Hi,
Thought I would share my thoughts and experience of a new puck of Vostok and some soap samples. By way of background the only shaving soaps I have used previous to this are Palmolive cream, Tabac and MWF.
First up Matthew's service is great - I was battling to decide what samples to get so fired him an email outlining some of my fragrance likes/dislikes and he got right back with some suggestions. So got samples of Cayman, Basilica, Vetiver, Provence and Rose Otto. You may of guessed I prefer heavy spicier scents - have always seemed to work better on my skin, much to my wife's frustration Tabac cologne works a treat on me. In addition Matthew threw in a free cream sample of Versailles
Package shipped pretty quickly and I could smell it before I even opened it - no idea how it got past the sniffer dogs
Opened the box and was hit by a blast of minty menthol spice - completely overpowering. By this time I was very concerned but separated the soaps and decided to let them settle for a few days. 3 days later and scents had settled and the menthol cross pollution had disappeared. The scents are definitely not weak or ill defined.
After a bit of experimenting and failed lathers - I finally got it sorted with the following technique for the samples:
With all the hard soaps I have owned I have found that the soap needs to be "hydrated" before you can get enough product loaded/lathered. So night before I put the piece in a small bowl and covered with warm water for 5 minutes and then emptied the water. Next morning before my shower when I soak the brush just give the soap a swipe with the wet brush. Found it worked better leaving the soap sample whole as opposed to pressing down into the bowl.
Take a fairly wet brush and just start lathering on the soap, scoop the loose foam into your bowl (I bowl lather) and repeat a couple of times and then switch to your bowl and get that lather going.
At least that worked reliably for me
As for performance: once lathered properly I couldn't tell much of difference between any of the QC soaps and my MWF/Tabac. Seems to possibly take less water than the MWF and Tabac but I couldn't pick a difference based on lubrication. My skin is on the oily side so I couldn't comment on drying out/moisturizing either.
The big deal with these soaps is the scent, this is a massive YMMV so instead of trying to be objective I am just going to be blunt and share my opinion - this in now way reflects on the quality or effectiveness of this soap yada yada yada....
Vostok
So far this has disappointed me as besides the menthol there is a distinct mint smell that makes it smell like Minties (a well known candy at this end of the world). I am desperately hoping this disappears with time - currently the puck is standing open. The menthol cooling effect is just great on this soap and lives up to the hype, gives your eyes that gentle tingle and cools without burning.
Vetiver
No idea what vetiver is supposed to smell like but this is an earthy forest floor scent as described. Heavy and dense, you smell it at the back of your nose.
Provence
I didn't like the Provence, was the most "complicated" scent of the soaps and to my nose was a combination of vetiver plus something like cedar wood/sandalwood ??? Just not my cup of tea.
Cayman
Again I have never smelt a Bay Rum of any kind. This smells just like a small bottle of brandy with cloves that my dad used to keep in the medicine cabinet (think it was for toothache ???). Distinctly clove and alcohol but not as up front/aggressive as one may think from that description. Surprisingly SWMBO like this on me.
Basilica
Smells, as advertised, like frankincense and myrrh. Heavy, musty, spicy.
Rose Otto
Again no experience of rose scented creams etc. but I do know old fashioned roses. This smells like the most wonderful old fashioned Damask rose. Spice, musk, dry and heady. I love it just because it smells like the roses I love and choose to grow. My favorite scent of the lot.
Versailles Cream
Most complex of all the scents as it has more than just the base notes. Can't quite place it not unpleasant but not a favourite either.
While testing all of these sample I received a pack of aftershave samples and then it hit me. All the soaps I had chosen are essentially strong base notes and perfectly suited to being layered with an appropriate aftershave. Unless you like strong scents I don't think you would like my choice as they are. Once you start pairing with an aftershave with the high and middle notes you can get a complete fragrance which is much gentler and well rounded.
My favorite combo so far is the Rose Otto with Mr Taylors or St James over it.
As for the real test - what will I order again ?
Rose Otto - is going to find a permanent place in my den (can anyone compare it to Klar Kabinett or some of the other rose scents ?)
Vostok - only if the mint disappears or another version is brought out. Menthol is great but I can't get the candy out of my mind.
None of the other scents grab me enough compared to MWF, Tabac, Arlington and Marlborough.
As said earlier the performance of QCS is just great. So go ahead and pick up a couple of samples and try and match with some of your favorite aftershaves or maybe an aftershave that is missing a base note or two.
Hope this helps some of you choose.
