Thread: proraso red and some rambling

Interesting, their site (a redirect from cambridgechemists.com), http://www.pharmacyny.com/default.aspx has Trumpers, D.R. Harris, Coates, Czech and Speake and Taylor of Old Bond. http://www.pharmacyny.com/c-18-shaving-accessories.aspx

I'll have to stop by 65th street next time I am in that neighborhood. Unfortunately, that's not too often lately, as I have no business in that part of town.

Originally Posted by russellnyc

Interesting, their site (a redirect from cambridgechemists.com), http://www.pharmacyny.com/default.aspx has Trumpers, D.R. Harris, Coates, Czech and Speake and Taylor of Old Bond. http://www.pharmacyny.com/c-18-shaving-accessories.aspx

I'll have to stop by 65th street next time I am in that neighborhood. Unfortunately, that's not too often lately, as I have no business in that part of town.

Yep, I've seen on other forums that their prices are not great, but they have a fairly large selection. Please give a report if you get there before me!

Jordan

Originally Posted by russellnyc

Another place in NYC which seems to have a lot of wonderful stuff -- I've walked past it a million times, and lived a few blocks away a lifetime ago -- is C. O. Bigelow Apothecaries, which has apparently been around for 168 years (!). T

Bigelow Chemists, Inc.
414 6th Avenue (around 8th-9th street)
NY NY 10011

They have a wide selection of brushes (but no razors to speak of) and other product (Trumper's, DR Harris, King of Shaves, Proraso, and Acqua di Parma, whose cologne I've had and loved for many years, and whose shaving cream / aftershave balm I admit guiltily that I bought and I'm going to try this morning...). I'm going to make a pilgrimage here at some point and will let you know how it is.

Bidelow Chemists is AMAZING!!!!! I just stopped in there on sunday and WOW.

I didnt get much but the service is the best I have had absolutely anywhere...and I am spoiled when it comes to good service.

I picked up the following:

• High Altitude Lavender EO (just because I wanted to play with some)
• Royall Muske cologne (a wonderful classic smell)
• Every single sample of GFT Lavander water they had (about 10), which they gave me because they didnt actuall have lavender water, and they did this before I even committed to buying a single thing.

They were a pleasure to deal with and I cant wait to go there again, my wife even enjoyed trying on lip gloss while I was looking at brushes and creams.

Thanks for the recommendation!

That's great! Now I really have to get down there. By the way, what are you planning to do with the lavender? Can you mix that with cream or aftershave? I wonder...

Originally Posted by russellnyc

That's great! Now I really have to get down there. By the way, what are you planning to do with the lavender? Can you mix that with cream or aftershave? I wonder...

You can mix it with cream, aftershave, soap, or make your own aftershave with an alcohol or water base. I actually have someone formulating a cologne and aftershave for me so Im not going play with that, but here is the deal:


I wouldnt use anything less than fine french high altitude lavender in a cologne or aftershave, after researching lavender quite a bit I have learned a lot, and have decided I am an eccentric pain in the ass. I'll be happy to share my lavender research with you if you are really that bored.....but the bottom line is I got English lavender which is what most companies use such as GFT, AOS, CM, etc etc....

I wan to make a nice preshave oil with a pure lavender scent, which would mean only two ingredients my base (havent figured that out yet) and the essential oil. So thats the beginnings of my plan.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

I'll be happy to share my lavender research with you if you are really that bored.....

Please do. I actually picked up my second bottle of Lavander EO, along with some Bergamot and Rosemary today. That brings my EO collection to ~20... I never managed to make a descent scent, mainly because I use too many different oils in the mix... I am interested in different kinds of Lavander, because I noticed that the Lavander in the shop smelled different than the one I had at home...

Nenad

Originally Posted by superfly

Please do. I actually picked up my second bottle of Lavander EO, along with some Bergamot and Rosemary today. That brings my EO collection to ~20... I never managed to make a descent scent, mainly because I use too many different oils in the mix... I am interested in different kinds of Lavander, because I noticed that the Lavander in the shop smelled different than the one I had at home...

