Razor: Yaqi Mellon
Blade: Gillette Rubie
Brush: Spiffo! 24mm Two Band Badger
Soap: Stirling Soap Campania
Aftershave: Stirling Soap Campania
Other: Thirsty Badger lather bowl, Stirling Soap Campania EDT
OK, I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for the hype. When a new release hits the market and has a big hype with it, I tend to get FOMO. That was totally the case here. Campania was probably the most hyped release I had seen this spring, at least in my circles. This new release is a dupe of Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Fico Di Amalfi. It was previously duped by RazoRock but that has been out of stock forever (and possibly discontinues) and had a loyal following clamouring for it. Stirling obliged.
Campania offers notes of grapefruit, bergamot, citron, lemon, fig, jasmine, pink pepper, cedar, and benzoin. It is very fresh, with a touch of citrus, fig and floral sweetness to it. I’ll be honest, I’m not super impressed. Not that it is a bad scent, it is quite nice and refreshing, but certainly not something I’d get really hyped up over. It is a perfect match for a spring/early summer scent and it follows that ADP DNA. I guess I can see why folks would love it, but it isn’t really in my wheelhouse. I’d also say scent strength is about average, which is actually pretty decent for this type of scent.
Performance was typical consistent Stirling, easy to lather and works like a charm. I grabbed the matching splash but this time I also grabbed a matching Stirling EDT (again, a victim of the hype). This is my first experience with their fragrances and I’d say it was OK, but nothing more. I’d say the performance on this particular one didn’t have a lot more strength than the splash. I don’t want to judge it too harshly because this is the type of fragrance profile that will always have that performance challenge and I’m told the real deal ADP frag suffers from the same average performance. I will just have to revisit the EDTs in another Stirling scent.
Had a really good shave today, but the scent isn’t going to be a keeper. I’ll swap this set out and pick up another Stirling more my style.
Beware the hype… until the next drop.
All for now – J
