The art of shaving sandalwood first impressions

Hello,

Yesterday my girlfriend and I went to the mall for some clothes and people watching. They recently remodeled it and added a bunch of new stores, one of them was a The Art Of Shaving. The store was very nice and had large selection of there products. The guy working was a little pushie and tried selling me everything they had and he let me know the way I wet shave is the wrong way... kinda annoying. Im fairly new to straight razor shaving and have only used shaving soaps. I wanted to try a cream that was scented so the unscented wouldnt work, the lemon scent was way too strong smelling, the lavender scent was too girly for me, the sandalwood was nice and not too strong so I got some. The sandalwood cream lathers a lot easier then the soaps Ive used. It took a very small amount of product to make a lot of lather. It has great glide, didnt dry my skin out, smells nice, and the lather lasts a long time. $22 seemed like a lot of money for what you get but after using it and realizing how little it takes to make lather the 5oz. tub should last a very long time. Overall Im very happy with it and would recommend it, especially someone new because it was much easier to use then soaps.

Have a good one,

Chris

How exactly did he tell you how you shaved was wrong? hate it when people do that.. about anything..

Glad you found a soap that suits though! when you get that one that works for you it helps immensely in general.

Chris,
The guy sounds to me like he was trying to pad his sales commission to entice to you to buy umpteen products and giving you "free" advice so you'll feel obligated to spend more money than you intended to.

As for the AOS Sandalwood, I use it myself and I like the product a lot. You are correct, it does lather up quickly and makes a very rich lather that is plenty for my multiple passes. Yes, it does have great glide and it makes my skin feel supple and not tight.

Patrick

I too am interested in what he said that you did wrong.
There is no RIGHT way in this hobby, but there are definitely wrong ways.
As a former sales person and manager I always taught my guys and gals to never bad mouth the competition and never tell someone that something is wrong. Alway feel free to offer alternatives to make things easier.

I keep debating about this cream as I like sandalwood, but I have so many as it is.

You know, No matter where you go, you'll eventually run into someone like that. I wouldn't worry about it. I do like the AOS products, and have the Sandalwood SC. I also have the Lavander, and the Rose. They definitley are floral, but good none the less. I always liked the smell of fresh cut Roses anyway. Good stuff, so is there Sandalwood Pre Shave Oil... I really like the Sandalwood EO AOS uses. I have several Sandalwood soaps/creams, and each one is different, unique.
There's a pricey bar of soap out there called TOBS Sandalwood Bath Soap, it's pricey, but if you like Sandalwood, it's awesome. So is the Tobs Sandalwood Luxury After Shave Gel...it's pricey, but it's the bomb....

I have the AOS sandlewood soap in the wood bowl, I just add a few drops of glycerin load my cheopo brush up, and face lather, it works great for me. I have been very impressed so far, but my only other experience is with an old "ol' spice" soap, and the walmart one.

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Originally Posted by tekbow

How exactly did he tell you how you shaved was wrong? hate it when people do that.. about anything..

Glad you found a soap that suits though! when you get that one that works for you it helps immensely in general.

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Tekbow,

When I walked in he asked me what I was looking for. I told him Ive never used shave cream before, only soaps. He asked what my process was, I told him my pre-shave is a shower then olive oil, then lather up with mama bears or Straight razor design soap, shave with a straight razor, rinse with cold water, apply Nivea after shave balm or Nivea creme as my after shave. I told him I have very sensitive skin and this has worked really well for me. He told me my skin is reacting to "inferior" shave products with harmful man made chemicals. He recommended the AOS pre-shave oil, I politely told him $22 seemed a little too much for pre-shave oil and that I was happy using olive oil because my skin didnt seem to react with it. Again he told me AOS is much better then using olive oil and the AOS pre-shave oil is perfect for sensitive skin. I politely said "no thank you Im just looking to try the shave cream at the moment." Next he told me about AOS's after shave balm and how its all natural. I told him "Im happy with the Nivea that Im using and $38 was out of my price range, Im just looking to try the shave cream." Next he showed me a starter kit that had the pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after shave balm and a cheap shave brush. Again I said no thank you... He then asked if Im using a shave brush... I told him I have a AOS silver tip brush. That was a lie by the way, I just wanted to buy the cream and leave because I was starting to get a little pissed off at the guy. Normally I would have just walked out of the store but I really wanted to try the shave cream. The sad thing is I really like the AOS shave cream and will probably buy more from them but only online. It was like I was dealing with a car sales man. If I didnt like how well the shave cream worked I would never buy another AOS product just because of this guy.

Have a good day guys,

Chris

He definitely sounds like a used car salesman. As far as the AOS sandalwood shaving cream, I really enjoy using it and would recommend it to others.

