Porthos CUBE 2.0 Preshave Soap | A True Salute To A Classic Chypre!
"An incredibly refined and distinctive fragrance”~Roja Dove, Perfumer
Scent Profile: Dry Woods/Leathery/Classical/Masculine. A Chypre masterpiece.
Top notes: Artemisia (wormwood), Aldehydes, Bergamot, Gardenia, Green Note, Cinnamon, Cumin. Middle notes: Clary Sage, Patchouli, Orris, Vetiver, Sandal. Base notes: Leather, Oakmoss, Castoreum, Amber, Musk.
Find The Porthos Collection HERE!
Porthos is an homage to one of the most classic masculine scents of all time, Aramis. Born out of the 1960's but timeless in depth and shape. I remember the first time I caught a whiff of this stuff. (do you?)
It was the mid 1980's and my family and I were staying in my uncle's cabin for a fall weekend. He met us up there to give us the key. Before he took off however, he had my brother and I help him bring some logs inside and stack the rest on the porch. Working next to him is when I "caught it", Aramis. It's unmistakable, infectious, mysterious and Iconic. I truly believe everyone remembers exactly where they where when they smelled this mystery for the first time! The whole experience burned the fragrance forever on to my brain. The scent notes seem to work or reinforce a "smell track" for that weekend; Crisp Fall Air, Fresh Cut Wood, Leather...Rugged and Classy all at the same time.
As a collector of vintage aftershaves I happened to stumble upon an old bottle of Clint by Avon, opened it up and BOOM, whipped back to the cabin with my uncle and brother...what the heck? I'm certain my uncle wore Aramis but this bottle of Clint, straight out of the 70's had me questioning my memory. This was before I knew that Avon had built an aftershave empire out of Duping other popular scents of the time!
Sure enough, Clint is almost a dead-ringer for Aramis! Now that my scent palate has matured and become more colorful and dare I say more sophisticated, I recognize just subtle differences in the two. Clint possess just a hint more leather but at the end of the day is much closer than even the modern version of Aramis! [So if you ever find a bottle of Clint in an antique shop, GRAB IT!]
Not sure when, my guess is early 2000's, they changed the formula. The new stuff just doesn't smell the same nor compare. There can be a number of reasons for this, and this seems to be "business as usual" for a lot of "classic frags"... I have learned to accept it, it's just a pity, the kids will never know what we've lost!
That said, I made it my personal mission to reboot the original scent. I'm taking us all back to the cabin in style, Buckle up!
As for the label, it represents the process of perfuming, which is truly a time machine of some sort or another. You need only to put together a lot of odds an ends when blending. Notes that your mind tells you never to combine, but the nose trumps the mind in this matter, a leap of faith! Once the "building" of this strange machine is complete, you should have a vehicle that will take you back to that time and place with just a quick sniff and you're there. [Note: This entire sales page was written under the influence of Porthos.]
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
CUBE?
The release of CUBE has been a long time coming. For those who are privy to the PAA Universe, you may have seen CUBE hovering in the background on different labels and in ads...observing. I have read a few interpretations by folks in the forums who have noticed CUBE's appearances and have been flummoxed. What Does it Mean? [I super appreciate that folks are becoming more hip to the universe in our labels!]
What Strange Shave Tech is This?
It's great to finally bring CUBE to life for people to interface with! Holding it in your hand you can almost feel a force, an energy pulsating, drawing you in. However, all I can say at this time is, all shall be revealed in a future installment of the saga. Until then, embrace the mystery of CUBE and use it wisely!
Approximately 8 oz [227 grams] Cube - Wrapped in biodegradable Plastic
Purified Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Stearate, Rose Clay, Soybean Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Prickly Pear Oil, Jojoba Wax, Cupuacu Butter, Murumuru Butter, Bacuri Butter, Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Vitamin E, Mica, Essential Oils & Fragrance