APR Fougere Bourbon Rose 1st Impressions

Good morning everyone. This is my first experience with Australian Private Reserve, and this soap cost me $27.50 buckaroos.

https://imgur.com/a/bjQQg

**Set Up**

Landmark Essentials Bronsh

APR Fougere Bourbon Rose

Stirling Vanilla Bean Espresso

Standard Head on Charcoal Handle

**Scent**

I really really like this scent. It broke my top ten, it's a Rose Fougere, but to me it's very pleasant and warm. I mainly get a warm floral scent up front, and with the rose showing up at the end. It's very pleasant, and it strikes me as a "first date" scent, or maybe to go meet the in laws. The scent stayed consistent as I lathered it, and didn't linger long after I was done shaving. Its warm inviting and just a great overall scent.

**Performance**

Performance was pretty good, I'd rate it above average at 7.47/10. I'd compare it to soaps like Dr Jon's or Stirling. It's a very thirsty soap, the thirstiest I've used so far, and it took me a while to get a decent lather. Once I was able to, I had very decent protection and no problems gliding through my hair. Once again, this soap didn't particularly excel in anything, but it was just an overall better performer than a couple of the other soaps I've tried.

**Post Shave**

My face afterwards felt fine and dandy, it wasn't Uber soft like with Bufflehead, but it didn't dry me out like some other soaps do. My face felt fine and well moisturized.

**Value**

This is the big one for this soap. At $27.50, this soap better have something great going for it. Unfortunately, I dont think it does. While the scent was great, you can get similar performing soaps for much cheaper. Hell, you can get a matching soap and splash for that price from other artisans that perform just as good.

At this price point it competes with Wholly Kaw Donkey Milk, which to be perfectly honest, is cheaper and outperforms it in more way than one.

While the scent is very pleasant, I don't think it justifies the price tag. Again there are other soaps that smells just as good or better, (Yuzu Rose Patchouli, CRC, Luau, Flora Colossus, etc.,) and they do it while outperforming it to boot.

I like this soap and scent, but I don't like it enough that I'll be getting a back up or another scent.. If the price went down to around 16-18, then I could see myself buying more.

But for the time being, this is my first, and probably my last APR soap.

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Nice review! Don't see much mention of APR other than the somewhat higher price. I agree with your review, the scent of Fougere Rose Bourbon is great, not what I would expect from a rose scent since rose is more of a background note. The performance was not bad by any means but no one category accelled.


I have heard that the soap base is made by one company and the scents are maDe by another. Not sure how true this is.

The price may be it's downfall, while it is being shipped from Australia, there are other soaps from that side of the pond that can be had for much less. For the price it is competing with WK, GD, and B&M and I have to say I prefer those soap bases over APR but need to revisit it.

What kills commerce in Australia is the Australia Post and it's exorbitant rates which takes prices into the stratosphere.

This is a brand I've been wanting to try as they seem to get reviews that are nothing less than 'pretty good' and mostly up to 'awesome.' Like BPman mentioned above the shipping costs from Oz to here will probably always make it a prohibitive purchase, but I respect the artisan's commitment to it and in continuing to beef up their distribution. Hopefully there will be a change in shipping policies that allow it to be more of a win/win for buyers and the artisan.