Brand new release going for $130 retail at Nordstrom and Macy’s can be found at Fragflex for $62 on 100 mil

Today I’m wearing Bergamask. This is citrus with some attitude, a sharp, bitter bergamot character sitting over a substantial musky base. The citrus brings brightness, but the musk gives it that slightly dirty, animalic character. Together, they create something fresh with a raw edge. There’s a push and pull between the two that makes this more interesting than a straightforward citrus fragrance. Spring and fall are a good fit, along with summer evenings. I’d reach for it for a day out or a casual evening when I want something fresh with a little more character. Bergamask is a good example of Alessandro Gualtieri’s approach to fragrance. Familiar scent ideas, taken somewhere a little unusual and that’s part of the appeal of exploring houses like Orto Parisi. Bergamask has a reputation for strong projection, a noticeable scent trail, and long wear especially on clothing. This is one I’d start with a couple of sprays and adjust from there. Fresh citrus doesn’t always mean light performance. Projection: 2-3 Feet Sillage; 2 feet Longevity: 10-12 Hours

If you know Slumberhouse, you know this indie house has a serious cult following. Their limited drops often sell out in less than a minute. I was lucky enough to time the latest drop from Fumerie in Portland just right and score a bottle. And it was delivered this afternoon! For those unfamiliar, Slumberhouse is an independent perfume house out of Portland, Oregon, founded by self-taught perfumer Josh Lobb. He’s known for creating bold, unconventional fragrances that don’t smell like much else out there. This stuff isn’t cheap, especially considering you’re only getting 30ml, but the quality is undeniably there. So what’s Sådanne like? Think rich, juicy strawberries, jammy rose, white wine, ambergris, and woods. The strawberry is definitely the star here, sweet and almost syrupy, but there’s a tart, slightly boozy quality that keeps things interesting. The rose adds a floral richness while the ambergris and woods bring a darker depth. It’s fruity and sweet, but there’s something sophisticated and almost mysterious underneath it all. This is my second experience with Slumberhouse, but my first exploring this side of the house. It’s quite a departure from the darker, heavier fragrances they’re typically associated with. First impressions? I’m impressed! It’s a unique take on a fruity floral that manages to feel playful and luxurious at the same time. Definitely not your typical strawberry fragrance. I’m looking forward to spending more time with this one and seeing how it develops on skin. Anyone else have experience with Slumberhouse or sampled any of their offerings? Curious to hear your thoughts and impressions!

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.

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