Just when you think you find one, you dont like it

Did you ever try Micheal by Michael Kors? It's in the style of the scents you've been trying, but inexpensive and easy to find. A very nice smoky tobacco, patchouli leather scent.

Another thing to consider is buying decants of these scents, either from the sale board or from ebay. At least 75% of the scents I own are in decants. Only a few of those graduate to full bottles when the decant is gone. It's a great way to figure out how much you like something over a period of time.

$120? It should be $92 at Aedes when they get it in.

New York is a complete fragrance; probably my number one formal fragrance. It has a huge presence, yet it's not overbearing. Never loses it's spicy character, and the citrus nicely balances out the fragrance. Somewhat similar to Bois du Portugal, although I prefer New York. It's actually quite perfect. Also, the price is excellent.

Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac... I bought this last year after falling in love with the sample I got. Here's the problem I had with it ... (and this is "me", not saying it's going to be you). I waited until I was completely finished with my sample vial (about 4 wearings) to make absolutely sure I was going to like it after spending that much money. So I ordered the full sized bottle from Aedes and was so excited about the first wearing. I felt it was just what I was looking for. Not your typical tobacco, but tobacco leaf and an overall scent very well structured and very masculine. Unfortunately, as with many scents I've purchased, the scent mixed with my body chemisty just completely destroyed the pleasant "tobacco leaf" note into a "rotting tobacco leaf" and other yard waste scent. By the time my skin was done with it, it was a horribly twisted shell of the original scent. NOTHING like the "back of the wrist" drydown from my sample vial. I had a very similar experience with Chergui after buying the full sized bottle. Both went straight to ebay.

Unfortunately, the sample vials and "back of the hand" tests only go so far in letting you know if the scent will work with your body chemistry. A full day's wearing is the only true way of knowing. That's why I've become partial to the decant purchasing as opposed to the small vials. The decants usually have enough juice for a few full day's wearings to see how it work individually with you. Especially if you're considering expensive ones like Noir Epices. I have a decant of NE and I don't really care for it. It smells a bit too "perfumey" to me ... but may work for you.

Actually, I've never found a Miller Harris that worked for me. I'm glad that one worked for you as it's gotten many positive reviews here. That's why I sampled/bought it in the first place. Too bad my body chemistry is just so tempermental.

I'm actually very curious to see how both Lonestar Memories and L'Air du desert marocain work on MY skin. All leather scent I've tried recently fall far behind DK Men and Cuiron ... in my opinion. Other than leather though, Ambre Sultan and Fumerie Turque just happen to work very nicely with me.