"Vacation" Haul

I just got back from my work trip to Charleston, SC. Managed to pick up a few shaving things.
3 cakes of Col. Conk's shaving soap (Bay Rum, Almond, and Amber)
Best Badger brush from Crabtree & Evelyn (I can't remember who recommended that one, but thanks; it's a wonderful brush)
Badian cologne (L'Occitane)
Sandalwood aftershave balm (C&E, and Muhle & Pinsel)
L'Occitane shaving soap in a covered pewter dish
Muhle & Pinsel shaving creams (sandalwood and unscented)
Pinaud Bay Rum
Thayer's Witch Hazel
2 shaving brush stands (one was a handmade wooden one that will hold both your str8 and the brush)
Caswell Massey sandalwood cologne and shaving cream
A beautiful NOS Crabtree & Evelyn shaving mug (ironstone, limited edition 1985)
Trumper's Coral Skin Food

Plus, when I got back, my two Ebay razors were in. They were like new...better than I expected, and the George Barnsley & Sons (Rose Brand, Sheffield) at least is an exceptional shaver. I used it tonight. I'll use the Perfecto tomorrow :D. And my hone from Tilly came in, too. I'm broke as hell, but I got lotsa stuff to play around with.

Joe,

The only thing I disagree with is the Sandalwood...just don't care for it. You did good! You'll love the brush...I've got one. Break it in with the L'Occitane Shaving Soap. Good stuff!

Congratulations on your shopping venture!

RT

To be honest, I like the Caswell-Massey sandalwood cologne a lot, but don't care for the other Muhle-Pinsel as well as I thought I would. There's a lot of difference between brands. The M-P shaves really well, though, and the scent doesn't hang around much after shaving. I got spoiled a bit with the ClassicShaving sandalwood soap...I still think it's the best smelling stuff I have.
The L'Occcitane Badian cologne smells great, but doesn't last at all. Half an hour after I put it on, I can't smell it. And I don't mean I just get used to it and don't smell it any more...I can put my nose right up to my wrist, and the smell is just gone.

Wound up giving away a new Surrey bristle brush, mug, and some Burma Shave soap (amazingly, I like the Burma Shave soap as well as anything else I've tried...go figure) to a Samoan friend I made at the school I was at. He was complaining of skin irritation with regular shaving cream (he was with me when I bought the Bay Rum and Thayer's and started asking questions...we didn't sit around talking about skin care and such:D), so I set him up with the brush and mug. Maybe he'll convert to straight shaving...I tried.

Joe,

Congrats on your shopping expedition. Where did you find all that stuff? Is there a mall with all those stores in it? Maybe I need to finagle a trip to Charleston. :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by EdinLA44

Joe,

Congrats on your shopping expedition. Where did you find all that stuff? Is there a mall with all those stores in it? Maybe I need to finagle a trip to Charleston. :hmmm:

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Actually, I found the stuff at several different stores, although I found all the best (IMO) stuff at just one. Here's a list of the stores I bought stuff at:
Crabtree & Evelyn (*)
Stella Nova (*)
Orient Express (I think they have a website, but it may just be the gift store inside the Charleston Place Hotel, which is owned by Orient Hotels)
Good Scents (the best! 843-723-6933 The owner, Darlene Roberts, also hand makes perfumes, which might be nice to know for the lady in your life:D)

(*) means they have a web store.

Good Scents had the best selection and prices. Darlene had most of what the other stores had, and then some. She can order whatever you want, too, and ship it to you. GS is the store that had those kickass C&E NOS ironstone shaving mugs. I love mine. She also carried most of the Pinaud line. I got the Pinaud Bay Rum, and like it probably better than any of the other Bay Rums I smelled, including Dominica and Royalle. I can't recommend Charleston in general enough! It reminds me a lot of a mix between New Orleans and Natchez, but it's much much cleaner, and the people are friendlier (as well as more literate in general).