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PAA Re-Releases Epic Peppermint

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[Updated August, 2023] Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (PAA) has re-released their Epic Peppermint shave soap and “Star Jelly” aftershave gel for a limited time.  Here are my thoughts.

PAA Epic Peppermint Shave Soap

[Note: Amazon and PAA links are affiliate.]

The PAA website describes it as:

“Scent Profile: Powerful, minty-fresh, camphoraceous, cooling, distinctive and nostalgic.

It’s no shocker why this scent is adored by everyone considering what a long relationship it has had with mankind. Peppermint was well known to the Egyptians, who dedicated mint to the god Horus. The Romans personified it as Minthe or Mentha, the beautiful naiad loved by Pluto, god of the underworld. When Pluto’s queen, Proserpine, saw what was going on she jealously trampled Minthe, instantly transforming her into the lowly plant. But Pluto decreed that the more mint was walked on the sweeter it would smell.”

Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Shea Butterate, Potassium Castorate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cocoa Butterate, Potassium Avocadoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Capuacu) Butter, Astrocaryum (Murumuru) Seed Butter, Platonia Insignis (Bacuri) Seed Butter, Parfum [Fragrance]

My Experience With PAA Epic Peppermint Shave Soap

When I was a small child my grandmother kept a peppermint plant on her front porch.  One day I asked her what the plant was and she said, “Peppermint.  Rub a leaf between your thumb and forefinger then bring your hand to your nose.”  I did and my little kid’s mind was blown….

That’s the vibe I get from PAA Epic Peppermint: a “pure” peppermint note that brings back a childhood memory.

The scent is somewhere between mint ice cream and the more herbal peppermint note of Taylor Of Old Bond Street peppermint shaving cream.

PAA Epic Peppermint uses their excellent “ultra-premium” CK6 formulation base.  With the correct amount of water (I think it’s a fairly “thirsty” shave soap) it produces a voluminous, thick lather that resembles yogurt, even in my “hard” water.  Like other PAA CK6 shave soaps I find both the cushion/protection and the lubrication aspects outstanding.  The post-shave feel on the skin is also noteworthy.  There is a reason why PAA’s CK6 formulation in on Sharpologist’s Best Shave Soap list.

Peppermint does not produce the same strength of cooling effect that menthol (or its synthetic equivalents) has.  Which makes sense because menthol is derived from mints.  I do get a very mild cooling from this shave soap though nothing dramatic (but see my comments on the aftershave below).

PAA Peppermint “Star Jelly” Aftershave

I also got some PAA Peppermint “Star Jelly” aftershave gel.  The “Star Jelly” aftershaves are slightly thicker than most balms I’ve used (and similar in consistency to the St. James of London aftershave gels), and perform well.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Perfumers Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Unlike the shave soap, PAA’s aftershave does have menthol, and provides a cooling effect (though not as dramatic as some of the “face freezers” out there).    I find that due to the excellent post-shave performance of PAA’s CK6 shave soap formulations I usually don’t need a whole lot of aftershave performance, but PAA’s “Star Jelly” works well (for me, best with wet hands on a wet face).

Conclusion

I initially researched the possibility that an essential oil in a shave soap might help reduce the chance of getting sick in today’s world.  In that I was unsuccessful.  But in the process I did find a shave soap that performed exceptionally well and brought back childhood memories to boot!

The PAA Epic Peppermint line also includes a cologne, a body soap and shampoo puck, and a lower-cost version based on the original CK1 shave soap base.

Have you tried PAA’s peppermint line?  What do you think of it?  Leave a comment below.

 

Author

Shave tutor and co-founder of sharpologist. I have been advocating old-school shaving for over 20 years and have been featured in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Lifehacker. Also check out my content on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!View Author posts

5 thoughts on “PAA Re-Releases Epic Peppermint”

  1. Make your own cryogen AS with a good pinch of menthol crystals crushed (well crushed) and dissolved in witch hazel. Add a small amount of glycerin to make it last on your skin and …
    Whoa!

  2. I swear I am going to quit buying “shaving stuff”. Of course, I just opened the antique gold Schick injector, I had to have. Now, Mark, you have to present a mint shaving soap, to a mint man from Chiseled Face. They make a “freeze your face” mint soap, Cryogen. Yes, I will have to get PAA’s peppermint. Thanks!

  3. Great review! I love Epic Peppermint. So refreshing. Needs a solid cologne and deodorant, though, to complete the line up. Douglas and Fran come up with some of the best scents!

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