Messygoon
Abandoned By Gypsies.
Just words of gratitude and encouragement. I am following with great anticipation. Balms have a tremendous impact on my post-shave skin, and your reviews are helping me narrow the field. Many thanks!
Toothpick's Never-Ending Aftershave Reviews
- Thread starter Toothpick
- Start date
Doug, I love your refined manners and gentlemanly attitude. Yours is the Gold Standard of how a B&B member should always behave. Thank you dear friend. My hat is off in your honour.
Duke Cannon After-Shave Balm Ice Cold
Quite impressive! The initial blast of menthol is quite nice. Even after a cold water rinse that I do. And it sticks around for roughly 10-15 minutes. I really like the scent as well. Can definitely smell the menthol but it is not overpowering, like say Vicks Vapor Rub is. The scent also sticks around for roughly the same amount of time as the ”cool” feeling. I probably used a bit more than necessary but that’s just what I do with AS, I don’t skimp. On the hands and while applying to the face there is a bit of a greasy feeling. But guess what - it goes away completely once dry. My face feels smoooooooth and great. No sting or burn (no alcohol). Really impressed with the first application. We’ll see how this performs a 2nd time, and 3rd.
View attachment 1398215View attachment 1398216
Well you convinced me to try the duke cannon. Saw it on the shelf at the supermarket and grabbed it! What an enabler!
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #24
if you like menthol you will like this.
- Thread starter
- #25
Truefitt & Hill 1805
I really like this stuff. Let me start by saying I can’t really smell it. I think I’m coming down with something that’s got my nose acting weird. But I can slightly smell it and I do like the scent. It’s got that old timey refined gentleman scent from what I can smell. I thought it would be thick but it’s kind of thin. Not so much to be runny though. Very easy to spread around and rub in. It does leave a slight greasy feeling on the hands when washing it off but that doesn’t carry over to the face. Just about 5 or so minutes to dry and the face feels really smooth. And actually quite cool, as if it has menthol on it but I don’t think it does. A really good aftershave balm by my standards.
I really like this stuff. Let me start by saying I can’t really smell it. I think I’m coming down with something that’s got my nose acting weird. But I can slightly smell it and I do like the scent. It’s got that old timey refined gentleman scent from what I can smell. I thought it would be thick but it’s kind of thin. Not so much to be runny though. Very easy to spread around and rub in. It does leave a slight greasy feeling on the hands when washing it off but that doesn’t carry over to the face. Just about 5 or so minutes to dry and the face feels really smooth. And actually quite cool, as if it has menthol on it but I don’t think it does. A really good aftershave balm by my standards.
1805 balm doesn't have much scent, but it is there. 1805 has an aquatic feel to it, citrus, florals, and soft spices and woods, pleasantly aromatic. 1805 has been around for a long time, surely it pre-dates the Nauticas and Aqua di Gios of the world. Truefitt & Hill makes good stuff, their fragrances are in the English elite barbershop tradition centered in old London Town, along with Trumper and Taylor of Bond Street. You actually have a luxury balm on hand, enjoy it.
Excellent thread, thank you! Interesting, I haven’t used anything besides unscented which hazel for 18 years (my wife is mostly scent adverse) and I recently tried the same Nivea balm. It soaks in to my dry skin very quickly although my delicate nose picks up a medium strength scent for several hours after use. I love it and my wife hasn’t said anything so big score for me…..so far.
Interesting. To me the Nivea Sensitive After Shave Balm leaves no residue. In fact its one of the things I love about it, and its great performance.
I've since moved on to Speick after shave (superb in every way) and homemade witch hazel + essential oil + menthol mix.
Tried it out to day and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised and enjoyed quite a bit. Good suggestion!
- Thread starter
- #30
LaToja Aftershave Balm
Excellent! My nose can’t smell still but I do detect a spicy scent. This more along the lines of a balm that I’m used to. Goes on thin. Dries fairly quickly, less than 5 minutes. And leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. Overall just plain ole great. Highly recommend.
Excellent! My nose can’t smell still but I do detect a spicy scent. This more along the lines of a balm that I’m used to. Goes on thin. Dries fairly quickly, less than 5 minutes. And leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. Overall just plain ole great. Highly recommend.
- Thread starter
- #31
Speick Aftershave Balm
Not a fan. If it had a better scent I would like it. But the scent is a real turn off for me. Almost smells spoiled. Of course - my smeller hasn’t been the greatest lately. But I can smell this, and I don’t like it. It kinds stings the nose. Other than that it preforms alright. Somewhat on the thin side but that’s alright by me. Does take a few extra minutes to dry compared to other balms. But once dry no issues at all - other than scent. But because I can’t get past that - it’s a no go for me.
Not a fan. If it had a better scent I would like it. But the scent is a real turn off for me. Almost smells spoiled. Of course - my smeller hasn’t been the greatest lately. But I can smell this, and I don’t like it. It kinds stings the nose. Other than that it preforms alright. Somewhat on the thin side but that’s alright by me. Does take a few extra minutes to dry compared to other balms. But once dry no issues at all - other than scent. But because I can’t get past that - it’s a no go for me.
- Thread starter
- #32
Myrsol Emulsion Aftershave Balm
I’m not sure how to feel about this one. Overall it reminds me of a 1950’s hospital. Like this is what they issued to hospital patients in the 50’s. The glass jar, the thick creamy balm, the weird name, the scent. Everything about it. BUT, I like how it preforms. Feels really good after it’s dry. Goes on very slick even though it’s rather thick. I’m just gonna have to say I’d recommend this with caution. It‘s not a very good scent and it might be difficult to get out of the jar - just think of those ketchup jars you gotta pound to get anything out of.
