Foaming at the bunghole (Cussons in General)

Member Name: rdobbie

Product:	Cussons in General
Date:	27/06/02 (159 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fabulous expensive-smelling fragrance, Rich concentrated lather, Very good at moisturising the skin

Disadvantages: Quite dear when it's not on 2-for-1

Well I never thought I'd write an opinion about a toiletry product, but this one's literally got my bunghole foaming - and that's the one in my bath in case you weren't sure.

Gentlemen please listen up, as next time you reach for a randomly-selected bottle of macho-looking shower gel in the supermarket, you will do yourself a big favour by taking heed of this op. And ladies (or gay partners where applicable), this product is a must-have Christmas stocking filler for your man.

When it comes to traditional bathtime freshness, Imperial Leather wrote the book. Their infamous bar of creamy soap, with its omnipotent bronze label, is a time-honoured family favourite. As lifestyles changed, Imperial Leather moved with the times by developing a range of shower gels that may not have smelt like their soapy ancestor, but proudly continued the company's reputation for quality.

Imperial Leather Shower Gel For Men (let's call it ILSGFM) doesn't disappoint. Bluntly speaking, it's in a different league to any of its rivals. Its unassuming white bottle gives no hint of the quality that lies within. The purple bottletop flips back to reveal a curious little "anti drip valve" which resembles those weird 1960s rubber tea towel holders. The idea behind this patented device is presumably to guard against spillage in case you leave the bottle hanging upside down with the lid off. Not a very likely scenario, but it's a thoughtful touch.

The consistency of the gel is very rich, and a very small amount on your sponge can produce a mass of effervescent thick lather. It seems to have twice the concentration level of Lynx Shower Gel, which I would guess is the market leader, yet there is no price difference.

After showering with ILSGFM, your skin feels noticeably soft for hours afterwards. As a bloke I'm not much of a believer in girly mosturising things, but this product makes your whole body feel l
ike a baby's bottom. Some cheaper brands of shower gel have been known to cause blotchy areas on my skin, but ILSGFM is evidently mild enough to use on sensitive skin.

But the greatest thing about ILSGFM is unquestionably the fragrance. This could quite easily be confused with an expensive designer brand shower gel - I'm talking about the types that cost £10 for a tiny bottle. Yes, it really is that good. The smell is deep and fruity with warm spicy overtones of cinnamon. Think Cacharel Pour Homme after shave and you won't be far out. (Which has always been my favourite mens fragrance despite the fact that it's becoming harder to find anywhere as it gets overtaken by the tidal wave of Boss, CK and Dior variants).

The sign of a high quality fragrance is meant to be its longevity after the product has been used. Once again, ILSGFM passes this test with flying colours. Not only does the fragrance remain on your skin for the best part of a day, but as an added bonus the luxurious smell lingers in your bathroom for several hours, trouncing the most potent of air freshener products.

Besides the product quality, I like to buy ILSGFM because it is manufactured by Cussons who are a British company based in Stockport. Virtually every other toiletry product is made by one of the soap superpowers who almost have a stranglehold on the market; namely Proctor and Gamble, Unilever and Colgate Palmolive. Being a bit of an anti-capitalist, I derive some pleasure from buying a product which is made by a smaller, locally based company.

At the time of writing this op, Tesco are charging £1.75 and Boots slightly more at £1.89 for the 250ml bottle of ILSGFM. You will often see it on 2-for-1 promotions, particularly in the aforementioned shops. That means each bottle costs under a pound which is a giveaway in my opinion.

Give the stuff a try, and shower me with your feedback...

Oh, and Imperial Leather have a groovy webs
ite full of information and competitions at www.releasethelather.co.uk

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