Items by Scotto

Guys, this cologne is just fantastic, and is an important historical scent as well. Previous to this cologne, men's scents were all florals. This was the first scent to feature citrus, and things moved rapidly from there into the men's scents we have today. According to Penhaligon, the notes are: Top Notes - Citrus, Lavender Middle Notes - Aromatic Spices, Pine Base Notes - Woody, Musk If you read some of the reviews on basenotes, they convey this scent quite well. I quote...

Folks, this might be the best single summer fragrance out there. Forget those sickly-sweet citrus concoctions and "marine" fragrances - this stuff is the bomb. The scent is very interesting and complex. The top notes are citrus, with a background of vetiver. Not nearly as dry and earthy as the L'Occitane Vetyver, but a superb, clean expression. As it drys down over time, it evolves into something darker and musky, with tobacco notes. Really interesting, as it has two different...

Well, here is another gem that is being discontinued in the US. My understanding is that it will still be available overseas, though. In any case, if you are a fan of the T&H style, which produces a slightly lighter lather than Taylor or Trumper, you will like this one as well. It has a quite interesting scent as well, described below. Price: Not cheap, but not as expensive as some other creams out there. Quality: T&H quality is generally very good. This cream also clearly uses...

I tend to classify colognes in a couple of categories. There is the "integrated" category (I am a cologne, and I smell nice), and the "evocative" category (the scent brings about a mood). This one is in the evocative category. It is a scent that is a bit hard to describe if you haven't smelled it, but it starts out with a strong sweet/minty component (not true mint, but more of a sharp lavender mintiness), mixed with a complex herbal note including thyme, geranium, and moss. It reminds...

Before trying this gem, I had convinced myself that I don't care for cologne-scented creams. Getting a tub of this stuff in trade changed my viewpoint forever. This stuff smells so darn good and shaves so well, that I think it is near the pinnacle of all shave creams. Just awesome. Price Taylors tubs are pretty darn cheap compared to a lot of other stuff out there. Quality Well, Taylor's has come consistency issues with their texture, but this cream hasn't shown any issues for...

This cream is one of the most popular things out there. Perhaps it is the allure of the Violet scent, which is pretty unique. For me, however, I don't get good shaves at all from this cream. Price: Yeah, it is expensive, as all Trumpers products are. Quality: High quality stuff; consistent texture, lots of effort in presentation, etc. Scent: Personally I don't care for it. Too sickly sweet. Latherability: Whips up gobs or rich lather in a hurry. Here it is from today's...

This is a cream that doesn't get much press among its three-T brethren. It is a good shaver; not the best, but nowhere near the worst. If you like a solid cream with not too heavy a scent, this one is for you. Price: Not cheap, but not as expensive as some other creams out there. Quality: T&H doesnt seem to have the quality control isues that Taylor has, though this tub is of quite a different consistency than my other T&H tubs (much firmer) Scent: This is a straight forward rose...

Hard to believe that this hasn't been reviewed yet.... Go figure. Look, here's the deal. This stuff is damn cheap. You can find it at Target now. It smells like something your Mom used to rub on your chest when you were sick. But this stuff can shave as good as lots of products 2 or 3X the cost. It lathers up beautifully, and provides a nice slick cushion for the razor. Also has a very intense cooling sensation which is amplified when you rinse with cold water. It ain't luxurious, but it...

You can look at my review of T&H Trafalgar for the detail on the packaging, etc. As for 1805, this is a very fresh scent in the "oceanic" mold. No, you won't smell like seaweed, rotting crabs, and sweaty, coppertone-laden, half-naked men. It is a citrusy, clean scent that is great for spring and summer. Basenotes lists it as: Top Notes Bergamot, Mandarin Middle Notes Cypress, Cardamom, Nutmeg Base Notes Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Musk This is a scent that is never...

T&H makes a number of good colognes, but Trafalgar is really in a class by itself. I think it is the last cologne in their series that hasn't undergone some "updating", which to me means a dumbing-down of the classic, masculine scents that T&H has been known for Price The price from T&H ($65 for 100mL) is on the moderate/expensive side, but deals at Ashford.com can often be found Quality All the T&H colognes are made with care, and are quite consistent. With the exception of the...