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Originally Posted by socalkid

Tekbow,

When I walked in he asked me what I was looking for. I told him Ive never used shave cream before, only soaps. He asked what my process was, I told him my pre-shave is a shower then olive oil, then lather up with mama bears or Straight razor design soap, shave with a straight razor, rinse with cold water, apply Nivea after shave balm or Nivea creme as my after shave. I told him I have very sensitive skin and this has worked really well for me. He told me my skin is reacting to "inferior" shave products with harmful man made chemicals. He recommended the AOS pre-shave oil, I politely told him $22 seemed a little too much for pre-shave oil and that I was happy using olive oil because my skin didnt seem to react with it. Again he told me AOS is much better then using olive oil and the AOS pre-shave oil is perfect for sensitive skin. I politely said "no thank you Im just looking to try the shave cream at the moment." Next he told me about AOS's after shave balm and how its all natural. I told him "Im happy with the Nivea that Im using and $38 was out of my price range, Im just looking to try the shave cream." Next he showed me a starter kit that had the pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after shave balm and a cheap shave brush. Again I said no thank you... He then asked if Im using a shave brush... I told him I have a AOS silver tip brush. That was a lie by the way, I just wanted to buy the cream and leave because I was starting to get a little pissed off at the guy. Normally I would have just walked out of the store but I really wanted to try the shave cream. The sad thing is I really like the AOS shave cream and will probably buy more from them but only online. It was like I was dealing with a car sales man. If I didnt like how well the shave cream worked I would never buy another AOS product just because of this guy.

Have a good day guys,

Chris

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So nivea and SRD soaps are inferior products? good to know... That guy had no idea what he was talking about. He's done the sales training and is giving you the standard sales responses. This is a personal "ick" of mine.. seems to happen more in the states than in the uk.. at least when i'm in the uk and the sales guy realises i know more about what he's spinning me than he does, he backs off and trys to help me find the product that fit my requirments. If you ever go back there make sure you have your SRD soap and nivea creme ingredients list to hand and take a real close look at how different the AOS stuff is. Preferably loudly, when the sales div decides to hassle you.

Chris,
My compliments to you. You went into that store with a goal in mind, you didn't take any crap off the salesperson and you had your mind made up. You did great!
It's your money, your face, and your shave. I personally like AOS Sandalwood and I want to try some of their other scents too.
Patrick

As a side note, because of this thread, I decided to use my walmart soap puck last night instead of my AOS sandlewood. I wanted a reminder of the difference. and yes there was one. my blade was "hopping" on my skin and I felt like I came close a cut once.

not to say other soaps are not good, but for now all I have is the walmart one, and AOS.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

As a side note, because of this thread, I decided to use my walmart soap puck last night instead of my AOS sandlewood. I wanted a reminder of the difference. and yes there was one. my blade was "hopping" on my skin and I felt like I came close a cut once.

not to say other soaps are not good, but for now all I have is the walmart one, and AOS.

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Maybe your lather was too dry.

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Originally Posted by pmburk

Maybe your lather was too dry.

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no doubt, the thing is I did my prep exactly like I normally do, and I never have problems with it drying out when using AOS.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

no doubt, the thing is I did my prep exactly like I normally do, and I never have problems with it drying out when using AOS.

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Perhaps next time you use the soap, add more water to the mix and see what happens.

+1 Every soap is different, just got to get the mix right. i get a decent lather out of all my soaps, just gotta treat them individually

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It has great glide, didnt dry my skin out, smells nice, and the lather lasts a long time. $22 seemed like a lot of money for what you get but after using it and realizing how little it takes to make lather the 5oz. tub should last a very long time.

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This is very true, I have only been using my AOS Sandalwood since Feb shaving every third day and I am just now getting close to the end of the tub. When you look at the price in comparison to how long it lasts I feel it is cheaper than that can crap we all used to use.

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Originally Posted by pmburk

Perhaps next time you use the soap, add more water to the mix and see what happens.

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so your saying I am being hasty, and it's my lack of experimentation and my attempt using the walmart soap that is causing me the problems..
I won't argue with you, I am a newb after all, but I will make a opinion, the AOS is simple to use and I have no problems, my obvious lack of expertise still produces great results. :) now you got me to thinking though, I might have to take it as a challenge to see if I can get good results with the walkmart puck. BTW, I face lather only, if that makes a difference.
Am I threadjacking here? I don't want to be rude.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

so your saying I am being hasty, and it's my lack of experimentation and my attempt using the walmart soap that is causing me the problems..
I won't argue with you, I am a newb after all, but I will make a opinion, the AOS is simple to use and I have no problems, my obvious lack of expertise still produces great results. :) now you got me to thinking though, I might have to take it as a challenge to see if I can get good results with the walkmart puck. BTW, I face lather only, if that makes a difference.
Am I threadjacking here? I don't want to be rude.

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Is your AOS cream or soap?

soap, the OP was talking about his cream, I will back out now. I am being rude.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

soap, the OP was talking about his cream, I will back out now. I am being rude.

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Sidmind,

Your not being rude at all. SRP is all about talking and learing about our hobby. Ive used walmart soap before and it worked ok. Then I added a quarter size amount of glycerin and made my lather in a mug, I got decent results. If your looking for a inexpensive but quality soap check out Straight Razor designs soap and Mamma Bears shave soap. I get much better results building my lather is a mug vs. my face.

Have a good one,

Chris

I tried AOS Sandalwood cream for the first time. Lathered great, smelled great, shaved great, but burned. I wonder if it is all the acids as primary ingredients? Maybe I'll get their pre shave oil next to be fair.

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Originally Posted by Hex

I tried AOS Sandalwood cream for the first time. Lathered great, smelled great, shaved great, but burned. I wonder if it is all the acids as primary ingredients? Maybe I'll get their pre shave oil next to be fair.

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Allergic reaction :shrug:

I've got an AOS Sandalwood and love it.

Here's the ingredients list, it should be no secrete because it is printed on the side of the box:

Water, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Fragrance, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Methylparapen, Lauric Acid, Propylparagen, Diethanolamine.

I'm wondering if any of the five acids above could be an irritant, or am I just sensitive to 'Sandalwood' fregrance?