Thread: Colonial Drug

Ok, at the advice from a member here I hit up Colonial scents for a little sample of of their creams in different scents.


I sent an email and was very pleased with a quick reply and gentlemanly note.

Very impressed to say the least. Anyways, my sample arrived in a nice little black cardboard box (I have my razors and etc' in there right now!) and 4 different scents of shave cream and 4 little vials of cologne.

Castle Forbes Cedar sandal wood, Sandal wood, tabac, and mister taylor.

Right off I decided I didn't like the Castle forbes, however the others are all very nice, with Mr Taylor being my favorite. the colognes are a different story.

Gourmet scent was terrible, smelled super sweet like sugar. Haven't used it since test.Next is labeled "WOD", it's better but still smells really sweet, Not to my liking.Then there was Tabac, which being my second favorite I'm using right now. Really like the scent when it wears off a little.

My favorite scent, labeled Santa, is really nice. Hard to explain the scent so I won't try. anyways, they're a great company I suggest checking out their website at Colonial Drug - the hard to find fragrance specialiste

Very nice people, be sure to check them out! they have tons of scents and I'm sure they'd be willing to help you find one you like!

Yes, they are well known. Unfortunately they still don't have a true web site. They have been promising for years now so it's difficult unless you know what they have and what you want and can call directly.

I loved this place when I lived in Boston. I'd drop in just to browse (at a drug store!) and usually leave with things I never intended to purchase. They are so very polite that I'm sure the mail order service is great, but nothing can compare to stepping inside the shop.

Colonial drug is best browsed in person, where you can sniff test all the creams and soaps. And oogling the array of Plissons they have in the window display.

I bought my first ever puck of shave soap (Tabac) at Colonial drug.

I had heard they have a great stock of Plisson shaving brushes and called and spoke to their brush expert Cathie. I settled on a brush and offered my credit card info. She said that wasn't necessary and sent the brush to me along with a bill with the balance due upon receipt. I mailed them a postal money order although she said a check is fine. Very nice folks to do business with and with a business model reminiscent of many years ago.

'Have been there several times myself and also bought my first puck of Tebac there.
You won't find nicer staff!
If you are in the neighborhood give Leavitt and Peirce at
1316 Massachusetts Ave a try. They are a 5 minute walk from Colonial Drug. They are a tobacco store with a good selection of soaps and some razors.

Originally Posted by Stagehand

'Have been there several times myself and also bought my first puck of Tebac there.
You won't find nicer staff!
If you are in the neighborhood give Leavitt and Peirce at
1316 Massachusetts Ave a try. They are a 5 minute walk from Colonial Drug. They are a tobacco store with a good selection of soaps and some razors.

Leavitt & Pierce is the only place in the world that makes me wish I were a smoker!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Leavitt & Pierce is the only place in the world that makes me wish I were a smoker!

I feel the same! It has been 22 years for me.

Thank you for your insight and advice I'll be sure to check them out.

As an aside-

As much as I enjoyed looking at, and pawing the Plissons, there was nothing about them that struck me as making them worth the ~$200-300 Plisson charges for them. The handles are certainly nice (especially the briar wood...which I was trying to convince myself to get). The knots were pretty unremarkable. Shavemacs have high quality, very soft bristle knots. Rooney Heritage brushes have dramatically denser knots than any I've seen.

The Plissons looked/felt like most any other out there in my opinion.