I bought a tub of AOS lavender from my local AOS store - the first time I've used this formulation of their cream, which has changed since P&G took over the company. (For reference, I have owned all scents of the older formulation, except the Sea Kelp.) All in all, I'm pleased. The lavender scent is as good as it ever has been with this brand - a high-quality, straight lavender, unique among the mainstream lavender creams. It's not the scent bomb Castle Forbes is, but is still quite good; I'd say it has about the same scent intensity as T&H UC, or is perhaps a little stronger.
The texture is a bit "looser" in the tub than it used to be. The older formulation was made in England, and had the same base ingredients as the Three Ts; ostensibly it was a Creighton's-made product, and was similar in firmness to Trumper or traditional T&H. This newer formula is now made in the USA, is paraben free, and is more like T&H UC in consistency. It also produces a slightly "wetter" lather than the standard English creams, with excellent glide, cushion and conditioning, again quite similar to T&H UC. In fact, I'd basically consider this an American-made equivalent of T&H UC. The two creams are not identical, but are close enough to likely be of equal appeal to those who enjoy one or the other. T&H UC has been my go-to cream for a number of years now, but I could be just as happy using the AOS lavender.
Packaging is the same as always, which is to say excellent. The cream comes in the same classy, black tub as before, but this one has a seal inserted into the lid, which was not present in previous ones I've purchased; I consider that to be an improvement. On the whole, this a very nice cream, and a worthy addition to any lavender enthusiast's collection. That it is available at a number of local brick-and-mortar stores is icing on the cake.
The texture is a bit "looser" in the tub than it used to be. The older formulation was made in England, and had the same base ingredients as the Three Ts; ostensibly it was a Creighton's-made product, and was similar in firmness to Trumper or traditional T&H. This newer formula is now made in the USA, is paraben free, and is more like T&H UC in consistency. It also produces a slightly "wetter" lather than the standard English creams, with excellent glide, cushion and conditioning, again quite similar to T&H UC. In fact, I'd basically consider this an American-made equivalent of T&H UC. The two creams are not identical, but are close enough to likely be of equal appeal to those who enjoy one or the other. T&H UC has been my go-to cream for a number of years now, but I could be just as happy using the AOS lavender.
Packaging is the same as always, which is to say excellent. The cream comes in the same classy, black tub as before, but this one has a seal inserted into the lid, which was not present in previous ones I've purchased; I consider that to be an improvement. On the whole, this a very nice cream, and a worthy addition to any lavender enthusiast's collection. That it is available at a number of local brick-and-mortar stores is icing on the cake.