Razor: Karve CB on C
Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock SharpEdge Yellows
Brush: Tournure de bois 26mm APShaveCo Gealousy
Soap: Murphy & McNeal Barbershop De Los Muertos 2
Aftershave: Murphy & McNeal Barbershop De Los Muertos 2
When Barbershop De Los Muertos was revived by Murphy & McNeal a while ago, I was quick to jump aboard that train. The scent is great and the labelling just screamed that it needed to be in my den. At the time of release they also did a follow up, BDLM2. This second release was in the scent of Tom Ford for Men. I love a good fragrance dupe and I was paying for shipping anyways, might as well add it on.
First off, can we be done with reflective labels already? I’m starting to see them pop up from a few artisans. They always look dirty and it makes photographing a pain. Other than that, the labelling is OK but not nearly the head turner of some of the other Xicano Designs. Scent on this one is nice, I’d say coming in around a medium of slightly less. The note breakdown on the fragrance is: Top notes are Ginger, Lemon Leaf Oil, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot, Basil and Violet Leaf; middle notes are Tobacco Leaf, Pepper, Tunisian Orange Blossom and Grapefruit blossom; base notes are Amber, Cedar, Virginian Patchouli, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Leather and Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha. To my nose I get that bright citrus/ginger top over a woodsy floral base. The fragrance is good but honestly, not much of a standout. I don’t see anyone being offended by it but it isn’t really going to jump out at you either. I’d say a pleasantly average scent.
I am still figuring out this Kodiak base which means it isn’t going to be getting any awards for ease of use from me. Between this and BDLM1, I’ve lathered it several times and it takes getting used to. I figured out most of the kinks where I can get a proper load and a well hydrated lather but I’m still finding it isn’t quite there for all metrics. Residual slickness is sorely lacking today. I’m not sure if I over hydrated or I should push a bit more water into it. I never really feel like I have this base to a spot where it shines in across the board.
For the post, I used the matching splash. Scent on this is about a medium and doesn’t carry terrible long after the shave. There is some nice skin food in here but for me it doesn’t absorb as well as it should and my skin was left a bit tacky. I’d say good, but not great. The bottle iis really cool with the leather wrapped cap but you definitely pay for it.
This isn’t a bad set but it isn’t a great one either. For me, there are a few base issues that I could easily overlook if I loved the scent (as I do with BDLM1). Since the scent is just a like and the price point is on the higher end, the little things really stand out to me. So today, just an average shave. Kinda fitting for a Monday. All for now – J
