The Squeeze: February
Tobacco, yuzu, and too much screen time.
Hey Stoners. I’m cheating. This month’s Squeeze is coming a few days past the end of the month for no good reason other than I’m still trying to get a hang of being a consistent publisher. As the years go by, I also notice my camera roll grows more boring and tiresome mostly filled with accidental screenshots of my browser tabs and home screen. I think there is a mutually beneficial relationship to be had in which my phone can act more like a logbook of images that remind me of good-but-small things worth sharing each month in this feature. Hopefully March’s Squeeze will include more of that in addition to being on time.
All that being said, the extra time has given me space to reflect on what made February feel special that I’d like to share in this post. Below I’ve included some of my recent scent, taste, and playtime obsessions that I hope you’ll enjoy.
Spritz, Spritz
I love the way in which scent can be an accessory, a part of one’s personal style identity, a “signature”. I think there is something so special about the intimacy I’ve shared with my wardrobe, gathering an intake of my day-old perfume lingering on collars. It’s a reminder of the good investments I’ve made in my fragrance choices and perhaps a way to rationalize going another wear without doing laundry.
Here is a breakdown of what mists I’ve been casting these last 4 weeks.
Something a little wicked
BLACK ANISE | Abel | $10-$249 CAD via Health Hut
Sample collections and vials are such a great way to get into fragrances. I went for this perfume in the 1mL tester and returned to Health Hut a month or two later to invest in the 15mL option. It’s an alluring, sultry scent that mellows out without losing its distinctive qualities.
Black Anise by Abel is tobacco forward with an unexpected kiss of cacao and blackcurrant. Both fruity, but uniquely sweet and floral in their own ways, they add a complexity to this scent that I can’t get enough of. It feels fully mature and realized, sexy but not provocative, and makes me want an espresso martini for some reason?
Notes (if you’re into that sort of thing):
Top: Star Anise
Mid: Cacao, Blackcurrant
Base: Tobacco
On the lighter side
BO | Liis | $216 CAD via Health Hut
I picked this perfume up in the summer and can honestly say, I have indeed received many compliments on it. In fact, when I tried it on in-store, they had already re-ordered the full size version twice because of its overwhelming popularity.
Bo by Liis is an unexpected melding of freshness and warmth. It opens with a slightly spicy burst of elemi and tobacco that deepens into an aromatic bouquet. As it dries, it gives off a sweet and woody finish that reminds me of sandalwood. The vanilla adds a frothy richness that acts almost like a fog over the opening notes and is especially noticeable on clothing several days later.
It’s not a particularly strong perfume and find it most noticeable on myself at unexpected moments or when embracing a friend. I would consider it more of a spring or summer fragrance and expect to be reaching for it often as the weather continues to turn.
Notes (if you’re into that sort of thing):
Top: Elemi, Tobacco Leaves
Mid: Redwood Pine, Incense
Base: Guaiac Wood, Cedar, Vanilla Beans
In your space
URBAN GARDEN | Vitruvi | $14 CAD via Health Hut
This room spray has singly handedly redeemed Lysol’s impression, which I think was left under bathroom sink cupboards 20 years ago. Like all of Vitruvi’s essential oil based products a little goes a long way. It’s a fresh squeeze of citrus and herbaceous basil. If you ask me, all it’s missing is a layer of green tomato leaf but delightful none the less.
Notes: Blood orange, basil
Between the sheets
TWILIGHT | Lush | $42 CAD via Lush
Part of Lush’s signature sleepytime themed scents, Twilight is technically a body spray that many brand loyalists recommend trying on bed linens in addition to its intended use. There is a sensual quality to this scent which comes from vanilla’s earthier cousin, tonka bean and slight spice of benzoin. Relaxing, yet sexy, everything a bed should be.
