Reviews of Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum by Pinaud
Love it. It's a real trip into the 40s or 50s- out of the shower with a close shave.
Doesn't last like any kind of EdT (all bay rum is pretty fleeting), BUT it's got a lot more legs than many aftershaves. Could fight with an EdT so I have be careful what I wear it with.
Heavy duty dose of cinnamon and especially cloves. Heavy on the cloves.
A very good way to start off grumpy old "get off my lawn" kind of days.
Whenever I hear some referenced as "smelling like aftershave" this is the exact aftershave I think of.
Doesn't last like any kind of EdT (all bay rum is pretty fleeting), BUT it's got a lot more legs than many aftershaves. Could fight with an EdT so I have be careful what I wear it with.
Heavy duty dose of cinnamon and especially cloves. Heavy on the cloves.
A very good way to start off grumpy old "get off my lawn" kind of days.
Whenever I hear some referenced as "smelling like aftershave" this is the exact aftershave I think of.
Another Clubman Pinaud scent I love. It's not for everyone.
Being a somewhat older chap, I don't feel the need to be trendy or chic. This scent is full of bay rum and as well as loads of clove which dies down a bit after awhile. This one makes me feel like a solitary yachtsman on his adventures sailing between Caribbean islands. We all need to feel some adventure in our lives and this particular adventure doesn't cost an arm and a leg. These products are fun.
Being a somewhat older chap, I don't feel the need to be trendy or chic. This scent is full of bay rum and as well as loads of clove which dies down a bit after awhile. This one makes me feel like a solitary yachtsman on his adventures sailing between Caribbean islands. We all need to feel some adventure in our lives and this particular adventure doesn't cost an arm and a leg. These products are fun.
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Boozy spicy bay rum. That's about it!! Overwhelming to start with. settles down after 30 minutes. Not my style.
This aftershave/cologne has a very long history going back over a century in the West Indies. People in the Carribean routinely used (and still use) it. Apparently it was first created when sailors and pirates in the Carribean would mix bay leaves with rum (which they already had in abundance) and pour that over themselves as a cologne, to hide body odour due to being away at sea for months at a time. So this is technically as authentic as it gets if you want to smell like a pirate. To my nose, the opening smells a lot like bay leaves mixed with rum, lots of cloves, and a hint of cinnamon. Out of these, the rum and cloves in particular are pretty noticeable in the opening - and I enjoy the scent of both. As it dries down, the rum is dominant along with bay leaves (the cloves and cinnamon become more subdued). It's very old-fashioned and masculine, and suited more for winters than summers in my opinion. Sillage is moderate but leaning light (resembles the sillage of any eau de cologne), while longevity is pretty amazing for this type of fragrance on my skin at over 6 hours, and then as a skin scent for around 4 more hours. If using this right after shaving, it provides a very nice burning sensation to the face as well; in fact more than my other aftershaves. Overall this is quite enjoyable as an cologne and aftershave with quite a decent amount of lasting power (in fact it's basically a cologne; it lasts far more than my other aftershaves) and more old-fashioned (in a good way) than the modern "sport" aftershaves that all smell the same. The scent of this is so unique and it has a long heritage going back over 200 years, and a large bottle of this will cost you very little money. For these reasons this is one of my favourite colognes.
5/5
5/5
Those who know their Pinaud history will know that Édouard Pinaud himself never really made any of the Clubman line products that bear his name, and that those now plastic-bottled scents are typically favored in the US where they were originally created and marketed by the US branch of the original Ed Pinaud company out of NYC until it fell into the hands of American International Beauty Group, who holds it now. Lilac Vegetal is the only variety with a bona fide date (1880), but it's presumed this came out sometime in mid 20th century as an entry-level spin on the long-held bay rum tradition, as the real stuff imported from St. Thomas under various names was approaching designer prices post-WWII. It supposedly still contains "essence of bay tree and spices" but how authentic this is remains a mystery really, and for the asking price is doubtful. Outside of all this, it's a rather standard-smelling bay rum scent, fairly "reference" in regard to the usual cinnamon and clove that ends up in these kind of things, and is quite a respectful choice if all one wants is an after-shave splash or a few hours tops of scent projection. Everyone that knows bay rum who isn't a perfume hobbyist typically points to this stuff, so it succeeded in becoming the standard by which all others are judged, and most fondly remembered variety.
