Stress can wreck memory.
I am not great with faces, apparently, because people recognize me but I don’t recognize them, a lot. Like, no shit the FedEx guy bringing stuff to my work recognized me from grade school. Some people are REALLY good at recognizing people.
In general I’d say I am much better at figuring things out, than remembering them, and it has ever been so. Even in school I passed algebra by remembering the quadratic formula and just figuring out the rest of it each time. I don’t do things the same way every time. When I try to do things by rote, without thinking I fuck them up.
If it’s bothering you, try mindfulness - throughout the day take a breath, relax and become more aware of what you are doing and hearing and seeing and feeling. Get in the habit of paying close attention.
But I do think it’s normal to sort of discard a lot and only remember a little.
Oh boy, does this depend. I strongly suggest you wear what you like, and not worry about compliments.
Personally, Kouros and not too much of it is one I both notice and like but I do think it’s polarizing. I dislike aquatic musks and overly clean smells, laundry musks.
But again - it’s so individual you are better off pleasing yourself, if you smell good to you, you will be happier and that is attractive.