Sweet oranges out of the bottle, with a bundle of lavender that hovers inside personal space for fifteen minutes.
Then, almost suddenly, the coffee hits, like it was spilled onto the skin, and it’s marvelous–supported by gruff spices and leather, almost grumpy, in a normally-nice boss arriving to work late way.
(How can a scent seem both surly and comforting at the same time?)

Lasts an hour or two, a little longer on cuffs.

The guy usually fusses when I wear men’s cologne, but this one he likes.

*

A new one by a master. Both surly and comforting and so, so, good.