Just when you think you know what you like..

#blind_buy
#dupes
#first_impressions

Admittedly, I've purchased 90% of my bottles without testing them via decant or at a local shop. I do, however, do copious amounts of "research" via Fragrantica, Parfumo, Reddit and other social media. Having been collecting for a minute at this point, I'd like to think I'm pretty aware of how different note combinations smell to me, what kind of accords and profiles I typically prefer, and what I'll like and won't like.

Then it all gets turned on its head by a free sample.

My daughter bought me a fragrance from Alexandria Fragrance for my birthday and gifted it to me today (Silent Purpose 50, an Amouage Purpose 50 clone.. which is fantastic). Included in the package was a sample of Musk Obsession. Seeing the name and doing zero digging, I thought maybe it was a version of Musk Therapy from Initio. I sprayed twice and thought "Huh.. this is actually really interesting. I had always thought I'd find that scent pretty bland. I might have to look into this one."

Turns out it's actually Alexandria's version of BORNTOSTANDOUT Musc X. If you're not familiar, the listed notes are

Top: Olibanum (big fan) Middle: Labadanum (again, big fan), cotton candy (Uhhhh.. what?!) Base: Musk, ambrette

Fellow frag fans, I'm 5'10", 250 lbs (178cm, 114+ kg). I have a big beard and Celtic tattoos. I like whiskey, Scotch, and black coffee. I've butchered venison at my kitchen sink. One of my hobbies is picking up heavy things and seeing how far out and up I can throw them (Highland Games/heavy athletics)... And it appears I also really like fragrances that include notes of.. cotton candy??

Apparently I have a few things left to learn and experience yet.

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Comments12

Chloe@chloem10

last week

😂😂 love that for you

Incense_Cat@incensecat

last week

Alexandria is probably my favorite dupe house; they consistently make excellent clones with fantastic performance. Love that there are multiple sizes. I just picked up Dua's clone of this scent and can't wait for it to get in. I didn't know Alexandria made one or I would have snagged it from them.

StickyLabRat@stickylabrat
last week
I had always heard mixed reviews about their stuff, but I'm suitably impressed with their stuff so far. I blind bought L'invasion and really enjoyed it and the sample of SP50. I'm not guaranteed to buy Musk Obsession, but there's no denying it's a very nice scent. I also really appreciate the availability of multiple sizes as well.

Borr2112@borr2112

last week

Was just telling ma friend this story about this big tatted dude working out near me that smelled fluffy 😜😂

StickyLabRat@stickylabrat
last week
I've never really been drawn to stuff like BR540 or anything leaning heavily unisex. Maybe it was an internal bias, or maybe this one just happened to hit the right spot for me. Not sure I'd wear it to the gym given the heavy presence of musk and spices, but I'd probably rather breathe this in than five sprays of Sauvage Elixir.
Borr2112@borr2112
last week
Replying to @stickylabrat
I was totally kidding. I thought it was awesome that you described yourself in a way that would be a hell no to cotton candy and yet you gleefully rocked it. That is the true definition of masculinity. I love it!
StickyLabRat@stickylabrat
last week · Edited
Replying to @borr2112
That's the funny thing; had I actually looked at the notes list, I probably would have just handed it to my daughter and told her to try it out. Instead, here I sit reevaluating what I thought I knew about fragrance and my personal taste. 😆 I'm not convinced I'll buy a full bottle after using up the sample, and I'm sure some of the feeling is that dopamine hit of a brand new scent, but I definitely appreciate it more than I would have had I looked at the notes first.

lnoelkayhan

last week

Awesome! I love that we can still be surprised by fragrances! Great post!

StickyLabRat@stickylabrat
last week
I feel like the Olibanum and labdanum do a lot of work in this one to counterbalance the sweetness. Musk Obsession feels like it has a lot of depth without being dark at all. It's very well done.

Leslie Jo@lesliejo

last week

That’s the crazy thing about notes I’m learning! I’ll see a unisex fragrance and look at the notes and think surely this leans feminine and then smell it and to me it smells masculine. It just boggles me sometimes.