"I'm not able to give as much as I have for the last couple of years," went my mum's best friend. But true to her word, even though she may not have all the money in the world, she certainly knows how to pick classy gifts. Last year for example my mum's best friend gave me a beautiful thick woollen scarf from Marks and Spencer, a scarf which I have never been able to buy since let alone find again from the same shop; the year before that, a beautiful glass solid crystal rectangular bust with a miniature frosted glass saxophone inside with hundreds of glass crotchet notes flowing out of the bell at the bottom of the instrument. So I knew in some way that whatever the plastic bottle was that I could feel through the Christmas wrapping that this year I wouldn't be disappointed.

And so came Christmas day when I tore off the wrapping to find the 350ml bottle of Molton and Brown looking up from me. I knew instantly that for all the lack of money my mum's best friend may not have had, she certainly thought of me this year!

Normally I associate Molton Brown with my mum as she adores the hand soap and hand gel she used to buy on occasion. Now that I have found out the price, it is not surprising to realise why Molton Brown is an expensive product; this shower gel for example has to be one of the most luxurious shower gels I've been given in a long time, let alone to even consider buying something like this for myself.



** How much is it? **


Well I received it as a gift remember, but online prices average from £15 for this 300ml bottle; even Molton Brown's own website charges £15 before postage and packing charges. That's quite expensive to anyone bereft of cash or not, but before you dismiss it purely on the price, there are probable reasons to why it is so expensive.



** Product Details **


Well the bottle isn't the most luxurious around, having been packaged in a clear soft feel plastic bottle with a silver labelled icon top. In this instant it doesn't really matter what it comes packaged in because it has the all important capital writing at the top of the bottle and the scent and version written at the bottom in clear classy writing whilst the main company logo sits in dark brown travelling around the centre. Understated design is the key here to the overall product and it looks quite different against other shower products in the bathroom.



** Product Claim & Scent **


And here is why it is probably so expensive! Molton Brown suggests that this body wash relaxes muscles, heats up skin, "recharges your energy banks," and positively softens and smoothes your skin as a bonus. Of course the inclusion of Black pepper oil has something to do with the fact that the bottle also states that it contains a little more than just muscle "stimulating" additives. The inclusion of the Black pepper oil is an apparent mix of antioxidants and an antiseptic, so naturally I couldn't wait to try this out!

Twisting off the bottle top and inhaling the contents, I was slightly disappointed to find that there is no actual smell of "Black Pepper," let alone black pepper you would normally associate with in cooking. But before I even go into how I can't personally find the smell of Black Pepper, this shower gel instantly appealed to me simply because it has great overpowering tones of my favourite aftershave; Christian Dior's Fahrenheit. I have a bottle of that too in shower gel form from another good friend given as a gift this year and it is close in price to this Molton Brown product too.

So, although there is some Black pepper available in the tones sniffing the product with the bottle open, there are also heightened tones of sandalwood and mixed spice. Vanilla can also be obtained as well as slight tones of herbs too which is nothing wrong in a man's range of shower gels in my opinion!



** So does it Work? **


Well my intention was to wait for a couple of days to try the product since I would get a sore back from shovelling up leaves, but curiosity got the better of me and with only a slight twinge in my neck from lying at the wrong angle in bed; I couldn't wait to try the shower gel.

As a shower gel, Molton Brown lathers up but very finely and not into thick foam as normal shower gels do. In some ways it could well be the fact that this product is called a "Shower Wash," as opposed to a gel even though the consistency is slightly thick and gloopy. The colour of the brown gel however doesn't look particularly pleasing when it's stuck in the bottle but out of the bottle it changes its colour slightly to a dark golden brown with slightly lighter colours.

So as I applied the shower wash to my body, I didn't notice very much at the start although the sudden scent of pepper began to attack my senses and I began to feel very awake by the overall hue. Eventually as I applied more of the gel to my body I began to realise the power of this product but it's not like Radox in the sense that automatically the tensions and stresses of the day simply run away. As I applied a little more of the gel, sparingly I might add as a lot comes out of the bottle my skin did begin to feel nourished and smooth - but not any more than a standard shower gel which is cheaper to buy and has greatest smooth skin supplements added.

In effect however, what I did realise after I left the shower was the fact that the bathroom stank of black pepper and suddenly the tones of the overall product were revealed. The pain in my neck had also mysteriously vanished too so in a way perhaps this product does work after all!

Still, I think it smells closely of Fahrenheit and I'm happy with that!



** Skin Afterwards **


"Oh you smell nice," went my friend the moment I saw her standing in the kitchen waiting to take me out for coffee and that was before I added my aftershave! After towelling down, I didn't think the scent of this shower gel had a long lasting effect as I certainly couldn't smell any of it wafting off me, but as she opened the door to the bathroom, the smell of warm pepper hit her in the face.

However, it is important to point out that I didn't feel any warm feeling on my skin when this shower gel was applied but rather the reverse effect - my skin didn't numb up but it did feel refreshing when the shower gel was washed and running down my skin before rinsing the product off.

This shower gel however reveals that it works best with a shower puff or similar cloth as it soon starts to run low the moment you use it only on your hand for full body coverage.



** Other Ranges / Important Info **


The beauty of Molton Brown is that there are loads of different products available from this company, not just this Black pepper shower wash which is geared towards men. Infact their website shows the complete range of products available from men with a few surprises along the way; if you're just thinking that this London company offer minimal ranges of toiletries, then think again! There is also other shower wash products with different flavours added as well as soaps and Eau de Toilette products but none of them are particularly cheap.

Importantly though Molton Brown does not test products on animals and none of their products contain any additives known to harm sensitive skin. They also supply a mail order service too and children can use their products too!



** Conclusion **


It may not have completely offered a smooth and supple skin experience but the luxury of this product doesn't just lie with the fact that its ingredients are non-irritant based. This Black Pepper shower wash can also be used as a slight water based additive if taking a bath, with the resounding effect that the bathroom will more than likely benefit from the heavenly scent if not re-awaken your senses through smell and touch of Black pepper. What a shame then that with its hefty price tag to match it doesn't offer extra soft supplements within its ingredients.

For some men, that simply won't matter as it blends well with most aftershaves thereafter. Importantly the title of this brand shows that it does what it says on the bottle; it re-charges and it re-opens your nasal passages whilst creating a warming, glowing feeling on your skin but at the same time even men need a little luxury sometimes anyway! Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2007

www.moltonbrown.co.uk
Mail order service: Tel 0808 178 1188