SmellGoodGuy

Two types of people are hyping this: The regular person who's not in the fragrance game and has fell for the SA Jedi mind trick and the collector who is trying to justify the purchase by tricking themselves to see the best in the fragrance. My imagination is limited as to who else would hype this.

The worst release I've smelled from Mr. Ford to date. I know that's a mouthful for a first impression, but I really can't see myself warming to this. Yuck!

On a bright note, that rerelease of Oud mineral is BEAUTIFUL. Before I make an entry for that one I want to go back and smell it from the actual bottle. I have a sample, but it was decanted and I wasn't there to actually see it was in fact oud mineral. But if it is, I may just get it.

Good day, folks

So, I've bought 4 fragrances (Mulberry Fig, Dia Man, Vétiver Bourbon, Fougère Emeraude) within the last for 4 days. It may have been 5 (Montabaco Rio) if a certain place was not closed over the weekend. Or I may have stopped at 2 given that one's price. Who knows.

Oh, and stay tuned to my impression on those if you're curious.

Anyhow, this one here... Man. This one here.. BIG win.

I've been wanting this fragrance ever since it launched but at first couldn't find it in the US and then, when it was available, I (justly) convinced myself that I did not need it and that I had what I wanted in Wūlóng Chá. However, calculate boredom with obsession and a person can convince themselves to do all type of nonsense. But I digress...

What I get from this is Fico di Amalfi + Fleur de Peau + Amyris Homme, with sandalwood, vetiver, coconut and a very powdery dry amber especially pronounced on the dry down. This is simultaneously one of the best fig, sandalwood, iris, coconut, vetiver and amber scents I've smelled. That alone makes this full bottle worthy (if those notes are your thing).

As trite as saying this is, it's truly "Spring time in a bottle".

My references could be wrong as to the 3 fragrances I mentioned above; I haven't smelled them in quite some time. Those are just what came to mind when I sat smelling this fragrance throughout the day. Today's my first day of actually wearing it out and about and, so far, I stick by my first impression.

This fragrance is very expensive, which I think is the culprit holding it back from being embraced by the community at large. But, man, this is GOOD. Even though they say this fragrance is limited addition, I think they made more because people really love it. However, they may make good on that quote if they decide it's not being embraced enough. In any event, I got mine.

Get it while it's hot, folks!

• Unisex/masculine
• Great longevity
• Spring, maybe all Summer
• 10/10 (I can't see myself getting away from this)

I haven't worn a fragrance this much in a LONG time. This is perhaps the best rose x animalic fragrance I've smelled outside of maybe the night. Altho I really can't compare at this point being I haven't smelled the night in about 8yrs.

Anyway, this goes beyond my knowledge of perfumery to articulate the complexity of this fragrance, but I'm confident enough to call this a luxurious smelling, complex, musky, ambery, rosey fragrance. And, yeah, that blueberry accord is a real thing, altho it's not sweet. It's more like smelling the thin tart skin of a blueberry after being spat out. In a good way though.

This has the right amount of animalics so as to be challenging, but at the same time HIGHLY addicting. I wore this 3 consecutive days a week ago and I'm wearing this today.

Again, I had this on my list from the first time I saw it pop up online, due to the name and notes. When I seen it at a REALLY good price, I just pressed add to cart and so is the story lol

I bought about 6 fragrances in the last 3 months. I really don't see anything thing else, outside of some wild new release or perhaps a rare to discounters Serge Lutens, that I will be open to buying, but let's see.

Enjoy everyone!

I'm mad.

You see what feeding in to the hype gets you? -_- Ok, so I wanted this, not only because I (convinced myself) "needed" a straight amber fragrance, but also because of the perfumer. I have Etruscan Waters and really like it. Also, I needed something to complete my cart and I told myself, hey, why not.

Any how, now I have it.

I opened the box, spritzed the back of my hand; Sniffed. Yes!

Sniffed again. This is good, but why does it remind me of something I have or have sniffed before.

Sniffed again. Wait a min...

Opens spill-over drawer and pulls out Leather by Commodity. Sprays on forearm.

-_-

Not only does Byzantine Amber smell almost identical to Leather by Commodity, but PALES in comparison. With Leather by Commodity smelling more niche, better blended, and of better quality.

I've always really liked Leather by Commodity, but as it was one of my early purchases I kind of put it in the back and just never really touched it in years. Opting for the latest and greatest as I started over purchasing. Embarrassingly so.

Also, years ago I considered labeling over my nose. If it said leather, so be it. It's leather. Fast forward to today, this very day, with Byzantine Amber on my hand and Leather inches away on my forearm, I now see that Leather, altho leathery, is really Amber. Or more to the point: labdanum forward. Both leather and amber are accords, with labdanum being the star of the show.

So, yeah, if you don't have Leather by Commodity, this is more than worth it. If you do and, like me, own both; compare. 101 percent you don't need Byzantine Amber.

Commodity's Leather is all you need. Albeit more leathery and more animalic.

Being as this is a new acquisition, I will be updating if I feel there are substantial delineations between the two, which I doubt.

UPDATE:

Ok, so the juxtaposition of Commodity's Leather reveals the existence of oud in here. A note you'll see an increasing amount of perfumers omit due to the connotations oud brings to the imagination -- e.g. "challenging", "stinky", "fecal". However, here, it's very light handedly applied to bring a rounded depth to the fragrance. But without a doubt, there's oud in here. And iris (of course). Again, as with the oud, it's only there to round everything out and create depth, nothing to highlight. Finally, I've noticed this has greater longevity than Leather and, in the dry down, beefier.

Ok, you guys are probably, at this point, rolling your eyes when I make another purchase and write about it.

I said I was finished, but I saw this for a steal of a price and just had to have it, as this was on my wish list for many years.

With that out the way: This is PHENOMENAL!

I was so worried when reading reviews about this that it would be a feminine leaning scent, but upon smelling this, I was pleasantly taken aback. Definitely unisex, but I would like to consider it more masculine.

I say masculine because smelling this on a woman wouldn't make me think dainty and feminine. I would think "mature" and "handsome".

On a guy, this speaks volumes about his character. The fact that he chose to wear this and not Sauvage or something cologne-y, says this is a discriminating man that knows what he wants and knows himself and could care less about your compliments. This is a fragrant representation of his current mood and he does not need anyone's consent or approval. This screams boss man. Imo.

With that said, I received one direct compliment as well as one indirect compliment the 3 days since I've had this.

The direct came from a family member that rarely says anything about what I wear when I run into them. In this instance, I was not only complimented but, I was asked the name and was told it smelled very high end. Best compliment EVER from that person.

The second person was an EMS worker who came into the room and asked "what is that smell?!". But went on to say he needed it for his apartment and continued talking about it walking off with his partner.

Hey, I'll take it. Lol

So, I count this as a major win. Albeit not for my budget.