July 4, 2023

• Brush: Semogue 1460 21mm #SMOLL
• Razor: New England Straight Razor 6/8 #STR8SNOB
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Persephone
• Post Shave: Thayers – Rose Petal

I think Persephone is perhaps the best (and most slept on) spring scent around. It's a little unconventional for a spring scent, but in all the right ways. To my nose, it opens with a warm, spicy oatmeal cookie scent, following quickly by a bright, fruity punch. This soaps smells exactly like a transition from winter to spring, which also happens to fit in wonderfully with the original myth of Persephone and Hades and Persephone leaving Hades for spring.

For today's daily challenge, I figured I would measure out my soap and water and determine the ratio between them to create a slick lather. To start, I weighed my tub, loaded up a brush, and the went back to the scale to find a weight difference before and after loading. According to the scale, I loaded, uh … less soap than I expected.

However, undeterred, I carried on in the name of science. After adding water, my lather weighed in at 10 grams.

Now, I'm no chemist, but it would appear that with only 0 grams of soap, I made 10 grams of wonderfully slick lather. The only conclusion to reasonably draw here is that shaving soap is entirely unnecessary and it's all just a big lie told to us by big-Shaving. You know, that or my $20 kitchen scale isn't accurate to the tenth of a gram.

Also, links for STR8SNOB and SMOLL.

​

Straight Razor to the tune of Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

Lyrics:

You could have a smooth shave

If you'd just lather your soap

You could have a razor shaving

If you bring your brushes back

All you do is PM me

I'll be anything you need

You could have a slick lather

Going up and down, all around your face

You could have a safety razor, shaving

The Lather Games never end

I wanna be your straight razor

Why don't you call my name?

Ah oh, let me be your straight razor

This will be my testimony

Show me 'round your shave den

'Cause I will be your LatherBot

Open up your shave den

Where the scents can be sweet as can be

I wanna be your straight razor

Why don't you call my name?

Ah, you'd better call the straight razor

Put your mind at rest

I'm gonna be the straight razor

This can be my testimony

Ah, I'm your straight razor

Let there be no doubt about it

Oh, won't you shave for me? (Shave for me)

I will shave for you (shave for you)

Please, shave for me (shave for me)

Huh, I will shave for you

Player records "Sledgehammer" parody with no apparent sense of rhythm and then gets stuck with a judge with a Bachelor's degree in Music

LGSOTD 04-July

• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcraft Lemon Drop 26mm TGN Boar #TEXASPIGSTINKMASSACRE #TOLL
• Razor: Ever Ready - 1912 #TWINS
• Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE
• Lather: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper
• Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod – Juniper AS
• Fragrance: Gentleman’s Nod – Juniper EDP

Introduction

The issue attempting to be resolved by the following experiment is the reduction of terminal hair growth, ensuring the use of a sufficiently keen blade loaded into a carefully engineered receptacle utilising a brush comprised of the hair of sus scrofa to create a lather of sufficient density and lubrication from a soap inspired by the vernal equinox to ensure removal of said growth with the absence of dermal irritation.

Equipment and Method

• Brush: 64.11mm Loft, TGN sus scrofa
• Water Hardness: ≤50ppm mineral content
• Water Volume: Absolute volume not recorded, added dropwise^(1)
• Load: 20 seconds
• Rotations: \~15 clockwise, 15 anticlockwise
• Brush Pressure: Minimal
• Lather Building: 60 seconds
• Blade and Receptacle: 3-faceted PTFE coated stainless steel blade held in a spring loaded ever-ready 1912
• Passes: 2
• Direction(s): WTG/ATG

• Pressure: Minimal

• ok I didn’t actually add dropwise as I don’t have a pipette at home

Following the methods above a lather of sufficient density and slickness was created to ensure drag-free movement of the blade and receptacle. Whilst not all presence of terminal hair was removed, a sufficient quantity was removed to obtain a smooth and irritation free outcome.

Discussion

Whilst there are always margins for error within any experiment, with influence both external^(2) and internal^(3), pre-analytical error^(4) and manufacturing tolerances that cannot be accounted for, the outcome was positive and with said methods recorded we are 95% confident that the outcome could be replicated over multiple iterations, however new user influences must be taken into account.

1. Screaming kid

2. Damn Tired

3. Bugger I miss loaded the blade

…load of waffle but kept me amused, I don’t often pay attention to what I am doing but that genuinely made me keep my mind in it, perhaps not quite as relaxing as the norm but certainly interesting. The AP Shave Co. handle picked up from a handcraft drop (a couple of years ago I think) is perfect for a tall boar, fits perfectly in my dinner plate sized hands. Threw in one of my work reference books, which I only just realised is also on theme for the photo scavenger hunt - happy coincidence.

Cracking shave, smelling good and looking forward to the day ahead.

Hope everyone has a grand day.

Cheers

Marc

#ROTY

#PhotoContest

• Brush: Van Der Hagen Boar Brush

• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85mm Safety Razor

• Blade: Shark Super Chrome

• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Necromantic

ROTY

Jul. 4, 2023
Brush: Wilkinson Sword OUMO Synthetic Tuxedo Smoky Gray
Razor: Green Cult GC 2.0 II
Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux
Lather: Declaration Grooming - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli - Soap
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Sego Base Unscented - Balm

Y/R/P here isn’t the obvious choice and I will respect a DQ from the djudges I will however say this soap is incredibly heavy on florals and is also very wet soily which is the goal.

LATHER DATA

Soap + container before 115.7g Soap + container after 114.4g Soap used 1.3g Brush pressure 250g on avg no higher than 340g Number of swirls 10

WATER DATA

Water hardness: 196TDS Avg Temperature: 23.8 Celsius consistent from start to end within 2 degrees. (Measured at the start, end first pass, and end of shave)

RESULTS

• Start 10:12

• End lathering 10:13

• End WTG pass 10:14

Stubble removed after first pass subjective -60%

• End WTG pass 10:14

Stubble removed after second pass subjective -20%

• End XTG and relathering 10:16

After touchups -15%

• End touchups and relathering 10:18

Stubble remaining ~5% on adams apple and upper cheekbones Shave duration ~6 minutes

OBSERVATIONS * SO is surprisingly tolerant of my excesses * Significantly less usage than previously tested down by roughly 1.2grams

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT * Plan research aim before getting results * Plan April showers theme soap before and don’t hope to be bailed out by helpful redditors the day of.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

July 4, 2023

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm #CHONK
• Razor: Stahly – Live Blade
• Blade: Polsilver (6)
• Lather: M & E – Memories
• Post Shave: M & E – Memories
• Fragrance: Lush – Grass

Morning All, Happy Merica Day

So these morning shaves are killing me but its the lesser of two evils as I know from the last few years that the wife will kill me if I spend too long in the evening larking about.

A quick science shave first thing and I thought it would be a good time to roll out the GUTL created by u/merikus

I Have photographed for documentation here

• 6:15am: The GUTL Experiment Begins
• 6:16am: 2 Grams of Soap added to the bowl
• 6:17am: The damp brush which had taken on 6.6 grams of water due to soaking was then swirled in a clockwise rotation until the protolather was formed.
• 6:19am: I moved the brush to my head and continued to created the protolather in an anti-clockwise rotation 17 times
• 6:21am: Moving back to the bowl I added 4ml of room temp water and began a 20 second clockwise rotation, added 3ml more water which was followed by a 15 second anti-clockwise rotation.
• 6:22am: Moving the brush again back to my head a added 4ml of water to the knot and refined the lather getting ready for the first pass before the next crucial step.
• 6:23am: A 25 second clockwise rotation on the brush in the bowl and the lather was ready along with the reserve lather ready for the 2nd pass.
• 6:24am: The Grand Unified Lather stage was completed.

The science part out the way I revved up the Stahly (well turned the handle) and off she went buzzing away like a Love Honey (Google it if not sure) parcel, I'm not sure the vibrating head brings much to the shave but it added a little variety to the shave and as they say that is the Spice Of Life. This base from M&E isn't too shabby but I find can be a tad airy, the scent however is beautiful with notes of sweet freshly cut grass filling the bathroom and this is echoed by the 0.6ml of splash I used in my post shave.

I finished up with Grass by Lush which for obvious reasons compliments this perfectly. Grass starts as the name suggests with a freshly cut grass note which slowly fades down to a musky almost Smokey hay scent, not a scent I wear daily but nice to spritz on a lazy Sunday sometimes.

PHOTOCONTEST

Lather Games Day 4- April, May, June and July Showers Better Bring Flowers

• Prep: Hot Shower - Preshave
• Brush: Shore Shave 26mm Motherlode
• Razor: Razorock Gamechanger .84
• Blade: Astra SP Green (3)
• Lather: Martin De Candre - Rose Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Ocean Grove Splash

It's another rainy morning here in Southern Maine on the 4th Day of Our Shaving Lords. Fun Meteorological (aka SCIENCE!) fact- In the month of June, we had all of two days without any precipitation here. We had 5.68 inches of rain to be scientifically exact (thanks National Weather Service), which outpaces our usual average of 3.77 inches. Funner Meteorological fact- It has rained every day to start the month of July. A Botanical (More Science!) fact recently learned from a farm with a pick-your-own-flowers operation is that many flowers aren't blooming yet because there hasn't been enough sunlight to help the blooming process along.

Well, I'm here today to bring more flowers to Southern Maine and to you. I wasn't going to use a soap that had flower essences mixed with petrichor. Hell, I can smell petrichor any time I want just by walking outside lately. Nope, we are going for the straight flower note provided by MdC Rose, or, more scientifically, MdC Rosa Rubiginosa. Fun Science fact- there are over 360 species of roses to be found worldwide. MdC is produced in France which is a couple of thousand of miles away from the wilds of Maine, so I'm going to assume that they use the essence of Rosa gallica officinalis. This species is defined as a "compact, fragrant, European rose (Rosa gallica) having usually pink, red, or crimson flowers that yield an oil used especially in perfumery."

To effect this morning's shave, I used my surgical grade US-manufactured quarter to gently lift out 1/8 of a teaspoon into my bowl. After soaking my 26mm Motherlode knot in a half cup of 120 degree water and shaking off .001 liters of excess water from my brush, I proceeded to spend the next minute watching a spectacle of water displacement science turn my solid soap into a pile of foam, or what we call lather. Thanks to Google, "In physical chemistry, foam or foam spray is defined as a colloidal system (it means a dispersion of particles in the continuous medium), where the particles are given as gas bubbles and the medium as a liquid." Now, since we don't love foamy lather around here (except for tomorrow's shave), I proceeded to add 1/8 of a cup of water to my foam creation to produce a shaving product that would meet my needs.

Once I slathered (scientific shaving term) the soap creation on my face, I grabbed my handy-dandy Gamechanger with the .84mm blade gap and started my shave spending 2 minutes going with the grain. A quick rinse of the face with 1 cup of 70 degree(F) water and another slather was done. 2 more minutes were spent going across the grain on my face. Another quick rinse with another cup of 70 degree(F) water and I began my blade buffing clean up. 6 minutes were spent to achieve the end result of what we shave scientists call Baby Butt Smooth (BBS). BBS is the physical state of the skin where stubble is reduced to .025 micrometers making the skin feel like, well, a baby's ass. To finish off my shave, I figured Catie's Bubbles Ocean Grove would be a perfect topper since it is scented with Rosa rugosa, more commonly known as the Sea Rose around these parts. You can find them growing lushly around my property as well and clearly near where u/c_bubbles likes to jump into the ocean at the Jersey Shore.

And that ladies and gentlemen is my lecture for today. Please be sure to wipe the drool from your faces as you lift your heads off of your keyboards and get the sleepies out of your eyes. Have a great day all!

July 04, 2023 – June Shaves

• Brush: Cayuen Abalone w/ 28mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Timeless Shave Bowl, Blue
• Razor: Titanium Henson +++, polished (Tech-Priest Construct)
• Blade: Voskhod (1)
• Lather: A&E – Forbidden Fruit

I polished up my razors with Flitz and now we do our shave today. This soap has both fruit and flowers in the soap notes: Aniseed, Brandy, Cannabis, Cedarwood, Green Apple, Hashish, Jasmine, Oud, Resins, Rose, Sandalwood. Not ultra-flowery, but flowery enough for our purposes. Exquisite BBS finish.

Today's challenge is science, eh? You want science? I'll give you science! How about, The Science of Blade Sharpness?!? https://www.reddit.com/r/ShavingScience/comments/gmc2ex/the_science_of_blade_sharpness_what_is_the_best/

I've lived by these graphs and I went from cutting up my face the first time I picked up a DE razor to baby smooth shave with no nicks at all on a daily basis. The most consistent blades work best for me, I dispose of them after 3 or 4 shaves, and I'm much better off for it. Better shaving through science!

#AprilShowersBringMayFlowers #LatherGames

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6kccBc-FBQ ← “The Engine is GONE!!” The Incredible story of Nationwide 723

2023-07-04 - April showers bring May flowers

Prep:Warm shower

Brush:Yaqi Synthetic - 26mm

Razor:Henson AL13 - Medium

Blade:Voskhod

Lather:Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Soap

Post Shave:Water rinse

Fragrance:Versace - Blue Jeans

Have a great day.

Today I shaved with Talent Soap Factory Wildflowers soap. It’s pretty damn floral, though mildly scented. I went back to the Maggard SHD/AP brush, and my trusty old type Gillette (1918) with a Polsilver blade. I followed up with Stirling City Slicker aftershave and a couple shots of Mayflower edp. I used that new internet age science and just went with my feelings. Wet brush swirled on the soap until I felt like I had the right amount on there and then lathered up my face and dome. I’ll be damned if it didn’t work out just fine. I’m practically a scientist now, hit me up if you need any bullshit science advice.

July 4, 2023 – Lather Games day 4 – AKA Why I failed physics class

• Brush: Dogwood Synthetic – Gully G5A #PREMIUMPLASTIC #SHD
• Razor: Blackland Vector
• Blade: Feather Pro (AC) (6)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – After the Rain
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Shire

April showers bring May flowers, sure. But what about July where it’s been raining pretty much non-stop here? I guess todays theme is perfectly appropriate then.

1 scoop of soap (42 mg), add to bowl and whip up lather for 1 minute, 42 seconds, with 12 drops of water added. Apply lather from bowl to face at the rate of 1 swipe stroke per 21 seconds until there was a healthy layer of foam on the head – the actual density being based on my ρ = m/V calculation, which was 42. Shaved in 2 passes at an exact angle of 42 degrees in short, straight swipes from top to bottom. The density of the AC pro blade was surely also 42, as is the atomic weight of a petrichor molecule. Science is neat!

#PhotoContest

Tue Jul 04 2023

• Prep: A hot shower
• Razor: Merker 34C HD
• Blade: Feather HI Stainless
• Brush: Perfecto Badger
• Lather: Martin De Candre - Rose Soap
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman AS Lotion

Day 4 of the lather games. I really enjoyed the MDC shave. Great lather, great cushion and felt great after the shave.Special shout out to u/loudmusicboy for the sample.

ROTY

• Brush: Ain’t
• Razor: No
• Lather: Rule
• Post Shave: Says

Ahh, Spring. A season of rebirth. Of newness. Of growth. Of… revolution? As we all shave today, in whatever manner we so choose, unencumbered by the need to remove hair, perhaps it is time that we remind ourselves of the birth of the Air Bud Rule that has led us to the Air Bud Quest and it's fabulous ~~prize~~ treasure that you, the most loyal of Air Bud Followers, can win. It has, after all, been a full year since we last came together for the Lather Games and there may be those who do not recall the great words of u/Cowzilla3, though he may now have betrayed them. It all started with a cinematic classic that to this very day has never been topped and a scene that will define a generation of future wetshavers.

