HC&C James Bond - You Only Have Nine Lives: First Shave
Hi, welcome to Larry’s Shave. Today we’re shaving with a brand new release from Hendrix Classics & Co.: James Bond Starring in You Only Have Nine Lives. And what a soap this is. It is really, really smelling good.
This Isn’t the Old Bond Soap
Let me clear something up right at the start so you’re not confused. HC&C has done Bond-themed soaps before. There was one called James Bond, and then there was 007. Both great scents. But this one is entirely different. Not a repackage. Not an old base with a new label slapped on it. Brand new scent, just released. If you’re thinking you already have this, you don’t.
Now look at the label. A black cat holding a firearm. James Bond as a cat. The name is a play on two things: the old saying that a cat has nine lives, and the 1967 Sean Connery film “You Only Live Twice.” That’s the one where the US and the Soviet Union are edging toward war after spacecraft from both sides mysteriously disappear, and Bond goes after the real culprits. Great movie. My personal favorite is Goldfinger, but they’re all good. Do you have a favorite Bond film? Let me know in the comments.
And on favorite Bond actors - Sean Connery, obviously. But I also thought Daniel Craig really captured the essence of the character. Rugged looking, yet sophisticated. Good pick for the later films.
Inspired by Lafayette Street
This is an artisan shave soap inspired by Lafayette Street from Bond No. 9. The key word is “inspired by.” It’s very close to the original, not the same thing. The fragrance oils don’t come from Bond No. 9 the company. But Hendrix Classics & Co. sources from among the best fragrance oil suppliers in the world, and this one is no exception.
The accords, in order of prevalence: amber, vanilla, fruity, citrus, aromatic, floral, woody, fresh spicy, musky, and fresh. The specific notes: bergamot and coriander open with brightness and freshness, the heart brings in fresh florals and ambroxan with apple keeping things crisp and wearable, and the base settles into vanilla and tonka over cedarwood, dry woods, and grey amber.
On paper this reads clean, sharp, and modern. The bergamot and coriander should give it a fresh, polished opening; the apple and florals keep the middle wearable rather than heavy; and that vanilla and tonka base over the dry woods should land warm. If you know Lafayette Street from Bond No. 9, you’ll have a sense of where this lands. Hendrix Classics & Co. gets it very close.
HC&C describes it on their product page as opening with bright citrus cutting through the night air, moving into apple, smooth florals, and warm spice, then settling into rich woods, creamy tonka, and sensual musks. Long-lasting trail, they say. Based on what I’m smelling today, they got it right.
The Formats
The release comes in four formats: shave soap, shave stick, aftershave splash, and Extrait de Parfum (EDP). Each one covers a different part of the routine. Today I’m using the soap and then going straight to the EDP after the shave - I’m heading out, and I want to smell good.
The Setup
For this shave I’m using HC&C’s stainless steel bowl. The ridges on it build up a great lather every time. The brush is my HC&C brush, which I’ve had for a couple of years. For the razor, the Henson AL13 in black aluminum. I wanted the black to match the Bond label, and I’ve got the black shirt on to go along with it.
I always use the AL13 when I’m trying a new soap. I know this razor. I know exactly how it shaves. That gives me a clean read on the soap without variables from an unfamiliar piece of gear getting in the way.
The Shave
The lather whipped up beautifully. A lot of residual slickness. A real lot. This soap is performing. I ran two full passes and didn’t need a third. Face came out smooth. High marks all around.
One thing worth knowing about HC&C and Pete’s process: he doesn’t rush it. When Pete’s working on a scent, he takes his time until it’s where he wants it. Then they batch it up - and he shaves with it. If the lather doesn’t perform, it goes back to the drawing board and a little more work. So when you pick up an HC&C soap, you’re getting something that went through that whole process. It’s not thrown together. There’s real work behind it.
The EDP
After the shave I went straight to the EDP instead of the aftershave splash. The way I use it: couple of sprays on each side of the neck, one in the middle. That’s it. That’s all you need. The EDP is excellent. Just outstanding.
You can absolutely layer the aftershave splash under the EDP if you want. I just wanted to get right into the EDP today.
Where to Get It
James Bond Starring in You Only Have Nine Lives is available now at Hendrix Classics. If you’ve got an order going to any of those stores, add this one to the list. I really think you’ll enjoy it.
Thanks for joining me today. If you haven’t subscribed to the channel yet, please do - it helps us out and you’ll get notified the next time we have a shave video. Until we gather again here in the shave den, happy shaving.