Nenad

Here is the quick and easy version of some info you may or may not know, as well as a website with good information that actually sells the stuff, I have some more detailed information laying around that I used for a course on writing for private grant funding:


Lavender-High Altitude, French
Lavender angustifolia (vera) Grown in the wild, not cloned.
Distilling at high altitude allows lower temperatures and, of course, much lower pressure, so more of the volatile phytochemicals come through in the oil; this is truly the benchmark.

Lavender Mailette
Lavender angustifolia, Organically grown, Cloned, France (Provence), Blossoming tops.
Blossoming tops. It has the most delightful velvety aroma. The Mailette is particularly high in linalyl acetate, which gives it an extra sweetness. For emotional use this specimen is exquisite.

Himalayan Lavender
Lavender officianalis, grown and distilled high on the slopes of the Himalayas, over 5000 feet.
The aroma is light and green, leafy, not floral or herbal like other Lavenders. Aromatically, this is delightful, but thus far has not proved to have any therapeutic value.

Spike Lavender
Lavendula latifolia Spain, Wild crafted, Flowering tops.
Spike Lavender is higher in Cineole and in Camphor, which makes it an effective addition to respiratory blends, and useful for general aches and pains and is also a germ killer. Aromatically, this particular Spike is softer and more aromatic than other specimens. Some authorities recommend Spike as an insect repellant, and say it is useful for hair and skin care. It is a stimulant, rather than a sedative, do not use for relaxation, avoid use with anyone with a seizure disorder, with children, with the elderly or frail.

Lavender Stoechas ("Spanish Lavender")
Lavendula stoechas, Wild crafted
This is a very different Lavender from the others. Low in the esters that give Lavender its familiar aroma, this variety is fairly camphorous. It is believed to be the original Lavender that the Romans used in their baths...the Latin Lavare (to wash) is the root of the word Lavender. Historically it has been used as a strewing herb, and was one of the four ingredients in Thieves Vinegar for its germ killing ability. This stimulating Lavender is superbly energizing and cleansing. It is a powerful anti infectious oil. High in ketones, this Lavender must be avoided in pregnancy, with babies, children. Avoid use on damaged or sensitive skin.

There are also EO's from Lavandin, but lavandin is not a true Lavender. It is the result of a cross between Lavender vera and Spike Lavender, sometimes known as Aspic. Basically a cheaper and less aromatic and useful version of a true lavender.

I got all of my information (basically quoted, ommitting some unwanted details) from this website, very informative: http://www.naturesgift.com/essential...#LAVANDINSUPER

Thanx JL, great info!

Nenad

I stopped in at Target tonight while we were out and picked up a tube of the Green Proraso cream and one of the $13 Omega brushes, figured it'd give me something to play with while waiting for my straights and paraphenalia to arrive.

First - have to say that nobody was exaggerating about the wet dog smell of these brushes the first time they're used. A couple of shampoos helped but it's not gone yet. Wet dog is probably charitable - my wife almost threw up when she caught a whiff of it. Had a little bit if shedding but not too bad, maybe half a dozen hairs, hopefully it won't continue.

I worked up some lather in the palm of my hand and my face and liked both the brush and the shave cream very much. The brush bloomed pretty well and the cream was orders of magnitude better than anything I ever used out of a can. Ran a Mach3 over my face very quickly and ended up with a better shave than I've had in a long time.

I expect to be successful with straights and use them long term but will be sticking with Proraso or similar no matter what I end up shaving with over the long haul. Great stuff and priced very reasonably. Picked up a hocky puck of the Proraso shaving soap as well but haven't tried it yet.

You might also want to run by CVS pharmacy and pick up a tube of palmolive lather, it has a generic soapy scent but shaves pretty well. While you're there pick up a bottle of Pinaud Clubman so you can get that "barbershop smell" to match your barbershop shave.

Also, Nordstroms carries Truefitt & Hill shaving cream, which is a traditional shaving cream that lathers with a brush. T&H makes seriously good stuff, and the aroma is to die for. Their shaving soap is one of my favorites, unfortunately I haven't seen it at nordstroms. Don't let them sell you the preshave oil,

Edit: The proraso soap is exactly the same as the cream, only thicker, which you'll notice when you open it up -- it's just a very thick lather. It's very portable, so makes a good travel item.