I encourage you to watch it now, faithful Air Bud Rulians, maybe the first part of the code for puzzle piece "I" is waiting for you. And remember to join me and the other Air Bur Rulians on r/AirBudRule.

As for science, I think, if one asked 10 scientists nine of them would agree that the Air Bud Rule is scientifically correct. The 10th? Clearly in the pocket of the judges and Big Almond.

July 4, 2023 – Spring Somethingorother

• Brush: Declaration Grooming B3 Theodore “Unicorn Ivory”
• Razor: American Safety Razor Co. – Gillette Old Type clone
• Blade: 7am Hi Platinum Durablade (4)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Summer Storm
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Summer Storm

Got up this morning and went outside to run in the 77-degree, 92% humidity swamp that is central Florida before sunrise in July. 8x400m intervals at 5k pace. I was sweating like a pregnant nun.

Came inside and basically collapsed in a cold shower.

Today’s theme is April Showers and it’s the first time this month I feel like I’m going to have to defend my soap choice. I reached for Chiseled Face’s Summer Storm. Yeah, the tub says “Summer” but today’s theme includes petrichor, which Summer Storm fits perfectly. Come at me, bro.

I under-loaded and got a thin lather, but the ASRC knock-off of the Gillette Old Type is an efficient beast and made short work of my noggin stubble. This is one of those razors I only keep around to use during the Lather Games. The rest of the year, I’m honestly a bit afraid to touch it.

July 4, 2023

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Yaqi Silvertip #SHD
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable #DIAL
• Blade: Gillette Platinum
• Lather: RazoRock - Irish Countryside
• Post Shave: RazoRock - Irish Countryside
• Fragrance: Davidoff - Cool Water

Nothing screams Spring like greenery, allergies, and Green Irish Tweed. And when there isn't a soap of GIT, the next best thing is RR Irish Countryside. The only other GIT dupe I've tried is Stirling's Sharp Dressed Man, and I prefer the RR. Topped off with Cool Water which was created by the same person who created GIT.

Now, for some science, bitch. I scooped up exactly 1/4 teaspoon and smushed it into a bowl. My brush was soaked in precisely a crystal-skull-full amount of water. After ONE carefully calculated firm shake to remove the excess water, the lather process commenced and lasted precisely 30 seconds (maybe more, maybe less, I didn't actually time it). After completing 3 passes, I used an eye dropper to extract what I presume is 1.5 mL (IDK, the dropper stops showing lines after 1 mL) of the splash. Finished with exactly one spritz of Cool Water on my chest. And just like that, Science.

#ROTY

• Prep:
• Brush: Wolf Whiskers Beehive / Maggard Premium Boar 28mm
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Ti
• Blade: Personna Comfort Coated (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co - Bay Rum
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - Vide Poche
• Fragrance:

Bay Rum is the perfect spring scent due to its refreshing and invigorating qualities. With its blend of spices, citrus, and bay leaves, Bay Rum captures the essence of a spring day, making it ideal for the transitioning season. The scent evokes a sense of renewal and adventure, perfectly complementing the vibrant and blooming atmosphere of spring. Its crisp and uplifting nature is sure to energize and uplift the spirit, making Bay Rum an excellent choice for those seeking a fragrance that embodies the essence of the season.

• Brush: AP Shave Co Lemon Drop Handcrafted Shaving Brush Handle w/ 28mm Gelousy SHD Fan Knot #SHD

• Razor: Gillette Super Adjustable #DIAL

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Le Pere Lucien - Rose de Pushkar

• Post Shave: Thayers - Rose Petal

• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Rose Santal

Today's Theme: April Showers Bring May Flowers - My soap, post shave, and fragrance are all rose-dominant (floral), and I don't know what u/Madflava81 is talking about but roses typically bloom starting in May from my experience so roses count.

Today's Challenge: Science or something - I didn't come here to GUTL like a nerd. I happily concede today's challenge. Marco Method Magic for lyfe

My theme for today's shave: Roses

So today I borrowed my fiancee's soap and brush and found out she's been demolishing this tub of LPL like a champ. Roses are a scent that I closely associate with my mom's house where she always had a bunch of rose bushes in the backyard. Her rose bushes were never particularly fragrant but they bloomed spectacularly. I also remember receiving a sample-size vial of Bulgarian Rose perfume (brand unknown) from a family friend when I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. It came in a wonderful wooden case in the shape of a small round flask and I remember it being the sweetest rose scent that I have yet to encounter in my life. For today's fragrance progression I find LPL's Rose de Pushkar is a "clean" rose, Thayers' rose petal witch hazel is a nice easy floral rose, and CL's Rose Santal is a nice deep rose scent backed with a little soapiness from the sandalwood.

For music today, I chose Social Distortion's Love, Sex, and Rock and Roll. Great album that is very much a masculine take on the feeling of longing. It felt like a good complement to a shave progression that was a masculine take on rose scents and I quite enjoyed rocking out to the raspy voice of Mike Ness. Happy Fourth of July, God bless America, please celebrate safely and I wish everyone a great day regardless of where in the world you are located or are from. #FOF #ROTY

July 04, 2023

• Brush:
• Razor: Gillette - King C Gillette
• Blade: Feather (2)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Figarose
• Post Shave:

Brush and aftershave packed in the suitcase and shipped to airport. I scooped up a little soap in my hand and added some water and massaged onto my face to try to create some kind of a lather. Just one pass for a just ok result.

Damn….. I just realised neither figs or roses has anything at all to do with spring….like absolutely zero Figarose sure smells good, though. Probably one of my favourite scents.

Music
“Colombus” - Limousine Spotify / YouTube

u/jeffm54321 I accidentally deleted my post - updated below

UPDATE

u/jeffm54321 , u/pridetwo and ChatGPT saved my ass

”Yes, fig and rose can be a great scent combination for spring. Fig is known for its fresh and sweet aroma, while rose has a delicate and floral scent. When combined, these two scents can create a beautiful and harmonious fragrance that is often associated with the blooming and vibrant atmosphere of spring. The sweetness of the fig notes can complement the softness of the rose, resulting in a scent that is both uplifting and comforting. It is a popular choice for perfumes, candles, and other fragrance products during the spring season. However, scent preferences can vary from person to person, so it's always a good idea to test and see how it works with your personal taste and body chemistry.”

Source: Chat GPT

Science day? Analysis? And Florals?

Jul. 4, 2023
Brush: Wild West Brushworks Sioux Declaration Grooming B9 Badger
Razor: Gillette SS Adjustable (H4) #DIAL * Blade: Personna Super (1) * Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Field Day - Soap
Post Shave:* Summer Break Soaps - Picture Day - Aftershave

Field Day is, IMHO, a nearly perfect example of today’s theme…

In the late 60’s and early 70’s the end of the school year always had some sort of “Field Day”. It was “normally” the short week after Memorial Day. Three-legged races, egg tosses, wheelbarrow races were all the rage. But it was outside, in the early Spring, in Ohio, and often those days had rain delays and thunderstorms.

Had I not used this, Rope Swing would have worked well too.

Rope Swing reminds me of those lazy days spent floating down the Mad River with a 6-pack of “Old Milwaukee” tied to the tube. We did that a lot during the Spring Quarter of 1983 and 1984. :-)

One of the things I appreciate the most about Kyle’s creations is they have been able to take me back to special times, and special places, and most importantly, lots of special memories….

The Razor is my birth quarter Super Speed Adjustable. I used this razor for an abortive Austere August last year. I’m still not crazy about the weight, but the Tech is my favorite and I prefer a lighter weight.

Finally, the brush is “well travelled” in the fact that it went all over the country with me in 2021, including a trip to Maui….

Two passes. Have a great holiday!

Theme song from Peter Gabriel. “Red Rain”… https://youtu.be/DLUp6PNTi7E

Edit: Almost forgot the Science part.

April Showers

• Brush: Djundjila Brushworx – r/Wetshaving exclusive Barber Pole with Maggard G5 knot #FauxFur #PremiumPlastic
• Razor: Wilkinson Sword – Wilkinson Razor #Dial #EightDaysAWeek #SelfSharpening
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Roam
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Roam
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Shire 2

Sometimes, I really need some external nudge to realise things that should be obvious. I've always liked Roam, but I could never find a category in my mind for it. Then, looking through the themes, it jumped at me: Roam is a spring scent. It's the scent of camp site on a spring morning with dewy grass, mud in front of the tent's entrance, and the smell of countless camp fires so deeply infused in the tent and the wool blankets that they never stop smelling of it. To continue this image, I've added Shire: Once you've packed everything up and are back in the saddle, you leave the smoke behind, the morning sun dries the landscape and you get to cleaner grass and tobacco notes.

For the #science part of today, I've kept lab notes: I bowl lathered using precisely 1.02 g of Roam with 11 ml of water, I stropped the #SelfSharpening Wilkinson Sword Tuesday blade for 30 laps on the included strop, and I did three passes with the #Dial on the most open setting. I then forgot about the science during post application (failed to weigh the balm tub before), so I have to report a negative result there (Reminds me of fatigue tests on aluminium frames a friend of my ran. One of the conclusions was that the fatigue failure usually occurred in the research assistant before the frame and that the former needed to be rotated. Alas, I was alone in my bathroom, beside which a rotation of the participant would likely cause me a DQ.) Finally, two spritzes of Shire under the shirt, corresponding to 140 mg of product (2 significant digits only).

Summer Break Soaps has two scent spots dear to my heart: Valedictorian and Teacher's Pet. Both of these reliably put me in a good mood.

I'm shooting for the technology theme in the #photocontest, and I chose close-ups of this fun and ridiculously overengineered razor with explanatory text as medium. In the SOTD picture link, note that there are multiple pictures in the gallery, and that you can hover your mouse of each of them (or long-press on mobile) to see the explanations.

July 4, 2023 – Spring Day

• Brush: Lentfer Custom Woodworks Red & Black #FAUXFUR
• Razor: Gillette Milord #BRASSING
• Blade: Dorco Stainless (2)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Field Day
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Field Day
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Agua Fresca

I'm really glad that biography is still pretty mostly still accurate. Definitely had not read through that in a minute! Despite me acting like a grumpy old man, I do really enjoy the lather games and love this community. It always gives me a special feeling to see my logo or products pop up when I open r/wetshaving. You guys are awesome, especially you person judging my post today.

In honor of the theme, I decided to pull out my RFM (Rocket Freshness Meter) (patent pending). It has been quite awhile since I’ve used Field Day, so I wasn’t really sure how this would score, but I’ll be damned, the Field Day/Agua Fresca combo registered a near perfect freshness score of 19.3 gigafreshies.

July 4, 2023 – Flowers in the Attic

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Maggard Razors MR14/V3A
• Blade: Voskhod (2)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Fleur de France
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Fern

I struggled with today. Thanks to those who humored me with suggestions-and a new addiction to ChatGPT-on the daily questions thread yesterday. Every year after LG, I purge and apparently I got rid of everything resembling spring or flowers or grass. And I don’t really like those things-with one notable exception that will come on dickhole day.

So, I went with this Spearhead Seaforth Fleur de whatever. I figured it had flower in the name and smells like a goddamn funeral home, so it must be okay. I’ve never had a soap that shaved so well and immediately made me want to shower. Well, maybe the Khalifia or whatever that was from A&E that I’ve used on “things that won’t get you laid day”. This lathers like a dream but it smells so bad. I also have very few aftershaves these days and only one fits the bill here, so i went with Barrister and Mann Reserve Fern to try to cover up the stank.

I’m not good with science. Not at all. In fact, that is why I pursued a career in psychology, which has traditionally been referred to as a “soft science”. So in the spirit of soft sciences and todays challenge, I will assume my hatred for floral scents and spring has something to do with my mother and some unconscious repressed memories is some horrific terror that happened in a forest or flower garden or funeral home. And sniffing this French abomination left me a sobbing blubbering mess and I’ll never know why. Unless someone skilled in bullshit detection has a couch for me to crawl onto.

Jul. 4, 2023- Spring has Sprung!

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Omega 10049 Boar #HOLLOW

• Razor: CJB GR100B Kamisori #KAMISORI

• Blade: KAI Protouch MG

• Lather: Grooming Dept - Soap

• Post Shave: T.N. Dickinson’s - Witch Hazel

• Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Z (uncool) Balm

• Fragrance: Sarah Horowitz - The Now EdP

I grew up in the wonderful era of watching Bill Nye while dreaming about taking field trips with Ms Frizzle.I grew up with this thirst for knowledge and suffered through 4 long years of studying engineering in college I then promptly left that all behind to slip the surly bonds of the earth the instant I was offered a pilot slot.

But let’s reignite that curiosity and to quote the greatest scientist on Mars: Mark Watney “Science the shit out of this!”

Djudges disclaimer: this was all conducted with one soap and setup, just did the entire shave twice.

Hypothesis: Warm water is better for lathering than cold water.

Thesis: Due to the hot process that most soaps are created with I believe that warm water in you lather is far superior for building lather with. This is ignoring any personal preference for warm vs cold lather and purely focused on three criteria: time, consistency and water load

We have all thought we had good lather but my scientific process will prove that the most effective method is using warm water.

Deliverables:

1: Warm water creates a quicker lather

2: Warm water creates a thicker, creamier lather

3: Soap will hold more warm water than cold

I start my experiment with my equipment laid out and my trusty Lab Notebook to take notes with. To eliminate any chance of the brush holding any residual heat I start with the cold side of things. While I don’t have any thermocouples I do have a nice meat thermometer to monitor the temperature of each lather.

Process:

Step 1: Soak brush for 5 minutes in the respective temperature water.

Step 2: Spread 1/2 tsp soap in bowl

Step 3: Load brush. Timer started

Step 4: Add water in 1ml increments

Step 5: Analyze lather created

Step 6: ~~Profit~~ Shave

Results: As you can see in my very organized notebook the warm water lather is clearly superior in all aspects of my test. Not only does it take less time to lather but it made a perfect consistency bowl of lather that held more water than the cold water.

Boom! Science Bitch!

My #photocontest entry for today is for the #Literature theme made as scientific as possible.

Edit: Forgot any scent theme justification. This is the 2022 Kairos version. It is clean and floral scent which is perfect for spring time!

July 4, 2023 – Hail Science

• Brush: Omega 40033 24mm #oldworld #hollow
• Razor: Gillette Superspeed
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (2)
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory – Wild Flowers
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Bergamot Lavender
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli

Ah spring, season of renewal. A time to come out of the doldrums of winter. This is perfect timing actually as I’m still working to come out of the doldrums of my stupid mistakes day two. Perhaps, this theme day will provide the renewal I need to get out of the ~~dog~~ Airbud house.

Wildflowers seems appropriate, did you know wildflowers are the first thing to return after a fire and some flowers require a fire to grow? May I rise from the ashes of stupidity like the flowers. I will keep hashtagging and #FOF the scent progression seems somewhat obvious here, bergamont lavender (playing on lavender being a flower) and Y/R/P. Y/R/P is, per Shawn, based on the Missouri Botantical Garden, a place well known to all St. Lousians. While we may not go every year, we often make it out every few to see the flowers. My earliest memories of it are of going into the “Climatron,” a giant geodesic dome that holds an artificial rain forest. The humidity was a lot even for us Midwesterners and so you’d always get a punch to your breath when you walked in. Then go looking for the banana tree, because who doesn’t live bananas? (Soap to make appearance later.) Back when I was younger it seemed an expansive area, now it seems so small. We’re members now, but mostly for the butterfly house (which is much closer and more my kids style.) But (bringing us full circle) a little known piece of the garden is “Shaw Nature Reserve” out in Grey Summit, a massive property maintained as mostly natural land with…you guessed it! Wildflowers galore. It’s about a 35 minute drive and we go out a few times a year to let the kids run around in the prairies and play on the nature scape playground.

