Peterpan, the great Indonesian band

Starting as a small-time band playing in cafes, this band climbed up through the ranks to become one of Indonesia's most successful band to date - until their ultimate fall from grace when THE sex scandal of its lead singer blew out of proportion. Oh, can anyone resist his good looks (and bedroom skills, perhaps)?

Bedsheets aside, they have managed to churn out some memorable tunes notably Mimpi Yang Sempurna (A Perfect Dream) which was my favourite song from their 2003 album Taman Langit (Sky Garden). This reasonable success was followed-up a year later by the massive hit album Bintang Di Surga (A Star In Heaven) which was awarded MTV Asia's most sold album of the year 2005. Their stellar achievement aided by a fresh music style and Ariel's distinctive sultry voice have inspired a spawn of newer generation Indonesian pop bands of similar style since.

Nowadays, there are loads of Indonesian bands with styles reminiscent of Peterpan can be heard over the radio and listening to them back-to-back may make me want to vomit, but once in a while is fine. Or I can just put on one of Peterpan's original CDs and karaoke VCDs I bought some time ago. Now where did I put them..

The best perfume for a gentleman

Creed Feuilles Vertes - nice bottle, nice price.

When's the last time you walked into the perfume section in a departmental store and sprayed a few samples? It's been a year for me, and that seems like ages! The last perfume I bought was D&G Light Blue at the end of my thoroughly indulgent trip to Bali. But I also enjoy the scent of Very Valentino for Men - having a second bottle definitely marks it as a favourite. Easily bored by my purchases, last year I amazed myself when I managed to finish a big bottle of D&G Le Bateleur (a.k.a. The Juggler as in the first card of the Tarot). Now let's see what people say about these fragrances, shall we?

D&G Light Blue pour Homme. I like its fresh, mild and unintrusive citrus-marine-musk smell, but I think it's a little too mild for others :)

• 24% positive, 37% neutral, 39% negative out of 83 reviewers - www.basenotes.net 
• About 25% love, 55% like, 20% dislike out of 439 reviewers - www.fragrantica.com

Very Valentino for Men. I adore its sophisticated-sexy, manly smell that also makes me smile. Many reviewers agree!

• 36% positive, 41% neutral, 23% negative out of 22 reviewers - www.basenotes.net
• About 30% love, 60% like, 10% dislike out of 53 reviewers - www.fragrantica.com

D&G Le Bateleur. I like its romantic, clean, gentlemanly scent, almost faded but certainly addictive. Marketed as a unisex fragrance but most female reviewers say it's more on the masculine side.

•  27% positive, 55% neutral, 18% negative out of 11 reviewers - www.basenotes.net
• About 20% love, 50% like, 30% dislike out of 162 reviewers - www.fragrantica.com

Not bad, considering the negative remarks by the highly regarded perfume reviewer Luca Turin. Now let's hear what's his top 10 male fragrances are:

• Azzaro pour Homme (Azzaro) – anisic lavender
• Beyond Paradise Men (Estée Lauder) – green woody
• Cool Water (Davidoff) – aromatic fougere 
• Derby (Guerlain) – smoky wood 
• Eau de Guerlain (Guerlain) – citrus verbena 
• Habit Rouge (Guerlain) – sweet dust 
• New York (Parfums de Nicolai) – orange amber 
• Ormonde Men (Ormonde Jane) – green woody 
• Pour Monsieur (Chanel) – masculine chypre 
• Timbuktu (L'Artisan Parfumeur) – woody smoky 

Tried a few of them a long time ago, didn't really work for me as they are a bit too heady. Once in a while I dab myself with some Middle Eastern attars as they don't smell of alcohol - the better ones I bought in Beirut, Istanbul and Laayoune. Oh well, in the end, it's down to personal preference. As long as you smell good, why smell like everybody else?