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Build a wardrobe out of 15 fragrances. With a twist...

post #1 of 37
10/19/08 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Here's a way to spend a few minutes this evening. Build a wardrobe out of 15 fragrances. BUT, they have to be designer fragrances in production. No niche, no discontinued scents, not even discontinued but still available in limited amounts such as Havana. I think 15 is easier than 10 because the with 10 there is a psychological factor when you get to the last 2 and start second guessing yourself, with 15 there is a little more leeway.

1: Guerlain Vetiver
2: Bvlgari Aqua
3: Bvlgair Pour Homme Extreme
4: Cartier Santos
5: YSL Rive Gouche
6: John Varvatos
7: Hermes Terre D'Hermes
8: Dior Eau Sauvage
9: Rochas Lui
10: Caron Third Man
11: Laique Equus
12: Gendarme V
13: Gucci Pour Homme
14:Bvlgari Black
15:Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey


What's your list?
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post #2 of 37
10/19/08 at 4:20pm
Good exercise, but I'm going to tell you right now there's a lot of conflict over the definition of 'niche' - what do you call Rochas? L'Occitane? What about niche lines from designers (like the Hermessence or Exclusifs)?

15, eh? In no order....

1 Dior Homme
2 Chanel Pour Monsieur
3 Dior Fahrenheit
4 Eau d'Hermes
5 Hermes Vetiver Tonka
6 Polo
7 Rive Gauche
8 Tiffany for Men
9 L'Occitane Eau de Baux
10 Chanel Coromandel
11 Guerlain Jicky
12 Dior Bois d'Argent
13 Prada Amber
14 Dior Diorella
15 Eau d'Orange Vert


Of course this is off the top of my head.... i'm sure i'll change my mind in 10 minutes.
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post #3 of 37
10/19/08 at 4:39pm
No Niche? I think I'd buy a bottle of L'Anarchiste and then sit on the couch and cry. A lot.
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post #4 of 37
10/19/08 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galamb_Borong View Post

No Niche? I think I'd buy a bottle of L'Anarchiste and then sit on the couch and cry. A lot.


I'm glad you said this and I'm sorry I have to use you for an example but this is the sort of attitude that really ticks me off about the current state of the hobby. Niche doesn't always march lock step with quality, and you mean to tell me that in the entire world of designer scents, with 15 choices, *that* is your response to being told you can't pick a niche?

What about all of the classics that are available? Habit Rouge? Egoiste? Anataeus? Eau Sauvage? Hell even Eternity and Obsession were popular for a reason?

If your response is a joke I'm so sorry, but if not, well, it's sort of embarassing.
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post #5 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:17pm
Actually, it's pretty easy for me to create a wardrobe out of non-niche, non-discontinued scents. Niche doesn't always mean quality, I don't wear discontinued scents (save for B*Men, which I bought when it came out), and if I had to pick from the Macy's/Nordstrom/Sephora/Ulta/wherever shelves, I could actually make a great wardrobe out of these 15 scents:

1) Thierry Mugler Angel Men (my all-time favorite)
2) Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male (it may be popular, but it remains one of my favorites)
3) Thierry Mugler Mugler Cologne (all-purpose clean scent)
4) Prada Infusion d'Homme (ditto)
5) Narciso Rodriguez for Him (modern classic flashback scent)
6) Dior Homme (could easily be niche, but it's designer)
7) Burberry London (boozy woody leather chypre)
8) John Varvatos (vanillic leather)
9) Azzaro Chrome Legend (a vastly underrated, very readily available aquatic)
10) Chanel Platinum Egoiste (have to have a Chanel of some sort...)
11) Dior Eau Sauvage (need some citrus)
12) Terre d'Hermes (great for hot days)
13) Dsquared2 He Wood (soft woody)
14) Cartier Roadster (mmm... mint)
15) Calvin Klein Obsession for Men (it's been around since 1986 for a reason)
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post #6 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:18pm
All my favorite fragrances happen to be niche. I don't limit myself, I just haven't found much to like in the designer category. I regularly go sniffing mainstream frags, but have yet to have anything leap out to me.

