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I've found four shops in edinburgh that potentially have some nice creams and soaps, so today is going to be a bit of expedition to get a few. Its a beautiful, vaguely warm sunny day and i'm going up to george street which, discounting the pretentious "places to be seen" bars and clubs is a beautiful old georgian street. Am quite looking forward to this, will let you know how i get on
LOL - Coming from Canada (and having a particularly long winter this year) I know exactly what you mean by that statement. I'll have to remember that one, "vaguely warm".Quote:
Originally Posted by tekbow
Anyway, let us know whay you find. Other than Castle Forbes we've heard about other fine shaving soaps/creams coming from Scotland, especially artisan products. I wish we had brick & mortar stores here....
"vaguely warm": Somtimes you have to take what you can get in the uk lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
As for the shops, well.. Artisan am not so sure about, sayng that my definition of artisan is "handmade in the backroom of a shop by some elderly guy/lady, who's been making something unique for a million years".
However, we did have a Penhaligon, a Crabtree & Evelyn, a l'occitane and a place called Ede and Ravenscroft that's actually a tailors but apparently has TOBS creams in stock. There was also a place called the soap co. on the royal mile towards the bottom. Suprisingly i cannot find any shop in edinburgh that actually sells castle forbes creams. i was told that it can possibly be bought up near the castle on the royal mile but that was said with the air of urban myth. "reputedly"
Will say a little about the shops themselves as well as what i bought because i was suprised by the range of service quality..
Penhaligons: If you have one nearby go, I was treated like royalty. the had a little central table with all the scents the products use and the very pretty store assistant was very happy to spray anything i asked for on little sticks and discuss high notes etc etc. Not that i know what that is, but the point is she was friendly not condescending and seemed genuinely interested in what i wanted. Walked out with a tube of blienheim bouquet, and because i initially had trouble deciding, she gave me sample jars of the opus and endymion creams to take away. brilliant place.
L'occitane: don't care if the Cade soap is supposed to be good, the store assistant was completely disinterested and at one point looked at me like i had 2 heads because i asked if they had a sampler dish of the cade i could smell. I was evidentally interrupting her busy day even though i was the only person in the store. Walked out of there with nothing.
C&E: Dead in between the previous 2. The assistant was very friendly and helpful she kept herself to herself (she was actually busy in the sense that she was finding things to do and not just standing behind the counter looking bored) until i asked a question. she answered any questions politely and took an interest and was happy for me to actually smell the thing i wanted to buy. Left with a bowl and puck of Sienna soap
Ede and Ravenscroft: was shut sadly. will go next week
Soap Co: also appeared to be shut which was a shame as my view of this place would be that it was truly handmade. will go back next week.
longer post than i meant to write but if you have these shops actually near you as opposed to buying online or a counter in a dept store it's worth knowing what kind of reception you can expect.
cheers
Simon
Sounds like a busy day, and you didn't leave empty handed.
Out of the stores you mentioned we do happen to have a C & E and a L'Occitane here in Edmonton, although I don't really care for the former and haven't yet been to the latter. It is fantastic to go and sample scents in person at b&m stores before buying, which is mostly a luxury we internet shoppers can't afford. Do continue looking for CF though, it will make you proud to be Scottish..... :)
I will, might have to be via internet, Unless i go there lol
As for what i got, i noticed a reall difference between all the soaps and the osma i previously had. with the added bonus of nice smells (it's manly because we scrap it off with a weapon). better lubrication and glide and even less irritation than before. i have definitely realised though that the drying out of my lather on the face is down to my lather making ability.. it's just not coming out like the pics in the guides.. it seems to end up in the brush with very little in the bowl, just around the bottom.. need more practice is all. it's not a big thing to reapply over dried out stuff.
If i get to the 2 places that were closed and they have anything noteworthy i'll update
Edit: and i'm irish, but it's basically the same thing, except we wear plain skirts instead of ones with tartan
lol - sorry mate, I guess I just assumed you were Scottish because of your location.....Quote:
Originally Posted by tekbow
Ah yeah, course.. and i keep wondering why people are calling me scottish lol live in edinburgh, went to uni here, and i just stayed. Mainly because it's pretty and there's 3 universities here, so people from literally all over the world.
Still can't get my soap right.. mind you i came out to the rig yesterday. I go back home on thursday so that means i'm going to have 4 days of growth to play with. this makes me happy :)
Little update to my expedition earlier in the week. I went back to Ede and Ravenscroft now that it's during the week and found out they have a reasonable selection of trumpers creams and soaps. I know there's a few scottish guys on the forum and some again in edinburgh.
Left with a travel tube of rose and a jar of violet. Nice little day there