July 2018 - fragroom

July 28, 2018

Pinaud Clubman Shaving Products Review

My travails with shaving are well known, so I won’t repeat the details. But it does mean that I am always on the lookout for products that make this necessity a little easier. I was re-introduced to Pinaud Clubman products last year. But it’s only in the last month that I have started using some of the shaving products from this heritage brand.

A heritage brand always deserves an intro, so here goes. In 1810, Édouard Pinard founded the perfume and cosmetics company, Ed. Pinaud, in Paris. While the company became famous for its fragrances, its Clubman range of male toiletries became a barbershop staple. The brand was bought by American International Industries in the 1980s. The range now includes everything from bath and body to haircare products.

For this Pinaud Clubman shaving products review, I tried the Classic Barber Shave Cream, No Bumps Gel and After Shave Lotion. All of these products are available at Dis-Chem.

“The Clubman range now includes everything from bath and body to haircare products.”

PINAUD CLUBMAN CLASSIC BARBER SHAVE CREAM

I’ve spotted this product in numerous barbershops over the years, so I was keen to see how it performed at home. It claims to offer “the most comfortable, smoothest, closest shave ever… to dramatically reduce dry skin, rashes, nicks and cuts.” As a shaving gel man, it took me a while to get used to the consistency of this cream. But once I had, I could appreciate its old-school quality (complete with classic barbershop fragrance) and how it improves razor glide. R149.95 for 453ml.

“Like many men, I’m familiar with pseudofolliculitis barbae, if we are going to do Latin.”

PINAUD CLUBMAN NO BUMPS GEL

Like many men, I’m familiar with razor bumps and in-grown hairs (pseudofolliculitis barbae, if we are going to do Latin). Pinaud Clubman No Bumps Gel features salicylic acid, which is a pro at dissolving pore-clogging dirt. This helps to prevent in-grown hairs. It also contains healing and hydrating panthenol, a vitamin B-5 derivative. I am happy to report that for the weeks I used this product after shaving, I had no problems with groan-inducing in-growns (apologies, I couldn’t help myself). This product packs a potent-smelling punch when you first open it, so easy does it. R199.95 for 118ml.

PINAUD CLUBMAN AFTER SHAVE LOTION

After shaves have never been my thing. Perhaps because I have experienced really burning ones in the past. For the last part of my Pinaud Clubman shaving products review, I tried Pinaud Clubman After Shave Lotion several times for the sake of research. I love it! After all, it’s an aromatic-fougère classic with a most appealing mix of citrus, herbal and oakmoss notes. As much as I enjoy it on my face, I like it even more splashing it on my body. So this one will be migrating from my shaving products to my fragrance collection. R199.95 for 177ml.

July 15, 2018

Bleu de Chanel Parfum Review

I’ve noticed there’s a growing trend for men’s fragrances to be given the parfum treatment. So it’s no surprise to see Bleu de Chanel Parfum being launched recently. It makes even more sense when you consider that Bleu de Chanel EDT and Bleu de Chanel EDP have been phenomenal successes for the French luxury brand.

Both of these versions of Bleu de Chanel (created by in-house perfumer Jacques Polge) are defined by their refined take on citrus and cedar notes, among others. While they have different emphases, they are not radically different fragrances. And so it is with Bleu de Chanel EDP, created by in-house perfumer Olivier Polge. It’s not a reinvention of this modern aromatic-woody classic, but it certainly offers a new dimension to it.

A STUDY IN BLUE: Chanel’s in-house perfumer, Olivier Polge, at work in the laboratory. Image courtesy of Chanel.

SO WHAT DOES BLEU DE CHANEL PARFUM SMELL LIKE?

The opening of the fragrance pulls you in immediately, with addictive fresh notes of artemisia, bergamot, lemon zest and mint. It’s one of those openings you want again and again, so I have found myself doing more re-sprays than usual.

According to Fragrantica, there’s a pineapple note at the heart of this fragrance. I don’t detect this fruity aspect at all, but I do pick up hints of lavender and geranium.

“It’s a grown-up, big boy treatment of sandalwood. Super-seductive stuff!”

However, it’s the base of sandalwood (sustainably sourced from New Caledonia, we are told) that really sets this fragrance apart from its predecessors. It’s a grown-up, big boy treatment of sandalwood. Super-seductive stuff! Cedar is also present in the dry-down, which further enhances the woody character of this fragrance.

The Fragroom verdict? Bleu de Chanel Parfum is supremely smooth and elegant, with the creamy sandalwood sealing the deal. It will be another huge seller for Chanel. And justifiably so. Like all of the Bleu de Chanel iterations, it nails versatility, wearability and elegance.

Bleu de Chanel Parfum, R1 655 for 50ml and R2 325 for 100ml.

