About two weeks ago, I received a surprise package full of shaving paraphernalia. Interestingly, only one of the 40 items contained therein was known to me previously. I shall review the products I like in good time. The first is a little known shaving cream by St James of London.

Packaging: Very nice glass jar, and artwork I really like. The jar is quite heavy, giving the whole package a nice gravitas.

Texture: Creamy on the fluffy side, which is a pro, because the jar is not too wide. Loading a large brush is still simple enough

Scent: Highly individual. The cedar note is quite dominant, but there are hints of flowers and spices. A warm scent I really like a lot.

Latherability: Did I mention that this cream is advertised as a brushless one? And it works. Using a brush to create lather makes it literally explode. The resulting lather is firm, rich, and creamy. A little cream goes a long way, and the lather lasts a long time, even when slightly cold.

Cushion: Very good. Glide is also good. No complaints at all in this department.

Moisturising: More than sufficient. St James also offer an aftershave balm which I shall review shortly. It is not required, though.

Price: Ridiculously low. The going rate in the US seems to be USD 16. The price in GBP is even lower. Compared to what some self proclaimed artisans charge, this cream is a steal. For starters, it will blow the hyped Bomb out of the water single handedly.

Overall impression:  A seriously good cream at a killer price. If you want an alternative to Caraceni, here you go. Enjoy.