The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Art of Shaving is Getting Into the Fragrance Game

By Katie Dickens October 3, 2016

Art of Shaving cologne — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Specialists in maintaining facial hair and taking off said fuzz, The Art of Shaving (a.k.a. TAOS), is introducing its first collection of colognes. You may be asking yourself what the hell does scent have to do with shaving? Then maybe consider that your forbears probably considered their aftershave sufficient for scenting themselves (Aqua Velva anyone?).

If you’re somehow not familiar with TAOS, it’s a grooming company that not only peddles a soup-to-nuts shaving regimen (including an array of razors and badger-hair brushes), but also skincare, haircare, and various other offerings designed to improve a dude’s appearance. And they maintain branded barbershops across the country where everything from a basic shave-and-a-haircut to a mustache trim to a face coddling 45-minute old school shave is on its affordable menu.

sndl_cypr — Image used with permission by copyright holder

To celebrate two decades in the grooming business, TAOS looked to its background in the age-old art of barbering—specifically the tradition of spritzing freshly sheared faces with a fragrant tonic—when coming up with the five-fragrance range. The goal was to make something that smelled current while being evocative of the past. Kind of like today’s barbershops. To ensure it fit the heritage and spirit of barbering, they paired master barbers up with master perfumers to whip something up. And the results of this meeting of the minds are five creations called The Cologne Collection.

cor_card — Image used with permission by copyright holder

While most mass fragrances these days are a combination of synthetic scents, these five colognes contains a blend of natural essential oils from citrus to spice. And with distinct differences between all of them, there’s a chance you’ll find a winner in the bunch. Unlike often cryptically named colognes, the names on the bottles basically announce what’s inside. But in case it’s not clear, we have some suggestions for you. If you tend to gravitate towards understated options, give the zesty citrus-y Vetiver Citron or fresh green blend of rosemary, peppermint and namesake note in Green Lavender a go. Those who prefer something on the richer side of the spectrum can choose between the warm woody Sandalwood & Cypress, decidedly masculine Oud Suede, or spicy-in-a-not-overpowering way Coriander & Cardamom. Like it both ways? Consider collecting them all.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Fragrances

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Katie Dickens is a Manhattan-based beauty and grooming writer. She has held staff positions at Glamour, In Style, People…

Grooming

Why You Should Ditch the Disposables and Shave with a Safety Razor

Disposables and shave with a safety razor

Unlike the safety scissors of your childhood (you know, the ones barely capable of cutting construction paper), safety razors are hardly kid’s play.

They are the best option for replicating the close shave of a straight razor without the real chance that you’ll slice your own throat. Compared to four-blade offerings, this no-frills option (basically just a handle and double edge razor) is old-school, but it’s being heralded as the best way to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs.

Grooming

Hair products 101: Get all-day texture and hold with the best hair paste for men

Give your dew volume and flexible hold with these hair pastes

Two containers of Fellow Barber Texture Paste.

Hair products can be confusing to navigate — do you need hair paste? Hairspray? Hair gel? Hair paste hits a magical middle ground between a hair gel and a hairspray. You can apply it strategically like spray without losing hold anytime something touches your hair. It also has the long-lasting strength of a gel without getting hard and crunchy. Paste is the best option to keep your hair's natural texture and allow it to move around a bit throughout the day. A good paste allows you to tweak your style anytime you catch yourself in a mirror and see that something is just a little off, because if we're being honest that happens to all of us.

We rounded up a list of the best hair paste for men available now. Their properties and functionality vary a bit because, like a fingerprint, we all have unique hair. Half the battle of achieving the hairstyle you want is finding the product that works best for your hair. That can be a daunting task with so many pastes on the market so we've narrowed down the options for you. Just remember, we can help you find the best product to achieve your new hairstyle but we can't stop your mom from criticizing it.

Grooming

Did you know you can change face shapes without surgery? Here’s how

Sharpen your jawline without invasive tools or surgery

Close-up of a man's face

Face shapes are a major factor in your overall look. It’s no secret that a strong jaw and sculpted cheeks are highly desirable, but most people don’t naturally have these features. Those with more round, undefined faces might resign themselves to working with what they have. After all, the shape of one’s face is primarily the result of bone structure and genetics. However, did you know that you can actually change your face shape by sharpening your features with natural, non-surgical methods?

There are several lifestyle changes, exercises, and tools you can try to change your face shape. They range from fairly easy adjustments to more involved lifestyle changes. Many of these options work fairly rapidly when implemented, too. The best news? None of the following will involve going under the knife. Read on to learn more about how to change face shape naturally.