There are a few I like.... I like Shalimar, but find it too sweet and heavy for me to wear; Dior's Bois d'Argent is pleasant but more expensive than most niche and just not worth to me when there are other things I like. Patou pour Homme I'd consider getting if it wasn't out of production, but that's about it really.

I certainly wouldn't dismiss something for not being niche, it just seems that, for whatever reason, the niche market caters better to my taste.

"Habit Rouge? Egoiste? Anataeus? Eau Sauvage? Hell even Eternity and Obsession were popular for a reason?"

Smelled them all bar Egoiste, nothing leaped out at me as must-have. Sorry if that bothers you. I'm sure they all have their fans for a reason.
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post #7 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:18pm
Just from the top of my head,

1. Mitsouko
2. Habit Rouge
3. Bvlagri Black
4. Declaration
5. Mugler Cologne
6. Dior Homme
7. Gucci PH
8. Aromatics Elixir
9. Lalique Lion
10. Eau de Cartier
11. Jaipur Homme
12. Encre Noir
13. Obsession Men
14. L'Anarchiste
15. --- add a good designer fig, and that means no Marc Jacobs --

Hmm, this got me thinking, are there any worthwhile designer figs?
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post #8 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:24pm
You know all of this "designer vs. niche" stuff really puzzles me. Who gives a shit as long as it smells good? Also, who decides that Caron, for instance, is in one category or the other? I really enjoy this hobby, but for me, it's all about the smell.
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post #9 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonyprince View Post

You know all of this "designer vs. niche" stuff really puzzles me. Who gives a shit as long as it smells good? Also, who decides that Caron, for instance, is in one category or the other? I really enjoy this hobby, but for me, it's all about the smell.

It's just a game.
I mean, it's easy to be picky. After all it's about the perfumers, not the companies. Maurice Roucel has made perfumes for Lalique, DKNY and Kenzo as well as for Amouage, Frederic Malle and Bond no9.
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post #10 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:37pm
Narciso Rodriguez for Him
Victor & Rolf Antidote
Aramis JHL
Aramis Devin
Guerlain Habit Rouge
Caron Yatagan
Zino Davidoff
Nina Ricci Signoricci
Chanel Antaeus
John Varvatos Vintage
Bvlgari Black
Boucheron Jaipur EDP
Terre d'Hermes
Hermes Bel Ami
Jacques Bogart Pour Homme
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post #11 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:46pm
1. Vera Wang for Men
2. Rive Gauche
3. Gucci Pour Homme 1
4. Bulgari Pour Homme
5. Paco Rabanne XS
6. Dunhill Edition
7. Versace Man
8. A*Men
9. Antaeus
10. Xeryus Rouge

And you know what? I think I'm done...I'll stick with just 10.
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post #12 of 37
10/19/08 at 5:54pm
If I weren't so OCD, I'd only have one fragrance and wear it all the time.
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post #13 of 37
10/19/08 at 7:05pm
  • Ged
  • offline
  • Gender:
In no particular order...

Azzaro PH
Baldessarini
Bvlgari PH
Caron Le3e Homme
Chanel PMC
Dior Homme
Dunhill For Men
Dunhill Edition
Givenchy Gentleman
Guerlain Vetiver
Terre d'Hermes
Montana Red
Polo Modern Reserve
Ungaro III
YSL Rive Gauche

Ged
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post #14 of 37
10/19/08 at 7:21pm
Terre d Hermes
YSL pour homme
Polo
Azzaro
Rive Gauche
Guerlain Vetiver
Van Cleef pour homme
Gucci pour homme
Dolce Gabbana pour homme
Narciso Rodriguez for him
Givenchy Gentelman
Carolina Herrera for men
Esencia de Loewe
Joop Nightflight
L Instant de Guerlain

I think is a good mix....
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post #15 of 37
10/19/08 at 7:25pm
Antaeus
Versace L'Homme
Habit Rouge
Heritage EDP
Kouros
Eau D'Hermes
Kiehl's Musk
Jicky
Ungaro II
Chanel PH Concentree
Eau Sauvage Extreme
Aramis 900
YSL pour Homme Haute Concentration
Lalique Lion EDP
Equipage
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post #16 of 37
10/19/08 at 7:39pm
Aramis - JHL
Caron - The Third Man
Chanel - Antaeus
Chanel - Egoiste
Chanel - Pour Monsieur Concentree
Dior - Eau Sauvage
Givenchy - Monsieur de Givenchy
Givenchy - Vetiver
Gucci - Pour Homme 2
Guerlain - Derby
Guerlain - Habit Rouge
Guerlain - Vetiver
Prada - Amber Pour Homme
YSL - YSL pour Homme Haute Concentree
YSL - L'Homme
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post #17 of 37
10/19/08 at 8:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonyprince View Post

