Help me choose a T&H Cologne

[Jack-in-the-Green]

I have the opportunity to buy some T&H cologne or AS for a very nice price from someone online (so no time to order the sample pack). I only have the funds for one, though, so I'd like to get your opinions on which I should choose, since I'm a relative cologne neophyte, and the scent descriptions don't mean a whole lot to me yet.

I would say that my tastes usually run toward the sweet, the spicy, and the woody.

I've tried all the T&H shaving creams. I love Trafalgar. (I already have some of that in the cologne, so obviously, it's not in the running.) I liked the 1805 shaving cream, but when I tried the ASB, it started smelling like mothballs and cheap deoderant. Apparently, it didn't work with my chemistry. The Grafton shaving cream wasn't bad, but it didn't make me say, "Wow!" either. Hate Lavender, Rose and Almond, and limes make me think of cleaning fluids.

I love Mama Bear's Ye Olde Barbershop, and I have a soft spot for Brut, probably because my Grandpa wore it. (Too bad it's gotten a bit of a bad rap, after some guys started bathing in it in the 70's.) I also sometimes wear a plain Amber scented AS, or mix the Amber with Frankincense and/or Vanilla. I'm also a big fan of Irish Spring, and Irisch Moos (The soap, anyway. Haven't tried the cologne or AS yet.)

Pinaud Clubman gave me a headache, as does 90% of the stuff you can get in department stores. On a general scent note, I also get a headache from any grooming products with names like, "Sport", "Cool", or "Energy". (Is that what people are referring to when they talk about "oceanic" scents?)

I'm leaning toward trying Clubman or Freshman. Or I've considered passing on the T&H and trying Taylor's No. 74 or Mr. Sidney's, or possibly Atkinson's Gold Medal. What would you suggest?

 

[Drubbing]

You may like Spanish Leather, I have trouble describing it, but I found it warm and spicy. Classy male scent IMO.

Grafton is very fresh, I think some say it's a dead ringer for the Mr Taylor shave cream, but I can't see that at all.

Either way, they both a lot better than any men's perfume I've smelt in dept stores. Modern colognes really are girly.

 

[jwhiskercut]

Well our scent paths cross at a few intersections so I'll give my opinions. I really like Trafalgar, and wasnt found of Grafton, almond, lavender, etc. Not that they were bad, just not for me.....

I actually like 1805 and the new 'girlier' scents as well. so.....

not to throw a monkey wrench in things, but have you explored Saint Charles Shave scents yet?

http://www.saintcharlesshave.com/

I got 4 of their samples. They were very high quality fragrances, but just not for me scent wise. Their website has great explanation of the notes so you kind of see what you're getting into. I figure if they don't work for my nose, maybe they will yours.

 

[Jack-in-the-Green]

Well our scent paths cross at a few intersections so I'll give my opinions. I really like Trafalgar, and wasnt found of Grafton, almond, lavender, etc. Not that they were bad, just not for me.....

I actually like 1805 and the new 'girlier' scents as well. so.....

not to throw a monkey wrench in things, but have you explored Saint Charles Shave scents yet?

http://www.saintcharlesshave.com/

I got 4 of their samples. They were very high quality fragrances, but just not for me scent wise. Their website has great explanation of the notes so you kind of see what you're getting into. I figure if they don't work for my nose, maybe they will yours.

Thank you for the suggestion. I tried some of their soap, and just getting a whiff of it still in the package gave me a headache, so I fear a cologne from them would be too much. I wish I could pinpoint just what it is in a lot of colognes and perfumes that affects me so much. Some scents I do just fine with. But others leave me nauseated and in pain.

 

[jwhiskercut]

Thank you for the suggestion. I tried some of their soap, and just getting a whiff of it still in the package gave me a headache, so I fear a cologne from them would be too much. I wish I could pinpoint just what it is in a lot of colognes and perfumes that affects me so much. Some scents I do just fine with. But others leave me nauseated and in pain.

Same here on the headaches with some scents. SWMBO has it even worse than me... some scents can make her nauseaus, even if the scent itself is pleasant. She get the final say on all my scent choices.

 

[dawgfan13]

trafalgar and grafton are my 2 favorites

 

[Chuck Norris]

Grafton's my favorite by far. It is the closest fragrance in my mind to what shaving cream should smell like. The reviews on Basenotes.com are pretty consistent too in that nobody really expresses a contempt for it (which is rare on BN).

Trafalgar is in second place, but the drydown has a slight savory cooking spice (cumin?) note on top of otherwise very pleasing woods. It is unique, masculine and has a real wet-shaving personality. Might not be for everyone though.

