Sometimes I thirst for luxury. I want a Corot in a gilt frame hanging next to my daybed where I can lift my eyes from a novel and stare at it. I want a mid-century arm chair upholstered in grass-green silk velvet at my desk. I want all my underwear replaced with the kind that doesn’t come three to a pack. Like most people, my budget isn’t up to major purchases these days, so when the itch for luxury needs scratched, I turn to peaches and speckled farm eggs. And George F. Trumper shaving cream.
I first heard of George F. Trumper — on labels as Geo F Trumper — in an article about Pauline de Rothschild, who favored Trumper’s Extract of Limes cologne.1 Trumper, a British company, also sells shaving supplies and even offers one-on-one shaving lessons. When I saw tubes of Trumper shaving cream lined up at a local perfume boutique, I bought the lime. Over the years I’ve also tried rose, violet, and sandalwood.
Men are already hip to the benefits of a good shaving cream, but many women still shave their legs with soap and water. There’s nothing wrong with that, and most of the time that’s the method I use, too. A soft shaving cream, though, transforms the chore of shaving into a sybaritic ritual. Instead of dragging your razor over the tricky curves of a knee, the razor glides, nick-free.
Trumper shaving cream comes in a metal tube. (Cakes meant to be used with shaving brushes are available, too. Please comment if you’ve tried them.) Just the tiniest dab — the size of a small pearl — froths an entire calf with velvety cream. It’s almost magical, really, how such a small amount of shaving cream grows when smoothed over a bathwater-drenched leg. The cream rinses away without leaving your skin greasy or dry.
Trumper shaving cream is marketed to men, and the rose and violet fragrances are muted and not particularly dandified. No powder scent here. The fragrance lingers very close to the skin and fades within half an hour. The violet-scented shaving cream is my favorite. It doesn’t smell like cosmetics or candy, but is fresh and darkened by wood. It’s a nice fragrance to fall asleep to. I also love the sandalwood. I want to try Spanish leather next, but I’ll have to order that one online.
Since a small amount goes such a long way, a tube generally lasts me about six months, making Trumper shaving cream is an affordable luxury at $18 a 75-gram tube. Add another ten dollars museum entry, and I’ll have my Corot, too, at least for an hour.
Geo F Trumper shaving cream comes scented with violet, sandalwood, extract of limes, rose, coconut, almond, Spanish leather, Eucris or GFT (a cologne blend). It’s available online and at some fine drugstores.
1. Have you ever seen photos of the library Pauline decorated at Chateau Mouton Rothschild? Well, you know when articles on guided visualization tell you to go to a “special place” in your mind? That’s where I go. It’s all books and peacock blue couches.
What a great stocking stuffer for my nieces! Thanks, Angela.
Re: Pauline’s library – I. Want. It. And I would never come out!
Oh, I love that library. All I’d need are a few animals to snuggle up to and a blanket, and I’d never come out either!
Urgh, Angela, why did you have to do this? I was blissfully ignorant but those look so fab, I feel like now I absolutely must spend £8.70 on a tube of shaving cream. And how is it even possible to choose just one?
But it’s a good deal! Considering the price of perfume, at least, it’s a good deal. You’re right–choosing a fragrance is the tough part.
No, you are right. In fact, they are half the price of Chanel and Dior nail polishes which I like to treat myself to occasionally…so I could buy two! I’d still need to decide between violet, sandalwood, coconut and almond, though.
I’m also curious about Spanish leather but, while I’m slightly amused by the nod to the packaging of saddle soap or some other horsey/tack care products, it wouldn’t look quite as nice in a bathroom.
Maybe sandalwood for winter and lime for summer? It’s a tough choice!
Ooo! Synchronicity! I was just recommended GFT Sandalwood cologne. How do you find the Sandalwood shave cream? I like a dry, dry, very woody sandalwood…will I be happy with GFT?
I wouldn’t call it bone dry, but it’s a nice, soft sandalwood. I think you’d have to order it online if you don’t have a fancy drugstore nearby.
I want to be in that library…on those couches…in just silk tap pants and cami…after shaving with this violet shaving cream. Mmmm, new stuck-at-work fantasy.
That sounds so nice! I bet the library windows look out on something beautiful, too. Or, barring that, the hall outside might eventually lead to a wine cellar full of Bordeaux.
Given this is my stuck-at-work fantasy, I have to go with the wine cellar of Bordeaux.
It truly is something to dream about…
3 more people ticked off Christmas list- Thanks, Angela!
And I want that library. And I too would like to never buy 3-pack underwear again!
We’re on the same page!
Is the line availablein the US, San Francisco? I don’t really want to pay for shipping from the UK. but they sound interesting.
I live in the U.S., and I’ve bought it locally. In a city as large as San Francisco, there are surely stores that sell Geo F Trumper. I googled your city plus Geo F Trumper and came up with several hits, including Gumps.
Thank you, I will start with that. It is frustrating to think of over seas shipping. I am not much at internet searches, it did not cross my mind to add in my city etc..