Sangria Nocturne: The Shave Mercantile's New Aftershave

Howdy, and welcome back to A Texan Shaves. Quick shave before bed tonight. Figured I’d record it. Why not? Especially since it’s a new one to the den.

From The Shave Mercantile: Sangria Nocturne. And I am really looking forward to this one.

Sangria Nocturne

Here’s how they describe it:

When lights go low, Sangria Nocturne begins to speak. Dark fruits, citrus, velvety warm and smooth red wine comes together with a scent made for the hours after sunset. Rich and slightly indulgent, it carries a blooming sweetness that feels more intimate than playful. Balanced by a warm depth that stays close without overwhelming. There’s something unmistakably nighttime about it. Smooth, relaxed, a little dangerous in the right way.

Had to smell it again after I read that.

This wasn’t made for bright afternoons or loud attention. Late evenings, dim light, lingering conversation, moments that make you lean in a little closer. That’s what this is for.

I’m not a wine drinker. Diabetes takes care of that for me these days. But I enjoy a good sangria because of what the fruit does to it. That combination is already coming off the soap as I’m loading the brush. The fragrance just opens right up. Fantastic.

The Hardware

A couple of new items on the hardware side tonight.

The razor is the Shield Titan Elite Titanium DE. Can’t remember the handle name off the top of my head, but it’s a really unique polygon shape. Feels great in the hand. There’s something about the weight and the balance that just works. I’ve used it at least three times for head shaves. First face shave with it tonight. Man, this thing gives a fantastic shave. I’m not usually one to switch razors around - I tend to stick with what works - but this one’s won me over pretty quick.

For the brush, I’ve got a new one from Opus. You’ve probably seen him post these. This is his new basket weave design with a cobra on the bottom. Really like this handle. Nice feel, good weight in the hand. I set it with a Frank Shaving 26mm Manchurian silver tip, completely untreated. I am in love with this knot. It might be replacing my favorite Maggard’s SHD, and that’s saying something. Something about the way it holds water, the backbone, the way it loads the soap - I’m really, really enjoying it.

The Shave

The lather came together beautifully. This is what I wanted to talk about first with Shave Mercantile soaps - they just perform. I took some of the runoff from the side of the tub and rubbed it into my face like a pre-shave. That fragrance just opens right up. Very calming. For a just-before-bed shave, this is the right scent. Very smooth, very velvety, like they say.

Had about two days of growth tonight. Maybe more. Looking at what came off the razor, probably more than I thought. Went three passes. Got lost in the shave a couple of times. Honest. Very easy to do when the soap is this good and the hardware’s clicking.

I did give myself a few weepers in one spot, my own fault. Going in too aggressive instead of being methodical. It catches up with me every time. Nothing irritating, just impatience. That’s on me, not the soap. The soap was slick. Outstanding. Never been disappointed with a Shave Mercantile soap, and tonight is no different.

The whole experience - the fragrance, the lather quality, the way it feels on the face - it’s built for this. A slow shave before bed. You’re not rushing. You’re settling in.

The Real News: The Splash

This is what I really wanted to get to.

They’ve put out an aftershave toner - a splash. And this is something new from Shave Mercantile. I’m really glad they did it, because their soaps are so solid that I’ve been wanting to see them complete the experience with a finish.

Here’s the thing: it’s milky, which I wasn’t expecting. The fragrance is there. I’m getting the wine and the citrus from what they list. But there’s something else in here, something a bit darker, that they don’t specifically call out in the notes. Can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s wonderful, whatever it is. This isn’t a knock at their description - some things just don’t need a name. You smell it and you either dig it or you don’t.

The splash itself is very smooth, very mild. Not heavy at all. Won’t announce you when you walk into a room. It’s intimate. Close. This is an “after the evening winds down” fragrance, and the splash leans right into that. The kind of thing you wear when you’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re just settling in for the night.

It’s not going to project to the next room. It’s not going to cling to everything you touch. That’s exactly what makes it work for a bedtime shave. Something you’re going to want somebody right up on you to smell. Personal. That’s not a knock at all. I love that about it. It’s noticeable. I’m not saying you have to hunt for it. It’s just very moderate. Very close.

The soothing aspect is real. I can already tell this is going to be great for sweet dreams tonight. I’ll know more once it dries down and I get a better read on the skin feel, but the first impression is solid.

The Takeaway

If you haven’t tried Shave Mercantile, give it a go. Fantastic prices, excellent soap, and now there’s a splash worth having. The combination of the two is exactly what the description promises: smooth, relaxed, a little intimate. Everything designed to work together.

Find your peace in what and where you can. We’ll see you next time. Good night.