Summer scent-sibility

One of the challenges for most fragrance companies is how to turn a successful formula (or signature scent) into something that looks and feels innovative and new, even when the fragrance is practically the same one that flew off the shelves, or one that is developed with a specific promotional time period or theme as its selling point. Thanks to the creativity of these companies, and the equity that several upscale brands possess, the consumer market can only benefit as these fragrance makers try and “own” our hearts, minds... and noses!

The Bulgari Jewel Charms Collection is luxury made pocket size, something that easily fits even into the evening bags of the ladies that have to step out during these balmy summer nights. It’s playful elegance with seven miniature pieces inspired by the cabochon cut of Bulgari jewelry, with an eclectic mix of colors. Engraved with the familiar Bulgari logo, the golden and silver caps play against the colored glass that clue us in on what scent is found within the “charm.” Bright yellow means Pour Femme, deep black is Jasmin Noir, the pale pink is the Rose Essentialle, light blue means you have the BLV Eau de Parfum 2, the Omnia line is represented via opal crystal for Omnia Crystalline, violet for Omnia Amethyste,and green for Omnia Green Jade. Thanks to this daring move, the ladies’ fragrances of Bulgari have transformed into a “collecting game”!

Just in time for the scorching months of summer, Davidoff introduces its Summer Dive Limited Edition for Men and Women. I was struck by the thought put into the bottle design, where the blue of the sky and the green of the ocean are broken by a blurry white horizon light — very much like a typical tropical shoreline. The Summer Dive Man is lemon peel with mandarin and grapefruit as top notes, with a heart and base that consists of basil, sage and juniper — a fruity/woody combination that’s a fresh, light winner! As for the Summer Dive Woman, it’s melon and pineapple with mint leaves at its head, with water violet and lotus flower at its heart and bottom notes of soft iris and woods — floral/fruity with a subtlety and elegance that’s typical Davidoff.

D.C. spells

The common thread running through these three novels is Washington DC as a backdrop for the action that ensues. Whether it’s conspiracy theorizing, what passes as espionage nowadays, or a Roman a clef that dwells on the upcoming 2012 Presidential elections, the city looms large, and forms part of the spell that is cast.

The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer (available at National Bookstore): Beecher works in the National Archives in the capital; he’s the kind of employee who would accost the President if he thought the President was trying to take out something from the building. An old flame, Clementine, visits him at work and wheels are set in motion as she’s an “orphan” whose biodad just happens to reside in a nearby mental asylum, thanks to an assassination attempt on a previous President, and having murdered that President’s First Lady. Against this background is the notion of circles within circles and conspiracies that operate to advise the President. Action driven, and yet cerebral in concept, the novel works, providing hard-edged suspense.

Washington DC figures prominently in these three novels. Photo by BUTCHIE PENA

Agent X by Noah Boyd (available at National Bookstore): The author is a former FBI agent who has worked on and solved some of the toughest investigations of the last 20 years. His hero here is one Steve Vail, an outlaw type agent who’s more than ready to turn a blind eye to agency protocol. Kate is an assistant director, and along with Steve, we’re led through a gripping cat-and-mouse game with Russians and Lithuianians living in the US. Strong on the procedural aspect, the book is an exacting snapshot of how espionage operates in this post-Cold War era — where activities may be mob-related, have to do with money-laundering, and where stakes are still high and the cost of lives is meaningless.

O by Anonymous (available at National Bookstore): If one wanted a crystal ball and wanted to look into the 2012 US elections, and see how the current President would fare, one could just save on the cost of the ball and pick up this speculative “novel.” While it is written in a rather dry tone, the purported insider stuff does make that future campaign come to life. While much is made of who the Republican candidate would be, and yes, Sarah Palin does fall by the wayside, the real gist of the book’s strength comes in the form of how it picks apart Obama’s assets, weaknesses, frustrations and failings, and how those all impact on his prospects come 2012. Flawed as a novel, but still eminently readable.