Review (5/5): I'm rewriting my review...I was wrong.
I'm rewriting my previous review (listed at end) because when I'm wrong, I admit it.
I've come back to Castle Forbes because I learned that there is no product that provides the quality and product life comparable to Castle Forbes (sorry Proraso). Here's what I learned:
The texture, and this is where I went wrong in my last review, is not to be used (slathered) like other products. This is a wonderful balm that I believe is best used sparingly and it will both out perform in quality and last for months past any other balm experience. "Sparingly", to me, is a small (i.e. size of a dime - or less) amount applied with damp/wet hands. The product delivers a slick and fragrant after shaving experience that I highly recommend.
Many things can go wrong in a shave (i.e. quality of cream, sharpness of blade, aggressiveness of razor, etc.) but the last step of the shave, the closing act, is the application of the balm which will tell you all you need to know and remember about your shave before you tackle the rest of the day.
I've learned that Castle Forbes aftershave balm delivers time and again. No pain or burn. No sticky slather with overwhelming or lingering scent. Just quality and value - well worth the price and experience - you'll see.
Original Review:
I'm a great fan of the Castle Forbes shaving cream - but - while I like the strong lime scent upon application, and that it does not linger more than a few minutes after application, I can't justify the price vs. value on this one. The balm is a little heavy (almost sticky) on application. In the end, as much as I like Castle Forbes, for aftershave balm I will stick to Proraso - it's smoother, lighter, and a fraction of the cost of Castle Forbes for this product.