What soap/cream did you use today?

DFS Colonia t. (Ethos Grooming Essentials) Acqua di Parma-ish

When I discovered that Ethos was selling samples of their highly popular soaps, I finally pulled the trigger. I’ve been eyeing this brand for almost a year. Its praises have been ubiquitous throughout all shaverdom, but perhaps most full-throated here at DFS. I thought of diving in several times. Only thing is, the cost of a full tub is daunting. But when I found that a tublet was well within my reach, I snagged it. And I’m happy I did. This 30 g jar should give me at least fifteen shaves. If the remaining fourteen are as nice as today’s inaugural lather, I’ll be one happy camper. For starters, let’s talk about the scent. DFS Colonia is inspired by Acqua di Parma’s Colonia, a classic Italian cologne that’s renowned for it’s floral heart, rich with rose and ylang ylang. DFS Colonia trades that flowery middle for more herbaceous notes such as lavender and rosemary. To some, this may make it smell a bit more manly (but for AdP purists, there is a pinch of rose in here too). The top is bold sweet orange, while the base is an awesome combination of sandal, patchouli, and vetiver. Scent strength is about 8/10. It lingers nicely throughout the entire shave, but it doesn’t cling after the last rinse. Did I like it? Yup! Though it’s pretty heavy on the orange and not quite as flowery as AdP Colonia, it’s very bright and calming at the same time. I'd be happy to smell this for days on end.
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Ethos: DFS Colonia (28 grams left) ・ Rockwell 6S ・ PolSilver Super Iridium ・ Phoenix Shaving Peregrino ・ Soap Hoard: 11,068 g ・ Used this year: 150 g

   

Addressing price., I think I need to put up a detailed explanation thread in my vendors section which is long overdue as I haven’t set it up yet.

I think many will see the price and second guess a blind purchase. The samples you now offer are an awesome fix for that, a gateway. For a reasonable price you can try them. As (I think) Bouki points out, you get a healthy sample, so you don't feel "cheated". That gives you the confidence to go forth with the larger purchase.

I understand your wanting to be open and explain what goes into the price, but if you do I'd suggest a reminder of the samples. In my opinion, it's a great way to sell an honest product you know people will question the price on. It's the 'gateway drug'. Lol.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say, awesome review Bouki !

CRSW - Bois Floraux such a great Spring scent

Captain's choice / Bay Rum

8/19/1942

Stirling Sharp Dressed Man

Ethos Grooming Succès shaving soap

I will always be fond of the smell of conifers.  I love the smell of juniper when you lay an axe or chainsaw to it to make fence posts.  It’s a totally different smell than the sweet and a bit acrid scent of juniper foliage in the hot sunshine.  I love the scent of lodgepole pine when we cut them mid winter for corral poles etc.  the sap is down so the trees aren’t so heavy and we skid the poles out with a tractor to a place we rick them up until spring.  I love the scent of pinion pine when we rake the burrs off to roast them for the nuts.  The smell of Douglas Fir when the snow first comes is exquisite and will always be a first love.  So today I chose Stirling Coniferous which is a blend of Scots Pine, cedar, pine and lichen.  I mostly get the Scots pine but it’s not like their Scots pine sheep (which is awesome by the way).  This one has the dusty scent of cedar and the lichen shines too.  Very nice soap a d scent indeed and it washes off after the shave. 

Today was GD Chypre Peach.  Good stuff.

DFS Colonia t. (Ethos Grooming Essentials) Acqua di Parma-ish

When I discovered that Ethos was selling samples of their highly popular soaps, I finally pulled the trigger. I’ve been eyeing this brand for almost a year. Its praises have been ubiquitous throughout all shaverdom, but perhaps most full-throated here at DFS. I thought of diving in several times. Only thing is, the cost of a full tub is daunting. But when I found that a tublet was well within my reach, I snagged it. And I’m happy I did. This 30 g jar should give me at least fifteen shaves. If the remaining fourteen are as nice as today’s inaugural lather, I’ll be one happy camper. For starters, let’s talk about the scent. DFS Colonia is inspired by Acqua di Parma’s Colonia, a classic Italian cologne that’s renowned for it’s floral heart, rich with rose and ylang ylang. DFS Colonia trades that flowery middle for more herbaceous notes such as lavender and rosemary. To some, this may make it smell a bit more manly (but for AdP purists, there is a pinch of rose in here too). The top is bold sweet orange, while the base is an awesome combination of sandal, patchouli, and vetiver. Scent strength is about 8/10. It lingers nicely throughout the entire shave, but it doesn’t cling after the last rinse. Did I like it? Yup! Though it’s pretty heavy on the orange and not quite as flowery as AdP Colonia, it’s very bright and calming at the same time. I'd be happy to smell this for days on end.
____________
Ethos: DFS Colonia (28 grams left) ・ Rockwell 6S ・ PolSilver Super Iridium ・ Phoenix Shaving Peregrino ・ Soap Hoard: 11,068 g ・ Used this year: 150 g

   

Thank you for the in depth review sir and I remember filling your order.  The scent was at the request of andrewjs18 as he wanted something like the classic ADP Colonia but not a duplicate. No doubt that it’s the standard that most anyone associates with an Italian Colonia and I’ll 100% agree with that and I always have a bottle in my cologne collection. When Andrew said the magic word not an exact dupe I went to Tom Ford Nerol Portoffino  as my 2nd inspiration as it’s a light summer like scent I enjoy with a little bit of a Colonia vibe to it.AKA 4711.  So what I did is took both fragrance profiles ( notes ) and looked at which I could convert using essential oils instead of Aroma Isolates/chemicals as I livery much lean to naturals vs synthetics. So the Orange your picking up might be a combo of the Neroli which sometimes is called Orange Blossom and the Mandarin that’s in the top notes. I’m also happy and impressed you picked up on some of the heart and base notes. You sir have a good nose!
Addressing price., I think I need to put up a detailed explanation thread in my vendors section which is long overdue as I haven’t set it up yet.

Thanks again for the detailed review.!  Much appreciated.

Great shaves

Frank

Frank, your explanation of how you came up with the fragrance is really interesting. Now that you mention it, I can smell the neroli. And the mandarin comes through, too. Put them together and you get something like sweet orange, but richer. That's really clever. One note I missed though, was the ambrette seed. I've never smelled it as a pure extract. From what I read about it (sweet, nutty, musky), it sounds like a perfect fixative. Let me say again that I really enjoyed the smell of DFS Colonia. And I was impressed with how it lasted through all three passes. Tomorrow I'll give Greenfresh a shot. The sample smells like watermelon and cucumber. I'm interested to see how it develops in the lather. Thanks for making these soaps, and thanks for posting.