Penhaligon's Elixir (plus Bigfork!)

I knew the last leg of our trip would include time in a more casual and back to nature environment than what I get in Dallas on a daily basis, so I brought a test sample of Penhaligon's Elixir along for the ride, thinking it might be a good fit for the panorama of mountains, forests and lakes.

I was so right, it's almost scary.

After I sprayed some Elixir on this morning, I stepped outside and the opening bite of eucalyptus and mace merged seamlessly with the smell of cold, snowy pines in the air. The underlying mix of spices, incense/wood resins and deep florals added a welcome sense of warmth, and even a bit of exoticism, without going overboard about it.

I think what I appreciate most about Elixir is its sense of balance -- the potentially uber femme trio of rose, jasmine and vanilla are noticeable, yet they don't dominate the fragrance, leaving room for the for dryer/dustier notes of cinnamon, frankincense and cedar to assert themselves while buffing and smoothing any overbold and/or jagged edges into submission with a deft bundling of sandalwood, rosewood, guaic wood and tonka.

I suppose you could consider Elixir a masculine fragrance for all its spice and lumber, but it's so warm and beautifully balanced, with that quiet nudge of rose and jasmine at the center (not to mention the appealing dollop of vanilla in the base), that any female who makes a habit of raiding her husband's/boyfriend's/father's/brother's cologne collection could easily pass it off.

Kevin at Now Smell This says Elixir comes across like a man sweating in a steam room, but I've been that steamy, sweaty guy and I'm here to tell you that, left to my own devices, I only wish I could smell one-tenth this appealing.

WELCOME TO BIGFORK:

We took the car into Bigfork, Montana to clean off the twenty-five layers of grime and slush from the last leg of the trip. We succeeded in removing about eighteen.

Below are a few photos, though I'm not sure why I felt compelled to take the camera along on a car wash errand. Oh, right -- it's because I'm turning into an obsessive photo-taking nerd:

Putting the baby in the bath.

They have ways of making you talk.

Recharging the ray-gun.