West Coast Shaving is introducing a new line of scents that will be available in a duck fat soap and a vegan jojoba oil cream. They write, "We really think that these are some of the best bases in the wet shaving market. We wanted to offer both so regardless of our customer’s preferences they would be able to enjoy these wonderful scents."
Collaborations with West Coast Shaving for in-house branded shaving soaps and aftershaves are not new. In the past, artisans such as Wet Shaving Products and Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements have had their turn. In this case, a more hands-on approach is being taken, with much more emphasis on the fragrances and a larger offering of #soap and #cream (with matching #aftershave) to appeal to a wider overall customer base.
Check out the first review of the coming products - Pear-brrr Shoppe just posted today!
The Launch
They are really excited about the new line and are aiming the launch for August 22, 2018.
The Products
The shaving soap has a duck fat base, and boy, does it deliver. Loaded with skin nourishing kokum butter, palm oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, this soap is slick and protective. The duck fat also gives it a dense, rich lather. It is a thirsty soap, so don't be afraid of a little water. The nourishing feeling this soap leaves on your face after your shave is unbelievable. It will retail at $21.98 for 5oz. of soap, but on sale for the launch at $17.98. Ingredients:
Stearic acid, water, kokum butter, potassium hydroxide, palm kernel oil, duck fat, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, glycerin, jojoba oil and sodium lactate.
The shaving cream is a dream. It explodes with a thick lather. Just a few ingredients: stearic acid (provides density & slickness), coconut oil (gives voluminous lather with ease), and jojoba (a natural sebum-like oil that aids in post shave feel) produce a dense, yet pliable, cream soap. It will retail at $18.98 for 4oz. of cream, but on sale for the launch at $15.18. Ingredients:
Stearic acid, water, coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, fragrance, jojoba oil, sodium hydroxide, sodium lactate and glycerin.
There will also be an aftershave in each fragrance. It will retail at $18.98 for 100ml of product, but on sale for the launch at $15.18. Ingredients:
Alcohol (SDA 40b), distilled water, fragrance and polysorbate-20
The scents of these grooming requisites are inspired by the “fragrance wheel” (developed by Michael Edwards over 30 years ago). They've crafted four of the most popular fragrance categories: Fougère, Cologne, Chypre and Oriental fragrance, along with a fifth fragrance that plays on the traditional "barbershop."
Check out their take on these classic perfume categories below.
Fougère
A fougère (fern in French) fragrance is a perfume category created by Paul Parquet, owner of Houbigant Parfume, in 1882. His Fougère Royale launched the entire category of this “fantasy scent” (ferns are essentially scentless) which allows the imagination of the perfumer to create their own representation of a what-scent-fern-would-have-if-fern-had-a-scent aroma. Traditionally, it boasts sweet top notes (usually lavender and geranium) with a deeper base of oakmoss and coumarin. The result is an aroma that is woody, mossy, with strong green notes. We’ve respected the classic notes of lavender, geranium, and coumarin in our West Coast Shaving Fougère but we’ve created an “aromatic fougére” with the added complexity of juniper, cypress, rosemary, galbanum, & woody, earthy notes of cedarwood and patchouli. Imagine brushing up against a bush as you enter a forest, the bright, herbaceous green hits your nose, but it is quickly replaced by the darker scents of the forest as you move deeper into the trees.
Cologne
While many of us today think of cologne as a fragrance for men, it is actually a category of scent from the Cologne region of Germany. Launched in 1709 by an Italian perfumer Farina, it sought to replicate the aroma of an Italian spring morning of “mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain.” Farina named his new fragrance after his new hometown in Germany. Our West Coast Shaving aroma has a few traditional citrus aromas in the top notes, but they are not the centerpiece. The rich, earthy, mossy notes (rosemary, petitgrain, lavender, rose, geranium, oakmoss, vetiver, & musk) are where this aroma really shines. Instead of an emphasis on citrus and floral, the depth of this scent is on the moss and cashmere-like musk. This sophisticated scent will have you ready for a night on the town with your tailored suit and gin in tonic in hand.
Chypre
In 1917, Francois Coty put this new category of perfume on the map with his aptly named, Chypre perfume. This perfume classification takes notes often found in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus (Chypre is the French name for the island). The traditionally sharp scent usually boasts citrus top notes, middle notes of labdanum, on a base of earthy moss. Our West Coast Shaving take on this traditional aroma has notes of lemon and lime accenting the bergamot, which creates an effervescent opening. The supporting aldehydes & florals of the heart notes contrast with the earthy, resinous base of cardamom, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, and musk. This evokes the citrus-scented breezes just kissing your face as you sit on your tree-shaded, moss-lined balcony overlooking the Mediterranean.
Oriental
Maybe you are looking for something a little more exotic. Maybe you live for the dark, mysterious hours when wishing stars begin to wink on and the night gets exciting. Maybe you are looking for an Oriental fragrance. This category of perfume relies on dominate amber notes with musk, vanilla, and resins to give a glimpse of the East. Our Oriental aroma plays well with both its floral and woody neighbors. The blending of smooth, warm, rich exotic woods and vanillic benzoin highlight a lightly spiced rose. This scent must be experienced to be truly understood.
Pear-brrr Shoppe
Our last scent is a unique fruity twist on barbershop, with a menthol kiss. You might want to kick off your lazy summer morning with our Pear-brrr Shoppe fragrance. This fruity and woody aroma has notes of pear, geranium, oakmoss, coumarin, vetiver, vanilla, nutmeg, and mint. The opening notes of sweet fruit gives way to a more traditional blend of geranium and light oakmoss which may evoke the barbershop aroma with which many fans are familiar. Along with a hint of spice, it is enlivened by a hit of menthol. An icy pear treat!
Our Amazing Artisans
The #WCShaving soaps and aftershaves are a collaboration with Vida Perez from #OleoSoapworks. She is turning out rave-worthy soaps. For our cream, we convinced #CatiesBubbles artisan, Chris Cullen, to offer his relatively hidden gem of a shaving cream to us. The two of them have been instrumental in making this project come to life, and it has been a pleasure working with them both.