Fougére SOTD:
- Razor: Gillette Red Tip
- Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium
- Brush: Summer Break Kearney B10
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Picture Day
- Aftershave: Summer Break Soaps - Picture Day
- Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Contemplation
Ladies and gentlemen, the byline for today's theme is "fern-centric scents, yet we are told that the ferniest of ferny scents do not fit today's theme, but other scents that smell nothing like fern might fit. The category of fougére can be broad and loose in many descriptions, so the need for some guidelines is necessary. However, I move that the byline be rewritten in the future, because although fougére means fern, there is much more to this scent family then that. Now, MAYBE, I'm just salty because I didn't read the materials in advance, but in my defense, it is my lazy time of year. (Seriously, glad I listened to the podcast, thanks guys!)
Now I ask that we change our focus to the important part of today's case.
Luckily my den allowed me to easily pivot to another fougère that I am very familiar with. One that falls firmly within this category's. Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking that my laziness kicked in and I copy and pasted my barbershop shave and forgot to change what I used. Others probably just think I've lost it, which to be fair, is probably true. However, if I have gone crazy it is certainly not on this point. Not only is Picture Day a barbershop scent, but also a fougére. It is clearly listed as such on the product page. It just never seemed to get much attention as such.
Picture Day is our take on a classic fougére. The transition from bergamot and lavender to the spicy and creamy oakmoss, to the sweet and woody base notes provides an excellent fougére experience. pairfum.com explains that a classic fougére contains lavender, bergamot, geranium, coumarin, oakmoss, and vetiver. With the exception of geranium and vetiver (keep in mind coumarin is derived from tonka beans) Picture Day isn't just a loose interpretation, its actually a pretty faithful take on a classic fougére, one that just leans woodsy, which is not at all uncommon amongst fougéres.
I know what you're thinking, okay, that's a pretty compelling case, and a meh shit post, BUT you can't just retroactively decide that a discontinued scent fits a category, even if it is clearly right there on the actual products page. Well friend, I agree, that wouldn't really work no matter how much I want my precious point for the day If only there were time stamped pieces of evidence I could point to to support my case that Picture Day has been considered fougére for more than a few hours…
I'd like to enter this FB post into evidence. Here I am as a baby 2 month old artisan, but not new scent maker, describing a scent that I had just released that fit into an event the East Coast Wet Shavers group was doing.
I'd like to enter this Reddit exchange into evidence. Here is u/colt_45s_with_lando 3.5 years ago independently noting that he sees Picture Day as a fougére and myself agreeing with him.
Additionally, I also know for a fact I had this discussion with ~~resident pain in the ass~~ esteemed former judge u/jeffm54321; however, that must have been on IRC because I couldn't find it on Reddit.
Gentlemen of the judges panel, you will see that I have proven that the scent notes in Picture Day are consistent with a fougére. I have proven that the experience of smelling and wearing Picture Day is consistent with fougére. That I am not the only one who independently came to that conclusion. Finally, I have proven that the talented creator of this scent has considered it a fougére from the very beginning. Clearly, there is only 1 decision you can make in your deliberation, only 1 decision that the evidence leads to, only 1 decision that will allow you to sleep tonight.
Defense rests.