Today I used James Bond’s shaving soap — not his own bowl of soap, but the same make (Floris of London) and fragrance (No. 89, their street address being 89 Jermyn St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6JH, UK). I purchased long before their disastrous reformulation — and I have no idea of the quality of the current soap, but at the price you’re better off so far as lather’s concerned by buying a top-notch artisan soap, such as a Phoenix Artisan CK-6 or Declaration Grooming Milksteak shaving soap. The fragrance, of course, is the soap’s claim to fame:
TOP NOTES: Bergamot | Lavender | Neroli | Nutmeg | Orange | Petitgrain
HEART NOTES: Orris | Geranium | Rose | Ylang Ylang
BASE NOTES: Cedarwood | Musk | Oakmoss | Sandalwood | Vetiver
The Maggard Razors 22mm synthetic raised a fine lather, and of course Parker’s Semi-Slant is an excellent razor, so the shave was thoroughly enjoyable. Three passes, a perfect outcome, and a good splash of the aftershave to finish.