Ariana & Evans | Asian Pear
APShaveCo. Elegant Emerald | SynBad 24mm
Durham-Enders | Enders Speed Shaver | Schick Proline B-20 As per my usual method for evaluating an artisanal wet shaving fragrance, I used the splash several times before documenting my impressions. While the soap is obviously scented with the same oils, we should all know by now that it is a poor medium for fragrances. Thus the following observations are based on that of the splash.
Almost 2 years ago, I made it well known that I wasn't a fan of Asian Plum given its sweet floral presence. It wasn't a popular opinion, so I really should expound up on that. There are fragrances that I absolutely love, yet I don't want to smell like them. Asian Plum is one of those. Up until the day I shipped it off to its true soul mate, I routinely cracked the tub for a whiff. There's really no disputing it was a beautiful fragrance.
Asian Pear, while closely related to Plum, deemphasizes the sweet floral such that the result is an even more elegant, masculine fragrance. Asian Pear is without a doubt something I not only enjoy smelling, but it also works quite well with my chemistry.
Predictably, Asian Pear opens with an authentic ripe pear note that almost immediately fades into the dried fruit and an elusive dark, spicy, fermented vanilla-esque element. Cured tobacco begins to surface, and for a while, influences the overall accord. Despite the imperfect medium of an aftershave splash, this mid resonates for a good four or five hours before acquiring soft warm woody notes in the dry down. This is one of Ariana & Evans' / The Club's more exquisite original fragrances. I'm also quite the fan of their gritty fougère, NYC, which in my mind rivals Asian Pear for top fragrance coming from this artisan. Both of these deserve a stand-alone EdP.