brand spotlight: olivina men grooming and home assortment.

latey, i've had a lot of guys shoot me questions about my grooming routine, so i'm trying to really start incorporating more of this content to help keep you guys in the loop about what i'm trying out. with that said, i recently came across a new brand called olivina, and they sent me a decked-out goodie bag with a variety of pieces from their assortment. check it out. -j

i want to start by saying that i really appreciate the mission of the brand. they're all about giving our bodies more of what it deserves, and they even focus on the obvious but often under-appreciated fact that our bodies are one of the few constant things that remain with us from day one to the end of this race called life. furthermore, everything's eco-friendly and vegan-formulated, meaning it's not only good for your body, but the planet too (which is obviously a major plus in today's world).

now, for the actual products, they've got a wide range of grooming essentials, including moisturizers, soaps, shaving creams, deodorants, and colognes (just to name a few)—plus, their candles are an added bonus. inspired by the wood-aging traditions of American distilleries, their primary scents include ginger beer, bourbon cedar, and juniper tonic. sounds pretty sweet, right? well, let's see...

bourbon cedar cologne.

reminiscent of an old school cartier fragrance, the scent is super masculine. the citrusy top notes weren't my favorite, but as it dries down, it breaks out into a woodsier smell that's smooth and nice. perhaps not your everyday city-dweller scent, but definitely a decent choice for these wintry weekends.

soap bars.
scents: bourbon cedar, juniper tonic, ginger beer.

well... they're bars of soap. not that much that needs to be said here, but i will call out two things: (1) they lather really well, which is always an important thing for me when it comes to body wash products, and (2) they smell really good. i think ginger beer is probably my favorite here.

natural fragrance candles.
scents: juniper tonic, ginger beer.

as soon as you light these two, you get the instant feel of a relaxed weekend. juniper tonic has slightly more of a pine feel to it (obviously), but they both have a smooth sweetness that's reminiscent of the drinks they're inspired by. needless to say, they're pretty nice for a laidback evening at home.

restorative hand rescue.

it was a little hard to get it out of the container, but it smells really good (the scent is cedar and bergamot—one of my favorite fragrances of the bunch) and the oils make application super smooth.

bourbon vanilla lip balm.

unlike the hand rescue, this one's less smooth and not the most moisturizing, but that flavor... it tastes like breakfast. :)

face scrub.
scent: bourbon cedar.

this product does exactly what it says it's going to do. the ingredients come together to create a really deep scrub that leaves your face feeling pretty fresh. definitely one of the toughest scrubs i've ever used.

if you want to try out the line, i'd definitely suggest the soap bars and face scrubs. you can get your hands on anything you're interested in above or check out more of the assortment—they also have shaving products, deodorants, and more—by visiting olivinamen.com. be sure to let me know what you get.

seasons greetings, from brooklyn.

i’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again: fall is absolutely my favorite time of the year, so i always do a little something something to my apartment to make it feel a bit more seasonal. last weekend, i set some time aside to pull out a couple of cozy decor items, move a few other things around, and get rid of even more—and you know what? sometimes a little effort really does go a long way. check out three of my decorating hacks below and try them out for yourself. -j

on display.

fun fact: a number of areas in my apartment are inspired by cool stores that i’ve either shopped in myself or added to my Pinterest boards over the years. one of the key examples of this inspiration is my shoe wall, and while it wasn’t a big change, i swapped out a few of the styles on display to add more of a fall-appropriate color scheme to the space. whether it’s shoes, books, or artwork, you can totally change the feel of your spot with a little palette play.

scented stimulation

if there’s one fragrance family that i’m obsessed with, it’d have to be the maison martin margiela replica collection. and while you’ve probably seen me post a few of the sprays on my ‘gram, i’m taking things up a notch this season. i was lucky enough to score three of the candles—the scents: jazz club, at the barber’s, and, my favorite, by the fireplace—and i was beyond excited to light them for the first time. trust me, invest in a luxury candle or two and you (and your roomies) definitely won’t regret it.

cozy feels.

ever since i was in college, my clothing has always doubled as decor. there are just some pieces that i fall for so hard that i can’t bear to stow them away in a closet or shelf. with that idea in mind, i pulled out a few of the cozier items in my wardrobe and either draped them over a chair or door, or hung them up on the wall or a rack to add some fitting textures that really speak to the season.

the scents of fall.

for those of you who haven't known me very long, my first job out of college was on the fragrances buying team at macys.com. it really changed the way I've come to appreciate smell—next to taste, it's the sense best-suited for luxury pleasures. 

since those days, I've built up quite the fragrance collection (I probably have at least 40 different scents in my apartment). with fall finally here, it's time for that new season switch-up, and I sifted through my bottles to pick out my go-to's for the months ahead. check them out.

DOLCE&GABBANA INTENSO eau de parfum, 125mL $89

fortitude from robert graham's blended essences collection, 100mL $125 

nuit d'issey eau de parfum, 125mL $100

when it comes to fall/winter fragrances, I always keep a few things in mind:

• during the summer months, the heat can make stronger scents feel heavy and nauseating. now that it's cooler, your fragrance can bring a sense of warmth to the crisper air that you'll enjoy throughout the day. with that said, eau de parfums are often my choice, as they're more robust and last longer.
• think about what the season's all about. fall brings about visions of falling leaves and walks in the park. winter reminds us of pine trees, cinnamon, mint, even chocolate and vanilla. as you go through the next six months, look for woodsy notes or essences of seasonal fruits and spices that will give your scent a timely feel.

the 3 fragrances above give all that and more. they're deep and sensual, boasting earthy, masculine notes like tobacco, patchouli, tonka bean, and sandalwood. whatever you like, whether it's sweet, spicy or citrusy, stick with your preferences, but look for an "intense" or "extreme" version of your faves—they're usually the eau de parfum or parfum versions, which means they're stronger and great for the colder months.

it doesn't stop with your cologne. my apartment's currently filled with fall vibes thanks to a few select candles—and no, you don't have to ball out on jo malone to set the perfect ambiance.

Chesapeake Bay Snuggly Sweater candle, 11.5oz $5.99

Chesapeake Bay Caramel Latte candle, 11.5oz $5.99

whether you're a fan of entertaining or just plan on chilling at the crib this season, your home should always smell good. always. and FYI: this tip is honestly for you more than your guests.

I got these candles from target last week and, with one in my living room and the other in my bedroom, they've had my nostrils in heaven ever since.