It has been a nice few days around the boards as it looks like everyone has settled into the dog days of summer and were all finding our smiles. Speaking of dog days.
It was a red letter day at Stately Somerville Manor yesterday as we took the Wild Poodles of Somerville to Harvard. Rocco and Georgie were admitted to Harvards Canine Cognition Lab and tested yesterday. Rocco went first and performed like the champion mooch that he is. He first charmed our testers Britney and Sophia with the sit and lift my paw and look adorable trick. Then he was tested on whether he could find a treat that was hidden and lift a lid and get said treat. I knew our little food-driven counter cruiser would do well and he did. Georgie was next and while he also charmed the testers with his slightly nervous off-kilter charm it didnt make for good testing as Georgie wasnt focused on the treat and instead was looking at everything else. After numerous tries we all realized he just didnt care. So Rocco graduated magna cum bark and Georgie was hanging out in Harvard Sq. saying I am NOT a performing poodle!. They both got certificates saying theyve been to Harvard. Were such proud parents.
Today I wanted something to go with the rainy day and Im wearing one of my favorite rainy day scents because it always seems to blossom when the air is saturated.
Aramis 900
Aramis is one of those Houses that it took me a while to explore. One of the main reasons was that the original Aramis was associated with guys who wore too much cologne as I spent many nights choking on some would-be players cologne trail and it would invariably be Aramis. Flash-forward to a couple of years ago and I cautiously try Aramis Tuscany and say not bad. I follow this up with a sniff of JHL. Then the SA goes you should try this one its by the same person who designed Aramis. Immediately Im like no chance, but it was too late, because like a trained sniper shed sprayed the back of my hand. When I pulled it cautiously to my nose I was met with this overwhelmingly strong opening that made me think Bleahh but I gave it a moment and this became the scent that really turned my opinion of Aramis the House around. The scent on the back of my hand was the 1973 creation of Bernard Chant, Aramis 900. The opening of 900 is very strong and pushes right to the edge of what indoles can create. When indoles are used in too high a concentration they can come off smelling fecal but as they mellow they open up a wonderful deep green quality to a scent. From the first spray of 900 it comes off just to the wrong side of fecal but it thankfully lasts mere minutes and the deep green character comes through along with a bergamot that gives it a little sparkle. The depth of this green never really lets go and it is joined by a rosewood note which adds a little of both parts of that compound word as I get a little rose and a little wood to balance the green. The base is all chypre as oakmoss, vetiver and patchouli close 900 in standard style. Aramis 900 says on the bottle that it is an herbal eau de cologne and for a pyramid which contains no herbs it does come off as exactly what its labeled as. Unlike Aramis, 900 does not leave a trail of choking admirers in its wake. It is fairly close-wearing for a cologne with the heft it displays. Thankfully, 900 was the scent which has allowed me to put aside the bad memories of my youth and make new friends with an old House.
Have a Fierce Friday everyone.
It was a red letter day at Stately Somerville Manor yesterday as we took the Wild Poodles of Somerville to Harvard. Rocco and Georgie were admitted to Harvards Canine Cognition Lab and tested yesterday. Rocco went first and performed like the champion mooch that he is. He first charmed our testers Britney and Sophia with the sit and lift my paw and look adorable trick. Then he was tested on whether he could find a treat that was hidden and lift a lid and get said treat. I knew our little food-driven counter cruiser would do well and he did. Georgie was next and while he also charmed the testers with his slightly nervous off-kilter charm it didnt make for good testing as Georgie wasnt focused on the treat and instead was looking at everything else. After numerous tries we all realized he just didnt care. So Rocco graduated magna cum bark and Georgie was hanging out in Harvard Sq. saying I am NOT a performing poodle!. They both got certificates saying theyve been to Harvard. Were such proud parents.
Today I wanted something to go with the rainy day and Im wearing one of my favorite rainy day scents because it always seems to blossom when the air is saturated.
Aramis 900
Aramis is one of those Houses that it took me a while to explore. One of the main reasons was that the original Aramis was associated with guys who wore too much cologne as I spent many nights choking on some would-be players cologne trail and it would invariably be Aramis. Flash-forward to a couple of years ago and I cautiously try Aramis Tuscany and say not bad. I follow this up with a sniff of JHL. Then the SA goes you should try this one its by the same person who designed Aramis. Immediately Im like no chance, but it was too late, because like a trained sniper shed sprayed the back of my hand. When I pulled it cautiously to my nose I was met with this overwhelmingly strong opening that made me think Bleahh but I gave it a moment and this became the scent that really turned my opinion of Aramis the House around. The scent on the back of my hand was the 1973 creation of Bernard Chant, Aramis 900. The opening of 900 is very strong and pushes right to the edge of what indoles can create. When indoles are used in too high a concentration they can come off smelling fecal but as they mellow they open up a wonderful deep green quality to a scent. From the first spray of 900 it comes off just to the wrong side of fecal but it thankfully lasts mere minutes and the deep green character comes through along with a bergamot that gives it a little sparkle. The depth of this green never really lets go and it is joined by a rosewood note which adds a little of both parts of that compound word as I get a little rose and a little wood to balance the green. The base is all chypre as oakmoss, vetiver and patchouli close 900 in standard style. Aramis 900 says on the bottle that it is an herbal eau de cologne and for a pyramid which contains no herbs it does come off as exactly what its labeled as. Unlike Aramis, 900 does not leave a trail of choking admirers in its wake. It is fairly close-wearing for a cologne with the heft it displays. Thankfully, 900 was the scent which has allowed me to put aside the bad memories of my youth and make new friends with an old House.
Have a Fierce Friday everyone.
Even for small rural towns in this part of the country, it was a bizarre sight. The chicken was running from a convenience store on the north side of the highway to a convenience store on the south side of the highway, so I guess the punchline is: "Because the gas was cheaper on the other side." I had just gotten off the phone with ubu, but I called her right back to tell her what had happened.
