Shaving Product Review - Martin de Candre "Original" and
Guerlain "Homme L'Eau Boisée"

Today's #FriYAY SOTD! a.k.a. The French Connection! Featuring top-shelf Martin de Candre Original scent #soap and Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisée #EdT!

A soap that probably needs no introduction... Martin de Candre direct from Paris, France. Performance is as billed - top-notch. A few, scant swirls of the brush in the jar (I need as little as 5s worth) produces copious amounts of soft, billowy lather with ample cushion and glide. The scent in this case is the Original; primarily lavender, rosemary and sage. If that sounds familiar, it's because quite a few scents out there use this combo; but is a bit unique smelling. There's also a Fougére version, which honestly - doesn't smell that different as well as an Unscented version.

Interesting trivia... When the Fougére version was first introduced, MdC didn't know how much scent to put into it. They polled their fans. So early jars differ from more recent ones. Mine, from the first batch (or two) does smell a bit weaker than my Original scent - newer ones should be a bit stronger and perhaps more "fougére-ish."

One common misconception about #MdC is the price. Yes, it's up there - especially with shipping. However, a 200g glass jar (pictured) will net you no less than 150+ shaves and likely quite a few more - up to a year of shaves. If you broke that down to cost/shave, it's really pretty economical. If you buy a "brain bowl" you're probably set on soap for life... At any rate, a small price to pay for a classic French soap that produces really excellent lather.

Some things that keep MdC from being an "ultimate soap" for me is the post-shave face feel was so-so, lack of scent variety (though excellent options), it also lacked a (matching or not) aftershave and finally, is somewhat hard to get a hold of; at least cheaply.

Watch the soap-making process at MdC

I finished off with a scent from one of my favorite perfume houses - #Guerlain. I'm a huge fan of Vetiver but Homme L'Eau Boisée is another great scent. A bit of a fresh take on the classic Homme this version can be described as a woody chypre, but the heart of the fragrance is vetiver with a subtle smokiness. I need to pick up a matching aftershave and if they make one (like they do for Vetiver).

Hardware today features the chrome and stainless #Mühle #R89 razor fitted with a #PolSilver blade on shave five and the titanium #BSB Shaving Brush for absolute lathering decadence in the #GTP scuttle.

A really nice shave on this ! to finish out the week. Top-shelf software from France made shaving plush and the scents of both products unique and sublime. Yes, what you've read about MdC is largely true; it's a great soap. While it's not my "ultimate soap" it does certainly rank up there. And Guerlain, well... Get some!