So we had a pretty nice sunny day here today and as work was winding down I thought this might be one of my last chances to wear one of my warm weather favorites, GNTonic. It does what it says - it’s just got this incredible sharp zesty citrus effervescent quality, super crisp and addictive smelling. Either I go noseblind to it or it just doesn’t last, but after about 90 minutes it retreats to just a few inches off skin (and after four hours I have to snuffle my arms just to detect it). So just as it was starting to die down tonight, I thought, heck, maybe this is my last chance to wear Vibrato too and layered some of that on. I figured that sparkly ginger and grapefruit would go perfectly with the lime and juniper in what was left of the GNTonic. And holy crap was I right, this combo is so good it feels like it could be illegal What a fantastic send-off to summer tonight

Part 5 — Rubbing Your Wrists Together Destroys Fragrance Molecules THE MYTH: “Never rub your wrists together after spraying. You’ll crush the fragrance molecules, bruise the perfume, and destroy the scent.” THE REALITY: Ordinary wrist rubbing does not crush fragrance molecules or break their chemical bonds. You can change how the liquid is distributed on your skin without chemically destroying the perfume. THE EXPLANATION: This is one of those pieces of fragrance advice that gets repeated so often that the explanation starts sounding like established science. We’ve probably all heard it: spray your wrists, start rubbing them together, and someone immediately tells you that you’re breaking the molecules. Fragrance molecules aren’t little beads you can crush between your wrists. What rubbing actually does is spread and transfer the liquid across the surfaces touching each other. That can change the area covered and the amount sitting on each wrist. Spreading the wet fragrance into a thinner film, along with any warming from friction, can affect evaporation and how you experience the opening. The size of that effect will depend on the fragrance and how vigorously you rub. But that does not mean a quick wrist rub automatically destroys the top notes, ruins the composition, or takes hours off the fragrance’s life. Even fragrance advice published by brands and experts can repeat the “breaking molecules” explanation. Repetition alone doesn’t make that explanation chemically accurate. There’s also a difference between lightly touching your wrists together to transfer some fragrance and vigorously rubbing the application area. Neither should be described as crushing molecules. My advice is still simple: spray and let it dry naturally. It’s an easy, consistent way to apply and evaluate a fragrance without redistributing it. And if you’ve rubbed your wrists together for years, there’s no reason to think you’ve been destroying every fragrance you wore. The takeaway is that letting your fragrance dry naturally is a sensible habit. Just understand the reason behind it.

Today is my first proper wear of Red Fever from Aaron Terence Hughes. ATH is a house that has been recommended to me more than once, but @Lon Chaneyfield finally gave me the push to stop talking about it and actually try something. 😎 This 10ml arrived earlier this week, and so far I’m really glad I listened. Red Fever has a bright, juicy sweetness to it, but what I’m enjoying most is that it still feels smooth and polished rather than overly sugary. There is plenty of personality here, and it has enough presence that I keep catching it around me throughout the morning. More importantly, it just feels fun to wear. There is something about discovering a new house that always gets me a little excited. You try one fragrance, it clicks, and suddenly you start wondering what else they do well. That is exactly where I am today. I also picked up Censored and Censored Elixir, and after this first experience with Red Fever I’m even more curious to get those on skin. I have had Censored and Censored Elixir on cotton rounds for over a week and they continue to impress every time I go back in for another sniff. So far, Red Fever is making a very strong first impression. Good recommendation. Good first wear. And I have a feeling this may be the beginning of another rabbit hole. 😂

There is something about the weather finally cooling down that makes me want to start reaching for fragrances with a little more warmth and substance. Today that meant Rouge Malachite from Armani Privé. This one feels rich and floral without becoming too heavy. There is a creamy quality to it that I really enjoy, and the cooler air today seems to give it a little more room to breathe. What I like most is that it feels elegant without feeling delicate. It has presence. It has warmth. But it still feels smooth and very easy to wear. And maybe that is part of the fun of this time of year for me. I’ve spent the last few months enjoying all the brighter summer fragrances, but now I can finally start opening the door to the richer side of the collection again. Rouge Malachite feels like a pretty good way to begin that transition

Makes me smile