“ I felt a calm euphoria that seemed to match the sunny weather and an immediate mood boost that left me perky and pleased. ”

My first experience with Legion of Bloom’s Clementine Monarch was during a walk through the sunshine-drenched streets of Santa Barbara. It was a Saturday afternoon, but having taken a few days off prior for a long weekend away, it felt more like all the best parts of a casual Sunday—without any of the scaries. Vape cartridges don’t typically have much smell, but I always do my due diligence and use my sniffer to try and pick up whatever I can; this one was subtle, but definitely gave off some sweet citrus notes.

My boyfriend and I took a few deep pulls, and those citrus notes filled our mouths along with a touch of familiar flower-esque earthiness. On the backend, I picked up a perfumy note that, combined with the more obvious citrus flavor, made the whole thing taste just a little bit like bottomless mimosas at your favorite brunch spot.

Speaking of brunch, once we were sufficiently stoned, we wandered our way to the day’s brunch locale. Santa Barbara is bustling with incredible food options, so it’s actually pretty difficult to pick one. Once we settled on a spot, we took our seats in a quiet corner of a very well-distanced patio. The high was kicking in, and while the body high wasn’t particularly powerful, I felt my senses heighten.

The sunshine was washing over us, and I felt somewhat electrified by its warmth, as tingles danced across my skin from the cool breeze blowing through. I felt a calm euphoria that seemed to match the sunny weather and an immediate mood boost that left me perky and pleased. I felt sociable, but not necessarily super chatty. If you’re the type of person that likes to be with a big group of friends, but enjoys being the quieter one along for the ride, this is a perfect high for you.

I ended up eating way more of my Eggs Benedict than I initially intended, partially because the biscuit it was on was just so dang good, but I’m also pretty sure the high was at least a little to blame. Once we were done, and my belly was right and properly full, we meandered away from our brunch spot and back into the historic and adorable streets of Santa Barbara. We felt soothed and relaxed, but not in a heavy or tired way. More in a feeling-good-and-peaceful kind of way. Eventually, we found our way over to El Presidio, an itty-bitty historic state park right in the heart of Santa Barbara built by the Spanish back in 1782.

“The high truly embodied what it feels like to feel connected to the sunshine.”

Being in the presence of such history felt big and beautiful, and I really felt like the high enhanced the experience. We explored the aging grounds and took in the stunning architecture that filled the quad. The historic site was juxtaposed with a particularly modern and hip half-coffee shop, half-bicycle shop that was absolutely my jam. We walked over, perused the biking accessories and accouchement, and grabbed a couple lattes. The cafe was a bit packed for our comfort level, so we decided to go back across to El Presidio and hang out on a bench in the shade. I’m never not stoked to be drinking a hot latte, but the high made me slow down and truly appreciate the smooth, delicious liquid as it flowed from my cup and into my mouth. We people watched for a while, but I eventually wanted to get out of the shade and back into the sun.

After a little while longer, it was time to head home. We packed up our things, headed out, and hit the highway, with me staring out the window at the cerulean ocean sparkling in the mid-day glow. As Santa Barbara faded into our rearview mirror, I felt the high start to fade away as well. It wasn’t a very long one, but it left gently and comfortably, making it easy to session if you’re aiming for a longer experience.

In the end, I feel like the high truly embodied what it feels like to feel connected to the sunshine. It’s bright and delightful, warm and familiar, and it doesn’t ask too much of you. It’s a high you can hang with and keep things casual. Next time you’re meeting some friends for brunch, or spending the day in the sun, I definitely recommend bringing along Legion of Bloom’s Clementine Monarch as the perfect sunny companion.