Thread: Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil

Ok I tried a sample of the Art of Shaving Unscented Pre-Shave Oil. I am not sure how I like it yet.

To me it smells like olive oil.

What are you impressions of it's performance?

Which of their pre-shave oil scents do you like and why?

I tried their pre-shave oil. I found that it was too thick/viscous. Like it was too sticky because it was so thick.

The lemon (I got the full kit) smells great, and I like the cream. So the oil sits unused in the medicine cabinet. Maybe it will be the next generation's rare shaving item that gets people excited...

If you knew the oil types used in most of these pre-shave formulas you would make your own. Most are a combination of very light, highly refined vegetable oils. My son sprang for the AOS pre-shave oil, which I tried while visiting him over the holidays last year. The water in Florida makes a poor lather. He uses distilled water. He also really likes the AOS pre-shave oil. I have not use for it. Nothing surpasses a palm full of pure glycerin (I buy it by the gallon) applied directly to the face before applying lather. It is slick and water soluble. The oil loaded my brush up, requiring me to use mild shampoo to remove it.

Say no to oils.
Say yes to glycerin.

I have the AOS lemon oil and I do like it, but it does cause a lot of oily build-up on my brush and sink. I've been considering making my own pre-shave oil, but the glycerin idea sounds interesting. I'll have to try this for my next shave. I imagine it helps build a good lather on the face as well, since many add glycerin to their lather anyhow.

The Art of Shaving pre-shave oil is olive oil based. It has no synthetic dyes or alcohol and the scents are from natural botanical ingredients. It comes in unscented, lavender, sandalwood and lemon. Some like it and some don't. I do not use their pre-shave oils — Castle Forbes and Edwin Jagger pre-shaves for me — although I have tested them. Scent preference is personal. Make mine lavender and sandalwood. Use an amount the size of a dime or a nickel, massage it in and lather over it. Make sure you wash your hands with soap to avoid the razor slipping in your hands.

For clarification I have tried a few others before. I even make my own. This was a sample given me so I tried it. Having tried it for 4 days not, it's not bad. It is a little thicker than I am used to, but not by much.

Without a doubt the top note scent is olive oil. The "Unscented" oil actually has Lavender, Clove, and Black Pepper Essential oils.

So I made a little change in my shave routine. After showering I added the pre-shave oil and left it on for about ten minutes. In the steamy bathroom the other scents came out, and though faint I liked them.

Now I am looking to add these oils to my homemade shave oil in larger quantities. Amazing what you can find in an unscented oil!

I agree with gammaray. So many pre shave oils have ingrediants you can buy almost at any pharmacy or grocery store. I made my own lavender one and it works great

Originally Posted by CatanUS

I tried their pre-shave oil. I found that it was too thick/viscous. Like it was too sticky because it was so thick.

The lemon (I got the full kit) smells great, and I like the cream. So the oil sits unused in the medicine cabinet. Maybe it will be the next generation's rare shaving item that gets people excited...

Exactly the same. Mine has been in a drawer for two or three years. The thickness was the turnoff.

In the past I would sometimes use a pre-shave oil. Did not like the AOS..my choice was/is Truefitt & Hill.

Tried one of several free AoS oil samples; pitched them. Later tried olive oil and it seemed about the same. Not for me. It was too thick and left my hands crazy slippery. I am a Proraso preshave guy or nothing at all.