The Smell of Winter

Today’s post is courtesy of HemlockSillage’s comment/question on last week’s post: What are scents that seem cold and winter-y to you (HS noted Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver and CdG Zagorsk)? I am going to go a bit broader and look… Continue Reading

Musc by Mona di Orio

Hey Posse, yes we received the devastating news recently that the Mona do Orio brand has died a sad and lonely death. WAAAHH! I’m partly to blame. It’s been a long while since I bought a bottle from them. They… Continue Reading

Oribe Cote d’Azur, Desertland and Valley of Flowers

  I am going to jump in here and briefly hijack this review to give you an update on the situation here in Los Angeles. The fires are not out yet, but the situation is far better than it was… Continue Reading

Dior J’Adore, D’Eau, L’Or — Theme and Variations

This tale begins in our local library’s main branch – a building I love that’s right downtown off the Plaza. It smells like books and newsprint and is a spacious, quiet place to read, to warm up (or use the… Continue Reading

Ffern Winter 25

We had a number of days of ‘real’ winter last week – ie, very cold, and it even tried to snow. A good time to be testing the new-to-me concept brand Ffern. And we’ll get to that. First, though, a… Continue Reading

Happy Surprises of 2024

Hey Posse! Welcome to the future. We are now fully in 2025 but let’s please look back at some Happy Surprises of 2024. Most years I try and get to a Best Of but last year found me overwhelmed by… Continue Reading

Quiet Good Taste: Caswell Massey Number Six, Newport, and Gardenia

Caswell Massey is one of those venerable purveyors that somehow always manage to fly under my radar. Of course I’ve heard of them and have even run across them in other people’s bathrooms but my shaving needs are rather prosaic-… Continue Reading