Notes: Lavender, ylang-ylang, tonka bean, benzoin
Lemon, but better
Yuzu is definitely having a moment. If you’re not intimately familiar with the internet’s “it” fruit, it’s shaped like an orange but yellow like a lemon with a refreshing, fragrant peel that is nearly floral. You’ve likely experienced it’s complexity in the common asian sauce known as Ponzu which is basically a citrus enhanced soy sauce that is popular in Japanese cuisine and makes excellent dipping sauce for tempura and other delicacies.
Here are some products to pick up whether you’re a seasoned, citrus connoisseur or a yuzu virgin.
Straight Up
YUZUCO | $17 - $82 USD
Let’s get right down to it. This is the pure, unadultered, yuzulicious goodness that is Yuzuco. They offer two core products at the moment: 100% pure yuzu juice and a concoction they call Yuzu Super Juice (an enhanced mixture containing added sugar and citric acid) which they recommend as an ingredient for marinades, dressings, and cocktails.
For my fellow Canadians, While there are a couple locations that offer Yuzuco on their shelves, it’s most easily found on Amazon for now(womp womp).
On Ice
YUZU MOCHI | Lotte via T&T Grocery Store | ~$8 CAD
The bright, tart flavour of yuzu works great in sweet applications. Virtually anything you imagine pairing well citrus will work with yuzu. So when I came across yuzu ice cream mochi at my local korean grocer, I had to snap it up. It does not disappoint! Lotte is my favourite brand for ice cream mochi that is widely available in asian grocers. It comes in packages of 9 pieces that are separated into breakable strips of 3 air sealed delicious, chewy morsels. I enjoy it as a sneaky treat to grab from the freezer when an ice cream craving hits.
Such a tea(se)
YUZU GINGER TEA | Surasang via Bokksu Market (US Only) | ~$8 CAD
This marmalade-like tea syrup will change your seasonal drink game. It works well in both hot and cold drink styles and can even be made at home if you’re feeling ambitious. A few tablespoons in a mug, stirred into boiling water is an excellent cold remedy or hot toddy base. I’ve also tried it in a cocktail shaker with ice and lemon, shaken and strained into a chilled glass and topped with sparkling water for the best lemonade-on-crack I’ve ever had.
For my Canadian friends, I found this at my local Korean grocer so I suspect you’ll be able to find it from similar retailers near you.
Daily Practice (not meditation)
When I decide to pay for an Apple Arcade subscription, I intend to use it. Mobile gaming has come a long way since your mom was first addicted to candy crush. In fact, it’s getting so sophisticated it’s become my sole video game indulgence as of late.
Here are two games of the cozy variety that have become a compulsive habit for me to play.
Hello, Kitty
HELLO KITTY ISLAND ADVENTURE | Apple
I got into Hello Kitty Island Adventure shortly after its release in the summer of 2023. It’s a semi-open world concept that follows your customizable avatar as they embark on quests to build friendships with the other Hello Kitty characters. It contains an evolving plot line about the island itself as well as daily missions, mini games, and so many other fun details.
The development team is dedicated, with new releases and fixes happening regularly including seasonal challenges where you can collect rare outfits, furniture, and host special friends from the Sanrio franchise. In February they featured both Valentine’s as well as a Lunar New Year event that were addictively cute. Overall the game is simple, but effective and perfect to fill any button smashing fixations you need to give into.
Gone to Tama Town
TAMAGOTCHI ADVENTURE KINGDOM | Apple
Another open world, task master style game, Tamagotchi is not just feeding a virtual pet and picking up its virtual poop. It features the characters of the Tamagotchi universe, lead by young Tama, on a mission to save their planet from a (friendly) meteor who has crashed on the surface.
I downloaded this game in February and find it easy to lose time to it. That could be because I am still uncovering areas of the game that require time and energy to get to, but the sheer vastness of the map means there is a lot to discover even for someone who has put in their hours. The options for building (furniture, tools, upgrades) are comparable to sizeable games on platforms like Playstation, and details like no jump control make for an almost soothing game experience.
Thanks for reading!