Have any of you tried their shaving products? I see they got a gift box at Macy's for 20 or 25. It had a pre shave, shave cream, something else and a badger brush. Seems like a good deal but haven't heard anything about them.
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Have any of you tried their shaving products? I see they got a gift box at Macy's for 20 or 25. It had a pre shave, shave cream, something else and a badger brush. Seems like a good deal but haven't heard anything about them.
Their products are good, but pricey. You can get the same quality for less. Go for it!
If you have a Art of Shaving near you go for a visit. Ask for a sample of their pre shave and shave creams. Try them to see if you like them. I get my strop past there. Tried the pre shave and cream and went back to my usual. Only an opinion.
iz,
The Art of Shaving creams and aftershave balms are quite good. I'm not much for oil as a pre-shave, however. Their old formulation shave soaps are excellent, if you can find them, but the new formula ones nothing special. The packet you have is probably the starter kit, which has a week's supply of pre-shave, shave cream and aftershave balm, with a little brush that is really a throw-away after you're done.
I'm a fan of their shaving creams, which easily produce excellent lather. I'm especially fond of the Sandalwood and Ocean Kelp varieties (their sandalwood fragrance is a favorite and the ocean kelp seems to make an exceptionally cushioning lather). But I can't see myself buying hardware there, as their prices aren't worth it IMHO.
Thanks for the advice guys. I will see if I can get a sample and try. What is pre shave oil?
The brush that came with my AOS kit was a nice little badger, can work fine for a travel brush.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
My favorite cream is AoS Sandalwood. I have the "kit" of sandalwood and ocean kelp (pre shave, lotion and cream). It was the large kit with a normal sized brush. I also got the trial size kits for free because of a promotion. I get them at a discount on base so the price isnt nearly as bad as the mall stores. The brush in the small kit is IMO not really that great because it hase no backbone and it is really small. The large brush (around 24mm knot) is just a normal pure badger that IMO is no more than a 25 dollar brush you could get on amazon. Overall I love thier products but I would avoid buying any hardware not included in the set, or buy the set without the brush.
The real original AOS was a wife who made up the original items for her husband who complained about existing shave preps. Her formulation was so successful he started the business. Of course now it's just a big corporation looking for profit.
AOS products were always costly but at least the original ones really performed and were worth the cost. These days I think there are better choices.
I never knew the formulation had changed. Thanks for the heads up Obie and Nelson!
It's worth a try. My fiance surprised me with their shaving kit. I didn't use their brush because the one I already had was better, IMO. If nothing else, it opened my eyes to the fact that there was more to the world of wet shaving than a puck of Van Der Hagen shave soap and Nivea After Shave.
Pre shave oil is a mixed blessing/curse. I have a dry face/beard. I use preshave oil after my shower and before shaving. I rub the oil on my beard and let it set a while before I shave. It helps soften the hair and lubricate my face before shaving. For some people it can be a waste of time and money. Trying a small sample or the "starter" bottle can help you decide if it is worth it to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by iz858
I went and got a trial supply of the cream, pre shave and after. I don't know how I feel about the pre shave. The cream was alright, I think I have ended liking the jack black the most. The Jack Black after shave is nice as well.
Same here but I have not bought any in a long, long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeSomebody
I really liked the Kelp shave cream and the sandalwood AS balm is very good.
Sorry to hear they went the route of other manufacturers. Bad on them.
Give their Lemon or Lavender shaving creams a try. I like them better than my Trufitt and Hill. (I never thought I would say such blasphemous words.)
I purchased the lemon when in NY last fall.
It lathers fantastically, but smells like old rancid windowpaint. I hate it, and will never use it Again.
I have the same experience with Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood, West Indian limes and Trafalgar, so I´m not implying I´m the bringer of the almighty truth. I am merely trying to convey my impression of the mentioned product(s)
I would like to apologize if I insult anyone with my observations. That is not my intention...... I just hate he damn thing :shrug:
AOS Sandalwood is a favorite, smells great and lathers well, better with a couple drops of glycerin if you have hard water.
Use a snurdler or you’ll blow though a tub in a month or two.
one i found out they were owned by gillette i got turned off yet I bought a brush from them anyway and could not have been more disappointed. oh well.
ISo Bademester what shaving creams do you find that suits your palate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bademester
I know people have complained about the hard soap formula changing but I am not sure the cream has changed a whole lot over the years.
What's a "snurdler?" Urban Dictionary's definition doesn't really apply...or does it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Euclid440
Nevermind. A little further research led me to this: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...-snurdler.html
Urban dictionary failed me, but it did give me a laugh.
A snurdle is a dollop of shave cream. If you dip a wet brush in a tub of cream, the extra water will melt your cream.
So take a coffee stir stick, Popsicle stick, silver spoon or whatever and put a dollop or snurdle into a cup and lather up about a ½ X1/2 inch scoop depending on the cream.
I have baby spoons, from Bone, Rosewood, bamboo, silver and pate knives work well and can be decorative.
I guess I ought to stop dragging my knuckles, quit using my finger tip and start snurdling like a gentleman.
The soaps/creams I have tried thus far and liked include the following:Quote:
Originally Posted by feltspanky
Mitchells wool fat, Proraso sandalwood, Musgo Real Lime basil, Truefitt & Hill No. 10, Valobra stick and C. O. Bigelow.
I like all of them, and can´t really say I have a favorite among them.
Once Again - I´m sorry if I stepped on toes here. That was not my intention.
I´m just contributing to the dabate, and wish I´d gotten another scent while I was at it.
You didn't step on anyone's toes. We are all entitled to our favorites. Just wanted to know which direction your olfactory receptors were pointing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bademester
Thank´s - good to hear. I´d hate to be the "troll".Quote:
Originally Posted by feltspanky
have a nice sunday.
It was a tub of Unscented AoS cream that first got me going with wet-shaving. I still have that tub and frankly, don't use it.
I find their products okay but their prices are offensive.
Here is a small sample of my Snurdler collection.
First on the left is a plastic Ice Cream sample spoon, Plastic and Wood Coffee Stir Stick, Stainless Spatula, Pate knives, Rosewood Baby shoehorn, Bone Baby spoon, Horn baby spoons.
Attachment 185962Attachment 185963Attachment 185964Attachment 185965Attachment 185966
Been wanting to make some from old scales, one of these day…
So someone gave me a trial size unsceented of their products. I have never tried pre shave oil and I actually liked it. Any suggestions on other pre shaves?
The unscented Art of Shaving cream and even more so their aftershave balm are my favorites; I've used them almost exclusively for the past few years. I never really found a benefit to their pre-shave oil so rarely use it. Regarding the price, To me it is well worth paying a premium for the lack of shaving irritation and pleasure of their performance. One tub of the cream last me for 3-4 months; the aftershave even longer. I don't collect soaps. As with tools (like razors) I figure paying more for one excellent product is more frugal than paying less for a lot of mediocre ones.
