I was PIF’d / gifted this soap by
Dave in KY and I thought I’d share my thoughts after shaving wit it this morning. It is labeled as Bay Rum so I’ll talk about it here on the bay rum thread. First, Dave, thank you for the very kind gift. You’re a class act and an asset to DFS. We’re lucky to have you as both a member and a moderator
Now on to the soap. Sorry. Not a bay rum. Maybe a barbershop leaning possibly to fougere but it’s so mildly scented that it’s hard to definitively place it in a category so it’s a barbershop by default. As I said, very mildly scented. I pick up a slight woody spicy scent but that’s it. I asked my wife for her thoughts and she said very mild, maybe a hint of mint. In any case, it lathered very well but was a little lacking in the slick category. Notwithstanding I did get a decent, drama free shave. The soap remind of Dr Jon circa 2015 in puck look and texture and lather. Really a decent soap although not a tier one soap. I will admit to being spoiled and very hard to please. In the early years it was enough that a soap was decent and could stand on its own but now it’s got to be that and be as good or better than every other soap I’ve ever used and I’ve used plenty. I’m a tough crowd I will admit but I make no excuses. I can’t help it.
Now on to the bay rum - this soap is not a bay rum scented soap. I suspect that the maker has never actually smelled bay rum soap or aftershave. I’ve actually been told by soap maker who’s had a bay rum soap and splash in his lineup that he’d never smelled anyone else’s bay rum. Just going from the label on the premixed scent blend. I find that strange. Like they’re just words to put in a soap or a splash. Based on my experience, he isn’t alone. Case in point - The Obsessive Shave Perfectionist a name that leads to fairly high expectations I might add. Decent soap maker but I found his bay rum to be not a bay rum. Smelled more like Probert’s Saddle Soap, a scent I like but not bay rum. I reached out to the OSP and inquired if perhaps a mixup had occurred. Seriously, I thought I was being tactful. He tells me I don’t know what I’m talking about, his bay rum is fine and plenty of people have told him so. Ok, neither the OSP nor any of the people pumping his tires know what bay rum smells like and probably have never actually experienced bay rum. Fine, not everyone has the time or inclination to go out and buy some bay rum (or they’ve bought some made by people who’ve never experienced it) but if you’re going to make a soap/splash stick bay rum on the label and ask people to pay yo money for it, shouldn’t you at least do a tiny bit of research into what the heck it should smell like?? Is this a rant? I feel like it’s a rant but I think it’s a reasonable rant. Imagine if you went out to buy milk and eggs and when you got home and opened the packages you found chicken and potatoes?? I mean yeah, it’s all food but it’s not milk and eggs. I’ll stop here. Dave, I’m still grateful.
Dave in KY and
DanLaw like this post