Much of Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum's sales are probably general Pinaud nostalgia, with a bit of curiosity for the younger folks that have began exploring antiquated toiletries in recent years; hipsters in particular being a boon to old products such as this remaining on the market. It's the prefect low-risk introduction to bay rum, the gateway so to speak, especially due to price. The scent itself opens with tons of thick cinnamon, clove, and only settles into the actual bay leaf upon dry down, meaning that it won't scare with too much bay out the gate like more niche varieties, or scream old spiced gumdrops with overbearing clove some varieties possess. The "rum" note is disturbingly synthetic as the stuff is made with SD alcohol (hence my suspicion about the bay itself), and when applied, that rubbing alcohol smell really comes through kind of harshly, making me shrivel in horror and wonder what I'm doing to myself. Final stages of this scent provide a pleasant if fleeting bay experience, with the cloves remaining to float off the top here and there until gone. If one layers this with a cadre of other bay rum goodies such as Castobell Porto bay rum soap, and any number of hair tonics, and beard oils found at upscale shaving outlets (for those who have facial hair), this can actually work in tandem to provide a concerted effort of bay rum that lasts the day.
If you're looking for a bay rum experience with longevity closer to an Eau de Toilette or even a cologne, forget it. Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum is no more potent than any Pinaud creation in those plastic tuns, and is best left to the bathroom vanity shelf. I've seen more adventurous folks try to bolster this with additional extract of bay tree, but again, that seems pointless for the additional cost and physical effort to make a $5 product smell like a $50 one. All told this is an after shave, despite what the packaging suggests. I really enjoy it, but I realize it's purpose and I don't try to make it into something it's not, although seeking out a more wearable bay rum isn't out of the question, as the note itself tends to end up in more abstract masculines anyway. In conclusion, this is a Pinaud after shave scented like bay rum, but not actual bay rum produced in the Virgin Islands, and not an actual bay rum-inspired fragrance made anywhere to be honest. It has all the hallmarks of a classic bay rum formula, and is only slightly weaker than real bay rum, which was never known to be a powerhouse to begin with, but will let you down if you expect it to stay with you longer than an hour, or be detectable at all longer than two. Four stars are given because it works brilliantly as a skin soother, which is the purpose of any after shave, but this score does not reflect it's merits as a fragrance. That's really all I can say about it. Cheers!
Much of Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum's sales are probably general Pinaud nostalgia, with a bit of curiosity for the younger folks that have began exploring antiquated toiletries in recent years; hipsters in particular being a boon to old products such as this remaining on the market. It's the prefect low-risk introduction to bay rum, the gateway so to speak, especially due to price. The scent itself opens with tons of thick cinnamon, clove, and only settles into the actual bay leaf upon dry down, meaning that it won't scare with too much bay out the gate like more niche varieties, or scream old spiced gumdrops with overbearing clove some varieties possess. The "rum" note is disturbingly synthetic as the stuff is made with SD alcohol (hence my suspicion about the bay itself), and when applied, that rubbing alcohol smell really comes through kind of harshly, making me shrivel in horror and wonder what I'm doing to myself. Final stages of this scent provide a pleasant if fleeting bay experience, with the cloves remaining to float off the top here and there until gone. If one layers this with a cadre of other bay rum goodies such as Castobell Porto bay rum soap, and any number of hair tonics, and beard oils found at upscale shaving outlets (for those who have facial hair), this can actually work in tandem to provide a concerted effort of bay rum that lasts the day.
If you're looking for a bay rum experience with longevity closer to an Eau de Toilette or even a cologne, forget it. Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum is no more potent than any Pinaud creation in those plastic tuns, and is best left to the bathroom vanity shelf. I've seen more adventurous folks try to bolster this with additional extract of bay tree, but again, that seems pointless for the additional cost and physical effort to make a $5 product smell like a $50 one. All told this is an after shave, despite what the packaging suggests. I really enjoy it, but I realize it's purpose and I don't try to make it into something it's not, although seeking out a more wearable bay rum isn't out of the question, as the note itself tends to end up in more abstract masculines anyway. In conclusion, this is a Pinaud after shave scented like bay rum, but not actual bay rum produced in the Virgin Islands, and not an actual bay rum-inspired fragrance made anywhere to be honest. It has all the hallmarks of a classic bay rum formula, and is only slightly weaker than real bay rum, which was never known to be a powerhouse to begin with, but will let you down if you expect it to stay with you longer than an hour, or be detectable at all longer than two. Four stars are given because it works brilliantly as a skin soother, which is the purpose of any after shave, but this score does not reflect it's merits as a fragrance. That's really all I can say about it. Cheers!
