Friday in NY, and today I reached for Balliamo from Bottega Veneta. After a pretty full week, this one just felt right. Balliamo literally means “let’s dance” in Italian, and there is definitely something more relaxed and playful about this fragrance — but still with that polished Bottega Veneta character I’ve really come to enjoy. It opens bright and energetic with pomelo, citron and fresh pepper, giving it a crisp citrusy spice right away. Then the fragrance becomes much more interesting. There is myrtle, lavender and white fig in the heart, which gives it this green, aromatic and slightly creamy quality before it settles into cedar, vetiver and Ambronova. What I like is that it feels fresh without being simple. The fig adds a little richness. The pepper keeps it lively. And the cedar and vetiver give it enough structure that it still feels completely appropriate for an office day. With temperatures a little cooler here on Long Island today, it also feels like a very comfortable way to finish out the workweek. Maybe that is part of Friday for me. Polished enough for the office. Relaxed enough for Friday. And just a little reminder that life should have some fun in it too.

Gentlemen, here are a few standout posts from the BOS community this week. 👏 Big shoutout to @Edward Mooney for “Its been a long time.....” and the engaging poll about finally having time to pursue two long-awaited bottles. The personal backstory and open question created one of the week’s liveliest fragrance discussions. Post: https://www.skool.com/bos/its-been-a-long-time 👏 Shoutout to @John Hanslip for “When did , or has your “nose” changed?” and the thoughtful reflection on how his fragrance preferences have evolved. It invited members to compare their own scent journeys and added real depth to the conversation. Post: https://www.skool.com/bos/when-did-or-has-your-nose-changed 👏 Shoutout to @Lon Chaneyfield for “SOTN: CREED IRIS DEBONAIR” and a detailed first-wear perspective on Creed’s new Iris Debonair. The specific impressions gave members useful context beyond a simple scent-of-the-day post. Post: https://www.skool.com/bos/sotn-creed-iris-debonair 👏 Shoutout to @Frank Barnett for “Chinese Experiment” and the candid account of taking a chance on a discontinued-fragrance counterfeit. His observations on presentation and the buying experience gave the community a useful, conversation-worthy experiment to follow. Post: https://www.skool.com/bos/chinese-experiment 👏 Shoutout to @Brett Sutton for “SOTD- Sunday August 16th: Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman Extrait” and the clear personal endorsement of a favorite DNA in a richer, more masculine form. It gave members a concise but valuable recommendation to consider. Post: https://www.skool.com/bos/sotd-sunday-august-16th-ex-nihilo-blue-talisman-extrait

SOTD — Creed Iris Debonair I was able to score a tester of the new Creed Iris Debonair pre-release last week at a really good price, so of course I had to give it a proper wearing. This is definitely a different direction for Creed. Right away you get that smooth, powdery iris with a little pepper and lavender around it, but it doesn’t come across overly lipstick-like to me. Once it settles down, the iris gets creamier and the sandalwood and musk start showing up, giving it a much smoother, slightly woody feel. There are going to be Dior Homme comparisons, especially early on, and I understand why. But after it develops, I think Iris Debonair starts separating itself. It feels a little airier, cleaner and more polished rather than being that dense makeup-bag iris style. What I like most is the balance. It has some sweetness, but it isn’t really a sweet fragrance. It is floral without feeling feminine, powdery without becoming dusty, and has enough woods underneath it to keep everything grounded. Projection and sillage have been very good so far without it being obnoxious. This smells more like something I would wear dressed up, dinner, evening out or when I just want something a little more refined. Is Creed reinventing iris here? No. But they did a very good Creed interpretation of it, and I think this is one of their more interesting recent releases. I need a few more full wearings before I decide where it ranks in the Creed lineup, but my first impression is definitely positive. Iris Debonair is one I think people are going to be talking about once it officially hits the shelves.

SOTD — Memoirs of a Perfume Collector Tales from Zanzibar Today I’m wearing Tales from Zanzibar, and this is exactly the kind of tropical fragrance I like because it doesn’t smell like the typical coconut suntan-lotion scent. Right from the opening I get a big blast of juicy fruit, especially guava, mixed with lime, mandarin and this cooling mint that keeps all that sweetness from becoming too much. The guava is really what separates this one for me. It gives it that exotic tropical-fruit smell instead of just another citrus freshie. As it settles down, the coconut starts showing up, but it stays more in the background rather than taking over. The drydown gets sweeter and slightly musky with the candied fruits, ambergris, moss and that very transparent oud underneath everything. I really wouldn’t call this an oud fragrance at all. It’s there more to give the fragrance some depth and keep all those fruits from smelling too simple. What I really like about Tales from Zanzibar is that it smells like a tropical vacation without smelling cheap or juvenile. It’s bright, sweet, fruity and refreshing, but there’s enough weight underneath it to make it feel like an actual niche fragrance. Definitely one of those fragrances that gets your attention when you first spray it. Tropical, juicy, different and extremely easy to enjoy. Tales from Zanzibar is a winner for me.

Today I reached for Santal from Floris London. It’s warm and sunny here in Greenvale this morning, with the weather expected to turn a little heavier later in the day, so I wanted something that could comfortably move with the day. Fresh enough for August. But with a little more depth behind it. Santal does that beautifully. It opens with bergamot, lemon, black pepper and cardamom, which gives it a bright, slightly spicy freshness right from the start. Then the lavender, clove and nutmeg begin to show themselves before everything settles into sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, frankincense, amber and musk. What I enjoy most is the balance. There is warmth here, but it doesn’t feel heavy. There is spice, but it isn’t aggressive. And the sandalwood gives it a smooth, polished character that feels very much in keeping with what I’ve come to appreciate about Floris as a house. There is also something I really enjoy about wearing a fragrance from a house with this much history. Santal itself takes inspiration from a Floris sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s, but it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing something old-fashioned. It feels classic. And I think there is an important difference between the two. More and more, that is what I find myself drawn to — things that have history, craftsmanship and tradition behind them, but still make complete sense in my life today. Floris Santal feels exactly like that. 😎