Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Lavender Planet - has dropped for what might be a limited release.

[tspencer]

https://phoenixartisanaccoutrements.com/collections/lavender-planet

Ok. Lavender Planet is back. I highly recommend the EDP. The Aftershave/Cologne is good, but the EDP is better IMO. I am tempted to get the deodorant next. I think you could also use this pure mix of lavenders to potentially layer with other fragrances that are compatible with lavender. It's fantastic on its own.

And I found this video. Looks like PAA is getting better at presentation and/or advertisting.

 

[hednic]

Thanks for sharing this update.

 

[MacSuibhne]

I tried about 15 samples from PAA this weekend. I didn't think much of most of them. BUT there were 3 that I quite liked.

Cad
Shave Chaser
Atomic Bay Rum

These 3 were on a different level than any of the others. From a performance and scent perspective.

Cad is easily my favorite and i'll be buying a full bottle. The sample had incredible longevity and silage for an aftershave splash. I wonder what the EDP is like. I've heard this is inspired by Rive Gauche... but i've never smelled RG. This just smells like every part of a classic shaving experience in a bottle. It smells like Dad did immediately after a hot shower and a long lather and shave.

Shave Chaser smells like equal parts Clubman, Skin Bracer and Lectric Shave. It also had very, very good performance for an aftershave splash

 

[tspencer]

I tried about 15 samples from PAA this weekend. I didn't think much of most of them. BUT there were 3 that I quite liked.

Cad
Shave Chaser
Atomic Bay Rum

These 3 were on a different level than any of the others. From a performance and scent perspective.

Cad is easily my favorite and i'll be buying a full bottle. The sample had incredible longevity and silage for an aftershave splash. I wonder what the EDP is like. I've heard this is inspired by Rive Gauche... but i've never smelled RG. This just smells like every part of a classic shaving experience in a bottle. It smells like Dad did immediately after a hot shower and a long lather and shave.

Shave Chaser smells like equal parts Clubman, Skin Bracer and Lectric Shave. It also had very, very good performance for an aftershave splash

I have to say that even the scents PAA makes that I passed on I still thought had some kind of quality to them that "someone" would like. So, my 'pass' is another person's 'must buy'. You have to try them to know. I also urge you not to throw away your samples and revisit them and try them eventually on skin. Fragrances can be much different on skin with a dry down than on a test strip or just whiffed off the open vial. I revisited several of PAA's scents and ended up changing my mind and buying them such as Solstice, La Tierra Mojada, Coconut Oud and Clown Fruit. All of which I think are quite good (Clown Fruit is released every Fall near Halloween).

BTW, Atomic Age Bay Rum is my absolute favorite of PAA's though.

 

[tspencer]

My Lavender Planet experience today.....well the aftershave/cologne gives off an almost grapefruity vibe on the opening, while the EDP spray doesn't, but the aftershave/cologne dries down to be the same as the EDP. So, if you like lavender to have that almost grapefruit tone the aftershave/cologne gives that on the opening and it's not screechy or too stingy like some lavender bombs I've had in the past. The lavender in this is much smoother but still has some natural tanins for that rough old-school martini drinking Dean Martin type of vibe. This one could be worn by anyone because lavender is lavender and doesn't have an age really.

 

[Diddy]

My brother @Mythrol recently received 20-24 samples from PAA. I don’t remember all of the ones we tried by name but I have the samples with me to spend some time getting to know better. I do know that he got all of the bay rum and that everything is in aftershave/cologne strength. Of the bay rums, the Classico and Coconut were my favorites. I preferred Atomic as a standalone scent as opposed to being mixed with bay rum. Others that left an impression were: Tribute, Old Salty, Doppelgänger Gold Label (which smells spot in to Windsor/Royal Mayfair), and, since I also like weird things sometimes, Tombstone. Copalli was interesting but not as moving as sandalwood for me. Vetiver Planet and Garden of Bali weren't included in the set. Likely some others I need to try. I guess the biggest question for me with PAA is value, at least with some of the scents. Like Classico… for $50usd of 30ml, I feel like I can get a very similar experience for a fraction of the price. Granted not quite as smooth. Eventually, I’ll find something to purchase and support them. Doppelgänger Gold Label perhaps the front runner at this point. Then again, I may want something more unique from them. But also keep in mind that nothing was tested in skin. Only paper. So I’ll reserve my final thoughts until after properly testing everything.

