One of the things i love about reading your pieces here is that I was cleaning the house, but now I’m about to grab the bottle of Pitralon that was just sitting around somewhere and that I havent touched for years, curious to smell it again as if it was the first time!
After you spoke about Pitralon a few years back, I got two-after shaves among the different offerings on their webpage. One has the same red-ball face as what is now called the "original", and the other is the "pure" (which, the website says, is called original in Austria.). Both leave the impression you describe. The "pure", which the bottle says is "fur richtige Manner" (with proper Umlaut, of course), is a touch more affable and closer to the classic fougere after shaves (those Austrians must be less serious than the Germans).. The red ball one more clearly belongs to a medical room, but tries to hide its origin under a cherry cough drop.
Both after shaves are described on the box to have a soft and persistent scent (dezent-anhaltenden Duft).
I remember Pitralon from my teenage days in the former Yugoslavia. It was one of the few aftershaves available, and its distinct black and red packaging is unforgettable. The scent was everywhere, and it was so sticky and unpleasant on the skin. During my time in the Yugoslav People's Army, soldiers would sometimes even drink it when they ran out of real alcohol—quite a memorable product in many ways!
On the topic of Knize Ten, has it been ruined lately? I did not detect any mousse de saxe nor birch tar, instead a powdery orange blossom. Am I missing something?
Dear Luca, Manufactum still offers Pitralon and particularly the version manufactured in Switzerland. Apparently it seems to be better than the German version
Ah, my old Opinel! Back before my first trip to Paris, my college teacher told me, no matter what, I must purchase an Opinel (and use it to eat my picnic foods) while there. It’s one of my 6 year old son’s favorite gadgets now. 😀🏎️
I bought a small tambour-topped desk storage 'thing' from Manufactum about 15 years ago. Endorsing your 'desirable but pointless' theory, I filled it with paper, pens and pencils, and some seldom-used items such as a staple extractor, and haven’t touched it since. But it does look very pleasing. I see they call it a 'secretary' on their nothing-like-as-fittingly-designed, German-only website. I miss the highly satisfactory browsing of the old English-speaking (and shipping) site.
One of the things i love about reading your pieces here is that I was cleaning the house, but now I’m about to grab the bottle of Pitralon that was just sitting around somewhere and that I havent touched for years, curious to smell it again as if it was the first time!
After you spoke about Pitralon a few years back, I got two-after shaves among the different offerings on their webpage. One has the same red-ball face as what is now called the "original", and the other is the "pure" (which, the website says, is called original in Austria.). Both leave the impression you describe. The "pure", which the bottle says is "fur richtige Manner" (with proper Umlaut, of course), is a touch more affable and closer to the classic fougere after shaves (those Austrians must be less serious than the Germans).. The red ball one more clearly belongs to a medical room, but tries to hide its origin under a cherry cough drop.
Both after shaves are described on the box to have a soft and persistent scent (dezent-anhaltenden Duft).
Thank you for the info! I love the "dezent-anhaltenden" :-)
On my vacation in the Netherlands this year I came across a barber shop that still sold this thing, and my one regret is I didn't grab it.
Yes it’s a Dutch firm now, but you can get it on eBay.
Boss writing. Just bot on eBay. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
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What an exquisite meditation, travelling from the sinister to safety with the ease of the Grimms. Actually with infinitely greater ease.
I was so looking forward to your comment and once again you've made me blush! THANK YOU1
Well earned. Something extraordinary is going on here.
Beautiful
great writing (as always), thank you!
I remember Pitralon from my teenage days in the former Yugoslavia. It was one of the few aftershaves available, and its distinct black and red packaging is unforgettable. The scent was everywhere, and it was so sticky and unpleasant on the skin. During my time in the Yugoslav People's Army, soldiers would sometimes even drink it when they ran out of real alcohol—quite a memorable product in many ways!
Drinking Pitralon! Shades of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow-Petushki
I'd forgotten about BHV...
On the topic of Knize Ten, has it been ruined lately? I did not detect any mousse de saxe nor birch tar, instead a powdery orange blossom. Am I missing something?
It did seem thinner last time I smelled it.
Dear Luca, Manufactum still offers Pitralon and particularly the version manufactured in Switzerland. Apparently it seems to be better than the German version
Ah, my old Opinel! Back before my first trip to Paris, my college teacher told me, no matter what, I must purchase an Opinel (and use it to eat my picnic foods) while there. It’s one of my 6 year old son’s favorite gadgets now. 😀🏎️
I’ve never heard of Pitralon, but now I’ll grab some, cheers!
This made me smile, beautiful!
On which Ebay are you all seeing Pitralon for cheap? I don't see anything less than $100!
I bought a small tambour-topped desk storage 'thing' from Manufactum about 15 years ago. Endorsing your 'desirable but pointless' theory, I filled it with paper, pens and pencils, and some seldom-used items such as a staple extractor, and haven’t touched it since. But it does look very pleasing. I see they call it a 'secretary' on their nothing-like-as-fittingly-designed, German-only website. I miss the highly satisfactory browsing of the old English-speaking (and shipping) site.
Scroll to the bottom of their homepage, you can change the location to International (English).