Formula V: Him
- SlickNick
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 17
When I image my life partner, I expect them to smell exactly like this.
Like every other fragrance I’ve created, this one started in my lab — just me, some of my favorite essential oils, and an intention to create something that felt real. Formula V took a little longer than usual to come to life. I kept going back and forth, reworking the heart notes — the part of the fragrance that blends most deeply with your natural oils. I wanted it to settle into the skin, to become part of the person wearing it. It took me about two months to get it right, but when I finally did, I knew I had something different.
I handed off samples to a couple of friends — one male, one female — because I don’t really believe in labeling scents as “feminine” or “masculine.” Anyone can tap into either energy at any time, depending on the day, the fit, or the moment. But if I had to assign a vibe to this one, Formula V smells like a whole lot of man. I’m talking about that man — the one you only see in your dreams or crime dramas. He’s dangerous. Intelligent. Loyal. Calculated.
He’s Sincere from Belly, Stringer Bell from The Wire, Franklin Saint in his prime on Snowfall. It’s the fantasy of the man you never thought you’d find — but then realize, you already had him once, in some form. That’s the energy. This scent reminded me of someone I hadn’t seen in over a decade. We were never romantically involved, but when I smelled this blend, he came to mind.
What Is Formula V?
Formula V is short for Formula 5 — the fifth in my series of signature scents and the first in the Dominion Collection. The concept of this line is simple: we become who we spray. Fragrance is frequency, and Formula V hits a particular one — a place where hustle, sex appeal, power, and presence all live in the same room.
This scent smells grown. Sophisticated. Calculated. But bold — even a little dangerous. It turns me on in a very real way. And not just in the sensual sense, but emotionally and energetically. Formula V represents a version of masculinity that’s both traditional and disruptive. One that respects softness, but doesn’t flinch from dominance. I made this fragrance because I felt it… and because I wanted to.
Field Test: The Power of the V
I don’t usually smoke while I’m working on blends — it messes with my nose — but once Formula V was complete, I rolled up with a friend and had him wear it out to dinner. The reactions were immediate. Compliments from women and men — young, old, dressed up, dressed down. People were stopping him to ask what he was wearing. And the people who asked? My kind of people. Well-dressed. Well-traveled. Well-paid.
Formula V is masculine, but absolutely unisex. We all access masculine energy at times — that get money, take charge, make the call type of energy. That’s what this scent evokes for me. When I’m in that mode, I want to wear this. It invites respect. It invites risk. It makes people wonder what I do, and how I got in the room.
The shoot for Formula V happened on a fluke back in June 2022. I had planned a full-blown production and gave models a two-month heads up. But the day of? Half of them ghosted. No fresh cuts. No jewelry. No clothes. No call. And honestly, I almost canceled. But the right people always show up.
Telt, my Scorpio twin, pulled up last minute and let me snap some raw moments.
Cherrish, who came through clutch and kept the energy grounded.
Demitrius, my main muse for the day, stole the show. He gave exactly the vibe I was going for: smooth, sexy, dangerous.
Cherrish, Los Angeles, CA
I love lifestyle photography — the unposed, in-between moments. That’s where the truth lives. I wanted to capture danger, sex appeal, hustle, fun, playboy energy, nostalgia. Think: Ace from Paid in Full, Big Daddy Kane for his elegance and sex appeal, or Sincere from Belly again, because he really is the blueprint.
Release the V
I’ve been sitting on these photos for three years, debating whether to release them or not because the original shoot didn’t go as planned. But then I thought: fuck it. This fragrance has been on my spirit, and I needed to release it before it consumed me.
We’ll come back bigger and cleaner for the next release, but this one? This is for the people who get it.
This is Formula V. Welcome to Dominion.
Explore the world of Formula V — click below to view the full look book and listen to the curated Apple Music playlist inspired by this scent.
To order or request a bottle for your own personal collection, please click here.
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