Another long-ass review... Admit it, you missed me!

Hi. I'm the guy who bought over 40 decants and made a long-ass review about them, then bought Al Dirgham Special Edition and crowned it as The Liquid Brun Killer!.

Now, here is more of what I bought. I (stupidly) blind bought some things, which I'll NEVER do again, as my success rate is 50% on those. Fortunately, most of the things weren't a blind buy. My long ass review already has most of them, but I'll go over the ones here that weren't included. Please see the first review to understand my testing and rating system. All of them have been sprayed upside down, then right side up, and macerated for about 2 weeks after arrival. They all have a batch date older than 4 months.

Nitro White (NR) (blind buy)

Opening: Are you kidding me? Every reviewer out there said that "this is the more mature, refined, and versatile version of Nitro Red (NR)". Not at all! I would say this is even SWEETER than NR.

Take NR (or more correctly Invictus Aqua) with that high quantity bubblegum sweetness (which you all know I adore from my last review), remove the watermelon, throw some honey in the mix as well, plus maybe a tiny hint of vanilla that can barely be detected behind that candy store you just sprayed on yourself, and that's the opening 30-50 minutes of NW for ya. I was looking for it to be like 30% vanilla, some honey, then the rest to be a toned down version of NR. I'm not "disappointed"... Just surprised. On the dry-down, NR and NW take different routes on their base. NR becomes more woody, while NW stays fruity, and much more vanilla comes through. The Bubblegumy fruitiness stays on top on both. It's a very good scent, and it's a profile I enjoy, just not what I expected, and not what I bought it for (to be my "serious\winter version NR"). I would say NW is even more playful than NR in the opening, and maybe the same level at dry-down. Also, its sweetness profile (lack of freshness balance) makes it 100% unisex and maybe even female-leaning at the opening (not that I mind that, but you might mind it). Actually, my wife said "hey, I want to use that myself!" (which she didn't say about NR), and she exclusively wears juvenile women (girls) fragrances like Britney Spears and the likes (we both like juvenile, extra sweet scents). After the initial dry-down, she changed her mind (this happens way too often...). On deep dry-down (3-4 hours in), it's amazing. Just the right amount of balance between the fruitiness, vanilla, and honey. If they made a linear scent that smells like that for 8 hours, it would be my #1 of all time! That's the profile I wanted it to have when I got it.

Now, I know this sounds like I'm bashing NW, I'm not, I actually like it quite a lot, I'm just upset it's not gonna fill the spot I wanted it to fill. It's about 80% similar (in vibe) to NR. I find it kind of redundant to own both (and that's coming from someone who is obsessed with the Invictus DNA, as you see from my collection). I wanted it to be my "more unique" Invictus Victory Elixir frag... But alas, that's not the spot it will fill (it does that on deep dry-down though). Now, it's competing in a category that 3 other frags I own are filing already, and that's what I was trying to avoid when I made my purchase choices.

Scent score: M(8.5) W(9.5)

Projection: 9.1 (almost as nuclear as Red) Longevity: 10h BBSS (7.8) USS (4.7... 6.0 at opening, 4.3 after dry-down)

Armaf Ventana Marine (blind buy)

This is going to be a short one. Not a clone (a twist of a mix... So can't really compare it to anything). Slightly fresh, a little fruity, sweet, and aquatic, on a generic "blue" base. The blend quality is HORRENDOUS. I'm talking dollar store fragrance quality, maybe one step above a room freshener spray, and with the performance to match. I'm getting 3-4 hours, with maybe 40 minutes projection. I might need to test it at summer to see how well it does in high heat, but it's 20⁰c in my house, so it's not like I'm testing it in "cold weather". This one going to the donation box, or to be used as a bathroom spray. Very cheap, for a good reason. My wife kind of hates it as well. Bought it because I'm having a "tea" phase right now, but can't pick up a tea note in that synthetic mess of a frag.

