Have you ever been to that friend’s house where all of his shower products are coordinated?
I know the first time I saw a buddy pull that magic trick off, I thought, man, this guy has his stuff together.
Some dudes get fancy watches and sleek cars, but if you really want to be impressive, get the same fragrance for your shower gel as you do your shampoo. That’s next level.
But choosing the right brand can be a bit of a chore. And that’s why you’re here.
So I went ahead and picked up a few sets from the popular men’s grooming brand, Every Man Jack to give them a try. Keep reading to hear my full thoughts.
What Is Every Man Jack?
In 2007, Every Man Jack, like many great things in this world, was founded in a garage in San Francisco.
Right out of the gate, they launched nationwide in Target with 15 products. Yep, the brand started swinging as soon as the bell rang.
Now you can find Every Man Jack just about everywhere, from Walmart to Whole Foods, CVS to Walgreens. You can even find them in Costco. That said, I’m still going to Costco for the $1.50 hot dogs—that’s a deal that can’t be beat.
Every Man Jack started by using many naturally derived ingredients, and as they’ve expanded into more and more stores (especially Whole Foods), their manufacturing standards have gotten more and more strict.
Not that they were ever lax, but it’s evidence that EMJ is constantly pushing their product to have more natural ingredients and a smaller impact on the environment.
Every Man Jack is a terrific brand for you if you’re budget conscious but still want skin care products that are free from harmful chemicals and synthetic formulas.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Every Man Jack strikes a balance between high-quality ingredients and cost. There are brands on the market that really push the envelope on the purest ingredients possible, but the cost skyrockets.
On the other end of the spectrum, Every Man Jack is comparable to Old Spice and Axe from a price perspective. But the number of naturally derived formulations offered by EMJ is way higher.
This means that Every Man Jack is an excellent brand if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to the cheap body washes that can mess with your skin.
And on the flip side, they’re also a great alternative if you’ve been wincing a bit at the $21 price tag that some premium men’s soap brands advertise for their absolutely top quality products.
Every Man Jack donates a portion of every bundle sale to the National Forest Foundation, so you can save the great outdoors while avoiding smelling like it.
My Hands-On Review
Evolved Essentials Set
The Evolved Essentials Set comes with some of Every Man Jack’s most classic products. They’ve actually made their bundles better since I picked mine up, so this review is missing a few products. EMJ’s Evolved Essentials now includes:
- Sandalwood Body Wash
- Two Sandalwood Deodorants
- Sandalwood 2-in-1 Daily Shampoo + Conditioner
- Face Lotion
- Hair Clay
As you might be able to tell from the bullet points, I picked my Evolved Essentials up in Sandalwood, though you can find the same set in EMJ’s signature Cedarwood, Citrus, and Sea Salt fragrances.
If you’re not sure which fragrance to go with, here’s my take on the four:
Sandalwood and Sea Salt are my two favorites. Cedarwood smells really nice, but it has a strong woodsy scent that isn’t as versatile as Sandalwood, which is more subtle in the wood-department and more fresh overall.
Citrus is solid on the top notes, but I don’t think the fragrance holds up super well in really hot and humid weather. As a North Carolinian, that’s what I need.
Sea Salt has more aquatic notes than Sandalwood, so it’s a “cooler” fragrance, but still has the subtlety and crowd-pleasing nature I like from the Sandalwood.
Every Man Jack doesn’t use synthetic fragrances, either. Their products don’t use propylene glycol, and while that’s not a dangerous chemical, it’s usually a dead-giveaway that a brand is using a non-natural fragrance because it’s the easiest, most cost-effective way to add fragrances into skin care products without using natural oils.
I enjoy using sets like the Evolved Essentials kit because I can get a fairly long-lasting scent without cologne.
While I love cologne, I usually only bust it out for date nights and special occasions. But who doesn’t like smelling fresh all the time? That’s where a nice collection of uniform-smelling
Shower essentials come in handy.
The body wash works like a charm and the scent lasts for a good two or three hours after use. As for the deodorant, I’m a big fan.
Natural deodorants are very hit or miss in my experience. Some wear off quickly, and others seem to amplify your funk-factor.
The Every Man Jack deodorant is aluminum-free and naturally derived, but it actually keeps you smelling fresh through an entire day. I’d say that the projected fragrance lasts a few hours, but the key is that your own natural scent doesn’t come through for about 24-hours.
