L’Occitane En Provence, Mon Amour

By Bill Ervolino

Ah, Provence!

It was the birthplace of Marcel Pagnol, a favorite destination of the immortal Colette and, oui, oui, the  timeless locale where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote much of “The Great Gatsby.”

Bordered by the Rhone on one side, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Mediterranean Sea on the other, Provence is renowned for its herbs and flowers. Its lavender fields are stunning, beloved by photographers and almost as famous and beautiful as the region’s sunflower fields. (Yes, the same sunflower fields that so captivated Vincent Van Gogh and inspired one of the most famous series of paintings ever made.)

In its high-octane men’s line, L’Occitane en Provence captures the same brightness as those famed fleurs. There are a few collections on their website. I chose a little of this and a little of that -- all of which were worth the wait, beginning with the soap, part of L’Occitane’s Cedrat collection.

I smiled unwrapping this soap ($8), which has a subtle citrus scent and comes in an appealing 3.5 ounce square. (It looked so cool in my soap dish, like a little French cookie.) Take it with you into the shower, though, and you’ll really smile. The soap fits so perfectly in your hand, you may find yourself wondering why all soaps aren’t shaped this way. An engineering marvel.

I also tried the Cade Shower Gel For Body and Hair ($20), a great-smelling Roll-On Deodorant called L’Occitan ($20) and, my favorite item, the L’Occitan After Shave Balm ($34).

I haven’t shaved my face for two months, but I do shave my head and neck, just below the beard line. I had been searching for a while for a good balm for my head, and was relieved when L’Occitane finally came to le rescue. The 2.5 ounce tube is worth every dime. Your head, neck and your face will thank you.

(I’d rather not shave my beard until spring, but this balm may alter my plans.)

As for the shower gel, it promises to “reinvigorate” your this, that, and the other thing, and it does -- thanks to the many botanicals it contains: rosemary, juniper … the list is impressive.

For a better look at the entire L’Occitane en Provence men’s line, head over to the L'Occitane website. These products smell great, are nicely packaged and won’t break the bank.