Mandom is a classic AS IMO and if you never tried it, it's well worth it. Specially at the price that you are getting it!
Mandom is a classic AS IMO and if you never tried it, it's well worth it. Specially at the price that you are getting it!
I never tried the Eroica, although I've seen it around.
How would you describe the scent?
Little hard to describe but it is definitely an older man scent. It has a sweet "after smell" though. Mandom is more unforgiving in that it's sharp and not soft at all. Eroica on the other hand almost has a baby powder finish to it. I'm a huge fan, used some this morning after my shave.
Well, I'll be 39 in a week, and I have a bunch of other Japanese aftershaves, so I think I can get away with another old man scent!
I'll be in Tokyo next week for a few days. Staying in Shinjuku. Any tips from locals on where to pickup some AS to add to my collection? I'm assuming the big department stores would be a good place to start. Also, does Tokyu Hands sell any shaving gear? I need to pickup some blades for my Feather MR3 (heresy I know, but I only use it when flying and I must carry-on a razor)
I'll be in Tokyo next week for a few days. Staying in Shinjuku. Any tips from locals on where to pickup some AS to add to my collection? I'm assuming the big department stores would be a good place to start. Also, does Tokyu Hands sell any shaving gear? I need to pickup some blades for my Feather MR3 (heresy I know, but I only use it when flying and I must carry-on a razor)
I need to try some of these other AS's. I love ManDom....Looks like it's time to whip out the Visa....
I make this post to ask why Japanese aftershaves are not more popular among wetshavers. We have a good time joking about Mandom but, to be perfectly honest, it is far from the best of what is available in Japan. Lucido, Auslese, MG5, Valcan and Bravas are all outstanding and I would put them up against any of the other aftershaves that are in use among our members. Plus they're just cool as heck. What's more, they do have genuinely interesting, slightly offbeat aftershaves like Mandom and Eroica for the true seeker.
They are also very reasonably priced. So why is it that none of the fine vendors who offer interesting and obscure (in the US anyway) products from Europe carry these? Why haven't they taken off in popularity like the other esoteric lotions that have been found in Portuguese and Italian barber shops, Austrian haberdasheries, and English men's clubs? Why haven't our members been crying out for the comfort and joy that they provide? I'm sure that there are a few of our members who grew up using Proraso or TOBS, but most saw a review on the boards and decided to find some. Why not more love for Valcan or Bravas?
I have no answer. For me, it's no big deal to resupply my own modest needs. But not everybody else can rely on that regular trip to Tokyo, just like we don't all get to Rome, London, Vienna or Lisbon as often as we might like. What say you, my shaving brethren? Isn't it time to stand up and cry out for aftershaves from the Land of the Rising Sun?
I've read this entire thread to-date and there still doesn't seem to be an answer to this. Feather blades are the single most popular blade mentioned here and are easily obtained. The Feather AS-D2, despite being an expensive luxury item, is readily available from the various dedicated online shaving vendors, but not a single one of these sites carries MG5, Bravas, Tactics, Paradigm, etc.. Of those I've tried (MG5 and Bravas so far), they're every bit as good and intriguing as aftershaves from Spain, Italy, Germany and the U.S. I order other goods from Japan all the time and I know shipping is no worse, and is perhaps much less, than shipping from Spain or Italy, for instance. Floid and La Toja are no longer difficult to source here. Is it something to do with Shiseido (nearly every Japanese aftershave I've heard of is from them with the exception of a couple from Gatsby/Mangum)? I know the many fans here of Proraso Green, 4711, La Toja splash and the like would no doubt also truly enjoy MG5 and Bravas - I know I'm addicted to them and have stocked deep on both. So strange...
...I did not give up on Japanese AS myself but I would like to be able to place an order at a shop and get a bottle of Bravas and Mandom with my bottle of Proraso. It may be a reality one day...
This is what I would love to be able to do, as well. I've been reading many threads here that are 5+ years old, clearly days before Proraso and Floid were easily found (based on the comments), and it's nice to see that those difficulties have been surmounted. Hopefully, the Japanese aftershaves follow the same path in the near future!
I hope so because they have some really nice gems over there. I haven't found anything to replace my bottle of Bravas and Mandom... Yet...