One of the sexiest scents that my hubby wears! Highly recommended gentlemen's scent that I wish more men would splash on in my corner of the universe....LOL!
A watery bay rum that isn't terrible, but also isn't inspiring. Dirt cheap, which is a good thing, but if I'd been able to sample this first, I wouldn't have bought it.
Not sure what this has to do with pirates or islands because it smells exactly like the glaze you apply to a sugar ham during the holidays. Nothing wrong with that, smells really good. Doesn't last long, maybe an hour or two but projects nicely during that time. Interestingly, it does reemerge with some heat or sweat after the scent seems to be gone hours later.
Ahh, Bay Rum an ageless manly scent, for sure. OK, it's fairly short lived, like every other true Bay Rum scent I have tried. This one is quite spicy with cinnamon and clove notes. I truly love this juice.
It is inexpensive, which elevates it above some other fine Bay Rums in my eyes. As an aftershave it is lightly scented compared to EDTs or EDCs. I like it fine stock, but; do doctor mine up some. I add about 1/8 ounce of bay leaf essential oil (pimento rasimosa bay not laurel bay) to each 12 ounce bottle. That brings up the bay note a couple clicks to compete very well with the longer lasting spice notes. I also apply it liberally to the face and chest. Bay EO is a good treatment for the scalp. A little splash there too? What the heck, it works very well as a hair tonic as well. It garners compliments and check out visits.
At $10 a bottle (~$11.50 with the EO) it's very inexpensive to enjoy this one. And I most certainly do. A true gem for me.
It is inexpensive, which elevates it above some other fine Bay Rums in my eyes. As an aftershave it is lightly scented compared to EDTs or EDCs. I like it fine stock, but; do doctor mine up some. I add about 1/8 ounce of bay leaf essential oil (pimento rasimosa bay not laurel bay) to each 12 ounce bottle. That brings up the bay note a couple clicks to compete very well with the longer lasting spice notes. I also apply it liberally to the face and chest. Bay EO is a good treatment for the scalp. A little splash there too? What the heck, it works very well as a hair tonic as well. It garners compliments and check out visits.
At $10 a bottle (~$11.50 with the EO) it's very inexpensive to enjoy this one. And I most certainly do. A true gem for me.
I really like the clove-y-ness of this one and so does my wife.
I can see how it might be too much for some, but I like my bay rum clove-y.
Two negatives, though:
Longevity is mediocre at a solid 4-6 hours.
Also my last bottle got really wonky toward the end with a stronger musk-y scent than it originally had. Maybe I was imagining it.
I can see how it might be too much for some, but I like my bay rum clove-y.
Two negatives, though:
Longevity is mediocre at a solid 4-6 hours.
Also my last bottle got really wonky toward the end with a stronger musk-y scent than it originally had. Maybe I was imagining it.
Reminds me of fireball gobstoppers..i can picture pirates wearing this with the rough and raw ingrediants they may of had to work with at the time. The plastic bottle has sort of spoilt my fragrance tho or is it the scent itself because i get an off putting rubbery note. Wouldnt be a bad one to wear in the colder months as a quick splash and go.
It's like the Ghost of Christmas Present in Dickens' story. Rotund, jolly, and with a lesson to teach. And like that ghost, it's not one to be written-off lightly. A whiff from the bottle is a glorious train wreck. But it's much better on the dry-down as the cinnamon and cloves are balanced a bit more by the bay leaf scent. I love it as a splash, and the great thing is that the sillage isn't that long-lasting, so you can douse yourself amply and love it. It's a barbershop stroll down memory lane in a great, wholesome way. Get yourself some, catch an island breeze, and enjoy.
Just the bottle and label alone evoke fond memories of being a young boy sitting cross-legged on the bathroom counter and intently watching my grandfather's every move as he methodically went through the machinations of his daily early morning wet-shave ritual.
Every time when he was done carefully shaving and then cleaning the straight razor, along with the lathering cup and brush, he would look at himself in the mirror while stroking his cheeks to check for any missed spots while reaching for the clear glass bottle of Edouard Pinaud's CLUBMAN VIRGIN ISLAND BAY RUM Aftershave Splash and proceed to douse his face, neck and chest with a couple of healthy handfuls of the stuff.
