LGSOTD 10-Jun-24

• Brush: Muhle - Rhytmo Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: Henkotsu - Kamisori #KAMISORI
• Lather: Chicago Groomin Co. - Armonia
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Armonia AS
• Fragrance: Chicago Groomin Co. - Armonia EDP

Still have to thank u/hairykopite for releasing this one into the wild on BST. Chicago Grooming/House of Mammoth collaboration and a year on and I still love it, as with the likes of shire it's a light tobacco, and I think I get the lavender in there (no fault of the set, that's my nose), either which way I like this one. Sadly the scent and the performance of the soap is roughly where the positivity of this shave ends.

This Kamisori is in dire need of a refresh. I didn't make the time to do it this weekend so I've only myself to blame. Rough as a bears arse, definitely not going to use this again until I can sit down and get it sorted.

Equally, I dislike the hair on this brush, but that's because I've been spoilt in the last couple of years with some absolutely stellar brushes. This thing has zero backbone and flops all over the shop with the merest dab of water, but somehow still manages to have a roughish feel. I refuse to give it up though, this was the first badger brush I got and it was given to me by the other half - yes I can blame her for nudging me down the rabbit hole!

Challenge: Song Day

This may or may not seem like an odd choice, and I'd like to say that it's inspired just by me after the shave. However, this is more inspired by the backdrop to my morning shaves that I get with my daughters music choice. For whatever reason, she loves this bloody song (along with Friday by Riton X Nightcrawlers ft mufasa and hypeman, but it's the wrong day for that). As inappropriate as it might be, she likes the video as well, it makes me chuckle and gets the day off to a good and lively start!

Photocontest

Being Chicago Grooming Co. I thought I would try and throw in something relevant, so aiming this one at 'Baseball', I know zero about baseball but there you have it!

Have a good kick off to the week all!

Cheers

Marc

June 10, 2024 – Lather Games!

• Brush: Cayuen Abalone w/ 28mm Timberwolf Synthetic.
• Razor: YPM – Winning Razor Mk2, polished, tattooed ("The Emperor's Shave!") #CNC #TITANIUM
• Blade: Gillette Winner Stainless (1).
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Aftershave: Ultima Unmasked Unscented Splash

This is on point today because Smash is a mashup of both B+M and HoM, working together, side-by-side, like one big happy shave family. I love this scent, as it is at once boozy and peachy. A sublime shave to start the week.

#Challenge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLbaOLWjpc ← Orkestra Obsolete play Blue Monday using 1930s instruments – BBC Arts

I choose this because it's Monday and we're expecting a cool, rainy day. There's plenty of other things I could have chosen, but this will do for now.

#LatherGames

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDR0UzznuVg ← The Oldest Art in Greece is Not What You Think

LG Day 10- Happy Together

• Brush: Semogue 610
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (4)
• Lather: Noble Otter/APR - Texaus
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Bay Rum splash
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented AS balm

I won a PIF for this unobtanium soap not long after joining this sub and it definitely comes in handy for this day of the LG.

And it pairs well with B&M's Bay Rum on the day we are spotlighting B&M. B&M's Bay Rum in Excelsior was the first artisan soap I purchased. Before I stumbled into that, I was lost in a world of non-artisan soap. Will definitely expanded my horizons. I don't have a ton of B&M soaps in my collection, but what I do have, I will absolutely replace when the time comes.

Today's Daily Challenge is a fun one for me. My brain has a very deep song catalog that is accessed multiple times daily. The jukebox in my head definitely runs the gamut from Awesome to WTAF??. Unfortunately, u/Crossan1983 's song entry is probably going to be added to the catalog and will most definitely fall into the WTAF category. Those songs tend to hit the mental jukebox when I'm rolling out of bed.

Using Texaus, my brain made the quick leap to Texas and immediately played this nugget from Concrete Blonde. My wife and I love/loved(?) Concrete Blonde and Johnette Napolitano was a criminally underrated vocalist. While this is not my favorite Concrete Blonde song or album by any stretch, I just love her voice. But my brain was not done with this whole Texas musical association thing and the mighty Clutch started spinning in my head. I love Clutch. I've loved them from the first time I saw them in a tiny club in Portland, Maine in 1995. I've seen them no less than a dozen times and they are absolutely one of my favorite live bands. Oh wait, my brain is making another Texas association, hold please. And in comes Power Trip to continue the morning madness (R.I.P. Riley Gale). What's up with this band being on the list? They were from Texas. Again, this is how my brain works.

