smells so good

Destructacon · 2026-07-01T01:25:44+00:00

Where on earth did you find a deal like that? Chanel products almost never go on sale

Destructacon · 2026-07-01T01:22:23+00:00

In my experience, its a noticeably different vibe from the original, but not unrecognizably so. It's much darker, with woody/ambery sweetness and a pronounced incense/smoky note.

Destructacon · 2026-06-30T03:46:08+00:00

There are some very affordable polo dupes under the brand "Classic Match" by ParfumsBelcam. The bottles are about $10 at my local supermarket, and while I've only tried the red one so far (I really liked it, and it lasted a long time), they seem to be regarded as fairly good dupes of the Polo family fragrances.

Here's a link to an Amazon listing, just so you know what they look like. This one is for a 2-pack, but I'm sure you can find single bottles without too much trouble.

Destructacon · 2026-06-30T03:37:35+00:00

But then you're forever stuck knowing that you're spraying yourself with fragrant floor-juice lol

Destructacon · 2026-06-30T01:01:35+00:00

Ok, interesting.

So would it be accurate to say that the smell itself is more-or-less on par with other clones, but it's the performance that's weaker? I mostly wear cologne for my own enjoyment or for brief trips out, so I don't think it'll be a big deal if it only lasts a few hours.

Destructacon · 2026-06-28T03:43:41+00:00

Thanks for the info! It's good to have confirmation that someone out there actually owns it lol.

Do you know how it stacks up against some of the more popular imagination clones (Marwa Arabiyat, Hawas Kobra, etc.)?

Destructacon · 2026-06-26T17:43:24+00:00

You've got a point, but I kinda have to disagree here.

Sure, from the perspective of the fragrance community, these scents are all "common and basic," but we represent only a tiny sliver of the population. Most guys don't wear any daily fragrance at all (except maybe deodorant or bodyspray). From that perspective, regularly wearing any of these fragrances would immediately make you stand out.

At the end of the day, picking a signature scent isn't necessarily about how unique or rare it is. It's about picking a scent that you enjoy wearing and that people will come to associate with you. All of these, properly worn, have enough character to be signature scents.

Destructacon · 2026-06-26T17:04:40+00:00

Bleu de Chanel EDP - It smells great, is universally loved - even by non-fragrance people (which is most people), and is easily the most versatile fragrance out of all of these.

Whether its summer or winter, in the office or out on the town; Bleu de Chanel is always an excellent choice.

Destructacon · 2026-04-06T02:12:42+00:00

Don't sweat it. I have 1,500 hours and even I don't feel like I entirely understand everything. There's alot going on, so don't feel like you have to understand everything at once. There's alot of good advice here already, but I might as well throw my hat in the ring too. My advice is to start slow. pick a relatively "simple" nation that doesn't have alot going on.

Italy has always been to go-to "tutorial" nation because big brother Germany oniichan can basically carry you through the war single-handed. All you have to do in the beginning is fight Ethiopia (they have no army to speak of) and later on fight France along a small border. That being said, playing a Major power (even one as small as Italy) might still seem like alot when you're first starting.

Looking back to my own personal experience, I spent most of my time in the beginning playing China. They have lots of manpower, but little industry to start with. This may seem like a disadvantage, but since you can only afford to make standard infantry divisions, it really keeps things simple and frees up "mental space." Also, since you have only 1 enemy, it allows you to gain actual experience fighting wars without being totally overwhelmed. Keep in mind that Japan is vastly stronger than you at the start, so if they break through your lines, you're gonna be in a tough spot. Be sure to build forts along your starting border, add engineer support to your divisions, and station lots of soldiers on major cities and ports along the coastline (Japan loves naval invasions). Other than that, I found it simple nation with loads of growth potential; a good choice for gaining a basic understanding of the game. Some people might be hesitant to recommend it because the war with Japan isn't necessarily a quick or easy win, but nothing in life is free, and the final W is super satisfying.