You know all of this "designer vs. niche" stuff really puzzles me. Who gives a shit as long as it smells good? Also, who decides that Caron, for instance, is in one category or the other? I really enjoy this hobby, but for me, it's all about the smell.

Exactly. To each their own juice!
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post #18 of 37
10/19/08 at 8:21pm
What I can purchase at Sephora or the normal department store:

1. Ysatis
2. Angel
3. Caleche eau delicate
4. Insolence
5. Habit Rouge
6. Rush
7. Kelly Caleche
8. Kenzo summer
9. Kenzo flower
10.Hot Couture
11.Clive Christian X (is at the Nordstrom's store, but may be considered niche) or A Men
12.Guerlain Vetiver
13.Lolita Lempicka
14.Lolita Lempicka fleur defendue
15.Aimez Moi
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post #19 of 37
10/19/08 at 8:28pm
Paco Rabanne PH
John Varvatos Vintage
Dior Homme
Dior Fahrenheit
Dior Eau Sauvage Fraicheur Cuir
Escada Pour Homme
M:Men
Porsche Design The Essence
YSL Rive Gauche
Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte

that's all i can do. 10. i really don't have much else i'd want out of designer scents at the moment.
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post #20 of 37
10/19/08 at 10:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galamb_Borong View Post

No Niche? I think I'd buy a bottle of L'Anarchiste and then sit on the couch and cry. A lot.

I see plenty people mentioning Caron and Guerlains in their list. I thought we weren't allowed picking niche scents?

Guerlain and Caron are niche houses.
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post #21 of 37
10/19/08 at 10:40pm
Kouros
Antaeus
Safari*
Aramis 900*
Fahrenheit*
Obsession*
L'eau D'Issey*
Cacharel
Azzaro
Opium
Armani
Polo
Eau Sauvage
Santos
Paco Rabanne

*just writing this list has made me want to re-visit and maybe buy these again.
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post #22 of 37
10/19/08 at 10:46pm
That was harder than I thought, and there are some discontinued but still available items that I'd love to put on the list (Bowling Green being one)... but, in no particular order:

Grey Flannel, Geoffrey Beene
Guerlain Homme, Guerlain
Le 3e Homme de Caron, Caron
L'Eau d'Issey, Issey Miyake
Terre d'Hermès, Hermès
Un Jardin en Méditerranée, Hermès
Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme, Van Cleef & Arpels
Chrome, Azzaro
Cool Water, Davidoff
Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, Dolce & Gabbana
Eau d'Orange Verte, Hermès
Habit Rouge, Guerlain
Silver Shadow Altitude, Davidoff
Vetiver, Guerlain
Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme, Yves Saint Laurent

I have another list of ones I haven't tried and want! But that's for another thread.
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post #23 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rompip View Post

I see plenty people mentioning Caron and Guerlains in their list. I thought we weren't allowed picking niche scents?

Guerlain and Caron are niche houses.

I think the person who started the thread had a Guerlain, so by their estimation it isn't.... this is when we get into the grey area of the definition. What do you do with Guerlain, Caron, Rochas, etc.... houses that make fragrances that aren't always super exclusive, per se?
Guerlain does make non-fragrance products (cosmetics, skin care, etc.).
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post #24 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:20pm
Burberry London
Burberry Touch
Escada Magnetism
Rochas Man
Juicy Couture Dirty English
Chanel Allure Homme Sport
Eclat Lanvin D'arpege
D&G Light Blue(femme)
Hermes Un Jardin sur de Nil
Gucci pour Homme
D&G The One
Thierry Muegler
Gendarme 20
Aramis Ice
D&G pour Homme
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post #25 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:22pm
No niche?! Well, that's not much fun...
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post #26 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rompip View Post

I see plenty people mentioning Caron and Guerlains in their list. I thought we weren't allowed picking niche scents?