Alright, time to shut the jukebox down for a few minutes and finish my coffee in peace. Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

June 10, 2024

• Prep: House of Mammoth Embrace Doppio Bath Soap
• Brush: Billy Goat Brushworks with 26mm Declaration Grooming B15
• Razor: Charcoal Goods LVL II SS on Triad Razor Handles Aristocrat SS handle
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (?)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Eau de Parfum

Polyphia- Ego Death Why? Because Cerberus is a 3 headed beast, and there are 3 absolute beasts on this track. I've heard that this wasn't the arrangement Vai laid down, and they took a lot of liberties with it, but it's still got a great groove to it.

June 10 - Collab Day

• Brush: Semogue 610 21mm Boar

• Razor: Razorock Mamba

• Blade: Asco Platinum Orange

• Lather: Storybook Soapworks / AP Reserve - Fresca Intensa Soap

• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger Splash

• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Passiflora Splash

• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve -Passione EdT

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Storybook and Australian Private Reserve... Two greats who left a big impact on this community. Fresca Intensa is quite possibly favorite fragrance of all time.

...but I don't wanna dickhole. Passiflora and Passione were practically made for each other, they go so well. Both fruity, tropical, and enticing. Today is gonna be good.

#FOF

Today's soap and fragrance combo feel like summer, and Tom Petty's Running Down a Dream epitomizes that feeling for me. Especially it backing this skateboarding montage from On Video that I grew up with. Happy Skating, and happy shaving.

LG SOTD 10Jun2024

• Brush: Yaqi Deep Stones - 24mm brown (cashmere) synthetic
• Razor: Henson - AL13 Medium (Black)
• Blade: Clifton - Classic (2)
• Blade: Muster - Shaver (2)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus (collaboration with House of Mammoth and Noble Otter)
• Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Shave Balm, Embrace

Hello, beautiful people! I hope this Monday isn’t too big of a shock to the system. Welcome to the tenth shave of the 2024 Lather Games. Today's theme is “Happy Together” where we shave with a lather brought to us through the efforts of two or more artisans.

I am shaving with Cerberus from Declaration Grooming in collaboration with House of Mammoth and Noble Otter. This is via smoosh from, again, u/schontzm, and, again, my thanks. In hindsight, I probably should have grabbed a tub of this for the label art alone but I passed because Milksteak - Tusk or Noble Otter base and I’d have bought this blind, no question, but they released it in Milksteak, and I cannot make myself like Milksteak even though I seem to keep trying 😅

Using my Yaqui Deep Stones brush set with what seems to be a 24mm knot made from a denser arrangement of cashmere fibers dyed brown. Visually, I thought it goes with the music challenge. After the shave, it will go back to the bin, I don’t care for cashmere fibers. Too little spunk.

Razor is my first Henson Medium in the V1 AL13 version. Shaves functionally identical to Ti22 variant, probably some inconsequential differences from the weight, but I’ve moved back forth without noticing a difference. Like the brush, figured it visually went with the music challenge.

——

As soon as I saw the challenge, there was but one choice for me. Today is about how bringing multiple artists together can create something that they would not have made on their own. Thursday, 23May2024, one of the greatest music and video collaborations in history took place: BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy - RATATATA. BABYMETAL has had some great collabs, but they have been on a home run streak since Metalli with Tom Morello. The latest, RATATATA, is fun made audio, and the video complements it perfectly. I’ve watched the video, um, multiple times, I’ve watched reactions of the video, I’ve watched Electric Callboy react to reactions, I’ve listened to it driving down the road, at work, at home, and today we’ll try it shaving.

Like Ben from HoM lending his fragrance crafting expertise, DG’s unique base, and Noble Otter’s art style to make their ideas for a shave trifecta into the best it could, each musical act brings their own strengths to the song. The driving electronic beat is all EC, but when Su’s vocals come in, bam, it’s BABYMETAL in the house. Then we get harmonizing between Su and Nico. Then we get complementary harsh vocals between Momo and Kevin. There are hooks, ear worms, fun choruses. It’s just fantastic.

I can’t wait to hear it performed when I see BABYMETAL again this November, but for now I’m going to put it on the Echo Dot while I shave.

——

Shave Report - the choice of song was a perfect start to a Monday, it’s a song that improves my mood every time I hear it. Nice to revisit the AL13 and re-confirm it is as good as the Ti22 - this is one of the reasons I love Henson - they aren’t skimping on features on their lower end.

