I’m on the 10 west, it’s 6:45 and I’m heading home from a long day at the office. The highway is jam packed with other commuters doing the same. I find myself creeping along reading outdated bumper stickers and aimlessly flipping the radio dial from one Lady Ga Ga song to the next.

It’s at that moment I began to fantasize about ditching my car, rising above the gridlock and zooming home faster than a speeding bullet.

Truth be told, I’ve always had a fascination with comic books and often wondered what it would be like to soar the skies like a son of Krypton. Finally I got the chance to find out at IFLY at Universal City Walk in Studio City California. IFLY is an enormous wind tunnel pointing to the heavens, and after donning the proper IFLY attire I was ready to let the wind velocity lift me up and allow me to experience the same sensation of skydiving.

I am not the type of person who would ever board a plane and then at its highest point leap out and race said plane back to Earth. I’m just not. That being said, I would love to fly, and this was my chance. Jason, my IFLY instructor was welcoming and reassuring and his love of his job was intoxicating. I felt exhilarated and still safe. For a brief moment I would join this daredevil in his playground and I was ready to push this experience to the limit. Oh, I’m sure I could just hold my arms and legs out and float on the upward current, but if I was going to do this I wanted to spin, flip and ride like the wind!

The Sixth Scent

Palio, the new men’s fragrance by Lorenzo Siena, is translated from Italian as “winner” or “prize”. It is a uniquely different scent, which combines only pure natural fragrances such as sparkling citrus with ivy greens and cool mint leaf. The cologne also includes a touch of iced lavender, jasmine with a hint of sandalwood, and patchouli. $70 for a 3.4 fluid ounce bottle.

Brain Over Braun… And Vice-Versa

The Braun PocketGo electric shaver is an essential travel tool for grooming. Slightly larger than the average cell phone, the PocketGo runs on two “AA” batteries and provides approximately 60 minutes of shaving time. It also features a trimmer to sharpen up sideburns, as well as trim moustaches and beards. Best of all, the PocketGo can be used wet or dry, so if you’re really pressed for time you can use it in the shower. The Braun PocketGo retails for $18.99.

Always Stay In Touch With Your Masculine Side

Old Spice Swagger may not be anyone’s idea of a high-end grooming product, but for those of us who can claim it as our first cologne (starting somewhere in junior high, before we moved on to high school and developed more sophisticated tastes…like Brut) it’s hard to argue with the nostalgia factor here. Besides, Old Spice products do their job, no frills, and the current ad campaign for Swagger featuring L.L. Cool J and Brian Urlacher is brilliant. Old Spice Red Zone deodorant, High Endurance body wash, and Old Spice Endurance Body Spray are available at drugstores and discount retailers.

Jayne’s Addiction

Ormonde Jayne has launched Zizan, a new fragrance for men. This is a powerhouse cologne. Expect a deluge of boisterous Sicilian lime, lemon and bergamot and, to smooth the edge somewhat, a brilliantly refined concentration of vetiver. The notes feature lime, lemon, bergamot, clary sage, pink pepper, juniper berry, bay, violet, jasmine, vetiver, cedar, musk and amber.

The scent was created Linda Pilkington, and was inspired by the Latin for vetiver, vetiveria zizanoïdes. It is available in EdP 50ml, for approximately $100.

Taking The Bar Exam

Organixsouth’s new Men’s Shaving & Complexion Bar contains a minimum of 10% certified-organic Neem oil, with shea butter and oakmoss, an herb used for centuries to soothe skin and promote a healthy response to minor inflammation. This new soap is perfect for cleansing or shaving because it’s formulated to gently calm skin that is prone to irritations and support a clear and radiant complexion. A four ounce bar retails for $6.95 at http://www.organixsouth.com.

Whenever people engage in a discussion of the “best” holiday film, a spirited argument is sure to follow. Which is fine. My purpose here is not to compare “It’s A Wonderful Life” or “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” or “A Christmas Story.” All of those films have a loyal following (which they’ve earned) and I have enjoyed every one of them over the years.

However, when it comes to a holiday film that turns a spotlight on how we as a society relate to each other – good and bad, kind and cruel – my choice always comes back to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Here, too, a debate can be made, since there have been several adaptations of Dickens’ novel. But for my money, the two that stand apart are “Scrooge (1971),” starring Albert Finney as the bitter, miserly title character, and “Scrooge (1951),” starring Alistair Sim as the penny-pinching, misanthropic old geezer.

Sapien, a new organic body care line for men by Surya Brasil, is specially formulated for male skin and hair. The line offers pure essential oils; gluten-free amaranth proteins and mild cleansing agents that are gentle enough for men with sensitive skin without losing any effectiveness.

The six formulas in the line include: A two-in-one shampoo/conditioner combination, which contains acerola and amaranth protein. The shower gel hydrates and cleanses the skin with nourishing fruit extracts such as acerola. The facial scrub exfoliates with green clay and acai grains; and does an excellent job of removing impurities while preventing oily skin. The Sapien shave cream lubricates the skin with rich cupuacu butter and macadamia nut oil. The after-shave cream invigorates with acai, cupuacu and aloe vera plus natural minerals. Finally, the styling gel offers medium hold without synthetic fixatives or PVP

(polyvinylpyrrolidone).

“Concerns about persistent bioaccumulation of toxins in our environment have heightened our awareness about the chemicals we use in our personal care products,” says Clelia Angelon, President and Founder of the Surya Brasil brand, in a press release. “Because of this, we have not included synthetic fragrance, artificial color, GMOs, artificial preservatives, sulfates, phthalates, silicone or petroleum by-products.”

Using ethically harvested plants and fruits from the Amazon, these skin and hair care products contain all the elements necessary to achieve healthy, radiant hair and a glowing complexion in an easy, practical way. The subtle woody aroma is derived from a special blend of essential oils including cedarwood, lemon, bergamot and clove. Products range in price from $11 for the styling gel up to $22 for the shower gel.

Watch Your Language

Juicy Couture’s Dirty English cologne for men is a intoxicating mix of peppered mandarin, blue cypress, black leather, ebony wood, and amber musk. The bottle features a leather cord adorned with charms wrapped around the stopper, which doubles as a bracelet.

While the scent is a bit strong for my taste (I prefer Dunhill or Cool Water), reactions from the fairer sex have been nothing but positive. And who am I to argue with that? One 3.4 fl oz bottle retails for $45.

Pump Up the Volume

Jonathan Antin Serious Volume, Volumizing Shampoo is great for normal or oily hair. Ingredients include rosemary/sage essential water, which gently purifies – and moisturizing sugar foam, which cleans without stripping. Additionally, botanical & UV filters shield hair from damage and color fading.

While avoiding harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate, Antin has created an entire line of shampoos that employ sugar surfactants to gently cleanse the hair. Although these sugar foams do not lather as highly as more chemical ingredients, they work well on thoroughly wet hair. Contains no alcohol, mineral oil, synthetic colors, DEA or MEA, and is 100% Vegan. Retails for $20.