Gentleman’s Hardware – Daily Grind

“Trigger Warning”

I was initially confused and thought the company name was “Daily Grind” and the flavor was “Exfoliating Scrub”—because of the packaging—but I guess the company is Gentleman’s Hardware. I checked out their website, and it’s one of those companies that—looking at their products—it doesn’t quite add up. I mean, they seem too small for how big they are and too big for how small they are, if that makes sense. Like, I can’t find this particular soap on their website, yet I see it on a site called “PB&J”—whatever! The weird thing there, though, is it says: “Scented soaps made form corrugated card.” What?

But I’m not going to get hung up on it. This is a nice bar soap—Basil & Neroli, Walnut Scrub—it’s off-white with brown flecks, so it looks like old-school Breyers. It feels nice, and the scent is subtle—so if that’s what you like, it’s for you. I would prefer more fragrance—especially when one of them is basil! I had some basil shampoo once that I flipped over. There is cardboard packaging that telegraphs “for the man,” but the soap certainly doesn’t come off that way, fragrance-wise. Inside the cardboard is a metal tin with raised letters that say “SOAP” and then the GH logo on the bottom. Then paper inside that, wrapping the soap—too much packaging, by ten—by the time you get to the soap you’re expecting something insane. I suppose the idea is you’ll re-use the metal box—it’s about the size of an Altoids tin, but deeper—perhaps as a travel box—no one keeps their soggy soap in a metal tin at home. I’m guessing, though, rather than soap, more people will use the box to store drugs. I wonder if all their products come in reusable containers?

Looking over their website—everything from tools to games to practical items—some cool looking stuff, actually—I notice they have a bourbon flavored cologne! Which gets me to thinking—why not just use bourbon (or rum or gin) as a cologne or aftershave? I could buy a nice bottle of something inspiring, which I can no longer drink, and then just splash it on my face after shaving. It would work! I’m just a bit worried, however, that that could be a serious slippery slope situation. He bought a bottle of Death’s Door Gin—splashed a little on before tea, what. Next thing you know, mate… do I need to continue?

Soap Review No. 147