So, short story first, my return to italy for another run, but SWMBO's first trip, so I took her on the "typical" Italian tour of the three major renaissance cities. I jam packed the planning so she could maximize her trip to seeing as much as possible. While walking, I stopped in some places to purchase shaving products. Here's what I found, and at the end, the list of shops and links if possible, for those that find this thread later (or want to update the wiki). Any prices listed I used the $ symbol, but they are in Euro.
Reality is, I was only really looking for a few "must buy while there" items, the rest I just bought, because at those prices, why not? Acqua di Parma (Top left of photo) was top of the list, as was SM Novella (top left area in box). Both of these are croaps...and were my only two must buy items.
While in Venice, I found a beauty supply chain called Caddy's. They had all your typical proraso, noxema, Figaro, Prep, etc. They also had the 1kg block of Cella, so I bought that too. Home - Caddy's Just google translate the page, find locations. Or google map it (though they sometimes don't come up on maps).
Florence is where SM Novella is, and its the 700 year old monkery thing that makes perfumes and such sundries. Their croap is pretty big, 7.7oz, and was like $36. The other place in Florence I didn't know about was Farmacia SS. Annunziata (Farmacia SS Annunziata). They have a milled hard soap in a few flavors...I bought the bergamont version. Very inexpensive at $21.
Rome has a few places, its where I went to the acqua di parma store (right next to the spanish steps, they have an old school barber shop in the back, you have to make an appointment). I took pictures of it with my iphone, so they are in those damn .mov files....I have to figure out how to edit those...
Anyways, here is the list of places in each city I was in, in case you want to find them yourselves:
Venice, Italy
Caddys Beauty Supply (Home - Caddy's) I saw 3 in Venice proper (the islands part). They have proraso, figaro, noxema, prep, cella, tabac, omega brushes (just a couple), and some after shaves. Very inexpensive.
Profumeria (??) No idea the name on this one. This guy speaks zero english (but you won't need to converse to buy stuff), but has a line of cream in a jar (Uomo Creme de Barba) I've never seen, so I bought some. He also has merkhur stuff, some brushes, other soaps, etc. 696A Ruga Vecchia S. Giovanni, Venice, Italy
Florence, Italy
Tigato Beauty Supply (Tigotà: Vendita Prodotti Cosmetici e Prodotti per la Cura della Casa) Google translate, find locations (they are a big chain). They are by far the least expensive place I found with all the "usual" suspects. Proraso, noxema, prep, figaro, and some aftershaves.
SM Novella (can't miss this place, its right near the bassilica santa novella....and is part of it, so to speak (historically speaking). Officina Profumo Farmaceutica They have a store in NYC too...and other cities in Italy. But the original, like 13th century joint, is in Florence, and is 100% worth the visit.
Farmacia SS. Annunziata (Farmacia SS Annunziata) About 1.5 blocks north of the Florence Cathedral (Domo). soaps, brushes, etc, house brands only. Not terribly expensive, Hard Soap (if that's your thing, it is for me).
Rome, Italy
So much is already in the wiki for Rome. I only visited places already on there.
There is a "Soap and Water" store right in the middle of Rome, next to the French Embassy Palace. They have all the usual suspects there. Not as inexpensive as above places.
Bertozzini (Profumeria Bertozzini - Bertozzini dal 1913 - Profumeria a Roma) is still there by the Vatican. They have just about any and every scent in the world, I think. They have a large assortment of brushes from several sources. They also have a large assortment of soaps/croaps. Not a great selection of razors though. Their prices are not inexpensive.
Durante (http://www.profumum.com/profumi-lusso-profumerie-negozi-profumum-italia-estero.html) They have a big awning out front that now reads Naima...but is the same place (Receipt still reads Profumeria Durante SRL). They have a lot of razors (fatips, merkhurs, etc). They have TOBS soaps, simpson brushes, proraso stuff, and others. Here's a few pics from inside the store. This place is literally 3 blocks from Bertozzini, so if you visit one, should visit both.
That's it, there's the list. I'm sure there's a ton of places I missed. I wasn't there for shaving stuff, just stopped in these locations when I saw them nearby.
Happy shopping to anyone that heads to Italy. Even if its just for a few things. I went a bit crazy on the inexpensive stuff...its super hard for me to passup tubs of croap for $1.50 to $2. Same with pre/post creams. they were less than $4. The block of Cella is pure novelty, but again, for less than $20, so worth it.
