Ariana & Evans

i absolutely hate their old graphic design and i cant be the only one who thinks it makes the product seem second-tier

Shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You might miss a FANTASTIC story

My Cuban Highball arrived today. I have not used it & don't need to as another splendid review of the new Kaizen base would be redundant at best. We all know it's top shelf. Now on to the scent...


At first whiff I was despondent thinking "This smells like a Tertius flanker!!" . I pushed it away and waited a bit for another whiff. On the second whiff, after it aired a tad, I smelled a melding of rum with heady lime and my eyes lit up.    The more I smell it the more I like it, as strange as that seems. It's "deeper" than Frozen Mojitos FWIW, richer actually. YMMV. 

https://aegrooming.com/products/cuban-hi...aving-soap

Thanks to my friend TheDruid@ilRasoio, I have two models of Ariana & Evans on trial.
Kaizen, complete with his aftershave, and Cannabliss Santal.

Given the high expectations for the new base, I immediately put the first one to the test.
https://i.imgur.com/01CnHJv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qMvsnsX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dH4ahuM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/R4sTVxc.jpg

Even if the label is different, these are the details from the site.
Ingredients list: (INCI)
Stearic Acid, Beef Tallow, Aqua, Goats Milk, Potassium Hydroxide, Kokum Butter, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Cocoa Butter,
Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Manteca (Pig Fat), Aloe Juice, Avocado Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Apricot Kernal Seed Oil, Lanolin,
Agave, Slippery Elm, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Silk Amino Acid, Tussah Silk, Marshmallow Root.
I don't know if it's an old label, or a different formulation.
The differences (Mango, Greek Yogurt, Camelia, Bentonite, Beeswax) are marked.
In fact, the specimen I have in use has proven exceptional in mechanics ... but less in conditioning.

The thing that struck me most is the speed with which Kaizen soap produces a perfect lather.
It explodes in a cream with a yogurt consistency, shining and covering, more easily than its antagonists.
Usually the top products are very rich and require some work to incorporate a lot of water.
This A&E is not thirsty, it takes a little more water than average, but it does it quickly.
In a couple of minutes, better with high density synthetics, the result is perfect.

I think a lot is related to pig fat (Manteca).
This, together with the other structural components, produces an incredible primary lubrication.
Unfortunately it is not equally valid on the secondary one, definitely not sufficient for this category.
However, the result (with a good technique) does not make you regret more structured products.

Unfortunately this detail affects (much) the consistency of the product.
The paste is almost as soft as a cream, the consistency is gelatinous to the touch.
This leads to a not high yield, especially with not super dense natural lofts.
In fact, even when scooping from the jar, the quantity required for three passes is not so little.
In comparison, Stirling goes way better.

Another detail is that animal fats, and some vegetables (here, Karité and Cacao), have superficial action.
Unlike other more exotic ones, these only produce mechanical actions.
So the deep action that produces true skin conditioning is less.
If this detail is not evident on normal skin, it is glaring on my dermatitis.
In fact, I used soap alone and the result got worse over the days.
Nothing striking, but still I feel an unexpected discomfort.

Even my nose feels quite different notes ...
Fragrance:
• Mandarin, Calabrian Bergamot, Lemon Peel, Neroli
• Honeysuckle, Green Apple, Rose
• Tobacco Absolute, Haitian Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedarwood

Fragrance is the most painful point for me.
So much so that I abandoned the lotion after the first use, being very fragrant.
At the beginning I smell Pineapple, of the fresh and ripe type with which in the tropics succulent smoothies are made.
Unfortunately I don't find the other notes, unlike a particularly unpleasant Cedarwood.
It reminds me in full the rotting acid acrore of Castle Forbes, which I hate.
Fortunately, the Floid Blue is so overwhelming that I solved it effectively.

So I was very lucky to have tried It ... without buying !!! 

I had a bottle of Floid Blue EdT years ago and loved it. I do however like the Italian Furbo Vintage AS even better!! Word is that the same company makes it.

I got a couple of Kaizen soaps today. I expected the scent to be stronger, kind of low from the tub, for A&E that is.

I got a couple of Kaizen soaps today. I expected the scent to be stronger, kind of low from the tub, for A&E that is.

Well, which ones are they?  

I got a couple of Kaizen soaps today. I expected the scent to be stronger, kind of low from the tub, for A&E that is.

Well, which ones are they?  

Peach cognac and Grecian horse. Usually he has stronger scents and that was enjoyed, by me. Probably alot of people don't want a stronger scent, so he played it safe.

The original strained yogurt formula was released about a year ago to members of the Shaving Shop Club.
It was also offered to those who attended the Maggard meetup last June. I attended and picked up a couple of tubs.
I thought it was an improvement on the original formula that did not include yogurt.

More recently Peter has tweaked that formula. Asian Pear was the first scent available in the new formula.
The ingredient list is the same as the old formula, but some of the ratios were adjusted to improve performance.
I have not tried the new formula, so I cannot confirm whether the changes were beneficial.

There have been some A&E soaps released into the general marketplace recently.
The description of these soaps does not indicate whether they are the formula from a year ago.
Or whether they are now all being produced with the updated formula.
I presume they are the updated formula, but because the ingredient list has not changed from the earlier formula, I cannot confirm which formula is used.
Either way, they will be excellent soaps.

Good point.

I'm using the "tweaked formula" with strained yogurt and pig fet, in the Cannabliss Santal fragrance.
Me too I do not feel a great change on the previous base, with was excellent too.

Have these bases names?
Or we've to talk about "Greek", "Pork" and "Twisted Pork"?
 

BTW, now all will be Kaizen base.
But I like more the last before.

I got a couple of Kaizen soaps today. I expected the scent to be stronger, kind of low from the tub, for A&E that is.

Well, which ones are they?  

Peach cognac and Grecian horse. Usually he has stronger scents and that was enjoyed, by me. Probably alot of people don't want a stronger scent, so he played it safe.

Grecian Horse is probably the most beloved of all his scented soaps. It redefined what an almond type scent should be. I have but a mere sample in the prior base and even after washing my face with a cleanser after shaving the scent lingers for hours on my face. Is yours in the new Kaizen base? 

Well, which ones are they?  

Peach cognac and Grecian horse. Usually he has stronger scents and that was enjoyed, by me. Probably alot of people don't want a stronger scent, so he played it safe.

Grecian Horse is probably the most beloved of all his scented soaps. It redefined what an almond type scent should be. I have but a mere sample in the prior base and even after washing my face with a cleanser after shaving the scent lingers for hours on my face. Is yours in the new Kaizen base? 

I like the smell I just wish it was stronger. Yes it's new kaizen base