On Friday I made a trip to Colonial Drug in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The store is 20 miles from my house, and I had a few enthusiastic emails with Cathy, the owner. My assumption about Colonial Drug was that it was a drug store with a shaving section. In reality, it is quite the opposite. Fragrances, shaving products, and soaps line the walls. There are several "no photos or cell phone allowed" signs, which made me smile and added to the experience. The gentlemen working was wearing a tie and blazer, and was informed on wet shaving products - a bit different than what you see at your local Perfumania.
I have never seen such an enormous selection of wet shaving products in person. The full lineups of Castle Forbes, T&H, Edwin Jagger, Palmolive, and Old Spice. Parker and Merkur DEs, a variety of blades, a basket filled with Cella tubs - with Plisson brushes line the entrance. The biggest jaw dropper for me was a shelf with three different kinds of Valobra, next to a Palmolive shave stick - you just don't see that in the US. Then there were a bunch of other software I had never seen before.
Also, I am not a fragrance collector at this point - but since half the store is just that - I'm sure there were some surprises in there as well.
If you are near Boston, you probably owe it to yourself to make a trip there. It is quite an experience for folks that search the internet for this stuff. Also, the store was dead on with internet prices - if you like to support small business and appreciate the owner emailing you back within the hour - shoot them an email.
I have never seen such an enormous selection of wet shaving products in person. The full lineups of Castle Forbes, T&H, Edwin Jagger, Palmolive, and Old Spice. Parker and Merkur DEs, a variety of blades, a basket filled with Cella tubs - with Plisson brushes line the entrance. The biggest jaw dropper for me was a shelf with three different kinds of Valobra, next to a Palmolive shave stick - you just don't see that in the US. Then there were a bunch of other software I had never seen before.
Also, I am not a fragrance collector at this point - but since half the store is just that - I'm sure there were some surprises in there as well.
If you are near Boston, you probably owe it to yourself to make a trip there. It is quite an experience for folks that search the internet for this stuff. Also, the store was dead on with internet prices - if you like to support small business and appreciate the owner emailing you back within the hour - shoot them an email.