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

 

[MacSuibhne]

I was skeptical of the EDP pricing but the performance of my favorite aftershaves (Cad and Shave Chaser) was so good that I have to imagine the EDP is very potent. I think i'll buy a splash and an EDP of Cad and use them together. A couple splashes and a spray seems like it will get the job done.

 

[tspencer]

My brother @Mythrol recently received 20-24 samples from PAA. I don’t remember all of the ones we tried by name but I have the samples with me to spend some time getting to know better. I do know that he got all of the bay rum and that everything is in aftershave/cologne strength. Of the bay rums, the Classico and Coconut were my favorites. I preferred Atomic as a standalone scent as opposed to being mixed with bay rum. Others that left an impression were: Tribute, Old Salty, Doppelgänger Gold Label (which smells spot in to Windsor/Royal Mayfair), and, since I also like weird things sometimes, Tombstone. Copalli was interesting but not as moving as sandalwood for me. Vetiver Planet and Garden of Bali weren't included in the set. Likely some others I need to try. I guess the biggest question for me with PAA is value, at least with some of the scents. Like Classico… for $50usd of 30ml, I feel like I can get a very similar experience for a fraction of the price. Granted not quite as smooth. Eventually, I’ll find something to purchase and support them. Doppelgänger Gold Label perhaps the front runner at this point. Then again, I may want something more unique from them. But also keep in mind that nothing was tested in skin. Only paper. So I’ll reserve my final thoughts until after properly testing everything.

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

I think you misunderstood Atmotic, which is just its own fragrance (it's a woody fragrance) of oakwood, dogwood patchouli and ginger.....and isn't part of Atomic Age Bay Rum. Atomic Age Bay Rum is a barrel aged, highly spiced (various kitchen spices including black pepper), orange-tinged bay rum. It's my favorite bay rum ever, but I can't speak for other people. Classico is good. All of PAA's Bay Rums are well thought out and carefully crafted.

Also, as MacSuibhne pointed out, the EDP is 30ml/$50, but the aftershave/cologne is $25 and most of those aftershave/colognes have an EDT-like sillage and last 4-6 hours, some longer. I think PAA prices the EDP's at 30ml/$50 because PAA invested in a very expensive fragrance lab in 2019 and their materials are focused on "old world perfuming", and their components must be expensive, at least they smell pricey to me based on their fragrances. I wonder how thin their business margins are.

I highly recommend Sangre de Drago. It's one of the most well-perfumed fragrances in the PAA pantheon. It's more of a winter fragrance but it's a fantastic woody-resin fragrance. The use of resins is one of the best I've smelled. I think most people would rank Sangre de Drago the #1 PAA fragrance. For me it's Atomic Age Bay Rum and Sangre de Drago #2.

I will reiterate some of their more impressive "homage" scents are Gold Label (Royal Mayfair, and it's really good), their version of Aqua Velva called "Sacre Bleu", which the EDP is just amazing on the dry down off of my skin. I love smelling Sacre Bleu EDP. That is amazing stuff (not the opening, which is almost cough syrup strength, but wait for the dry down). Their version of Brut, called "Et Tu" is stellar. So green and "alive" compared to the $10 grocery store aftershave (but I love the cheap Brut stuff still also).

I really just love the PAA brand. It's incredibly daring for a small business like theirs to offer so many fragrances and to take so many chances. People who love fragrances should try them and enjoy them. PAA is without a doubt my guilty pleasure fragrance brand.

 

[Diddy]

I think you misunderstood Atmotic, which is just its own fragrance (it's a woody fragrance) of oakwood, dogwood patchouli and ginger.....and isn't part of Atomic Age Bay Rum. Atomic Age Bay Rum is a barrel aged, highly spiced (various kitchen spices including black pepper), orange-tinged bay rum. It's my favorite bay rum ever, but I can't speak for other people. Classico is good. All of PAA's Bay Rums are well thought out and carefully crafted.

