Basically Awesome: Gifts from Izola

By Stefan Doyno Published October 13, 2014

Looking for something amusing for your pad? Look no further than IZOLA.

The brand was launched in 2005 by Neil Rasmus (one of the guys behind Billy Farrell Agency – one of New York City’s largest full service photo company) and Richard Brandt. These two guys have injected humor into everyday objects from shower curtains and pocket knives to flasks and shoe brushes.

Recommended Videos

This season IZOLA has released a new slew items you’re sure to love – and will make for great holiday gifts, that is if you’ve already started looking.

So what are some of our favorites right now?

The ‘Gatsby’ Flask – Who doesn’t love a 5oz flask? They can be real lifesavers – especially when you can customize and engrave it yourself This flask is shaped differently (spherical) from the standard flasks out there and is made from stainless steel. If “Gatsby” isn’t your thing, there are seven other expressions to choose from like “hair of the dog” , “best intentions” and ‘three sheets to the wind”. It’s perfect for any dad, or for that uptight friend who is in desperate need of a drink.

Remember those “unbreakable” black combs? We’ll, mine broke last week. IZOLA’s Brass Comb will make you want to comb your hair, even when you don’t have to go anywhere. This item comes with a canvas pouch, and can also be engraved. The perfect item to be passed down from pop to son.

Another item on our must have list – the ‘Take Care’ shave kit. The ultimate travel companion is IZOLA’s shave kit that is constructed out of heavy 20oz cotton canvas – so they can take a good beating while you travel the globe. They’re also lined in water resistant material, which makes cleaning them all that much easier.

So now that you’re on the lookout for some great holiday gifts, make sure to stop by IZOLA’s website and look at all the well curated items.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Stefan Doyno is a two-time Emmy-winning television producer who has worked for various shows at ABC News, including Good…

Topics

Shaving

Grooming

Atwater’s new Smooth Target aims to provide complete beard care

Atwater's Smooth Target offers complete beard care

Atwater beard oil

Given the explosive growth of men’s beards — both literally and as a product category — many beard companies are expanding their range of offerings, pumping out everything from oils and balms to basic grooming tools like beard combs.
But Atwater is going in a different direction. The company’s new 5-in-1 beard oil, Smooth Target, is designed to be all things to all men when it comes to beard care.

Complete beard care in a single package

Grooming

Iconic monsters define the latest Dr. Squatch soaps

Dr. Squatch gets monstrous for its latest soap release

Dr. Squatch Godzilla King soaps

When it comes to new soap releases and the role that marketing plays in the clean-up process, breaking down a Dr. Squatch promo is like entering a unique portal where some of the specifics take some very different twists and turns.
That’s definitely the case for this release, which features a pair of iconic monsters: Godzilla and King Kong. They’re inspired by last year’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which redefined this old-school sci fi rivalry by bringing in over $500 million at the box office.

Monsters on the loose

Grooming

ALTAIA’s Woo(E)D features exotic international fragrances

ALTAIA is an Italian company with an international approach to fragrances

ALTAIA WOO(E)D men's cologne

With a product name that leans heavily into the concept of seduction, ALTAIA is taking an intriguing approach to masculinity in its latest eau de parfum release. There’s more than a little ambiguity behind the “who seduces who?” question behind the name, and the foundation fragrances are designed to enhance and deepen that mystery.
ALTAIA is an Italian company with a flair for internationally-based fragrances, so it isn’t completely surprising that the foundation here consists of a combination of Atlas cedar, Gaiac wood, and cistus. This combination is well worth exploring, so let’s go there.

Not the usual woody foundation fragrances

While cedar might feel familiar as a foundation ingredient in men’s fragrances, this particular version is different. Atlas cedar is native to the Atlas mountains in Algeria and Morocco, and it’s prized for having a warm scent that also offers a hint of delicate sweetness.
Gaiac wood is equally unique. It comes from a tree native to South America, and its smoky, sweet scent blends with both its woody cousin and the leather in the next layer. It offers traces of amber, too, and in its natural form this versatile, super-hard wood is used in both tool handles and traditional medicine.
Cistus has its own special origins, too. It grows wild in the areas around the Mediterranean, and it produces labdanum, a sticky resin that’s a staple of the perfume and fragrance world. It’s often used to support wood fragrances in the base layer, so it’s not surprising to see it turn up here. Perfumers see it as both cozy and romantic, hence the appeal in a fragrance that seeks to evoke this level of romanticism.
After an early April release, WOO(E)D is now available in the US. It is available in 100 mL quantities for $230. It’s an expensive offering, but ATLAIA is hoping it will entice younger buyers, especially, to try some of the company’s other unusual fragrances.