I will be posting my reviews on the Sampler I received on my birthday here on this thread. I received the 9 tails, Bay Rum, and the Lime aftershave samples and wanted to share my thoughts with the shaving public. First up, 9 Tails, due to its infamous nature on the forums. I couldn't resist. I slapped on the entire sample bottle (which was a small eyedrop looking container half full) onto my face after a great shave. Instantly I smell the intense amount of cloves and true Bay Rum scent, however.... what came after the smell was what it was known for.. The STING! This stuff truly does feel like a Cat of 9 Tails whipped across my face! The sting was intense! Thankfully it only lasted a few seconds (which felt like forever), and afterwards it left the face feeling refreshed. I didn't catch as much of the fragrance throughout the day as I expected, hardly at all really. My conclusion is that while it has a very rich Bay Rum scent, very clovey, the sting is a bit too much for everyday use. Perhaps I used too much on one application, but I prefer to dowse my face in my aftershaves and smell them all day. I love an aftershave that stings a little on application, but this was an extreme. I would recommend to anyone who needed to wake up a little in the morning as it is a true eye opener!
Tried the Lime today and upon application it smelled like a strong lime margarita. Nice scent and slight sting. The scent disappeared completely after about ten minutes however so I won't be picking this up into my rotation. I prefer my scents to last all day or at least catch a whiff here and there. I suppose you could pair this up with a cologne
I have the 9 tails; perhaps it has to do with my love of hot peppers, but I've not found it particularly 'stinging' in application, though I do agree with the strong clove presence in the AS. I continued to note the scent for at least two hours after application with only 5 drops shaken into my palm.
My favorite is the Cat. I like the warmth. I like that the scent remains a little longer than the Bay Rum or the Lime.
I have this same set. I tried Cat of Nine tails first.....The Scent of Clove is intense to say the least. I tried the Bay Rum the next day. It too smells of Cloves and Bay. Very intense also. I really did not feel an intense sting to the skin, but what one person says about something may not be the same,as the next person. I like the scent of the Cat of Nine tails over the Bay Rum. I also really like the North Scent.
The North is a fantastic AS. An initial cool, refreshing (not cold) rush of evergreen that dries back to Juniper and clove.
"She Who Must be Obeyed" Likes the "Cat of Nine Tails" and the "Bay Rum" I put the Lime A/S on this morning and "She Who Must be Obeyed" said I could wear that one, so I guess she likes it too!
