Store Guide: MenEssentials, a new guys-only grooming shop on the Danforth

Store Guide: MenEssentials, a new guys-only grooming shop on the Danforth

Store Guide: MenEssentials

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.

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