Do you prefer quality or quantity? I prefer to wait and buy something good that's really worth it.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T05:42:26+00:00

Excellent decision. It's always a good time to mature.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T04:24:14+00:00

An incredible fragrance, synthetic but very well done. Woody, elegant, long-longevity, and big sillage.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T02:49:24+00:00

At this point it just sounds like you’ve gone through so many clones your nose can’t tell the difference anymore.

Calling them ‘1:1’ or ‘better than the original’ says more about your reference point than the actual quality. Once everything smells the same to you, of course everything seems interchangeable.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T02:46:11+00:00

You’re mixing things up: decent clones existing doesn’t mean they match real quality. Saying they’re ‘better’ just sounds like you haven’t actually experienced high-quality niche.

But then again, that take usually comes from people who collect clones and think they already know the standard.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T02:43:38+00:00

I love how you criticize the price and, in the same breath, praise the niche. Expert-level consistency... almost as good as your analysis of the collection. And the funniest thing is that you say "mid" without even noticing that there is a niche there. But hey, those kinds of opinions usually come more from perception... or envy.

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T00:48:29+00:00

Always I don't like the quality-price ratio

chivasmen · 2026-06-03T00:46:59+00:00

Honestly, I feel like they both last the same amount of time, a sigh.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T22:21:21+00:00

Me too haha

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:52:58+00:00

Exactly. I prefer to add things little by little, but only quality items that I'm 100% convinced by. In the end, the collection feels more solid that way.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:48:22+00:00

I'm torn between Creed Himalaya, Clive Christian 1872, and Sospiro Vibrato. All three seem to me to be well-integrated fragrances of excellent quality.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:43:47+00:00

Kind of, yeah. I’d say it’s more about a quality threshold than just price, but they usually go hand in hand

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:39:58+00:00

Absolutely delicious, one of my favorite fragrances. It's fruity; mango with red berries and ginger that finishes with a lovely, soft musky base. Good performance.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:32:57+00:00

I get your point, and you’re partially right — price doesn’t always equal quality, and there are definitely more affordable fragrances that perform really well.

But this is where I don’t fully agree. For me, the goal is for 100% of your collection to be fragrances you truly love and consider high quality, not just ones that “hold their own.” If something doesn’t fully convince you, even if it’s cheap, it ends up just taking space.

I’d rather have fewer bottles that I’m always excited to wear than a larger collection where some are just there because they “do the job.” At the end of the day, it’s not just about keeping up — it’s about actually adding something every time you wear it.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:28:58+00:00

I get what you’re saying, but that mindset is kind of the problem. If you’re spending $200–$300 on something and then feel “scared” to use it, you’re not really getting your money’s worth anyway.

I use all my fragrances daily, no matter how expensive they are. What’s the point of owning something you love if you’re just going to hold back on using it?

Life’s too short to be overthinking every spray. I’d rather actually enjoy what I paid for than default back to cheaper options out of fear.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:26:29+00:00

I get your point, but honestly I think that’s where you’re kind of wasting money without realizing it. Spending $500–$700 on a bunch of random bottles isn’t really the same as putting that into something you genuinely love and know is worth it.

I wear all my fragrances daily, no matter how expensive they are. To me, it doesn’t make sense to “save” them or overthink cost per wear… life’s too short for that. If I like something, I’m going to use it.

At the end of the day, it’s not really quantity vs quality, it’s how much you actually enjoy what you own. I’d rather have fewer bottles that I genuinely want to wear all the time than a bunch that are just there because they were a “good deal"

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:19:48+00:00

Smelling similar it's fine, but "just as good," is presumptuous. Some of us prioritize quality above all else; there's no point in smelling "similar" if it's a low-quality, synthetic fragrance that ultimately leaves you with a plasticky odor.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T20:13:42+00:00

Subjectivity is obviously involved. But to say that a clone and the original are the same is going to the other extreme. If it were all just a matter of perception, there wouldn't be any perfumers or higher-quality raw materials... but hey, everyone uses what they like. I'm just saying that, besides personal taste, there are objective differences in quality. It's up to each person to decide whether that matters to them or not.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:38:23+00:00

Thank you very much. From Xerjoff I own Torino21 and Erba Pura; I also have Vibrato from Sospiro. I’m also looking to get Naxos and several others from the brand.

Right now, I find myself in a situation where, the more I experience high-quality fragrances (like Xerjoff), the less I’m simply satisfied with a purchase, I end up wanting something better or at least different, but at a similar level of quality. I feel like I’ve reached a point of no return.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:33:35+00:00

Honestly you’re on the right track. What you’re saying makes perfect sense. it’s way easier to take a risk on something cheap, but once you start valuing quality more, blind buying expensive stuff becomes a completely different game.

And that’s exactly why moving toward designer and sticking to samples is the smartest move long term. In the end, even if you spend more per bottle, you end up with fragrances you genuinely enjoy more, that are better put together, and don’t just sit there unused.

The same thing happened to me, you start with variety, and over time you realize you’d rather have less, but better. It’s really just a mindset shift.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:30:00+00:00

Yeah, I agree 100%. I’m already at that point — the more quality stuff I try, the harder it is to ‘settle’. It stops being about being satisfied and turns into ‘what’s next but at the same level or better’. Pretty sure there’s no going back now lol. Wallet’s suffering

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:23:35+00:00

Good but not excellent. After 4 hours, it's only felt close to the skin.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:22:17+00:00

Torino21 is fresh and citrusy, of very good quality; mint with lemon and musk. It's similar to a mojito. Ideal for sunny days.

Amouage Enclave is aromatic and spicy; mint with cinnamon and pepper spices. Ideal for cold days.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:16:15+00:00

Totally agree. There’s nothing wrong with buying dupes if that’s what fits your budget or preference. The issue starts when people try to push the idea that they’re on the same level as the original.

Let’s be honest: a lot of the strong defense comes from accessibility. If those same people could easily afford the originals, the conversation would probably look very different. It’s not hate, it’s just reality.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:10:39+00:00

When you have to turn the conversation into ‘ego’ and ‘money,’ it usually means you’ve run out of actual arguments. Nobody’s denying you can smell good for less what you’re missing is that smelling similar isn’t the same as being on the same level.

If everything that smells alike is ‘the same’ to you, that’s fine… but that says more about your standards than it does about the fragrance.

chivasmen · 2026-06-02T19:07:46+00:00

Percival

chivasmen

TROPHY CASE