I've never tried Bay Rum. Where to start?

[Samon]

Yep, never tried it before. I always skipped any bay rum aftershave when browsing as I gave up drinking years ago and assumed it was just some boozy smelling stuff for fans of rum..

But since reading it seems that it is not rum smelling at all but infact a manly spiced concoction!? I'm a big fan of manly and earthy scents like pine tar and I rather like Old spice.

So I guess I'm asking which ones do you fellas recommend most?? I'm eyeing Pinaud Clubman's bay rum as I like the old school fragrant pong of their standard aftershave and who can resist those enormous bottles at bargain prices??

All I ask is that it doesn't actually smell like an alcoholic beverage.

Cheers

 

[kwickone]

Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum is typically the standard. I would probably start there. Lots of folks on this site really like PAA's Atomic Age Bay Rum. They sell samples. There are others that are liked as well, and most sell samples. Stirling Soap Co and Wet Shaving Products (WPS) come to mind. Good luck!

 

[ChipNWedge]

Captain’s Choice and Barberry Coast would be my two recommendations.

 

[Cal]

I'm eyeing Pinaud Clubman's bay rum as I like the old school fragrant pong of their standard aftershave and who can resist those enormous bottles at bargain prices??

I'm a Bay Rum novice too. My first and only Bay Rum product to date is Clubman VIBR which I like (and doesn't smell of booze).

Go for it!

 

[ouchyfoot]

Atomic Age Bay Rum.

 

[beardlyboy]

Novice here too. I have sauvectico bay rum and it’s clove forward but mild. I probably won’t buy it again but do like the spicy scent. I need to try a sampler.

 

[Atlantic59]

There are many good ones, though some are too heavy on the clove or synthetic ingredients for me. One of the best ones was Dominica, which is hard to find these days. There is a similar product called Grand Bay.

 

[ZaphodZ]

Lots of choices! I can recommend Barrister and Mann's Bay Rum.

 

[Koken]

 

[MikeTbass]

View attachment 1215357

My first and only bay rum, I wish I could find more for a reasonable price nowadays....

 

[B_R_A_D]

Another vote for PAA Atomic Age Bay Rum

 

[ajkel64]

I have only tried Captain’s Choice Bay Rum Shaving Cream. Great product. Check out his store in the Vendor Forum, he has some other great stuff there as well.

 

[cryhavoc]

My favorites are:

Bootleggers Bay Rum- A wonderful Bay Rum mix created by our own @OkieStubble
Pinaud Clubman VIBR
Captain's choice Cat O' Nine Tails
Royall Bay Rhum

I like:
Stirling Bay Rum
Ogallala Bay Rum- and some of the variants they offer

I have heard great things about PAA's various Bay Rum options, the Atomic Age Bay Rum in particular.

 

[Samon]

What's the general scent profile of bay rum? I read it was like a spiced clove mix and somewhat like a manly Christmas cookie. How varied are the brand's you guys have suggested? Are some completely different and non comparible or are they all within the obvious realms of what you expect?

 

[DaveHStone]

What's the general scent profile of bay rum? I read it was like a spiced clove mix and somewhat like a manly Christmas cookie. How varied are the brand's you guys have suggested? Are some completely different and non comparible or are they all within the obvious realms of what you expect?

Variations are countless, so most likely NOT within the "obvious realms".

Are all the Fougeres or Cyphres or Ouds the same? Of course not. Same with these Bay Rum fragrances.

 

[Smooth and Sharp]

@JCarr is a big bay rum fan, Im sure he will help.
For myself, +1 for Pinaud clubman Virgin island

 

[Ad Astra]

Mainly there's pro-clove and anti-clove camps.

Anything with the actual pimentosa leaf works for me.

Most used: Bootleggers Bay Rum.


AA

 

[Jim99]

I’m going through a bottle of Pinaud VIBR right now. I like the clove forward scent of it, but it does fade quickly. Would I buy another bottle when this one is done? Definitely!

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

I'm a huge and long time bay rum fan. I've tried a good many of 'em, but certainly not all.

In my view, the best of the lot are the various bay rums made by PAA.

	⬅ This is wonderful stuff. It blew my mind when I first tried it, and it displaced my very long time favorite right away.​
This, their Clâsico, is also excellent. Sometimes I like it better than the Atomic Age, but it's really a day of the week thing.​
	Love my coconut bay rum. Wonderful scent. I think anyone would like it.​
The pineapple has a place, too, in my bay rum world, but I'd guess not everyone would be thrilled by it. The first three should suit just about any bay rum fan.​

I should also give a shout out to my former long term favorite...

It's still a great bay rum, but no longer the one I reach for.​

With few exceptions the "regular" bay rums are universal pleasing to me. However, that doesn't mean there are no exceptions, and it certainly doesn't mean a bay rum can't be screwed up by trying to turn it into a combination of bay rum and something else. Of course, it's all terribly subjective. I'm not saying anyone should like what I like, but, in my opinion, which is informed only by my nose, the bay rums I've mentioned here are all excellent as are some I've not mentioned that others have talked about.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[jonctd]