My first go at Castle Forbes

[Mr. O]

I decided to break out the CF Cedar/Sandalwood travel kit I won in the Carnival of Smiles. At first look I'm in shock at how small everything is. I'm even more shocked that they say the cream can last 5/6 months. Next I can't move past the scent. My goodness, it smells like I've landed in the lumber yard. So, with my trusty warm scuttle and equally trusted EJ SBB, I dive in remembering that I read here on B&B a little bit of CF goes a long way.

First, I apply the pre-shave oil. I put about a dime size amount in my hand. Surprisingly, it's enough to coat my entire face. When I'm done I can't really feel it on there.

Next I add some cream to my scuttle. I put in a little less than an almond size amount with maybe a tea spoon of hot water. As I'm trying to produce a lather I notice all the bubbles in my scuttle. For a minute, I felt as though I didn't put enough cream in or put in too much water. Then, the magic happened. Like an explosion of Arko, the CF exploded into a bright lather. The more I pumped and swirled my brush the more lather was produce. What was said about a little bit going a long way is true. I think I perhaps had too much. The lather was very cushioning on my face and slick too. Although I'm still trying to like the scent, the properties of the cream is top notch.

Finally, after multiple passes, blade buffing my face and adding some witch hazel, I look to the ASB. My instincts is to stay away from the cedar/sandalwood lest I smell like Home Depot and go for the 1445. But to be fair to the product I finish off with the cedar/sandalwood. Again a dime size amount was enough to adequately cover my face including a my back neck area where I shaved.

After thoughts:
I'm thoroughly impressed with this product. I understand the cost factor as this is a higher quality product than most out there. I got a DFS bordering on a BBS due to blade buffing my hard to get areas. There is a very small patch on my lower neck that is still a minutely prickly. The rest is so very smooth. I'm not too sure how much the pre-shave balm helped as opposed to my normal warm water routine before shaving. Despite a little irritation from blade buffing, there was absolutely zero burn after applying the ASB. It's been about 3 hours ago that I applied the ASB and I really can't smell it. SWMBO said it's a light scent and she likes it.

To fully understand and appreciate this new product I am going to shave with it this week. I am also going to use a new SE blade to make sure I'm giving this product a fair review. I'll keep this thread going with shaving updates as they happen.

[lirijavdekje]

I'm glad that worked out for you and SWMBO. Additionally I like your signature (Adams quote).

[goby]

It's great stuff and it doesn't take much. I use a pea size amount and use my fingers or knife to smoosh it done.

[Bruce]

Mr. O,

Castle Forbes does make a very fine shave cream; I really like the way it works, albeit for price/function I think Speick is hard to beat. The scent of the Cedar/Sandalwood was slightly off-putting when I first tried it, but being a carpenter I guess it's natural to try to nail it rather than lather it when the stuff smells like a board.

[negncic]

I find it much easier when I use it like a soap. I swirl the brush on it and face lather. If you like the Sandalwood you should try the Lime and the Lavender. They are Phenomenal.

[HoratioCaine]

First, I apply the pre-shave oil.

Thanks for the insightful review, Owen. Quick point of clarification: the CF pre-shave isn't an oil; it's a water-soluble lotion.

As for the scent, the cedar/sandalwood is the one CF scent I haven't tried. I'ver read reports this it stinks, and actually sort of smells like peanut butter, so I've avoided it. Your report that it smells more like a lumber yard intrigues me now, and I may want to try it. Can anybody else comment on its scent, or can you elaborate on it more? Thanks.

[Sterling Cooper]

I've had a sample. The scent to my nose was pure, freshly sawn cedar; overpoweringly so. I picked up no sandalwood whatsoever.

Performance, however, was great and equal to the lavender and lime. The latter being what I'll probably buy come warm weather.

[Sullybob]

Thanks for the insightful review, Owen. Quick point of clarification: the CF pre-shave isn't an oil; it's a water-soluble lotion.

As for the scent, the cedar/sandalwood is the one CF scent I haven't tried. I'ver read reports this it stinks, and actually sort of smells like peanut butter, so I've avoided it. Your report that it smells more like a lumber yard intrigues me now, and I may want to try it. Can anybody else comment on its scent, or can you elaborate on it more? Thanks.

All I have is the shaving cream, so keep that in mind.

To me, the cedar/sandalwood is much more cedar then sandal. Its initially a dry cedar with a slight sandal finish. The lumbar yard comparison is pretty good. It smells like fresh cut wood. I hoped that this would smell like AOS Sandalwood soap, it smells nothing like the AOS soap.

[JPM]

I have asked the SWMBO for the preshave oil, lime cream and lime ASB for Valentine's day. I can't wait to try it out.

