Was it AOS?
Also, I noticed the AOS line looks very similar to T&H Ultimate Comfort line. Which came first?
Also, I noticed the AOS line looks very similar to T&H Ultimate Comfort line. Which came first?
verdict said:I don't think PSO is necessary if you have a good lather.
About a week ago I decided to try some Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil that I bought from an Art of Shaving store I visited in my area. It was $22 for 2 oz.! The ingredients listed on the box are Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Lavender Oil, Clove Oil and Pepper Seed Oil. So, DaveNJ74, you're probably right on target when you said that "barbers have been using castor oil for years." Since ingredients must be listed in descending order based on the contents, castor oil is obviously the main ingredient in the Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil, and I'm assuming that some of the other oils are just added for fragrance since the clove scent is the discernible fragrance in the "unscented" version I bought.
Well, I decided to run my own non-scientific test over a week's time period. Each morning I showered in the hottest shower my face could stand, then applied the Pre-Shave Oil and let it "do its job" while I created a super lather by rubbing a badger brush on a glycerine soap bar and then mixing that with C. O. Bigelow shaving cream. I used the same combination all week except for this morning when I decided not to use the Pre-Shave Oil at all.
My results: there was no discernible difference in either the smoothness or closeness of shaves by using the Pre-Shave Oil than when I didn't use it. I admit that everyone is different and that your results may vary, but I don't see myself parting with another $22 if I ever use up my 2 oz. bottle of Pre-Shave Oil. However, if I eventually re-consider and convince myself that somehow I need to try this experiment again, I already checked my local pharmacy and an even larger bottle of Castor Oil is only $2.19.
Is there really a craze?
Was it AOS?
Also, I noticed the AOS line looks very similar to T&H Ultimate Comfort line. Which came first?
Those who have very thin irritable skins I recommend to rub their beards with sweet oil before lathering - the alkali will then act on the oil instead of the skin and assist in producing a more durable lather. Besides the skin will not then absorb the liquid part of the lather too quickly as it otherwise does.
According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 9th Ed. Sweet oil is another name for olive oil.