As for the Shampoo + Conditioner, I’ve enjoyed using a two-in-one product as I rarely use conditioner. Not that I have anything against it. I just always skip it for whatever reason. Since using Every Man Jack’s wombo-combo, my hair has been feeling softer.
About six months ago, I suddenly started getting pretty bad dandruff, so I think I’d be better off with Every Man Jack’s cooling Natural Menthol shampoo. The reviews all point to a positive turnaround for guys struggling with flakes.
The Advanced Essentials set has all the basics you need: body wash, shampoo, deodorant, face moisturizer, and hair clay. Just a few clicks and you've got everything you need.
Age Defiance Set
With summer on the way, I’ve been doing a lot of my workouts outside to catch up on all that missed vitamin D.
But I also don’t want my face to turn into a walnut, so I figured I’d also pick up the Age Defiance set from Every Man Jack.
This set includes:
- Age Defy Face Moisturizer
- Age Defy Eye Cream
- Face Wash
- Hydrating Body Wash with Coconut Oil (Sea Salt fragrance)
- SPF 20 Face Lotion
I was absolutely shocked at how quickly regularly wearing sunscreen makes a difference for your skin. For this review, I started wearing the daily SPF 20 lotion and applying the Face Shield stick when I went for runs outdoors.
Maybe it was in combination with the moisturizer, but within two weeks, I definitely saw an improvement in the wrinkles around my eyes. Not that I mind those so much—they’re distinguished. But I also have the rest of my life to look distinguished, so there’s no need to rush it.
The coconut oil infused Sea Salt Body Wash has been a pleasure to use—I don’t struggle so much with dry skin, especially in the humid south, but the added coconut oil adds a layer of protection that I could see being very effective for those who have sensitive skin.
The stars of the show for the Age Defiance set are the Face Moisturizer and Eye Cream, though.
I’m just now getting to the end of the bottle for both, and I’ve noticed a big improvement in my skin. Like I said earlier, it’s hard to tell if it’s just because of these two creams, or if the benefit also comes from regularly using SPF protection.
I guess it doesn’t really matter, right? The combination has definitely helped me through the first several weeks of summer without drying my skin out and damaging it by spending too much time soaking up rays.
If you don't want to look like a walnut, sunscreen is going to help. The Age Defiance set from Every Man Jack will get you there.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
Reviews across the web are very positive for Every Man Jack. Most reviewers went for the body wash first, which is EMJ’s most popular offering, and there’s a lot of online love for the fragrances.
The biggest plus is the longevity of the scent, which for those who commented on it lasts around three to four hours. That’s pretty impressive for a body wash.
My Thoughts Overall
What I Like
The sandalwood and seal salt fragrances are both crowd pleasers, with a good balance between fresh and unique, and they’re ideal for everyday use.
EMJ maintains high quality in their naturally derived ingredients, though they still keep their products affordable.
You can pick up your entire grooming routine with the brand—they have everything from body wash to shampoo to sunscreen to beard balm.
I enjoyed shopping the bundles as the process made it easy to get a fully coordinated set while saving some dough.
What I Don’t Like
EMJ doesn’t offer free shipping through their site.
Who is Every Man Jack for?
Every Man Jack is a terrific brand for you if you’re budget conscious but still want skin care products that are free from harmful chemicals and synthetic formulas.
The Verdict
After trying Every Man Jack’s most popular products for myself, I’m giving the brand my stamp of approval.
Their sandalwood and sea salt fragrances make for an excellent everyday scent that lasts for a good three to four hours.
The naturally derived deodorant is also a big winner in my book. The fragrance lasts a good six hours, and because of the formulation, my pits didn’t start stinking until after the 24-hour mark.
The biggest giveaway that a brand is using non-natural fragrances is the use of propylene glycol. That specific chemical isn’t harmful, but it’s the most cost effective way to bind synthetic fragrances into grooming products. Every Man Jack isn’t having none of that. Their fragrance comes from natural oils and that’s why it’s longer lasting.
Every Man Jack is a terrific brand for you if you’re budget conscious but still want skin care products that are free from harmful chemicals and synthetic formulas.
FAQs
Is Every Man Jack a good body wash?
Yes, Every Man Jack is a great body wash. It strikes a nice balance between affordability and quality, plus the fragrances are crowd-pleasers.
Is Every Man Jack all natural?
Every Man Jack uses naturally derived ingredients throughout their entire range.
Does Every Man Jack use artificial fragrance?
No, Every Man Jack uses naturally derived oils for their fragrance.