FRAGRANCE | Take me to church with La Liturgie des Heures by Jovoy Paris

Got this one as another blind buy from a fellow fraghead, my first from the house of Jovoy Paris. The name alone intrigued me, which translates to "The Liturgy of the Hours," which, in the Catholic Church, refers to the official set of prayers marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer [Wikipedia]. Wow, something holy, I thought. And right off the bat La Liturgie des Heures EDP conjures up images of churches, monasteries, and such.

Predictably, incense is the star and is there from beginning unto the very end. It's not the burning type of incense but rather resinous, bright, and even fresh, if that makes sense at all. There's a soothing coolness to it, marked by refreshing coniferous notes with some floral and fruity touches. Meanwhile, a faint, smoky accord sits far in the background, hardly noticeable. I only smell it when I put my nose closer to where I sprayed. It's lovely.

Liturgie is fairly linear. Other than the smokiness advancing a few pews towards the front in the drydown, the fragrance hardly ever develops on my skin. Personally I don't mind, in this case at least. Projection is moderate but it easily softens after an hour or two. Longevity, on the other hand, is moderate for me that sometimes I feel like I can't smell it anymore in the afternoon. Touch-ups may be necessary.

Packaging-wise, I find the bottle sturdy and straightforward but not very grip-friendly, as it favors width over height. But then that's Jovoy Paris's identity. Besides, it's the juice that really matters, right?

Without a doubt, La Liturgie des Heures is not for everyone because while some may appreciate a scent that reminds them of a church or some religious site, they may not actually want to smell like one. It just happens to work for me, even with its average performance. I must make it clear, however, that it does not wash your sins away and make you holy but I'm happy to say that it doesn't burn the skin of the unholy either. I mean, I'm still fine, thank you.

FRAGRANCE | Jaipur Homme EDP by Boucheron: A surprisingly spiced-up powdery fresh delight

Jaipur. India. Spices come to mind. I was expecting an eclectic mix of them, which could either turn me off or blow me away completely. Even its gorgeous bottle--everything from its shape to its gold and royal blue cap--is evocative of India. Yet somehow, Boucheron's Jaipur Homme EDP is surprisingly light and powdery. It's as if the fragrance belies its name.

FRAGRANCE | Comforting "strangeness" in Baptême du Feu by Serge Lutens

Yes, Christmas was over a month ago and we're probably all back to our old slaving selves by now. Yet it's what came to mind when I first sprayed Baptême du Feu by Serge Lutens. Gingerbread cookies. The warmth and comfort of it. Never mind that gingerbread cookies are typically absent in Filipino Christmas celebrations. I'm just reminded of Christmas, that's all.

LOOKBOOK | Suit and sneakers

Meow.

The confidence of a suit with the comfort of a pair of sneakers. And that's basically what this look is all about. I also didn't wear a collared shirt and in its stead is a white pullover. Talk about maxing out the casual factor in this one.

FRAGRANCE | Halston Z-14 Cologne: A tame, good o'l 70s classic

While I'm steadily intrigued with each new fragrance I come across with--on the internet or at stores--I'm also sort of exploring older creations. I don't care if people say they're dated or what, as long as I find them interesting. One such find is Halston Z-14 Cologne, which I saw from a local eBay seller. I looked it up and after some thought, bought it.

LOOKBOOK | Cargo pants can work, too

Probably one of fashion's most derided pieces are cargo pants, of which we almost immediately associate with ugly and baggy trousers which multitude of pockets are bulging with anything conceivable stuffed in them.

FRAGRANCE | Has anything been deconstructed with Yohji Yamamoto's Deconstruction EDP?

Deconstruction by Yohji Yamamoto.

This is my first from this house, a blind buy from a fellow fraghead. Deconstruction EDP is one of six 2018 releases from Yohji Yamamoto new "Yohji" line. It's a collection that supposedly represents key values of the avant garde designer himself.

LOOKBOOK | Tropical Christmas

I know, how odd, right? When we say Christmas we most certainly think of snow and pine trees and all that. Yet here I am in full tropical gear--tropical print shirt, linen shorts, and boat shoes. And what a major mismatch with the backdrop! Haha!

DINING | Felix Restaurant: A little inconsistent but overall still good

Inside Felix Restaurant at Greenbelt 5.

Felix Restaurant is a casual dining restaurant at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City. Been here a few times and here's a roundup of my experiences so far.

Interiors and ambiance
Four plain, circular chandeliers hang from the restaurant's high ceiling, providing warm, ambient light to the space. The walls are painted white, with some dark brown accents. This color scheme seamlessly extends throughout the cushioned wooden chairs and marble-top tables, interrupted only by the bright blue couch-style seating lining up its walls. Nice touch actually.

LOOKBOOK | Not Monday blues but Monday browns and grays

I don't know why blue is associated with sadness when it's such a beautiful and happy color. I mean, think of blue skies and the ocean. I think gray communicates gloom much better, all the more when you throw in some brown to reflect the color of death. In plants, that is.

But why all this despondency? Because it's Monday!