What soap/cream did you use today?

Old Spice shaving soap (vintage)

Dr. Harris - Almond

Hallward's Dream t. (Storybook Soapworks) bergamot, sandalwood, musk

Who is this Hallward and what is he dreaming about?

Basil Hallward is a character in Oscar Wilde's short novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. He is painting a portrait of Dorian in the hope of creating a masterpiece. At one point in the story Hallward closes his eyes to prolong his mental image of the young man. This waking "dream" of Dorian is what Lauren Reed, the man behind Storybook Soapworks, attempts to recreate in the scent of today's soap. What he gives us is a sniff inside an exclusive club on Pall Mall: high walls paneled in mahogany, bowls of lemon blossoms on long polished tables, air heavy with musky cologne. It's simple but very elegant. I can't wait to see what Lauren might do with Gravity's Rainbow.

Storybook's soap base is as good as its scents. The smooth, fine-grained lather is so replete with oils I didn't need a splash or a balm. In spite of its richness, it rinses away clean, leaving nothing behind but the hope that somehow – as Hallward's picture did for Dorian Gray – it will keep my old cheeks looking young.

Williams Mug Shave Soap

B&M Latha Tiaga

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Stirling Baker Street

XPEC Original shaving cream (first Forester Milan version). Great lather.

DR Harris Almond

Darkfall t. (Declaration Grooming Icarus) late fall in Georgia

Is there any soap that captures the aura of autumn better than Darkfall? The scent is an incredibly smooth blend of fallen leaves, musty earth, smoke, and cool wind. I pick up some very nice oud and cinnamon that give it body and richness. I could use Darkfall everyday from now until Christmas, but that would probably put me in a homesick funk for the cool rainy days of fall in the South. If only I could get our secretary to unplug her toxic electric air freshener (it's been eight weeks of pumpkin spice) and perfume the office with Darkfall instead.

The Icarus soap base never gets quite as glossy as the old formula. But it's plenty slick and protective. I skipped the aftershave since the soap's finish is already so plump.