Name: MenEssentials
Sells: Grooming products for men, including skin and hair care, fragrances, shaving accessories, manicure kits and toothpaste
Contact info: 412 Danforth Ave., 1-800-833-1055, menessentials.ca
Hours: Su, Tu–W 10–6, Th–F 10–9, Sa 10–7
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A new grooming boutique has landed in the east end to serve guys frustrated by Toronto’s dearth of sophisticated male primping spots (the Men’s Zone at Shoppers Drug Mart not included). MenEssentials is a 1,000-square-foot man cave lined with a bewildering array of creams, fragrances, serums and shaving accessories. Products range from bar soap and replacement razor blades for under $5, all the way up to a Dovo straight razor with fossilized mammoth ivory handles for $800—which is already sold out.
Other nods to the lost art of traditional shaving include a wide range of shave brushes ($5-$300), strops ($75–$150) and shave soaps ($7–$120), while fragrances and colognes ($17.50–$200) include scents by Floris, Penhaligon’s, Royall, Castle Forbes and Czech & Speake. Each of the shop’s 1,200-plus items is also available on MenEssentials’ excellent website.
227915 After taking over the old MenEssentials shop in Ottawa, owner Seth Harman moved the operation to Toronto. It recently opened on Danforth Avenue at Chester Avenue Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-01/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-01 0 0
227923 The sub-street level store is stuffed with shaving, skin and hair products, as well as nail sets, beard combs, cologne, toothpaste and candles Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-intro/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-intro 0 0
227916 Harmon plans to hold video demonstrations, product seminars and sampling sessions in-store Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-02/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-02 0 0
227917 The spot has already proved popular with collectors: Harman has already sold all four of his rare $800 <strong>Dovo Mamuut</strong> straight razors, made of 40,000 year-old fossilized wooly mammoth ivory Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-03/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-03 0 0
227918 He also sells several dozen styles of safety razors ($12 to $200) along with all the associated brushes, blades and accessories Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-04.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-04/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-04 0 0
227920 MenEssentials is the only store in Toronto carrying products English perfume house <strong>Penhaligon’s and</strong><strong> Floris London’</strong>s No. 89 cologne (one of James Bond favourites) Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-06/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-06 0 0
227921 Skin care products ($10-$350) include lines by <strong>MiN New York, MenScience </strong>and<strong> Cellman, </strong>a high-end Swiss brand. The store also stocks cosmetic lines exclusive to men, including <strong>Mënaji,</strong> which has graced the faces of Obama and Enrique Iglesias Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-07/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-07 0 0
227922 Also available: a wide range of hair products ($15–$60), from shampoo and conditioner to thinning treatments and follicle revitalizers Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-08/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-08 0 0
227919 Great gift ideas include these wine-scented candles from South Carolina ($28) and a small selection of leather wallets ($55–$335) Store Guide: MenEssentials Store Guide: MenEssentials https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/toronto-store-guide-menessentials/slide/mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-05/ mens-essentials-toronto-store-guide-05 0 0