Let me preface this by saying that I have absolutely no previous experience with mentholated soaps.
I live in Georgia, in the South, and we have recently hit 90+ degrees which means it will probably stay that way until October. (If we're lucky, otherwise it will be December before things cool down. Heck, it was 75 degrees on Christmas last year so who know?). Anyway, after looking through some recommendations, and having previously used and enjoyed Stirling soaps I settled on Lemon Chill as a first go for a cooling menthol shave.
Initial impression:
I got the refill puck and after unwrapping smashed it into an empty TOBS container I had. Soap is pliant to the touch, fairy squishy. The smell is lemony but not sharp acidic citrus or lemon pinesoly. It makes me think of lemongrass or sherbert which is somewhat appropriate.
The shave:
Brush is soaked and ready, feather blade in my fatip picollo, I'm loading up. I don't notice as much sudsyness with this soap during the load as compared to some other Stirling, maybe the menthol or lemon oil? Doesn't affect the load though and soon I'm ready for face lather. Lathering up I notice the menthol, it's there, it's cool. Based on my expectation from reading about it I'm thinking it's fairy mild. By no means eye watering. Soap performance is what I expect from Stiring at this point, nice and slick. First pass goes well and I relather for the second.
On the second lather I notice the difference. Possibly now that my face has lost it's top layer of world weary skin cells and I'm loading onto just graduated newbie skin, this soap is cold. Pleasantly cold and the lemon is there but not overpowering. Second pass much the same as the first.
Third lather. Like sticking my face in a deep freezer. Seriously, where's my coat? It's still a nice feeling, don't get me wrong, but it definitely builds through the shave.
Post Shave:
Shave complete, I rinse down, alum up, and finish with aftershave. The coolness lingers on. Interesting witht the alum, it feels like rubbing your face with a burning ice cube. Menthol coolness stayed with me through the rinse and aftershave, and I would estimate another 30-40 minutes post shave.
One thing of note, using a sharp blade and a fairly aggressive razor, after the first pass you pretty much feel menthol so it's a bit difficult to gauge pressure on the skin. I advise caution.
Summary: Exactly what I was looking for. I like the fact the lemon is not too potent and I thoroughly enjoyed the cooling menthol. Definitely a recommend from me.
Review - Stirling Lemon Chill
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