Aesop's fables

No, this isn't a post about kids stories. 

But as a kid, Aesop's Fables was one of the books that I'd devour.

What this post is about is this recent discovery.

After smelling Aesop HWYL, it was definitely a must-buy. It has this very green and earthy scent that's easy on the nose and not too overpowering. It also has good longevity and lasted more than 6 hours on my skin.

I'm not a big fan of perfumes, so this is a big deal.

Back to Earth

Because the Polo Earth that I bought and brought from Narita Airport was so good, just had to get another bottle.

Two, actually.

Guess this means that I'm a certified Earth-ling.

Smells like Pinoy Spirit

Since we're on the subject of Pinoy Pride and proudly Pinoy products, here's a recent discover that can be filed under that subject.

It's a locally made perfume!

The packaging alone is a great reason to buy it. The box is elegant, aesthetic and posh. The perfume itself is equally good - long-lasting, good projection, and it really reminds me of Tom Ford's Oud Wood.

Take notes, local brands. This is how it's done.

Loves this hotel

You know a hotel is Le Snazz when their restrooms are fitted with Jo Loves toiletries.

Such is the case at Makati Diamond Residences.

This made me wash my hands around 5 times during a 3-hour event.

Little Luxuries

It was early last year when Bath and Body Works launched their "Everyday Luxuries" collection.

This collection of mists took inspiration from trending and popular perfumes, and created body mists that are priced around 90% less than the original perfume.. That guaranteed that this line would be a hit.

Since we already have Bath and Body Works here in MNL, my expectation was they'd launch it here a few months after the US launch. Alas, 2024 went and the products never  hit the shelves. (Good thing Ate Lissa was able to buy some for me in the US.)

Early this year, they came out again in the US and launched 5 new variant. Because of what happened last year, my excitement was tempered. 

But lo hand behold, they suddenly appeared on their store shelves!

Which led to this:

Got the 4 original scents that I've been eyeing since the launch!

This was definitely worth the wait.

Yeah, Bois!

The gourmand in me is thrilled to have discovered this scent.

Bois 1920 is an Italian Perfume house known for their unique take on traditional fragrances. And Frammenti is one of them.

It has the right blend of sweetness and earthy tones. It's the caramel that really stands out gives this scent a sweet punch.

This is going to be a good break from the usual skin scents in my rotation.

Taking the Elevator

This is fast becoming my fave scent.

The overall vibe of "Elevator Music" is clean, quiet and nondescript. It's a skin scent that smells like the quintessential "you, but better."

Should've gotten a back-up bottle of this.

Makes Sens

If you're a fan of citrus scents, (I am!), there's one brand that makes one of the best citrus scents.

Diptyque's Eau Des Sens is a light and bright citrus scent that I can't get enough of. It has the zest of citrus, but there's also a hint of floral - especially when it dries down.

Whilst it's citrus, it eventually becomes a skin scent and creates that "barely there" scent that I'm a fan of.

This goes up there with "Flying" by Replica.

Orange you surprised?

While they're known for their named scents like "You or Someone Like You," "Fat Electrician" and "Exit the King," the OG scent of this niche brand is "Cologne."

Yes, compared to its other iterations, "Cologne" sounds very plain and basic. 

But when it comes to the scent, that's farthest from the truth.

"Cologne" is an orange bomb. From the moment you spray it until it dries down, it's the orange note that pervades. From the orange fruit to the orange blossom, to dried orange peels - these all come together and create this refreshing scent.

And if you're looking for a fresh scent, you'll be surprised how "Cologne" delivers.

I'll do ELDO

It's a niche perfume with an interesting name.

Etat Libre D'Orange, or ELDO, as some perfume lovers would call it.

The brand is considered a niche brand, and it's known for playful names and unusual scent profiles. They once had a scent called “Philippine Houseboy.” And given political correctness and cultural sensitivities, it was quickly pulled out of the shelves and the name was changed.

