SOTD - June 2020

[Jayaruh]

Phoenix Shaving | St. Martin's Land
Phoenix Shaving - The Green Ray | Tribble Synthetic
Durham-Enders | Enders Speed Shaver | Schick Proline B-20

Phoenix Shaving's ad copy for St. Martin's Land calls it "neo barbershop".  This is actually a spot on description, so there's really no need for me to blather on.  But I will anyway...

While the notes are the same, the soap and splash unfold differently.  The lather opens with a bold neroli and powder.  It's actually classic barbershop right off the bat.  So where's this "neo" thing?  Well, it's promptly backed up by a rich blood orange (still classic barbershop) and finally a peculiar Asian spiciness (there it is) before descending to a damp vegetation-green fragrance.  It never really gets murky or mossy, but it certainly broaches it.  At the tail end of the shave, the prior floral powder morphs into a sandalwood powder. Interestingly, the splash opens with this same green accord but it's a bit brighter and cooler and even a flash of camphor.  Neroli still makes a presence, but sharp, bitter citrus is much more prominent for a time.  About an hour later the citrus burns off in favor of soft powdery wood with lingering exotic spice. 

I really enjoyed St. Martin's Land.  Neroli is a fragrance I absolutely love, but it's a floral that's often inclined to overwhelm my nose (this is the reason I had to pass on Planet 9).  Thankfully, St. Martin's Land artfully balances it with the green and woods such that it's quite wearable for me.

Great picture, and I enjoyed the read, too.