Also, as MacSuibhne pointed out, the EDP is 30ml/$50, but the aftershave/cologne is $25 and most of those aftershave/colognes have an EDT-like sillage and last 4-6 hours, some longer. I think PAA prices the EDP's at 30ml/$50 because PAA invested in a very expensive fragrance lab in 2019 and their materials are focused on "old world perfuming", and their components must be expensive, at least they smell pricey to me based on their fragrances. I wonder how thin their business margins are.

I highly recommend Sangre de Drago. It's one of the most well-perfumed fragrances in the PAA pantheon. It's more of a winter fragrance but it's a fantastic woody-resin fragrance. The use of resins is one of the best I've smelled. I think most people would rank Sangre de Drago the #1 PAA fragrance. For me it's Atomic Age Bay Rum and Sangre de Drago #2.

I will reiterate some of their more impressive "homage" scents are Gold Label (Royal Mayfair, and it's really good), their version of Aqua Velva called "Sacre Bleu", which the EDP is just amazing on the dry down off of my skin. I love smelling Sacre Bleu EDP. That is amazing stuff (not the opening, which is almost cough syrup strength, but wait for the dry down). Their version of Brut, called "Et Tu" is stellar. So green and "alive" compared to the $10 grocery store aftershave (but I love the cheap Brut stuff still also).

I really just love the PAA brand. It's incredibly daring for a small business like theirs to offer so many fragrances and to take so many chances. People who love fragrances should try them and enjoy them. PAA is without a doubt my guilty pleasure fragrance brand.

I appreciate your insight and feedback! I do plan on getting a fragrance from them. I like supporting smaller artisan houses. Just have to find the right first one for me. Thanks.

PS. The Atmotic thing you said actually cleared up a mystery for me. I was confused and thinking they just misspelled it on the sample. 🤣😂

 

[tspencer]

My brother @Mythrol recently received 20-24 samples from PAA.

Which ones did Mythrol like? Inquiring fragheads want to know.

 

[Diddy]

Which ones did Mythrol like? Inquiring fragheads want to know.

Sorry for the late response. I’ll let him answer, but I feel like Old Salty was speaking to him the most. @Mythrol , what say you? Regardless of quality (which PAA seems high quality), I think he mostly, like me, struggled finding something ticked all the boxes. I feel like I’ve been saying way more negative leaning things than how I actually feel about PAA. I do look forward to figuring out what my first bottle will be.

 

[Mythrol]

Which ones did Mythrol like? Inquiring fragheads want to know.

Hey! Out of all the samples I got I think maybe Coconut Bay Rum might have been my favorite. Classico was also really good. To be clear there was no sample that I smelled that I thought was bad. They were all pleasant scents. Atomic Age Bay Rum and Boom Town (is that the name? I think so) weren't bad and I definitely understand why some people would really like them I just think they were maybe a bit much going on for me. The Coconut and Classico Bay Rums I felt were smoothed out which I was more drawn to.

Out of the non bay rum fragrances Old Salty was really good. It's so funny because I didn't remember all the stories behind the fragrances from when I ordered them so my brother and I were both commenting how Old Salty was really good but it sort of had a soap or body wash or shampoo type smell to it - only for us to go back and look it up and realize that's exactly what it was trying to emulate, a specific soap.

I'm NOT a person who loves traditional wet shaving scents. I appreciate them and find them pleasant but I like to leave them to my shaving and then wear something more modern for my actual day. Also with a kid now I just don't have the time to perform the ritual that I used to with wet shaving. I say all that to say a lot of the non bay rums I smelled were pleasant just I'm not the target audience for them anymore. Some others that did speak to me were Atmotic, Copalli I actually think is a really important fragrance because of the story behind it and just how unique it is, Tombstone was a strong fragrance but actually well composed, and The Beach also stood out.

 

[tspencer]

Yeah, there's definitely talent in the creations. You should keep your eye out for when "seasonal" scents drop then order the samples. I think you'll be shocked that some of the seasonal scents aren't sold year-round. Some of them are really good. Coming up in the Fall and winter you should try Monstroso (apricot/vetiver Halloween scent), Clown Fruit and Rustler's Ridge. The Christmas time scents might also surprise you.

 

[Mythrol]

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for those. I'll get around to ordering another batch of samples at some point to finish smelling the rest of the offerings I didn't get this time. If they had a simple method of just having something saying, "Pay $X and get a sample of every single one of our fragrances" I'd have done that this time.