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Thanks for posting! I'll use this as a travel guide when I visit NY at the end of April. You tested several of the fragrances that are on my list as well.

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A great read, Jeff -- the "reveal" at the end of the Guerlain Vetiver chapter was a bit gut-wrenching, but since you are well-known around here as a vetiver enthusiast it's probably no hardship for you to have a deodorant spray with such a classy scent.

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Thanks, everyone, for the positive feedback! I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in reading about my experiences, but you've proved otherwise and I find that very encouraging. This also reminds me that it is about time that I updated my "Vetiver Redux" thread, for I've now tested about 6-8 more vetiver scents.

Jeff

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I'm heading there in June and definitely am relying on your recent journey for some ideas. Thanks for posting.
On a side note, I read a recommendation in a more traditional shave forum for Cambridge Chemists in NYC. Any experience with it?

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Yea..without a doubt Manhattan is "Thee place"...Christ...lol...for fashion, for fragrance, good food..Little Italy...although I must say to all ....I mean..NOTHIN' beats Arthur Avenue food! The Boogie down. lol
I want to hit Manhattan this spring definately, without a doubt. Good story about Manhattan. if you cant find your frgrance in the city then it'll probably be impossible to get it out here on the Island.

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Originally Posted by CM Wolff I'm heading there in June and definitely am relying on your recent journey for some ideas. Thanks for posting.
On a side note, I read a recommendation in a more traditional shave forum for Cambridge Chemists in NYC. Any experience with it? Re: your side note, Cambridge Chemists also sells on the Web. I just ordered a bottle of Czech & Speake (Citrus Paradisi) from them, and they seem to stock an unusually large selection of English colognes (C&S, Trumper, Mason Pearson, Taylor of Old Bond, Truefitt & Hill,...) in addition to upscale shaving paraphernalia. Their shipping charges are high -- I guess that's a reason to pay them a visit if you're in NYC.

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Do you have any recommended stores that have authentic frags?
On broadway and canal the stores are stacked from floor to ceiling with frags.. but are they real? can they really sell two bottles of Creed for $70...?

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Originally Posted by bigsink Do you have any recommended stores that have authentic frags?

On broadway and canal the stores are stacked from floor to ceiling with frags.. but are they real? can they really sell two bottles of Creed for $70...? Everything that I looked at up close in the Broadway stores was real, though Creeds were the one marque that I was not after and, thus, did not examine any up close. As for whether they can sell two bottles of Creed for $70, I think most of us would be really shocked if we knew the ultimate profit markup in our favorite scents. In other words, yes, I think that it is within the realm of possibility for two bottles of genuine Creed fragrance to be sold for $70.

Jeff

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I feel you but at the same token EVERYTHING on canal and broadway is fake.
I wish I had a better understanding of the bootleg market of frags.
I looked at the creed bottle and it was a flawless representation of the real thing. The box was even embossed!
The packaging, actual scent, and bottles seem like so much hard work to re-create...
denim/sneakers and sneakers are another story..the factories are readily available in china to create bootleg versions of the real deal.
Sorry to hi-jack the thread, if anyone has any info on the black market please pm me