Had to go into several offices in Northern Arizona, and with the weather sitting around 60-64 degrees, I wanted something inoffensive with some heft. Something appropriate for close quarters, but with enough body for the cooler weather. I already own the EDT and EDP, so Polo 67 is familiar territory. Extreme takes that fruity direction into a richer space, with pineapple, cedarwood and a leather accord giving it a little more weight. Still approachable, just with a warmer foundation. For this kind of outing, performance needs to be balanced. I want staying power and a noticeable presence, but I don’t need my fragrance introducing itself to the entire office before I do. The goal is enough projection to be enjoyed nearby, with some substance as it settles. That was the thinking behind tonight’s choice: easy to wear, office appropriate with a sensible application, and enough heft for a cool Northern Arizona evening. Sometimes an approachable designer fragrance is exactly what the occasion calls for. - Longevity: roughly 6-9 hours on skin, about 2 hours more when added to clothing. - Projection: noticeable for about 1-3 hours, then closer to the skin. - Sillage: moderate it left a noticeable scent trail rather than a room-filling cloud. Just what I needed to get me through late afternoon 2 meetings through this evening.

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

Part 4 — Extrait Is Always Stronger Than EDP or EDT THE MYTH “EDT is the weakest, EDP is stronger, and extrait is the strongest. If you want the best performance, always buy the extrait.” THE REALITY An extrait may be richer, longer-lasting, or more powerful, but the word extrait alone doesn’t promise all three. THE EXPLANATION In Part 3, we discussed why a higher concentration doesn’t automatically mean better performance. Here, the issue is how we interpret the words on the bottle. For someone just getting into fragrances, it’s easy to assume there’s a simple ladder: EDT - EDP - Parfum - Extrait These terms generally describe concentration categories, but their boundaries are not universal. Frédéric Malle explains that the classifications aren’t regulated into a consistent concentration system and that the materials and their proportions also determine lasting power. Then there’s the word stronger. What do we mean by that? - More noticeable across a room? That’s projection. - A bigger trail as you walk past? That’s sillage. - Still detectable hours later? That’s longevity. - A richer or denser smell up close? That’s another characteristic entirely. Those qualities don’t always increase together. An extrait can smell substantial close to the skin without giving you the biggest scent cloud. An EDT can be more noticeable in the air during part of the wearing. Also, different versions aren’t necessarily the same fragrance with the concentration turned up. The perfumer may change the balance or introduce different accords. Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s OUD extrait, for example, emphasizes a musky vanilla accord and spicy harmony as part of its interpretation. That gives you more to consider than the concentration label alone. This is why liking an EDP doesn’t automatically mean you’ll prefer its extrait. You may love the freshness, balance, or movement of one version more than the richness of another. I want newcomers to understand this before spending extra money: you’re choosing a version to wear, and each version deserves its own test.

So this past week I had some travel to Houston where I had a fun assignment to photograph the Charlie XCX concert and then photograph an actress / producer for her branding and for some publications. It was a fun couple of days and super exhausting at the same time. But I found myself with some downtime and got to go to my favorite places in Houston including Nordstrom's in the Galleria. They have a very liberal sample policy, and the lady at Hermes counter and I had a lovely conversation while she made me samples of just about everything on the shelf. I already talked about Bel Ami, but she also gave me samples of 24, Fauborg, TDH Intense, TDH Parfum, Barenia EDP, Barenia Pleine Fleur, Jo Malone Orange Bitters, and Tom Ford Tobacco and Chocolat. But the big pickup for me was picking up Xerjoff Naxos. I was able to get it for a very big discount and paid less than $150 for the 100mL presentation. It is my very first actual bottle, not a decant, and the luxury of the presentation is quite something to behold. The leather box just exudes luxury, and though it is not the most I have ever paid, it feels like it. I have a lot to play with.

I have hesitated to post much in BOS because I thought I didn’t really have much of a collection but then I realized I actually really do. So this post is as much about my SOTD as it is about my SOTC. My SOTD is Tom Ford Hombre Leather. I can’t really describe it well but to say that to me it has a very distinct and, for lack of a better word, masculine smell, meaning not flowery or citrusy, but I’d be lying if I said anything else. Now, regarding the SOTC, I have 16 different travel sprays (more than samplers but less than an actual bottle) which I always get when they are discounted except the Mission Fragrances on the very left, Commitment, Honor, and Courage. Those were my first forage into fragrances and remain my favorites. Honestly I owe a shout out to @Renato Carotti because of his Decant Supplier Reviews where he has provided an idea of where to purchase a small quantity to sample different fragrances. If but for him, I would not smell so good! Thanks Renato, my wife appreciates you!