After the shave I’m feeling better about skipping Cerberus - Milksteak or not, which made for a very messy smoosh, this fragrance would not work for me. There is a smoke adjacent note I think of as “burnt umber”, like someone toasted some seed pods from potpourri. That note would stop me from ever enjoying the rest, certainly stopped me from being able to say much of anything else about this anticipated shave. I remember there being some background fragrance that was pleasant enough immediately before burnt seed pods appeared and blew the fragrance aside.

FYI: Length of complete shave routine this morning was just over two RATATATAs 😄

Enjoy your week, may it pass quickly

——

Judges may ignore everything beyond, or not. The judges make the calls.

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 419, Round 2. Clifton - Classic (Bangladesh) vs Muster - Shaver (Turkey)

Round 2 continued what I saw in R1. Double no-fault shaves from the blades, preference to the Muster - feedback and glide a bit smoother.

Winner of Round 2 and Fight 419: Muster - Shaver (Turkey)

June 10, 2024

• Brush: Semogue Galahad C3 Premium boar
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade
• Blade: Kismet hair shaper
• Lather: Chatillon Lux x Declaration Grooming - Fourth & Pine (Bison)
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux x Declaration Grooming - Fourth & Pine AS
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - unscented balm
• Post Shave: Olay Complete

I bought this splash when it was first released and then I bought the soap at a later date. Shawn knew that I am not overly fond of alcohol splashes as a general rule and he told me that this splash might be up my alley because the alcohol content was less than what splashes usually contain. It fits the bill in that regard and the skin goodies are quite substantial. I'm nearly out of this splash so I'll need to replace it with a bottle of it under its current name of "88 Chestnut". And I can't say anything about Bison base that hasn't been said before. It's one of the best bases ever made IMHO.

2024-06-10 Happy Together

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Robin Razor - Snap! 2.0, SE (Half DE)
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery - Mousse Illuminee
• Post Shave: Santa Maria Novella – Vetiver

The Software:

The collaboration between Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery, Mousse Illuminee that results in a beautiful sweet forest scene / scent-scape.

The hardware:

The Robin Razor is an aluminum CNC razor made in Canada that accepts half DE blades.

Scent Notes:

Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery, Mousse Illuminee - Treemoss, Frankincense, Green Cypress, Artemisia, Laurel Leaves, Cedar, White Floral Notes, White Musk.

S. Maria Novella, Vetiver - Scent Notes: (Top) lemon, jasmine, bitter orange peel (Middle) rose, bitter orange flowers, vetiver (Base) patchouli, oakmoss, vanilla

Take care and have a good one.

Song:

Ed: forgot to mention I had Blizten Trapper's "Furr" looping this morning.

Wilderness just seemed a correct theme. It's a strange song involving wolves and wilderness and maybe werewolves and wilderness and, well, it is odd but I like it. I don't usually post songs. I often have something on while shaving but I just never think about adding it to my posts. Even today when I really should.

June 10, 2024: Why Can't We Be Friends?

• Prep: warm splash of water
• Brush: Yaqi Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24 mm
• Razor: AtT S1
• Blade: Gillette Blue
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Cerberus

Three-headed dog to guard my face. Having a great Lasher Reins!

Jun. 10, 2024 - fwiends
Brush: Aurora Grooming Blurple Baron Maggard SHD Badger
Razor: Chiseled Face Groomatorium Legacy Titanium
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome [4]
Lather: Summer Break Soaps x London Razors - But first… Coffee - Soap
Post Shave:* House Of Mammoth - Rumble - Aftershave

Nothing like a new badger knot. My lather scent went from a nice coffee to coffee with badger funk. I can see already that I will enjoy this knot. Also the brush handle is beautiful and just the right heft. I need to charge it up in the sun and watch it glow in the dark, but it’s been rainy here for the past few days.

This soap is a collab between SBS and London Razors. Very nice. I was honoured to do the label art for this one.

Here’s some music for you to enjoy. https://youtu.be/qWd2brkme7o?si=g4rYcmPD8xLH59rW My son introduced me to this local talent. Something about this track gets me each time. I don’t usually listen to music while shaving, but often I do right afterwards while starting my work day. This one figures prominently in the playlist for the last while.

Have a Mammoth Monday!

Happy Together Jun. 10, 2024
Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Fougere Nematta B14 SHD Badger #Frankenbrush * Razor: Razor Rock Game Changer.68
Blade: Perma Sharp [4]
Lather: DG/NO/HOM - Cerberus Fougere - Soap
Post Shave: DG/NO/HOM - Cerberus Fougere - Aftershave

An Otter, a Bison, and a Mammoth walk into a bar…

This is the "Traveling Wilburys of Wetshaving".....

I have both of these sets, the original and this one, and this one is definitely my favorite of the two. I should list the other set as I have only used it once.

