Let's talk Cologne

[CrypticZA]

compare to lattafa or others ?

I have Ramz Silver from Lataffa and i much prefer Lion.

Ramz for me all i smell is a linear sweet lavander and from the get go it only really has that one smell and doesn't develop.

I get a decent 8 hours from it but Lion for me smells a lot better blended. With all UAE stuff i buy, i spray it like 8-10 times then let it sit for a couple weeks so i have not worn Lion yet other than the first day i got it (got 2 compliments that day). I am wearing Obsidian today to work and got multiple questions what i was wearing and a "you smell nice".

Sprayed it 6am this morning 6 sprays and we now at 14:30 and its still going pretty good. Its a bit of a skin scent but i am still often gets wiffs of it.

I have not compared them with anything else but enjoying the Rayhaan stuff

 

[I.am.Sam]

i see superbalist still has some good deals

but maybe im going to finish all my current stuff 1st

cos spent alot in feb

 

[I.am.Sam]

i never ever get compliments

but i prefer to spray for me not for others

 

[CrypticZA]

i never ever get compliments

but i prefer to spray for me not for others

I do not get many either to be honest and i wear it more for myself. I feel more confident if i know i smell nice.

i see superbalist still has some good deals

but maybe im going to finish all my current stuff 1st

cos spent alot in feb

They often do a 50% off a lot of the stuff and if you get lucky there is an extra 10% at 6 or 7pm.

Pacific Aura was like R374 the other day. Very nice smelling apricot scent.

 

[I.am.Sam]

I do not get many either to be honest and i wear it more for myself. I feel more confident if i know i smell nice.


They often do a 50% off a lot of the stuff and if you get lucky there is an extra 10% at 6 or 7pm.

Pacific Aura was like R374 the other day. Very nice smelling apricot scent.

apricot ?

its more a pacific chill clone and i got jean lowe vibe which is also a pacific chill clone and there is alot of citrus like full on orange/mandarin mint smell ...

if you want one that last the whole day .maison asrar vision but its around R1k ..jean lowe is around R500 and now if pacific aura is around 375 then more worth it

 

[Hemi300c]

So has anyone tried the "clones" on Scentimental.

Scentimental SA

Scentimental is an online business that offers our clients a range of premium fragrances for men and women. The company aims to provide a luxurious experience to customers with high-quality fragrances at an affordable price point.

www.scentimental.co.za

I have and I am pretty impressed so far.

 

[CrypticZA]

apricot ?

its more a pacific chill clone and i got jean lowe vibe which is also a pacific chill clone and there is alot of citrus like full on orange/mandarin mint smell ...

if you want one that last the whole day .maison asrar vision but its around R1k ..jean lowe is around R500 and now if pacific aura is around 375 then more worth it

To my nose and my moms we smell quite a bit of apricot. I wore it to gym this morning and its a fruity smell and smells nice but i get like no minity smell from it. I have looked at the notes on Fragrantica and it doesn't list Apricot even but both our noses maybe associate that smell with a sweet fruity Apricot lol

 

[CrypticZA]

So has anyone tried the "clones" on Scentimental.

Scentimental SA

Scentimental is an online business that offers our clients a range of premium fragrances for men and women. The company aims to provide a luxurious experience to customers with high-quality fragrances at an affordable price point.

www.scentimental.co.za

I have and I am pretty impressed so far.

I had a look at their stuff and Perfumology i think they called and their prices are too high for my liking, i have to spend R900 for free shipping and for 1 unit i looked now R360 + shipping. A lot of the clones you can get a decent Dubai one for that price and even cheaper. There are lots of companies buying the raw fragrance oils then they just mix the stuff up themselves and they a lot cheaper.

I also bought one of these cheaper local ones and it was like 90% alcohol and by the time i walked out the door the smell was gone... Complained and left a bad review on their site and they deleted it and ignored me...

 

[I.am.Sam]

my buddy bought from perfumology and says its good

but yeah i dont want to get too much into this dubai perfumes also cos i bought cheap and its kark and i got quite a few 90% full bottles

but tiktok gives different videos every day from different "houses"

alot of clones and price for the big names

 

[I.am.Sam]

To my nose and my moms we smell quite a bit of apricot. I wore it to gym this morning and its a fruity smell and smells nice but i get like no minity smell from it. I have looked at the notes on Fragrantica and it doesn't list Apricot even but both our noses maybe associate that smell with a sweet fruity Apricot lol

yeah could be that one but pacific chill is pretty much mandarin and its so weird

its like you bathing in a orange bath

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Shot a lot , I been wanting nocturnal ! A steal

I picked up Nocturnal Elixir off Superbalist, and Rayhaan Elixir..Great prices

 

[Icemanbrfc]

compare to lattafa or others ?

This line by Rayhaan is pretty good to be honest. Their earlier stuff wasnt great, but Aquatica, Nocturnal (Sauvage) Nocturnal Elixir (BDC L'exclusif) is good.

They just released a few new ones like Equinox, Vanilla Vibes and Vantage.

 

[CrypticZA]

This line by Rayhaan is pretty good to be honest. Their earlier stuff wasnt great, but Aquatica, Nocturnal (Sauvage) Nocturnal Elixir (BDC L'exclusif) is good.

They just released a few new ones like Equinox, Vanilla Vibes and Vantage.

