Aubrey Organics

[The Nid Hog]

I was in my local Whole Foods this afternoon to pick up some tempeh and have my chakras aligned. I had a little time to kill, so I strolled over to the shaving section. They've just started carrying shaving cream and after shaves by Aubrey Organics, so I grabbed the testers and sampled the different ranges.

The first up was Men's Stock Spice Island Aftershave. I had my dismissive sneer all loaded up and ready to go. However, it wasn't too bad. Bay rum, witch hazel and vetiver--and it all came together pretty well. I could be persuaded to try this one again.

Next came North Woods. Egad! I was fine with the pine oil, but the addition of ginseng (which I kind of picked up in the Spice Island too) and witch hazel produced a truly queasy accord. I don't know what exactly the makers were going for with this, but I thought that it was pretty unpleasant. Like something that could be used to treat both nits and impotence.

 

[Obsessed]

Did you try the Tofallow shaving soap as well?

 

[A-Man]

Ah, the North Woods is my favorite AS. I like a clean/dry scent (if that makes sense.)

I didn't see you mention their City Rythyms, it's nothing great, could be better, could be worse. Very light/bland.

The Spice Island is the only one I have yet to try, glad to hear a positive review though in case I think about making a future purchase.

 

[Wingnut]

I was in my local Whole Foods this afternoon to pick up some tempeh and have my chakras aligned. I had a little time to kill, so I strolled over to the shaving section. They've just started carrying shaving cream and after shaves by Aubrey Organics, so I grabbed the testers and sampled the different ranges.

The first up was Men's Stock Spice Island Aftershave. I had my dismissive sneer all loaded up and ready to go. However, it wasn't too bad. Bay rum, witch hazel and vetiver--and it all came together pretty well. I could be persuaded to try this one again.

Chris, once again, we're in parallel universes! I too was in my local (and probably Chris's too) Whole Foods, and I sampled and wound up picking up a bottle of said Aubrey Organics Spice Island A/S.

It goes on very nicely and, like many bay rum scents, is fairly short-lived... with one exception: the Aubrey A/S also uses patchouli oil, which becomes the prominent note in the drydown, and it lingers quite a bit. I really like the addition of a patchouli note to go along with the bay rum - I think it extends the spiciness of the bay nicely and adds to the longevity of an otherwise-fleeting pleasure - but if you're not fond of patchouli, I'd suggest staying away from this. I wouldn't recommend this for a work/business setting either, as the patchouli might bring back memories of your co-workers' mis-spent youth. As a casual aftershave, though, it's quite nice.

As far as overall performance goes, it's about average. Even though it contains witch hazel, glycerin and aloe it's not especially soothing, but it's not drying for a splash either. Is it a good product? I'd say yes, but in a world of great ones like Proraso and Musgo Real, it's only middle of the road. I paid $9.97 for a 4 oz. bottle at Whole Foods.

INGREDIENTS:
Alcohol Denat, Aqua, Hammamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Pimenta Racemosa (Bay) Leaf Oil, Pogostomon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Oil, Mysterica Fragrens (Nutmeg) Oil, Vetiveria Zizanioides (Vetiver) Oil, Panax Ginseng (Ginseng) Extract

*Organic

 

[cvac]

I ordered all 3 recently as my local WH doesn't carry them. Will report back after I have a chance to use them.

 

[xriley]

Wasn't so impressed with the North Woods.

 

[kap49]

I am quite fond of the Spice Island. I have no idea if an ingredient's being organic is of any benefit, but it sure as hell can't hurt. The product itself I find very effective at finishing a shave and it's scent is quite pleasing. Recommended.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Did you try the Tofallow shaving soap as well?

No, not since it's been reformulated.

Chris, once again, we're in parallel universes! I too was in my local (and probably Chris's too) Whole Foods, and I sampled and wound up picking up a bottle of said Aubrey Organics Spice Island A/S.

All paths cross at Whole Foods!

 

[WhosYerBob]

I like the Aubrey "Men's Stock Natural Dry Herbal Pine Deodorant" (say that 10 times real fast) and it's the only deodorant I've used for more than 2 years straight that I haven't developed a skin reaction to.

Can't say I like any of their AS or cologne scents though.

 

[Carl Kolchak]

Chris,

I really like the Bay Rum. It was a bit "clovey" for me at first (and I didn't get much of the vetiver) - then I realized that there was no clove in the list of ingredients, rather nutmeg. So, it was a bit too "nutmeg-ee" for me. But my opinion changed rapidly when I put it on my face - it was veeerrrrrry smooth. Like close to my Provence Sante silkiness - but not quite there! I also mix in the SCS Lime Splash - couple of shakes of each into the palms and bingo - a nice Bay Rum and Lime. I've always been a lime-aholic - (speaking of which Chris, let me know your thoughts on this, if you have any - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=127097).

