03-15-2012, 06:50 PM
Have you ever bought a shaving item that you initially did not care for but that subsequently grew on you? I can think of a few. When I initially sniffed D.R. Harris Marlborough aftershave, it was a bit too woody for my taste but over time it has become a favorite. Likewise, I initially did not care for Wilkinson shave sticks but I now love them.
What products did you initially give a thumbs down to that you now consider among your favorites?
What products did you initially give a thumbs down to that you now consider among your favorites?
03-15-2012, 07:00 PM
1. Institute Karite Soap - Way on the powdery end for me when I first tried it. Kept using it because it was wedged in my favorite mug and could not get it out. This experience put it into my top 5 soaps and opened my eyes to other French soaps and balms.
2. Proraso AS splash - First try and thought meh. Kept using it to get rid of it and became my favorite. Now have 5 bottles in the cupboard. It feels great on the skin.
3. CE Bigelow White Cologne - rcvd it as a gift and was not impressed. Kept it in the bag I take to the pool to use after the shower. Now use it all the time as a casual scent.
2. Proraso AS splash - First try and thought meh. Kept using it to get rid of it and became my favorite. Now have 5 bottles in the cupboard. It feels great on the skin.
3. CE Bigelow White Cologne - rcvd it as a gift and was not impressed. Kept it in the bag I take to the pool to use after the shower. Now use it all the time as a casual scent.
03-15-2012, 07:49 PM
Montale Musk Aoud. The first time I sprayed some on I thought "whoa, people actually like this?" I ended up trying my sample several more times and suddenly I loved it.
Thater Cream Stout 2. When I first unwrapped the brush I didn't like it. It wasn't packed densely enough, I didn't like the shape of the bulb, I didn't think it had enough backbone. I used it anyway. After the first shave I thought it was just ok. After the second shave I thought that maybe there was something to the brush after all. After shave number three I had a new favorite brush.
Thater Cream Stout 2. When I first unwrapped the brush I didn't like it. It wasn't packed densely enough, I didn't like the shape of the bulb, I didn't think it had enough backbone. I used it anyway. After the first shave I thought it was just ok. After the second shave I thought that maybe there was something to the brush after all. After shave number three I had a new favorite brush.
03-15-2012, 10:33 PM
Truefitt & Hill #10 shave cream. At first the smell was...I'm not even sure how to describe it. It's very floral and medicinal. But after shaving with it a few times I think I have learned to accept it. I think.... Screw it, it's still trying to grow on me. At least it performs well.
03-16-2012, 10:36 PM
Arko shave stick...I left it without its paper wrap for a month and smells much better now.
Boar brushes : I tried one when I was 19 and I thought,"what kind of rubbish is this???".In 2009 I did read Zach's tutorial about boar brushes,got the Semogue 2000 and since then Im a boar fan.
Boar brushes : I tried one when I was 19 and I thought,"what kind of rubbish is this???".In 2009 I did read Zach's tutorial about boar brushes,got the Semogue 2000 and since then Im a boar fan.
03-18-2012, 09:15 AM
My Valet Auto Strop razor. I tried it when I got it, with a fresh Feather blade, and was not impressed. A year later I tried it aqain, and probably due to better technique, I discovered that it can deliver a DFS with little effort. Only downside to my Valet is that it is silver plated, so I constantly have to make sure it is dried very well or the silver starts to tarnish.
04-02-2012, 06:35 AM
I have to add AOS shave soap to this list. When I used the Sandalwood shave soap the first few times I thought the performance was good but I did not like the undertone of clay in the scent. Today I do really notice the clay...all I notice is supreme performance. Nearly two years after picking up the AOS Sandalwood, I am seeking out more AOS soap. Great stuff!
04-02-2012, 11:32 AM
My problem is that I get rid of stuff before I let them grow on me, then I re-acquire them when I "hope" they will grow on me. When I first got into traditional shaving, I was all-Proraso all the time. Then I got rid of it all and now I'm back in, so I had to re-acquire the AS splash and the AS lotion, which I love now. I'm also getting an Omega Pro 49 to go with the "all-Italian" nature of my shave.
04-02-2012, 01:29 PM
This is easy! I'm fairly sensitive to scents.
I recently bought a kilo of Cella and quite frankly, it reeked, way too strong of a cheap amaretto/chemical scent. I hated it even though it performed fine as shave soap. It was much worse after it was lathered and on my face. I thought it might be an extremely fresh kilo, since so many folks talk about the scent in glowing terms. So I allowed it to age for a time with the lid open. Now it's pretty decent. I still like the almond soaps more, but the Cella in my possession is much better than when I first acquired it. I expect it'll get even better in a few more weeks.
Now I'm hoping the palmolive stick I got today ages and mellows out as well.
I recently bought a kilo of Cella and quite frankly, it reeked, way too strong of a cheap amaretto/chemical scent. I hated it even though it performed fine as shave soap. It was much worse after it was lathered and on my face. I thought it might be an extremely fresh kilo, since so many folks talk about the scent in glowing terms. So I allowed it to age for a time with the lid open. Now it's pretty decent. I still like the almond soaps more, but the Cella in my possession is much better than when I first acquired it. I expect it'll get even better in a few more weeks.
Now I'm hoping the palmolive stick I got today ages and mellows out as well.
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