Martin de Candre Fougere: shave soap & aftershave

Scent Description

Fougere by Martin de Candre is one of the most iconic and beloved fragrances in all of wet shaving. It is the quintessential fougere, bursting with a green freshness which perfectly captures the smell of ferns on a forest floor. The heart of the fragrance is built on geranium and patchouli, but the intense greenness comes from the bergamot, thyme and oakmoss which makes it aromatic and herbal. To use the soap is to wrap yourself in a lush green forest. Martin de Candre doesn't make a matching splash or EDT, so one challenge is to find an accompanying scent. Regardless, Fougere is a perfect choice for the discriminating gentlman with a taste for classic fragrances.

Scent Notes

Top Notes: Lavender, Thyme, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Geranium, Patchouli
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Amber

About Martin de Candre

Martin de Candre (MdC) is an institution in the wet-shaving world. Its soaps are renowned not only for beautiful, distinctive scents and best-in-class lathering, but also for exceptional usability, each jar typically yielding far more shaves than the average tub. Founded in 1974 by the Marchand family, who still manage the company today, MdC produces its shave soaps using the Marseille hot-process saponification method, heating and curing the soap over several days. Several fragrances have become touchstones of the category, most notably Fougère, Rose, and the Original, against which many others are compared.

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Scent Strength: 7/10
Longevity: 6/10
Scent Family: Fresh
Subtype: Fougere, Aromatic
Suitability: Home, Work, Daytime
Inspiration: Unique
Country of Origin: France
Menthol: Non-menthol
Companion Products: None
Type: Croap

Base Description

The Martin de Candre soap base is widely revered for both performance and longevity. Although each jar is typically 2–4× the price of an average shaving soap, it delivers substantially more shaves, thanks in part to the dense base produced by the Marseille hot-process saponification method, a tradition dating to the 17th century. The formula is deliberately spare, about twelve ingredients, centered on coconut and olive oils, yet the lather is exceptionally rich and dense, with class-leading cushion, strong stability, and excellent slickness. While not inexpensive, MdC consistently justifies its premium by elevating the daily shave into a luxury experience, making it a staple for discerning wet shavers.

Lather Properties

Cushion: 10/10
Density: 10/10
Slickness: 8/10
Stability: 9/10
Lather Type: Creamy
Base Type: Vegan
Base Name: Martin de Candre
Skin Food: Stearic Acid, Coconut Oil, Glycerin