For the challenge: As I told u/merikus on the discord, I cannot go full shit post. It’s not my style. So I’ll be competing as much as possible still by trying to hit every challenge to the best of my abilities. As a former lab jockey, this one was right up my alley. But Beer brewing is where I devote my science skills. As a current research administrator I’m familiar with many aspects of the NIH many people can’t seem to care about. For example: Did you know the NIH has an Office of Alternative Medicine?. It changes names every few years to make sure it stays up to date with the most current technology (and out of the reach of people who may criticize it.) But to me it will always be OAM, shelling out millions a year test the boundaries of traditional ways of healing. And in the vein of a study designed to test “energy Chelation" on rabbits I present a study to test my ability to transfer my negative emotions to my stubble, ultimately to my soap, and down the drain.

Step 1: Find a quartz crystal. I am to understand quartz is essential for this project. However I have no quartz. Until I realize my bathroom counter is “artificial granite” which is basically ground up quartz held together by epoxy. I now have a 6 foot long emotional resonator.

Step 2: Choose brush. The Omega will do, the hollow handle provides a place for the negative emotions to build up and transfer to my lather. But wait you say, transfer to the lather? That goes on your face! Yes, but the emotions are inside me, so to the lather and ultimately down the drain. Step 3: Choose a lathering method known for attracting powerful emotions. GUTL it is.

Step 4: Build lather, during this process as I add water I imagine my emotions being poured into the lather.

Step 5: Shave, while shaving push your emotions into the stubble, causing them to be severed from the body.

Step 6: Rise away emotions. Repeat 5 and 6 for 2 more passes.

Based upon initial results I can report that I feel significantly better. I’m now only 30% pissed at myself. More importantly, this experiment can serve as preliminary data that, based upon my fairly substantial knowledge of the NIH granting process and OAM’s thresholds, would provide a serious chance an R01 devoted to the study of the mediative practice of shaving. I believe there’s enough here to propose the ApplIcation, appRopriateness and Benefits of Using Dedicated grooming thinking to help emotional wellness (AIRBUD) trial. I’ll have to see if u/cowzilla3 feels up to being Co-Investigator. R01 grants run about 700k/year plus F&A (Overhead).

On to #photocontest: Listen, I was serious about being able to only hold that schtick for so long, so here’s a picture that hits the SPACE theme, with our solar observing telescope. There’s a partial eclipse in October, and a full eclipse in April, and we’re preparing. Later we’re going outside to continue documenting sunspots, so my daughter can see how the sun changes over time. (The reflector scope was too damned big for the picture.) But also, please stop funding the OAM.

Am I DQ’d from #ROTY Unsure. But I’ll keep putting the hash all month long just to be safe.

Edited: Fixed some markdown. I hope this worked this time.

Edited again: effing hashtags. This isn't a bit I'm doing I just fuck up this much. Which is why being caught in the spam filter killed me.

2023-07-04 — It's July

• Brush: West Coast Shaving - Lantern Brush, Silvertip, Ivory
• Razor: QShave Adjustable #DIAL
• Lather: Extro Cosmesi - Liquirizia e Magnolia
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Obsidian (Glacial)
• Fragrance: Lulu & Bee - Magnolia & Orchid

Challenge Accepted: Science again! I said science again!
(I feel like I should disclaim that I am 100% pro-science. If at any point it sounds like I'm denigrating science, I am not. I also realize I'm very unlikely to be the only one to talk about this.)

Science is one of those things that people everywhere have very strong opinions about, though many—regardless of their stance—may not really be aware of what it is. So what is science?
"Why, surely it's the field of study that deals with hard facts and such, like physics and chemistry, yeah? That's why come our challenge today is all about precise measurements and such!"
Those are sciences, sure, but that's not what science is.

Science is a philosophy, a framework by which one can seek to better understand the nature of... nature. At its core is the Scientific Method, by which one forms hypotheses from observations, tests these hypotheses' predictions, thereby generating more observations, rinse and repeat. Ad infinitum (this part is pretty important).

Put another way, science says that, in order to best understand nature, we must first try to explain what we see, and then try to show that that explanation is wrong. In order for this to be possible, the explanation (theory) must be falsifiable. All scientific theories, by definition, can conceivably be shown to be false.

Enter pseudoscience, which is anything that purports to be science, but does not adhere to the scientific method. A common (but not exclusive) way that pseudosciences deviate from science is with regard to falsifiability.
It is common for pseudosciences to claim to be able to explain anything under their purview, but done in a "just-so" way. These explanations come after the fact; i.e. phenomena are shown to be explainable under the theory as those phenomena arise.
No predictions are made or tested. Why would they be? If the theory can explain everything, then there's nothing that can prove it wrong. If it can't be proven wrong, then it's not science.

Can you believe I actually pared that little rant down by at least 50%?
Oh shit, I'm actually supposed to do something sciency...

Relevant Post Shave and Fragrance: The lather's featured notes unite the distinct prominent scents of the otherwise disparate post-shave and fragrance.

Brush: I'm supposed to disclaim here that I paid $0.00 for this brush. Same story as yesterday: I was buying other stuff, saw that this brush was $0.00, and so I added it to my cart and paid $0.00. If they were trying to clear inventory, that's an effective way to do it.

Razor: This knockoff Futur not only checks off a hardware box, but I'm not convinced that the adjustments really do anything, so this also seems like a decent enough place to pretend to to some science. Hypothesis: if the adjustment settings do anything more than fuck-all, then I will be compelled to avoid a certain range of settings in favor of another. Not super precise, but I'm comfortable enough with the sciency-ness of it.

I'm relying on my subjective assessment of the shave, so I chose to start by going back and forth between extremes before moving to an intermediate setting, checking on those subjective assessments along the way.

Starting off with the lowest setting, it was immediately clear that that was awful. Hypothesis confirmed! The highest setting made for a bit too much blade, so I moved it around a bit from time to time and settled in around 3.5. Side note: I do not care for how much wider wider the head of the razor is beyond the length of the blade; it makes precision under the nostrils difficult.

Lather: I also went ahead and measured my soap usage, because why not. I've seen you guys with your little scales, so I followed suit: by comparing the weight of the jar before and after loading, I was able to determine that I used exactly 0.0 lbs of soap. Huh, I guess the jar's almost empty!

I love anise and licorice; in fact, Stirling's Obsidian was one of my first shave soaps. Fast forward to last year, when I saw this post by u/Marquis90, I knew I had to try Liquirizia e Magnolia.

#FOF

With both licorice and magnolia sharing the spotlight, this soap would be right at home on either Floral Day or Spice Day! I opted for the former, because I thought it best to err on the side of caution, just in case someone decided that licorice wasn't the right kind of spice (not that I'd expect that, especially if they'd tried the Amarelli licorice used in this soap; that is spicy and, speaking from experience, not unlike just chewing on licorice root).

The magnolia accord in this scent seems to envelop the licorice, serving to mellow out its spiciness. They interplay in a way that gives me the impression of an uneasy balance, like a cease-fire in which either one could easily overcome the other if it so chose. Either the magnolia smothers and suffocates the licorice, or the licorice breaks through and overwhelms the magnolia. But the balance rests in this uncertain push-and-pull.

Post Shave: Enter Obsidian, on the spicy side of the battle. Licorice and anise are not quite the same, and they seem interchangeable in my mind, but their subtle differences start to seem more apparent when side-by-side.
I find that Stirling's Obsidian tends to be a bit on the sweeter side (as determined by their supplier's harvest, as I understand), especially when faced with the bold spice of the Amarelli licorice. But they are on the same side of this war. (It's a war now)

Fragrance: Enter, uh... Grandma.

I don't know what I expected with this perfume (and it is a women's perfume), but all I get from it is "Grandma." It is the essence of a crocheted doily draped over a coffee table that is adjacent to a mauve recliner with... yup, some kind of crocheted doily thing on each arm. And the back. That's also where the bland colors of the brush fit in.

Now that I've put both of these on my skin, these two representative armies—the aftershave fighting for the glory of the spice vs the...knitting—continue to fight on my very person. I am really glad I don't have to be near people today; the anise is not winning.

#photocontest

Photo: Fruit
I was about to call this vegetable, considering that, botanically speaking, a vegetable is any edible part of a plant. And then I realized and confirmed that the star anise pods are the fruit of that plant. Science!

I'm compelled to science things up a bit more. The razor thing was in the interest of following the letter of the challenge, but this was my first idea. Forgive me for not formalizing a hypothesis here, but I am going to try to replicate the Ouzo Effect! If you're unfamiliar, anise-flavored liquors like ouzo, pastis, sambuca, and absinthe, when water is added, change from transparent to cloudy; this has to do with something from the anise being soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water, so it separates from the alcohol when water is added.

First, I'm guessing I'm probably going to need some kind of anise extract, so under the assumption that I make that in the same way as vanilla extract, I'm going to need some of the purest vodka. I don't drink, so I'm just going to use non-alcoholic vodka. And to save time, I'm going to heat that up to boiling before adding the anise and letting it... extract for 5-10 minutes or so.

Behold our anise extract! As expected, it is transparent and non-cloudy. Now, when we add the water...
Horse shit! There you have it, people: I have disproven the Ouzo Effect! Yeah science!

https://imgur.com/a/XhSpLIs

• Lather: Dr. Jon's - Flowers in The Dark
• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Rockwell 6C (R4)
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge Yellow
• Post Shave: Thayers - Rose Petal Toner

Problem: Shaving with floral soap to obtain a reasonably comfortable and smooth shave.

Constraints: My face (middle-aged male, average facial hair hardiness, 1 day growth), VA water make-up.

Inputs: Flowers in the Dark (prominently floral scent, vegan base) shaving soap, Rockwell 6C adjustable razor with 4 plate (.61mm blade gap), Gillette 7 o'clock SharpEdge blade with 12 uses (6 on each side).

Experiment: took shower using normal procedures. Wet brush with 120° water, ensured damp but not dripping. Swirled brush directly on soap for 40 rotations. Swirled brush in mug for 100 rotations. Applied lather to face. Shaved with the grain for one pass, rinsing every 4 strokes. Shaved against the grain for 1 pass, rinsing every 4 strokes. Rinsed face with 100° water, dried with towel. Applied Rose Petals toner (with hazel based).

Results: smooth shave with no irritation. Exuding floral and rose scents with ozone overtones.

Have a great day folks!

July 4, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm G5C
• Razor: Blackland Razors Vector
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (AC) (5)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Two Kings
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Two Kings
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Sunrise on LaSalle

For a person who teaches statistics, data science, and has a degree in mathematics I sure suck at coming up with science experiments. This is going to be a two part experiment. I always load my soap in the same pattern. I count the swirls, “1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, … , 29 2 3 4, 30 2 3 4.” I always stop at 30 no matter what. I am going to do a head shave later with the Moar Boar to see if there are any differences in soap usage between brushes. Will post the results in a follow up edit later tonight.

Morning shave: the load pattern used less than a gram of soap (scale read 167g before and after) with the G5C, still enough lather for a 3 pass shave. Evening shave: (EDIT begins here) After drying all day, the scale read 166g for the soap. So I'm calling the before weight a high 166. For my night time head shave I used the same loading pattern, on the same tub the only difference is that I used the Moar Boar instead of my G5C. Before drying down, the scale bounces between 163 g and 164 g. So, accounting for some weird floating points that my terrible scale is ignoring, the Moar Boar uses at least twice the soap per load as my G5C. Conclusion: If you want to kill tubs twice as fast, use the Moar Boar. (EDIT Ends)

For today’s shave, This is the most floral scent in my collection. I don’t really get the rose they advertise, but I get A LOT of the lily and the jasmine. The florals just put me in a mood that feels like today is going to be great.

Healthy Activity of the Day: Hanging out with some friends for the holiday today. Continuing my 2 day trend of getting out of the house even though I don’t have work or obligations for another month. LG Mileage: 8

Tags: #ROTY

Jul 4, 2023 - April Showers Bring May Flowers / Yeah Science, Bitch!

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 28mm Declaration Grooming B13 #SHD
• Razor: RazoRock Game Changer .84-P #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [3]
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Mayflower - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Tres Matres - Eau de Parfum

Abstract:
This scientific paper presents an examination of shaving techniques employed by individuals in their daily grooming routines. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of various shaving methods, the social implications of their shaving routines, and the overall satisfaction of users. A controlled experiment was conducted, employing a sample of seventy-six participants, at the time of writing, who were tasked with shaving using different razors and shaving lubricants. The results provide valuable insights into the efficacy and user experience of diverse shaving approaches.

Introduction:
Shaving is a common practice for personal grooming, involving the removal of unwanted facial hair using various methods, such as manual razors, electric razors, and shaving creams. Despite its widespread adoption, there remains a dearth of scientific research on the comparative effectiveness of different shaving techniques. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the impact of shaving methods on hair removal efficacy, skin irritation, and subjective user satisfaction.

Methodology:
Seventy-six participants volunteered for this experiment. Participants were required to shave at least once daily and post commentary about their shave experience on social media.

Procedure:
During today's shaving session, three grams of a shaving soap with a Spring-themed fragrance was carefully measured, loaded into a designated bowl, and adequately mixed with approximately twenty-five milliliters of water to produce a sufficiently hydrated lather with which to soften the facial hair and lubricate the shave area. The participant was instructed to shave the facial hair using a manual safety razor. After each pass, hair removal efficacy was assessed by measuring the remaining hair length using subjective sensory input. Skin irritation was evaluated through visual inspection and subjective self-reports using a standardized scale. Additionally, the participant was asked to rate overall satisfaction with the shaving method.

Results:
1.0 Hair Removal Efficacy:
The manual razor with shaving soap demonstrated the highest efficacy in hair removal, leaving the shortest hair length on average (p < 0.001) compared to other common shaving methods.

1.1 Skin Irritation:
The participant reported significantly lower levels of skin irritation after shaving with a manual razor over other shaving methods (p < 0.001). The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.072).

1.2 User Satisfaction:
The participant expressed the highest satisfaction with shaving using a manual razor and shaving soap. The differences in user satisfaction ratings between other common shaving techniques were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Discussion:
The results of this study indicate that using a manual razor with shaving cream offers superior hair removal efficacy. Additionally, the manual razor with shaving cream exhibited lower levels of skin irritation and higher user satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of adequate lubrication during shaving to minimize skin irritation and maximize user satisfaction.

Conclusion:
This study provides valuable insights into the efficacy and user experience of different shaving techniques. The findings suggest that individuals seeking optimal hair removal results with reduced skin irritation and increased user satisfaction should consider using a manual razor with shaving cream. Future research could explore additional factors, such as different fragrances with shaving creams or the impact of pre- and post-shave skincare routines, to further enhance our understanding of the shaving process.

Rating: 4.5/5

Edit: Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Thäter Faux Ivory 29mm 2-band Silvertip
• Razor: Tatara Muramasa (setting: 3) #DIAL
• Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless (1)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - After the Rain - Soap
• Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Post Shave: Unilever - Brut - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

---

The Declaration Grooming description of this scent is "Like a walk through a forest after a spring shower". So, I've got that going for me -- which is nice.

After the Rain was among the first soaps I purchased when I became interested in the hobby side of wetshaving. There's a tiny bit of sentiment attached to each use. A very nice shave today.

I'd say that Brut goes well with today's soap scent but, if you're of a certain age, Brut goes well with everything :)

I'm skipping today's challenge. It's too much like real work for me, and I'm (sort of) retired.

