Chillin' the most

bbqncigars · Post by **bbqncigars** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:57 pm

I recently bought some Vostok from Queen Charlotte Soaps in search of the most chilling summertime shave. It was cool, but I wanted more. An Amazon order later, I dissolved seven heaping teaspoons of pure menthol crystals in 50ml of warm propolyene glycol. A teaspoon of that mixture transformed half a tub of Vostok into the shaving equivalent of liquid nitrogen. The menthol fumes coming off my face are almost eye-watering. I'll extend an offer of a few tablespoons of menthol to the first five gents to PM me their snailers. You may be able to just add the crystals to a product, but I wanted to turn the Vostok from a hard cream to something more along the consistency of TOBS creams. Glycerin may also work as a carrier.

Wayne

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:23 pm

Wayne you menthol guys are hard core, I'll give you that.

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:29 pm

FWIW, there are side effects to using too much menthol. It's an irritant in large concentrations. I'm not telling you what to do, but be aware of that.

I'm trying to remember what the suggested maximum concentration is, and 5% keeps coming to me (so I may be wrong- but it's not a lot). I bet you're way over that.

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:45 pm

Wow Wayne! Sounds like a great experiment. Have you tried adding a shot of the good stuff to proraso cream, kind of like you did to the Vostok? Might be like bolting on a supercharger.

I almost took you up on the offer, but I don't know what I'd do with it, actually. I'm a fan of menthol, but I think it has its place. Just for example, the I Coloniali Softening with Rhubarb has a subtle charge of menthol that seems to kick in at just the right time in the right strength. Not real strong, but just enough to feel it at the end of the shave. It's very nice!

jww · Post by **jww** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:43 am

Squire wrote:Wayne you menthol guys are hard core, I'll give you that.

Kinda like us wool-fat guys, eh?

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:09 am

A Woolfat addiction I can understand.

crackstar · Post by **crackstar** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:18 pm

The way I see it is like this - the Vostok stuff is so powerfully-mentholated as is, there's no reason to add any more menthol to it. Just my 2 cents.

blantyre · Post by **blantyre** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:49 pm

I find that Vostock has plenty of menthol as it comes out of the tub. I'm not a big menthol fan but use it on exceptionally hot days (like tomorrow when it's supposed to reach 100 in Chicago). Then I finish off with a dab off 444 balm and some Osage Rub for a really chilling shave.

bbqncigars · Post by **bbqncigars** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:41 pm

I'll state that I am one of those "shave with a claw hammer and WD-30" gents as far as beard and skin go. I really crave the ultimate cool in summertime. Perhaps having lived through heat stroke has something to do with it. Either way, I also added a mix of crystals and the PPG solution to some Noxema in search of a home made supercharged Proraso pre/post. That worked out well. Now I use that as a pre-shave before the enhanced Vostok, and finish with either Tony's Choice AS balm or Vostok AS. A very chilling shave. It's like getting bitch-slapped by snow.

Wayne, trying to stay cool

gil3591 · Post by **gil3591** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:44 pm

i have some experience with menthol crystals. i dilluted them as you did but find a better method is to add 2-3 crystals to my scuttle with a drop of water. on top of that i place the cream and then mix. seems to provide a more consistent means of regulating the menthol. it is powerful stuff for sure.