*** Sadly Gentleman’s Shop website has now been closed as of February 2017. The links where applicable are directed to Amazon.co.uk meanwhile.
I have recommended The Gentleman’s Shop in this site before, and I’d like to recommend this lovely online store again. I believe it has so much to offer, continuously stocks quality products. Bath & grooming items are great for everyday use as well as for special occasions and for travelling. Fantastic small items as a gift, great leather accessories… Basically everything a “gentleman” needs to make sure his body is clean (and smells good!)
And of course shaving products. Why didn’t I recommend this store in my previous post (Merkur DE Razor Experience)? Because (a) I was planning to dedicate one whole page to this awesome store separately, and (b) if you see the history of the store below, you’ll see why.
The Gentleman’s Shop History
Established in 1988 and based in Hungerford, Berkshire, the owner Robert Johnston has been a barber for 30 years. Started online trading in 1999. The shop in Hungerford is no more but now The Gentleman’s Shop as an online-only business trades internationally.
They try to stock British products whenever possible, and only if they can’t find a comparable UK supplier they choose carefully selected quality goods from elsewhere. The Gentleman’s Shop stocks many products from Geo F Trumper, a well-established barbershops in West End London, and Truefitt & Hill, the oldest barbershop in the World also from Mayfair, London.
Here’s the “How To Shave” video by Mr. Johnston from The Gentleman’s Shop.
Being an advice from a professional barber for over 30 years, I find this video tutorial extremely useful from the beginning to the end. Thanks to Mr. Johnston.
So let’s have a look at some of the products that The Gentleman’s Shop sells – I’ve put a little background of each manufacturer, so you see how the Shop opts for perfection when selecting its products.
Shaving
Above Left: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil 30ml. As a close-shave novice, I said in my previous post that I couldn’t feel the difference by using pre-shave oil. The Gentleman’s Shop explains that the oil provides a barrier between blade and skin for a closer, more comfortable shave.
Middle: Geo F Trumper PB Range Mach 3 Razor. Gillette Mach 3 compatible. With a beautiful ivory handle. By the way with a Gillette cartridge type, I don’t believe pre-shave oil is as effective as with a double-edged razor, as it gets clogged up with hair in between the blades.
Right: D. R. Harris Arlington Shaving Cream Tube 75ml. Excellent lather when used with a brush but can be used brushless. Parabens free.
Above Left: GB Kent BK2 Medium Pure Badger Shaving Brush. GB Kent & Sons is now more commonly known as Ken Brushes, and it’s history is quite amazing.
The company was founded in 1777 by William Kent in the reign of George III. Continued for 6 generations until the last of the three Kent brothers died in 1932. Eric L. H. Cosby of Cosby Brushes Ltd took the company over, and today it is run by his grandson, Alan H. L. Cosby.
This brush is filled with an alternative cut of badger bristle, suitable for a coarser, stiffer beard.
Middle: Geo F Trumper Alum Block, 110g. This is what Mr. Johnston is talking about in the video. Wet this antiseptic block with cold water and gently rub the face after shaving to close the pores. Can also be used as a pre-electric shave.
Right: Truefitt & Hill 1805 Aftershave Balm 100ml. Containing lanolin and aloe vera extract, fragrance with bergamot, mandarin and cardamon combined with a lavender, geranium and clary sage heart resting on a sandalwood, cedar wood musk base (!) Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skins.
Shower Gel and Shampoo
Above Left: D. R. Harris Arlington Bath & Shower Gel, available in two sizes. 100ml or 250ml. Citrus and fern fragrance. The smaller bottle will be great for travelling.
D. R. Harris is my personal favourite, it is one of London’s oldest pharmacies, established in 1790 at No. 11 St. James’s Street (now it’s at No. 29 – image on the right) as “Harris’s Apothecary”. It’s in the heart of London, behind The Ritz hotel, you know.
Above Middle: Floris Elite Moisturising Bath & Shower Gel 250ml. It contains olive oil to help maintain the skin’s natural balance, with a cool citrus twist of bergamot, lemon and orange, with cedar leaf, juniper berry, lavender, bay, patchouli and vetiver.
The Floris is another authentic perfumery founded in 1730’s, opened at 89 Jermy Street, and the shop’s still there, that’s only like two minutes walk away from D. R. Harris shop.
Above Right: Taylor of Old Bond Street Mr. Taylor Shampoo 200ml. I’m not a professional London guide (obviously) but I guess the shop was originally in Old Bond Street, but now is at a minute walk away from the Floris! The company was established in 1854, during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Accessories
The Gentleman’s Shop sells other stuff such as cologne & eau de toilette, accessories including clothes brushes, cufflinks, umbrellas, pens, luggage, wallets, wash bags, all of which have great quality. Here’s just an introduction of the wide range of men’s accessories.
Left: Hans Kniebes Black Leather 5 Piece Manicure Set with Zip Case. This German manicure set is in a leather zipped case, 14cm x 7cm when closed, contains;
- Double-ended manicure tool with genuine horn handle
- Nail scissors and cuticle scissors
- Nail file with horn handle and
- Slant-ended tweezers.
It’s very useful to keep it in the bathroom cabinet and also handy for travelling. Once you’ve got the kit, it will potentially last for the rest of your life, I think it’s a great item, well worth paying for.
Middle: Dalvey Voyager Clock with Yellow Face. Daly’s most popular travel alarm clock comes in a stylish gift box, size 70mm x 70mm when open, uses LR44 battery.
Right: Dulwich Designs Heritage Black Leather Cufflink Box. Size 20.5cm (w) x 5.5cm (h) x 12.5cm (d), 15 sections with stud closure and grey plush lining.
The prices shown are as of today, 4th May 2016. I hope you like the products that Gentleman’s Shop sells, and of course, there are many, many more on their site. Take a look.
*** Sadly Gentleman’s Shop website has now closed as of February 2017. I hope it will come back again in the near future – meanwhile, the links are now directed to Amazon where applicable.
