Lilac Vegetal-A Sound Review

[McJAGGER]

First and foremost, I would like to note that this review is strictly IMHO. Also, this is my first ever review based on any fragrance. I am not going to get sophisticated in any way to try and describe what I smelled. I am merely going to convey my message from one man to another based on a manly aftershave that is so humbly called, Lilac Vegetal.

It all started post shave in the wee hours of the morn. The temperature in the bathroom was a refreshing 80 degrees, and steam filled the room. I shaved at the sink as usual, and as I reached up for my Virgin Islands Bay Rum, I felt something move my hand toward the Lilac Vegetal sample I had received in the mail. I did not question this spiritual encounter; I just knew it was time.
As I splashed this yellow substance onto my gloriously shaved face, I immediately became overwhelmed with the aroma of urine and lemons. I was a little uncomfortable with this aroma as a per say, top note, but I knew there was no turning back. I had to see if I was a chosen one.

About 10 minutes passed as I was policing the bathroom and getting dressed. The smell that originally took over my face like a toilet getting urinated in had turned into something beautiful, yet manly. The only way to describe this aroma is to close your eyes and picture yourself walking into a newly mopped Men’s Room and making a bee-line for the urinal that just had a fresh urinal cake tossed in by Janitor Dave.

As oddly as it sounds, Ed. Pinaud made this scent work. Cheers to you good sir, and Godspeed.
McJAGGER

 

[Jess]

Lol....that's awesome! I will put this towards the bottom of my Pinaud must-have list, but I'll have to give it a shot.

 

[Dools]

That Sonet about Veg, ^, made me ...Thank You.

WH and Aloe Vera gel.....Thank you sir, may I have another?

 

[Dusty1]

So does that mean you were chosen, or that it made you want to pee?

 

[mheusler]

I agree. It's not a top of the line scent to say the least. And it's probably not even the top 10-20 aftershave splashes. But it is nice when it dries down, and no one can deny it's status as a classic shaving scent.

 

[McJAGGER]

So does that mean you were chosen, or that it made you want to pee?

Dusty1, I fear it may have been both...

 

[bvance554]

Yea I'm confused as to whether you liked it or not as well. But good description. It is a little off putting at first, but I love how it mellows out and I enjoy getting a whiff now and then throughout the day.

 

[sychodelix]

Okay. Veg has to be like or hate. There is no both or in between. There is only one solution.

Dump it on you. Seriously. Like 4-5 times more than you would if you were sane. That is how you find if you are chosen. You will either embrace it or die trying!

 

[Deadlyapollo]

Probably just die. I first yaked when a Sgt dared me to bathe in it, but damn did I smell like the manliest flower power guy on the FOB in 10 minutes!

 

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

Okay. Veg has to be like or hate. There is no both or in between.

I have noticed this. For me it's a fond remembrance of the Sicilian barber my dad used to take me to as a kid back in the 50s. I think for many of my generation this is what keeps Lilac Vegetal popular. We were "brought up" using it. I also believe that the younger generation who, sadly, have absolutely no recollections of classic barbershops for reference, are the most ardent detractors.

Perhaps it's an acquired taste. Consider the first time you smoked a cigar, it was awful wasn't it?.

It would be interesting to see a poll of Veg lovers, and Veg haters listing the decade in which they were born.

 

[Gingerbread]

It's a great feeling aftershave, but didn't smell good on me. I gave it to a friend and both he and his lady love it. I'm pretty jealous...

 

[seattleshaver]

I'm old enough to have experienced it in the barbershops if it was around. I do recall the Clubman scent (and like it) but I don't like Lilac Vegetal (and don't recall it either as a kid).

 

[MrEdifus]

I like all the Clubmans and don't recall them from my youth, and I'm only 26 years old. I guess they just suit my pallet.

 

[Deadlyapollo]

I'm actually 54 trapped in a 24yr old body. My wife keeps teasing me how I am very old school (music movies cooking etc) but at $5 a bottle I'm sorry but I'd rather smell manly and feel awesome than spend $120 on my old favorite floris no. 89

 

[B. Diddly]

I just received a small sample of lilac vegetal and tried it out the other day. I thought I smelled like an old woman all morning.

 

[McJAGGER]

I'm old enough to have experienced it in the barbershops if it was around. I do recall the Clubman scent (and like it) but I don't like Lilac Vegetal (and don't recall it either as a kid).

I like all the Clubmans and don't recall them from my youth, and I'm only 26 years old. I guess they just suit my pallet.

I'm 25, and love every other Clubman scent, especially the VIBR. Trust me, I wanted to love the Veg, but we just weren't meant to be

 

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

I guess everybody is different. The way I understand our olfactory sense works is that molecules of whatever we are sniffing have distinct shapes which fit into like shaped receptors in our nose like jigsaw puzzle pieces.

I have a curious deviation in this system myself regarding boiled cabbage. If you blindfolded me and waved a sample of boiled cabbage under my nose then replaced it with a dog turd I honestly could not tell the difference. The molecules for both of these malodorous masses must be similar enough to both fit in the same receptor. I can't believe some people actually put sauerkraut and the like into their mouths.

For example: About two months ago I went to have coffee with a neighbor which is my usual custom. When I walked into her house I said "Oh, you have been boiling cabbage." She sighed and replied without sarcasm "No Ken, A raccoon got into my attic and died up there." Which was indeed the case.

And so it must be with the long suffering and much maligned Lilac Vegetal. Some of its molecules must be similar enough to those of cat pee to fool the nasal receptors of some unfortunate souls. Which chagrins me to suspect that some (hopefully small) segment of people who have known me have associated me with the scent of cat urine as I have been using Lilac Vegetal since my dad brought me to his barber for my first haircut three score years ago.

Perhaps we have a physical chemist on board here at B&B who might qualify for a grant to do an erudite study on the Lilac Vegetal/ Cat Pee conundrum.

 

[McJAGGER]

Perhaps we have a physical chemist on board here at B&B who might qualify for a grant to do an erudite study on the Lilac Vegetal/ Cat Pee conundrum.

It must be done!

 

[Redstickjohn]

I posted the following theory in another thread, but I feel it's quite appropriate here:

People tend to either love the Veg, or hate the Veg. People also tend to either love Floid Black, or hate Floid Black. Whether this is because of the shape of our scent receptors or our individual body chemisty, i really don't know, but I've developed a theory. I call it the V-B scale, or the Lilac Vegetal--Floid Black Scale. It looks like this:

VEG .................................................................BLACK
1..........2..........3..........4............5...........6............7

The theory is that you are either on one end of the scale or the other. Personally, I find the urinal cake aroma of the Veg totally disgusting. I could never use that stuff, and my SWMBO finds it equally disgusting. I have also run into many who hate Floid Black as much as I hate the Veg. Personally, I love it. I find it complex and pleasant, still barbershoppy, but a bit more modern. SWMBO likes it too.

By the way, I like boiled cabbage.

 

[McJAGGER]

By the way, I like boiled cabbage.

I too like boiled cabbage, and I may have to try me some Floid Black.