Castle Forbes Lime - New formula

**Marco** · 06-26-2012, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by CFSoto

Tante grazie amico mio.
Ciao bello,
Craig

**GrimmFu** · 06-27-2012, 10:32 AM

So I shaved with the CF lime today for the first time, and I've got mixed emotions.

I found a pleasant soapy, clean and subtle lime smell when I opened the tub, and I expected that when I started a lather that lime would bloom as the lather built. Unfortunately, I smelled almost no lime at all with the lather. I don't know if maybe this is a noob issue, where I haven't used enough creams and soaps to have a realistic expectation of what a lime cream should smell like. I just know I was expecting "Lime", and didn't get that.

On the upside, the lather was capital A Amazing. Holy cow, it was like a video game, "You have leveled up LATHER. Would you like to allocate new skill points now?" it was thick, rich, dense, and soooo slick. I love my Proraso, but wow. This is next level cream. As bummed as I was about the lack of lime punch, lathering and shaving with this cream totally made up for it. Still, too bad about the smell.

I've only used this, Proraso soap and cream (green, old formula), a TOBS sandalwood sample, and a Speick sample, but this is top of the heap for me in terms of feel. Expensive, yes... But you can feel the money. :)

Gf

**DBdL** · 06-27-2012, 11:27 AM

Hi GrummFu,

I have had the pleasure of using CF (lime and lavender) for the past 4 months now and I agree 100% with you. I also did not find much of a "punch you in the gut" lime scent while lathering however there is certainly a limey (sorry for the pun my commonwealth brothers

) scent to it nonetheless. In fact I find it a nice pleasant lime scent throughout the shave but no not like a slap in the face of lime rind.

Regardless what I really want is a fantastic shave and that is what I get; the scent is just a bonus. In my opinion simply the best cream/croap I have tried so far. Extremely close, comfortable shaves with little effort although I should add that I did have some difficulty in stopping the lather from disintegrating in my bowl/brush. It took no more then about 5-6 shaves before I was able to correct this problem in which all I needed was more product and more lathering time to make it stable. Another 3 or so more shaves later and I was consistently making great lather that was stable in my brush and bowl; creamy and moist goodness. I might add that I had been using AoS for a very long time beforehand which needs little to any lathering time and I had never used a soap/croap before thus there was some time getting used to loading the brush etc. Just a learning curve like everything else.

I still suggest you get more samples to find what really works for you (T&H, GFT, AoS, MW, QCS, Nancyboy, RR, Cella etc) but in my books CF is my cream of choice and I have no regrets. By the way cost is up there but I've still got my travel samples of cream (going on 34 shaves for Limes and 28 shaves with lavender, still have about half left...yes I actually kept count with each shave to see how much I get out of 50mL). Oh Lavender gives me a better post-shave result, somewhat softer, calmer face toning. That being said I've noticed most "citrus" based creams have a slight astringent effect on my skin.

Cheers

**cvac** · 06-28-2012, 04:58 PM

My large tube of CF Lime is also very strongly scented, just like Brucered's...it also lathers like a dream without even thinking about it. Shaved with it this morning, paired with SCS Lime AS, which I also love.

MW Lime - wasn't too impressed at all, which I have already discussed at length on this board.

**cluelessdude** · 07-15-2012, 10:26 AM

Does anyone have the ingredients for the CF Lime aftershave balm? What is the general consensus on them?

**Patman27** · 07-15-2012, 01:28 PM

Tried out my CF lime for the first time. Very nice strong limey plus some other citrus smell. It doesn't smell like lime zest, but it is the best lime I've tried yet. Also, this is not a cream. It is a dense croap. I took my spatula and carved out what would be my normal amount of cream. Well, I had a lather explosion and still had 1/2 of the dab pucked on the bottom of my bowl. Going to load directly on my brush from now on. Great performance, and it's going to last me for a long time.

I added a bit of bay rum to finish things off. Limey indeed!

**Wildalaska** · 07-15-2012, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by GrimmFu

So I shaved with the CF lime today for the first time, and I've got mixed emotions.

I found a pleasant soapy, clean and subtle lime smell when I opened the tub, and I expected that when I started a lather that lime would bloom as the lather built. Unfortunately, I smelled almost no lime at all with the lather. I don't know if maybe this is a noob issue, where I haven't used enough creams and soaps to have a realistic expectation of what a lime cream should smell like. I just know I was expecting "Lime", and didn't get that.

On the upside, the lather was capital A Amazing. Holy cow, it was like a video game, "You have leveled up LATHER. Would you like to allocate new skill points now?" it was thick, rich, dense, and soooo slick. I love my Proraso, but wow. This is next level cream. As bummed as I was about the lack of lime punch, lathering and shaving with this cream totally made up for it. Still, too bad about the smell.

I've only used this, Proraso soap and cream (green, old formula), a TOBS sandalwood sample, and a Speick sample, but this is top of the heap for me in terms of feel. Expensive, yes... But you can feel the money. :)

Gf

Next move yourself up a notch to Floris, T&H or Penhaligons and see what real luxury is like...

**cluelessdude** · 07-15-2012, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Wildalaska

Next move yourself up a notch to Floris, T&H or Penhaligons and see what real luxury is like...

Is T&H really better than C&F?

**brucered** · 07-15-2012, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by cluelessdude

is t&h really better than c&f?

IMO, NO.

but it's all subjective to what scents you like, how they react to your skin and how they work for you.

to me, CF is up there with the best of the best. nothing against T&H, it's up there too.

**Wildalaska** · 07-15-2012, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by cluelessdude

Is T&H really better than C&F?

Scents are personal, but T&H creams are slicker than anything out there save the top two: Floris and Penhaligons.

CF is right below Trumpers in terms of lubricity.

Again scent is personal. One may accept a lesser performing cream due to love of scent. thats why I have Trumpers violet in my rotation. In contrast, I cant stand the smell of T&H UC.

**brucered** · 07-15-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Wildalaska

Scents are personal, but T&H creams are slicker than anything out there save the top two: Floris and Penhaligons.

CF is right below Trumpers in terms of lubricity.

Again scent is personal. One may accept a lesser performing cream due to love of scent. thats why I have Trumpers violet in my rotation. In contrast, I cant stand the smell of T&H UC.

slickness is also personal and based on how well you can make lather, from what i've found at least. some love certain soaps/creams and swear by them and say they have perfect cushion or slickness, then i try them and they don't work for me at all...some do, some don't.

best think you can do "cluelessdude" is try them all and see which works. if you like CF you will like T&H and visa-versa, they are both great products.

**vocalistbob** · 07-16-2012, 11:45 AM

Castle Forbes is my #1 cream in terms of shaving quality. I have tried all of the familiar British creams and none can touch it for slickness and cushioning. But I agree - the scents are rather faint. If you want a stronger lavender scent, try Queen Charlotte's lavender. It's texture is close to Proraso's - sort of a cross between a cream and a soap.