Saint Charles Shave Smoke and Beads

**singlewedge** · 02-02-2009, 03:49 PM

Well I normally do not like to give bad reviews. So I emailed Sue and asked her what to do. Instead of a review I will post the emails that went back and forth.

I received the Smoke and Beads cream.

I like the shave qualities of slickness, and latherability.

What I do not like is the scent. I was hoping for a stronger Patchouli and Smoke with some sandalwood. The smell is pleasing in the tub. Soft notes of Patchouli, sandalwood, sweet orange, vanilla. However when it is lathered all that comes out is sandalwood. The sandalwood is so strong it actually stays on my face despite aftershave. So not only so I smell of my aftershave when I use the cream I smell of sandalwood AND my aftershave which is causing me to think about putting it on the back shelf.

Since I belong to 3 shave forums I am going to review it and I am at a loss as to how to do that because the review will probably read as above.

If you have some advice for me, maybe I am lathering wrong or something may be off in the batch.

Kind Regards

Phillip

HI Phillip,
Nice to hear from you and that you like the majority of the qualities in our cream. I am happy to know you at least received a good shave in spite of the displeasure of the fragrance.

We use exactly the same blend of oils in the cream as we do in the EDT. So all I have for suggestions in the review is to be completely forthright in your assessment - just as you have by email. Our products are shaped by our customer fedback and we thank you for expressing your thoughts. Your lathering tecnique would not affect the fragrance.

I would suggest possibly putting it out on the forums BST or a PIF if you would prefer. I will watch for your review. Thank you again for writing.
Have a great weekend!

Warm Regards, Sue

Thank you for your prompt response and for the refund.

I would like to ask a question prompted by your second paragraph. I received a straw of the edt and I am not going to review that simply because I did not buy it, but my question is this. If you use the same blend of oils then why does the EDT smell completely different than the cream. The EDT has a very strong Sweet orange smell and very little anything else.

That is why I asked about the batch. When I do review it I will include that I was given a prompt refund without even expecting one. That is true customer service.

Good Morning Phillip,
I am unsure as to why there would be a differance unless the ingredients of the cream distort the fragrance in some way. The sample is our EDT with the same oils and whether purchased or not would makle no differance in it. So to mention it would not be out of line.

The only time I feel there is an adverse potential is when it has not been received directly from us. For instance the customer may have added or changed the product in some way. Some ppl have added witch hazel to our AS for example; (which it already has) this changes the properties of the ingredients and also the fragrance

Have a great weekend!
Warmly, Sue

So there you go.

Hope this review helps.

**M1ke** · 02-02-2009, 06:46 PM

I didn't know companies would give you a refund if you didn't like the scent of something you ordered. You could order tons of stuff and just say oh i dont like the smell, one hell of a sampler pack

If it was me i would have just thrown it away or gave it away. What one person loves another may not, im sure some people want to smell of a strong sandal wood.

**BeBerlin** · 02-02-2009, 06:58 PM

Stunning customer care. Too bad their stuff cannot be had in Europe. Or can it?

**loueedacat** · 02-02-2009, 07:33 PM

boy that is great customer service.

**MJL** · 02-02-2009, 08:53 PM

As someone who is in the Customer Service industry for a living, I know how rare it is to see true examples of outstanding service these days. I am highly impressed.