Gondolier
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (PAA) is the brainchild of Eric Hodges, who's public persona uses the name Douglas Smythe, and his partner Frances Towle. The business began in 2013 and was rebranded as PAA in 2015. The brand is one of the most well-known and popular in the wet shaving community, and is known for innovative, quirky themes and designs which are often based on science fiction. In addition to whimsical and visually stunning artwork, the products are often accompanied by narratives which describe the origins of the product, how it was developed, or simply tell a story. In addition to soaps and fragrances, PAA is famous for its accessories, which include razors, brushes, scuttles, alum blocks, balms, razor blades, and apparel, with many of its razors and brushes prized for their performance and collectability.
Scent Description
Gondolier is perhaps PAA's greatest fragrance contribution to the world of wet shaving. An in-house scent desgined by Douglas Smythe and Frances Towle, Gondolier is a Fresh Aromatic which is a truly unique take on a classic Fougere. The bold, juicy notes of Citronella, Juniper, Rose and Jasmine make it lean more fruity and arboreal than spicy, which creates a round and soft bouquet with a subtle melon-like aroma which is clean and fresh. The modest addition of menthol adds a minty note and a zesty feel which makes Gondolier truly refreshing, both to the nose and the skin. Gondolier is a casual and versatile fragrance which can be worn in almost any setting, but is best suited to daytime, home, and the office.
Scent Strength
7
Longevity
6
Scent Family
Fresh
Subtype
Aromatic, Fougere
Suitability
Daytime, Work, Home
Inspiration
Unique
Country of Origin
USA
Menthol
Menthol
Companion Products
EDP, Bar Soap, Balm, Splash, Deodorant
Base Description
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements’ (PAA) latest soap base is CK-6, a vegan formula which Douglas Smythe describes as a “Mystical Trifecta of Slick”. The self-described three key ingredients are Bacuri Butter, Cupuacu Butter, and Murumuru Butter, which are blended with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter and Glycerin. The result is a soap which creates a voluminous lather with exceptional cushion and a consistency reminiscent of dense cottage cheese, categorized by ShaveSplash as Textured. Slickness is above average, and stability is strong.
Lather Properties
Cushion
9
Density
7
Slickness
6
Stability
Lather Type
8
Textured
Base Type
Base Name
Vegan
CK-6
Skin Food
Glycerin, Kokum Butter, Shea Butter, Cupuacu Butter, Jojoba Oil, Bacuri Butter, Murumuru Butter
Top Notes
Bergamot, Citronella
Heart Notes
Rose, Jasmine, Coumarin, Juniper
Base Notes
Oakmoss, Cedar
IIngredients
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]