The Cedar (City Rhythms) reminds of a cheap drugstore frag that I had in junior high! I will need to buy it just for the olfactory time warp factor. Can't for the life of me remember what it was... But every time I smell the old "sample vial" I have of whatever that scent was (the vial has no label and no liquid in it - just a trace of the stuff that was in it) I am transported back to 7th grade and think of the girl I had a major crush on. The City Rhythms AS reminds me of all this and that might just be worthy of the 10 smackers they ask for it...

The Pine AS - well, I smelled it at Whole Foods and decided to pass...

 

[scottb]

I really wanted to like these, especially City Rhythms, but the patchouli note put me off.

It's too bad--I think the argument many have made for this being an inexpensive Cade alternative is really close.

 

[thunderball]

I've seen this stuff in the hippie market near my parents' place...will have to give it a sniff next time I'm there.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I really wanted to like these, especially City Rhythms, but the patchouli note put me off.

It's too bad--I think the argument many have made for this being an inexpensive Cade alternative is really close.

A Cade alternative of some kind is definitely in order if Cade AS itself is going out of production.

 

[scottb]

A Cade alternative of some kind is definitely in order if Cade AS itself is going out of production.

+1 and Amen.

 

[fsatsil]

The Aubrey Organics aftershave balm is really nice. Its sort of a very light liquid gel that soothes and lightly moisturizes. Its hard to describe, ive never used a aftershave balm quite like this. It absorbs very quickly and leaves no tackiness at all. It leaves ur skin feeling very soft and clean kind of like after you use an aftershave splash but with more moisturizing. Its probably not the best for really cold dry weather or someone with very dry skin because its not a moisturizing as some of the heavy balms/creams. Id recommend it to someone who wants a bit more moisturizing then a splash but who really hates the sticky/tacky/greasy feeling that you get with alot of balms and lotions.

 

[cvac]

Initial impressions on the scents, just testing a dab on my wrists and smelling out of the bottle. Haven't had a chance to use them but will post reviews after I use them a few times.

North Woods: pine with some ginseng. smells strange from the bottle, but not bad. I actually find it hard to believe that some people were offended by this one. The pine smell disappears very quickly and I get a sweet herbal smell. Not very strong at all, imagine it fades pretty quickly.

City Rhythyms: slightly woodsy herbal smell. The cedar is there but the sweet patchouli is more up front. Again very light scent that probably fades quickly but might stick around a little longer than the north woods. Doesn't smell anything like CADE so don't get this thinking its a good CADE alternative.

Spice Island: description says Bay Rum with Vetiver. This one smells the best to me straight out of the bottle. The rum is the strongest note and I can smell the nutmeg and a little bay oil right behind it. Pretty nice. Vetiver is there but hard to detect. I imagine this one fades quickly, but the nutmeg and bay oil part might stick around slightly longer.

 

[scottb]

City Rhythms doesn't smell like Cade (though the ingredient lists are similar) but I did think the North Woods smelled very similar to classic Pitralon (the German version, not Austrian or Swiss.)

longevity was nil, unfortunately.

 

[The Nid Hog]

North Woods: pine with some ginseng. smells strange from the bottle, but not bad. I actually find it hard to believe that some people were offended by this one. The pine smell disappears very quickly and I get a sweet herbal smell. Not very strong at all, imagine it fades pretty quickly.

The version that I didn't like was the balm. I thought that the ginseng note just didn't mix well with everything else. Today I was in a different Whole Foods and my wife was trying to use up a gift card that somebody gave her. This particular store had the North Woods AS splash and I thought that it was actually pretty nice. If Thayer's made a pine witch hazel (they don't, do they?), I bet it would smell like this. I tossed it in with my wife's purchases--we'll see how it works out.

 

[cvac]

I posted reviews of all 3 in the review section. I think they're all pretty good with the Spice Island as my favorite. No idea about the balms, but I'm not big on scented balms...I prefer a mild scent or no scent at all.

Haha, Thayer's doesn't make a pine hazel yet, but who knows...maybe they'll come out with one in the future. Bought the lemon one to try out in the summer. I normally use the rose one.

 

[A-Man]

The version that I didn't like was the balm. I thought that the ginseng note just didn't mix well with everything else. Today I was in a different Whole Foods and my wife was trying to use up a gift card that somebody gave her. This particular store had the North Woods AS splash and I thought that it was actually pretty nice.

I'm with you there, it's pretty funny how 2 products from the same line can smell so different. I don't think the balm is terrible, just too strong. Much prefer the dry/clean scent of the splash.