[lirijavdekje]

Cedar soap that smells like cedar?! That's awesome, and it would sure give my father a kick, haha.

[HoratioCaine]

Thanks for the input on scent, guys. It sounds interesting, although it has some big shoes to fill if it's going to compete with the CF lavender for my nose's affections.

[Mr. O]

Thanks for the insightful review, Owen. Quick point of clarification: the CF pre-shave isn't an oil; it's a water-soluble lotion.

As for the scent, the cedar/sandalwood is the one CF scent I haven't tried. I'ver read reports this it stinks, and actually sort of smells like peanut butter, so I've avoided it. Your report that it smells more like a lumber yard intrigues me now, and I may want to try it. Can anybody else comment on its scent, or can you elaborate on it more? Thanks.

My bad on the pre-shave. I'm not well versed in the scent of sandalwood but as others have stated, it smells like freshly cut cedar lumber. I actually had flashbacks to shop wood shop class when sniffing it. Yeah, fresh cut cedar. It's a something that is slowly growing on me though. I've very interested in trying their other kinds.

[Mr. O]

Castle Forbes won today.

I started with the same routine as above. After applying the pre-have, I realize 'm not liking it that much. I put it on my face and it doesn't really feel all that lubricating. But I roll with it.

I botched the lather and the shave did not yield as good results as before. I used roughly a 1/4 less of cream than on my previous shave. It whipped up in a stiff lather so I put some more water in it. When I thought I had it I realize there's too much water so it's sort of foamy. I add some more cream trying to balance it out. It just made things worse.

I used a new GEM blade and at times it was skipping across my lower neck area. And yes the angle was exact-a couple degrees away from being completely flat on my face.

Despite my face feeling smooth right now, I did not really enjoy todays shave. I think part of this is due to lack of sleep thanks to a fussy baby last night. That, stress and waking up periodically to 30 mph wind gusts hitting our house.

Again no burn from the ASB. No matter how hard I try, I still can't get past the cedar scent. I think the next shave I'm using the other ASB they included.

In retrospect, I should have swallowed my pride, trashed the lather and started a new one. The shave might have been more enjoyable otherwise.

For those keeping score at home

Man: 1

Castle Forbes: 1


Did I mention I still can't get past the scent of smelling like cedar?

[Sullybob]

...

Did I mention I still can't get past the scent of smelling like cedar?

You might have

The good news is that if you really can not enjoy the scent at all, it will most likely be easy to trade or sell it on the BST.

[HoratioCaine]

Castle Forbes won today.

I used CF lavender today. I'm about 2/3 through the tub, so it's softened up a fair amount, since I use it like a soap; that makes it a lot easier to work up. It lathered excellently, delivered a great shave, and the scent is tops. I followed it up with Santa Maria Novella lavender splash (which I prefer to the CF lavender balm), and it was a good day, shavewise. It's unfortunate that your first experience with CF is with the scent that roundly gets panned as most people's least favorite of the three. Both lavender and lime get raves among those who like those kinds of scents.

[Torcams]

I used CF lavender today. I'm about 2/3 through the tub, so it's softened up a fair amount, since I use it like a soap; that makes it a lot easier to work up. It lathered excellently, delivered a great shave, and the scent is tops... ...Both lavender and lime get raves among those who like those kinds of scents.

+1 Shaved with CF lavender today and got maybe the best shave ever. Love both Lavender and Lime in terms of scent and performance. Have not tried the Sandal/Cedarwood.

[Mr. O]

You might have

The good news is that if you really can not enjoy the scent at all, it will most likely be easy to trade or sell it on the BST.

It's not that I despise it because I really do like the smell of fresh cut cedar. But I just can't wrap my mind around how this product can smell like freshly cut cedar. Honestly, after I apply it, I really can't smell it. It seems like it wears off pretty quick.

[Mr. O]

So having given in to my DE the past two days I decided to go at CF again. The setup was the same except I didn't use the pre-shave lotion. My first go at building lather built foam. So I added a little bit more cream and hot water from my electric water warmer and BAM! instant luscious lather.

The shave was really good too. I topped it off with some CF 1445 ASB which smells absolutely wonderful!

Man 2

Castle Forbes 1

[drumana]

I've tried the CF Cedar/Sandalwood and found the scent to be challenging. It's not bad per se, but nothing that I'd want to smell first thing in the morning...

However, the performance of CF cream is top notch, and worth the extra money, IMO. After smelling all of them, the one that left an impression was the Limes. If I ever get a CF cream it'll definitely be the Limes.

FWIW, I've heard of gents getting good results using the CF pre-shave as a post shave.