The Rake’s Grooming Awards
The Oscars have wrapped up and you may have thought that the Best Film statuette spelled the end of the awards season, but fear not, it continues to this grand and dramatic denouement. The inaugural date, henceforth to be added to everyone’s annual social, entertainment and educational calendar, The Rake’s Gentlemen’s Grooming Awards. Here we have painstakingly tested hundreds of products from some of the world’s best barbers and apothecaries for men’s wellbeing and have come up with both the winners and runners-up of eight categories for you to peruse. You may note the absence of scent in this list, and well spotted. We found ourselves unable to get off the fence as scent plays such a personal role in people’s lives that it is impossible to make any kind of helpful top three.
Congratulations to all participants and of course to those on the podium.
Moisturiser
Winner: Boy de Chanel Fortifying Gel moisturiser — as written in the magazine when it first launched, Boy de Chanel, boy is it good. This moisturiser wakes you up despite being light and only a small amount goes a long way.
Runners up: Kiehl’s Facial Fuel, La Roche-Posay Toleriane moisturiser.
Hand Cream
Winner: D.R. Harris Rose and Cucumber Hand Cream — Beautifully scented and once applied, leaves no trace of oil or cream on the hands. It should always be within arms-reach during the day.
Runners up: Daylesford Bitter Orange Organic Hand Balm, Santa Maria Novella Tabacco Toscano Fluid Body Cream.
Shaving cream
Winner: Geo. F. Trumper Coconut oil shaving cream — Shaving cream can only be used as part of a ritual, it’s a slower process, so you want to feel the benefits once finished and the wonderful scent and softness from this cream will achieve this.
Runners up: Taylor of Bond Street Sandalwood, Truefitt & Hill Highgrove shaving cream.
Aftershave balm
Winner: Acqua di Parma Colonia aftershave balm — The scent is one of the great classics but aftershave balm is hard to get right. Overperfumed will cause havoc to sensitive skin and too heavy feels uncomfortable and not particularly soothing. Acqua di Parma has managed to get it just right.
Runners Up: Boy de Chanel Toning Lotion, Penhaligon's Endymion aftershave balm.
Shampoo
Winner: Truefitt & Hill coconut shampoo — It is a conviction that coconut shampoo is the superior scent for all shampoos. This lathers up very well with a small amount too so a bottle will last a long time.
Runners up: DR Harris Medicated Shampoo, Pankhurst head-to-toe shampoo.
Hair styling
Winner: Truefitt & Hill Euchrisma Clay — It doesn’t feel like you’re ruining your hair when applying, at the same time it will give a hold all day. It is deceptive, however, soft and supple, but once applied into the hair, it acts fast to style because the hold will set in quickly, but that is not a mark against.
Runners up: Pankhurst London Moulding Cream, Le Labo Styling Concrete.
Body Wash
Winner: Floris No 89 shower gel — I think it’s the bergamot. No 89 is the classic gentleman’s fragrance and makes one thing of a bathroom of any of the great clubs of St James’ and Mayfair, old-fashioned, stately and unimpeachably pleasing to the olfactory pathways.
Runners up: Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria, Horace Italian Bergamot and Peppermint Shower Gel.
Miscellaneous
Winner: Acqua di Parma car diffuser — there has been so much talk about this, as it feels too rudimentary an item, but once you see it in action, we can all be grateful to Acqua di Parma for coming up with something so chic for the car. All other similar diffuser makers take note.
Runners Up: Santa Maria Novella Scented Wax Tablet, Osma Alum Block.
