Beyond Paradise - Mens Green Aquatic Scent

The 3.4 oz. bottle is one of the most mesmerizing I've seen. A curved glass design, which if it were all chrome would make me think of a sleek flask. The colored glass begins at the top in tones of turquoise fading to ultramarine blue and ends on a base that glints with a subtle ruby tone. The bottle designer did a bang up job of invoking a look of tropical depths of water & endless horizons.

Fragrance Profile
Name: Beyond Paradise for Men
Aromas: Green Aquatic, Pineapple
Cost: $$
Perfume Line: Estee Lauder
Creator: Calice Asancheyev-Becker 

Beyond Paradise for Men was launched in 2004 by Estee Lauder. The perfumer that dreamed up this tropical escape is Calice Asancheyev-Becker. This scent has some similarities to the 1997 scent What About Adam created by Calice for the perfume house Joop! But this one is so much better. It's a clean aquatic aroma with some awesome fruit and florals blended in. I'd tag it as a green aquatic. Around the aquatic base I gets hints of pineapple & fruit. Which makes me a very happy man. 

I find myself sniffing my wrists and getting a big grin when wearing this. Certainly a beachy Summer scent that's aptly named. 

While it is classified as an aquatic, it hasn't gone overboard (pun intended) with the sillage or saltiness. Not at all like the in-your-face famed aquatic cologne Aqua Di Gio.

The price point is good for Beyond Paradise too. A 3.4 oz. bottle can be found for around $50.  

I am thinking I need to check out some more of perfumer Calice's work. I see that of late she's been doing work with By Killian.

If You Like This Scent, Try These Too:

• Set Sail South Seas by Tommy Bahama, a simple recipe of three ingredients- Mandarin, Violet, and Rum. I always get people at the beach asking me what I am wearing.
• Eau de Rem by Reminiscence, a beach scent, with hints of vanilla, rosemary and bergamont.

Today I Smell... Lilac

The smell on the breath of the air coming through the screened window...
Brings to mind the aroma Flowers For Men: Lilac by Neil Morris Fragrances with scent notes of lilac, musk, white hyacinth, leather, and cedar.

Snarky Perfume Reviews How I Love Thee

Love him or hate him, Luca Turin is gifted with a biting wit in his writing that makes me cringe and laugh out loud at the same time. I cringe because I'd hate to be the one on the receiving end of one of his critiques. I laugh because it's just great verbage. The intro to the book tells a lot about what type of writing can be expected in the following pages:

The question that women casually shopping for perfume ask more than any other is this:"What scent drives men wild?" After years of intense research, we know the definitive answer. It is bacon. Now, on to the far more interesting subject of perfume...

He delves into women's and men's fragrances; critiquing them alongside one another. 

Example from his book  where he gives a one star rank &jots a review of the Olsen Twin's perfume:

Cheap trashy fun with a fruity top and coconut-rum woody drydown, a nice effect that falls apart shortly after application. It's fine for a tween audience who doesn't know what "jasmine spice," the description on the box, would smell like.

Cedar Cologne Scent 06 Amanu by Odin New York

Ordered a sample of 06 Amanu solely because it won the Fifi award for best independent scent of 2011. I can see why it merits a whiff after having wore it around for a couple days. It's refined aroma includes notes of Green galbanum, Jasmin sambac, Magnolia, Cedarleaf, live moss, and sheer musk.

My nose translates the bulk of this as a cedar chest where you would place keepsakes. It's cozy.

I do have to take issue with it winning the Fifi award for an independent scent. The perfume house Odin doesn't really seem like it qualifies. How is this fragrance "independent" when it was created by a company that out sourced the creation of the scent?  Makes me think of the movies that are labeled "independent" that star Brad Pitt & Meryl Streep.

Blogger Nathan Branch asked some great questions of the term "independent" in regards to Odin & winning:

Difference Between Independent and Artisan So how “independent” is it really when you don’t own your own studio, use your own materials, produce your own product or are in charge of your own sales?
Because that sounds seriously “dependent” to me, and not necessarily a good position to be in when larger players in the industry decide they want to start buying up supply chains, locking down production facilities and using their influence to kick the competition from the shelf space.

If you like the scent of cedar, try these: 

• Ex Libris by perfume house Tokyo Milk. It's the cheaper cousin of 06 Amanu. It's not as refined, but then again it cost less and is similar. You decide.
• Incense Pure by Sonoma Scent Studio, it literally smells of smoldering cedar on your skin for hours. And is crafted by a truely independent perfumer.

9 Things Every Man's Man Ought To Have & Do

BOISE, ID--(Marketwire -03/29/12)-

The man's man -- a country man. That's how most people typically refer to Matt Moore. After all, his book "Have Her Over for Dinner; a gentleman's guide to classic, simple meals" taught men all across the country how to wow a lovely lady with a home cooked meal. However, Moore definitely knows a thing or two outside of the kitchen. A Nashville based country music singer/songwriter, and also the creator/owner of the popular gentlemen's cologne line, Moonshine, Moore is the quintessential Modern Man. The proud history and lineage of Double R. Ranch Co. embodies the independent, bold, and manly spirit of the man's man -- Moore, along with Double R. Ranch Co., is proud to offer up ten must-haves to help men everywhere become a Modern Man. 

Cast Iron skillet - Heavy, durable, and inexpensive -- cast iron skillets retain even heat while blackening, roasting, simmering, or sautéing. The best part? It lasts a lifetime. Your grandkids will fight over it when you're dead.

Go-to Steakhouse Recipe to Impress - Forget about splurging at the steakhouse. Be a man -- learn how to cook killer steaks at home. Purchase a quality cut of steak, such as Double R. Ranch Co.'s Steakhouse Filet. Hint: your meal will only be as good as your ingredients, so don't skimp on your beef. Heat your seasoned cast iron skillet over medium high heat until it's hot. Liberally season the filets on both sides with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. Next, sear the filets in the skillet for 3 - 4 minutes on each side (Don't touch it! Allow the meat to cook undisturbed to create a nice sear, i.e. flavor). For thicker cuts, place the steak into a preheated oven at 350 degrees to finish cooking -- until internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F for medium rare. Remove steaks from heat, place on a cutting board and tent with foil -- resting for 5 or so minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Serve.

Bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon - Bold, rich flavors with lush fruit aromas and spice. A crowd pleasing bottle of wine pairs perfectly with a quality steak -- and of course, that intriguing brunette on your arm.

Firm handshake - A man is only as good as his words. A man's words are built on trust. Trust is earned with a firm handshake and a square look in the eye.

Dark sports coat - Casual with a pair of dark jeans, or dressed up with a pair of slacks -- every man should keep a well-tailored, pressed sports coat on hand to arrive fashionably at any occasion.

Pocketknife - You'll never know how bad you needed one of these things until you start carrying one every day. From opening letters, to 'trimming' the fat -- a dependable pocketknife is the real men's 'accessory.'

Cologne - Smell like a man. Find a scent that avoids celebrity endorsements or frail models to push sales. Instead, stick with woodsy notes of musk, spice, and leather to make your inherent manliness smell even better.