Just what is rugged masculinity, where this new scent is concerned, is mostly answered by the new face, UK-born model Rory Marshall, who was also unveiled in the rather romantic, if not very intimate, gathering. A woman is always extremely receptive learning what else is her man made of besides his work. And so, in the 30-seconder TVC preview, one can’t help but say, “yum!” because watching Rory was very successful in putting, literally, a face, to the smell. This is one of those cases where, if a woman finds herself picking up after a guy’s smell, she would not be grossly disappointed to discover; although if it were me, this kind of man the “maginoo pero bastos” always makes the picture of Jude Law. On the one hand, Rory Marshall is just as perfect.

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Select members of the press were given a taste of what director Bruce Webber subjected Rory Marshall, while working on the advertising campaign in the hot deserts of San Luis Obispo, California. In the local version, the guests were challenged to try out wall-climbing, before being driven first class all the way in a convoy of Ford Explorers to the final destination—a beautifully-catered, intimate garden party at the bayside of Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Then, a local adventurer, who by the way did not need any introduction, was introduced anyway, being one of those inspirational men, who embody the essence of Polo Explorer—a fearless being out to see the real world, beyond the confines of comfort to the borders of the earth only very few people see. He shared many breathtaking photos from his trips around the country and seeing these makes one believe Filipinos will never really run out of beautiful places to visit, if only we cared to discover. Sure we don’t have a desert but the sweltering heat almost all year round should do it. Not that I care much for the humidity, but adventure always involves heat and sweat. Although, in this particular case, for women who are far less adventurous than I, I would say, “it’s the adventurer and not the adventure that counts!”

Verdict: Smells like the name itself. The fragrance is unobtrusive, like all perfectly blended scents should be. The linger is exciting to the senses, from the freshness of the bergamot and woody amber to that unmistakable kick created by leather. Something about it makes you want to hang around. As a present, the bottle itself is well-presented. Creatively contained in a canteen, as if branding it exclusively for adventurers. That’s just inspiration, because the scent is just beautiful; to be gender appropriate, handsome, but whatever it may be, when all words fail (for the sales people), the fresh fragrance like RL himself said, conjures “rugged masculinity,” and where I am concerned, the fragrance conjures a very much welcome disturbance, where the wearer must live up to his rudeness.

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Christmas has really arrived and the shopping season with all the discounts is literally marching towards us. I’ve recently received a mailer from Crabtree and Evelyn, which is doing its most-awaited Preview Day, offering 20 percent discount to all visitors and 30 percent to its VIP members, but only for this weekend, Friday, November 30 to December 2. This includes the coffrets and the Christmas bundles, so grab a member-friend now or email me.

My cousins and I used get a kick out of this special preview sale. We would volunteer to buy the sets but either break the collection apart to give away to everyone, or take them out of the fancy hatboxes and keep said hatboxes as our talent fees and do the gift-wrapping ourselves. The shop is actually generous with the gift wrappers, although we were told that was something they do only when asked. Oops, it’s out of the bag now!

All Crabtree and Evelyn shops usually participate, and ordinarily, there’s a nice premium available to early birds, usually me at about 11 am in Shangri-La. According to the mailer, this year, besting last year’s lacy polka-dotted umbrella, is a Body Mist from the Naturals Collections. Have a great shopping day then!

Email me at pasig_river@yahoo.com.