Theme: Water #photocontest [Yes, I finally realized there are photo themes]

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Maggard Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: GEM – Star #TWINS
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (1)
• Lather: E&S Rasage Traditionnel – O’Vert
• Post Shave: E&S Rasage Traditionell – O’ Vert
• Fragrance: Roberto Cavalli – Uomo

Difference between science and screwing around

Me: “Welcome to our new episode of Mythbusters – Lathergames edition. Today, we have a special guest. Let me introduce you to Mr. Science Link”
Mr. Link: “Ha,zig,yeah!”
Me: “We have an international audience, would you please switch to english?”
Mr. Link: “Okay”
Me: “We have seen a lot of Posts regarding GEM razors. Their reputation speaks of hard to use and unintuitive handling, which will be rewarded if mastered. Another myth we want to crush is that the maggards badger is not suited for samples and precision lathering. Mr Link, what will we use today?”
Mr. Link: “As you mentioned, we will use the Maggards no name badger brush. We will precision lather today. We also need to use a Gem. u/Teufelskraft send us a GEM Star to try today. Thanks to him. We will also use a sample from him called O`Vert as soap and aftershave to be on theme.”
Me: “But then we dickhole. Isn’t that bad?”
Mr. Link: “I have read your post yesterday. I dont think you consider a dick to be that bad!”
Me: “Let us start. I dressed in a bathrobe, because it looks a bit like a gown.”
Mr. Link: “I want one too!”
We will first soak the brush while we brush teeth. Mr Link, can you stop the time?”
Mr. Link: “You took 16 seconds to load your toothbrush and 86 seconds to wet your face and clean your mouth. That means we soaked the brush for 4 minutes and 32 seconds as we germans brush teeth for exactly 3:00. Did I mention that it’s unnecessary to soak a badger?”
Me: “I just like to soak my brushes wet.”
Mr. Link: “I also like things to be soaking wet, just like Yo Mama” Me: “We will now swing the brush to get the water out. 4 times should be enough to get it damp.”
Mr. Link: “Why did we soak it, when we use it damp?”
Me: “Because Cosmobarber said so.”
Mr. Link: “BeCaUsE CoSmOBaRbEr SaId So”
Me: “He was lathergames champion, and who are you?”
Mr Link: “I am the hero of time, and i see that you are wasting my time.”
Me: “Lets start to build some lather for 30 seconds and see how it goes… The brush swallowed all lather. We need more water”
Mr. Link:”MMMHHHH, feels so good to be right NSFW)”
Me: “We will add 8 ml of water and try to get some lather for 30 more seconds. Mr. Link, can you tell us about the waterquality here?”
Mr. Link: “14,8 dH”
Me: “Mr. Link, can you put that into perspective for our readers?”
Mr. Link: “Yes. Imagine you have a tea party than you do not need to serve crackers. How is the lather going?”
Me: “Its shaveable, but wont be great.”
Mr. Link: “I know.”
Me: “Why did you not say anything?”
Mr. Link: “You need to learn. Add more water!”
Me: “Thats what Cosmo would do too.”
Mr. Link: “Sigh!”
Me: “Lather is better, but we can get better. Add 12 more ml. It looks pretts good now. Mr. Link, what do you think about the brush and its clip?”
Mr. Link: “Looks sus to me”
Me: “I agree. But let’s give it a shot.”
Mr. Link: “Don’t bleed to death.”
Me: “Teufelskraft told me to hold the cap really flat to the face. Let’s see. It works damn well. I can barely see any hair on the razor but the result is fantastic, even for a first shave.”
Mr. Link: “You learned from the best.”
Me: “But the comb prevents me to get my mustache area clean.”
Mr. Link: “Then grow a mustache and stop looking like a baby.”
Me: “I ‘ ll look like a hipster if I do that and I don’t like them.”
Mr. Link: “You listen to synthwave and wetshave. You are a hipster!”
Me: “How much soap did we use according to our scale?”
Mr. Link: “Both scales are out of battery. In what kind of household do you live?”
Me: “At least I do not live in a trea with a cow. What do we say about the scent?”

FOF

Mr. Link: “It’s as grassy as it can get. It got heavy notes of fresh mowed grass in it. Before it overwhelms you, it turns earthy and moss comes out. The scent is as green as my armor.”
Me: “What will we combine it with?”
Mr. Link: “As grassy notes are rare in your fragrance collection, I bought you some Roberto Cavalli Uomo. Do not get confused by the scent description. Woody, oriental? Give it a try and you will see. Maybe you get an idea why i picked it for today.”
Me: “Mr. Link this smells interessting. It got woody notes, yes but its very floral.”
Mr. Link: “Correct. Black violet. Interestingly, although its a head accord, it stays very long and you will get it for a long time. It also got woody and honey notes, which are also on theme. Due to to violet it starts almost feminine. Give it a few hours and its a dark floral scent thats interesting to wear. You are now twice on theme. You have grassy and floral parts in your shave.”

FOF end

Me: “Mr. Link, anything else you want to add?”
Mr. Link: “Yes. Two things. 1. Nothing burned, not even your skin fromthe aftershave. Nothing exploded.”
Me: “But look at the Myths. We proved that GEMs are awesome and busted the myth that we can’t lather samples with the maggards brush.”
Mr. Link: “Because you are a morron. For how long are you wetshaving?”
Me: “Three years maybe?”
Mr. Link: “Disgraceful”
Me: “You wanted to say a second thing?”
Mr Link: “Are you aware that you are talking to a puppet for an hour now?”

Character Mr. Science Link, Cosmo References

Character Mr. Science Link, Cosmo References

July 4, 2023 – April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: WildWestBrushworks – Campbell – Maggard Boar
• Razor: Blackland Dart
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Catalan’s Prairie
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux – Catalan’s Prairie

Happy Fourth! I’m going to paste the scent notes below.

“The scent of blooming flowers in a springtime prairie with a gentle breeze sweeping through that reminded the Spanish traders of their native land, or even the majestic region of Castille, inspired this floral-heavy scent, with notes of violet, jasmine, freesia, lavender, labdanum and sandalwood.”

Lather Games 2023 Day 4

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: Mühle - Rocca Jet silvertip fibre
• Razor: Razorock - Lupo OC 95 SS
• Blade: Gillette - Platinum
• Lather: MacDuff - Spring cabin
• Post Shave: Osma - alum block
• Post Shave: MacDuff - Spring cabin

Top secret

Undisclosed location

Science military base "MacDuff"

Operation "Spring cabin"

Mission purpose: to get most danger Close slick shave.

Test subject: tier 1 top operator

Substance: 1.71 g explosive soap

Catalyst: 18.5 ml heavy water

Integration: 007 methodology - stirred not shaken

Weaponry: Razorock, model: "Lupo," division: SS, cartridge: Gillette caliber: Platinum, ordinance: Mühle- Rocca Jet propelled

Mission conclusion:

"this substitute is made for slick and razor sharp operations"

My original plan is to use whole Mühle Rocca Jet set ( because is black like night operation, black ops ) but today I was surprised by delivery! The new Razorock Lupo! I was so excited so I put it directly in action! It was a great shave! The base of the soap is amazing! Great sickness and firm cushion. Lupo perform really well. I love it! After the Lather games I'm gonna make battle between Lupo and R41! And why not if i can manage during lather games. Will see if I have opportunity. Test subject Out!

ROTY

User posted a slick, short, well edited video of him enacting his shaving science experiment. It was well produced, captured the essence of the science shave without being too long, and indicated a significant level of effort put into the shave. One of the best overall posts I’ve seen so far.

User posted a slick, short, well edited video of him enacting his shaving science experiment. It was well produced, captured the essence of the science shave without being too long, and indicated a significant level of effort put into the shave. One of the best overall posts I’ve seen so far.

JULY 4, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm /#FAUXFUR
• Razor: Gillette 1964 Solid Handle Tech Razor
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rwar
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Wonderer
• Fragrance. Zingari Man - Wonderer

Happy Latheurth of July everyone!! (You see what I did there! Lather+fourth) anyways this morning was a struggle to find myself a measuring device to log in my shave with Rawr. Which was amazing and thanks /curbsidechamp for the amazing gift…. Again - Seriously if it wasn’t for all the amazing help I have been getting I would be super lost. Just to name drop some of the help I have been getting: u/curbside_champ, u/tsrblke, u/EldrormR, u/ginopono, u/mitosismonkey, u/Groundbreakingrole45, yes I do park in the wetshaving handicap spot. I am honestly competing to JUST not get disqualified lol…

Here is my morning science experience!

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: Incorrect lathering technic has lead multiple cases of weepers and nicks thus creating an overall dissatisfaction of morning wetshaving experience. This study aims to learn and improved the lathering technique and explore the methodology and its influencing factors that lead to a better shaving outcome. (Full Disclosure, I am in no way shape or form an expert and this is my full and complete opinion based on all that I have read in this forum within the past year, secondly I read a whole lot of health care research and YES they are this boring!!)

Design and method:

Materials: Copper shaving bowl with ridges, shaving brush (synthetic), ~1 tsp shaving soap (4.5 grams average). 15ml average of H2O (40 degree Celsius). Method: Mix H2O with soap produce lather

Results: The measuring of lathering had an exact correlation with the amounts of water and soap combined. (50% Vs 65%, p=001)

Conclusion: Getting the right amount of lathering slickness and consistency is a very complicated procedure that should be explored further in order to fully comprehend the intricacies an improper mixture can develop.

Keywords: Slickness; Lathering; Weepers; Nicks;

/#ROTY

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks purple burl AP Shave Co. 24mm MiG
• Razor: Karve CB SB-D
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Tres Matres
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve – Coeur de Vert

TLDR: Abstract to my manuscript on my addition to the shaving literature below which concludes that more studies are needed for variable control in shaving. Tres Matres is the perfect choice for floral and petrichor accords, fitting for this rainy New England ~~day~~ month. I followed up with APR Coeur de Vert which has floral notes in violets and lavender, but also grassy notes which I associate with Spring. From decay to life. Happy 4th of July for those who celebrate it. Edit: pets for #PHOTOCONTEST

Background: Shaving is an activity that is commonly associated with the “Your mileage may vary” though process. However, with careful control of variable, it may be a notion that is overdue for a new thought process. This is the first study of its kind to describe shaving at our institution with carefully controlled variables which aims to propose a model for a larger, multi-institutional, double blind, placebo controlled study. With this model, we compared careful measurements of soap and water with nothing to determine a better shave. It was approved by our institutional review board, protocol #1.

Methods: The study population was all face shavers at our institution from July 4th, 2023 through July 4th, 2023. There were no exclusion criteria to represent the general population as best as possible. Each shave was carefully controlled for variables. Soap was measured with 1/4th teaspoon then adjudicated with weight to confirm accuracy. Water was measured in a likewise manner. All water was carefully sourced from a bottle, to remove any inconsistencies that faucets may introduce. Bowl lathering was preformed to avoid unnecessary, non-measured water additions. Shave was performed in the usual two pass manner according to facial hair orientation, with face splashes only from bottled water^1. The primary outcome was shave satisfaction on a 1/10 scale with consideration only to efficacy. Scent, post-shave feel, and safety outcomes were also collected. The use of mean, chi-squared, fishers exact test, and multivariate regression analysis will be performed where appropriate.

Results: There was 1 patient included in this study. The shave satisfaction was rate a 9/10 with a mean of 9/10. Scent was rated an overall 7.5/10 on soap and 8.5/10 on aftershave. The safety outcome showed 1 weeper, on the neck.

Discussion: Our study was successful in demonstrating a pilot for a large study. It also showed that satisfaction is possible with control of variables. Additionally, it showed that bottle water may be better than faucet water in regards to control. Although this study was successful, there are several limitations. It was underpowered to do any statistical analysis so only descriptive statistics were used. There also was the unweighed water face splashes, although type of water was controlled. Lastly, a new blade was not used which would control for variability with razor sharpness as best is possible.

Conclusion: This study is a valuable addition to the literature as it showed that compared to nothing else, you can shave in a controlled manner. This sets up the opportunity for a a model for a larger, multi-institutional, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Disclosures: /u/nathlam15 provided the aftershave for this experiment in a extremely generous pa y it forward (thank you!!!)

References: 1. /u/merikus. Copy Pasta how to shave. Journal of /r/wetshaving. Revised 2023.

July 4 2023 - Lather Games Day 4

• Brush: Omega 11137
• Razor: Gillette Flat-Bottom Tech
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox(2)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Coeur de Vert
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve - Coeur de Vert
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Bois Marocain

With a name that translates to Heart of Green and notes of rose, geranium and French grass, this is a perfect springtime scent. Unfortunately we’re headed out of state for a wedding today so I didn’t have time to science it up but it was a fine shave nonetheless.

July 4, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/JAZBtfG

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger Shave Brush

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (1)

Lather: Stirling Queen of Hearts soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Stirling Queen of Hearts aftershave splash

This was a great shave. Stirling is an awesome soap and this scent is killer.

Challenge: For science I used a teaspoon (at least I think that's how much that lil spoon holds) of soap and once I mushed it into my scuttle I realized this was far too much soap for a single-pass shave, so I took about 1/2 of it back. I lathered in a clockwise motion for exactly one minute, then again in a counter-clockwise motion for exactly one minute. That's about as scientific as my shave got today, but it was a DFS.

#ROTY

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Mammoth coin Rumble brush #SHD
• Razor: Karve Shaving Christopher Bradley
• Lather: Southern Witchcraft - Fougere Nemeta
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcraft - Fougere Nemeta Splash
• Fragrance: Catie's Bubbles - Blugere

ROTY

Ok tried to be as scientific as possible so I collected a bunch of data during my shave. Also wanted to begin by saying that Fougere Nemeta isn't just one of my favorite spring specific seasonal scents, it's one of my favorites of all time. She really did a wonderful job with this one and I couldn't imagine not having it around. So thanks Southern witchcraft for making amazing products. I appreciate you.

Oil pen weight: 28.3 grams

Prep face wash 13:24 - 13:27 Soap used: Maggards lime and bergamot

Pat dry face with black sheep shave towel

Warm and fill Thirsty Badger soaking mug. Temp: 106F (Fell to 95F after 10 minute soak time elapsed)

Dry brush weight 104.2 grams

Brush soak for 10 minutes 13:32 - 13:42

Weight after 1 medium strength shake and 10 minute soak 132.8 grams

Brush held approximately 28.6 grams of water after soak and shake.

2.3 grams fougere nemeta shaving soap from Southern witchcraft 

5ml water added to soap after smush down to bloom for 5 minutes 13:37 - 13:42

20 circles counter clockwise followed by 20 circles counter clockwise 5 times to form lather

Face lather 13:46 - 13:49

Shave 13:49 - 13:55

Cold water rinse and pat dry face

Applied Southern Witchcraft Fougere Nemeta Splash 2.6 grams used. (223.4 splash bottle weight to start 220.8 finish)

.1 grams Caties Bubbles Blugere applied directly to chest to finish off this spring fougere celebration.

Oil pen weight after shave: 28.1 grams. Looks like I smoked about .2 grams of weed oil during my shave. I'm baked now!

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts X John Butcher 24mm "Mark" Brush with Tuxedo Synth Knot
• Razor: Gillette SuperSpeed #REGUS
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword
• Lather: Grooming Dept – Soap (Kairos 2022)
• Post Shave: Lather Bros – Flora Colussus Balm
• Fragrance: Jimmy Choo – Flash
• Music: Dream Theater – Another Day

Happy 4th of July to everyone out there and a Happy Independence Day to my fellow American Shavers & Shavettes. For Americans, today is a day to celebrate declaring our independence from England by eating hot dogs, lighting off fireworks, and hopefully ending the weekend with the same number of fingers as we started with. And for r/wetshaving, we celebrate by shaving with spring-time scents! Today, we have florals, grasses, and petrichors. Oh my!

