Razor: Darwin Standard Razor
Blade: Wilkinson Sword 'Light Brigade' (6)
Brush: Vintage butterscotch Simpson "The Duke"
Soap/Cream: Wickham Soap Co 1912 - Classic 24
Post-shave: APR Sample - "TB" (?)
Was working on a getting a close shave with the Darwin this morning and certainly did so, at the cost of a little rawness though. The Wickhams has a light, fairly innocuous scent, lathers fairly easily and seems to work OK, I will keep an eye on this one. The APR Sample with
@todras generously provided with my recent purchase was the attention grabber though.
I don't feel that I have an adequate 'scent vocabulary'. I mean, some 'notes' as I understand we are to call them, are obvious and recognisable from other experiences, such as lavender - but is it French, Belgian or Spanish? Similar lemon or orange come in a range of national variations when it comes to 'notes' - who would have thought? Even the ubiquitous rose comes in a vast range of forms. While by any other name they may still smell as sweet - how can you identify them? Tobacco you might thing is obvious but comes in so many different varieties, and with plain packaging laws you cannot tell which is which!
You walk down the cleaning aisle at your supermarket and are accosted by a range of
air fresheners in a dazzling array of fragrances, does 'sandalwood' really smell like THAT? What nationality of lavender is that in the
Glade refill? What combination of fruits form the
'Sparkling Citrus'? Why do all the
toilet blocks smell like ARKO!?
Apart from those 'notes' to which we may have had some exposure previously where do we start with 'oud' or 'oakmoss' or 'ambergris'? When was the last time you watched a whale cough up a 'hairball'?
With that extended disclaimer my initial thoughts on the "TB" sample.
First impression ("top notes"?) - Yuck, cloying, overpowering, heavy, damp earth, hey an APR product I do not like finally.
After a minute ("middle notes - drying down?) - Hang on, what is this, warm, woody, comforting, enveloping, open fire and a rug with my lady.
Some time later, at least an hour ("base notes"?) - Musky, rich, deep, warming, embracing, still with my lady enjoying her embrace if you know what I mean ...
Don't ask me if it is oud, lavender, sandalwood or spice - I'm a perfume philistine. It is another bloody ripper though - well done mate!