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 See it on a map »
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.
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
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
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)
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