July 6, 2018

Bumper Mid-Year Fragrance Edition: Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Absolu EDP, Mugler Alien Flora Futura EDT, Alaia EDP Nude, Bentley Momentum EDT, Lanvin Modern Princess EDP And More Reviews

I clearly have been in a hoarding/procrastinating mood for the last few months. I have accumulated a number of fragrance reviews. It’s July 2018 already, so best I get going. There’s quite a mix of fragrance reviews here, if I can say so myself, from teen surfer scent to way-out floral . Where known, I have provided the name of the perfumer in brackets after the name of the fragrance.

“Acqua di Gio has been a huge success for Armani, so there’s much expectation (and consternation) when a new flanker is launched.”

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Absolu EDP (Alberto Morillas)

Acqua di Gio has been a huge success for Armani, so there’s much expectation (and consternation) when a new flanker is launched. First of all let’s get the obvious out of the way. This is still a fresh-ish aquatic-style fragrance, but this time it’s all about the interplay of water and wood. There’s also a fruity vibe upfront. Patchouli is also a major element of the fragrance (apparently it was exclusively and ethically sourced from Guatemala). This patchouli note balances the aquatic and woody nature of this EDT with a sensual aspect. So what does this all mean? Acqua di Gio Absolu may not be an immediate winner like its predecessors, but its refined elegance makes it well worth sniffing out. R990 for 40ml, R1 420 for 75ml and R1 810 for 125ml.

Mugler Alien Flora Futura EDT (Dominique Ropion and Jean-Christophe Hérault)

Those Alien flankers keep on coming and somehow manage to offer something different and worthwhile each time. Mugler Alien Futura is a fresher and subtler (for Mugler) take on the exotic theme. There’s citrus-y Buddha’s hand in the opening and night-blooming cereus (a cactus flower that blooms once a year at night) for a full-blown heart of intrigue. Irresistible, in that typically Mugler way. R755 for 30ml and R995 for 60ml.

Lanvin Modern Princess EDP (Christophe Raynaud)

From the opening pink lady apple and redcurrant notes, through to the heart notes of freesia and jasmine notes, this Modern Princess sure is sweet. Ok, so too sweet for my liking, but then I am definitely not this EDT’s target market of younger women. If you like your fruity florals young, juicy ‘n sweet, come and get it. R595 for 30ml, R795 for 60ml and R995 for 90ml.

Alaia EDP Nude (Marie Salamagne)

This oriental floral is the fourth fragrance from Alaia and so far I like what I am smelling. It has become my latest favourite bedtime scent. Not because of its name. But because it’s so comfortable, smooth and subtle. Cedar, cashmeran, orange blossom, tonka bean, musk and leather have been given the creamy ‘n dreamy treatment. R880 for 30ml, R1 320 for 50ml and R1 910 for 100ml.

Hollister Free Wave For Him EDT (Gino Percontino)

Hollister fragrances are all about the Californian lifestyle of sun, sea and surfing. This EDT has an intriguing list of notes, including lime caviar, ginger, pink pepper, silver algae, white iris, oakmoss, driftwood, salted amber and smooth amberwood. While I can’t pick up most of these notes (and I have worn this one several times), I do get a fresh and youthful aquatic vibe, with a tinge of salt. It’s a good choice for your younger brother, who’s just starting his fragrance adventures. R725 for 100ml.

Bentley Momentum EDT (Nathalie Lorson)

Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a fan of Bentley fragrances. They offer surprisingly affordable quality and are made by top perfumers such as Nathalie Lorson. A woody aromatic, this EDT has a bit of an old-school fresh vibe opening (that’s not a bad thing), with bergamot, green violet and clary sage top notes. By the time, the base notes (sandalwood, tonka bean, moss and musks) kick in, it has evolved into something altogether more sensual. R1 245 for 100ml.

Mademoiselle Rochas EDT (Nathalie Gracia-Cetto, Sonia Constant, Shyamala Maisondieu, Nadege le Garlantezec)

There’s no stopping the fruity-florals trend. This EDT is a youthful and fresh take on the theme, with notes of blackcurrant, rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, lily-of-the-valley, plum and a musk drydown featuring prominently. Thankfully, it avoids the sugar overload of the genre. R710 for 30ml, R910 for 50ml and R1 110 for 90ml.

Yardley Bond St No 8 EDP Pour Homme

What Yardley Bond St fragrances lack in originality, they compensate with their budget-friendliness. The latest in the range is a straight-up masculine scent, with notes of pear, bergamot, mandarin, lavender, orange blossom, incense and amberwood creating a perfectly pleasant fruity, woody and spicy package. Longevity is not the best, but at the price, spray, spray away. R399.95 for 100ml.

Month: July 2018