Advice on Acqua di Parma

Hey fine fellows. I've heard a bunch about the luxury experience that is Acqua di Parma shaving cream (the tub version). I'm at a point where I feel I could treat myself to a truly luxurious shave product, so I'm thinking about finally picking this one up. It's not like I don't have plenty of lovely soaps (B&M, CRSW, Tabac are among my top products), but I'm thinking the AdP might offer its own experience.

Those who know the current version that's out there, can you comment on what it smells like? I understand it's a mild scent, but I'm wary of obvious aromachemicals used in department store men's fragrances (aquatic, or that fake-lavender dihydromyrcenol). If AdP is more basil and citrus as mentioned, I'm good with that.

Also, knowing it's a spendy product, would you say the performance and experience is indeed luxurious? What would you compare it to?

Thanks!

Toward the end of the shave I always get a wif of what I can only describe as peanut oil or some other cooling oil after a run thru a fryer. I guess this is when the soap starts to thin out. It's not a strong scent persay but it's definitely there.

As for luxury it's a decent soap. Easy to load and slick with medium low cushion but heavy in it's density. Would I buy it again? Probably not at full price but definitely when the wife gets a 20%+ off from a we'll known brick and mortar store.

As for a comparison, minus the scent, I think it's similar to xpec in performance for me. Xpec has grown on me and is definitely something I would keep in the den.

Well, throwing caution to the wind I went ahead and grabbed a tub this afternoon. I'll have my first shave with it tomorrow, but I find the scent pleasant just sniffing from the top. As others have said, it seems mild, and sort of men's cologne-like (not classic Eau de Cologne-like; that would be the original Colonia scent). I can see it being light and refreshing during the shave (especially with the touch of menthol). We'll see!

I agree, it is mild, but I kind of like that, that way I can use some other colognes if I wish to do so.  It is funny, when I bought mine on Sephora.com, it was advertised as unscented.  Truly, I wish it were, lol.....

I like it, but I am not sure if I would buy another one once this one is adios.

PS. I own the jar, not the tube version.

Hey fine fellows. I've heard a bunch about the luxury experience that is Acqua di Parma shaving cream (the tub version). I'm at a point where I feel I could treat myself to a truly luxurious shave product, so I'm thinking about finally picking this one up. It's not like I don't have plenty of lovely soaps (B&M, CRSW, Tabac are among my top products), but I'm thinking the AdP might offer its own experience.

Those who know the current version that's out there, can you comment on what it smells like? I understand it's a mild scent, but I'm wary of obvious aromachemicals used in department store men's fragrances (aquatic, or that fake-lavender dihydromyrcenol). If AdP is more basil and citrus as mentioned, I'm good with that.

Also, knowing it's a spendy product, would you say the performance and experience is indeed luxurious? What would you compare it to?

Thanks!

I had the shaving cream in the tub, and from what I hear the tube is not the same formula. It is an amazing clean scent but very light. I get citrus and maybe some aquatic. According to the AdP rep I talked to at Saks it is meant to be unscented but the natural scent of the ingredients comes out. It has pomegranate, lemon, and basil extracts in it for skin protection so I assume that is what is providing the scent. What I like best about AdP is the menthol level, which for me is the perfect amount. It's not a face freeze but you definitely know it's in there. The performance is very good with nice slickness and cushion. I feel the post shave is average and I apply a balm afterward as a result, but I like balms anyway so that's not a problem for me. I have XPEC new formula, MdC Fougere and Lavender, ABC shave soap, and had AdP new version, and I enjoy every one of them but my favorite shave soap is still B&M for performance and scents. I only say this so you don't go in expecting a magical shave, but because of the beautiful scent and menthol it is a very enjoyable soap to use. I would only buy it from a reputable retailer to ensure you get a fresh soap. Some stores don't sell it fast enough and you end up with an old soap.

Thanks Hobbyist. I ended up picking it up at Barney's (which is new to carrying AdP in general), and the soap seems fine (not visibly dry, no cracks or anything). As a big B&M fan, I get what you're saying; I don't really expect the AdP to perform like a tallow soap, but I like the idea of a clean, high-quality cream. Some day I'll have to check out XPEC and maybe Tabula Rasa as well. Oh, and SMN. So many. :-)

I agree, it is mild, but I kind of like that, that way I can use some other colognes if I wish to do so.  It is funny, when I bought mine on Sephora.com, it was advertised as unscented.  Truly, I wish it were, lol.....