But that’s another story.

During my HKG trip last February, I chanced upon a bottle of ELDO's more popular scents called "You Or Someone Like You." Sprayed it on my wrist out of curiosity, not knowing what to expect. And you know how it goes when you're not expecting anything. It's when those pleasant surprises usually happen.

The scent was super fresh! The first spray was like a blast of mint, followed by citrus undertones, and it settles as a green, grassy scent. It reminds me of freshly cut grass, which is another scent that reminds me of my childhood days in Bicol.

Needless to say, it's a significant memory, which led me to bring a bottle from HKG to MNL.

I'll wear this and go back to my childhood days in Bacacay.

Of Sandalwood and Childhood

The smell of Sandalwood always reminds me of my childhood.

Because we have Spanish family members, the bar soap that you’d often find in our bathrooms was Mama. It was a Spanish brand with a black and red packaging, punctuated with a dancing Spanish woman. That soap had a very strong Sandalwood scent.

So did Peach Blossom, another soap that you’d find in our bathrooms. It was this wood coloured soap with a super strong scent that stays on long after you’ve used it.

Then, there’s Lola Dita’s Wood fan. It also emitted that same scent profile each time she opens and uses it.

Because of these scent memories, I’ve had a fondness for Sandalwood scents. Even if most people find it too old, i’d Always find myself gravitating towards that kind of scent.

That’s why Diptyque’s “Tam Dao” appealed to me the moment Imtook a whiff at Shinsegae Duty Free in Myeongdong.

Let me say, it’s like reliving my childhood with every spray.

Second skin

Personally, I'm not a fan of perfume.

Even as a teen, when my brothers were collecting Drakkar Noir, Kouros, Polo and Gray Flannel, I didn't have a bottle of perfume. I'd have some bottles of cologne, particularly the Spanish ones that Tita Evelyn would bring from Spain, but that was it.

I'm not a fan of strong scents - which perfumes usually are. The only scents that appeal to me are the scents of the body wash I use, which are simple, clean, soapy scents - think Ivory Soap or Dove. 

That's why in those few times that I'd buy perfume, the scents I'd gravitate towards were soapy and laundry-inspired scents. Yup, my idea of smelling good is smelling like I just came out from the washing machine and dryer. Thus, my liking for scents like Clean Fresh Laundry, Clean Warm Cotton and Clean T-Shirt.

Another scent profile I'm into are skin scents. These are scents that smell so natural, it smells like your skin after you took a bath. My favourite scent for this type is Clean Reserve Skin.

Since my bottle of that scent is almost empty, I dropped by Rustan's to buy another bottle. Alas, they didn't have any stock, and didn't know when their new stocks will come in. 

But, true to Rustan's superb customer service mantra, the sales clerk suggested another skin scent for me to try. That's Dipytique's Fleur de Peau.

Whoa! This. Is. So. Good!

"Fleur de Peau" literally means "Skin Flower." It really smells like you're not wearing any perfume at all. It's just like you bathed using a nice smelling body wash, nothing more, nothing less. And what you're left with is the scent of very clean skin. Because of that, I ended up buying a bottle of this pure, skin scent.

Of course, some people would find it odd that you'd spend almost P11,000 to smell like you're not wearing any scent at all. But for me, smelling like this is already second skin.

FMM: Scent to Song, part 2

Byredo is one of those niche fragrances that's a fave among the scent-loving community. I've been hearing about this brand for years, but don't really know what the brand is like since they don't have it available in stores here in MNL.

I'd see the brand in HKG, particularly in Lane Crawford. Back in 2017 when the fam flew to HKG, I chanced upon it while we were strolling in IFC. But since we were in a hurry, I never got a chance to smell it.

When Mark and I went to Seoul last October, there was a Byredo store inside Lotte Department Store. On my way to the supermarket, I made a quick stop and finally took a whiff of this brand. Verdict: the hype is real!

