Razor: Gillette Fatboy on 6
Blade: Rapira Stainless
Brush: That Darn Rob Synthetic
Soap: Zingari Man The Wanderer
Aftershave: Zingari Man The Wanderer Recovery Splash
Other: Thirsty Badger lather bowl
If you have been following along you probably figured out that I’m a sucker for a good barbershop scent. I have several in my den. Some lean on that tobacco/anise side of the scents while others are the powdery citrus vibe. This particular offering from Zingari was always one that I was interested in trying and, as luck would have it, it came across my inbox as a trade option. I jumped on it.
One of the barbershop scents that I have a sample of and really like is Blackship Grooming Two Bits. I’ve had it on my list to pick up for a while but it never seems to make it’s way North of the border and whenever I have been ordering from a place in the US, either the soap or the splash was out of stock. It just never fell into place. Well, I never did get that set but in the most awesome of coincidences I discovered upon opening the tub of Wanderer that the scent was almost bang on to the Blackship offering I loved. Scent strength is a bit dialled back and it isn’t quite as sharp but then scent profile is extremely similar. Given that the soap/splash base is an upgrade over the Blackship bases, this was a huge win for me.
So what is the scent? Well the scent on the Wanderer contains notes of bergamot, citrus, oakmoss, basil, and patchouli. It is a very fresh and classic take on a barbershop. You get a subtle citrus/bergamot top with a rich powdery oakmoss/basil. The patchouli grounds the scent in a subtle bit of earthiness. My biggest negative on Zingari soaps in the past has been the dialled down scent strength. That is a purposeful choice for Heather with her focus on skin care being of utmost importance. Well I can say on this one, the scent strength is pretty perfect. It is very prominent during the shave but not overwhelming or cloying. For this scent, it is bang on. The soap base itself is a little finicky to dial in but when you get it there you are rewarded with an extra slick and luxurious lather with an elite level good post shave. Now that I’ve used it a while I’m much more comfortable getting it loaded and hydrated. A little patience goes a long way here so don’t give up on this base too quickly if it is a recent add.
I finished up with the matching recovery splash. This was my first chance to try this base and I was a big fan. I just never tend to reach for balms, I like this splash format so much more. Heather has taken the best part of the balm and transformed it into a splash. It gives you the skin benefits of a balm while going on very thin and light like a splash (without any burn). Scent strength on this is also dialled up a touch from the soap, although you won’t mistake it for a cologne in terms of longevity. A really classy barbershop finish.
Really enjoyed the shave today. All for now – J
