The Ariana & Evans November Meetup - A Family Affair
- Teutonblade
- Nov 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 21
The Ariana & Evans meetup on Saturday, November 15, 2025, felt like a true wet shaving family reunion. Many familiar faces were in attendance, including A&E founder Peter Charkalis, his wife Evelyn, and their daughter Thalia. The showroom featured an enticing assortment of A&E’s finest offerings, with Peter on hand throughout the afternoon to answer questions, share insights, and offer personalized recommendations.
Thalia hosted a dedicated fragrance station showcasing all of her creations, including breakout hits Pistachio Silk, Vanille Vendetta, Birthday Suit, Tramp Stamp, and others, all available for testing.
The event drew an exceptional group of friends and enthusiasts, and much of the afternoon was spent sharing stories and experiences from across the wet shaving community. Barry Bedford of A Texan Shaves flew in from Texas, while Jon Bonham of Cape Cod Wet Shaving made the trip down from Massachusetts. Master soapmaker Joe Dean from Subtle Arts Soaps also made a special guest appearance.
Mike from Long Island Shaving also drove up from New York.
Doug Layne from Adopted Acres was on site to introduce his new fragrance Gentleman of the Cabin.
Jason Miller of The Golden Age Wet Shaver fame was also in attendance.
Another YouTube star, Dave from the Inspector's Den added to the convivial atmosphere with his trademark warmth and storytelling.
Of course, the centerpiece of the event was the A&E catalog itself. One of the most anticipated releases of the day was Patient No. 9. In speaking with Peter, he shared that the fragrance is loosely inspired by Czech & Speake No. 88, known to be Ozzy Osbourne’s favorite scent, featuring the same core notes of bergamot, geranium, rose otto, sandalwood, and vetiver, reimagined through Peter’s distinctive creative lens. The fragrance was officially released at the event and is expected to be available on the website soon.
I also took the opportunity to add two remarkable sets to my growing A&E collection. Empyrean Bay Rum is a boldly original take on the bay rum genre; in characteristic Peter Charkalis fashion, it omits the usual cinnamon and clove, instead incorporating apple, pomegranate, and a touch of geranium to create something daring, modern, and exotic. Bergamot & Bay, despite its understated name, was another standout. The scent radiates with juicy citrus and fresh green facets, resulting in a composition that feels simultaneously vibrant, refined, and deeply natural.
Overall, it was an outstanding day and has quickly positioned itself as one of the marquee wet shaving events on the East Coast. Sincere thanks to Peter, Evelyn, Thalia, and the entire Ariana & Evans team for hosting such a memorable gathering!
Great meetup. Peter and his family are doing a great job branching out into fragrances!