Reality is, I was only really looking for a few "must buy while there" items, the rest I just bought, because at those prices, why not? Acqua di Parma (Top left of photo) was top of the list, as was SM Novella (top left area in box). Both of these are croaps...and were my only two must buy items.
While in Venice, I found a beauty supply chain called Caddy's. They had all your typical proraso, noxema, Figaro, Prep, etc. They also had the 1kg block of Cella, so I bought that too. Home - Caddy's Just google translate the page, find locations. Or google map it (though they sometimes don't come up on maps).
Florence is where SM Novella is, and its the 700 year old monkery thing that makes perfumes and such sundries. Their croap is pretty big, 7.7oz, and was like $36. The other place in Florence I didn't know about was Farmacia SS. Annunziata (Farmacia SS Annunziata). They have a milled hard soap in a few flavors...I bought the bergamont version. Very inexpensive at $21.
Rome has a few places, its where I went to the acqua di parma store (right next to the spanish steps, they have an old school barber shop in the back, you have to make an appointment). I took pictures of it with my iphone, so they are in those damn .mov files....I have to figure out how to edit those...
Anyways, here is the list of places in each city I was in, in case you want to find them yourselves:
Venice, Italy
Caddys Beauty Supply (Home - Caddy's) I saw 3 in Venice proper (the islands part). They have proraso, figaro, noxema, prep, cella, tabac, omega brushes (just a couple), and some after shaves. Very inexpensive.
Profumeria (??) No idea the name on this one. This guy speaks zero english (but you won't need to converse to buy stuff), but has a line of cream in a jar (Uomo Creme de Barba) I've never seen, so I bought some. He also has merkhur stuff, some brushes, other soaps, etc. 696A Ruga Vecchia S. Giovanni, Venice, Italy
Florence, Italy
Tigato Beauty Supply (Tigotà: Vendita Prodotti Cosmetici e Prodotti per la Cura della Casa) Google translate, find locations (they are a big chain). They are by far the least expensive place I found with all the "usual" suspects. Proraso, noxema, prep, figaro, and some aftershaves.
SM Novella (can't miss this place, its right near the bassilica santa novella....and is part of it, so to speak (historically speaking). Officina Profumo Farmaceutica They have a store in NYC too...and other cities in Italy. But the original, like 13th century joint, is in Florence, and is 100% worth the visit.
Farmacia SS. Annunziata (Farmacia SS Annunziata) About 1.5 blocks north of the Florence Cathedral (Domo). soaps, brushes, etc, house brands only. Not terribly expensive, Hard Soap (if that's your thing, it is for me).
Rome, Italy
So much is already in the wiki for Rome. I only visited places already on there.
There is a "Soap and Water" store right in the middle of Rome, next to the French Embassy Palace. They have all the usual suspects there. Not as inexpensive as above places.
Bertozzini (Profumeria Bertozzini - Bertozzini dal 1913 - Profumeria a Roma) is still there by the Vatican. They have just about any and every scent in the world, I think. They have a large assortment of brushes from several sources. They also have a large assortment of soaps/croaps. Not a great selection of razors though. Their prices are not inexpensive.
Durante (http://www.profumum.com/profumi-lusso-profumerie-negozi-profumum-italia-estero.html) They have a big awning out front that now reads Naima...but is the same place (Receipt still reads Profumeria Durante SRL). They have a lot of razors (fatips, merkhurs, etc). They have TOBS soaps, simpson brushes, proraso stuff, and others. Here's a few pics from inside the store. This place is literally 3 blocks from Bertozzini, so if you visit one, should visit both.
That's it, there's the list. I'm sure there's a ton of places I missed. I wasn't there for shaving stuff, just stopped in these locations when I saw them nearby.
Happy shopping to anyone that heads to Italy. Even if its just for a few things. I went a bit crazy on the inexpensive stuff...its super hard for me to passup tubs of croap for $1.50 to $2. Same with pre/post creams. they were less than $4. The block of Cella is pure novelty, but again, for less than $20, so worth it.
but all the soaps/creams are mine, and definitely that OG european old spice (it smells better than US version, 100%. Its not the same as the shelton stuff (I have old vintage shelton), but its a hell of a lot closer than US weird crap in a bottle. 