_____________________
Robin
Thought I would share my thoughts and experience of a new puck of Vostok and some soap samples. By way of background the only shaving soaps I have used previous to this are Palmolive cream, Tabac and MWF.
First up Matthew's service is great - I was battling to decide what samples to get so fired him an email outlining some of my fragrance likes/dislikes and he got right back with some suggestions. So got samples of Cayman, Basilica, Vetiver, Provence and Rose Otto. You may of guessed I prefer heavy spicier scents - have always seemed to work better on my skin, much to my wife's frustration Tabac cologne works a treat on me. In addition Matthew threw in a free cream sample of Versailles
Package shipped pretty quickly and I could smell it before I even opened it - no idea how it got past the sniffer dogs
Opened the box and was hit by a blast of minty menthol spice - completely overpowering. By this time I was very concerned but separated the soaps and decided to let them settle for a few days. 3 days later and scents had settled and the menthol cross pollution had disappeared. The scents are definitely not weak or ill defined.
After a bit of experimenting and failed lathers - I finally got it sorted with the following technique for the samples:
With all the hard soaps I have owned I have found that the soap needs to be "hydrated" before you can get enough product loaded/lathered. So night before I put the piece in a small bowl and covered with warm water for 5 minutes and then emptied the water. Next morning before my shower when I soak the brush just give the soap a swipe with the wet brush. Found it worked better leaving the soap sample whole as opposed to pressing down into the bowl.
Take a fairly wet brush and just start lathering on the soap, scoop the loose foam into your bowl (I bowl lather) and repeat a couple of times and then switch to your bowl and get that lather going.
At least that worked reliably for me
As for performance: once lathered properly I couldn't tell much of difference between any of the QC soaps and my MWF/Tabac. Seems to possibly take less water than the MWF and Tabac but I couldn't pick a difference based on lubrication. My skin is on the oily side so I couldn't comment on drying out/moisturizing either.
The big deal with these soaps is the scent, this is a massive YMMV so instead of trying to be objective I am just going to be blunt and share my opinion - this in now way reflects on the quality or effectiveness of this soap yada yada yada....
Vostok
So far this has disappointed me as besides the menthol there is a distinct mint smell that makes it smell like Minties (a well known candy at this end of the world). I am desperately hoping this disappears with time - currently the puck is standing open. The menthol cooling effect is just great on this soap and lives up to the hype, gives your eyes that gentle tingle and cools without burning.
Vetiver
No idea what vetiver is supposed to smell like but this is an earthy forest floor scent as described. Heavy and dense, you smell it at the back of your nose.
Provence
I didn't like the Provence, was the most "complicated" scent of the soaps and to my nose was a combination of vetiver plus something like cedar wood/sandalwood ??? Just not my cup of tea.
Cayman
Again I have never smelt a Bay Rum of any kind. This smells just like a small bottle of brandy with cloves that my dad used to keep in the medicine cabinet (think it was for toothache ???). Distinctly clove and alcohol but not as up front/aggressive as one may think from that description. Surprisingly SWMBO like this on me.
Basilica
Smells, as advertised, like frankincense and myrrh. Heavy, musty, spicy.
Rose Otto
Again no experience of rose scented creams etc. but I do know old fashioned roses. This smells like the most wonderful old fashioned Damask rose. Spice, musk, dry and heady. I love it just because it smells like the roses I love and choose to grow. My favorite scent of the lot.
Versailles Cream
Most complex of all the scents as it has more than just the base notes. Can't quite place it not unpleasant but not a favourite either.
While testing all of these sample I received a pack of aftershave samples and then it hit me. All the soaps I had chosen are essentially strong base notes and perfectly suited to being layered with an appropriate aftershave. Unless you like strong scents I don't think you would like my choice as they are. Once you start pairing with an aftershave with the high and middle notes you can get a complete fragrance which is much gentler and well rounded.
My favorite combo so far is the Rose Otto with Mr Taylors or St James over it.
As for the real test - what will I order again ?
Rose Otto - is going to find a permanent place in my den (can anyone compare it to Klar Kabinett or some of the other rose scents ?)
Vostok - only if the mint disappears or another version is brought out. Menthol is great but I can't get the candy out of my mind.
None of the other scents grab me enough compared to MWF, Tabac, Arlington and Marlborough.
As said earlier the performance of QCS is just great. So go ahead and pick up a couple of samples and try and match with some of your favorite aftershaves or maybe an aftershave that is missing a base note or two.
Hope this helps some of you choose.
_____________________
Robin