I like it, but I am not sure if I would buy another one once this one is adios.

PS.  I own the jar, not the tube version.

Thanks Hobbyist. I ended up picking it up at Barney's (which is new to carrying AdP in general), and the soap seems fine (not visibly dry, no cracks or anything). As a big B&M fan, I get what you're saying; I don't really expect the AdP to perform like a tallow soap, but I like the idea of a clean, high-quality cream. Some day I'll have to check out XPEC and maybe Tabula Rasa as well. Oh, and SMN. So many. :-)

Yea I read that after I posted..lol, should have read all the posts before writing my reply.

Barney's is a good place to buy it too. As for my B&M comment, that wasn't to detract from the excellent quality of AdP by any means but it sounds like you know what I meant. You can get samples of XPEC, as well as MdC, and ABC if you prefer that route before purchasing. I've not tried SMN so no comment there. I have Tabula Rasa Steampunk and man oh man is that a great soap if you get the lather dialed in properly. Go to Connaught Shaving for XPEC sample or full size. The full size 8.4oz there is only $36 on sale right now plus $5 shipping. That's half the price of what it costs in the US.

Enjoy your AdP!

Thanks Hobbyist. I ended up picking it up at Barney's (which is new to carrying AdP in general), and the soap seems fine (not visibly dry, no cracks or anything). As a big B&M fan, I get what you're saying; I don't really expect the AdP to perform like a tallow soap, but I like the idea of a clean, high-quality cream. Some day I'll have to check out XPEC and maybe Tabula Rasa as well. Oh, and SMN. So many. :-)

As a conspiracy theorist, I find many similarities between Tabula Rasa and Xpec. Similar performance, consistency etc. Would not be surprised to find that they were made by the same folks with a similar formula then rebranded/marketed.

As a conspiracy theorist, I find many similarities between Tabula Rasa and Xpec. Similar performance, consistency etc. Would not be surprised to find that they were made by the same folks with a similar formula then rebranded/marketed.
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Kevin, you have a suspicious mind.  I like that.  I'm sure that with the explosion of wet shaving and "artisan" soap makers there is bound to be instances of what I call the craft beer contract brewing phenomenon.  If you recall when craft beers first exploded onto the scene a number of years ago many craft beers were not really craft brewed.  The mega-breweries had excess brewing capacity so they would brew beer for third parties under contract.  They'd do it to the recipe, specs and packaging that the third party wanted.  They also had the skill, expertise and plant to brew whatever they wanted and to do it to a high quality as well.  There isn't anything really wrong with that and some successful beers started this way, e.g. Sam Adams - and then went on to build their own breweries, at least for some of their production.  The issue is when the craft brewers marketed that they brewed the beer themselves in their olde tyme brewery and otherwise misrepresented what they were doing. Somebody buys their beer thinking they're getting a hand crafted beer when its actually brewed in the Coors mega-brewery.  Don't get me wrong, the mega-breweries can brew excellent beer but that isn' the point.  I'm guessing that the same thing is going on with respect to shaving soaps - have you explored whats involved in soap making?  Its not rocket science but if you're going to make a high quality product that you want to market to the world you're not going to accomplish that in your basement.  So I'm guessing there are mega-cosmetics companies that have excess soap making capacity that will make your soap under contract to your specs, fragrance and packaging requirements.  Again, thats ok unless there's misrepresentation going on about how and who is making the soap.

There was a thread a while ago about bulk soap noodles/pellets being used by various soap makers.  An alternative to the above mentioned contract soap making would be buying bulk soap noodles from a large soap making company - they're available without fragrance added, and then mixing in your own fragrances, colours and whatnot.  Still a reasonable way to do it - quality control is more or less assured, however, are you holding yourself out as a soap maker when you're really a soap scenter?  This phenomenon likely accounts for the striking similarities one encounters across numerous independent soap brands.

Mark (also suspicious)

Interesting comments kwsher and Marko.