With his hands still dripping of this beautifully spicy and exotic, bay tree filled far-away-tropical-paradise smelling after shave, he would then rub my cheeks, the top of my ears and head with the excess and I would smell just like grandpa's aftershave all day long...and I absolutely loved it. I reveled in it then and deeply cherish the memory today.
So imagine my shear delight when I recently came across this classic product...I purchased the larger 12oz size bottle, which looks almost exactly like the bottle from almost 50 years ago except it's now a shatter-proof plastic instead of the thicker glass bottle it used to be packaged in. Ok, I can live with that, being more safety-conscious in today's world.
But the real test was what was inside that bottle...did it look the same with that lighter yet rich looking brown color?
YES...the color and overall look is exactly the same as I remember it from almost 50 years ago. So far, so good.
Did it feel the same with its silky smooth texture along with its unique soothing, cooling and refreshing tingle?
ALMOST...it seems to be lighter-bodied now with hardly any cooling sensation, though it is still quite soothing and refreshing.
And most importantly, did it smell the same with it's heady exotically spicy base along with its subtle yet very punchy combination essences of bay tree, clove and a hint of pepper and cinnamon?
Sadly, NO...it did NOT. It is now a shadow of its former self sidelined by a complete lack of balanced pungency or striking character...its now WAY too clove-heavy with very little essence of bay tree (which is similar to clove but exhibits much different sillage on dry down) and virtually zero cinnamon oil or Peruvian black pepper emanating from today's formulation.
It's a perfectly acceptable and wearable "old school" type of scent that's perfect for running weekend errands or a casual mid-afternoon lunch with a current or former lover, but do NOT expect to get the same product formulation as 50 years ago...it's now seemingly a MUCH different, almost unrecognizable after shave than that of the original.
Every time when he was done carefully shaving and then cleaning the straight razor, along with the lathering cup and brush, he would look at himself in the mirror while stroking his cheeks to check for any missed spots while reaching for the clear glass bottle of Edouard Pinaud's CLUBMAN VIRGIN ISLAND BAY RUM Aftershave Splash and proceed to douse his face, neck and chest with a couple of healthy handfuls of the stuff.
With his hands still dripping of this beautifully spicy and exotic, bay tree filled far-away-tropical-paradise smelling after shave, he would then rub my cheeks, the top of my ears and head with the excess and I would smell just like grandpa's aftershave all day long...and I absolutely loved it. I reveled in it then and deeply cherish the memory today.
So imagine my shear delight when I recently came across this classic product...I purchased the larger 12oz size bottle, which looks almost exactly like the bottle from almost 50 years ago except it's now a shatter-proof plastic instead of the thicker glass bottle it used to be packaged in. Ok, I can live with that, being more safety-conscious in today's world.
But the real test was what was inside that bottle...did it look the same with that lighter yet rich looking brown color?
YES...the color and overall look is exactly the same as I remember it from almost 50 years ago. So far, so good.
Did it feel the same with its silky smooth texture along with its unique soothing, cooling and refreshing tingle?
ALMOST...it seems to be lighter-bodied now with hardly any cooling sensation, though it is still quite soothing and refreshing.
And most importantly, did it smell the same with it's heady exotically spicy base along with its subtle yet very punchy combination essences of bay tree, clove and a hint of pepper and cinnamon?
Sadly, NO...it did NOT. It is now a shadow of its former self sidelined by a complete lack of balanced pungency or striking character...its now WAY too clove-heavy with very little essence of bay tree (which is similar to clove but exhibits much different sillage on dry down) and virtually zero cinnamon oil or Peruvian black pepper emanating from today's formulation.
It's a perfectly acceptable and wearable "old school" type of scent that's perfect for running weekend errands or a casual mid-afternoon lunch with a current or former lover, but do NOT expect to get the same product formulation as 50 years ago...it's now seemingly a MUCH different, almost unrecognizable after shave than that of the original.
Barbershop to the core This is one of the best Bay Rums in the value/price ratio score, some bay rums are way too expensive for what you get (Royall, Caribbean Imported, Saint John's, Dominica Imported, West Indies, etc) while Pinaud gives you a great value for a very inexpensive price. Take note that a said "one of the best" because for me, Ogallala offers a better product than Pinaud. Regardless, this is an excellent Bay Rum and deserves respect. 4.5 stars only because the 5 stars belongs to Ogallala.Pros: PriceCons: Too much cloves and too loud.
