Any Lavender Creams that smell the same as Mike's Hungarian Lavender?

[bmurphy777]

Title pretty much says it all. I'm a lavender junkie and have tried a lot of soaps but want to try a lavender cream or two. To my nose Mike's Hungarian Lavender is a herby, almost astringent lavender, not at all sweet or powdery, and that is exactly what I am looking for. Mike's Lavandin and Eucalyptus is also very, very nice. The scent of AOS a/s balm is also the kind of lavender I like but their soap is too mildly scented and I live in Canada where there are no AOS stores for a trial sniff before buying. Does their cream smell like the a/s balm and is it strong or mild?

Lavenders I have tried but found too sweet and powdery, or too laid back in strength:

1. MdC (yeah, I know...)
2. RR King Louis Lavender
3. RR Chianti Lavender
4. AOS Lavender soap (smells fine but is barely there)

Hopefully there is somebody out there who has actually smelled Mike's Hungarian as well as some creams for comparison and can help me avoid the buy, smell, and put on BST cycle!!

Cheers, Brendan

 

[ayodh]

I have never used Mike's soaps, but based on what you describe, Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender could be what you are looking for. To My nose its not sweet at all.

 

[mblakele]

Try the Truefitt & Hill lavender. Capsule review:

Getting back to my T&H sample pack, I chose lavender for this weekend. I expected a sweet lavender like KMF, but this is much more medicinal, almost bitter. I like it, though.

Not much to say about the shave: usual great performance from T&H cream.

 

[Edinburgh]

I just checked and Castle Forbes Lavender seems rather close in scent.

 

[xillion]

+1 on Castle Forbes.

Another option is RazoRock King of the Castle Lavender.

To my nose it smells just as good as Castle Forbes and is a great performer.

 

[Terp61]

I enjoyed TOBS lavender.

 

[Jerry-built Hustler]

+1 on Castle Forbes.

Another option is RazoRock King of the Castle Lavender.

To my nose it smells just as good as Castle Forbes and is a great performer.

Any self-professed lavender junkie owes it to himself to try Castle Forbes. That stuff is no joke. That said, I've not tried Mike's, so I cannot make a direct comparison. (I also have not tried RazoRock. Maybe I'm just being a snob, but I've always been turned off by the names of some of the products, which make it pretty clear they are knock-offs.)

In general, lavender products break down into two basic categories: those scented with essential oils, and those scented with fragrance oils. Even within those categories, scents can vary considerably, but (again) in general, those scented with essential oils will smell more or less like the lavender plant, while those scented with fragrance oils with smell more perfumy, like an "impression" of lavender. Those who associate lavender with a flowery, feminine scent are most likely thinking of fragrance-oil-based scents, since the lavender plant itself is more herbal in smell, and fairly gender neutral.

According to Mike's website, the Hungarian lavender soap is scented with essential oil only, so if you want something that matches that, stick with creams that are scented with essential oil (Castle Forbes, AOS, TOBS, etc.). T&H Ultimate Comfort is also very lightly scented with lavender e/o, but it is not a lavender "bomb" by any means.

 

[bmurphy777]

Thanks for the info boys, lots to think of. I will probably give the CF a try at least.

"To my nose it smells just as good as Castle Forbes and is a great performer."

But is it as pronounced as the CF? I ask because my impression of RR stuff is that they perform well but their scents are more understated. That is based on 2 or 3 soaps and 3 a/s waxes.

 

[xillion]

But is it as pronounced as the CF? I ask because my impression of RR stuff is that they perform well but their scents are more understated. That is based on 2 or 3 soaps and 3 a/s waxes.

Yes, it has a very pronounced scent. I could smell it permeating the box it was shipped in. I see that Joe offers a sample size for less than a buck. Give it a go and let us know what you think.

http://www.italianbarber.com/Search...3e9eade77d9193f35de9e10&search_x=0&search_y=0

 

[evnpar]

Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender smells much like Mike's in my opinion, plus it's one of the best creams available.