Some controversial aftershaves:
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal: The VEG! People either love or hate it, or I should say are chosen or un-chosen. Probably no other aftershave is as sensitive to skin chemistry as Pinaud Lilac Vegetal. I am happy to report that I am one of the chosen! I just splashed some on right before sitting down to write this review. This aftershave has been in production since 1880. Talk about old school. I have been using the Veg off and on since high school. The scent is both simple and complex at the same time. Lilac, green notes (vegetal), and a hint of musk I think. The dry down brings a slow metamorphosis. Initially I get about equal parts lilac and greenery with the musk buried down in there somewhere. As the day goes on the green notes fade (but never disappear completely) and the lilac and musk (again, I think this is what it is) stick around. And when I say stick around I mean it. I put some the other night before bed and I could still smell it on my hands the next morning. My only complaint is that I wish the green notes were more prominent (heresy I'm sure). That is my favorite part. For those that are un-chosen, there are other old school lilac options (see below).
Master Lilac Vegetol: Yes, it is spelled differently. Many people who hate Pinaud's version love Master's version. I myself do not care for it. That is not to say I do not like the scent. I do, just not on me. This has a more pure lilac scent. It is truly delightful, like putting your face into a bouquet of fresh picked lilacs. But I do not get much in the way of green notes like Pinaud's. That is why I do not care for it. Way too flowery for my style. But I do understand why others love it. The face feel of both Master and Pinaud are good, though neither have any glycerine. I PIF'd this to a friend.
Master Breeze: This is a an odd duck to me. When I sniffed this out of the bottle I thought what a weird smell. I get the same lilac scent as Master Lilac Vegetol, some green notes, and something else that ruins it for me. It reminded me of one of those oceany, beachy, breezy scented candles. On the other hand, the face feel is great as it has both menthol and glycerine in it. I PIF'd this to the same friend. To show how much mileage may vary he told me he likes it and his wife absolutely LOVED it on him! Vive La Diffe'rence!
Pinaud Eau de Quinine: This is actually a hair tonic that many use as an aftershave. It has been in production since the 1850s. It does a fine job as an aftershave, but it is not for me. The scent is a combination of florals (rose or geranium, I think), a little citrus, and quinine. The quinine was commonly thought to be good for the scalp back when people rarely washed their hair. This gives it a medicinal smell. I think it smells like Dr. Pepper mixed with cough syrup. When it did not work out for me as an aftershave I thought, oh well, I can still use it on my hair. Unfortunately, the smell in my hair still clashed with whatever aftershave I used. But again, many men like it so YMMV.
Next category review in a couple of days.
Shave early, shave often.
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal: The VEG! People either love or hate it, or I should say are chosen or un-chosen. Probably no other aftershave is as sensitive to skin chemistry as Pinaud Lilac Vegetal. I am happy to report that I am one of the chosen! I just splashed some on right before sitting down to write this review. This aftershave has been in production since 1880. Talk about old school. I have been using the Veg off and on since high school. The scent is both simple and complex at the same time. Lilac, green notes (vegetal), and a hint of musk I think. The dry down brings a slow metamorphosis. Initially I get about equal parts lilac and greenery with the musk buried down in there somewhere. As the day goes on the green notes fade (but never disappear completely) and the lilac and musk (again, I think this is what it is) stick around. And when I say stick around I mean it. I put some the other night before bed and I could still smell it on my hands the next morning. My only complaint is that I wish the green notes were more prominent (heresy I'm sure). That is my favorite part. For those that are un-chosen, there are other old school lilac options (see below).
Master Lilac Vegetol: Yes, it is spelled differently. Many people who hate Pinaud's version love Master's version. I myself do not care for it. That is not to say I do not like the scent. I do, just not on me. This has a more pure lilac scent. It is truly delightful, like putting your face into a bouquet of fresh picked lilacs. But I do not get much in the way of green notes like Pinaud's. That is why I do not care for it. Way too flowery for my style. But I do understand why others love it. The face feel of both Master and Pinaud are good, though neither have any glycerine. I PIF'd this to a friend.
Master Breeze: This is a an odd duck to me. When I sniffed this out of the bottle I thought what a weird smell. I get the same lilac scent as Master Lilac Vegetol, some green notes, and something else that ruins it for me. It reminded me of one of those oceany, beachy, breezy scented candles. On the other hand, the face feel is great as it has both menthol and glycerine in it. I PIF'd this to the same friend. To show how much mileage may vary he told me he likes it and his wife absolutely LOVED it on him! Vive La Diffe'rence!
Pinaud Eau de Quinine: This is actually a hair tonic that many use as an aftershave. It has been in production since the 1850s. It does a fine job as an aftershave, but it is not for me. The scent is a combination of florals (rose or geranium, I think), a little citrus, and quinine. The quinine was commonly thought to be good for the scalp back when people rarely washed their hair. This gives it a medicinal smell. I think it smells like Dr. Pepper mixed with cough syrup. When it did not work out for me as an aftershave I thought, oh well, I can still use it on my hair. Unfortunately, the smell in my hair still clashed with whatever aftershave I used. But again, many men like it so YMMV.
Next category review in a couple of days.
Shave early, shave often.