This is a great soap that doesn't get as much airplay as it should. Here it is from this morning's SOTD: This is a soap in the vein of Harris and T&H. Produces gorgeous, rich lather scented with the heavenly scent of JF. Price Yeah it is a bit pricey ($40 retail with the bowl), but pick it up at the occasional Floris sale and it isn't too bad. Quality Very high quality soap. It comes in my favorite of the wooden bowls out there. Nicer than T&H and Harris, IMO. It is a rich...

In the world of shaving creams, there are two extremes. On one side are the pure scents - laden with EOs and smelling intensely of the pure essence of the plant. Castle Forbes falls into this category, as does AOS. On the other end of the spectrum are the Taylor's scents. Taylor likes to put a twist on things, and the Lemon & Lime is no different. Not only do you have the citrus, but there is a base of cedarwood and other masculine stuff. Quite different, unique and nice. Price...

For years I avoided Trumpers. I love my Taylor's dearly, and the cost differential annoyed me, even after accounting for the weight differences in the tub. Also, I had never gotten a good shave with Trumpers creme samples that I had used. However, I was intrigued by the coconut scent, so when it was my birthday, I figured what the heck. Now I am sorry I waited. This stuff just blew my socks off. From the scent to the lather to the shave, this stuff is unparalleled. Price Yeah, it...

I have to admit I avoided AOS creams for the longest time. They don't seem to get as much press as the three T's, and when it is discussed, it is generally a gripe against their price. I got a tub of this from another member, and I was utterly blown away at how good the shave was, and how nice and pure the scent was. Here it is from one of my shaves this week: Price Yeah, it is on the pricey side ($22), but you get a lot of it. Quality This stuff just exudes quality. The tub...

I am a big fan of the Provence Sante products, available from Baudelaire Soaps. This hard soap ranks among the best out there. Here it is for today's shave: Price It is a bit expensive at $25 a pop, but the cool redware bowl is worth it. Plus it lasts forever Quality Very high-quality product. The folks at PS don't skimp. Scent Very nice, and different from the usual gamut of Almond, Rose, etc. The scent is a mix of Vervaine and Linden. I can't put a finger on how to...

According to Sue: ...so rich you only need the size of one-fourth to a half of a pea to massage into skin until it develops a powdery feel. Tiny bits of Butter dissolve on contact with skin. This is unfragranced and suitable for men or women; face, legs, elbows or to any parched skin area. It is formulated with a blend of Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil and Vitamin E. This four ounce jar will last a very long time. My skin is dry to begin with...

I have had a chance to use this stuff for a bit now, and I have to say I am pretty impressed. The scrubbing particles are small, and the concentration is on the low side, which makes it great for sensitive skin. The scent is very nice, soft, and sweet (also comes in a green tea scent which is not as sweet). Most importantly, this stuff is verymoisturizing. It really makes your face feel soft and supple. Top notch product at a great price.

I got this stuff a while back in an order from Baudelaire soaps, and have been using it to great effect. This is an alcohol-free splash that has witch hazel and shea butter in it. It feels extremely soothing to the skin, and has some of the best moisturizing properties of any splash I have come across. When you look at your hands after applying it to your face, you can see the shine (though it is matte on your face) of the shea butter. This is one of the very few AS splashes I have used...

I have a weakness for alcohol-based aftershaves. I find them a really nice change of pace from the balms, etc. The really high-quality ones, like this one from WoW, don't burn that bad, and actually leave your face feeling very nice. Although alcohol-based aftershaves burn at first, I believe they are unparalleled at reducing razor irritation. This product has a very interesting scent - very "green" and woodsy. It also leaves your face reasonably moistuized for what it is. This...

This is my second favorite scent (after the Vetyver) from L'Occitane. It is redolent of anise and nutmeg in the top notes, and dries down to a solid woody base. Quite a unique fragrance, and one to set you apart from other gents. I really like this one in cool weather.