Anyway, so much of the stuff I am using this LG needs to be sold to fund future purchases….

2 passes, sliced my cheek a little.

Weezer, for a Monday morning:

https://youtu.be/i--uixPYvEk?si=uVIkzfhG5NwRsZQy

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

June 10, 2024 – “I had some help.”

• Brush: Turn n Shave – L7 Boba
• Razor: Wolfman WR1 #CNC #Stainlessless
• Blade: Treat Classic (Carbon Steel) (1)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming/Noble Otter – Cerberus
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth – Cerberus

Song: “I Had Some Help” Post Malone/Morgan Wallen. (A collaboration of course.)

Oddly, I had this song picked out before the challenge. Yes, it’s sorta a breakup song, but repurposed a good song about how we all enable each other to stupid levels here on this sub. It’s not like I could make this den a mess all by myself. I had some help.

Sometimes a single artisan working alone cannot keep thrill alive. And as a cure we have collaborations. Multiple artists putting their best work forward to bless us with something. There will be lots of Chatty Lux/DG shaves, APR/whoever shaves. But I’m here with the Trifecta Collab: DG/NO/HoM Cerberus, which will likely also make a strong showing (even if it’s out of season.) My office is gonna wonder what hit it. (Mondays are in person day. Assert my dominance!) For #fof I had to do the full trifecta. You cannot cut 1 head off Cerberus, then it’s not Cerberus. Plus, cutting off that head makes him mad.

Collaboration isn’t just for the artisans. The sub is basically one big collaborative effort of whacky. LG is a huge example of that. Our judges collaborate with each other to put together a calendar. I collaborated with u/adworried2804 to put together some bits and 2 strong setups. Even the people who are my direct competition, I’m helping. Which is a good tie into #photocontest, a bucket. On my kid’s head, while she helps display my gear. Yes, because my LG play is a family collaborative work but also because tomorrow (hopefully if I remember) I mail u/hugbckt points in a box. Points that very well may cause him to beat me (by more than he’s going to already.) Why? Because in this sub, as odd as it is, We’re all happier together.

To that end today’s shave is full of collaborations! The brush is part of a pass around box (plus the boar and badger hair collaborate here in a mixed not to make something new and different from each individually.) The razor is on loan from u/adworried2048 all the way from the Philippines to help me get some points. Collaboration! (We’re collaborating on a pass around for these too, but we’ll get back to that.) The blade: Well this is a pack I bought and distributed out to help other people get the #stainlessless tag when I sent smushes. It’s my contribution to the collaborative nature of the game. (If you’re not contributing it’s just stealing). Obviously, the soap/frag/splash are a collaboration on their own, but also, I was encouraged to buy this set by a smush u/jwoods23 sent me before it re-launched to see if I’d like it. Collaborative buying! Top to bottom this shave has a collaborative bend to it. Because collaboration is what drives this sub.

OP places unsuspecting family in bucket.

June 10, 2024 – 2024.06.10: Lather Games Day 10 – Happy Together

• Brush: Bundubeard Oryx Horn handle with 26mm AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss knot
• Razor: Razorock Hawk v3
• Blade: Schick Proline
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus

---

Daily Theme: Happy Together

Theme justification: Declaration Grooming Cerberus](https://wetshavingdatabase.com/product/declaration-grooming-cerberus/) is a Collaboration between Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth, and Noble Otter. DG made the soap, HoM made the fragrance, and Noble Otter made the splash. I just left it as DG in the post to not annoy the robodjudge.

Relevant Post Shave & Frag: Continuing the Collaboration theme by ~~dickholing~~ trickholing Cerberus.

---

Scavenger Hunt Justification:

Razor facts: N/A

Brush facts: N/A

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Daily/Special Challenge: Song Day

For my song, I'm going with Hootsforce by Gloryhammer.

I found Gloryhammer several years ago, and I don't really know why, but I just love them. I think it is just the Sci-Fi nerd in me. Hootsforce was the first song of theirs that really grabbed me. The beat and rhythm is just so much fun to listen to, then you add in the lyrics you end up with very fun song.

Makes shaving a little hard for me, though, as my head won't stay still! :)

---

Fragrance description

I think most of us here have smelled Cerberus. I received a smush of it before I purchased it. When I first smelled it, I hated it. But something just kept drawing me towards it; it grew on me over the next few weeks. So when DG had their Black Friday sale I grabbed a set. My sister then bought the frag as a Christmas gift for me.

