Thread: Art of Shaving - "Holy Moly" Expensive!

Guys, I just browsed the Art of Shaving site: http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/home.php

Great products but would you spend $40 on a cake soap in a wooden bowl or $38 for a small bottle of balm ? Crabtree & Evelyn (I was there to shop for a woman) has the cakes for around $16. There were no name brands mentioned on the str8s but they seemed really nice, especially the black-edged horn.

The yups in NY will spend the money - they think if it costs more then it must be a status thing and unique. I can say this with conviction because I live here.

-Rob

I seem to remember buying the AOS soap in the wooden bowl myself. I paid about $30 for mine. I was a little surprised that it was so unexciting, the soap smelled like, well, soap! I didn't buy the unscented stuff so I'm sure the extra money doesn't go towards scent.

I've tried several of their items in non scented and herbal versions and I wasn't impressed with any of them.

I use their lavender line and really like it, but I am looking for another company because AOS is expensive and the shaving soap really isnt THAT impressive I just really like the scent.

I am assuming that this is the same Art of Shaving stuff you can buy in Nordstrom's and online?

Yeah, the price is eyepoppingly expensive. I think the English brands offer better value, personally, and are a bit less in the vein of... well, I'm going to edit myself and take out what I was going to say.

I haven't been impressed by what I've tried of this. Their creams were a bit too light for my taste, not nearly as thick and rich as what I was used to - I've compared the AoS cream to the Caswell-Massey, which I also didn't like. They have that same pearlescent look, too. And the scent isn't all that great. I really had to stick my nose in the tub to get any hint of it.

Keith, just by chance I stumbled on the Caswell-Massey website. I bought the sandalwood balm under their name brand and Col. Conk almond balm. Very nice products, in my opinion. They also have ridiculously expensive things like chrome razor/brush stands for Mach III razors - one was $600!!!!

I'll stop by the mid-town AoS store one Saturday just to be nosy.

-Rob

Take a good look at the straight razor prices at AOS. There horn handle (Bergisher Lowe) is $300. The Renaissance is $225 and is described as having a bone handle.........hmm, the Dovo Renaissance has an imitation Ivory handle. Double the price of Classic Shaving and the "bone" handle seems a stretch.


I would love to browse through their store sometime though.


Tony

Good one Tony. Ray sells his DOVO Renaissannce for $120 vs AoS's price of $225. A lack of knowledge in this hobby will cost you dearly. I guess that's true for everything. Do you remember the inscription on the statue on the campus of Faber University (the one in "Animal House")? It read, "Knowledge is good." Ha Ha. I like that one but John Belushi's sweatshirt that simply read "College" is absolutely classic.

-Rob

I should list the Maestro razors with these guys, but then they would really be expensive.......lol. Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

I should list the Maestro razors with these guys, but then they would really be expensive.......lol. Lynn

Lynn,

Take a look at the AOS website, the Maestro razors really arent out of the price range of people that can afford this stuff.