Today I reached for Santal from Floris London. It’s warm and sunny here in Greenvale this morning, with the weather expected to turn a little heavier later in the day, so I wanted something that could comfortably move with the day. Fresh enough for August. But with a little more depth behind it. Santal does that beautifully. It opens with bergamot, lemon, black pepper and cardamom, which gives it a bright, slightly spicy freshness right from the start. Then the lavender, clove and nutmeg begin to show themselves before everything settles into sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, frankincense, amber and musk. What I enjoy most is the balance. There is warmth here, but it doesn’t feel heavy. There is spice, but it isn’t aggressive. And the sandalwood gives it a smooth, polished character that feels very much in keeping with what I’ve come to appreciate about Floris as a house. There is also something I really enjoy about wearing a fragrance from a house with this much history. Santal itself takes inspiration from a Floris sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s, but it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing something old-fashioned. It feels classic. And I think there is an important difference between the two. More and more, that is what I find myself drawn to — things that have history, craftsmanship and tradition behind them, but still make complete sense in my life today. Floris Santal feels exactly like that. 😎

Good morning gentlemen. Another one from the Crown shaving company. Yesterday was a signature blend today. Another cool cloudy day I went with this. It’s quite unique.