what are your favorites?? Im trying to decide which has the nicest scent for aftershaves and soaps::git
I have smelled the good, bad, and ugly. BR is really a personal scent that everyone has a different opininion on. St.Johns is probably my favorite but pricey. Honestly TSD signature scent is probably my favorite. Its a bay rum+bergamot blend and really is nice. Not overpowering like some others. What you dont want is the single note clove Bay Rums. They smell like hell IMO. Ogagalla(sp?) is affordable and really is a nice scent. Too strong for me though but still a very nice blend. Good luck! I would start with maybe Pinaud's BR which you can find at most drug stores.
I would like to hear from others regarding BR. I've even looked at making my own since there are several receipts online.
For a really different Bay Rum with good staying power, try the C. O. Bigelow - but it is more expensive than most. However, that being said, I really like the Masters Bay Rum. You can find it at Sally's Beauty Supply. You get a big bottle for under $10, and the scent is nice. Ogallala is also a nice one. TOBS is as well, but for the price I would get the Masters, which isn't that different.
I am a bay rum junkie. I concur that clove-heavy or cinnamon-heavy scents can be really awful, not to mention the burn that cinnamon can create on the skin. My favorite bay rum splash is Dominica, which is very crisp and surprisingly soothing as an aftershave. It's fleeting, and the version with lime is even moreso, but it's great while it's there. I'm also fond of Superior 70, which is not as complex but equally crisp and a great, punchy splash. $2 at Walgreen's (not every Walgreen's has it, but you can search their website to find local stores that carry it; it's in the ethnic section). For more complex or longer-lasting bay rums, St. John's and Meehan/Bonny Doon Farms are just outstanding. I get much more longevity from these than any other bay rum. Royall is nice, not quite as long-lived as those, but close, and with a similarly rich wood note. The last three are more expensive, but worth it. For soap, I was stunned by the lather I got from Ogallala. I'm not a glycerin soap guy, generally, but the lather from those soaps is simply fantastic. Unfortunately, the straight bay rum soap bothers my skin (I believe there's a good bit of cinnamon in it, but for this blend, it works scentwise). The bay rum and xxxxxxx scents are great, though. Regards, Tim
The TSD signature scent is great for soap. I'm not sure it would be great as an aftershave, but it wouldn't be bad. For aftershave, I haven't tried many, but Burt's Bee's is milder Bay Rum that I find very pleasent.
I've only tried the Clubman (Pinaud...whatever) Bay Rum and like Shawn said above, its just got too much clove scent in it for me. I don't hate it, but it's not something I reach for often...
One quite popular BR blend is the SCS Bay Rum w/ a twist. I find it appalling but there is quite a following for it. A better name should be CLOVE w/ a twist of lime. I tried to like it but it made me smell freakishly weird.
I have to be in the mood for Bay Rum. A warm sunny day can call for it, stormy grey days don't. Some scents like the TSD Signature scream cloves to me, others are more muted and pleasant. I like Conk's BR scent even though the lather sucks and Dominica's BR splash is very refreshing.
Ogallala and Master's Bay Rum are both very appealing. I'd do Ogallala for your SS, Master's for your splash. Or get Ogallla's EdT, which I haven't tried but assume is good. What to me aren't impressive are CO Bigelow's Bay Rum AS and Spray...
From what I've tried so far: Good Bay Rums TSD Splash Masters Splash Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum Splash(feel the burn!) Ogallala Bay Rum Splash Ogallala Bay Rum & Sandalwood Splash Ogallala Bay Rum, Limes, & Peppercorn Splash Ogallala Special Reserve Splash (feel the burn!) Ogallala Bay Rum soap Ogallala Bay Rum & Sandalwood soap Ogallala Bay Rum, Limes, & Peppercorn soap Booster's Bay Rum splash Bad Bay Rums
I've only tried one Bay Rum and that's the Clubman version. I do agree that the presence of the clove scent is a little too heavy in that A/S. I have a sample of the Booster's Island Bay Rum and at first sniff it's pretty nice. The final verdict will come after I try it out officially.
My hubby has Dominica's BR splash and we both love it. He was sent a sample of a home made BR from a friend and that is really good too.
The Walgreens in hispanic neighborhoods carry Superior 70. It has a real old time barbershop bay rum scent that will stay with you if you splash a little cold water on your face every so often
