This one is weird, I just don’t “get” it. Every few months I give it another shot thinking I’ll finally get it, and I don’t.

I don’t dislike it at all. It’s perfectly pleasant-smelling. It just doesn’t particularly grab me. I wouldn’t have expected to see such strong praise for it in the other reviews.

Goes on with a spicy, peppery edge that disappears very quickly. After that? I guess this is what amber smells like. There’s something very slightly white-floral in there, too. To me it leans a little sweet and perfumey, I find it strange that so many people think this is so extremely masculine. I suppose I can see it for an older man, a very specific image men of my generation grew up with… think “Kolchak, The Night Stalker” out for cocktails on his night off from chasing the undead around the sepulchral Seattle underground.

I suppose I should try wearing it out and see if anybody says anything. As I round the hump of my 50s, I’ve leaned into it, and bought a Kolchak-type narrow-brimmed fedora that I’ve actually gotten a lot of compliments from strangers on. So maybe it’ll work.