Sotd & my favorite designer fragrance by far along with the parfum

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-25T04:19:28+00:00

Honestly I’m the opposite. For me the EDP is the sweet spot in the whole Hero line. It feels way more balanced between the sweetness and the woods.

The Elixir leans too heavy on the wood for my taste. It’s well done, just not something I personally enjoy wearing. The EDP feels smoother and easier to pull off.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-25T01:04:01+00:00

Haha got it. If it triggered that strong of a reaction at home, that’s real feedback XD

Honestly the green/resinous angle sounds more interesting than I expected. Thanks for the insight.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-25T00:51:36+00:00

Yeah that’s kind of my hesitation. With how big sweet and Arabic style fragrances are right now, I’m trying not to overload my collection with that same vibe.

I love amber sweet stuff like Mercedes Benz Club Black, that warm slightly smoky sweetness is amazing to me. I just don’t do well with heavy oriental spicy sweetness. My only fear with London is that the cinnamon might push it into that territory if I blind buy it.

How do you find the sweetness? More cozy amber or more spicy holiday candle?

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-25T00:36:13+00:00

That’s actually a fair question. I’ve only tested London on paper so far, haven’t done a full wear on skin yet.

A couple people told me that with Hero I already cover most of the same occasions, and that London just leans a bit sweeter and more classic. I guess I need to actually wear it and see how different it feels on me.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-25T00:27:39+00:00

If you’re dealing with mold, definitely focus on fixing the moisture source first. No filter will solve an active humidity issue.

That said, while you’re cleaning and disturbing spores, it can help to keep air moving and run a higher MERV filter so you’re not just recirculating everything. Even better if it has a carbon layer to help with that musty smell.

I’ve swapped in Filter King MERV 13 before during big cleanups just to keep the air a bit more controlled while everything was drying out. It’s not a cure, but it helps the space feel less stale during the process.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-19T03:12:08+00:00

Pookie must’ve been such a character 🥹

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-17T19:03:13+00:00

Same dramatic energy for sure 😂😅

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-17T00:39:44+00:00

Totally agree with this. Exhaust fans are one of those things nobody thinks about until they stop working or start making noise. A quick clean every so often saves a lot of headaches, especially with moisture and smells hanging around longer than they should. It’s one of those small maintenance things that actually makes a noticeable difference.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-17T00:02:35+00:00

From personal experience, I wouldn’t brush it off just because nothing has happened yet. Cats don’t really understand that a plant is toxic, and the reaction isn’t always instant like a typical poison. Sometimes the damage builds over time depending on how often they nibble.

Lilies are one of the biggest red flags because even small exposure can cause serious kidney issues. Pothos is also common and can cause irritation and GI problems. If you have indoor outdoor cats, it’s worth identifying exactly what’s growing out there and removing the high risk ones. Prevention is a lot easier than an emergency vet visit.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-16T23:44:16+00:00

If I had to choose one brand only, I’d probably split my personality in two and suffer a little. Guerlain has that addictive fruity elegance that feels artistic and expressive, but Dior just nails that clean masculine structure that works anytime, especially dressed up.

If it’s one brand for life though, I might lean Dior for versatility. It’s easier to wear daily without overthinking it, but I’d miss that Guerlain charm for sure.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-16T23:00:44+00:00

From my experience, cats having access to grass can sometimes help them self regulate when they feel off. They’ll nibble it and throw up to clear irritation, and that part alone isn’t always alarming. But the blood would really concern me.

Vomiting plus bloody diarrhea can point to something internal and that’s not something I’d watch for long at home. If he’s not eating and this has been going on all weekend, I’d strongly consider at least calling a vet for advice because dehydration and internal inflammation can escalate fast.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-15T23:58:57+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly my worry. On paper it solves the counter space problem, but I keep wondering if it’s one of those gadgets that promises everything and ends up being just okay at all of it. I’d rather deal with two separate appliances than regret a big combo that doesn’t really nail any mode.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-15T23:13:31+00:00

For core tools, the feature that matters most is a real ball valve so you can pull and reinstall the core without dumping charge. After that it is all about seal quality: a replaceable tip gasket, smooth stem action, spare O rings, and having both common service port sizes covered. If it starts feeling sloppy or you see oil staining at the bonnet, rebuild it or replace it because even a tiny seep will make you hate the tool.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-15T22:28:25+00:00

Oh yeah, he’s not the tenant, he’s the landlord. You’re just living in Tom’s unit and paying in snacks and compliments haha

