Penhaligon's Vs Other British Creams

**slickster514** · 04-16-2010, 07:21 AM

I had my first shave in over one year this morning with Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. Comparing the ingredient list to other British creams (T&H, TOBS, etc.) I've noticed that they're almost identical. They why do I find the Penn's shave so very much better??

Any thoughts..........

**blantyre** · 04-16-2010, 07:53 AM

Apart from the obvious differences: much smarter (and more expensive) packaging and the very high quality scent, it is due to small but important differences in formulation. It's like comparing cups of coffee from different vendors - they would all list coffee, water, milk products, sugar as ingredients but the results could be very different. It is likely that Pen's has tight tolerances on formulation and mixing and they will be different from Salter and the 3Ts. Probably all made by Creightons.

**mastinomaven** · 04-16-2010, 08:28 AM

Have you compared Pen to Trumper's as well? I find Trumper's to be a solid notch above T&H and Taylor.

**jonjparr** · 04-16-2010, 08:54 AM

I think that when it comes to producing fragrances it is hard to find a company that is able to match Penhaligons. They are a traditional perfumier making scents from natural products that have a timeless charm. Their colognes are first rate and my wife enjoys their fragrances on me. However, I personally don't believe that their shaving products are as good as their colognes or aftershaves.

I always enjoy shaving with creams that are essential oil based rather than cologne based. I find that the cream produces a richer lather, moisturises the skin better and is generally more slick. My last couple of shaves were with Taylors Eton and Trumpers Coconut. The coconut was in a completely different league to the Eton which was a, and I struggle to describe this in words, 'drier' lather. I think that when it comes to men's grooming products it's best to go with something that a company has a well established history of producing. Penhaligons is a perfumier (that's their original business) and they do it exceptionally well. Trumpers on the other hand is a producer of shaving soaps and creams and, to coin a British phrase, it's their 'bread and butter' - their main business.

In my opinion and experience Penhaligons produce better colognes than they do shaving products. We're very fortunate in Britain to have companies like Trumpers, Truefitt and Taylors. Having said that, my absolute favourite creams of all time are by the Art of Shaving and, even if I try a hundred more British creams I doubt I will find one that holds a candle to their Lemon or Lavender. They are my staples and I truly hope they never stop producing them.

That's not to say you shouldn't have Penhaligons creams to use on those special occasions. The scent you're left with after the shave is incredible.

I say all this whilst I sit here enjoying the scent of English Fern that I applied hours ago. I'm also very fortunate to live very close to a Penhaligons Factory Outlet where I'm able to buy all 100ml Penhaligons colognes for just $38 USD (£25 GBP) per bottle!

**slickster514** · 04-16-2010, 08:57 AM

Where is this outlet located?

**jonjparr** · 04-16-2010, 09:02 AM

Just outside York.

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sou...28685200207911

**jonjparr** · 04-16-2010, 09:07 AM

Postscript: They don't just sell the colognes - they also sell the Blenheim Bouquet shaving cream for £14 ($21 USD) and matching deodorant sticks for £6 ($9). I usually buy these along with the English Fern soap boxes which are £20 ($30) for 6 bars.

They have some really great bargains!

**Ignatius** · 04-16-2010, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by jonjparr

I think that when it comes to producing fragrances it is hard to find a company that is able to match Penhaligons. They are a traditional perfumier making scents from natural products that have a timeless charm. Their colognes are first rate and my wife enjoys their fragrances on me. However, I personally don't believe that their shaving products are as good as their colognes or aftershaves.

I always enjoy shaving with creams that are essential oil based rather than cologne based. I find that the cream produces a richer lather, moisturises the skin better and is generally more slick. My last couple of shaves were with Taylors Eton and Trumpers Coconut. The coconut was in a completely different league to the Eton which was a, and I struggle to describe this in words, 'drier' lather. I think that when it comes to men's grooming products it's best to go with something that a company has a well established history of producing. Penhaligons is a perfumier (that's their original business) and they do it exceptionally well. Trumpers on the other hand is a producer of shaving soaps and creams and, to coin a British phrase, it's their 'bread and butter' - their main business.