Freshman, from what i have read, is what Cool Water smelled like in the early 90's, and Cool Water tends to be a crowd pleaser.

I'd take a bottle of these over Creed any day.

The rest simply aren't my style.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

It's been awhile since I sampled the T&H line, but from what I recall, if you don't like the oceanic kind of scents (I don't either), Clubman and Freshman aren't good picks. My favorite of the line was definitely Grafton. It does smell pretty close the shaving cream, though. But the cologne has more spice and freshness in the opening and develops more over time than the shaving cream.

 

[Gaston]

I really like Trafalgar, but I realize that the cedar+other-aromatic-woods scent may not be completely pleasing to everyone (although I can't imagine why). But, for a scent likely to be pleasing to most, I'd pick Freshman instead (and I like it very much myself so it isn't as though I'm making a sacrifice). The Clubman's equally as good to my nose.

If I didn't give a rat's patootie about what anyone else thought about me and my goings-on I'd slather on some T&H Spanish leather, fire up a bowl of Haddo's Delight in my favorite GBD, crack open a bottle of the cheapest, smokiest Islay (yes, that's redundant) that I can lay hands upon and watch No Country for Old Men on repeat while squirting the cats with a water gun any time they get within range. Cats have short memories about such things ... and I don't ... and that's a pretty long movie, especially on auto-repeat.

Yes, one day I'll do just that. I mean, I'll do exactly that if and when I decide to do it, dammit! (I always forget the "dammit!", and it's important, I think) But tonight I'm not quite ready to shake the fundaments of the Earth so I just dabbed on a drop-and-a-half of Freshman and eaaaassssed open a can of Yuengling. You've got to be careful about popping a can open around here, as it makes almost the same sound as the cat food tins. I double-dare you to use the electric can opener. Fill the squirt gun first, and test it - that's all the warning I'm giving you.

 

[RILEY]

Grafton is very fresh, I think some say it's a dead ringer for the Mr Taylor shave cream, but I can't see that at all.

Either way, they both a lot better than any men's perfume I've smelt in dept stores. Modern colognes really are girly.

trafalgar and grafton are my 2 favorites

Grafton's my favorite by far. It is the closest fragrance in my mind to what shaving cream should smell like. The reviews on Basenotes.com are pretty consistent too in that nobody really expresses a contempt for it (which is rare on BN).

Trafalgar is in second place, but the drydown has a slight savory cooking spice (cumin?) note on top of otherwise very pleasing woods. It is unique, masculine and has a real wet-shaving personality. Might not be for everyone though.

Freshman, from what i have read, is what Cool Water smelled like in the early 90's, and Cool Water tends to be a crowd pleaser.

I'd take a bottle of these over Creed any day.

The rest simply aren't my style.

Agreed

IMO Grafton is the ultimate barbershop scent.
Puts me right in the barber chair

 

[ackvil]

Another vote for Grafton.

 

[The Knize]

<I'm leaning toward trying Clubman or Freshman. Or I've considered passing on the T&H and trying Taylor's No. 74 or Mr. Sidney's, or possibly Atkinson's Gold Medal. What would you suggest? >

Grafton by a mile. My favorite T&H by a mile but also based on what you say in your note. To me, versitile, highly classy barbershop scent plus something more that takes it out of the cheap category.

I do not know Taylor's No. 74 or Mr. Sidney's, or Atkinson's Gold Medal. Would love to hear about them. I think Mr. Sidney's is on sale at London Batho whatever it i,s in Charlottesville, for something like 1/2 price. I meant to look into it. I should know more about each of those scents!

 

[closer]

Since you expressed an interest in amber/frankincense/vanilla, you may want to try C&S's frankincense & myrhh. The C&S sampler can be obtained at a very reasonable price.

 

[Jack-in-the-Green]

Well, I found a local shop that had the Spanish Leather and the Freshman to sniff. The Freshman was alright, but I didn't love it. One whiff of the Spanish Leather gave me a headache for the rest of the day, so, I think that's a no. Now if only I could find someplace that carried the Clubman and the Grafton.

Since you expressed an interest in amber/frankincense/vanilla, you may want to try C&S's frankincense & myrhh. The C&S sampler can be obtained at a very reasonable price.

Sounds intriguing. I think I'll order a sample. But, looking at the prices, if it turns out I love it, I may never forgive you.

 

[pauls51]

I actually like the Freshman, Clubman and Grafton lines of T&H...

 

[juicyorchid]

Trafalgar