I don't wear Cerberus as much as I'd like, unfortunately. There are some people in my life that have an adverse reaction to the smell. If I had to guess, I'd say it's the Opoponax that's causing the issue. I love it, though. It's got a punch, which I really enjoy.

---

Now onto the shave!

We've hit day 10 of the Lather Games! The games are a marathon, not a sprint, that is for sure.

Bog-standard shave today. It's Monday, so that's probably the reason. Lovely shave all around. Hawk++

In other news, I'm doing well following my spider bite and I'm having fiber installed at my house today. So that's great!

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Sponsor Spotlight

Barrister and Mann

Will makes great stuff. Met him at Maggards, and he seems like a cool guy. Glad to have him as a part of this community.

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Totals:

• Razor Hashtags: 8/10
• Brush Hashtags: 7/10
• Hardware Sponsor Points: 2/2
• Software Sponsor Points: 7/16
• Number of Lather Brands: 10/30
• Number of Lather Scents: 10/30
• Number of Post Shaves: 10/30
• Number of Frags: 10/30

---

Contest Hashtags:

#FOF

#ROTY

Prep: Prorasso White Pre Shave 
Brush: Vielong Alter Brown Horsehair #HORSESASS 
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable #ADJUSTABLE #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
Blade: Gillette Platinum 
Lather: Bon Monsieur - Zingari Man (collaboration with Rogue Perfumery)
Post Shave: Alum, Proraso - White Aftershave Balm, Taylor of Old Bond Street  - Royal Forest 
Fragrance: Ex Nihilo - The Hedonist

Jun. 10, 2024
Brush: Wilkinson Sword OUMO Tuxedo #hollow * Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable #adjustable * Blade: Gillette Platinum [4]
Lather: Declaration Grooming - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli - Soap
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Sego Base Unscented - Balm

The song, SO is a preschool teacher and turned me onto this, just a little morning positivity

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

2024-06-10 LG SOTD

• Brush: AP Shave Co × SHAVE⭐DANDY Gold Rocket (25x55mm Mühle STF Synth)
• Razor: Wolfman WR1
• Blade: Lord Classic
• Lather: Wholly Kaw/Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli (LE)
• Post Shave: 4711
• Fragrance: Giorgio Armani - Acqua di Gio

I don't think I have any proper collaborative collaborations in my soap collection, so much as I have several tubs where one person made a scent and another person put that scent in their soap and their creative processes never really crossed. (Compare this to something like HOM/WK Iced Tea or SBS/LR Mountain Laurel where the scents were group efforts.)

Anyway

Shave brush was a collaboration between me and Andrew. Razor: I wanted an aluminum WR1 and James needed to try out a new anodizing company for his brushes, so he machined me a WR1 from aluminum (to check the calibration on his mill), sent it to the anodizers to evaluate the quality of their work, and then sent it to me to use and keep tabs on how well the finish held up under regular use (answer: very well). Soap is one of the earlier versions of YRP and is a little more collaborative than usual, because apparently the original rose didn't come through well in Sri's base and he had to touch up the fragrance mix to come through faithfully. Aftershave is not on theme - it just goes really well with both YRP and AdG. Fragrance was a 3-way collaboration between Alberto Morillas, Annick Menardo, and Christian Dussoulier, two of whom are very nearly in the "can do no wrong" pantheon of perfumers.

Challenge

You Oughtta Know by Canada's pride Alanis Morissette is a collaboration featuring Dave Navarro on guitar and Flea on bass. That's why it's so fuckin' funky compared to the rest of the album.

June 10, 2024

• Prep: Hot shower

• Brush: Badger brush I've had forever with the maker's mark rubbed off

• Razor: Muhle Companion

• Blade: Astra Green (Indian)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Smash

I thought I was going to miss out on today's theme, but was pleasantly surprised to discover that Smash is a collaboration with Barrister and Mann.

The obvious song choice for today would be Jack Black as Bowser singing Peaches. But for you folks I pulled out all the stops, dug deeper, and found the intro song to the lost 90s sitcom Shaving with Strangers on the Internet.

ROTY

2024-06-10 - You got BaM in my HoM

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Smash
• Post Shave: Floïd - The Genuine
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Sundrunk
• Razor: Wolfman Razors - Guerrilla
• Brush: Yaqi Metal Timberwolf

Happy Together:
A collaboration between Billiam F. Tourist and Jammin' Mammoth

Unifying Theme: Orange you glad?

#FOF
There's something to be said for pairings/trio-ings based on things that are completely independent from scent. I orginally planned an all-HoM day, but bailed on that idea only once I took the tub of ~~Crash~~ Smash out for today's shave. I think it's safe to say I would never have tried this otherwise.

