La Sirena CUBE 2.0 Preshave Soap | The Rebirth Of A 1990s Classic!

If ESP gazes into the shadow, La Sirena rises from it, luminous, nostalgic, and hypnotically balanced. Our latest homage revives the original 1994 Karl Lagerfeld masterpiece, Sun, Moon & Stars, composed by the legendary Sophia Grojsman.

This is not the watered-down reformulation that haunts the duty-free shelves in between the dimensions, this is the real deal, resurrected in all its celestial glory! A perfume that floats between worlds, weaving fruit, floral, and amber into a fragrance that somehow smells like both memory and rebirth.

Character: A complex, long-lasting floral-oriental with juicy fruits (not the gum, guys), heliotrope, jasmine, orchid, and a warm, powdery vanilla–amber–musk base. To my nose, a perfect cold weather scent!

Reputation: Known for its richness, longevity, and unmistakable elegance

With La Sirena, we’re honoring one of the most magnetic fragrances of the 1990s, Sun, Moon & Stars. This release is not a reinterpretation or a modern remix, it’s a faithful homage to the original 1994 formula as it was first experienced.

Our goal, as always, was to stay true to the vintage fragrance, not the new reformulated version that came years later. The scent of Sun, Moon & Stars has changed significantly since the 1990s due to discontinuation and reformulation under new ownership. We wanted to capture the magic and mystique of that first era, the true Lagerfeld version composed by Sophia Grojsman and make it accessible once more to both longtime fans and a new generation of fragrance lovers.

While Sun Moon and Stars was marketed to women, some men wore it in the 90s because it was considered a unisex scent due to its warm and musky base notes

It's true, though originally marketed for women, I’ve always considered it unisex by nature; a warm, luminous amber-floral that could easily live on anyone’s skin. And, amusingly enough, many of our male testers who tried the sample without reading the label agreed completely. Seriously, I keep getting PMs and Emails asking in excited tones, when will this drop? (If you know your shave and male grooming history, this tracks with many popular classics!)

Fragrance Inspiration

La Sirena draws directly from the original 1994 Karl Lagerfeld release, not the reformulated editions that followed. The scent belongs to the floral-oriental family, softly fruity at the top, elegantly floral in the heart, and warmly resinous at the base.

The result is an atmosphere both nostalgic and timeless. It carries the elegance of the 1990s without ever feeling dated, powdery yet grounded, ethereal yet deeply human. Fans of our ever-popular Al Fin  or discontinued HATHA will undoubtedly enjoy this I believe.

The Vibe

La Sirena feels like a dream remembered clearly decades later, glowing, soft, and still so magnetic. Its balance of fruit, floral, and woods makes it transcend gender altogether. There’s even an incense-like depth that emerges in the dry down, reminding some of resin burning in a quiet room. (or a head shop!)

This is a scent that lingers in the mind long after it leaves the skin, one that evokes warmth, calm, and a certain lunar serenity. A scent you can really sit with, I promise...and who knows what memories it will conjure up?

Not only does the scent stick in my mind vividly, but the OG bottle itself; frosted midnight-blue glass covered in tiny suns, moons and stars, topped with a mysterious gold cap! To me, this particular strain of cobalt blue glass was a real thing in the 90s; wine bottles, kitchen cups and even Arizona Ice Tea!

Design & Symbolism: 

You Just Might Recognize This Mermaid...

The name La Sirena, Spanish for The Mermaid, instantly calls back to the celestial, mythical magic of the original Sun, Moon & Stars, the moonlight, the tides, the cosmic pull between worlds. But if you’ve been swimming in the Phoenix Shaving Universe for a while, you probably feel a familiar ripple in the current. 

That’s right, shave cadets, this mermaid isn’t new to our mythos. She’s “Otra,” the long-lost twin sister of Al Fin! You remember Al Fin, all calm waters and radiant transcendence (really a lovely girl). Well, Otra (“Other,” for those who skipped Spanish class) was the sister who got the short end of the trident. Imprisoned in a windy, mystic river, she spent ages watching her sister shimmer in the spotlight. The jealousy bubbled. (long story)

The current twisted. And what once was a shy little river nymph began to change…(origin story coming soon)

Gone is the timid sprite of old, in her place now rises a lava-skinned mer-queen, a fever-dream alchemist channeling the very forces that once drowned her. The shadow she lived in became her strength! In short, she took her power back.

Now, if I’m being honest (and a touch self-deprecating), I may have had a hand in this transformation. I’m the guy who discontinued Otra back in the day, yeah, that was me. And, well, it looks like she took it personally. But hey, it’s spooky season, right? Perfect time for a resurrection with a little attitude!

La Sirena is that comeback story. She’s back from the depths, calling down the Sun, Moon, and Stars themselves, a scent both nostalgic and transcendent. Imagine the original 1994 fragrance reborn through a Phoenix Shaving prism: incense smoke curling through moonlight, scifi, some Mexican Lottery Cards, a shimmering balance of floral warmth and celestial calm. Who better to pair with ESP for the latest Creature Double Feature Release, no?

So yes, my friends, Otra swims again, but this time as the shapeshifter. The “Other” sister. The siren who turned her curse into a chorus!

FUN FACT: Back in 2015 we actually were considering releasing our first DE blade. The name I had in mind was La Sirena! The artwork for the blade was what became the original Al Fin art! It was blue and holographic on an amber bottle...some of you may still have this in your collection! So the connection to Al Fin was always there, as was the color blue! 

“Our goal was to bring back the real Sun, Moon & Stars, the one I remember, not the reformulated shadow that followed. We didn’t alter or reinterpret it; we revived it. This scent has always been unisex to me, mystical, ambered, and beautifully balanced. La Sirena is both a memory and a moment, the fragrance of the 1990s reborn for everyone.” - DS (now who's taking their power back?)

The tides are shifting, the moon is high, and the scent of La Sirena is waiting to pull you under…in the best possible way. Possibly the perfect strategy, ahem...A GIFT this holiday season for her, or you!!! (or both)

Dive in Shave Cadets, Dive In!

CUBE 2.0?

CUBE - 8 ounces and 6 sides of solid otherworldliness. CUBE is not your everyday preshave. CUBE takes your shave to another dimension adding extra protection, hydration, slickness and glide. A powerhouse of slick with a kick of Banana Oil!

Why is Preshave Soap BETTER Than Preshave Oil?

Well first off, as with anything in life, it all comes down to personal preference. I can tell you why I think it's better, but in the end, do what works for you! First off, unlike using oil, a Preshave Soap will not gunk up your gear and rinses away easy.

I was seriously turned off by all the clean up involved when using oils. Plus I was always concerned about it getting into my favorite brushes undetected and going rancid. Also, applying oil with your hands then holding onto a blade is not the safest move in my book. [That said, if you currently use an oil, apply it with your non-shaver hand!] In short, Preshave Oils inspired me to find a better way!

Why a Preshave Soap is More Effective

A preshave soap really offers more bang for your buck; for one, it's more affordable and longer lasting. Use it first to clean the face before you shave, then rinse. Then reapply the soap prior to whipping up lather: First in a circular motion, then against the grain. The soap gets under the hairs, slightly propping them up, giving the blade more surface area to "bite" on to. The glycerin acts as a humectant pulling more water into the hair, prepping and softening it, thus making it a bigger target to mow down!