I got Lion, Pacific Aura, Aquatica, Obsidian and they all been very good. PA does not last as long as i want it to, but that was known as most Pacific Chill dupes don't last very long

 

[I.am.Sam]

I got Lion, Pacific Aura, Aquatica, Obsidian and they all been very good. PA does not last as long as i want it to, but that was known as most Pacific Chill dupes don't last very long

maison asrar vision lasted the whole day for me its crazy

but yeah maybe i need to try one of the rayhaan fragrances

 

[CrypticZA]

maison asrar vision lasted the whole day for me its crazy

but yeah maybe i need to try one of the rayhaan fragrances

Yea i have heard that one is decent but at R900 or so i paid like R350 for PA. I just keep a small decant on me and just reapply it after like 5 hours. Can get nearly 3 bottles or 1.

I generally also apply it just before going out so i also don't need it to last 10 hours. This is how i look at most fragrances, you can get on Shein/Temu etc small plastic portable bottles which you can just fill. I have a few in my gym bag, some in my desk at work

 

[I.am.Sam]

Yea i have heard that one is decent but at R900 or so i paid like R350 for PA. I just keep a small decant on me and just reapply it after like 5 hours. Can get nearly 3 bottles or 1.

I generally also apply it just before going out so i also don't need it to last 10 hours. This is how i look at most fragrances, you can get on Shein/Temu etc small plastic portable bottles which you can just fill. I have a few in my gym bag, some in my desk at work

yeah R900 is dirt cheap compared to R9k for LV lol

but yeah i would buy the R350 and spray all day

 

[airborne]

Is anyone else concerned with spraying themselves with what is basically industrial chemicals on a regular basis?

All fragrances contain synthetic and petrochemical compounds that are not healthy, even more so with daily use and regular reapplication. As much as I enjoy the experience of fragrances I’m under no illusions that's it’s a healthy pastime.

Some Unhealthy Compounds Found in Fragrances

• Phthalates (such as Diethyl Phthalate or DEP): Used to make scents last longer on the skin; they act as endocrine disruptors that can interfere with normal hormone processes.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and acetone that evaporate into the air, triggering asthma, headaches, and respiratory irritation.
• Synthetic Musks (such as Galaxolide and Musk Ketone): Man-made scent fixatives that accumulate in fatty tissues and the human body, potentially disrupting hormones.
• Formaldehyde-Releasing Agents: Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
• Allergenic Terpenes and Alcohols: Naturally or synthetically derived compounds like linalool, limonene, and geraniol, which can oxidize and cause contact dermatitis or allergic reactions.
• Undisclosed Trade-Secret Chemicals: Under legal loopholes, the single word "fragrance" or "parfum" on an ingredient label can mask dozens or hundreds of unlisted chemicals

 

[CrypticZA]

Is anyone else concerned with spraying themselves with what is basically industrial chemicals on a regular basis?

All fragrances contain synthetic and petrochemical compounds that are not healthy, even more so with daily use and regular reapplication. As much as I enjoy the experience of fragrances I’m under no illusions that's it’s a healthy pastime.

Some Unhealthy Compounds Found in Fragrances

• Phthalates (such as Diethyl Phthalate or DEP): Used to make scents last longer on the skin; they act as endocrine disruptors that can interfere with normal hormone processes.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and acetone that evaporate into the air, triggering asthma, headaches, and respiratory irritation.
• Synthetic Musks (such as Galaxolide and Musk Ketone): Man-made scent fixatives that accumulate in fatty tissues and the human body, potentially disrupting hormones.
• Formaldehyde-Releasing Agents: Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
• Allergenic Terpenes and Alcohols: Naturally or synthetically derived compounds like linalool, limonene, and geraniol, which can oxidize and cause contact dermatitis or allergic reactions.
• Undisclosed Trade-Secret Chemicals: Under legal loopholes, the single word "fragrance" or "parfum" on an ingredient label can mask dozens or hundreds of unlisted chemicals

I live in South Africa; this ain't on my radar.

I had a warehouse employee killed in an accident this weekend. I had my mom's friend pass away due to poor medical treatment — they didn't pick up a hernia that was growing, and part of it died and infected her from the inside. I had a padel friend suddenly pass away from a heart attack, not even 45 years old (and he wasn't even playing padel at the time).

Petrol prices, food prices, the fact that financially, each month, I'm not in any better position.

So, uhm, nope. I might as well smell nice while I can and while I'm still here. The vlei and water sources all around me are filled with sewage. The list goes on and on.

The 0.2 ml of fragrance oil I put on myself ain't going to kill me. If anything, the poor food standards and excess salt and sugar in our foods that aren't regulated will.

216 people died from eating polony in 2018, so yeah, I'm doubtful a little fragrance is going to do anything.

 

[airborne]

I live in South Africa; this ain't on my radar.

I had a warehouse employee killed in an accident this weekend. I had my mom's friend pass away due to poor medical treatment — they didn't pick up a hernia that was growing, and part of it died and infected her from the inside. I had a padel friend suddenly pass away from a heart attack, not even 45 years old (and he wasn't even playing padel at the time).

Petrol prices, food prices, the fact that financially, each month, I'm not in any better position.

So, uhm, nope. I might as well smell nice while I can and while I'm still here. The vlei and water sources all around me are filled with sewage. The list goes on and on.

The 0.2 ml of fragrance oil I put on myself ain't going to kill me. If anything, the poor food standards and excess salt and sugar in our foods that aren't regulated will.

216 people died from eating polony in 2018, so yeah, I'm doubtful a little fragrance is going to do anything.

Ok that's one way to put it in perspective, fair enough as well.

I suppose it's also relative to your usage, if you drown yourself in fragrance near every day I’m pretty sure that nasty stuff may eventually take it’s toll, especially the phthalates are bad news, with these things it’s the long term accumulative damage that can cause the issues. I suppose the risks are just something to keep in mind.