Hair & Body
Partner Profile: Truefitt & Hill
For as long as man has been grooming himself his worth and class were largely implied by his look — the way he carried and presented himself. In an age when indoor plumbing was a luxury, only the gentry could afford to be clean shaven and well groomed on a regular basis, and none set a higher standard for their clientele than Truefitt & Hill of London.
Truefitt & Hill was established in 1805, back when King George III sat on England’s throne and Nelson won the battle of Trafalgar, and they remain the world’s oldest operating barbershop. Pick up a classic British novel, and you might just see them mentioned as an example of superior grooming services and products. The likes of Charles Dickens and other famed authors have committed the name to paper for posterity, because they are recognized as a symbol of superior male grooming. Truefitt customers have included Sinatra, Oscar Wilde, Fred Astaire, and just about every male member of the royal family in the past two centuries — just to name a few. The have touched every aspect of English High Society.
With over two centuries of grooming expertise, it comes as no shock that Truefitt & Hill have used that time to develop amazing, some might say superior, products. From shaving lotions and lathers, to fine fragrances, their products have been carefully designed by barbers to give you a truly luxurious experience. Despite being in the industry for so long, Truefitt & Hill continues to innovate and release new products of the same high-quality that they have always been known for. Their fragrances may all draw from English tradition, but their formulas incorporate the latest and best technology available, giving them unbeatable performance.
With so many great products, it can be hard to make a choice. Here are a few of our favourites:
Sandalwood Shaving Cream and Aftershave Balm
Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood is masculine in all the right ways. Best described as a youthful update on English tradition, this is a unique take on a classic sandalwood fragrance by London’s oldest barbershop. It’s base of musk and tonka bean is well complimented by a hint of bergamot, lemon and lime.
Truefitt shaving cream holds water well and gets a rich lather, perfect for those shavers who need a little more protection and glide. Their aftershave balms are designed to hydrate dry skin following the shave, and provide a lingering fragrance that lasts an hour or two, while also soothing minor irritation. I find that using both together leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth, and the lingering sandalwood scent always draws compliments.
1805 Cologne
Originally inspired by a perfume of theirs from the 1850s, 1805 celebrates Truefitt & Hill’s first year in business. Fragrances of the era were fresh and oceanic, driving the perfumer to use mandarin and clary sage for the seaside notes.1805 retains its grounded English personality with a base of wood and musk.
While classic scents will always have a place in my heart, I find a lot of them overly strong or powdery. This isn’t the case with 1805. It’s a balanced scent, both light yet masculine and it has the perfect intensity to be worn around other people.
Beard Oil and Beard Balm
These are some of the most effective softening and conditioning beard products out there. Unlike many beard products, Truefitt & Hill’s are fast absorbing thanks to jojoba and avocado oil, which moisturize the skin and soften up coarse beard hair. Shea butter and beeswax in the balm allow for the ability to softly shape the beard and moustache with a light hold. Both products have refreshing, relaxing scents that compliment each other well.
There you have it — the legendary Truefitt & Hill. While other high-end brands may offer comparable performance, there is a special quality about T&H that sends me back in time. A large part of why I love them is the feeling of being instantly transported into a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel, minus the murdery drama.
