Phoenix Shaving | Dixie
Leo Frilot Tru-Stone Copper Matrix | AP Shave Co. SynBad 30mm
The New Improved Schick Injector Razor | Personna 74
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Well, I was born in Texas City and raised in Bois d'Arc, Texas, and have been told more than once that I'm as "country as a turnip green", so a shave set called "Dixie" should probably be in my arsenal. Phoenix Shaving's revival of Dixie in the superb CK-6 soap base came at a great time as we're experiencing the huge temperature swings typical of February in Texas. My inaugural use of Dixie happened on a warm-ish sunny day, and it was a true delight.
Dixie is one of the lightest fragrances I've experienced from Phoenix Shaving. I'm certain this is by-design to convey some of the scents of the region in a gentlemanly fashion. For starters, I love magnolia, but it's not typically something I would wear. In the case of Dixie, the magnolia note was surprisingly muted if not supplanted by a prominent herbal note, thereby making the opening far less floral than I'd anticipated. While I'm a night shaver by default, I often sling a little splash in the mornings before work, especially when evaluating a fragrance for the first time. In the truck on the way to work this morning I caught a peculiar but fleeting grape Nehi fragrance. I didn't note this in the soap this evening, but the splash again this evening provided the same fleeting fake grape note. After a little investigation, I discovered this must be the Kudzu among the documented notes. I admit I'm not familiar with Kudzu (or at least I don't know it by name). When I brought it up to my wife, she immediately knew what I was referring to. She's a biologist and worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife for a number of years including the role as curator of a popular local fish hatchery. She explained that Kudzu is an infiltrative non-native nuisance plant that was brought here to the South as a ground cover. Often called "The Vine That Ate The South", it resulted in an old timers' colloquialism, "it took off like cut-zoo" when describing something that spreads rapidly.
But I digress, and you didn't come here for the long-winded musings of one Matt Hilton---or did you? Once the herbal floral abates, Dixie acquires a more earthy green accord with very faint uncured tobacco. Overall, this is a fresh and airy fragrance that will likely work best in the warmer months.
The art, as expected from Phoenix Shaving, is on point. However, I seem to have gotten one of the labels that I thought were a trial. While they have a matte finish, the dark colors scuff very easily. While not evident in my outdoors photo, mine arrived in less-than-presentable condition (at least by my standards). It's an easy remedy, though. While Douglas is seemingly omnipresent, when it comes to the rare order issue, using the site's contact form opens a direct portal to Fran, and she fixes everything. Within minutes, she assures me a new label is en route. Now, that's customer service!
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