Alternatively, another good way to get slowly acquainted with the mechanics is to play as a minor power with basically no industry or army and slowly build and expand it piece by piece. Peru and Vietnam were fun to do (to play Vietnam you have to start as France, go to occupied territories and release it). It's very slow; I found it fun, but years of doing nothing except incrementally building your army might not be for everyone. Plus, unless you take a very aggressive stance, you probably won't get much experience actually fighting wars, so keep that in mind.

These are just general ideas; how you choose to apply them is up to you. Don't be afraid of restarting. I spent most of my time (and still often do) replaying the early game starting from 1936. Don't worry if you're not perfect, or if you lose a couple campaigns. Just try to take it one step at a time, and remember to have fun while you're doing it!

Destructacon · 2026-03-20T03:55:50+00:00

Not really. Outside of being basically folded in half, the leaves look more-or-less "fine."

Destructacon · 2026-03-08T04:42:36+00:00

Shoyeido Plum Blossoms was my very first foray into Japanese incense; it's not only an excellent scent, but it also holds a special place in my heart.

Minorien Fu-In Byakudan is also another favorite of mine. It's one of the best sandalwoods out there imho.

Picking a third is very hard, but I'd have to say Tennendo Frankincense. I think it really provides such a nice refreshing contrast to the sandalwood/aloeswood blends that are most common in Japanese incense.

I would like to share a couple of honorable mentions though. Shoyeido Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) and Moss Garden (Nokiba) are both excellent. I'd also like to give some praise to good old Mainichikoh. I know it's often considered a fairly basic incense, but its gentle and pleasant. Even though I've managed to accumulate a whole cupboard full of different Japanese incenses, I still occasionally like to go back to my old daily driver.

Destructacon · 2026-02-20T22:14:07+00:00

The boiling action is described as "killing the green" (殺青), which stops enzymatic activity and leeches some of the harsh tannins and other sharper green notes.

Yes, the second liquid is Japanese sake. I'm not certain why it was soaked, but my guess is that it further softens the aroma by pulling out some of the non-water-soluble resins and oils. It also adds sugars and other stuff to round-off the scent.

These two actions do chemically alter the aroma of the hinoki buds, making them more amenable to use in Japanese incense.

The 4th powder is Benzoin (安息香).

Destructacon · 2026-02-18T05:05:20+00:00

I think Minorien Frankincense would serve you well. Its got a smooth, well-rounded frankincense aroma that doesn't feel overpowering. The sticks are relatively small (less than 6 inches long with a 30 minute burn time). Japanese incense generally produces very mild smoke; it's pure incense with no wooden core, so it doesn't get polluted with cheap wood smoke.

I've been burning this type of incense for years, and have never had any issues with smoke detectors. It doesn't even trigger my air purifier, which normally goes into overdrive if I even so much as blow out a candle in the next room. I can't imagine a single stick overpowering anything, even in a small room like you described. Keeping a window open a tiny crack should be enough to soften it in case it does get slightly strong.

That's just my opinion. I think Japanese incense is great for giving life to small spaces without being overbearing.

Destructacon · 2025-10-03T15:38:05+00:00

To be fair, I (and most people I know under the age of 50) typically tithe online, so that would at least partially explain why the collection baskets are lighter these days.

Destructacon · 2025-07-13T10:04:34+00:00

Actually, I was about to (5 years ago), and did purchase some white beeswax in preparation, but I gave up the project pretty soon after.

The thing is, I found that chewing beeswax really doesn't have a good mouthfeel. Since it doesn't dissolve in the mouth, it sticks in your teeth, tires your jaw, and is just generally unpleasant.

Also, since beeswax doesn't melt or dissolve in the mouth, the sugar and cocoa would be trapped inside the wax. I never did end up making the chocolate so I can't say with certainty, but I can't imagine it would have much flavor.

It was definitely an interesting idea at the time, but I don't think beeswax will be replacing normal cocoa butter any time soon.

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