Guerlain and Caron are niche houses.

I wouldn't call them niche houses at all. They are available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales, not to mention most mainstream online perfume sources. Try finding Parfums de Nicolai at a department store or a mainstream online perfume dealer! If you ask me you can tell it's niche if you can only buy it from the manufacturer, Lucky Scent or Beauty Habit.
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post #27 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:39pm

1. Terre D'Hermes
2. Gucci pour Homme II
3. Tumulte
4. Declaration
5. Essense Must de Cartier
6. Canali Black Diamond
7. Guerlain L'Instant Extreme
8. Burberry London
9. Eau de Cartier Concentree
10. Mugler Cologne
11. Allure Homme
12. Platinum Egoiste
13. Antidote
14. Bvlgari Black
15. Dunhill Edition


Actually 15 isn't enough. I have a lot more to list, but these popped up before the others.
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post #28 of 37
10/19/08 at 11:44pm
Totally mrclmind.... you can buy Guerlain (shalimar, mostly) at my local drug store and grocery store... so it's hardly exclusive.

Now that I've been acclimatized to the niche world over the last few months, I see the difference in many facets. That said, there are plenty of good designer scents as well (and plenty of bad niche scents). It's absurd to make the overgeneralization that all designer is no good. I'd take Dior Homme, Diorella, and a bunch of Chanels over most niche fragrances.
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post #29 of 37
10/20/08 at 1:05am
Hmmm. Tricky one this but here goes and in no particular order.

1. Guerlain Vetiver
2. Guerlain Habit Rouge
3. Guerlain Heritage
4. Penhaligon's Castile
5. Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet
6. Chanel Egoiste
7. Chanel Platinum Egoiste
8. Dior Homme
9. Gucci Envy
10. Aqua di Parma Intensa
11. Prada Amber pour Homme
12. Dirty English
13. Desir by Rochas
14. Black Walnut by Banana Republic
15. Baldessarini Original

Although you could argue that Penhaligon's is a niche line, you can also buy their products at a great many department stores as well as from their own outlets.
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post #30 of 37
10/20/08 at 1:20am
Allure Homme
Allure Homme Edition Blanche
Azzaro pour Homme
Bulgari Black
Caron Third Man
Egoiste
Envy for Men
Gucci pour Homme
Kenzo Power
L'Eau par Kenzo pour Homme
L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Extreme EdP
M7
Mugler Cologne
Terre d'Hermes
Zino Davidoff
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post #31 of 37
10/20/08 at 3:19am
Baldessarini EdC
Bvlgari Aqva PH
Chanel Allure Edition Blanche
Davidoff Cool Water
Gucci PH I
Guerlain Homme
Issey Miyake L`Eau D`Issey PH Intense
Lalique Equus
Lalique Encre Noire
Loewe SOLO Cologne Intense
Mugler Cologne
Ralph Lauren Polo Modern Reserve
Terre D`Hermes
Viktor & Rolf Antidote
YSL Rive Gauche PH
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post #32 of 37
10/20/08 at 5:09am
1. Angel pour Femme
2. Antaeus
3. Terre d' Hermes
4. Shalimar
5. Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme
6. Black Orchid
7. Allure Sensuelle
8. Narciso Rodriguez for Her
9. Fahrenheit 32
10. Dior Homme
11. Lauder Private Collection 1973
12. Dune pour Homme
13. Polo Double Black
14. Eau Parfumee au The Vert
15. Rive Gauche EDT pour Homme
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post #33 of 37
10/20/08 at 5:53am
Issey Bleue - (a unique fragrance, smells like no other scent out there. is powdery, spicy, modern, light & heavy at the same time. something for evening, parties etc.)
Eau de Cartier Concentree - (a fresh fragrance unlike any out there. lingers thruout the day and is a great everyday wear. perfect for summers and winters alike. recommended for office or day out with family & freinds, nothing init can possibly offend, only garner compliments)
Rochas LUI - (needs no introduction. a classic oriental perfect for all occasions and seasons)
Hermes Concentrate Orange vert - (wanna beat the summer? it doesnt get better than this. right from the blast of orange to the powdeyr base on musk and amber...this one's top notch)
ST Dupont Ph - (a underatted gem. ideal for summers, perfect for office)
Trussardo Uomo - (a classic, blast from th past. floral, aldehydes with a dirty powdeyr base of leather and patchouli. fantastic! a must have! time to get diirrrrrrrrrrrty!)
Dior Higher - ( a sexy sporty scent. perfect for casual wear and time out with freinds)
Guess Suede - (well for a fine suede based scent in wardrobe)
Giorgio for men - (for a classy oriental fragrance)
Givenchy Gentleman - (for a dirty patchouli/leather combo scent)
Burberry London - for something boozy, leathery, rosy, yet, classy modern fragrance)
Dior Eau Sauvage - ( for classy citrus scent)
Mugler Cologne - (for a classy vetiver based fragrance)
A*men - (for a dirty, chocolate+patchouli based scent)
CK be - (for a clean musk based comfort scent)
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post #34 of 37
10/20/08 at 6:23am
OK, I made a list. These are "designer" fragrances in the sense that the names attached to them mostly make clothing or sell luxury goods as a main part of their business instead of fragrances.