Every recipe I've found for a bourbon smash primarily has bourbon, lemon, and mint. I guess Smash has neither lemon nor mint, but it's not my place to question the creative decisions of ol' Billy Tays.

Smash is... fruity. I maintain that nobody has ever enjoyed eating a piece of fruit. Smash smells as though you were wafting the aromas of a neat bourbon, and then [Chris Ballew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Presidents_of_the_United_States_of_America_(band)) barged in, tied you to the wall, stuck a funnel in your mouth, and force-fed you nothing but cans of peaches until you were ~~twenty-~~ ~~thirty-~~ forty-six and a half years old.

The Genuine, in a bizarre interlude, dumps a barrel of powder on your head before Sundrunk shoves your face into a rhubarb pie as your desperate efforts for air are your final memory before your flailing limbs fall limply for the last time.

Song Day:
I was honestly going to do the ridiculous rhubarb one up there because it references beards and barbers, but I'm gonna go with one that happened to play during my shower/shave this morning: MSMR - Flagpole Sitta I first heard this song because I had been playing a lot of MSMR, but I just now discovered that MSMR is no more, this being their final huzzah. Huh. That bums be out. Oh well, they have other projects going on and that's okay, too! With that considered, MSMR was... a temporary collaboration. As, I guess, is any band.

But I digress.

It's a fantastic, refreshing cover that I feel gives a more serious tone to a serious song that had nonetheless been altogether too goofy. I do remember when the original came out, and I remember the later viral videos. It was everywhere, which was terrible because it was overplayed.

#photocontest Animal
Namely, the noble ~~otter~~ mammoth on the label there.
Today's photo was originally going to be even more boring than this, but once I decided last-minute to do the orange-color thing, I figured I should slap a #photocontest theme on it, even if it is the one I was going to use tomorrow.

Oh, I only just noticed that the name Sundrunk is quite fitting to the boozy basis of Smash. Neato.

June 10, 2024 - Monday

• Brush: Zenith 507U XS / 27mm extra soft horse
• Razor: Yates 921-H
• Blade: Astra SP (1)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming x Try That Soap - Try This Soap
• Post Shave: Zingari Man x Rogue Perfumery - Bon Monsieur splash
• Fragrance: Chanel - Allure Homme Sport EdT

Try This Soap is one of my favorite scents of all time so I've been nursing this tub along. One of the best collabs ever if you ask me. The Zenith horse brush worked really well with the Bison base as it tends to with softer soaps.

Day 10

• Brush: Boti – Pineapple Swirl – 26mm Green Synthetic
• Razor: Silver Star Vintage
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Smash Soap - w/ Barrister and Mann
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth with Barrister and Mann – Smash Splash
• Fragrance: Tiffany & Co – Love EdT

Smash will always hold a special place in my heart. It came out pretty much when I was first getting started wetshaving and I’m pretty sure it the first full size set I bought after I ran through my first Stirling samples. So, this one will always be a winner for me. As I’ve been around the community more over the last year or so, I’ve come to learn more about how Ben operates his business and I have so much respect for the way he does things.

Donating a portion from each sale to charities. On every tub, it says “End Human Trafficking” and I think it’s awesome he uses up valuable space on the products he sells to help stand up for people that can’t stand up for themselves. My hat’s off to Mammoth Soaps for seemingly doing the right thing, even when no one is asking you to. It doesn’t hurt that his soaps and scents are absolutely fire! And he worked with Barrister and Mann for this release, who I also really like. Together, they created an absolutely wonderful soap and scent! It takes on the scent of a Peach Bourbon Smash and does a beautiful job creating the feeling of sitting in an upscale bar (the kind that has mixologists, not bartenders) and asking the ~~bartender~~ mixologist to get creative with your drink. Each note plays together marvelously, and it is an absolute delight to use.

Now, to elevate this shave from "Smashing" to "Lovingly Smashing," I finished with Tiffany & Co Love. I thought the warm woody nature of Love would be good with the bourbon from Smash, because, well, bourbon is made in wood barrels. I wasn’t wrong. The sweetness of the soap and splash are toned down by the cologne. It’s a good scent and a nice, inviting combination. It’s also fitting because I LOVE Smash! #FOF

For #photocontest: Hobbies. I like LEGO and am often amazed with what the people of r/lego create.

Challenge: I pick Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. What better song to complement a boozy scent than a song that talks about getting smashed on a lager drink and a cider drink, falling down, and continuing to get back up?

iamhonestlylying’s Daily Top 5:

In honor of “Happy Together”… My Favorite WWE Tag Teams of All-Time:

5.) The Rock n Sock Connection – The Rock AND Mankind, when both were pretty much at their peak popularity. Must watch action.

