid.
As for in store experience- it’s always deceiving for me. Every time I try out something in store it doesn’t smell the same. I guess the smells are mixing up together in the air with other fragrances and things. The worst is Sefora- many times I came there, there was too many people in fairly small space. And even when there is nobody- it’s still not perfect- the whole store smells like beauty products.
Better to get a decant or a small vile and try it out at home, walk out and spend time with a scent you’re interested in.
I agree completely
You make such good points! Thank you!
Thank you! Really appreciate that.
As a female I truly understand the problem with orange blossom. So many fragrances are unbearable for me because of it- one of them YSL Libre, especially Libre intense. But i love the way it smells. YSL uses the same accord in Myself line.
On the other hand I adore soapy neroli like in Atelier Cologne Orange blossom or Neroli Portofino. Or very gourmand variety like in DG Devotion or Oriana PDM- both are orange blossom based and very sweet- but so enjoyable and not annoying
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That's interesting
What do you think of brands like byredo and le labo?
Strongly dislike both.
A) they're WAY too overhyped
B) they both produce average fragrances at best
C) byredo fragrances are extremely weak and short lived
Tuscan leather was a blind buy for me around 2016 when I first started getting into the frag community. I really didn’t enjoy it so I traded it for pdm Layton which is in my top 10 frags for life.
Sounds like a smart trade!
Completely agree with grand soir I don’t get the hype with it. Bought 2 decants to try and see the appeal but it wasn’t that good imo. Great vid
Glad I'm not the only one. Thanks for watching
I'm so sad, La nuit de l'homme has such poor performance now. It's one of my all time favourite.
Me too! Disappointing.
In 6 weeks of going down the rabbithole of fragrances I bought 45 bottles. That number has been reduced to 27 at the moment. My rule of thumb is if it’s heavily shilled by zoomers or if the brands marketing is in that condescending TikTok influencer approach I’m more reluctant to buy into it. Don’t get me started on that Bujairami crap that seems to flood Facebook marketplace after “only a few sprays”.
Really is a matter of discerning a personal relationship with material and knowing the niche. CubaKnow had the same reaction to Royal Tobacco I did by being love at first sniff. I’ll admit he did sell me on house of Franck Olivier and Exclusif Tabac for budget bangers. Joy Amin got me on to S.T Dupont because he kept shilling it over the years and the smaller channels all mentioned similar things. Mags Frags got me into Afnans Supremacy line with his reviews. Gents Scents and a few others also helped me make a few decisions regarding the middle eastern dupes since in Australia I was getting Private Blends ads.
Out of all of the fragrances bought after considering TH-camrs opinions was Ana Abiyedh, only cos it gave me a headache.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
love your profile pic 0/
You won't rebuy a fragrance you love unless you can get it in store? Never heard such a ridiculous reason in all my life!
Store stock is from the same warehouses as online stock so if you buy from a reputable retailer what are you worried about?
Btw Monkey special is pure class. If that's too expensive you're in the wrong game.
Yep. Some people just prefer doing things a certain way. I personally don't like shopping online. It's just a thing. There's no real reason, I just prefer not to. Don't know why you have such a problem with that.
Also, if I don't feel the need to spend another $500 on a fragrance when I have another 30 that give the exact same energy/vibe, that's my choice.
Not everyone has to do things the way you see fit.
@hey.alexedwards well you never gave the reasoning you had 30 other similar frags. I'm questioning the reluctance to shop online. You still haven't given an actual reason why you don't want to do it therefore it makes no sense. Nobody shops in person any more that's yesteryear. Your reluctance to embrace change is probably the reason you have so many issues. Like thinking people are telling you what to do for example. I never said such a thing. I think you need to speak to a psychiatrist perhaps.
I love grand soir. as opposed to your experience, i didnt like it that much at first finding it very simple but after spending some time with it im in love.
But its same here with ysl myslf. i will not buy it again because it does not blow me away. And, i hate iommi. i just sprayed once on my hand at the store to observe how it transforms on my skin but from top notes to the base it really irritated me then i washed my hand because i couldnt bear with it anymore::)))
That's fair enough. Personal preference :)
if you layer grand soir with mercedes club black it turns into the most seductive scent you will ever smelled just saying if you have it and you're not loving it lately try that out and you will love it again
Are you a fragrance reviewer or wellbeing advisor? Cos you do a good job reviewing fragrances
I'm neither! I just value simplicity. Part of that is de-inluencing things like fragrance.
Fragrance is a huge hobby for me, and I think it's being ruined by influencers online, so it's one of the many topics I'll be talking about from a more honest and unfiltered perspective!
@@hey.alexedwards looking forward to more content from you. I don't mind watching a few fragrance channels to get an idea of what fragrance smells like. I never blind buy because I need to see how it works on my skin & if it's actually any good.
I probably don't need any more fragrance but every now and then, something beautiful comes up & I pull the trigger.
@@hoangtu3366 thank you
what is your favorite blue fragrence?
Bleu De Chanel Parfum
I hear you. I own several expensive fragrances that I would not buy again; Grand Soir and Tobacco Vanille are among them.
Glad you agree!
Idk I blind bought grand soir and it's been my favorite fragrance eversince. Just can't get enough of it.
That's great! Lucky blind buy
Alex are you on the aussie fragrance groups on FB?
I was but left them. I've effectively deleted social media and only have Facebook to use messenger.
Great video. Sauvage elixir is the only perfect one imo. Nothing to do at all with the rest of the sauvage line.
That's fair! I just don't enjoy it
although i have all of Terre d´Hermes (Eau Tres Fraiche, Pure Parfum, Eau Givrée) - i agree with you - EDT is not for formal settings because of rotten orange vibe - spraying this on white shirt is complete disaster when you work 8 hours at office and start to sweat - it mixes together and the result is .... everybody who wears Terre into office daily knows how it reacts .... and am same type of guy like you, going against commercial trends - always trying to be unique, individualist - don´t care about popularity at all - happy with my own private life :)
wooohooo - Sycomore there :D i love you for that honesty!!!!!! that´s bloody brilliant - i wanted to blind buy Le Lion and glad i didn´t - do you have any experience sniffing Le Lion?
Love that! Privacy is important
I do! I have a Le Lion tester, and it's absolutely ATOMIC. If you are looking for something extremely dry that smells like a literal smoky desert, then you may enjoy it. If not, it may not be for you.
@@hey.alexedwards wooohoo 😀 i have Ambre Sultan, Musc Ravageur and Shalimar Edp - some prople say it’s a mixture of these three ones + coromandel/cuir de russie but much stronger …. I wanted to buy something not too offensive that you can wear for formal business settings more than twice a year …. What do you think about this scent profile of le lion? Thanks in advance
@miles-178 If you're okay with potentially offending people in business settings, go for it! Personally I love it, but be aware, it's going to absolutely offend people.
Honestly, my Grand Soir doesn't project at all, and i only got it 2yrs ago. It still smells great, but the performance just isn't there
I don't think it's supposed to, to be honest. A lot of traditional French perfumery is more intimate and sits closer to the skin.
@hey.alexedwards I can attest to that. The only strong, "beast mode" French perfume I've smelled is Le Lion by Chanel. Even other Chanel fragrances I've tried turn into skin scents very quickly
Carolina Herrera
212.................... so underrated and very unique. a nice sporty kinda smell
That's great - I'll have to check it out one day
@@hey.alexedwards Its cheap aswell!
I've just bought ysl myself a couple days ago, I hope I don't get bored 🤣
Don't worry about what I think of it - fragrance is completely personal. We could have completely different taste, so what I think of it shouldn't mean anything to you. Enjoy it!