After an enjoyable time reviewing the aftershave samples from eBarbershop, I thought I would spring for the sampler pack of aftershaves from Wm. Neumann & Co. The pack includes a sample of each of their eight aftershaves. In general, I would say these are somewhat sophisticated scents, with lots of notes that make them interesting, though somewhat hard to pin down sometimes. As an aftershave these do a great job of soothing and moisturizing the skin, though they do contain a good bit of alcohol.
Here's my take:
1907 Signature - This was one of my least favorite scents. Very sweet and a bit fruity, which makes sense given that the major fragrance notes are "apple and plum brandy." Not bad, but not for me.
1911 - This one tied for my favorite. An old-fashioned barbershop quality, crisp, masculine, a little powdery, with definite notes of sandalwood and rosemary. Not an aggressive scent, but it lingered for several hours.
Absolute Zero - Their newest scent. A very cooling dose of menthol, with some citrus thrown in for good measure. Of these eight scents, this one seemed the closest to a cologne. Classy and musky.
Bay Rum - A fairly subtle bay rum, closer to something like Gilbert Henry rather than Captain's Choice. I suppose if you're not familiar with either of those brands that description won't mean much, but that's the best way I can describe it. Subtle, with not much staying power.
Heartwood - This is the one that tied with 1911 for my favorite. A subtle pipe-tobacco quality with notes of whiskey and leather. This one projected more than any of the others and also seemed to have the most staying power. For those reasons I might give it a slight edge over 1911.
Old-Fashioned Soda - I liked this one more than I thought I would, but it definitely evoked a sarsaparilla soda.
Peppermint Clove - Another cooling aftershave, though not as much as Absolute Zero. My first impression was that I smelled like a Peppermint Paddy or Girl Scout Thin Mint, but that eventually gave way to a very nice cedar quality. Just not sure I liked going through the Thin Mint phase to get there.
Lime and Mint Rum - The lime comes across first, and that gives way to the grassy quality of the mint. An interesting scent, but also kind of quiet, without much staying power.
Here's my take:
1907 Signature - This was one of my least favorite scents. Very sweet and a bit fruity, which makes sense given that the major fragrance notes are "apple and plum brandy." Not bad, but not for me.
1911 - This one tied for my favorite. An old-fashioned barbershop quality, crisp, masculine, a little powdery, with definite notes of sandalwood and rosemary. Not an aggressive scent, but it lingered for several hours.
Absolute Zero - Their newest scent. A very cooling dose of menthol, with some citrus thrown in for good measure. Of these eight scents, this one seemed the closest to a cologne. Classy and musky.
Bay Rum - A fairly subtle bay rum, closer to something like Gilbert Henry rather than Captain's Choice. I suppose if you're not familiar with either of those brands that description won't mean much, but that's the best way I can describe it. Subtle, with not much staying power.
Heartwood - This is the one that tied with 1911 for my favorite. A subtle pipe-tobacco quality with notes of whiskey and leather. This one projected more than any of the others and also seemed to have the most staying power. For those reasons I might give it a slight edge over 1911.
Old-Fashioned Soda - I liked this one more than I thought I would, but it definitely evoked a sarsaparilla soda.
Peppermint Clove - Another cooling aftershave, though not as much as Absolute Zero. My first impression was that I smelled like a Peppermint Paddy or Girl Scout Thin Mint, but that eventually gave way to a very nice cedar quality. Just not sure I liked going through the Thin Mint phase to get there.
Lime and Mint Rum - The lime comes across first, and that gives way to the grassy quality of the mint. An interesting scent, but also kind of quiet, without much staying power.