Today, I shaved with Soap soap by Grooming Dept, in the Kairos 2022 base. I specify that, because this Soap soap’s scent notes are white florals, rose, and fresh air, HOWEVER Grooming Dept has released a few different soaps called Soap, so things can get a little confusing. The good news, however, is that white florals and rose are spot on for a spring-time theme. When I smell this soap, the first adjectives that come to mind are fresh flowers and clean. I’m immediately hit with floral characteristics as soon as I open the tub and it continues on as I give it a good lather. It’s like I’m walking down a path of a botanical garden. I literally contemplated taking a Claritin thanks to the abundance of florals in this soap (note: I did note ACTUALLY consider taking medication because of the soap’s scent. By “literally” I meant “figuratively”). The soap smells great and performed wonderfully.

My commitment to #ridewithItchy and not dickhole for every day of the Lather Games continues, as I finished the shave with Flora Colussus, because what is the best way to finish a floral shave? With the COLUSSUS OF FLORALS! I actually don’t love this balm. I bought it randomly because it was on sale and it smells good, however, it is mentholated and it makes no mention of that on that front of the package or in the product description. The first time I used it, I thought my face was about to burn off. Seriously, I actually thought I was having an allergic reaction, but nope. I checked the ingredients and sure enough: Just menthol. The product description says “Besides healing and nourishing your skin after a shave, it also offers great relaxing and calming feeling for those stressful days.” Ummmm… It wasn’t calming or relaxing when my face was unexpectedly melting off! So, a note to all the artisans out there: Please make it abundantly clear if/when you add menthol to your products. I need to mentally prepare myself for that sort of thing.

For today’s fragrance, Jimmy Choo’s Flash was the perfect #FOF pairing. It was like Soap’s better-looking twin. It’s floral and perfect for Spring Day (in the Summer). If I had to literally (figuratively) take Claritin for Soap’s lather, then I’d definitely literally (figuratively) take Flonase after spraying this one on. Smells wonderful, like I’m walking in a field of flowers. It’s Spring in a bottle and you don’t need allergy medicine to enjoy it.

I was very fortunate my white roses are currently in bloom, because it made for a pretty good #photocontest pic. At first, I tried to perch the soap, razor, brush, balm, and frag in the bush and take a pic like that, but the branches couldn’t hold it, and I kept pricking myself on the thorns, so I cut off a few roses, and sprinkled on a few petals for good measure. Made for a better pic plus far less pain for me. #winwin

DISCLAIMER: I won this soap, “Soap”, through this PIF by u/GroomingDept. It has in no way influenced my opinion of the soap, “Soap”.

For today, we have a science challenge. And who doesn’t love science?? We’re here, discussing shaving on the internet thanks to science. You know the expression that “baking is a science and cooking is an art”? Well, yeah, I’ve always been better at cooking than baking. When I bake, it drives my wife crazy because I’m not the best a measuring things. If I have a 12 ounce bag of sugar and a recipe calls for 4 ounces, I’ll just eyeball out a third of the bag. And apparently that’s frowned upon. And like my cooking style, my shaving style also goes more by feel. So, a challenge like this is somewhat of a… Well…. Challenge. But, no one said the Lather Games was going to be easy! So, let’s cook I start of the shave by soaking my brush in warm water while I take a shower (about 10 minutes). After the shower, I go immediately to the sink and turn on the hot water, I replace the brush soaking water with fresh hot water again and fill up the sink while loading from the tub (approx. 30 seconds). Take the brush and swirl it in the soap tub until a decent lather starts up, then bring it to your face, and start to build a nice lather into your skin. Continue doing this until the lather has a nice sheen and the bathroom sink, counter, and mirror are covered with lather that went flying off the brush. The bigger the mess, the better you’re doing. When all is said and done, loading from the bowl will use a little less than a gram of shave soap. As far as the shave itself goes, the sharpness of the blade will decrease by approximately 7% after each pass. Upon completion of the shave, wipe everything down and tally up how much water you used. My sink faucet operates at 2.2 GPM, and I let the sink fill up for approximately 30 seconds while lathering. Fortunately, the water is already hot, so we don’t need to account for losses from getting the water hot, so I’m confident I used less than 1.5 gallons of water for my shave. Then, of course, I needed another 3 gallons for clean-up. All things considered, the shave took 13 minutes, 26 seconds. Yes, this is all standard, and no, I didn’t measure a damn thing, but who says science needs to be exact or accurate??

For today’s interview, I have the dude who made the shaving brush I used today – Stephen Joiner of Dogwood Handcrafts. I feel so fortunate that I just recently acquired one of his brushes and I really need to have him create a custom one for me at some point in the very near future. So, r/wetshaving’s favorite brushmaker was such an amazing sport with this request. I sent every artisan 10 typed out questions and u/Phteven_j asked if it would be okay to record a video instead. Ummmm… Hell yes it would! Originally, I thought maybe I’d type out his answers, then I watched his video. So, Stephen answered all of my questions and more in this 27 minute video. Thank you so much Stephen! You have no idea how much I appreciate you doing this. Since this is video format, I’m going to include the questions I sent him below with timestamps to his answers, but honestly, watch the whole thing. It’s insightful as all get-out and Stephen goes on a great tangent or two. Such a great dude to do this. And Fuck Mojo Handcrafts (you’ll get this once you watch the interview).

Ten Questions with… Dogwood Handcrafts

1) Have you always had a knack for creating? Whether it be art, or things that are functional, or the functional art that you’re known for today?

:50

(INTERVIEW CONTINUES IN THE REPLY)

Interviewed Phteven (paid?!)

July 4th, 2023 - April Showers Bring LG Flowers

• Brush: AP Shave Co - Ivory Purple 26mm G5A Premium SHD #PREMIUMPLASTIC
• Razor: Parker Adjustable Injector #DIAL
• Blade: Parker Injector
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr Splash
• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Orris Forest
• Tea: Harney and Sons - Royal Palace
• Music: Mazzy Star - “Fade Into You”

#FOF

Happy Independence Day to my fellow denizens of the USA. I’d say Americans, but today’s challenge is all sciency and stuff, so saying Americans is just too imprecise. There are many countries in the American continents, so need to be a bit specific. I forgot to say happy Canada Day to our neighbors to the north. That was Sunday and the work holiday was yesterday. My team at work is half in Canada, so I am learning more about the different holidays. Thanksgiving in October? Well the harvests are earlier the further north you go, so makes some sense to have it earlier.

Special Challenge:

Today’s challenge came at a very opportune time for me. Last week I bought a new kitchen scale for some recipes I want to try. All the measurements are in grams, so easier to get the scale than a bad volume conversion. How to perform a more precise lathering for my shave? Well weighing the soap was easy. I scooped a bit more than I needed and used 2g of Rawr. Now for the trickier part, I weighed my cheap kiddie bowl and brush (127g). 2g of soap was smooshed on the bottom of the bowl. I got warm water on the brush to start (approx 40C or a decent hot tub temp). I shook out most of the water and started liading the brush. The residual water got a bit over half the soap off the bowl and loaded into the brush. The weight of the initial water was 3g. I added more water in splashes of about 3g each and decided the lather was ready after 16g of water was added to the bowl. Before the shave started, the weight of the bowl, lather, and brush was 145g, so an increase of 18g, with 2g being the soap, and 16ml of water (approx. 1Tbs). I continued to weigh the set after each pass. An average of 2g per pass was used (5 total for 3 passes). My scale is only to the nearest gram, so I didn’t get a good reading on how much splash or EdP was used.

Today’s Theme:

This was one of the first lathers I picked for the games. I was having trouble with the Christmas/Winter theme and almost switched out. Noble Otter - Rawr is one of my favorite scents. It is frequently listed as a spring scent. I think it is the grassy dandelion note that brings it about. To me it smells of new growth in your yard after a good spring rain. I love that it is a celebration of fatherhood, and I can associate it with Father’s Day which is usually in late spring, but some years can fall on the summer solstice. If I had to juggle things around, I did have a few alternate spring scents, but I was happy to bring in my favorite.

Today’s sponsor spotlight:

Summer Break Soaps brings to mind two alternate choices I could have gone with today. To my nose, Prom King has a similar feel to Rawr. Plus Proms are a spring event. My other choice would be Field Day. My daughter’s school field day was in May. It is a great grassy spring scent. Recently it was announced that one of my favorite SBS soaps was being discontinued. R.I.P. Bellringer. I broke down and bought a spare tub. Not supposed to be spending more, but I need to have a good supply of that fruity scent (apple is the strongest note for me in Bellringer). Not intentionally a fall scent, but the scent of apples has a strong fall association to me. I’ll use it year round.

The other day was Wholly Kaw’s spotlight, and I didn’t get them in my write up. Their soap Eroe (Italian for hero) is a Father’s day tribute, and could also have been my choice today. I have a couple more WK soaps, but Eroe was one of the first artisan soaps I got, and I really like it.

Ok, how was the shave?

The shave itself took a little longer with all the measuring and prep. The lather was excellent (hard to get a bad lather out of Noble Otter soaps). For the Parker Razor, I’ve settled on 3 as my setting for this. Like my other injector razors, the head angle means holding the handle a bit less steep than a DE razor. It does a decent job of mowing the lawn, but I don’t think I’ll ever get BBS with it. Still a DFS and close enough. One strange thing for my beard, as I have aged, my beard has gone from a mix of dark blond, light blond, and red to mostly white and some blond. I don’t get 5 o’clock shadow anymore. My skin looks paler as the whiskers grow.

Today’s Fragrance:

Going through my set of samples and when I got to Maher Olfactive - Orris Forest, I found my spring scent. The description is of a nouveau fougère that is a flowery spring scent. It adds a bit of earthiness with the patchouli, oakmoss, and musk. The floral notes keep it from getting too dark. I am really enjoying these scents I picked up from MO and Chattilon Lux. While I would like to get the Rawr EdP someday (plus Barrbarr, Thè Noir, and Manoi de Tahiti), I like this combination. Strangely, they don’t have scent notes that are the same, but somehow Orris Forest is making the scent of Rawr stand out stronger for me. Usually an EdP can overwhelm the soap and splash, but to my nose, this one is lifting up the scents from the soap/splash. Today I think I got about my best mix yet. I’ll give it a solid A-, just edging out when I paired Treachery.

Haiku number 4:

The soap tributes Dads,

Add even more springiness,

Makes me shout out Rawr!

2023-07-04 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: Yaqi Rainbow (26x55 Synthetic)
• Razor: Gillette Tech (1947-1950 English fat handle) #BRASSING #REGUS
• Blade: Permasharp (13)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Field Day
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Bonafide
• Fragrance: Christian Dior - Dior Homme Eau for Men

Field Day meets every technical requirement for today's spring theme, but it's also exactly what my garden smells like on a fresh spring day after a good downpour... rainbow in the sky, irises blooming like mad and filling the garden with their luscious aroma, a hint of damp earth and ozone in the air... It's one of the most legit "this smells like it's supposed to smell" "nature" shave soaps I've ever experienced.

Followed it up with more irises via a Prada L'Homme dupe aftershave and some legit actual Dior Homme Eau, courtesy of /u/dganjo who bought too many bottles of it when it was discontinued and sold me one of his backups. :)

Hashtag #fof for wally.

July 4, 2023 – LG Day 4 – April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Super Stainless (Green)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – La Petite Prairie

We begin today by breaking out the drug scale – my Escali scale I use in my kitchen isn’t precise enough for Breaking Bad day. I measured out what I figured would be enough soap (NO Rawr) for a quick two-pass, gentle shave – it came out to 1.43 grams. After putting that soap in my Captain’s Choice ceramic shaving bowl, I pressed it down as smoothly and consistently as I could, trying to simultaneously minimize the loss of any soap on my thumb or otherwise. I then weighed my synthetic brush, which interestingly weighs 85 g on the dot. Once dipping it in warm water and shaking out excess, it weighed 89.51 g, indicating 4.51 g of water. I then loaded the brush with 140 counter-clockwise swirls around the bowl with moderate force. I then brushed the soap from the loaded brush onto my head, leaving a consistent but thin layer of Rawr. I then put my brush on the scale, tared the scale, and dipped my brush in water again, shaking out a bit less this time. This time, it was 7.81 g of water. I built a lather on my head with the wet and soapy brush, using 80 counter clockwise swirls over the entire surface area of my scalp. This was followed by 40 lateral swipes of the brush to even the lather for a more consistent shave. I then loaded a brand new 7 O’Clock SS blade into my Gillette Ball-End Tech, and shaved my head with 35 swipes across the grain.

It was at this point that I got simultaneously bored and overwhelmed with trying to keep track of everything, leading me to remember why I didn’t pursue the hard sciences. But I wasn’t just going to give up on the daily challenge. Instead, I shifted to what I know best – the soft sciences.

I’m a therapist/clinician specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment commonly considered the “gold standard” for borderline personality disorder, which is also strongly efficacious for transdiagnostic emotional dysregulation. For my second pass, I decided to use some core DBT mindfulness skills. While lathering and shaving during this second pass, I was able to shift my focus completely away from counting and precision, and rather notice what I was sensing and feeling, both emotionally and physically. I noticed the gentle feeling of a mild razor cutting the little stubble I had. I noticed my muscles become less tense as I was able to let go of concerns about having a precise or perfect shave. I was able to notice the feelings that Rawr bring – feelings of calm and peace, evocative of springtime and the outdoors, the childlike fun of playing outside without the adult concerns of yard maintenance and capitalism.

When I rinsed off my head, I was able to observe the pleasure of the temperature difference, with a warm washcloth wiping away any remaining soap, while leaving behind the pleasant fragrance of Rawr. I sprayed La Petite Prairie and immediately noticed a judgment – this is a sample I meant to put in the giveaway pile. Noticing this judgment, and careful not to judge myself for judging (a core DBT mindfulness skill), I allowed myself to step back and notice what I was sensing, instead. I noticed the tartness and sourness of rhubarb, which I recognized as the note which sparked my reaction. Allowing myself to be one-mindful, I also noticed the springy florals, and as I write this now, I begin to notice the woody undertones that become more prominent after the dry down. All of these notes mix into Rawr, interplaying in a way which allow me to enjoy both scents, free of those negative judgments. DBT also teaches me that even if that sourness was still present, I can distract myself, accept the things I cannot change, and tolerate my distress to continue on my path toward a life worth living. #FOF

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Yaqi 22mm Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Rawr Splash
• Fragrance: Giorgio Armani - Code

Happy Spring! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the bees are buzzing. Spring is in the air… In July… Okay. Mentally, I’m channeling Spring today, and fortunately, I have Noble Otter there to help me out. Their spring-time scent, Rawr, smells amazing and has a cute little backstory about kids yelling RAWR to try to scare their dad when he got home from work. The soap smells great and Noble Otter was one of the first artisans I used after I fell in love with my wetshaving starter pack. Can't recommend this soap enough

It is spring in a shave – Bergamot, orange, dandelions, cedar, vanilla, and musk. The bergamot and dandelions really show through to me. (Sidenote: Did you know every part of a dandelion is edible?) I had an aunt that used to make dandelion wine and it was delicious!

I used Armani Code as my fragrance because it shares bergamot with Rawr and also smells like spring and citrus. They go great together and the Code really built on what Rawr left behind. #FOF

This was my first time using this brush is it has some serious stank to it. Like, a wet dog. Who is also homeless. And has been dead for a few days. And it wasn’t that soft either. I got in cheap from Yaqi and it shows. Hopefully once the funk comes out it, and it breaks in a bit, it will turn into a decent brush, but even if not, I got a hashtag out of it. I have a really nice Gelousy from AP Shave Co and this brush is clearly not in the same stratosphere as my Gelousy.

SCIENCE!

