It's tough to blind buy or commit to a fragrance that retails in the 150USD+ category. That's a major commitment and a real let-down if the words don't do the nose justice. For this reason, I like that Twisted Lily is set up to deliver samples of these more niche fragrances and then goes on to sell them a little below market price.
This may be counterintuitive to the fundamentals of capitalism but I was all set to blind buy this Mancera Red Tobacco fragrance because a lot of reviewers (including the one that made me aware of Twisted Lily) said was a really good tobacco fragrance. Luckily I bought a sample instead. When I tried it and even let it dry down for an entire day, and then tried it again a different day to be sure, I realized it wasn't for me. Small crisis averted. So if the primary goal is customer satisfaction over making a quick hundo, well done. You'll get me in the long play.
On the flip side, in the same order, I tacked on a few fragrance samples that were more impulse purchases. I was really surprised by the beautiful Orange Blossom smell "Cologne" by Etat Libre D'Orange and the dark mysterious individualistic, sophisticated sexy notes of "Smoke Show" by Vilhelm Parfumerie.
Vilhelm's "The Oud Affair" did tobacco better than Mancera did to be honest. Vilhelm in general seems to evoke this "Wes Anderson Film" vibe, complicated flawed, timeless sophisticated. Vilhelm's packaging/font even looks like it's straight out of a Wes Anderson film. I'd describe them further as possibly what Jeff Goldblum's oratory would translate to in smellese.
My only negative is shipping. It took a while to receive these items because I am on the west coast. So if you don't want to be snail tracking marching slowly across the country like "Planes Trains and Automobiles" I'd suggest ticking the next box down on the shipping so they aren't on Island time with your package.
Once I did receive, the presentation was top notch. So I indeed recommend! I will likely make a more committed purchase soon. I have a wife whose nose is easily offended so it is a slower process for me. Cheers!