That's why during my trip to HKG last month, part of the itinerary was the Byredo store in IFC. There, I finally got my hands on some of their most popular fragrances, the OG being this:

Gypsy Water is the Byredo scent that's on everyone's lips (or noses.) And it's easy to understand why. The scent is so fresh and clean, like an elevated skin scent.

And to celebrate my 1st bottle, today's Friday Magic Madness is an off-shoot of the scent's name.

"Gypsy Woman" & "Crystal Waters." Remove the "Woman" and "Crystal," and you have one of the scents that I'll be using on the regular. You gotta love the music of the 90s. Just like you gotta love this scent.

Petrichor period

This was a word that I learned way back when I was still in elementary school.

It was at the library in Claret School. While reading this science book, one page talked about “Petrixhor.” Because the word sounded so intriguing and complex, it stuck in my mind.

Basically, it’s the scent of rain after it falls on the soil and grass. It’s something I’d smell a lot when we were in Bicol, mainly because Lolo’s House was surrounded by carabao grass. After the rain, that distinct scent would waft in the balcony, and my first thought would be:

“Ahhh... Pertichor.”

It’s been a while since that smell reached the concrete jungle where we live. But that will change after buying this Replica scent in Shangrila Mall recently.

‘When the rain stops” aims to replicate the scent of land after its been drenched in rain. While it seems like an unusual scent to wear, after smelling the sample of this perfume, it brought me back to that period in my childhood in Bicol.

Another scent memory unlocked.

Worn out shirt

I'm not really a cologne wearer. That's why when there's a cologne at home - most often gifts - it takes years before the bottle is finished. No matter how big or small the bottle is.

So, it must mean something when a bottle of cologne doesn't last longer than 4 months. That's what happened to the bottle of Bath and Body Works White T-Shirt. 

Yes, it's all used up after just a few months. As it, to the last drop.

That's because this scent is so nondescript and it just feels like you're wearing freshly laundered shirts. 

Thankfully, there are still 2 more bottles at home. (And 2 more on the way!)

That’s Fresh

When Bath and Body Works launched "White T-Shirt," it was part of a collection that included 2 more scents. The 1st was "Fresh Getaway" and the 2nd was "Fresh Cotton and Coconut."

Thankfully, Gary brought a pair of that other scent from the US when he came home for Christmas! Woot!

Like its name, the scent is very fresh and is similar to "White T-Shirt." But it has a hint of coconut that gives it a tropical vibe.

It'll be good to have something fresh to rotate the White T-shirt with.

(Bath and) Body Rocks!

The box that Biboy sent from the U.S. is finally here!

I’ve been waiting for it because of this:

My sale stash of Bath and Body Works!

Gosh, my room will look like a mini-Store after unpacking.

Very pretty

Being a fan of citrus scents, this was one of the Maison Margiela Replica fragrances that caught my eye after seeing it at Rustan’s.

The reviews about “Under the Lemon Tree” are true. It has a citrus base that’s not too sweet nor tart, and it has a balance of floral accords that give the scent more depth. It has the lightness of a cologne with the longevity of an EDT.

This Lemon Tree is indeed very pretty.

To a T!

Finally, it’s here!

Was really curious about the “White T-shirt” scent of Bath and Body Works, and i’m super psyched that I was able to get one.

This smells so awesome! It reminds me of some of my fave scents like Clean Cool Cotton and Clean Cotton T-shirt. It’s also reminiscent of those soapy colognes that Mark and I would check out at Yodobashi  in Akihabara.

Looks like i’m Going to wear this White T-shirt everyday!

Shirt time

Clean Cotton T-shirt was one of my all-time fave scents. That’s why I was bummed when they discontinued it.

Recently, I discovered that Bath and Body Works launches this scent sometime this year:

They have a White T-shirt scent!

Why didn’t I see this when I ordered by Bath and Body Works stash from the US?

Gotta get my hands on this. Stat!