Thread: Archaeologist's wet-shave kit?

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

I hope I'm asking this in the right sub-forum - if not I do sincerely apologise.

Anyway, I am looking for a good combination of pre-shave oil/balm, shaving soap/cream - preferably soap - and aftershave balm/lotion that will have a very manly combined scent that has good staying power in conditions with excessive sweating, but that is not over-powering to those around me.

I am going to be doing archaeological fieldwork in places that have high heat and high humidity and I will be sweating a lot as a result. I plan on keeping my cheeks and neck trimmed using a straight razor - I will not be covering most of my face in the wet shaving products as a result. I require a kit the components of which can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom or Italy.

I'm currently using Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood shaving cream - the manliness of which I could describe using a slew of archaeological expressions (eg. the scent it leaves behind makes you feel like you just finished up a half hour of sledge-hammering). I was thinking of giving the Art of Shaving Sandalwood cream or soap a try - the latter would certainly be quite an investment - as well as Kiss My Face Lavender Shea Cream and the Art of Shaving Aftershave balm or their pre-shave oil. I might also give the Taylor Sandalwood Shaving Soap a try given the results with their cream.

Here are my opening questions based on what I have said: What would be a good kit built around the sandalwood creams and soaps? What would go well with the Kiss My Face? What would compliment the Art of Shaving pre-shave oil or the aftershave balm? What are some other good combinations? I would like to have sandalwood and lavender included, but if there are other suggestions, I am open to them.

An aftershave I can recommend if you're looking for staying power is Clubman Pinaud. It's a very "old school" scent and definately a classic. The one thing I always find impressive with it is that if I sweat it seems to almost rejuvenate itself and I get a whiff of it as though I just applied it

I purchased some of that yesterday after reading around that the Clubman classic is the source of that pleasant barbourshop smell of old. It is quite pleasant, but I'm not sure if it would not be too old school. I'm 23 and going to be supervising many women - and a small number of men - around my age who are English or American. I am not entirely sure how they would interpret the scent of Clubman.

I hope this does not come off as sexist or dare I say, I wolfish, but my desire here is to create an overall air of firm - but not intimidating - gentlemanly masculinity and authority around myself that will come from my demeanour, my actions, my style of dress, my appearance and my scent. The first four are covered and so I need only know the best scent ideas.

I have thought about this a bit more and I believe I should ask some broader questions. A better set of questions for me to ask would be about what the best manly scent combinations are and then to find the best of each scent in each product category (eg. The best lavender aftershave balm).

So, what combinations of scents make for good masculine bouquets?

Because the products I use in the shower should compliment the products I use for wet-shaving I want to expand this line of questioning to include shower oils, body scrubs, shampoos, conditioners, bath soaps, deodorants and powders. I do not wish to be disruptive by going off-topic on this thread. Where would be the best place to ask about an entire line-up of products - shower supplies and wet-shaving supplies - together?

Having lived in a high temperature/high humidity environment for many years (a South Pacific island),
I found that sunburn and wind burn were an issue. I found that mild soaps and alcohol-free
aftershaves were less irritating than anything else.

My personal choice is the Ogallala Bay Rum line of products. Their bath and shaving soaps are mild,
and their aftershaves are made with witch hazel, rather than alcohol. One exception: their
deodorant is not "strong" enough, ie it's effect does not last all day.

Their "Sage and Cedar" fragrance reminds me of the high desert, and it is not an overpowering
scent. Also, my wife and daughters like it, so perhaps it will have the same effect on your female
co-workers.

Good luck.

For high heat and humidity I like Vito's or Proraso green pre and post shave and Proraso green soap for the shave, followed by talcum powder. If you really like lavender there are lavender talcs and I found scented talcs to last all day.

If you use aftershave in an outdoors environment you will have bugs on you like a fat kid on a doughnut. If you are shave outside use bug juice and a straight. The oil from the bug juice will give you enough lube. If tha doesn't work use Selson blue. It is a old type of shampoo that rpells bugs... Ann old soldiers trick..

I cant comment on aftershaves selection, but that said the only product i use after shaving is Witch Hazel, after a cold water splash, i find the witch hazel refreshing, it is amongst many other uses a natural bug repellent.

That is very good to know considering how fond the insects are of landing on diggers in the early morning and at night. Is bug juice diluted Kool-Aid though or something else?

Interesting, I saw some Thayer's scented witch hazels at the market but read some rather uncomplimentary things about them online. Are there any good aftershaves that incorporate witch hazel? Of course, I could also try using witch hazel on its own.

G.I. bug juice is 80-100% DEET. There are milder commercial products, and DEET is an effective insect
repellant, but it sure doesn't smell like aftershave.

Thayers "Witch Hazel Aftershave with Aloe Vera" is only lightly scented and can be applied before an
aftershave splash, which will cover the lighter scent.

Originally Posted by TrowelMan

That is very good to know considering how fond the insects are of landing on diggers in the early morning and at night. Is bug juice diluted Kool-Aid though or something else?

Interesting, I saw some Thayer's scented witch hazels at the market but read some rather uncomplimentary things about them online. Are there any good aftershaves that incorporate witch hazel? Of course, I could also try using witch hazel on its own.

Ah, well I can probably find DEET-filled bug spray in Israel with very little difficulty, but isn't it horrifically toxic to the environment?

If I use a reasonable amount of both witch hazel and aftershave, will the witch hazel's bug repellent qualities still be as effective after I use an aftershave?