QCS Vostok - wow!

[chris.hale]

Much as I like Proraso green I felt it needed more menthol, and my search for a good face-freeze coupled with its good reviews led me to Queen Charlotte's vostok. It took a week to get here from the US and arrived today.

First impressions were good, the soap looks hand-made (which I like!) and the label was stuck to the soap wrapper, not the wooden bowl. (Are you listening D R Harris?) It also has a pleasant peppermint / menthol scent. This stuff lathers up a storm, I'm still getting to grips with soap but this was a cinch. Within a few seconds of applying the lather the chill set in, ooh cold! This stuff is decidedly chilly and was exactly what I'd been hoping for. The lather is very slick, and my Weber loaded with a fresh med prep give me possibly the most comfortable shave I've ever had. Even after a shower I could still feel the menthol goodness twenty minutes later and my face and head feel great.

I will definitely be buying more when I've used it, and think it may be my go-to soap over the summer.

 

[shaverjoe]

QCS is my favorite soap. If you really want a nice freeze, couple your Vostok soap with the QCS Vostok aftershave balm.

 

[BrookR1]

Use it with Edwin Jagger pre-shave cream and follow it up with Osage Rub.....



If you dare!

 

[Predict]

Ive got to try Vostok once my supply dwindles a little. I work in a very hot environment and I keep a bottle of Osage rub in my bag for a cool down at work. I actually added menthol crystals to my Osage rub.

 

[alabamalawyer]

Nice choice with the QCS Volstok. I'm currently enjoying mine, and it's quickly become one of my favorites.

 

[mctmatt]

Vostok shave cream was my first introduction to QCS and I became a huge fan of their products. I placed a second order for the Vostok bath soap and have been enjoying its cooling benefits as we have already been above 95 here in North Texas.

 

[LeftyT]

I have the generous sample size, here and really enjoy it. QCS makes a very, very good product. I'm a fan of Proraso and this is a natural fit for those of us who love menthol (when the mood hits, for me), but occasionally want even more cooling. The lather is superb and the scent is nice to boot.
Another really nice scent/product of QCS is the Hinoki Wood. It's got a Japanese Cherry Blossom thing going for it that really works.

 

[Cochese2323]

Is their soap a pretty hard soap or is a softer soap like MdC, RazoRock, Mystic Water, etc.

 

[EvilZeg]

It's a hard soap. I love Vostok, I plan on getting the cream, bath soap and after shave balm.

 

[Cochese2323]

I really want to try it. I think I might try the cream sample first though. Only thing I am worried about is that I tried Proraso Pre/Post in the green tub and it was too much menthol for my skin to take, but the after shave splash is fine for me....actually my favorite AS

 

[Price]

I really want to try it. I think I might try the cream sample first though. Only thing I am worried about is that I tried Proraso Pre/Post in the green tub and it was too much menthol for my skin to take, but the after shave splash is fine for me....actually my favorite AS

If proraso was too much menthol, you're probably better off steering clear of Vostok.

 

[Cochese2323]

I am going to order some samples for now, so if it doesn't work out for me, at least I am just out a sample. And for the Proraso stuff, I don't know if it was the menthol in the preshave or just everything all together in the preshave. I haven't tried Proraso cream, so it is hard for me to say because I haven't tried anything else with menthol besides the aftershave, and that works for me.

 

[LeftyT]

Proraso was likely too much Eucalyptus, not menthol, for you. Just a theory, but ya know.
I find eucalyptus is more prominent than methol in Proraso, but maybe that's just me.

 

[LeftyT]

Wait, Ryan, if you want to try Proraso/CO Bigelow cream, let me know

 

[Cochese2323]

Wait, Ryan, if you want to try Proraso/CO Bigelow cream, let me know

Would probably cost you more to ship it from Canada than for my to just go buy it at Bath and Body Works

 

[Sunflake]

Is there any difference in smell or freeze factor between the soap and the cream?

 

[Sir_Eider]

Hey, mate! Happy to hear that my recommendation worked well! I personally don't like too much mentholaded soaps/shavin creams but QCS makes really good soaps (I have GIT "like" soap and its lovely!)

Cheers!