• Put 6 ounces of warm water in a mug and soak the brush for 10 minutes
• After 10 mins, remove an almond size chunk of soap from the jar (use an actual almond from yesterday’s shave if you have one for size comparison)
• Press the soap into the sides of a shave bowl.
• Swirl the wet brush into the bowl, occasionally adding a milliliter or two of water at a time until a nice lather builds up. This should take 2 minutes or so.
• The key to a good lather is hydration, so don’t be shy adding water. When in doubt, add water. If that doesn’t work, add soap.
• Rub the lather on your face and shave. Dipping your razor into the mug to rinse it off, when needed. The shaving part is the easy part. Let the razor do the work and don’t put any pressure on the blade.
• The razor should remain sharp for anywhere from 3 to 15 shaves, depending on your whiskers and your technique.
• And finally, if you have any questions about the science of shaving, or science in general, post a question on facebook. I’ve found that many of the people I went to high school with ended up being becoming science experts over the last 3 and a half years. It’s extra impressive because these are the same people who struggled with school when I knew them, so kudos to them for learning something new in their spare time when they aren't cashiering at the Walmart in town. It’s never too late!

Spring-Themed Shaving Science: a Failed First Attempt to Investigate the Water:Soap Ratio in a Shaving Lather

First published: 04 July 2023

Abstract

There has been considerable discussion on r/Wetshaving of the importance of using sufficient water when building a lather for shaving. Here, I made an attempt to examine if my usual judgement by feel actually gets close to what may be the optimal ratio for today's soap.

Discussion

Today's challenge is "science." Now, science, of course, is not measurement, no matter how precise. Science is a process where you test a hypothesis through experimentation and prouduce evidence to support or contradict it. I am aware people colloquially use "science" to describe any kind of research whatsoever, but today I will not condone it. If there is no experiment, it cannot possibly be science. If there is an experiment, then it might be science, even if you're not measuring precisely.

Therefore I think "shave like it's a science experiment" should mean experimenting with your shave to test a hypothesis, regardless of the precision of your measurements. When considering what hypothesis I might test within a single shave, I believe my options are limited. Most would be best tested via many shaves. Not only do multiple trials allow the identification outlier data, but also reducing variables to a single independent variable: even within a single shave, each pass will be different, and different parts of my face are different.

Also, of course precision in measurement is helpful, even crucial, depending on what you're testing. I'm not arguing it has no place in science, merely that it is not a sine qua non.

I settled on the question of whether I am still not adding enough water to make an optimal lather, despite all the discussion in this forum on the topic over the last few years.

Equipment

• Brush: Omega 20102
• Razor: Gillette NEW long comb
• Blade: Topaz Platinum (64)
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Save the Earth
• Post shave: Murphy & McNeil - Ogham Stone
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - 42

Methodology

Normally, when shaving I never measure the soap or water precisely, I judge the ratio by feel: id est, does the lather "feel" wet enough as I work the lather on my face? As I conceived of the experiment immediately before the shave, and am concluding it just after, there was insufficient time to determine a baseline measurement of soap & water.

I shall instead pick an arbitrary amount of soap to start with (0.8 g) which I expect to be sufficient for the shave. I'll then gradually add water a few grams at a time and work it in, judging first by appearance in the bowl, and then by working the lather on my face, adding more water until I "feel" it is ready. This should mimic my normal routine well enough to start at the same baseline.

I'll then complete the first pass and note in qualitative judgement how the shave feels. I'll then add more water to the lather remaining in the bowl, lather my face again, and complete the second pass, noting any qualitative differences in how the shave feels. This process shall be repeated for the third pass, although if the lather feels far too wet in the second pass, I may decide to add more soap in addition to, or instead of, water, for the third.

Results

For the initial preparation, I found with 0.8g soap, approximately 19.3g of water approached what I consider a "normal" feel appropriate for shaving. This gives my first pass a water:soap ratio of about 24. I had soaked the brush well before the shave, and made sure to squeeze out as much water as I could: I wanted the bristles fully soaked so that they would not absorb any water from the lather, but I also did not want to throw off my water measurements by letting an unknown amount remain in the brush.

The first pass felt good, while it was a little tuggy, that is to be expected when using a blade which has been used for sixty three prior shaves. The "drippiness" of the lather may also be relevant: the lather gathered around the razor's head while shaving, and would drip off only when a large amount had gathered (enough to fully obscure the base plate). However gently shaking the razor will also cause most of the lather to drop off.

Before the second pass, I decided to add about 10% more water: I added 3.0g to the bowl. And only after doing so, realized my mistake: I failed to weigh out how much lather I had built, nor how much remained. Therefore I no longer know the ratio, because I no longer know how much soap or water remains of what I had initially added. If I had removed one third of the lather for the first pass, the water:soap ratio might now be approximately 29. But this was not measured.

Still, I shall press onward. The second pass lather is noticeably wetter than I usually shave with. However it is not wholly unfamiliar; since my usual process is not precise, I will sometimes add enough water to reach approximately this same point, I think. While shaving the lather will easily drip off the razor head without accumulating much. The feel of the shave is still quite normal however. It is less tuggy than the first pass, but that is to be expected as the stubble is shorter by this point.

Before the third pass I added yet more water, 0.9g, to make the lather wetter still. Indeed, as I lather my face again, it is now dripping down off my face and neck where I spread it by gravity alone. Again, if I suppose half the remaining lather was used, the water:soap ratio might now be about 33. Also, while I thought it would be sufficient, 0.8g was too little soap for this shave. I had sufficient lather for the third pass, but only by scooping every last bit out of the bowl. Thus my estimate of one-third of the total being used for each pass.

During the shave, I again perceieve no significant difference from what I would normally expect. This pass feels slightly rougher, but that is to be expected in a pass against the grain.

Conclusion

The methodological failure to measure the amount of lather built, or how much was used in each pass, invalidate any guesses at the ratio when adding more water after the first pass.

Still, within the bounds of a single shave, I did not notice a significant difference in the quality of the shave as additional water is added. Here the limitation of performing the experiment within a single shave also reduces the quality of the data and conclusion: it would be better to judge the quality of each pass with each ratio. While I certainly could have prepared three different lathers for this shave, I chose not to, due to time constraints.

Based on the lack of significant qualitative differences noted between passes, beyond what would be expected by the different nature of the passes, I would conclude that this soap has a fairly wide range of optimal performance.

But as is often written, more research is needed.

July 4, 2023 - April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Farvour Turncraft / AP Shave Co G5A 26mm #PREMIUMPLASTIC #SHD
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89 #TWINS
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Tres Matres - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Petrichor - Splash
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Albizia - EdT
• Music: Ying Yang Twinz - Whistle While you Twurk

Daily Write-Up
Twins, Basil. Twins… First of all, an objective look at these two razors..

On the left, the Merkur R89. On the right the Edwin Jagger DE89.

Clearly these must be fraternal twins. The family resemblance is clear, but they’re clearly not identical.

The EJ has some ornamentation on the baseplate, which makes it stand out against its brother. A little more beautiful, I could argue.

The EJ also has tighter knurling than the Muhle. Again, more attractive, though I think the deeper knurling on the Muhle makes it easier to hold when wet.

Weighing them, the heads weigh the same, but the EJ is a ¼ oz. heavier. I can commiserate with the EJ; I too am the fat sibling. The EJ has a slightly longer handle (that doesn’t quite fit in an Altoids tin for travel). So, much like me, the EJ is the tall sibling, the beautiful sibling, the aesthetically pleasing yet less useful sibling.

But while I can commiserate with the EJ, I just don’t like it. This razor is the sole source of all of my really bad shaving cuts. Something seems off with the head - I suspect the culprit is a set of threads that aren’t quite right and they sometimes keep the head from being fully screwed into the handle. I have really sliced myself with it multiple times. Odd, because this is reputationally a very mild shaver.

I took care to ensure it was fully screwed in today, and got a good, if unremarkable and bloodless shave from it. Once it’s fully engaged, it does seem to shave about like the Muhle. But as you can see from the pictures, my Muhle gets used. It’s my go-to travel razor. The DE just sits around (in my drawer) and does nothing. Again, I can relate.

But, in my experience, isn’t that how twins go? Usually you get one good and one evil twin. I know that was the case with my nephews… or at least was when they were teens. /u/Specialist-Quiet-833 please research and report back 18 years from now.

I took care to weigh out my soap. 21 grams before the shave, 19 grams after the shave. For a total of 2 grams of floral and petrichor-scented goodness. Precise measurements are important when you’re attempting to control for all variables in your shave.

I slowly incorporated 2 smitkens of water to build a fluffy lather in my bowl. A smitken, the newly recognized scientific measure of liquid volume, happens to be exactly the same volume as the cap from an Ice Mountain water bottle. Big Water strikes again. I had a total of 16 grams of slick, fluffy lather based on the weight of the bowl when empty.

Music Justification * I tried to come up with some twin-related music, this is all I could find. But, I quickly changed back to David Bowie, because the Ying Yang Twinz gave me cephalalgia, which is science for “a headache”.

Soap Theme Justification
* Description of the soap: A tribute to the classic horror franchise “Suspiria”. A floral accord on a petrichor base with citrus top notes. Though the citrus notes are there, this soap is all spring with the floral and petrichor taking over.

Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes
* For the aftershave and fragrance, I took specific components of the soap scent that I wanted to pull out and emphasize.

• The soap is a floral accord on a petrichor base with citrus top notes. I tend to gravitate towards citrus scents, so I specifically picked complementary scents that didn’t play to the citrus and instead pulled out the floral and petrichor components.

• Obviously the Barrister and Mann Petrichor after shave works on the latter piece - I find this to be a criminally underrated scent, but reading the discussions about it whenever it is used, it seems like it is a particularly polarizing scent. Will hit the note bang-on though – while my Northeastern friends like /u/loudmusicboy have had nothing but rain for the past two months, here in the midwest we’ve had a historic drought. That was finally broken a couple weeks ago, and I remember standing on the back steps of my house and breathing in the smell - it was EXACTLY as Will created. Interestingly, I think the soap and splash are crazy close to each other in how they smell.

• Albizia, one of my favorite Wetshaving scents, plays to the floral notes in the soap. Based on the description - it is intended to evoke the feeling of walking through a dewy meadow just as flowers are beginning to bloom - to me it smells like the bike trails near my hometown, especially in the month of May. The weather is just starting to get warm, and the scents that will be in full force in summer are just peeking their heads out and making themselves known. While I didn’t use the Albizia soap for the Lather Games, I’m glad I could slot in this EdT, because I think that while this scent in soap is really good, it shines in the EdT.

It’s interesting for me when this day comes around - Spring is the hardest day for me to slot in my calendar - because, as I commented at the end of the year last year, 3 of my top 10 scents are Spring scents (and actually… if I were to do this list again, I think Petrichor would end up on the list too). I have House of Mammoth slotted later this month for something else so the Alive soap won’t make an appearance on my Lather Games schedule, but if you haven’t gotten a chance to experience it, I highly recommend making your way to their website and picking up a sample.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

• Brush: Declaration Grooming - Cream Jefferson - 28mm B16
• Razor: Wolfman - WR2 0.75 DC x WRH2
• Blade: Personna Med Prep
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Mayflower - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Mayflower - Aftershave

Day 4 of Lather Games: ... Mayflower is for Springing

This is the perfect scent to celebrate the blossoming of spring all around you while avoiding the same types floral scents that you have grown tired of over the years. 

LG23-04: April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Maggard Razors 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE86
• Blade: Astra SP (26)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Field Day - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Summer Storm - Aftershave
• Fragrance: INeKE - Balmy Days & Sundays
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Traveling and therefor whatever's in the Mr. Coffee
• Music: Lou Donaldson - Blues Walk
• LG Tags: FOF

I'm still enjoying vacation time with the family, so I wasn't able to measure, scoop, and lather with precision, but I'll describe my lab space in the spirit of today's challenge:

• We've got eleven adults and two kids competing for two bathrooms, so I'm keeping things contained to take up minimal countertop—a very mise en place arrangement. All my products are pre-scooped into sample containers or a sample aftershave sprayer.
• I like to scoop and load from a bowl, so I packed an empty Stirling shave soap tub. Won't shatter if I drop it and I don't need to cut into the limited dishes supply. I spread my soap out into the lid—it fits in the hand perfectly—and then load from there. I'm using just under 1/4 teaspoon of soap since this 24mm synthetic knot uses so little and any extra lather is just going down the drain.
• From start to finish, I'm taking way less time to shave than I normally do. A minute or so to load up the soap with lots of water, another minute or two to lather, and then about a minute for each pass with a minute or two in-between to rinse and re-apply. Leisurely shaves aren't an option at the moment.
• Audio feedback is strong throughout the shave, as the only competition is music playing softly from my tiny phone speakers.
• The water here is softened. I've said it here before and I'll say it again—if you have the option, get a water softener. I'd argue it's an even more significant variable than soap base.

For today's lather, I chose a Spring Break Soaps product (🍻 to today's sponsor spotlight) that was marketed for Spring, and prominently features floral, grassy, and petrichor accords. It's got it all. If you enjoy the scent of cut grass, this is one of the best options in the hobby; Field Day takes that distinct smell and adds the wet, dirty-green odor of settled morning dew or overnight rain, along with a bit of woody cedar in the base. Floral notes (iris, floral aldehyde) are more subtle, but present, and provide a beautiful backdrop for the rest of the accord. Along with the original version of Gentleman's Nod Jackie, Field Day is the most photo-realistic recreation of bright-green turf I've encountered. It's wet grass threaded with clover, sneakers rapidly turning bright green as you chase after the Frisbee at high speed, skidding to a stop. There's a bit of mist left in the air, but it's going to be a hot one.

Speaking of hot days, only today's lather needed to be a Spring scent—and not a scent marketed for other seasons—so Chiseled Face's Summer Storm avoids the DQ gavel. (Not to mention Summer Storm confusingly isn't marketed for the season and is available all year.) I mentioned last year that it's probably my very favorite aftershave, but it's a particularly good match with Field Day, playing off the damp soil, grassy, and floral notes. I'm always struck by how pretty it is—get past the wafting geosmin and there's a gorgeous medley of jasmine, lily of the valley, geranium, and mild citrus. It's a wonderful way to wake up after a morning shave.

Continuing with a day in the yard at Springtime, I left the dirty notes behind for my fragrance. Balmy Days & Sundays is relaxed, gentle, and contemplative wear, with a fresh green cast from grass and freesia. It really does smell like a humid day, toes dug into the grass, nearby trees and garden beds at full bloom. The floral notes are lovely, but also smell like they're drifting on the breeze, enjoyed in both aggregate and from a distance. Balmy Days & Sundays even smells a little soapy, especially right after applying; the official scent notes mention freesia, honeysuckle, and rose, but I'm almost certain that's from the combination of musk, "chypre accent," and mimosa. This is a wonderful option for folks that like their florals restrained and natural-smelling, especially if you enjoy green fragrances in general.

Jul. 4, 2023
Razor: Blackland Vector Ti
Blade: Kai Captain ProTouch MG
Lather: Talbot Shaving - Cades Cove - Soap
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Bare - Aftershave
Post Shave:* Ariana & Evans - Post Shave Balm - Balm

Dry brush: 104g

Damp brush: 123g

Loaded for 20s

Loaded damp brush: 122g

Lather: 13ml water

This soap is marketed as a late spring/early summer soap. Grassy and watery scent, like a lake or..cove in the late spring or early summer. Great base on this soap.

What was interesting is that the loaded brush weighed less than the damp. Must be the water leaving the brush and going onto the puck that outweighed however much soap I loaded. Busted out the syringe for measuring the water, and this soap could have taken on more if I felt like it but the lather was nice regardless.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

** Lather Games Day 4** 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Noble Otter Synthetic 26mm
• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85MM Safety Razor
• Blade: Derby Premium
• Lather: Taylor of Old Bond Street - Rose
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Behold The Whatsis balm

A perfect excuse to use a one note floral sample that I got in a sample pack but had no desire to use. It smells like roses and roses smell like old lady. Behold the Whatsis covers it up nicely though.

