halfwhiteboy

Smoking Hot by Kilian is yet another gorgeously crafted fragrance from the house. While I miss the elaborate presentations of yore (think Black Phantom 's hefty and lacquered skull coffret), I do appreciate how the brand's current packaging occupies much less storage space because it's so thin.

Brought this out since we’ve been experiencing intermittent rains. Because of the word “fumée,” I was expecting something really smoky from Serge Lutens Écrin de Fumée . Well, simply put, I don’t get much smoke. It’s far from the deep and delicious smokiness of Clive Christian E Gourmande Oriental , let alone the photorealistic campfire vibe of Atelier des Ors Bois Sikar . But what is the scent then? Écrin de Fumée is characterized by a sweet, boozy tobacco, with a hint of bitter cocoa underneath. The sweetness is not fruity, nor is it vanillic, caramel-like, or resinous but rather, it’s syrupy. It carries some thickness to it but thankfully not too much. The sweetness provides an overarching layer to the scent that tempers any untoward sharpness. Compared to Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club —which can be too loud and sharp—Écrin appears more balanced and rounded. However, it borders on being a little too sweet, especially when it’s hot and humid. ...

With its playfully designed appliqués, this shirt is a joy to wear. Styling it is no problem, as it can go with practically anything, from jeans for a casual urban look, to shorts or perhaps linen pants for something more resort-like. In my case, since I wore it to the office on a normal workday, I paired it with charcoal gray office pants and leather monkstraps.

It’s been a long while since I last posted about a fragrance, which is a shame, as I have quite a number that I wish to share. I guess I’ve been both busy and lazy but no matter, here’s one now: Batuk Parfum by Wren Atelier . We got this bottle, along with a couple more, late last year, at the time when the house released new (and a few old) fragrances in their redesigned bottles and packaging (which for me more appropriately affords the brand that prestige it so rightfully deserves). My wife and I have both used it a few times before we were overrun with other more recent purchases. But thanks to our annual Buwan ng Wika paandar at the office, I was reminded of this beauty and so, pulled it out of hiding.

Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) celebrations are one of my favorite occasions to dress up. While most celebrations are confined to schools, I’m glad that our department has made it an annual tradition at the office. Two years ago, I wore a batik blazer for a Mindanao-inspired look but for the most part since 2017, I’ve been wearing a Barong Tagalog —the same Barong actually—just styled in a different way each time. This year, it’s a Barong once again, albeit a new one.

I know, I just couldn't resist their cute little tails and butts. I mean, I see these animatronic polar bear Christmas displays at the mall every single year but my fondness for them has never waned.