PAA General Thoughts?

I don't mind the sweet scents as soaps but not to wear out as aftershaves .

Hey Marko sitting here "reading" with a Seinfeld episode on in the background. It's a sign and just ordered the Beach based on your recommendation. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

The marketing is crazy isn't it? You just can't get away from it. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think you'll like The Beach - its a good strong scent in the tub and in the lather and if you get the aftershave too, it will stay with you for most of the day.

We're heading out of town next week for a couple of weeks and I'm trying to decide on the soap(s) to bring, The Beach is in the running.
Mark

First try but the aftershaves I've tried do not impress me at all. The sandlewood seems just ok. I am very picky. Don't like anything sweet at all.

I know what you mean about sweet aftershaves - the HTGAM/PAA aftershaves that I do like are the Bay Rum, both with and without alcohol not sweet at all. Also like The Beach and I have some HTGAM balms in Bay Rum, Vetiver and Frostbite (menthol). The only other PAA aftershave I've tried was Al Fin and it wasn't for me.
Mark

Kevin, I forgot to mention, I tried Navy Goat earlier in the week, I like it - obviously the bay pushes it over the top for me and the performance of the PAA v3 soaps is very good.
Mark

Kevin, I forgot to mention, I tried Navy Goat earlier in the week, I like it - obviously the bay pushes it over the top for me and the performance of the PAA v3 soaps is very good.
Mark

Great to hear Mark! I like it too and think it a nice riff on a traditional Bay type soap.

I liked PAA - about a year ago (I have more products from that era than most people have altogether. I still use and enjoy them, but...) The value in the products was there and the scents were mostly unique and interesting. The soap and aftershave performance was also north of average. Alas, in that timeframe, a lot more artisans have come on the scene and/or existing ones - that have raised the bar (considerably) when it comes to performance and in some cases, value as well. Not to mention much more mature, well-developed (complex) scents. I don't see spending $25 for a PAA aftershave. I might suggest PAA slow down and stop releasing a new, half-arsed scent every week and go back to developing more original, complex scents - and continue to improve the soap base. Alas, my days of buying PAA are pretty much over. I've moved on to top-tier offerings by the likes of B&M, CRSW, SV, etc. Life's too short and the shaves too few to settle.

continue to improve the soap base.  

I don't use nor have tried PAA AS and only recently began trying the soaps. The V3 or most current version I find to be actually quite good and can hold it's own from my experience. The Crown King base is very good as well.

Have you tried the new formula BoarderPhreak ? Just curious as to your thoughts.

I do agree and love B&M, particularly the glissant base. CRSW I find solid; SV doesn't wet my whistle as such as I think it good but not great.

I don't use nor have tried PAA AS and only recently began trying the soaps. The V3 or most current version I find to be actually quite good and can hold it's own from my experience. The Crown King base is very good as well.

Have you tried the new formula BoarderPhreak ? Just curious as to your thoughts.

I do agree and love B&M, particularly the glissant base. CRSW I find solid; SV doesn't wet my whistle as such as I think it good but not great.

I have tried both the Synergy v3.x and Crown King based soaps, and they're at least... Different - than Synergy 2.x. I'll have to try the CK base more, so I don't have much of an opinion to offer there right now. Synergy 3.x is certainly slicker than 2.x, but the lather is flatter (and not creamier per se). I don't know that I'd call it "better."

I definitely prefer what I call top-tier soaps as they also add a lot of face feel and "exotic" ingredients. And make of it what you will, but I like tallow and lanolin. That's not to say vegan formulations are lacking (hell, look at Saponificio Varesino). The three I mentioned are pretty much my benchmarks these days.

I don't use nor have tried PAA AS and only recently began trying the soaps. The V3 or most current version I find to be actually quite good and can hold it's own from my experience. The Crown King base is very good as well.

Have you tried the new formula BoarderPhreak ? Just curious as to your thoughts.

I do agree and love B&M, particularly the glissant base. CRSW I find solid; SV doesn't wet my whistle as such as I think it good but not great.

I have tried both the Synergy v3.x and Crown King based soaps, and they're at least... Different - than Synergy 2.x.  I'll have to try the CK base more, so I don't have much of an opinion to offer there right now.  Synergy 3.x is certainly slicker than 2.x, but the lather is flatter (and not creamier per se).  I don't know that I'd call it "better."

I definitely prefer what I call top-tier soaps as they also add a lot of face feel and "exotic" ingredients.  And make of it what you will, but I like tallow and lanolin.  That's not to say vegan formulations are lacking (hell, look at Saponificio Varesino).  The three I mentioned are pretty much my benchmarks these days.

Interesting as with the current formula I get a nice balance of cushion and slickness with solid in-shave and post-shave. Definitely a hydroamorous [yes, I just made that up ] soap that I can load up with water for slickness but plenty of cushion too.

If you enjoy in particular top tier soaps with exotic ingredients and haven't tried Tallow + Steel I would strongly recommend them. Ryan @ Tallow + Steel renders his own tallow, includes lanolin, silk as well as avocado, coconut and castor oils in his formula. They are a new comer but among the best soaps I have ever used in 12 years of wetshaving.

He predominantly uses essential oils which I feel provide a richer, more rounded scent and collaborates with a perfumer on the scent profiles. In fact, my wife, who thinks this entire hobby is bizarre particularly based on my historic disinterest in man-pampering, has declared Grog the best scented soap I have ever purchased out of the 100's tried. Pretty strong endorsement coming from her!

Interesting as with the current formula I get a nice balance of cushion and slickness with solid in-shave and post-shave. Definitely a hydroamorous [yes, I just made that up ] soap that I can load up with water for slickness but plenty of cushion too.

If you enjoy in particular top tier soaps with exotic ingredients and haven't tried Tallow + Steel I would strongly recommend them. Ryan @ Tallow + Steel renders his own tallow, includes lanolin, silk as well as avocado, coconut and castor oils in his formula. They are a new comer but among the best soaps I have ever used in 12 years of wetshaving.

He predominantly uses essential oils which I feel provide a richer, more rounded scent and collaborates with a perfumer on the scent profiles. In fact, my wife, who thinks this entire hobby is bizarre particularly based on my historic disinterest in man-pampering, has declared Grog the best scented soap I have ever purchased out of the 100's tried. Pretty strong endorsement coming from her!

I know of several other people that have found the new formulation a bit... Weird (not creamy). In fact, just posted today on Sharpologist - scroll down a bit to Miami Libre...

"...My first try lathering this soap was a little weird: tendrils of lather would stick out between the brush and puck...

I have two collections enroute from Tallow + Steel as we speak! I went for the Dark/Rainforest collections. I'm very excited, as I've only heard good things and the ingredients, product photos and the recent weekend sale pushed me over the edge! I wanted Grog but decided to maintain at least a little self control... If I like the two, all bets might be off though! :p