The Captain doesn't like me

[ThePatrician]

My wife bought me Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS for my birthday. I want to start off saying that the scent is absolutely top-notch. I LOVE the scent. I desperately wanted to love the AS. I told my wife I wanted it, because I was curious about trying a bay rum and have never puttered around with trying lower-tier items.

So it arrived in the mail, and I perused the bottle, which was beautifully labeled, the color was a brilliant amber, etc. Everything about the product was bespoke. So I tried it. I felt as though I had splashed my face with gasoline and someone had Razor Ramoned a cigarette at me. I almost screamed as I reached for the bottle of NIVEA to put out what felt like a Saudi oil fire on my face. 'Alright, I'll put it down for a while'.

A week goes by. Same thing happens. I let two days go by without shaving, then try The Captain again. My face starts to slowly burn, then goes numb. 'Alright, I'll set it aside and let my other aftershaves have their day in the sun'.

I let a month slide by, then break out the ol' Captain. I almost wake my son up from his nap screaming. I let another couple of days go by, try The Captain again, and again my face goes numb after feeling as though it is about to erupt in flames.

This repeats for about five months.

I can't be the only one who feels as though his face has been transported to the Lakes of Hell using a bay rum aftershave. Is there a way to make it..... not burn like acid? Or do I have to bid The Captain a tearful farewell? Please understand, I desperately want to like it. I love the scent, and have heard on every hill and mountaintop across B&B that I will not find a better bay rum. Am I doomed to wallow in bayrumlessness?

 

[lowjax]

Try some Masters or Dominica Bay Rum. I have both and neither burn like Captains.

 

[breadstick]

Are you shaking up the bottle before you use it? I haven't heard anyone else having a reaction to this bay rum.

Also, make sure she didn't order the "Cat Of Nine Tails" version. That version was made to burn.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

That's a downer. I get a burn but it only lasts about a minute. I just re-ordered a new bottle and a sample of Cat'O Nine tails to try.

 

[Shave_Rat]

That much burn almost sounds like a reaction to an ingredient in it. Even if I get a pretty rough shave I don't get that much sting from the Captain's, and only a little more burn than usual from the Cat'O'Nine Tails variety.

That being said, Bay Rum AS varies as much as Sandalwood products vary from one brand to the next. Providing it's not the actual bay oils you are reacting to, there could still be a bay rum out there that won't hurt you as much.

It's still unfortunate, since the Captain's is at the top of my list for bay rums, and is actually the only AS I use now, period.

 

[Mick]

You can "cut it" with unscented witch hazel and also add aloe and glycerine to it.

I do this with some after shaves, especially ones I use more regularly or ones I turn to if I have a particularly "close" shave. These are ones I turn to when I don't "need" to use an after shave balm but don't want to throw on some liquid fire.

I find that adding unscented witch hazel does not change the scent of the product as long as you are judicious in the amount. Start small as you can always add more but it is imposable to take it out once it mixes

Be very judicious with the amount of aloe and glycerine you add as too much and you will end up with a sticky feel after the aftershave dries down. Start with one or two drops of each. You can add more one drop at a time but don't get too much as you will ruin the after shave if you get too much slick/glide/moisturizing in it. You will have to shake the after shave before using it to blend in these additional ingredients as they tend to settle to the bottom of the bottle

 

[ThePatrician]

Oh-ho-ho, I read the description of Cat-o'-Nine-Tails and felt my face flush just thinking about it. NO THANK YOU.

I haven't tried adding witch-hazel, but I did add a couple drops of glycerin to it. I'm fairly consistent about shaking my aftershave splashes, even ones that theoretically don't need it. I'll stick with it for a little while longer as a daily splash, since I'm not eager to feel like the German at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'll try shaking it for a full fifteen-count, but I'm not sure what I'll do if that doesn't work. I suppose it's possible I have a sensitivity to one of the ingredients, which would definitely suck.

 

[Hippie Kai Yay]

Simplest method would be to do the advised shaking of the bottle, since they are oils and need to be mixed since they separate. Then when you pour some into your hands, let it sit for 10-15 seconds; most of the alcohol will evaporate.

If you're still feelin' the burn after that (and I mean Ark of Covenant burn), then it's probably a reaction to your skin that cant be amended. Might I suggest finding a way into making it into a candle?

 

[AjaxLepinski]

I may be a masochist but, I love the burn and numbness that I get from Captain's Choice! I like it so much that I had to buy a bottle of Cat 'o Nine Tails. Surprisingly, Cat '0 Nine Tails didn't seem to be any worse, burn wise, than the original formula.

 

[cryhavoc]

I don't get any burn from the Captain, VIBR now that is a burn! Sorry it didn't work for you but I'm sure it will get snatched up on BST.

 

[Moondancer]

No burn to speak of for me either. Ogallala BR gives me a burn. Layrite's No. 9 gives me a slight burn. Captain's Choice is a mild A/S in my book. I'd recommend you shake it really well (make like it's a "shaken not stirred" martini) and try it again.

 

[Taborcarn]

I felt as though I had splashed my face with gasoline and someone had Razor Ramoned a cigarette at me.

 

[PFP_Dad]

That's really too bad, since this is my favorite bay rum. Give masters a shot, it's my #2 and readily available at Sally's.

 

[shaverjoe]

Sorry to hear this. CCBR is my favorite bay rum but I am actually enjoying the Cat O 9 Tails a lot lately.

 

[lowjax]

I don't get any burn from the Captain, VIBR now that is a burn! Sorry it didn't work for you but I'm sure it will get snatched up on BST.

I just bought some VIBR. With only having tried Dominica and Masters, I can't wait to feel some real burn.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I just bought some VIBR. With only having tried Dominica and Masters, I can't wait to feel some real burn.

Sounds like you need to also look into the Captain's Cat'O'Nine Tails version then.

 

[lowjax]

Sounds like you need to also look into the Captain's Cat'O'Nine Tails version then.

Well, I want to make sure I like some burn before getting the Tails.

 

[Shave_Rat]

Well, I want to make sure I like some burn before getting the Tails.

Bah.. Jump on in, it's great!

 

[shaverjoe]

Bah.. Jump on in, it's great!

+1

 

[Alpine Dad]

I am surprised how much effort you put into this product. After the second time I think I would have moved on to something else. I will work on a soap to get it to lather properly, but if something hurts - good bye!

Cheers