Panta Rei Mediterraneo: Shave Review with the Guido SS

Hello everyone. Welcome back for another shave. I’m checking out Mediterraneo by Panta Rei. I hope I’m pronouncing that right. Probably not, but we’ll roll with it.

A few weeks back I shaved with Marrakech, also by Panta Rei, which my buddy Brett sent over. Along with Marrakech, he threw in this one too, so now it’s time to give Mediterraneo a proper test. And here’s the thing: when I went looking for it online, it was hard to find. This very unique and very well-blended scent deserves to be stocked everywhere. I already had it lathered when we started filming, so the whole bathroom smells like this right now.

First impressions

Before I read through the scent notes, I want to give you my raw impression.

Looking at the label, I was expecting something fairly straightforward. Maybe a simple aquatic, a little citrusy, clean and fresh. But there’s more going on. There’s some citrus, yes, but there’s also this green freshness, something aquatic and pleasant. And then underneath, there’s a saltiness, and some kind of spicy, woody layer. It’s hard to explain because it’s quite unique. I don’t think it’s a dupe of anything I know. From what I can tell, Panta Rei does their own original scents. Very, very pleasant.

The scent notes

I had to translate these from the label, since these are hard to find and I couldn’t find them online with an English translation. Here’s what we have:

Mandarin, lavender, sage, pink pepper, nutmeg, ginger, guaiac wood, oakmoss, and tonka.

Now a lot clicks into place. The ginger, I think, is what’s adding that playful, green, fresh-spicy note. Lavender is in there, the oakmoss adds depth, and the guaiac wood and tonka read warm underneath. On paper this leans aquatic with darker, spicier layers supporting it. There are layers, and they work together really well.

Perfect for spring. Though my rule is: if you like a scent, wear it whenever you want. Some people pick their soap based on season or occasion, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if this came back in December, I’d use it in December.

The soap

Panta Rei soaps are vegan base. I loaded this one gently, with the brush just lightly damped, and it was already going within seconds. Based on my experience with Marrakech, I went with four sprays of water from my mister. The lather came together fast. I kept the structure low, going for something creamy rather than airy. Ten, maybe twelve seconds of loading, and that was it. A little goes a long way with this one.

After the shave, look at those peaks. Creamy, slick. If you prefer a low-structure lather, this soap is going to make you very happy.

I used my blue pearl brush, lathered in my Brousseau and Dov bowl. The brush is one of my favorite budget-friendly synthetics. Funny enough, the blue on it is a perfect match for the label.

Shaving with the Guido

For the razor, the Guido by Alpha Shaving and Stubble Meets Steel. This one took a break over the winter - I had other razors in heavier rotation - but I’m back to reaching for it more regularly now. Some of you have asked whether I’m keeping it. Yes. This one stays in the collection. It’s a fantastic razor.

Inside: a Persona Comfort Coated blade. Three days of growth, so I was overdue. The first pass was quiet. I didn’t say much because the scent was just so enjoyable to sit with. Sometimes you don’t need to fill the silence. Second pass went directly against the grain. BBS. There was even lather left over after both passes, which tells you how much this soap has to give.

I did catch a small pimple next to my lip on the second pass. Survived the first. Didn’t survive the second.

The post-shave splash

After the face wash, I reached for the matching Mediterraneo splash. Brett included this in the set too, and I needed his reminder - I’d started mixing up how the splash feels with other brands I’ve been trying.

Oh wow. With the splash, things get even better. More citrus, more freshness, and a sweetness comes through that wasn’t as obvious in the soap. This is what you want from a post-shave set. The splash finishes what the soap started. Absolutely fantastic. I really hope this comes back.

So that was it. Razor: the Guido by Alpha Shaving and Stubble Meets Steel. Blade: Persona Comfort Coated. Brush: my blue pearl synthetic. Bowl: Brousseau and Dov. Star of the shave: Mediterraneo by Panta Rei, soap and splash. This is a banger. If you see it come back in stock anywhere, especially somewhere that ships to North America, please let me know in the comments.

And make sure to check Brett’s review of the same set over at Make it a Great Shave (@makeitagreatshave). He describes the scent way better than I do - I’m just babbling here and doing my best. Big thanks to Brett for sharing this one. Can’t express the gratitude enough.

I’ll see you in the next video. Until then, stay safe.