BC Soaps and Such Isekai: Green Floral Summer Review
The sun was already dropping when I got set up on the McKenzie River. The day kind of got away from me, but that’s fine - fewer people once the light goes. I’m Tobin, out here to review Isekai from BC Soaps and Such. That’s my good friend Blaine’s second fragrance release, and it’s in his brand new soap base. Full disclosure: he sent me the soap and splash for this review. Thank you again, Blaine.
This is also a giveaway video. I’ll announce the winner in my upcoming Rambles, Rants, and Razors video from the Den. The prize is a 3 oz soap of Forbidden Root - Blaine’s other fragrance - and that’s courtesy of him as well. Athena and Luna are right here with me tonight. My dogs. Everything’s blooming out here on the McKenzie. Spring. Also bugs.
What Is Isekai?
“Isekai” is a Japanese word. It refers to a genre of anime where a character gets transported to a different world - another world. Look at the label and you’ll see exactly what that means visually. And in a lot of ways, that’s what this fragrance is doing.
I love that Blaine went this direction for his second release. Forbidden Root is dark, exactly like the name implies. A dark woody fragrance. Isekai is the opposite. I’d describe it simply as clean, green, sunny disposition, floral - the quintessential summer type fragrance. Dark and brooding on one side, bright and airy on the other. That’s a smart play for two releases out of the gate.
The Scent, Layer by Layer
One thing I want to highlight right away is the citrus choice. A lot of soap makers open with bergamot, orange, lime - the usual suspects. Not here. Blaine went with yuzu blossom as that citrus lift, and it sets this apart from the start. Yuzu blossom is incredibly tart, bitter, fresh, almost herbal. It’s a more interesting opening than straight bergamot, and it signals immediately that this isn’t going to be a generic clean fragrance.
After the yuzu blossom, I detect orange blossom. Crisp, clean, white floral. About what you’d expect given the opening - and it delivers.
Then the saffron comes in. Saffron has this bittersweet, metallic, earthy quality, and I notice it as we move through the top notes. A sweetness starts around the same time, but don’t mistake this for a sweet fragrance. It’s a green floral sweetness, not a candy sweetness. That character holds through the heart.
The wisteria vine is where the distinct green, slightly aquatic overtone lives. Right in the middle of this fragrance. Wisteria can be heavy and cloying in a perfume - some wisteria-forward scents just sit on you. This one doesn’t do that, and I attribute it to the cherry blossom. I think the cherry blossom is doing an excellent job of keeping the wisteria open and balanced. The cherry blossom also brings this distinct almond-like floral quality to the heart that I really enjoy.
After the cherry blossom, there’s what the scent profile calls “various florals.” I haven’t asked Blaine what those are - I wouldn’t do that during a review, that’s cheating. My speculation is jasmine and neroli, but I could be wrong. Whatever it is, the combined effect in the heart is this full-bodied, nectar-rich floral accord. Rich, but not overwhelming.
As we move toward the dry down, I pick up pine and white oak. The pine isn’t the star - it’s a crisp, balsamic note, and I can detect it about 20 minutes into wear but it stays in the background. The white oak reads as a toasted wood quality underneath everything else. You’re not going to smell it and point to it directly. It’s just there, doing its job, giving the base some structure.
This is a very well-blended fragrance. Nothing is fighting for attention.
The Soap Base: Tackle
Blaine’s first base was what he called the deluxe. He made some minor adjustments and arrived at what he’s calling the tackle base. TACL. I’ll let you figure out what that stands for - this is a family show.
The deluxe base was great. This one is better. Thicker. Creamier. I’ve put it through several shaves plus a couple of test lathers, and it doesn’t rush up in the bowl the way some soaps do, but the thickness and glide are absolutely there. It merits the name.
With the Cajun Blade lather booster on the face before I load the brush, it becomes something special. That’s not a combination I take lightly.
The Setup
I’m running a Chisel & Hound handle with a Frank Shaving 26mm silver tip badger knot. I put that combo together myself - C&H handle, Frank’s knot in it. I did buy the brush and knot. Link in the description to save 20% off site-wide at Frank’s.
For pre-shave, I’m using the Bayou Butter lather booster from Eric at the Cajun Blade. I have a discount code now: Tobin10 gets you 10% off at checkout. I won’t profit from it, but you will save 10%. And I want to be straight with you - there are only two pre-shaves I’d ever recommend to anyone. The Cube from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements, and this lather booster from Eric. Everything else I’ve tried, in my opinion, isn’t up to that level. Eric makes this down in Louisiana.
Razor is a 1969 Gillette Super Speed with a Gillette Silver Blue blade. First use on the blade. No mirror - just the phone screen for a reflection. Getting dark on my left side by this point in the evening, but we manage.
Who Is This For?
If you don’t like florals, this isn’t going to be for you. I’ll say that plainly. If you like florals, you’re probably going to love this. And if you’re like me - florals are okay, but they’re not what I’m reaching for first - I think Isekai is exactly the kind of floral you can have in your den and actually reach for. It’s green enough, fresh enough, and grounded enough in that pine and white oak base that it doesn’t feel like you’re shaving with a bouquet.
Blaine is bringing something genuinely artisanal to both of his first two fragrances. What he’s doing is distinct - he has a clear artistic point of view, and you can see it in both the label design and the fragrance choices. Isekai and Forbidden Root together make for a deliberate two-release debut: dark and brooding in one corner, clean and sunny in the other. I haven’t reviewed Forbidden Root yet, but I need to. If Isekai is the benchmark, that one is going to be worth watching.
Isekai is available exclusively on Blaine’s Etsy - link in the description. Check out his YouTube channel too, that link is there as well. And don’t forget the giveaway: a 3 oz Forbidden Root is the prize, courtesy of Blaine. I’ll announce the winner in the next Rambles, Rants, and Razors. Thanks for hanging out on the McKenzie with me. Great evening for it.