Thread: Wholly Kaw!

Originally Posted by Gasman

I think i have 10. I just wish I could enjoy the scents more. The "after the shave" feel is what seems to matter the most for me.
I've still haven't figured out why some say winter or summer soaps.

You have soaps that say winter and/or summer?

I've got all of 5 soaps which explains David's cleverly disguised way of taking pity on me.

David, I believe Jerry's saying that he doesn't get why some folks would categorize a soap/cream as being best for a particular season and not another. Given I only have 5, I'm in the same boat with Jerry. So, I'm really interested in my take on some of these scents which have labelled thusly.

Originally Posted by earcutter

You have soaps that say winter and/or summer?

Many artisans release seasonal scents at certain times of the year. Some scents remind us of springtime when trees are in blossom. Others remind us of summertime when grass is green and there are afternoon thunderstorms. Some remind us of fall with the smells of damp leaves, harvested fields, and foods around the Thanksgiving table. Then there are the warming scents of winter with the aroma of a fireplace, pipe tobacco, dark leather, etc.

As an example, the Declaration Grooming Contemplation scent is described as a summer scent: There is a stark difference between spring and summer, and Contemplation falls squarely in summer. In spring, the flowers are in bloom and pollen is in the air, but by the time that July rolls around, the plants put off a different aroma. There is a green scent in the air: of citrus in a slowly ripening state while the vegetation underfoot is photosynthesizing in overdrive, drinking the in the sun. There is no harvest and there is no bloom: this summer day is still, quiet and contemplative with nothing on the to-do list other than simply enjoy it.

Obviously, any scent can be used year round, but many folks like using bright, citrusy, flowery scents in the warm months and darker, richer, earthier scents in colder months. You might love a heavily mentholated scent in summer for the cooling effect, but would be less inclined to use that same soap in winter with snow on the ground.

Some scents do not evoke seasonal memories and are appropriate for use any time; barbershop scents are a good example.

Hey guys - don't get me wrong, I know the difference between a summer and a winter soap in my mind. Like I said, the Wholly Kaw samples, to me, were winter scents. I just haven't recalled any manufacturer actually label a soap as summer or winter. Clearly I need to read labels more. Because that's very helpful!!

As a general rule, I'm into summer scents all year long. I've got a coffee scent coming which I can only imagine would be more winter(ish), but the aftershave splash is mentholated so I can handle that. I know this winter I might want to tone it down a little, maybe, but I've got lots oh winter scents.

Thanks for explaining this ^^^^^. It makes sense to me now. I had no idea about what folks ment before. Now if i could get my nose to smell all the wonderful scents maybe i could try this new idea. Oh well. At least i now understand.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Thanks for explaining this ^^^^^. It makes sense to me now. I had no idea about what folks ment before. Now if i could get my nose to smell all the wonderful scents maybe i could try this new idea. Oh well. At least i now understand.

It's not only your nose... at least it isn't for me. In the summer I have to water down all my aftershave balms massively or they'll bog down on my face the second I get outside. It gets hot in KS in the summers. Some soaps really bogged down on my face in the summer too. Remember Razo Rock xXx? People loved it - and still do. I still do! But only on the coldest of days. That soap hangs on my face like a wax. In the summer, it's uncool overpowering.

I really, really liked the Wholly Kaw's, but I called them (the ones I tried) winter scents because they were too heavy for me when I walked out the door.

I don't explain it... It just is lol. Like I said, as rule, I prefer light. Fruity even... I don't know what that says about me lol!

Many WK scents like King of Oud, Project Leather, Merchant of Tobacco and Cuero Oscuro would likely be called winter scents. Monaco Royale, Fougere Bouquet, and Man from Mayfair might be considered year-round scents. Chypre Rose Concerto and La Fougere Parfaite might be better suited to summer along with Pompelmo. I have not smelled Padre Leone, but the scent notes list various citrus and floral notes, so I would assume this is a summer scent as well.

I am not sure where Dance of the Agrumes fits as it has a complex mix of citrus notes as well as heavier scents like oud.

Agree with the posters to this thread.
WK soaps became my top shelf soaps, especially if you categorize them by US artisan made. My favorite scents are Project Leather, Fougere Bouquet, Man from Mayfair and Merchant of Tobacco (Donkey Milk formula). I also like their AS Balms/Creams for Winter, they are a bit too heavy for me during Summer, toners work great for those who do not like the burn feel of alcohol in an AS.
Cheers!

Just finished an excellent 2-pass shave (with a few touch-ups) using the WK Project Leather. While the scent does nothing to remind me of leather, I found the indescribable bouquet freshly pleasing and certainly geared towards the fall/winter seasons. Reminds me how I am unable to describe the scent of Baume.be.

Turns out I had forgotten David's point regarding this "croap" needing a bit of effort to lather with a floppy brush. My Thater 4125/3 got a bit of a workout in the GP 20oz scuttle. However, if I had a full puck of the WK to repeatedly load the brush, I don't think lathering would be an issue whatsoever.

In terms of performance, I found the lather cushiony and slick...and with repeated uses, I'm sure I would be able to produce a more ideal lather. Given the number of WK samples I've yet to try out, seems I have quite a few more shaves to get this aspect optimized. But, out of the gate, I have no complaints regarding shave performance.

Post-shave, my face feels properly pampered/conditioned, and this refreshing face feel is what I've come to expect from my "usual suspects" (Tabac, XPEC, CF Lime, and MWF) when topped off with any one of the handful of Geo. F. Trumper's skin food flavors I use. Can still appreciate the mysterious Project Leather aroma a full hour after shaving. I love a bit of staying power since I never use EdT.

Very pleased with my first experience using an American artisanal shave soap.

Now for the long 2-3 day wait until I am sufficiently shaggy to shave again. (some unexpected tongue twister there).

Thanks Speedster - I would definitely agree that in order to get the most out of the Wholly Kaw, a brush with some backbone is needed.

I'm glad you liked it. It really is a great product.