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Ok. So maybe I'm a little old world.
I work in technology and have a no problem doing most things on line, but I can't seem to pull the trigger on ordering an aftershave online.
My problem is, I need to actually smell it before I choose it. Most local retailers don't stock stuff like D.R. Harris, or Taylor of Bond Street, and I certainly don't feel good about spending 12$ shipping on 4$ worth of samples.
I guess I feel like I have anosmia.
How do you guys do it?
Just roll the dice and take the plunge in most cases and hope I don't make too big an oooops. As convenient as online shopping is it will never be able to replace walking into a brick and mortar store and experiencing real smells, real touches and actual human interaction. Turns out "anosmia" is not the only thing you miss on the net. Good word that BTW, had to look it up.
Bob
Hi Jakob, I know what you mean. As Bob says, it can be a leap of faith.
If I can suggest, at least start out ordering a bottle of Ed Pinaud "Clubman".
The price is cheap and the scent is such that I've not heard one negative review yet.
Of course I'm biased, I love it :D
Yeah Bob, I had to look up that word too !!
Could not agree more. Soaps, creams and aftershave should be purchased in person but it is difficult to find. I just read reviews and take my chances. If I am really on the fence I order it from amazon because they will accept returns and shipping is generally included
leap of faith is the correct term, as we have plenty of guys here to give good recommendations its still up to the individual,, but I say just buy it if it sounds good to you and give it away if you don't like it!!! so far in the dozens of soaps and colognes and creams I have ,, I like most ,, but I,m not sad about the others , they have found good homes too tc
More or less we all have the same taste in stuff, our love of fine vintage blades and awesome stones. I rely on the opinions of what others here. Most of the time, I like it. But does the boss lady? Well thats a different topic.
Im liking the Tayor Bond 74 lime aftershave atm, and so does my wife (bonus)
Shaving has become a hobby to me, so I really don't fear not liking something that's gotten a lot of blab time on the forum when I order online. Key questions you can ask are how long the scent lingers and if there's a familiar product it smells like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakobs
I try to find samples. Not many offer them, but a few do. Usually .5 to 1 fl. oz. little vials.
Just a few:
http://www.royalshave.com/p/407-072-...ne-sample.html
http://www.maggardrazors.com/product...shave-samples/
http://www.captainschoicestore.com/s...e-sampler-pack
I'm with PHANTZM on this; I give the businesses who offer samples my preference. IMHO, it's the only way to go.
I'm especially fond of the fragrances from Wm. Neumann & Co. They offer a sampler of all eight of their aftershave scents for just $12.
That's exactly the one I'm considering!Quote:
Originally Posted by TrilliumLT
So I shroud take the plunge?
I too order online due to relatively poor selections locally.
http://http://classicedge.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=49
Is a great Cdn supplier I have not been disappointed with.
Smallflower, as advertised on here is a great one as well.
Samples, of the higher end scents, is the way to go, IMO. Reason for that, to me, is the incredibly concentrated scent pallets in each offer such a different reaction with skin chemistry. Clubman, for example, smells the same on me, as on my wife, dog, or neighbor.
I love it btw.
Where as Knize ten, for example smelled great in the bottle, but not on my neck after 15 minutes. Same thing with Penhaligons Blenhiem bouquet. Loved the start, or initial spray on, but the base knots turned me off.
Either I'm just not as complicated a man as some of the scents I've tried, or the chemistry of the more pure, high end scents, really do react with skin chemistry greater than the mid road scents.
My top five, in no particular order are: (as supported by my bride)
Tabac, love the spice.
Pinaud Clubman.
Pinaud Citrus Musk.
Penhaligons Sartorial.
Knize Forest.
Good luck.
I love those $5.00 words. I really do.
Now, about fragrances...Clubman is a Classic. I'd give it and Master Bay Rum a shout. Don't like them? You are out about $15.00 USD and you can gift them to a friend, or mail them to me.
If you're ordering other stuff from a retailer with big selection you could ask them if they'd include a sample of a particular aftershave you're curious about. I did that with vintageblades years ago and asked if I could get a sample of floris jf shipped along - very nice citrus, but not quite what I was looking for. I still may purchase it someday when a particular strikes me, so sampling is very helpful.
On probably 5-7 occasions of blind purchases I've ended up reselling or gifting it - no regrets about those because somebody else is enjoying them.
In my 53 years, I have yet to find an aftershave or cologne that I have not liked,,,, I came close a couple of years ago I was gifted some aftershaves by one of the members,,, he gave me the ones that he did not care for,,,they were great, except for this one little bottle of "Whisky" by Portland General Store. I opened it & took a whiff & shouted, "What the hell is in this,,,,,,nasty it is !!" so I put the bottle down ,,, then about 2 months later, I woke up in a bad mood, mad at myself, went in to shave pi$$ed off & got a small nick. I finished, looked at the selection of aftershaves I had & said, 'I'm wearing the Nasty, I deserve it." Poured a palm full, slapped it on & stormed out wearing the Nasty. By the end of the day, it had grown on me. I like it & now have to have some Nasty at least once a week. :shrug:
I don't Know John,that Avon crap I sent you last year was real Vile Stuff:)
they always have a bunch of the card samples at most upper end department stores ,, that's how my wife chooses mine ,, its all about her anyway ,, as to my preference ,, I still go simple Clubman original or Aqua Velva Ice Blue recently I tried Kramperts Frostbite, smell is bland but the cooling effect is like submersing your face in ice water tc
Don't be knocking the good stuff,,,,,,,,Attachment 181117Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
.....oh lord...this thread just brings back the horror thinking about Aqua Velva Musk...I can still hear it's claws scittering around the house scaring the cats and making the walls bleed.
:overkill:
Attachment 181143
A better glue remover, I haven't found.
Attachment 181144
And they aren't kidding about the long lasting part.
Heheh.
I just ordered their samples , cant wait to give them a try. Of course the wife has the final say so on which ones are better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dzanda
I'll be curious to know what the two of you think!Quote:
Originally Posted by PHANTZM
I've been going through my samples and hit the Captain's Choice "Cat'o Nine Tails" this morning. I was pleasantly surprised, then a bit overwhelmed, then surprised again. When it says it has some heat, it has some heat. But it peaks and then mellows out very nicely. I think I will be ordering a bottle of this for my stash.
Cat O' Nine Tails — Captain's Choice
Just got my Wm. Neumann & Co. samples in last night. From just smelling them out of the vials the wife and I like them all. She is especially partial to the Old Fashioned Soda one. So that is what I will use first. Will keep notes on these and post results for them once I have given them all a shot.
~Gary
