The Return of Summer

Well, summer dropped back into Southern California for a special visit.  It was 96 yesterday in the Hills of Beverly and it's supposed to be about the same today.  So much for finishing that review of the blood-type fragrance, today was all about the pursuit of Air Conditioning and summery scents. The one that I grabbed for on my way out the door yesterday was Annick Goutal's oft overlooked Eau de Sud, Hadrien's younger, brasher brother.  I love Hadrien, but in serious heat it tends to take to it's boudoir fanning itself.   The one I think I'm grabbing today is another Hadrien cousin, Les Nuits d'Hadrien.  This adds a little oomph onto the blameless citrus with juniper and a touch of spice that won't die out waiting for the bus. Of course, I could bring out the big guns: Uncle Serge's Gris Clair has an opening lavender that's chillier than a trip to a meat locker. In the interest of sucking up some AC I stopped into Nordstrom on my way home and found what might be a new like, if not a total love: J B Eau de Parfum by Jack Black.  I'll refer you to their website for the list of notes, since I can't say that I was discerning them well individually (I only did one spritz on my wrist while dawdling in the men's department.  It's a perfect scent for a line devoted to mens grooming: it smells sort of familiar to anyone who has ever been to a barbershop, but modern enough that it's not going to make you think of grandpa.  Well done, Mr. Black. J B is $70 for 3.4 ounces, practically everywhere.  I sampled at Nordstrom.  The others were from my own collection and are old enough that they may not reflect what is being sold under that name these days... Image: Painting Summer Heat by Mark Bowles.  Love his work..