ROTY

July 4, 2023 – April Showers Bring May Flowers * Brush: Paladin Chief 26mm Satin Juma Smoke
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder
Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Sonder Splash

Spring is in the air, or at least it smells like it until I step outside into the 110°F degree weather. A perfect day to be inside for a scientific approach to lathering.

The Prep: As with any good research experiment preparation is a must as is exacting measurements. My brush was placed in a 115°F water bath with a standard 196g Captains Choice bowl was similarly warmed separately using 130°F water. Facial hair was softened using an approximately 116°F water during a 9 min shower. 10mL of 120°F water was set aside for the lathering process. Ambient temperature was measured at 78°F.

The Lather Process: The copper bowl was emptied and dried before a scoop of House of Mammoth’s Sonder (1g) was added to the bottom of the bowl and spread evenly within the middle circle. The water in the presoaked brush was gently shaken out and weighed to confirm 9g of water were still present in the brush before use. I added .5mL of water into the copper bowl containing the soap and moved the brush in a counter-clockwise motion at a rate of approximately 2-3 circles per second. After 30s of brushing, .5mL more water was added and brushed again for 30s. 2 more additions of water, 1mL each, were added and similarly lathered for 30s. At this point not all soap had been used from the bottom, but the lather was fluffy and shiny indicating the lathering process was sufficient.

The Shave: Once the soap was fully lathered is was applied to the face in an even consistency and gently removed in a with the grain first pass using a damp razor. Any remaining soap was rinsed before again lathering and removing with a second across the grain pass. In the interest of not traumatizing the subject, no further passes were attempted. The entire process took a total of 8 min.

Post Shave: All remaining soap was rinsed using room temperature water and approximately 1mL of aftershave was applied gently to the skin. Upon drying the skin had a healthy appearance and the subject reported a good post shave face feel with no injuries.

Theme: Sonder is a delightful spring time scent with florals that are not overly powerful yet still quite present.

Challenge: I was a glutton for punishment in my college years and spent some time in the organic chemistry labs doing research. I just felt right to me to gear this more as a lab books experimental notes than a research paper. Hope you guys enjoyed.

#ROTY

2023-07-04 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: Yaqi Ferrari 26mm
• Razor: Gillette Slim
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Lycanthropy

The scent reminds me of a summer garden full of flowers after the rain and I tried to show it on the photo

Tags: #ROTY #photocontest flowers

2023-07-04 Of "Plough Winds" and Tornadoes

• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Above The Tie - Calypso Blue V2 SB90, DE
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Un Jour Gris
• Post Shave: Oz Shaving - Tornadic

Nice shave, the Un Jour Gris always does a good job of evoking a gray rainscape of a day. I pulled in the Tornadic to bolster the ozone and rain notes. Small nick under the nose nothing big and easily solved.

____________

Being from the US Midwest spring can be beautiful, however sometimes a bit dangerous. As a result I will be leaning into the description for the day requiring "or Prominently feature floral, grassy, or petrichor accords"

A quick survey of the scents involved...

Un Jour Gris (soap) - petrichor, vetiver and sandalwood

Tornadic (aftershave) - Oakmoss, musk, rain, ozone, and mahogany.

Both lean into spring storms and their results.

And as such there is a specific feature to Spring I am looking to for this shave.

Storms, "Plough Winds", and Tornadoes on the Prairie:

Spring brings flowers and fresh air. A chance to crack open the windows and release the staleness of your metaphorical hibernation (just ask Persephone if you are into Greek mythology).

But as with all things, there are small caveats, conditions, requirements placed upon the joy.

In the Midwest spring comes with storms.

Birds mill about warily, house flies begin to bite, small mice hurriedly work at their chores before hiding, and squirrels shaking their fluffed tails on ground and tree decide on a proper response to what they know is coming.

On the plains you can smell a storm before it arrives. This wind is known as a "gust front" and runs on ahead of a storm as you feel the temperature drop.More scientifically it can be called a downburst but to the observer emotion matters more. Ignoring the sound of the gusts and the rumble of distant thunder. These gusts drive their own scents of warning to one waiting for the storm to arrive. Upon these unsettled winds which move forth to present themselves as a heralds, various scents are picked up, and added to the churn.

The advancing gust steals up petrichor from the grounds inside the storm lofting the scent high into the air, then mingles in any ozone from the breath of searing lightning blasting it downward and tumbling it across the ground before the storm. Grasses, flowers, weeds, the trees that line the creeks and crops now waving not gently shake and give up dusts and pollen and their own general scents almost as if sweating nervous tannins, florals, hay, and dirt into the low ground bound moist and charged atmospheric river.

At best a small rain follows.

Or, perhaps a violent downpour with lighting blasting the sky and earth, brilliant as if being nature's own artillery followed, by the chasing cannon rumbled boom of thunder.

At worst a "Derrecho" also known as a "Plough Wind" shears across the landscape toppling and cutting or a tornado with it's freight train sound mills the very ground marking it, scoring a track into the ground and picking apart houses into small unrecognizable pieces, grabbing cars and random items and dashing them into fields.

And afterward a weighted mugginess with all those scents remains entrained in place. Those who suffered through remain to sort the damage.

But the flowers don't mind. Though their scents have been blunted by the storm - out of the earth they will spring again.

Take care and Have a good day.

7/4/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian #SHD
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Juniper Reverie
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Two Kings EdP

I have a hard time with this daily challenge. I forgot to measure stuff during my shave, along with other steps to make an extra post. So I'll just speak to the experience.

This Juniper Reverie is another smush in from u/J33pGuy13. I don't typically care for Juniper. Recently, I tried NO Jack and wasn't a big fan because the Juniper was so strong in it (even though the overall scent strength is pretty weak). This was a little different of a story. The juniper opened up with a bit of citrus and cognac, then transitioned to add in florals and a little bit of incense. It was a unique experience that I didn't expect.

When I think of spring, the fresh blooming of flowers is at the forefront. So, I wanted to add to the floral in Reverie. Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli legit smells like walking in a garden. To build on that, I added the NO Two Kings EdP. The combination of the three was amazing. I came out of this shave smelling like an amazing garden. As the juniper disappeared behind a wall of yuzu and rose, the backround was filled with a combination of Patchouli and Oud and a little incense and spice.

This Filarmonica is a wonderful addition to my rotation. A first run Gen 1 Doble Temple JMP. I got incredibly lucky with this blade, both in price and just getting my hands on it. It sings the prettiest note when stropping and is easily the most talkative blade I have. The steel has such a light and gentle feel and the size behind it helps it move with serious conviction. It still has the edge I first put on it, which is good but still just of tester quality. I will revist it here shortly, now that I know the temper is fine, and give it the best to my skill set as I can. Fantastic shave today.

#ROTY

Day 3 - April Showers

• Brush: APShaveCo - Butterscotch Handle with Synbad Knot.
• Razor: PAA - La Criatural Green #COLOR
• Blade: Astra Green
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Bangarang
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Bangarang
• Fragrance: House Of Mammoth - Alive

I don't have any soaps that say they are for spring but Bangarang. The scent notes are all hit. Today I thought I would go for the colorful razor. I am on a quest to try ever shave soap but unfortunately I have not tried Summer Break yet.

For the fragrance, I looked up what a dickhole ment. As the guy from the Chappelle show skit I decided to make an effort to mix it up the rest of the month. With Spring and Bangarang on the mind I picked DG Alive. It has a nice green note and the smoke juxtaposed Bangarang floral notes well.

ROTY #FOF

DAY 3 LATHER GAMES! Test Subject MTS(MrTangerineSky), experiment #7423

• Prep: Water
• Brush: OUMO 30mm SHD G5A Fan knot synthetic #COMPOSITE #FAUXFUR #PREMIUMPLASTIC #SHD
• Razor: Henson AL 13 Medium #RAINBOW
• Blade: Nacet(1)
• Lather: Nordic Shaving Company - Lilac
• Post Shave: MacDuff's Soap Company - Spring Cabin Splash
• Fragrance: John Varvatos - Artisan

PIC OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

​

DAILY CHALLENGE+SOAP+LATHERING+SHAVING+AFTERSHAVE

"The Shaving Association" has been monitoring and studying subject MTS for about 3 years now. He has proven that he truly has a passion for this style of life.

Today's experiment has a couple of highlights:

• SOAP - When given an extensive list of premium products, test subject chose Nordic Shaving company. An odd choice, but we obliged nonetheless. MTS chose to use precisely 0.65 grams of soap, which is around the usual amount based on what we've documented as an average of 100+ shaves. Subject decided to go to his usual bowl lathering method, and spent an exact time of 2 minutes and 5 seconds completing his lather making process. Around 4-5 months ago, subject started weighing his water used to make a lather. During today's experiment the amount of water used was 18 grams, which flustered the test subject, cause he is used to using around 28(B&M) to 33(DG) grams depending on which artisan he is using. Main preferences are American based artisianal soap makers. After the shave was completed, there was the usual verbal confrontation with the subject, so we could get a deeper understanding of how he functions. Naturally he had questions about why, the lather behaved differently than what he was used to and what were the reasons behind that, so we explained it to him. It's simply the fact that Nordic Shaving Company's soap base is Coconut Oil forwarded, meaning it is full of Lauric&Myristic fatty acids which do not make for a good lather, they(Lauric&Myristic acids) are also very harsh on the skin. More on the subject here!(HR has warned us that our reports are too long so we're trying to keep them shorter)
• RAZOR - This was another key moment in today's experiment, which did not please MTS as much as we'd hoped. He was offered a variety of razors, of which he chose a Henson razor, one with which he was infatuated for a long time, but today's shave gave a different result. During the passing years test subject MTS has tried a variety of different razors and has narrowed down what he prefers and what he doesn't, but seeing he hadn't used the Henson razor in quite some time he wanted to relive some happy memories. That was not the case. Using a Nacet blade, which is a preferred blade by the subject, he did two ATG passes, the first of which proved almost fruitless. Filled with determination to get a good shave, he had to add a significant amount of pressure to the razor so that it would cut deep enough giving an acceptable shave. This did not result in any irritation, but it was a rough shave(feel wise) nonetheless.
• AFTERSHAVE - It was the first time that the test subject had used this scent and was giggling with excitement like a small child. Mostly because he was transported to his childhood memories of sprintime in the woods. Flowers and trees blooming, freshness surrounding. Walking through the woods and eating a fresh apple or tangerine while being serenaded by the chirping birds! That was what MRT described to us what the aftershave smelled like to him!

Experiment #4723 was a moderate success, clocked at 15 minutes, and we here at "The Shaving Association" are happy with how well MTS is progressing and we hope that one day he could be recruited and be part of the examining committee!

​

​

#FOF

Right, enough of this scheit... I've spoken about myself so much in the third person in the last few paragraphs that I can literally vomit....

This is the fragrance I chose for today, John Varvatos - Artisan. So far in this year's LG it is THE BEST I've gotten as a result of combining an aftershave with a perfume. Don't get me wrong the previous ones were good, but more on the OK side, I still am very happy I actually put some effort this time around cause it definitely shows, for me at least. it's not just some rando perfume with your Aftershave just to get points. Someday I will definitely get more into perfumes and become a RedMosquito myself, or a cheap imitation but either way, someone who is really in the perfume world.

What really stood out today from this combo are the feeling that are evoked deep inside of me. Sitting there on a table next to your mother, she's peeling tangerines for you and granting you warmth with her smile and affection, all while it's gloomy outside and it's pouring. That happiness can be matched by very few things. And if the shave wasn't the best, the scents afterwards surely made up for it!!!

LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL CELEBRATING

• Daily Lather Themes: 4/30
• Daily Challenges: 4/30
• Hardware Scavenger Hunt: 8/20
• Hardware Vendor Points: 0/2
• Software Vendor Points: 0/13
• Software Vendor Bonus Point: 0/1
• 30 Different Soap Brands Point: 4/30
• 30 Different Soaps On Theme Bonus Point: 4/30
• 30 Different Post-Shaves Bonus Point: 4/30
• 30 Different Fragrances Bonus Point: 4/30

July 4, 2023 – LG23 Day 4: April Showers Bring May Flowers …and Science-y stuff

• Brush: West Coast Shaving Clear Smoke Burlwood 26 mm #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Wet Shaving Club ‘Merica (Yates) #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (1)
• Lather: The Goodfellas’ Smile – Tallow N. 1
• Post Shave: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Colonia di Agrumi
• Fragrance: English Laundry – Riviera

Daily Challenge: Science the shit out of it.

God dammit SpongeBob! It’s Independence Day in the US of A and you are causing me all kinds of grief. Miraculously I have managed to get in a shave and a couple of shits for this parade.

I was never good at writing chem lab reports. And it’s been too damn long so I had to look one up.

Title: The effect of water on lathering shave soap.

Question: How much water can a shaving soap take and still be useful for shaving?

Hypothesis: I think the soap will take a one-part to 25-part soap to water ratio and still be usable.

Method: Scoop and measure a known quantity of soap.

Fuck it. Just watch the video and see how this went off the rails.

Tying it all together
Cedar/Cedarwood is the common scent in all three aspects of today’s shave. The floral notes of cassis, ylang, and jasmine weave their way through and between the cedar stem. And lavender, bergamot, and patchouli work their way back through for a sweet floral goodness reminiscent of Easter morning.

Nice science video

July. 4, 2023 - SOTD 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Oumo O4 Venus SHD Badger Brush 26MM
• Razor: West Coast Shaving Multi Titanium Collection Razor
• Blade: Treet Platinum
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Diamond
• Post Shave: Chiesled Face - Natural Artisan Aftershave Balm

ROTY

July 4, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 4

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Queen Red handle w/ DSC 24mm SHD G7 Synthetic knot
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .68-P
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
• Preshave: Proraso – Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol Cream
• Lather: Ariana & Evans – Siam
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Jo Malone – Myrrh & Tonka EdC
• Music: Paul Hertzog - Streets Of Siam

Daily Theme: I'm a Wisconsin native (and proud Cheesehead) but have lived the last two decades in Southeast Asia. Being close to the equator, my work home (Singapore) doesn't experience seasons. Instead there are two periods (Rainy Period, and It's Too F-ing Hot Period). Between them (in early Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere who actually experience seasons) orchids bloom. The scent of orchid is everywhere. Happily, the first scent I noted when I opened A&E Siam was orchid. A lemongrass note also jumped out (lemongrass is a popular ingredient in Asian food). Within the menagerie of other scents I noted another familiar scent but couldn't figure it out. My wife came to the rescue and informed me it was ilang-ilang. Ilang-ilang? What the heck is that? I asked. It turns out ilang-ilang is a tree native to my wife's home country (Philippines) that flowers in the spring. Wikipedia informs me that Ilang-ilang is Tagalog (a Philippine language) for ylang-ylang, and an essential oil with a strong floral fragrance is extracted from its flowers. A&E Siam may not be the quid essential spring scent to many, but where I reside it is as spring as it gets.

Daily Challenge: I'm a Precision Loading convert and like everything else in my shaving process, I live by the science. I start by caressing (yes that is the appropriate scientific term) exactly 1.50 grams of soap into the lather building receptacle. I apply 1.50 ml of lubricant to my lather building tool and start agitating the soap-coated receptacle with my tool. After exactly 69 seconds the tool begins to dry and more lubrication is required. Another 1.5 ml of lubricant is applied and another 69 seconds of agitation ensues. This lub-agitate cycle is repeated until achieving lathering ecstasy. The shaving part is a bunch of non-scientific mumble-jumble you can learn about by watching YouTube videos. I gotta go. I need a cigarette....

