What should I get in Switzerland?

**Snargle** · 07-28-2010, 11:21 AM

Hi guys and gals,

Switched over (actually returned) to wet-shaving with a DE a few weeks ago and I'm loving it. I'll be travelling to Switzerland for a couple of weeks in October and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for shaving-related items I should hunt down while I'm over there... preferably things that I can't readily get here in the States.

(I've already got Swiss Pitralon AS on my list!)

Thanks!

**falkor27** · 07-28-2010, 12:58 PM

Monsavon soap and Palmolive creams. I used to buy the Palmolive at Coop. I don't know how easy it is to find Monsavon the further you get from France (I lived in Geneva).

**DE Shaver** · 07-28-2010, 12:59 PM

See if you can pick up Irisch Moos AS and shaving soap.

**wimbouman** · 07-28-2010, 01:00 PM

ahh.. good one!
I'll be there on Friday and Saturday - any tips appreciated!

**Luc** · 07-28-2010, 01:58 PM

That would be good to know what you can get off the shelves of the local pharmacy/supermarket!

Please report back!

**mskembo** · 07-28-2010, 02:00 PM

Hate to say it, but if you have a woman in your life... CHOCOLATE!
Swiss chocolate is amazing, it's almost a sexual experience.

Mike

**Ru4scuba?** · 07-28-2010, 05:39 PM

Swiss Pitralon...no question.

See it here

I've always wanted to try this stuff because everyone says its magical for the face...but not all like the scent.

**Snargle** · 07-28-2010, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by mskembo

Hate to say it, but if you have a woman in your life... CHOCOLATE!
Swiss chocolate is amazing, it's almost a sexual experience.
Mike

Mike, why do you think I married a Swiss woman?

I've been back there several times for visits to my inlaws and her relatives, so I'm extremely familiar with the joys of Swiss chocolates. We always take a large, mostly empty, suitcase with us just so we can haul back 10 or 15 kilos of "brown gold"!

**Snargle** · 07-28-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by falkor27

Monsavon soap and Palmolive creams. I used to buy the Palmolive at Coop. I don't know how easy it is to find Monsavon the further you get from France (I lived in Geneva).

I'll be based in the north-central part of the country (German speaking), but it's an easy train ride to the western, French part of Switzerland. (Chocolate and wristwatches aren't the only thing the Swiss do well...the railroad and public transit system is amazingly efficient and a pleasure to travel.)

Thanks for the suggestions...I'm sure I'll be able to find the Palmolive at the Coop. Those stores are everywhere. I'll keep my eyes open for the Monsavon.

**Snargle** · 07-28-2010, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by DE Shaver

See if you can pick up Irisch Moos AS and shaving soap.

I've read some great reviews of that and will definitely try to score some. Thanks!

**dpm802** · 07-28-2010, 06:35 PM

Open a Swiss bank account while you're there ... even if you only keep $20 in there, it will be a great conversation piece.

**Snargle** · 07-28-2010, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by dpm802

Open a Swiss bank account while you're there ... even if you only keep $20 in there, it will be a great conversation piece.

Looks like that's not going to happen. A little research gave me this:

"Most banks require at least $1,000 for the initial deposit plus start-up and maintenance fees."

After paying for the plane tickets (ouch!), I'll be lucky to have enough cash to pick up a pack of razor blades!

**Eclectic** · 07-29-2010, 04:01 AM

You will find all the Italian stuff, all the French stuff and all the German stuff. But not all in the same place.
As you move around what is most easily available will depend on what is the nearest border and what the local population want.

**mskembo** · 07-29-2010, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Snargle

Mike, why do you think I married a Swiss woman?

I've been back there several times for visits to my inlaws and her relatives, so I'm extremely familiar with the joys of Swiss chocolates. We always take a large, mostly empty, suitcase with us just so we can haul back 10 or 15 kilos of "brown gold"!

That reminds me of a story that I must share. My Mother is a chocoholic, and for Thanksgiving one year her and my Dad went to Belgium. I picked them up at the airport when they got back, and nearly blew out my back lifting one of the suitcases!

Turns out she had FILLED a suitcase with chocolate, and had to ship her clothes home FedEx! LOL! That was the Christmas that my Dad bought her TWO high end chocolate fountains.

Mike

**Snargle** · 08-11-2010, 06:24 AM

Just wanted to update you all on what I've put on my wish list for my upcoming visit to Switzerland. It's not all-encompassing, and I probably won't spend a lot of time hunting them down, but I'm going to keep my eyes open for the following reasonably-priced, shave-related items:

Pitralon Aftershave (Swiss)
Monsavon Soap (French)
Palmolive Cream (European)
Irisch Moos Aftershave & Soap (Germany)
Speick Cream, Soap Stick, Aftershave (Germany)
Cella Cream (Italy)

Any suggestions or additions to this list are welcomed!

**BCatl** · 08-11-2010, 06:29 AM

I can think of one more thing, but it's not shave related. Knorr All Purpose Aromat Seasoning. This stuff can make a boiled shoe taste delicious.

**Snargle** · 08-11-2010, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by BCatl

I can think of one more thing, but it's not shave related. Knorr All Purpose Aromat Seasoning. This stuff can make a boiled shoe taste delicious.

My Swiss mother-in-law uses that quite liberally on everything...to the point where everything seems to taste the same. I can't say I care for it very much, but maybe using it with a lighter touch would be worth trying.

I do like a lot of the Knorr products and have had pretty good luck finding them here in the States...usually in delis and specialty food shops that handle European imports. Also, they're surprisingly common in oriental food stores.

**BCatl** · 08-11-2010, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Snargle

My Swiss mother-in-law uses that quite liberally on everything...to the point where everything seems to taste the same. I can't say I care for it very much, but maybe using it with a lighter touch would be worth trying.

I do like a lot of the Knorr products and have had pretty good luck finding them here in the States...usually in delis and specialty food shops that handle European imports. Also, they're surprisingly common in oriental food stores.

Yes, you can find it on Amazon now. I think people start using it, they get used to it, and they have to have more and more. What kind of stuff IS this?

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

**Ignatius** · 08-11-2010, 07:10 AM

If shaving gear is like everything else, prices in Switzerland will probably be exorbitant.

**Juraj** · 08-11-2010, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Ignatius

If shaving gear is like everything else, prices in Switzerland will probably be exorbitant.

Actually, some stuff in Switzerland comes off really cheap (VAT 7.6% anyone?). I was recently gearing up a little, and pretty much split the shopping basket in between gentleman's shop and local Swiss shaving store (www.nassrasieren.ch if anyone's interested).
One thing that you can get in Switzerland that is really difficult to get abroad is Swiss wine (of extraordinary quality and really affordable, I may add!). Less than 1% of the production goes for exporting. There's Swiss whisky, but that's fairly ordinary, and some beers of varied quality.