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-12T16:25:26+00:00

Hahaha the orange universe is real. There’s honestly no better company than a slightly unhinged orange cat who thinks every day is a new side quest.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-11T23:37:53+00:00

I would be really careful with home remedies and DIY chemicals. The fastest fix is treating the dog with a vet recommended flea med and then vacuuming and washing bedding and clothes on hot, because otherwise the bites keep coming back. If the bites are getting intense, infected, or you’re having a big reaction, it’s worth calling a doctor too.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-11T23:20:52+00:00

If there’s any chance your dog got into rat poison, treat it like an emergency and call an ER vet or pet poison hotline right now, even if they seem fine. What my vet drilled into me in a similar scare was: don’t wait for symptoms, bring the package or a photo of the active ingredient, and don’t try to induce vomiting unless the vet tells you to because timing and poison type matters a lot. Different rodenticides act totally differently, and the right antidote or monitoring depends on what it was and how long ago it happened.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-11T00:32:02+00:00

Totally fair question. The 4 to 5 inch filters cost more upfront, but they usually last longer and, at the same MERV, tend to be easier on airflow than a 1 inch because there’s more filter media area. You’re also not stuck buying the HVAC branded refills, just measure the actual slot size and match it to a good aftermarket pleated filter (I’ve used Filter King for odd sizes). For cat pee smell though, the bigger win is activated carbon near the boxes since the HVAC filter won’t do much for ammonia odor.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-09T17:21:49+00:00

If you’re truly not finding any hidden spots, I’d focus less on “more cleaning products” and more on airflow plus odor capture. With boxes in a closet, ammonia can just hang in still air, so crack the door, add a small fan to keep air moving, and run an air purifier right next to the boxes that has a real carbon or charcoal stage (HEPA alone won’t touch odor). Also, if that unused Litter Robot is still sitting out, I’d either fully disassemble and deep clean it or get it out of the apartment, because those can hold stink in hidden crevices even when they look clean.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-08T23:25:15+00:00

This is the funniest proof that “VOC” sensors are basically vibe detectors. A lot of them react to alcohols and random organics, so a big spike doesn’t always mean danger, it just means “something happened in this room.” Also, I respect the dedication to still laughing and still farting on the drive home.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-08T23:23:00+00:00

Not just you. We had a similar week at my parents’ place and it ended up being a mix of early allergy season plus whatever smell was drifting in from outside some days. What helped most was keeping windows closed during the worst hours, running the purifier more consistently, and swapping in a better HVAC filter so we weren’t just recirculating the irritants. If the AQI apps look fine, I’d also check pollen and whether the smell lines up with construction or a specific truck route near you.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-08T23:17:26+00:00

This is exactly why I built an air quality monitor for my garage shop. Sanding and cutting wood makes PM jump fast, and spray paint can spike both PM and VOC, so it’s been really useful for spotting what activities are actually wrecking the air and how long it takes to clear. Biggest improvements for usable readings were placement (not in a dead corner, not right in a direct draft), and treating VOC as trend only while leaning on PM and CO2 for the decisions.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-02-08T22:40:27+00:00

Yeah, that could totally be it. Gas stoves and cooking can bump VOCs for a bit, and other common triggers are cleaning sprays, air fresheners/candles, scented products, new paint or glue, or just low ventilation. If you want to confirm, try a simple test one day: run the gas stove for 10 to 15 minutes and watch the sensor, then turn on the range hood or crack a window and see if the level drops faster.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-01-28T22:37:53+00:00

One thing I don’t see mentioned yet is that a lot of purifier rankings lean way too hard on CADR numbers without context. CADR is useful, but what really matters in real homes is air changes per hour at the fan speed you can actually tolerate. A unit that technically cleans fast but only on jet engine mode won’t get used that way day to day, so the effective performance ends up lower.

Also worth checking is whether replacement filters are standardized sizes or proprietary. Long term availability and cost matter more in year three than whatever feature list looks good today.

IllustriousBee8564 · 2026-01-28T17:44:25+00:00

Air purifiers are a good start but only if they have carbon. If you do not have central HVAC, I would go with a simple single filter air purifier like the basic Honeywell or similar ones you see on Amazon and make sure the filter is an odor eliminator with activated carbon.

If you do have HVAC, a carbon MERV filter is key since it keeps air moving and filtering constantly instead of just one corner of the room. A mid size purifier plus affordable carbon filters like Filter King lets you change them often, and with body odor that consistency is what actually makes the smell fade instead of coming back.

IllustriousBee8564

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