4.) X-Pac and Kane – Kane was great because he didn’t say a damn thing and just took care of his business. In fact, I believe the first two words he ever spoke in the WWF were “Suck it” when he was briefly riding with DX. X-Pac was great because he was a little badass. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with.

3.) The Rockers – A little bit before my time, but I have to pay tribute to those who paved the way for the teams I really loved, plus it’s how Shawn Michaels got his start.

2.) The Hardy Boyz – When they came on the scene, they were doing shit no one had ever seen before. Taking high flying to another level.

1.) The New Age Outlaws – The Road Dawg Jesse James! The Bad Ass Billy Gunn! THE NEW AGE OUTLAWS! And you’re not down with that, I got TWO WORDS FOR YA!!!!!

June 10, 2024

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Classic 26mm V23 Fanchurian #COMPOSITE

• Razor: Koraat 14-2.0 8/8" Full Hollow #STR8SNOB

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Soap

• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Eau de Parfum
• Talc: Yardley Gold
   

---

It seems fitting to pull out the razor with mammoth ivory scales, again. This time to honor the incredible Cerberus fragrance by House of Mammoth. Awesome shave today.

Collab SOTD:

• Razor: Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (9)
• Brush: KH Hand Painted Sunflowers Synth
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve/Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit
• Aftershave: Australian Private Reserve/Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit
• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve/Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit

This scent definitely deserves a spot on the greatest of all time. I'm also just a sucker for collabs. Working with other people on stuff like this has been some of my favorite memories being in this hobby.

Challenge: I'm not sure this song ties directly to my shave today, but it was the first thing that popped into my head. You know how you fall in love with a song, listen to it a bunch then get sick of it? That just never happened to me with this song. It has literally been my favorite song for probably 20 years now

Third Eye Blind - Motorcycle Drive By

June 10, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co - Blue & Clear - 26mm Oumo Horse #HORSESASS
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 #MODERNGEM #FLIPTOP
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – 88 Chestnut St. Soap (collab with Chatillon Lux)
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Bellringer Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Sonder EdP

First things first, thank you to u/hugbckt for the smush of 88 Chestnut St. Also, do yourself a favor and read his daily SOTDs. He is really bringing it this year!

I’m a big fan of collaborations within this little hobby of ours. Things that show that these artisans are more than just competitors, but allies who can work together to create something special. They can create something that is greater than what either of them could make on their own. Using their own strengths for the betterment of the end result. In the business buzzword bingo world, we call that Synergy. I challenge anyone to attend any sort business seminar and tally the number of times you hear it. Hell, scroll through linkedin and you’ll see the word “synergy” as often as you see the word “bergamot” in scent notes.

Artisans we love, working together for a better end result is awesome. Much like how WE work together for a better result. This community, r/wetshaving, and everything amazing that comes along with it – Lather Games, Side-Contests, Austere August, Photo Contests, Charity Shaves, PIFs, Advent Calendars, and everything else – are all because a member of the community had an idea and other people rallied around it, helped out, and kept the tradition going for the betterment of the community as a whole. It’s really something special and unique, and I’m so glad to be part of it.

There are many collaborations between Declaration and CL and this is one of them. 88 Chestnut St has a bunch of citrus notes, as well as a fairly strong petitgrain note to make it more than just a citrus explosion. The soap performs nicely and I had a very good shave even though I HATE this horse brush, but hey, a hashtag is a hashtag.

For #FOF: Everything is bright and uplifting. This shave wasn’t just a collaboration between CG & CL, but the scents of SBS and HoM tied everything together with their respective pieces of this puzzle. I often relate my scents to seasons and this is an absolutely wonderful summer shave. The citrus in the soap, combined with the refreshing citrus in the splash, and of course, the citrus in the EdP. Absolute perfection. The citrus of Sonder dissipates quickly, leaving me with longer lasting florals, green notes, and a woody base. I’m absolutely feeling (and smelling!) great with today’s scent combination.

Challenge: Jack Johnson - Better Together. It’s appropriate for the theme of the day, and the uplifting nature of the music also fits the bright nature of the scents I used today.

Soap Theme Justification: Declaration Grooming made the soap and Chatillon Lux made the scent.

