Shaving and beard care in London
If you are in London, it is worth visiting the famous classic barbershops in the St. James's district. A new world will open up for you. The world of Britishness, tradition, and timeless elegance.
In this neighborhood, you still encounter the typical British gentleman with his unmistakable umbrella and bowler hat. Here you find the best restaurants, tailors, and world-famous barbershops. These barbershops all have their own range of shaving soaps, aftershave balms, beard care, shaving brushes, razors, and fantastic colognes and men's perfumes.
Truefitt & Hill
Near Buckingham Palace on St. James's Street, you enter the oldest barbershop in the world, Truefitt & Hill. This fantastic brand has existed since 1805. Famous clients of Truefitt and Hill included Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, Montgomery, Oscar Wilde, Hitchcock, John Wayne, Fred Astaire, and Cary Grant.
The period around their launch was rich in international events, hence "Trafalgar" is used as a brand name. Apsley, Graton, and Mayfair, on the other hand, pay tribute to London neighborhoods, and their 1805 range recalls their founding year.
DR Harris
Let's now walk back into the street, three short minutes and here we are, still on St. James's Street, in front of Dr. Harris. This shop looks more like a drugstore-pharmacy than a barber (let's not forget this was the official pharmacy of Queen Elizabeth II!), but the shaving soap with five different scents and iconic perfumes leave no doubt: this is a must for traditional shaving, just like the Three T's.
The shop was recently expanded (long overdue since 1790!) to make the experience more enjoyable. The woodwork remains a highlight of this unique apothecary.
Signature scents include Arlington (named after the street directly opposite!), Marlborough (a little further along), and Windsor, a more recent tribute to the royal family but already a top favorite. Their sandalwood is also a staple!
Taylor of Old Bond Street
Let's step outside for some fresh air. We turn right and then immediately right again into Jermyn Street. Within two minutes, before we know it, we're at Taylor of Old Bond Street. Taylor (often called TOBS), founded in 1854 during Queen Victoria's reign in London, is a family business now run by the third generation. What we love about Taylor is the breadth of their product range; their shop is an institution for everything related to grooming, shaving, and skin and hair care for men.
But the real flagship of this London perfumer is the shaving cream. A true pillar of the traditional shaving market, every self-respecting bathroom should have at least one jar. There are no fewer than 17 scents available; the choice is vast but always of high quality. A proper English shave would not be complete without a Taylor shaving cream! Jermyn Street and Sandalwood are their bestsellers.
Floris
Leave the Taylor boutique and turn right. Still on Jermyn Street, you will find Floris at number 89. In 1730, Juan Famenias Floris, originally from Menorca, opened his barbershop and toiletries store. At the end of the 18th century, his son Robert developed the original formula for his first perfume: Limes, which would later become iconic. In 1818, King George IV granted the first of the 20 Royal Warrants (Official Royal Supplier) that the House would retain throughout its history. This Warrant is still visible on the facade.
Even before you step inside, you are greeted by the light, fresh, exotic, reassuring, and warm scent that draws you into the shop. Dark Spanish mahogany cabinets, acquired during Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Great Exhibition in 1851, adorn the walls of this shop, which will soon celebrate its 300th anniversary. The heart of the perfumery is the perfume counter, dating from the same period. It is the centerpiece of every visit to Jermyn Street, as here you will find nearly 300 years of artisanal perfumery expertise, passed down from generation to generation. While seated at the table, one of their highly trained perfume experts can take you through the olfactory experience of Floris.
If you venture a little further into the back room of 89 Jermyn Street, you'll discover a true treasure trove that testifies to 290 years of perfume history. Here they have gathered a selection of their most valuable archives: from original royal documents from 1820 and family letters to photos, correspondence from famous clients, original bottles, and original handmade equipment.
Geo F. Trumper
We could be wrong, at Duke of York Street, but I'll take you to Curzon Street. Yes, it's a 10-minute walk, but you'll see. When you step into the GEO. F. Trumper barbershop on Curzon Street, you immediately feel like you've entered another era. Time seems to have stood still in this men's barbershop. The courteous and impeccably dressed staff, the aromas of sandalwood, warm spices, and musk, the beautifully stacked glass bottles, shaving brushes and creams, the mahogany shelves and polished glass cabinets – all of this makes a visit to this salon much more than an ordinary shopping experience.
This charming establishment was founded in 1875 by George Trumper and still upholds many traditions. Customers who get their hair cut or beard shaved are guided to the back of the shop, where private cabins with curtains await them. All of this contributes to the luxurious atmosphere of a men's barbershop that has received a royal warrant from every monarch since Queen Victoria. And it's not just members of the royal family who visit the shop, as Her Majesty's most famous agent, James Bond played by Ian Fleming, wears Eucris cologne, the iconic scent of the London barber.
Another classic in its arsenal is sandalwood. Geo F. Trumper knows how to enhance this sweet, woody scent with a touch of citrus, giving it a completely new character. The most special feature of a Geo F. Trumper fragrance is that it has a familiar scent, even if you've never smelled it before; it takes you to a place of great comfort and fits like a tailored suit – from Savile Row, of course.
At the heart of a Geo. F. Trumper fragrance, you usually find a very limited number of ingredients, but of exceptional quality. This makes them not only recognizable but also very pure and timeless.
