If you haven’t tried anything from Darren Alan yet, he’s an independent perfumer who does an incredible job of creating fragrances that feel like an actual place instead of just a collection of notes. Today’s wear was Big Island, and it really lives up to the name. It opens with juicy guava and lychee, but this isn’t a sunscreen or beach vacation scent. It smells like you’re walking through lush tropical vegetation with the ocean nearby and volcanic landscapes surrounding you. It’s fresh, vibrant, and incredibly well done. Notes: Guava, Lychee, Plumeria, Wild Orchid, Ocean Breeze, Volcanic Earth, Hawaiian Honey. One thing to know is that Big Island is a limited Perfume of the Month release for July 2026. Once this batch sells out, it’s gone. If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d recommend picking it up sooner rather than later.

Today's SOTD is a fragrance I'm debating on making my signature scent. I recently ran out of Polo 67 EDP, and I decided to smell this scent out of curiosity at Ulta Beauty. What do you guys think of this one? I'm considering buying it. I'm not used to the scent but this is the second time I've given it a second shot on my skin. There's a nice 'iced mango' opening but it then dries down to a woody layer that smells a little aquatic through my nose despite the lack of such notes. Year rounder, but notably suitable for spring/summer. It's unique for not having any flankers but I got the impression from other people that the fragrance is signature scent worthy, and for people who were introduced to it years ago in 2005 and still wear it now, my impression is that it's also a timeless scent. My impression, is that it's a more suitable scent to wear as I get old (I'm in my early 30s), as Polo 67 EDT/EDP/EDP Extreme are a product of the trend of sweet fragrances that have taken over the market right now; is it weird that I feel too old wearing Polo 67? A question I've been thinking about lately. Performance is around 5-6 hours, but some people's skins indicate that it lasted up to 6-8 hours. The fragrance has been reformulated but it's reported there isn't much of a difference. In any case, 4.2 oz / 125 ml bottles of Polo Black is on sale at JOMASHOP for $46.54, down from $116 retail. Since I worked A LOT of overtime for this paycheck I'll be buying myself a bottle. https://www.jomashop.com/ralph-lauren-pokmts42.html

With the heat wave continuing here in Denver, I decided to try out a sample of Buongiorno by Acqua di Parma— a brand known for its exceptional hot-weather scents. From the moment I spritzed it on, the opening was a breath of fresh air. A vibrant, uplifting mint greets you, and it’s important to clarify that this isn’t the harsh mint associated with toothpaste. Instead, it’s akin to the minty freshness of a freshly crafted mojito. Coupled with this mint is a prominent citrus aroma that adds an extra layer of brightness to the fragrance. I genuinely love the opening; it reminds me of Torino 21 with its minty introduction, although I find Buongiorno’s version to be even more natural. After about five minutes, subtle green notes start to emerge, maintaining the overall freshness. About half an hour in, the scent evolves—the green aspect remains, but there's a hint of musk that develops beautifully. In terms of performance, I found that Buongiorno projects nicely for the first two hours. After that, the fragrance settles much closer to the skin and lingers just over four hours on me. Overall, Buongiorno offers a more natural scent profile compared to Torino 21, albeit with slightly less longevity. Having only sampled Torino 21, I remember it delivering over six hours of wear, which is surpassing Buongiorno's four hours. If you’re on the hunt for a good deal, Jomashop has a full 100 ml tester bottle of Buongiorno for around $50, which I consider a fantastic value. If I hadn’t already ordered a bottle of Torino 21 before trying this sample, I would definitely have considered Buongiorno for my collection. In conclusion, Buongiorno is a delightful, refreshing fragrance perfect for hot weather, offering great scent appeal at an attractive price point.