TOBS St. James Scent Question

[jww]

Has anyone had experience with this soap? I am looking to add a shave stick to my travel kit and am intrigued at the list of ingredients which include "Bergamot and Mandarin combined with crisp herbs. Heart notes utilise florals, fruits and spices on a base of Sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli and Musk" according to Fendrihan. I am simply curious how it smells in layman's terms.

[gruffydd3]

Wendell,

I've never tried the soap, but I did buy a tub of the cream several years ago. If I had to describe the scent with a single word, it would be "weird". It's hard to describe. There's a medicinal note to it. It's certainly not like anything else out there.

I think St James is probably one of those love it or hate it scents.

Regards,
Rick

[jww]

Thanks - I don't want to take a chance on something I haven't tried unless there is good intel from around the forum.

[Esoteric83]

If it smells like the cream, think a less musky T&H 1805 with a stronger Aquatic note (assuming you’ve sampled 1805). It is a modern type aquatic scent that is quote pronounced when in the cream form. The cologne has a nice staying power as well.

I like the scent enough to use it 2-3 times a month, but that is it for me.

[PeterS]

If it smells like the cream, think a less musky T&H 1805 with a stronger Aquatic note (assuming you’ve sampled 1805). It is a modern type aquatic scent that is quote pronounced when in the cream form. The cologne has a nice staying power as well.

I like the scent enough to use it 2-3 times a month, but that is it for me.

I also found the St James very similar to the 1805, just as Mr Taylor is similar to the Grafton.

Pete

[gruffydd3]

That's interesting. It's funny how people percieve smells differently. I see the similarity between Grafton and Mr. Taylor (though only slightly), but St. James seems nothing at all like 1805 to me.

Regards,
Rick

[Esoteric83]

That's interesting. It's funny how people percieve smells differently. I see the similarity between Grafton and Mr. Taylor (though only slightly), but St. James seems nothing at all like 1805 to me.

Regards,
Rick

Very true. I quite like the St. James scent but really don't care for 1805 at all. Both fall under what I perceive as 'aquatic', but 1805 (both cream & edt) have this repulsive base note that remind me of something an old lady would wear!

I also believe the TOBS cream performs better for me, but as always YMMV.

[jww]

Let me ask my question this way.

How would you describe the scent to someone who has no reference point to draw from? Not that I don't know what 1805 smells like, but I am looking for a non-product related description rather than a comparative description.

[ATLpr8head]

Not relating it to other scents I would say the lemon and mandarin(combo) come out the most in the scent. I think the blend of the amber and patchouli help mellow it out of its citrus scent though. The bergarmot might also be to blame but it helps out every scent and gives it that earthy yet citrusy scent. If you arent looking at the cologne or AS and just the soap I wouldnt worry about the complexity. Lemon/mandarin with a musky undertone is what you will get. I have the cologne, AS, and SC but not the soap. BTW...I have it on both wrists and smelling a tub of the SC right now. Another note...I have never heard anyone disliking the scent;)

[Esoteric83]

Describing a scent without a comparison is next to impossible for me. I would howvever be happy to put a sample of the cream in the mail for you.

[gil3591]

Let me ask my question this way.

How would you describe the scent to someone who has no reference point to draw from? Not that I don't know what 1805 smells like, but I am looking for a non-product related description rather than a comparative description.

to me, 1805 smells like cucumbers. how's that?

[IanM]

Not wiffed the soap, but I have just had my nose in the tub of cream that I have.

There's a freshness there. Slightly sharp but not overly so. The sharpness is a little more rounded than say a lime scented cream.

Also, I wouldn't really class it as a traditional scent. It's a little bit more modern to my nose.

That's my description, but I don't really have a reference point.

There's nothing about it that I don't like.

Ian

[jww]

Thanks all -- this has been helpful -- I will probably grab a stick for my travel bag to supplement my Palmolive classic stick that I carry in it everywhere I go.

Think it's time to order a Semogue 1305 and a new supply of alum at the same time.

[gsgo]

Wendell,

Here is the link to Taylor's fragrance descriptions - hope it helps - I have Almond and Mr. Taylor's and like them both.

http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/acatal ... ances.html

[jww]

Thanks Gary -- that looks helpful. What I really wanted was D.R. Harris Lavender, but none of my Canadian suppliers have had that in stock in quite some time. So - I am thinking St. James may be the next best option for now.

[95%]

Let me ask my question this way.

How would you describe the scent to someone who has no reference point to draw from? Not that I don't know what 1805 smells like, but I am looking for a non-product related description rather than a comparative description.

to me, 1805 smells like cucumbers. how's that? :P

To me it smells like Taylor's Avocado, to the scent of which I had an aversion (putting it far too mildly.)

[brothers]

Coming into the discussion a few months down the road, thanks to my samples from Joanna at TSD, out of all of the 6 I got, St. James is the only one I enjoyed so thoroughly that I immediately purchased (with parabens) from Connaught. I also used up the whole sample before I started on the tub.

I had a tube of the earlier version of Avocado that I thought I enjoyed, until I became familiar with St. James. At first I thought they were nearly identical, but it didn't take even a week until I became aware that I no longer found the fragrance of the Avocado shaving cream to be attractive. I gave it away.

The fragrance of St. James, to me, is fresh and clean, masculine and it does remind me of the sharpness I associate with a spring morning with bright sunshine and I'm feeling great. YMMV

Regarding the lather, it's excellent, whether loaded directly onto the Omega 20106 boar and face lathered, or lathered in a bowl with the badger.

Based on all of the above, I'm now ready to order up a stick of St. James soap to go with the cream.

Wendell, if you've managed to read this far, sir, I'm interested in knowing if you were able to get yourself a stick of the soap, and what your impression is.

[jww]

Never actually got a stick, as I found some Lavender and purchased that instead -- but did get a stick of Arlington as well, which I also quite like.