Score:M(4.5) W(3.0) Projection: 3.5 (if good projection is described as "beast mode", let's make a new term and call this one "bitch mode") Longevity: 3.5h BBSS: 3.0 (not because of the profile, but because of the quality) USS: 2.5

Emper Genius Victory (semi blind, as I already know I like pretty much any Invictus clone profile)

Never tried the OG. Bought this because it was 7 USD for a tester (normally $20 or so). The tester came with a cap... WIN! To me, this is a slightly toned down, fresher, and less fruity and Bubblegumy version of Hawas (never tried OG Invictus). The Bubblegumy sweetness is still there, but it's not as dominant and overpowering like in Hawas or Hawas Ice, and it's accompanied by a low-moderate vanilla base, and a pretty hefty dose of amber. The opening is about 30% fresh, and the dry-down is about 10% fresh, but more lavendery-vanilla-Amber. I'm really happy with it, and would buy it again, but not for the non-tester price. The bottle is very heavy, and the cap is a secure fit. It displays well.

Scent score: M(8.2) W(7.6) Projection: 7.8 (for about 2 hours) Longevity: 8.5 hours BBSS: 9.0 USS: 2.0

New Brand Invincible (semi blind buy)

Got this because it was also $7.5 (not a tester). I wasn't expecting anything good with this one for that price, but actually, it's not bad at all. As an Invictus clone, I expected more Bubblegumy sweetness, but this is on the medium side of that, and is more on the fruity side than the Bubblegumy side. I like it. The blend quality is average. Not too synthetic, but won't blow your mind that you won't believe it's a clone. Unfortunately, this one is also a "bitch mode", but I'm still going to keep it and use it for the gym, a quick run to the grocery, or a food pickup. Anything that takes less than 1-2 hours.

Scent score: M(8.5) W(8.0) Projection: 7.0 (but only for 1 hour) Longevity: 3.5 hours BBSS: 8.5 USS: 2.5

Wulong Cha by Shobi perfumery (100% blind buy)

As mentioned, I'm going through a tea (and fig) phase, and let me tell you... WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW!

How the hell have I lived my life without this before? This could've replaced Insense Ultramarine as my signature scent if it was slightly more versatile. If you got to know me by my previous reviews (linked at the top), you know I'm not a fan of heavy citrus notes, so I was kind of hesitant to order it, and that's why I got 50ml (with 3ml extra essence). Boy, was I wrong. Turns out it's just Armaf's shitty synthetic citrus that ruined it for me, and it can actually be amazing when done right! Right from the top, you are blasted with photo-realistic citrus, including pulp and skin, but blended so well, that it feels like the wind blew it towards you. Immediately (10 seconds) after, a full bathtub if tea joins the party, but it's not sweetened with sugar, oh no, it's sweetened with a small slice of ripe fig, while the nutmeg adds some warmth and spiciness to your experience. On the dry-down, it's even better, as the citrus subsides, but stays in just the right amount to balance it. This is going to be in my collection for life! If you want a "summer Liam Grey"... You got it!

Scent score: M(9.5) W (7.8) Projection: 9.0 (very strong with that extra essence). Longevity: 14h BBSS: 8.5 USS: 100% Gender Free. Doesn't smell feminine, doesn't smell masculine.

Apple Brandy On The Rocks by Shobi perfumery (100% blind buy)

To be honest, I knew I'm not going to fall in love with it, and my expectations were accurate. It's kind of boring. Small amount of brandy and a SHIT TON of green apples. It's like someone is waterboarding you with green apple juice. It's not bad, but not special at all. I am going to find a use for it though, by mixing (not layering, but mixing in a decant) 10% of this, with 90% Detour Noir, so I could finally make Detour Noir what I always wanted...A more apple-y Detour Noir. Question is, what I'm I going to do with the rest of it? Good thing I only got 50ml. The quality is good, and performance is great... But it's more of a one-note-spray than it is a fragrance.

Scent score: M(5.5) W(5.0) Projection: 8.0 (for 2.5 hours) Longevity: 11h BBSS: 7.0 USS: 3.5

Acqua For Men (blind buy... But I know how Aqua Di Gio smells like)

This is a "dollar store" fragrance ($5), and the quality isn't as bad as you imagine (better than Armaf Ventana Marine, that's for sure!). This scent also knows how to perform a magic trick, it disappears after you put it on!

Scent score: M (7.8) W (8.8) Projection: 0.5 (for 30 seconds) Longevity: 25 minutes (0.42h) BBSS: 9.0 USS: 2.2

Hope to see you in my next long-ass review... Frag away!