Wild Fox Rituals Ethereal Spring: Shaving with the Karve Bison AL
Good to be back in my own bathroom. Good light, mic is on, so the audio should be decent today. And I’ve got Kim’s spring limited edition from Wild Fox Rituals to shave with, so let’s get into it.
The Setup
Kim is a Canadian artisan out of Calgary, Alberta. She’s been at it for about a year now, not brand new anymore but still one of the newer voices in the hobby. Ethereal Spring is her second limited edition release. The label design is noticeably different from her regular lineup, more elaborate, and it comes with a matching aftershave gel.
For the setup today I wanted to stay matchy-matchy with the purple on the label. I’ve got my Trotter with a regular Muhle STF knot. The purple details on the brush are a nice complement, you’ll see it in the light. Razor is the Karve Bison AL in the Never Alone 4 edition. The color on that handle works well with what Kim has going on with the label. Happy with this combination.
The Scent
The label lists the notes as berries, sage, magnolia, lime leaf, and vetiver. From what Kim shared when she was talking about this release, there’s more going on in the full scent profile, so I’ll drop that list in the corner of the video.
I have a lot to say about this scent. A lot. This may be my new number one from Wild Fox. Fresh Forest has been holding that spot since I first tried it, but Ethereal Spring is coming for it.
When I open this jar, it immediately sends me back to my childhood. My grandparents had a place outside of town with a little area full of berry bushes. Me and my cousins would run around picking them when they were ripe, just eating them off the vine. That’s exactly where this scent takes me. Instant transport. Really, really something.
What I’m getting off the top is sweetness. There’s clearly more than one type of berry in here, because there are layers to that sweetness, it doesn’t read as flat. Underneath there’s something a little green and woody with a hint of spice to it, but it stays fresh. Sweet and fresh. That’s the best shorthand I’ve got.
Here’s what I also have to say: this is the strongest soap scent I’ve smelled out of the container from Wild Fox Rituals, full stop. I actually mentioned to Kim early on, when she was starting out, that a little more scent strength would go a long way for most of us in the hobby. She delivered. You open this and it hits you immediately. I’ve had it sitting with me for a few days and I keep picking it up to smell it. Multiple times a day. Really, really good work.
Lathering
Kim’s soap is soft, so scooping is easy. If you prefer brush loading, you won’t need to work long. The lather comes together quickly and doesn’t need much water to get there either. Her base is very beginner-friendly. If you’re trying bowl lathering for the first time, this is a great soap to start with because you’re going to get lather no matter what. It’s a solid safety net.
I spread a generous scoop in my bowl, laid it thin and even on the bottom, hit it with the sprayer, and a few swirls in I’ve got a creamy, luxurious lather going. As it builds I’m getting a bit more woodiness and green freshness coming through. Maybe the lime leaf, maybe something else from the fuller note list. The scent carries right into the lather. No drop-off.
One thing worth mentioning before I get to the face: both the soap and the gel come in matching limited edition packaging. Cool touch from Kim. Her base is vegan, and she works with natural ingredients where possible. Good to have that option.
Fair warning on the scent profile: this reads unisex to me. If you like it, you wear it. But if sweet scents aren’t your thing, or berries specifically don’t appeal to you, maybe sit this one out. For me, it’s an easy yes.
I should also mention I won this set from the giveaway Kim ran with the launch. She does a giveaway with each limited edition. The Christmas release was the first one, this spring release is the second. Keep an eye on her Instagram if you want a shot at the next one.
The Shave
Karve Bison AL, Never Alone 4 edition, loaded with a Gillette Silver Blue blade. First pass with the grain. The lather is right where I want it, thick and creamy, slickness is excellent. Within a minute the whole bathroom smells like Ethereal Spring. I’m also getting something cedary in there, which pairs beautifully with the berry side of the scent. Didn’t expect that but I like it.
Second pass against the grain. I’m just in it at this point. Three days of growth, which was about a day overdue. The razor handles it clean. It’s hard not to stop, turn off your brain, and just enjoy it. Excellent, excellent shave. Congrats, Kim. Right in my ballpark.
Plenty of lather left in the bowl and brush when I’m done. Skin feels great after the rinse.
The Aftershave Gel
I want to highlight a design update on the gel because it’s a real improvement over the previous version. The old one was easy to break or get into a stuck, solid state where it stopped dispensing properly. Not great. This new one has a locking ring on the pump. You turn it to lock, you turn it to unlock. It’s clearly marked with an arrow. That’s it. Throw it in your bag locked and it won’t leak. Simple and effective.
When you unlock it and press, it dispenses a very generous amount of gel. Very. Use less than you think you need. I put way more on than necessary and it still absorbed fast, but start small.
The scent on the gel matches the soap well. There’s a light tingle on the skin and it absorbs quickly. The dry down is where it gets interesting: more cedary, with a fresh green note that comes in and starts to balance out the berry sweetness. Put your hand up to your face after it dries and you’ll catch it. Really nice dry down. Excellent work, Kim. That’s a banger.
Where to Find It
Kim had this one on her website and Stone Field Shaving. I’ll leave links to all the spots in the video description. Not sure if it’s still available, but if the scent profile sounds right for you, it’s worth checking.
She also released another limited edition called Arctic Fox, and from what she mentioned, she’s looking to bring back a regular version of that one too. More to look forward to from Wild Fox Rituals.
Thanks for watching. Hope this helps, and happy shaving.