Good morning everyone. Yesterday I Had to visit my orthopedic surgeon for post op on my knee and when I got into the elevator, the woman next to me-though my back was facing her-said “welcome back, Mr. Asumendi.” I didn’t immediately recognize her but she said”I know it was you because no other man smells as good as you do.” I was wearing MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 but in the several years I’ve been a patient there I’ve worn different fragrances. Started my morning out with a bang followed by a very positive report from the doctor. Happy Hump Day!

Certain things I avoid when buying or wearing perfume and why: 1. Rack-store older fragrances: I have bought them, worn them, and had people comment that I smell like their grandfather or some old boyfriend from high school. Scent memory is very real. The smells that can invoke memories in coworkers, customers, friends, and the opposite sex are very real. Sure, I thought I smelled great, but I could hear others talking about me in the background, and it was pretty bad. Now I do my homework. To be honest, it is sometimes better to get other people’s opinions. It’s like the kid who wears high-water pants; he thinks he looks good, but everyone else is silently laughing. 2. Over-spraying “beast mode” juice in the office, stores, or anywhere people can’t walk away: I used to think more was better. If it lasted 12 hours and filled a room, I figured I was winning. Then you start catching the side comments. “Somebody’s wearing a lot of cologne today.” Or you notice people leaning back when you walk up. Same scent-memory problem as the old rack stuff, except now they remember you as the guy who walks in smelling like he dumped the whole bottle on himself. I still like strong fragrances. I just learned the difference between “this projects” and “this is announcing itself before I even get through the door.” 3. Super sweet bakery/candy/dessert bombs around people who didn’t sign up for it: I love a good gourmand. Vanilla, caramel, coconut, that whole lane. But I learned the hard way that what smells like a treat to me smells like a candle store or somebody’s grandma’s kitchen to half the room. You think you’re wearing something expensive and interesting. They’re thinking, “Why does he smell like cookies at 9 a.m.?” Same thing as the grandfather comment people already have that smell filed under something else, and it’s usually not “this guy has great taste.” 4. Wearing the exact same scent every single day until it becomes “your smell”: I did this with a couple favorites. Felt consistent, felt like a signature. Then people start saying “you always smell like that,” and it stops being a compliment. If they like it, fine. If they don’t, now they associate the dislike with you. Switching it up doesn’t just keep it interesting for you; it keeps other people from locking one smell onto you forever.

“First take your time to discover fragrances. Improve your knowledge by enlarging your scope of perfumes. The more you know about perfumes, the more you distinguish the tiny details.” — Aliénor Massenet Growth comes from widening what you study, not rushing past the details. Expand your range, stay curious, and keep building your knowledge; the small distinctions you learn to notice can become your greatest advantage. Enjoy the #Journey. Love to hear from ya’!

Going through the samples I received. Even though I’m still recovering from my knee surgery, I’m able to run simple local errands so wearing a fragrance again is making my day. Today I’m wearing Blue Talisman by Ex Nihilo. First thing that jumps out to me is fresh pear which I find really appealing. I wasn’t really familiar with some of the ingredients in the heart and base but they certainly combine to enrich this fragrance. The scent is fruity, fresh and woody and I’ve had it on for 6 hours so the longevity is there. First fragrance from this house for me and I like it. It smells better than some other blue fragrances that I’m familiar with and I could definitely see putting this into a rotation. Top: pear, bergamot, mandarin orange Heart: Georgywood , orange blossom Base: musk, akigala wood, ambrotix

Received this samples kit from a friend of mine in yesterday’s mail. Nice treat. Decided to try Istanbul by Atelier today. Top: grapes, citrus, tea, parsley, lemon; middle: jasmine, pink pepper, geraniums; base: toffee, vanilla, musk, wood I really like his fragrance and I’m looking forward to trying more of the remaining samples. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.