Well the heat is on. It’s still not as bad as some other parts of the world, the nation, or even the Los Angeles Metroplex. But it’s hot, and for us, humid. So in addition to whining I reach for the cheap and cheerful.
Alityke was the commenter I believe who turned me on to the first Alvarez Gomez scent I’d heard of, Colonia Concentrada. This time she mentioned their Orange Blossom scent as a beast so I was at Walmart.com fast (were this 15 years ago I would have popped out at lunch to a bodega on Broadway and purchase, but my department was “centralized”, the company moved away, and last time I was downtown the stores had all dried up, which is a pity. And probably my fault. In the broader sense..)
In any case, I don’t find this especially beast-y. It has facets of others- some of it reminds me of Eau Sauvage (is it petitgrain?) while others hit that old-style barbershop “men’s” scent that is quite compelling to those of us who are just old enough to remember actual barbershops. They all had that particular smell of the after-shaves and balms and salves that they use- and as I remember, they used them. Somehow that combo of petitgrain, white flowers, citrus, and soft skin musk was just shorthand for “man stuff” the way that the smell of tuberose was supposed to say “girl.” My dad used to go and get his hair mowed every few weeks, and the few times I went they had the whole routine available from hot towels (to “soften the beard”, not open the pores, you Commie.) to the stuff they rub into your skin after that is not in any way moisturizer. It’s manly man goop. Like Saddle Soap.
Barbershops like they used to be..
Now, of course, we are (thankfully) a bit less stuffy and a bit more gender-fluid, at least about scent. Joel Cairo might have raised the eyebrow of Sam Spade’s secretary with his gardenia-scented calling card but these days a guy can certainly get away with a few spritzes of Kai (and our own Musette can attest that Tuberose on a guy is catnip). So there’s no reason anyone, lady, gent, or otherwise can’t pull off this one. Especially on a hot day.
Wonder how it mixes with JD Scatamalis?
Alavarez Gomez is available at e-tailers for very little. I purchased my bottle for about $15 from Wal-Mart. If you have a bodega that sells it, please buy it there. If you’ve tried it, or have other cheap and cheerful suggestions please chime it. (and I like Love’s Baby Soft, so I don’t judge. Much.)
Images: My iPhone, Pexels
SO MANY THOUGHTS. I get my hair cut (not “done”) at the local barbershop that’s been run by the same family for decades. When you walk in it’s “that” place, like a movie set, including the fabulous smell of tonics and Barbasol etc. Teh ladies are ushered into the back room which looks like where my mom had her perms in the 70s (would we kill the vibe up front with our estrogen? maybe). Also I think those “waters” have a fair amount of alcohol so like you I’ve used them for strategic scented cleaning. Maybe it’s our proximity to Mexico? There are small shelves of “fancy” Spanish eaux tucked away in all sorts of places like CVS and the gas station lol I’m going to buy one based on the bottle and give it a whirl.
That is exactly where I find them.
They’re also great for beating the heat by application. A mouchoir liberally soaked in this is a good thing. I ended up giving it to our wonderful mail lady since her mail van doesn’t have AC (none of them do; the new ones will)
Like you and others Tom, I have Jean Nate after bath splash. My other cheap and cheerfuls are all discontinued things: Sonia Kashuk Pink Innocencia from Target which has tuberose, and three Pacifica scents: French Lilac, California Star Jasmine, and Persian Rose.
I need to reorder the Jean Nate. My bathroom smells great.
I keep Jean Nate in the shower
The beastly version is the Concentrada strength. I now need to search for the Colonia version you have. It might please my nose more than the attack of the Concentrada or deodorant!
Yep these colognes or excellent around the house & in laundry. If I ironed sheets I would use it as an ironing spray
Ah! Now I need to seek out the concentrada. I need a bodega.
I got mine from Amazon UK. It isn’t always available though
Amazon USA doesn’t have it. I reordered another bottle (gave this one away to the post lady)
I have the body lotion in the Concentrada version! Just found it in a drawer! YUM!
I miss bodegas — and proper delis. But bodegas … almost always decent coffee, things you didn’t know you needed, a friendly cat.
Do they still exist elsewhere? The ones downtown were so wonderful.
I have a bodega-ette so I will definitely check there! I love those herbal Florida water scents! They’re always used in ritual cleansing ( they sprinkle it on you right before they rub you down with a live chicken ( seriously) which is supposed to absorb the negative energy- it’s then put in a paper bag and you take it somewhere and release it, praying healing energy into yourself as the chicken… hops away. I used to release the chicken at the beach. Here…?
But those herbal waters are also used to wash floors and walls, to remove negative energy and bad spirits. Makes the house smell good, too!
Funny you mentioned that- I just used Jean Naté to clean my bathroom mirror. Worked great and smells nice!
I hope the negative energy you’re passing on to the chicken doesn’t make it mad and it starts pecking you as it’s being used to rub you down. Take that negative energy back!!! Peck peck peck peck peck peck peck! ROFL! 😉
I love the idea of washing floors and walls with herbal waters.
It makes sense as well- it’s all alcohol that disinfects and leaves things smelling nice. Especially when the water can be suspect.
It happens rather quickly- chanting/squawking/flapping/chanting. Once it’s shoved into the bag, it quiets down.
Btw- you’re responsible for bringing the chicken. Yet another paper bag-travel…