I’m not sure how to feel about this one. Overall it reminds me of a 1950’s hospital. Like this is what they issued to hospital patients in the 50’s. The glass jar, the thick creamy balm, the weird name, the scent. Everything about it. BUT, I like how it preforms. Feels really good after it’s dry. Goes on very slick even though it’s rather thick. I’m just gonna have to say I’d recommend this with caution. It‘s not a very good scent and it might be difficult to get out of the jar - just think of those ketchup jars you gotta pound to get anything out of.
interesting. I like the scent. Overall, this is one of my favourites. Classic ymmv.
- Thread starter
- #34
Geo F Trumper Coral Skin Food
Gotta say - I thought this would be A LOT better. I was really surprised at how SLICK it is. When you apply it to your face your hands just glide like they are greased up. The touch of alcohol in it gives you that familiar sting, but it’s not a big sting. Just enough to let you know it’s there. Drys super quick. I’d say the quickest drying aftershave I’ve used. Not crazy about the scent. It’s not bad though. I don’t find it to be WOW though. Or even that great. After it’s dried on the face my face just feels….normal. Like I didn’t shave at all or something. I guess for some that’s a good thing. But the best aftershave I’ve used leave my face feeling buttery soft and smooth. This just leaves my face feeling meh.
It’s not bad, but I expected more.
Gotta say - I thought this would be A LOT better. I was really surprised at how SLICK it is. When you apply it to your face your hands just glide like they are greased up. The touch of alcohol in it gives you that familiar sting, but it’s not a big sting. Just enough to let you know it’s there. Drys super quick. I’d say the quickest drying aftershave I’ve used. Not crazy about the scent. It’s not bad though. I don’t find it to be WOW though. Or even that great. After it’s dried on the face my face just feels….normal. Like I didn’t shave at all or something. I guess for some that’s a good thing. But the best aftershave I’ve used leave my face feeling buttery soft and smooth. This just leaves my face feeling meh.
It’s not bad, but I expected more.
- Thread starter
- #35
Art of Shaving After Shave Balm
Gotta say I thought this would be better considering the cost. It’s good at best. Not great. I’m not a fan of the scent but they do make a few other scents so I won’t hold that against them. Lavender is what I picked so that’s my fault. The balm is kinda yellowish and about what you’d expect consistency wise. My issue with this is it’s $45 for 3.3oz and it’s not overwhelmingly great. Goes on fine, dries in an acceptable amount of time. But there is no WOW feeling after it’s dry and no WOW feeling after the initial application. It’s just an alright balm with a luxury price tag.
Gotta say I thought this would be better considering the cost. It’s good at best. Not great. I’m not a fan of the scent but they do make a few other scents so I won’t hold that against them. Lavender is what I picked so that’s my fault. The balm is kinda yellowish and about what you’d expect consistency wise. My issue with this is it’s $45 for 3.3oz and it’s not overwhelmingly great. Goes on fine, dries in an acceptable amount of time. But there is no WOW feeling after it’s dry and no WOW feeling after the initial application. It’s just an alright balm with a luxury price tag.
Thanks for the review. This was my fear, so I have not tried it.
- Thread starter
- #37
L’Occitane Cade
This stuff is pretty darn good! More of a lotion than a balm. It’s thick. Which is fine with me. Goes on like a lotion. Soaks up in the skin pretty well and dries completely under 10 minutes. So a little longer dry time. But because it leaves my face feeling great, has a very mild pleasant scent, and causes no sting I’d say this stuff is pretty darn good!
This stuff is pretty darn good! More of a lotion than a balm. It’s thick. Which is fine with me. Goes on like a lotion. Soaks up in the skin pretty well and dries completely under 10 minutes. So a little longer dry time. But because it leaves my face feeling great, has a very mild pleasant scent, and causes no sting I’d say this stuff is pretty darn good!
- Thread starter
- #38
Proraso Aftershave Balm
Not much to say about this one either. Starting to see a trend. Maybe I’m getting burnt out on all these aftershaves. It’s good though. And I enjoy the scent. It dries really quick, within minutes. All around a good aftershave. Soaks right in and feels pretty darn good.
Not much to say about this one either. Starting to see a trend. Maybe I’m getting burnt out on all these aftershaves. It’s good though. And I enjoy the scent. It dries really quick, within minutes. All around a good aftershave. Soaks right in and feels pretty darn good.
- Thread starter
- #39
Pre de Provence No. 63
Smells fantastic! So good I went straight to Amazon and ordered the cologne. Also it’s not bad just in general. Leaves my face feeling soft and dries really quick. More like a lotion than a balm. Kind of a cooling effect too but I don’t know what could be the cause of that. Overall - I like it!
Smells fantastic! So good I went straight to Amazon and ordered the cologne. Also it’s not bad just in general. Leaves my face feeling soft and dries really quick. More like a lotion than a balm. Kind of a cooling effect too but I don’t know what could be the cause of that. Overall - I like it!
I really appreciate your reviews. They opened my eyes to a few I hadn't heard of and others I've wanted to try.
I don't use many balms throughout the year, but I always like to have a few at my disposal just in case.
Two, I'll try based on your reviews, Duke Cannon (because I love menthol), and Pre de Provence 63 (the cooling effect & scent profile intrigues me).
Any new reviews in the works?
I don't use many balms throughout the year, but I always like to have a few at my disposal just in case.
Two, I'll try based on your reviews, Duke Cannon (because I love menthol), and Pre de Provence 63 (the cooling effect & scent profile intrigues me).
Any new reviews in the works?