Emporio Armani Diamonds
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Giorgio Armani Eau Pour Homme
Ermenegildo Zegna Z
Canali Men
Canali Black Diamond
Calvin Klein ck One
Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
Mont Blanc Individuel
Burberry London for Men
Cartier Declaration
Dior Eau Sauvage
Tommy Hilfiger Tommy
Davidoff Cool Water
Carolina Herrera Chic for Men
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post #35 of 37
10/20/08 at 7:33am
Here's me twisting the rules... They all sell clothes and luxury goods as their main business!:

1. Chanel Coromandel -- patchouli heaven
2. Chanel Cuir de Russie -- Russian leather!
3. Chanel Bois des Iles
4. Chanel Sycomore
5. Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille
6. Dior Bois d'Argent
7. Guerlain 68 -- all purpose, everyday
8. Prada 3 Cuir Ambre
9. Hermes Vetiver Tonka
10. Hermes Ambre Narguile
11. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
12. Comme des Garcons: Hinoki
13. Comme des Garcons: Sequoia
14. Tom Ford Japon Noir
15. Armani Bois d'Encens

And here's a "proper" list in no particular order:

1. Chanel Egoiste
2. Gucci PH II
3. Rochas Man
4. YSL M7 / Fresh
5. Lolita Lempicka au Masculin
6. L'eau d'Issey PH
7. L'Occitane Eau de Baux
8. Burberry London
9. Caroline Herrera Chic
10. Hermes Terre d'Hermes
11. Chanel Allure Homme Blanche
12. Aramis JHL
13. Guerlain Shalimar
14. Bvlgari Black
15. Escada Magnetism
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post #36 of 37
10/20/08 at 7:34am
The line I used was if I could buy it at a department store.
In no particular order

1. Chanel Egoiste
2. Guerlain Habit Rouge
3. Terre D'Hermes
4. Thierry Mugler Cologne
5. Bvlgari Aqua
6. Azzaro pour Homme
7. L'Occitane Ambre
8. Burberry London for Men
9. Caron Yatagan
10. Caron L'Anarchiste
11. Balenciaga Rumba
12. Dior Homme
13. Givenchy Pi
14. Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
15. Pino Silvestre

Guerlain Vetiver, Caron pour un Homme and Caron Le 3me Homme were my final cuts from my initial list.
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post #37 of 37
10/20/08 at 8:00am
Most of these are from my wardrobe actually... Hermes is always confusing as to where to put it... Obviously we'd consider Hermessence niche, but what about Eau d'Hermes which is hard to find, and the Jardin series... well, I'm gonna include them because everywhere Td'H is sold I can find the Jardins. Here ya go
A*Men
Aqua de Bulgari
Armani Code
Arpege pour Homme
B*Men
Black XS
Bulgari Black
Declaration
Eau d'Hermes (is this niche?)
Eau d'Orange Verte
Lalique pour Homme Equus
Prada Infusion d'Homme
Terre d'Hermes
The Dreamer
Un Jardin Sur le Nil
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