How to even follow up Benjoin Bohème...

It's been an absolute joy today. The way certain fragrances can instill such a serene state of calm within us is one of the great mysteries of perfume - a kind of magic I’ll never understand, and nor do I want to, so long as it never fades.

If any of you have tried the vintage version of Benjoin Bohème in the cracked-glass bottle, do let me know if your experience matches mine. It’s never loud, yet somehow maintains such a prolonged presence around me, and it’s truly eternal on the skin - outlasting pretty much every fragrance I’ve ever tried, including the likes of Nasomatto, Xerjoff, Nishane and Jovoy. (And this is a Diptyque!)

Perhaps I just got lucky with my skin chemistry, but I’ve just showered after spraying it 10 hours ago, and it never once stopped reminding me of its presence throughout the day. Even after thoroughly scrubbing my neck and forearm in the shower, I can still comfortably smell it around me. For such a gentle fragrance, I find that utterly staggering. And this was only three sprays. Ah, I could speak forever about how much I love it.

Anyway, a complete change of mood for tonight’s reading session. I wanted oud. Still far too hot to wear Falkar outside - although there’s a certain Imagination-esque fresh, musky quality in the base that would make it somewhat suitable for warmer weather - but chilling under the AC with a cuppa, my Kindle, and some bitter, leathery, clean oud? Perfect.

Night night, folks 🌙