Thread: Xpec "Original" aftershave balm

Welcome to the penultimate instalment in our SRP soap Robin's fight against boring old English scents. Aftershave sample as always courtesy of the great people at The Different Scent in Berlin.

As stated in my review of Xpec "Original" shaving soap: If you like Penhaligon and Czech & Speake Aromatics, you might like this soap, because it was designed by Shirley Brody as well. Do not get alarmed by the advertisement ("the new, classic English fragrance, especially aimed at the discerning, cosmopolitan man"), this scent is a manly man scent.

Packaging: Same artsy packaging as the soap. But although the dispenser feels a bit cheap, it works very well

Price: A whopping EUR 89 for 100ml. Truth be told, this dispenser will last forever, because you only need minuscule amounts of balm. But the price again sets this product apart from everything else I have ever tried.

Burn/Bite: None at all. And little wonder it is: "XPEC After Shave Balm contains active natural ingredients: Essential oils including Rosehip, Sweet Almond and Jojoba Oils; Shea Butter and other vegetable extracts to help soothe and moisturize the skin; Gingko Extract for anti-inflammatory properties; extracts from Chamomile for their anti-irritant properties; Seaweed Extract which can help alleviate the effects of fine lines and also Vitamin C, which can provide anti-oxidant protection." It is the most soothing aftershave balm I have tried so far, and I have all of Castle Forbes' in my arsenal. Impressive.

Moisturising: See above. Tried and trued ingredients of a top-of-the-line aftershave balm. The balm leaves the skin refreshed and supple. No traces of grease or oil.

Scent: The same as that of the soap, only stronger: The scent is composed of 100% essential oils. It contains citrus notes, tuberose, wild thyme, fennel, ginger, pepper, cedarwood and oakmoss. It really is quite powerful, earthy and spicy, with pepper being the predominant note. There are hints of citrus, but not enough to make it effervescent. It is one of the most masculine scents I have ever come across, and it plays most nicely with the rest of Xpec's "Original" line. The scent is strong, albeit not overpoweringly so. However, it lingers for quite some time, which almost forces you to use Xpec's cologne or perfume. Not a bad thing if you like this scent. Which I do.

Overall: What can I say? It is a premium product. It is in fact the first aftershave balm that I like better than Castle Forbes'. It is also more expensive than CF, and since the scent is strong, you will likely subscribe to the full Xpec "Original" product line. Would I buy these products? Certainly, if I could manage the start-up funding. Highly recommended, with the above caveats.

Stellar review as always Robin.