Rum, spice, cinnamon, a bit of rum. Classic and with a bit of a Christmas feel. Agreeable and excellent value. Good projection.
Pinaud's Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum is a bay rum in name, mostly, and it shares some things in common with the real deal. However, to my nose, there's little to no bay in there. VIBR is a nicely balanced, warm-spice combo of primarily cinnamon and clove that goes on smelling like gingerbread cookies. After drydown, it's the clove oil that lingers longest, providing an all-day slighty spicy, slightly antiseptic smell. That sounds worse than it is, really, since the lingering aroma just smells "clean", with a little spice.
If you want a real, classic, green-herbal-spice bay rum, go with Dominica. If you want a vanilla-spicy version, or want your bay rum enhanced with other essential oils, Ogallala is your brand. I still wear VIBR, though, because even more than the original Clubman, this is Barbershop in a Bottle. And there are worse things in the world than going through your day smelling well-groomed.
If you want a real, classic, green-herbal-spice bay rum, go with Dominica. If you want a vanilla-spicy version, or want your bay rum enhanced with other essential oils, Ogallala is your brand. I still wear VIBR, though, because even more than the original Clubman, this is Barbershop in a Bottle. And there are worse things in the world than going through your day smelling well-groomed.
Smells like a batch of freshly baked gingerbread cookies, doused in cloves, and cinnamon. Also reminds me of Christmas and those cinnamon hard candies from Brach's.
How amazing this would be in an EDT spray or perfume.
How amazing this would be in an EDT spray or perfume.
There are numerous Bay Rum Incarnations around, I however went for a Pinaud creation as they have a touch of class. Yes I agree that the Cloves take over this Fragrance, but it has a kick that I love that interacts with these Cold Winter Days and Nights. It last on me up to 6 hours and Projects very well. You can buy this for £9.00 if you know where to look. Well worth getting and a little treasure.
Rating: 7/10
Rating: 7/10
Spicy! CLOVES!!! Cinnamon. I still have personal uncertainties about this one. I think it inoffensive and after an hour it is less edgy. At present, it fits well as a jeans/flannel or dobby shirt/wide plain leather belt/chukka or field shoe scent. I don't smell it a lot on others but I would not use this as a signature scent.
You can't go wrong with a good Bay Rum, and Pinaud's is good. Not great, but definitely good. It's spicy, and a good strength, but not overdone, and the drydown lingers with notes of cinnamon leaf and musk along with spicy bay leaves. There are others I prefer (Caribbean, Royall Bay Rhum, Dominica), but there's nothing wrong with Pinaud's, and it's quite inexpensive.Hint: I decanted mine into a glass bottle instead of leaving it in the original plastic, and after several days noticed an improvement in the fragrance --- I suspect there are compounds in the plastic that interact with the alcohol.
Cloves. Lots of Cloves. Cinnamon. A bit of that too. Stir them together with some rubbing alcohol and you'd have a good interpretation of this. Not really that bad. I had some on and if there is any drydown all I ever smelled was cloves. It just tapers off. Cloves give a nice warm feel. This would be good to wear in winter.
I found a bottle of this stuff in my local drug store. Gotta say, I wasn't expecting much when I took it home. However, it's a surprisingly nice scent of the "spicy" variety. Unfortunately, it has far too much cinnamon for my taste and it overpowers the other notes. On the other hand, the dry down brings out the subtle scent of cloves and a few notes I admittedly can't recognize. It's also a great bargain, considering I got 12 oz/355 mL (yes, you read that right; it's a large plastic bottle) for $8.In short, if you can get past the strong cinnamon opening, you'll find the dry down quite pleasant. Not a formal or office wear fragrance by a long shot, but if you would like a summer scent that cuts through the ubiquity of "aquatic" frags, you could do worse.
This one is kind of strong at first. Not necessarily in a good way, either. Like a bunch of cookies or something. I was a bit worried, until it dried into great spice and bay notes buttressed by the sweetness that seems to be standard in Pinauds. There's something I can't quite distinguish in this, perhaps a hint of woodiness. But what it comes down to is that It's refreshing, spicy, and neither young nor old, so it'll work for pretty much anyone. I think this is a great classic that shouldn't scare off people my age, who are terrified of "smelling like dad." When everyone is wearing the same fruity androgynous synthetic fragrances, sometimes the best way to stand out is to go back to something like this.