The Shave: Today was the best shave so far during the Month of Lather. All props go to A&E with their VR1 base used in Siam. When transitioning from bowl to face lathering I accidently added too much water to the brush, but instead of the lather turning to a watery mess it became creamy and super slick. An effortless two-pass BBS was the result. Scent familiarity aside, I enjoyed the collective fragrance of Siam and will add to my SAD list. #ROTY

04 July 2023 Complementary Non Dickkhole Barrister and Mann Rhapsody

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Cadinsor 28mm Zenith Unbleached
• Razor: Ever Ready Streamline
• Blade: GEM (23)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Rhapsody (1)
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon's Aphrodite A/S
• Post Shave: Thayer's Concoction
• Post Shave: Cold River Soapworks Sandalwood Post Shave Lotion
• Post Shave: Blackship Grooming Pirate's Bay Balm
• Fragrance: Olympic Orchids - White Cattleya

Cheers

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts "Kashyyyk" B4 #COMPOSITE #SHD
• Razor: Leaf Elite
• Blade: Wizamet (2)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Black Rose
• Post Shave: LA Shaving Soap Co. - Black Rose
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Black Rose EdP

Florals are not typically my first choice, but I do enjoy the scent of rose, and the LA Shaving Soap Co take on it. To me it is a slightly darker (I suppose somewhat indicated by the "Black") take, while still distinctly smelling of Rose.

I scooped a 3g "turd" (technical term?) of soap as u/Cadinsor has put it in his amazing videos

Spread out in bottom of bowl

Swirled wet brush for 30 seconds clockwise, then 30 seconds counter-clockwise

Sprayed 5 sprays of distilled water (hard water problems) from my spray bottle

Continue lathering

2 more sprays of distilled water

Continued incorporating water/soap until desired consistency was reached.

Leaf Elite: 95g

1/2 Wizamet blade loaded in 2nd and 3rd position

Results:

Smooth, great smelling shave.

#ROTY

• Brush: Zenith B2 26mm boar #HOLLOW #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Tatara Masamune #CNC
• Blade: Personna Egyptian Red
• Lather: Barrister & Mann - Diamond (Excalibur base)
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Diamond Aftershave, Osma Alum
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Soft Lawn

There is nothing more spring than baseball. Diamond has an odd appeal to me. For one, I never liked playing baseball and I think the game is dry unless if’s Dodgers, naturally. This shave soap has nothing I would ever seek in a scent. I got it by a PIF from u/BVsaPike a few years back, and subsequently had the greatest shave I had experienced to date. This was the ware that got me going. It has been a dependable addition to my den, yet I am always suspicious as to how I ever find myself reaching for it. It is something I would never part with- and Mrs. RdtheDO craves popcorn when I wear it, which somehow oddly works out (possibly layering on the oddity).

Weight of razor plus blade: 88.1g

Weight of soap used: 1.4g

Volume of aftershave used: 2.5mL

Volume of cologne used: 0.3mL

shave

blade under polarized microscope

July 4, 2023

• Brush: Chisel and Hound “Acer Pearl” w/ V20 Fanchurian
• Razor: Schick Injector Type I1
• Blade: Personna Injector
• Lather: London Razors – Mountain Laurel
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Contemplation

I was excited to see the spring theme because Mountain Laurel was my spring purchase this year after asking in the daily questions thread, “What’s your favorite springtime scent”. And here we are. Also, state flower (Pennsylvania). Also the first time I smelled a soap and on first lather was transported to a place I knew, the springtime wet forests in the Poconos. Contemplation was also suggested in the same thread and I ended up snatching that up of the bazaar, and while its said to be squarely a summer scent, it truly is a great clean grassy complement. Oh and surprise surprise the base for Mountain Laurel is done by non other the spotlighted sponsor, Summer Break Soaps. Cool coincidence.

Science wise, I soaked the badger for an entire 5 minutes while I puttered around for an entire 5 minutes. Meh, I couldnt tell a difference compared to my minute or two soak usually. Also I like to do everything in 5's, and odds, its weird. Science. Heres a photo of some Mountain Laurels on my local trail.

Cheers! Shaka emoji.

July 4, 2023 April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: r/Wetshaving Zenith MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar) #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: STAR 1912 #BRASSING #TWINS
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (2)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr
• Fragrance: Coach - Wild Rose EDP

Today's shave began normal enough with setting my shave gear out on the counter and knocking out a warm shower. After the shower I filled the cup I usually use to add small amounts of unmeasured water to the bowl or brush while I lather. Today however, I took the temperature of said water, which was "lo" ( I couldn't find another thermometer, oh well), and filled my syringe to measure the amount of water used. I took the brush to the bowl containing .11 ounces of soap and began adding water to build lather. I ended up using 4mL of water and was able to get a bowl full of glorious lather with an approximate viscosity of 90 centipoise (cP). Overall, the lathering took me 2 minutes and 13 seconds. I think the lathering process could have been faster if not for the minuscule 600 lumens I was working with. To end the shave I used .04 ounces of aftershave and 2 small sprays from the sample EDP. All software was related by at least being on theme for the day.

Science of Shaving

Photo documenting the science of lathering. Also, the "Lo" thermometer reading was funny.

July 4, 2023 – April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Semogue SOC Mixed Badger/Boar #MISTURA
• Razor: CJB Kamisori Shavette #KAMISORI
• Blade: Feather ProGuard (AC) (4)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Field Day
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Tres Matres
• Fragrance: London Razors – Mountain Laurel

Challenge: in order to have a more controlled lathering environment I elected to bowl lather for the shave. This will make it easier to account for water added to the lather and reduce the loss of lather that typically occurs when face lathering. At multiple intervals I will evaluate the slickness of the lather on the /u/ItchyPooter scale. The lather will be evaluated visually and using a peaks test.

8:55 wet brush to soak.
9:14 1/4 tsp soap in Captain’s choice bowl.
9:16 spread soap in thin even layer in bowl. Shake brush to remove excess water. 5 ml water added to bowl. Swirl brush to load soap and begin building lather. Still in proto-lather stage. 1/10 Pooters.
9:18 incorporate 5 ml water into lather. 5 ml looks like a lot of standing water. Will add water in smaller increments moving forward. Need more precise measurement device. Lather still pasty. 3/10 Pooters.
9:21 search for medicine syringe with smaller units fails. Will guesstimate 2.5 ml using medicine cup.
9:22 incorporate 2.5 ml water. Starting to look like lather. Still pasty. Lather is in WCS territory. 5/10 Pooters.
9:23 incorporate 2.5 ml water. Lather is developing a noticable sheen. Peak test performed. Peaks still hold shape. Lather is in Ruds territory. 8/10 Pooters.
9:25 incorporate 2.5 ml water. Peak test performed. Peaks form and disipate. 9/10 Pooters.
9:29 wet face and work lather into beard.
9:31 begin shave.

Time spent building lather = 11 minutes
Total water added to bowl = 17.5 ml

I noticed a flaw in my methodology. The Pooter scale is a measurement of the messiness of a lather. According to Pooter’s wisdom, the sign of a great lather is seeing soap sling off the brush. However, it’s impossible for lather to sling off the brush when lathering in a bowl. All of the lather is contained in the bowl. It is only when face lathering that the brush is free to sling lather onto the walls, mirror, counter, floor, and elsewhere. Meaning, it is only possible to achieve a full 10/10 Pooters through face lathering. This is scientific proof that face lathering is superior to bowl lathering. I’ll be awaiting my nomination for the nobel prize in wet shaving.

Field Day is the first Summer Break soap I used. It’s the type of unique fragrance you only seem to find in wet shaving. Summer Break says this fragrance is inspired by the smells of a spring morning. When I was a kid I thought watching my dad cut the grass looked exciting. There’s a pull cord which starts a loud motor. Hovering just over the ground is a whirling blade of (hopefully not human) decapitation. The coolest part was the switches and levers that controled everything. When the job was done, the lawn looked nice and there was an oddly pleasant and distinct smell. This fragrance is a dead ringer for fresh cut grass. Now I’m old and I know cutting the grass can be a pain in the ass. At least I still get to enjoy the smell of fresh cut grass.

Tres Matres is one of my all time favorite fragrances in wet shaving. Southern Witchcrafts refer to it as a floral petrichor. I get light floral notes similar to lilac or mountain laurel, ozone, moss, and damp soil. It has more earthiness than other ozonic fragrances I’ve smelled. It reminds me of tilling a garden and smelling good moist soil. It evokes the feeling of fresh air and spring flowers in a way only a Southern Witchcrafts fragrance could.

Mountain Laurel is probably my most frequently worn scent. That’s because it smells really good and is very approachable. It’s a gorgeous composition of light, fresh, sweet floral notes. It’s like standing in a field of flowers on a nice spring day. It’s not the most complex fragrance. I don’t notice any differences over time. The longevity is excellent. It last a full day on my skin.

#FOF

Funny proof of face lather > bowl lather

• Prep: Bath

• Brush: r/Wetshaving Zenith MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar) #CHONK #OLDWORLD

• Razor: Razorock Gamechanger .84

• Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Vernal - Soap

• Post Shave: Some random shea butter lotion I have sitting around.

Did a nice little body shave today. I don't love Vernal but it was around and just kind of needed it for today's theme.

ROTY

July 4, 2023 – Spring Science

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Declaration Grooming B16
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Neon Sun

I graduated with a minor in Biology and, well, I do not love doing science or writing reports. On the final day of exams my last semester of college I wrote on the top of my Biology test, “I need X% on this exam to graduate” and while I did not know Dr. Buiser personally, I am so grateful that I got what I needed on that exam – whether it was my hard work studying or his generosity I will never know.

Anyway – I did some science and took some notes on it and now here we are. I proposed that I would get a good shave this evening and, well, I did. I know that’s not how science works, but, frankly I don’t care. I put my smush of Alive (<1g and my scale doesn't go lower than 1g so we're rolling with it) in my Georgetown Scuttle with 3mL of water on top. The scuttle was filled with water at 116 degrees F(reedom units) and sat there for 3:33:77 while I showered. My Dogwood B16 was then filled with an additional 22g of water and I lathered it on up. I didn't count the swirls. That's stupid. Shaving is as much art as it is science and I live in a world where the two can dance beautifully together. Lather was perfect, anyhow.

The scent on this ol' smush was not strong because my summer cold is still lingering and my nose is sus, but, I did appreciate the green notes and think this scent would really shine in splash form and u/USS-SpongeBob said it's a spring scent so it must be. I paired it with Neon Sun because Neon Sun is a bright scent like Alive (I think) and I love Neon Sun so it worked.

Part way through this “experiment” I wondered to myself, “why am I even doing this? Who cares about this tiny project. The judges have to read this, over and over, to what end?” I do not have an answer. Someone after me can come along, hypothesize, do some data, whatever. Call me a cynic; science it – I don't care, I'm not going to.

Solid shave, though – face feels great to end a very long and sweaty day.

FOF Haiku

Alive is apples
Neon Sun is retro lime
I smell freakin' great

July 4, 2023 – LG 4: April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps DG B9A #SHD
• Razor: Maggard V3 on MR11 Handle #RAINBOW
• Blade: Personna Stainless (3)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve – Lavioletta
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Sonder

Lovely spring bouquet and scents today starting with the lovely APR lavioletta. A very floral, lavender and violet forward scent to match its namesake. It reminds me a lot of BM Just Right for a Tuesday, but perhaps a bit more crisp and herbaceous. While the soap was flower forward, the AS rawr is the ground in spring, ripe with green grass and dandelion notes, and the plethora of white florals one might find in meadows and fields (the body powder actually went to my painfully sunburned feet due to some extensive time at the lake). Sonder layers on top beautifully, more white florals but much creamier and woody underneath, with hints of citrus. #FOF #PHOTOCONTEST (vegetables, what is more spring than planting ones spring garden?!)

As for today’s challenge, if reading is not your forte, here’s the pictures. I’d say I’m halfway between Walter White and Jessie Pinkman on my approach. Opted for 2g of soap, as my old APR is quite firm. Added 8mL of water, but that was almost nearly all drank up by the dry SBS (oh hey, today’s sponsor, that was intentional! The beauty of leaving parts of the calendar open to wiggle) B9A brush. Got a new container tared, and added 12mL of water to it, and figured that should suffice. It gave me a nice 10:1 water to soap ratio. In hindsight, I should have used more soap, but the ratio was actually pretty spot on for my preference of hydration. I wonder how it would scale up though. I’d have to guess an additional 2-3mL of water were added to my face pre shave and between 1st and 2nd pass.

I will say I’m guilty of buying the rainbow shiny V3 head for this years LG, but I already had the blue MR11 handle (twas my 2nd razor purchase on my wetshaving journey). It completed my Maggard head collection which was nice, as I’d purchased, traded, and been gifted the others over the years.

soap brands 4/30, post shave 4/30, frag 4/30, post/frag linked 4/30, software sponsors 1/15, hardware sponsors 1/2, razor hashtags 3/15, brush hashtags 1/15, photo contest 4/30, daily challenges 3/25, special challenges 1/5

July 4, 2023 –   

• Brush: Simpson Synthetic  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue   
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – After the Rain  

I was so disappointed with this smell. For me, I have very fond memories attached to the rain at my summer camp. It’s a pine and oak forest that’s normally very dry and dusty in the summer. When it does rain in the summer it’s usually part of a lightning storm. It’s very likely the smell in my memories is really just wet dirt, but I still love it and I was actually disappointed in the floral notes of this soap.

Challenge: please see photo below for my lab report, it’s a pretty solid 3rd grade science fair write up. Funny science story: My dad’s first career was in HIV/AIDS research. He had a lab with a bunch of mice and later rabbits for testing. As I was very little I didn’t have much understanding of his job. He told me that he took turns with the other scientists taking care of the mice. I fully believed that he took each mouse out of its cage, petted it, changed its bedding and water, and then tucked it in for the night. Spoiler Alert: that is definitely not what he did.

https://imgur.com/a/XADwT5A

I really enjoyed this post. What put it over the top was the “3rd grade” science experiment write up photo. It was well done and brought a smile to my face!

July 4, 2023 – Lather Games: Day 4 (Happy 4th of July!)

Brush: Yaqi Synthetic

Razor: Karve Overlander

Blade: Gillette Nacet

Lather: Barrister and Mann – Diamond

Post Shave: Mennen – Skin Bracer

When I think of Spring, I think of fresh cut grass and dirt. I think of playing baseball with my dad and my brother. B&M Diamond brings back those memories, which always seem to bring a smile to my face. I know there are other scents that are intermingled, but grass and dirt are what I notice first and stand out the most.

Today I used 1 teaspoon of shave soap with three, 0.5 tablespoons of water. I lathered the soap about 40 times every time before adding each 0.5 tablespoon. This was, as I expected it to be, not an ideal shave. To me, measurements are a guide, not an absolute. All soaps are different, and honestly, every person’s ideal lather differs a bit. Just like food recipes, season it to taste (or something like that).

Jul. 4, 2023
Brush: Simpson Trafalgar T2
Razor: Karve CB
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome
Lather: A&E - Kaizen - Soap
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Unscented - Balm

Posting too late on 4th of July while I’m stuck at work! Wish I had a better post but just getting this in last minute. Lather games live strong happy 4th

roty

July 04, 2023 * Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts w/ 28mm Cashmere Synthetic * Razor: Razorock Gamechanger .84 * Blade: Gillette Nacet * Lather: Declaration Grooming - Vernal - Soap * Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Vernal - Aftershave * Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Albizia - EdP

Happy 4th! Vernal is the best non-Shawn Maher scent of 2022. The tomato leaf note is chef's kiss. I absolutely owe it to myself to get the fragrance, but since I don't have it, I paired the shave with another one of Scott's spring fragrances, Albizia.

Started today's experiment with a 30 second brush soak in 120 degree water. I proceeded to tub load 30 seconds clockwise, 30 seconds counterclockwise. Used approx 2 grams of soap. Razor blade had exactly 1 use prior. 25 individual razor pulls in the first pass. 27 in the second pass. 4 dashes of aftershave applied to damp face. 2 sprays of fragrance.