Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements AMA, September 17th, 2017

I have no questions.  Just wanted to say hey Douglas.   Tombstone is F'ing awesome.

Thanks bud, that one is near and dear to me!

CaD314 , first of all, thank you (and Fran) for taking the time to do this today.  

A quick question to start off:  will King Emporium be coming back?  If not, what would be a good substitute?

Hmmmmmm, King R never left! It's sold exclusively through Razor Emporium! Here's a link to the soap (if this is ok to link here? let me know if this goes against any rules guys!) http://www.razoremporium.com/king-r-empo...ving-soap/

I'd like to start by thanking the PAA team for the great customer service I've had. I would like to know if Doug ever sleeps, between what he does for the community between meet ups and ILBS and other entertainment, how does he have time to make a develop new products. Any new surprises coming in time for Christmas?


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lol, I barely sleep it's true. I fall asleep thinking about shaving and wake up thinking about it...much to Fran's chagrin I'm sure. There are a few surprises coming this holiday season, we hope! There is one that was supposed to be out before last Christmas but the manufacturer just doesn't "get it". Hopefully it will be done this year! Also, my classic holiday releases will return; Both Magi and Cane have been maturing (aging) for over a year!

I need to add, I do work 24/7 and that's not a complaint. I enjoy every second of it and am very, VERY grateful to be able to do what I do.

Hey Douglas and Fran,

If you each had to pick one scent, which one would that be? Your personal favorite.

Hey Douglas and Fran,

If you each had to pick one scent, which one would that be? Your personal favorite.

Hmmm, does it have to be one of mine or any scent out there? It's tough, I don't even have a favorite color! I have never really had any favorite anythings, I find it too limiting in a limitless world...God that sounds so bloody pretentious (if i sound like a horses ass, forgive me). I think this is reflected in our 80+ scents. I think there are a lot of folks like this that really don't know they're like this, they never got permission to like everything! We grow up in a world where it seems we need a favorite band, a Best friend, a favorite team, etc...I just don't subscribe to this approach.

lol, I mean look at us, how many soaps and frags do each of us own?!?!? BUT, gun to my head and I had to choose I would choose Al Fin. When I created Al Fin I felt like I finally "Got It" as a perfumer, everything clicked. Most of the time I find it's the entire experience surrounding the creation or wearing of a scent that will rank it high or low. It could be the best scent in the world, but if your verbally abusive homeroom teacher wore it, chances are you will stay away from ever reaching for it. That may not have been the best example, but you understand what I mean.

For this reason I'm huge into "rewiring" yourself for different scents. Meaning, if there is a scent you really don't care for, for one reason or another, you need to re-associate it with a positive experience. Wear it to your friends wedding, over the holiday, on a vacation, etc.

geesh...I kinda got a little nutty answering this question, eh? Good question, tough to answer!

Oh, and if you were looking for a scent that is not mine that I currently enjoy, Tricorn by Caswell Massey is a wonderful, classic, Fall scent that I have been using when not rocking Porthos!

Hello Doug and Fran! You have a reputation for being an amazing perfumer and soap maker. Has there ever been a scent/soap/splash that you just couldn't finish due to frustation? Basically just wondering if there were any failed projects that you coulda, woulda, shoulda. Thanks!

Now that's tough.  It's a mixture of peat, heather and new fern, a woodsy scent but not cedar and pine. The closet I can describe it is driving in a pre-AC car right after a spring rain next to a field where they just cut the grass.

Hey Macho,
Thanks for the kind words...but in all honesty, there are many more failures than successes. Just a couple weeks back I was experimenting on some new ideas, I made 5 blends, all failed. It was super frustrating to say the least.

The "trouble" with perfuming is the time it takes for a scent to develop. What you concoct on day one may not be what you get on day 5. It's a lot like taking photos was back in the day, you really don't know what you have to it develops. You can set up your lighting, frame the shot, meter the light, make settings...but it's never a done deal. Granted there are a lot of tricks and shortcuts you will learn along the way that may cut back on mistakes and misfires but when dealing with unpredictable, raw ingredients it still trial and error (at least for me) at the end of the day.

Great question!

That's a very vivid description my friend! Sounds like a fougere! Words always fail when describing a scent I find, and this could be just me. I would recommend picking up some sample aftershaves from me. Maybe "Dirt", Fu Fougere, La Tierra Mojada, Jitterbug Fougere or Fougère Mystérieuse. Hope this helps!

CaD314 I know you guys have had a few scents that have been discontinued. Which of these was your favorite and could we potentially see a comeback or rebrand similar to that of Egyptian Musk?