In my opinion and experience Penhaligons produce better colognes than they do shaving products. We're very fortunate in Britain to have companies like Trumpers, Truefitt and Taylors. Having said that, my absolute favourite creams of all time are by the Art of Shaving and, even if I try a hundred more British creams I doubt I will find one that holds a candle to their Lemon or Lavender. They are my staples and I truly hope they never stop producing them.

That's not to say you shouldn't have Penhaligons creams to use on those special occasions. The scent you're left with after the shave is incredible.

I say all this whilst I sit here enjoying the scent of English Fern that I applied hours ago. I'm also very fortunate to live very close to a Penhaligons Factory Outlet where I'm able to buy all 100ml Penhaligons colognes for just $38 USD (£25 GBP) per bottle!

Jon,

None of these companies have made their own creams for a while. Most of them, including AoS, are made by Creightons with a similar soap base. I don't say this as a negative - they're the best creams available. As for the benefits of EO's in shaving products...I'm sceptical. AoS, for example, claims all sorts of different properties and skin suitabilities for various EO's. If anything they seem to me more likely to cause some sort of reaction. However they do indeed provide a very nice scent, if you enjoy single note, floral scents.

ps that outlet provides a very good excuse for me to spend a weekend in York this summer.

**blantyre** · 04-16-2010, 09:35 AM

Wow, if any of the airports were open, it would almost pay for the trip over there to pick up a suitcase full of goodies.

**jonjparr** · 04-16-2010, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ignatius

AoS, for example, claims all sorts of different properties and skin suitabilities for various EO's. If anything they seem to me more likely to cause some sort of reaction.

ps that outlet provides a very good excuse for me to spend a weekend in York this summer.

I tend to ignore whether they say it's suitable for dry, oily, normal skin etc. I know my skin is a mixture of all those different adjectives throughout the month and even a single day. I can't be pigeonholed accordingly. I just find that the lather is more slick with an EO cream over a cologne cream.

There's also a Penhaligons outlet in Bicester (but I haven't been to it).

**Cuttingboard** · 04-16-2010, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Ignatius

Jon,

None of these companies have made their own creams for a while. Most of them, including AoS, are made by Creightons with a similar soap base.

I thought I heard on these boards that AoS soaps are made by Valobra?

**slickster514** · 04-16-2010, 10:36 AM

While I agree that Trumper is shoulders above Taylor's, and T&H, Penhaligon's is above all of these. I can't comment on AOS since I've never tried it. This is in consideration of shave creams, not soaps.

English shave products are good, but it's worth mentioning some of the great Italian priducts out there. The Italian stuff comes with less fanfare (other than Aqua di Parma) for some odd reason. Cella, Adp, come to mind. Valorba is also good but the packaging is awful.

Originally Posted by jonjparr

I always enjoy shaving with creams that are essential oil based rather than cologne based. I find that the cream produces a richer lather, moisturises the skin better and is generally more slick. My last couple of shaves were with Taylors Eton and Trumpers Coconut. The coconut was in a completely different league to the Eton which was a, and I struggle to describe this in words, 'drier' lather. I think that when it comes to men's grooming products it's best to go with something that a company has a well established history of producing. Penhaligons is a perfumier (that's their original business) and they do it exceptionally well. Trumpers on the other hand is a producer of shaving soaps and creams and, to coin a British phrase, it's their 'bread and butter' - their main business.

In my opinion and experience Penhaligons produce better colognes than they do shaving products. We're very fortunate in Britain to have companies like Trumpers, Truefitt and Taylors. Having said that, my absolute favourite creams of all time are by the Art of Shaving and, even if I try a hundred more British creams I doubt I will find one that holds a candle to their Lemon or Lavender. They are my staples and I truly hope they never stop producing them.