When I started The Scented Summit a year ago, I meant for it to be a creative outlet for myself. However, it fell by the wayside to help others. I was only able to cover a few scents, and it felt like a waste of potential. I didn’t give my own site the credit it deserves.

Going forward, I am working on several projects, but I will also be working on this site as well. This is my own personal brand and it deserves more love from me, so you will start seeing more posts pop up on here.

I have ultimately decided to rebrand my blog. I recently turned 40, and I have been thinking about my life as a whole. I forced myself to “grow up”. I sanitized myself and wrote professionally. I checked all of the boxes. I reviewed many indie and niche brands without so much as a thank you. I am obviously not referring to all of the brands I covered, but many I purchased with my own money and reviewed them only to hear crickets.

Along with that, I wanted to get into the artistic crowd. I wanted to fit in, but the truth isn’t so tangible. I don’t fit in and I never have. To me, this is not a bad thing, but something that is liberating. It means I am free to do as I would like without worrying about how I add up to others.

Along with growing up, I fell into the trap of stealing my own joy. I felt like I had to get rid of the things that made me happy to “act my age”. It’s a fruitless pursuit that left me empty at the end of the day. I was not myself, and it showed. That spark was dimming, and I wasn’t aware of it until recently.

So, with all of that said, I will be shifting my focus to what I actually love to wear. You will see a lot of fresh scents going forward…aquatics, citruses, salt-washed woods, and tropical scents. When I was younger, this is what brought me joy, and they still do.

Growing up in the late 1990s and early 2000s gave me a special love for Hollister and its coastal vibe. From its surf shack stores to its loud rock music, it holds a special place in my heart. Sadly, they rebranded and most of that image has been gutted for a more sanitized look. I can’t help but think of the irony of me forgetting what forged me as well. My goal is to revive that coastal prep and grunge surfer style through scent.

Nautica, Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle (yes, I know), and Structure defined my youth and tastes, and I want to get back to that. Tommy for Men, Cool Water. Hollister SoCal, Hollister Jake, and many others started my love affraid with scents, and that love still lingers. I seek to reignite that torch and carry it on.

Some people may call it a mid-life crisis, but I call it going back to who I really am. The happy, laid back dude that just wanted to chill on the beach with some good friends while listening to the call of the gulls and the rush of waves has always been there.

The Scented Summit is the crest of a wave, both beautiful and ready to wash your worries away. It’s always summer around here. Kick back and enjoy the ride.