Relevant Post Shave & Fragrance: Everything citrusy and bright

June 10th, 2024

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Red/White w/ Maggard SHD
• Razor: Gillette Tech #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
• Blade: Treet
• Lather: Denton Majik - Seagoer
• Post Shave: Denton Majik - Seagoer
• Fragrance: Armaf - Tres Nuit

Denton Majik for Pasteur's (as seen on the label) was an on the spot buy. I whiffed it and had to grab it, it's a really nice "blue" scent. When I was researching it now to write my description, I discovered it's based off of Creed Erolfa which I haven't smelled before, but I'd think it would be great. I love the sizes of Denton Majik's products. I'd much rather have the half sizes so tub kills can actually happen.

For today's shave, I'm jamming out to Harry Nilsson's Best Friend, the perfect song that encapsulates the spirit of today's theme of being happy together; with your best friend (collaborator)

• June 10
• Brush: Chisel and Hound – 26mm AP Shave Co Synbad
• Razor: Aylsworth Razors - Drakkant
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli
• Post Shave: Elysian - Patchouli Peach
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli

I started the day with Declaration Grooming's Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli soap, which was a collaboration with Chatillon Lux. I don’t get a ton of Patchouli from the soap, the rose and citrus make it feel like I was transported to a serene Japanese garden. The zesty citrus is the first to greet your senses—a bright, citrusy note that dances around, waking you up gently. As the lather built up, the rose added layer of soft, floral sophistication. But deep down is the earthy patchouli that anchors everything, grounding the scent in so it’s not TOO light and floral.

As I worked the rich, creamy lather onto my face, I felt like a zen master preparing for a meditative moment of bliss. The slickness was great, the cushion of the lather was luxurious, and the scent was bringing me close to mediation. I glided the razor over my stubble like a rake in a zen garden. I kinda wish I could experience this shave for longer.

Post-shave, I reached for Patchouli Peach by Elysian Soap Shop. Now, if the soap was a serene Japanese Zen Garden, the splash was like stepping into a sunlit orchard. The initial hit of patchouli is present, familiar and grounding, but it quickly melds with the sweet, juicy scent of ripe peaches. It’s refreshing, invigorating, and adds a playful twist to the sophisticated notes of the soap.

To cap off the shave, I spritzed on Chatillon Lux – Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli. The same scent of the soap to close out the SOTD. This fragrance is the grand finale, tying everything together with its sophisticated blend. The scent comes across so much better in the fragrance than it does in the soap. The yuzu’s brightness, the rose’s elegance, and the patchouli’s earthy depth harmonized perfectly, creating a scent that beautifully lingered throughout the day. It was like carrying a piece of the morning’s tranquility with me as I went about my day.

Challenge: I couldn’t really think of any good songs about Patchouli, so I’m going with Roses by Outkast

ROTY

June 10, 2024 – LG Day 10 – Best Friends Forever

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. x House of Mammoth – Armonía
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Black Label
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist

First time trying Armonía today. I’ll be honest, smelling it when the tub initially arrived in the mail, I thought I would use this once for the Games and then sell it. After using it today, though, I might keep this one. I dub today’s #FOF as a modern, sophisticated cowboy. Armonía Soap unfurls with a deep, rich tobacco accord that exudes elegance and mystery. As the lather builds, the fragrance reveals a bright freshness, with the requisite fougère herbs and citrus. Despite my initial belief that this fragrance would be heavy for summer, it eschews the typical heaviness I expect in a fougère, instead evoking the delicate scent of a tobacco plant in bloom. The richness of of Armonía melds seamlessly with Black Label’s bold tobacco and earthy oakmoss, and hints of bergamot with delicate whispers of violet and lavender infuse a refreshing brightness and floral elegance. Strawberry, the most unexpected note, imparts a light breeze of sweetness, and keeping the shave appropriate for summertime. Tobacconist is so effective in transporting me to a tobacconist’s shop. The cedar and tobacco create a warm, nostalgic embrace that simply feel like comfort. It’s an interesting pairing with the rest of today’s shave, because of the emphasis on an entirely different tobacco accord, but I think it works beautifully. This must be how cowboys feel. Yeehaw.

To add to the Happy Together theme, I used a collab brush, and you might argue that the MM24 is a collaboration of two different razors, the final product being greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Thinking about the idea of the “modern, sophisticated cowboy,” here are five musicians (in no particular order) that present entirely different representations of the archetype. (To my judge today, feel free to pick just one song to listen to if you don’t have time and/or don’t like these genres.)

Orville Peck, Daytona Sand. Like today’s shave, Peck is mysterious and unexpected. He doesn’t reveal his face publicly, kind of like u/Priusaurus. He was born in South Africa, took 12 years of ballet lessons, moved to Canada at the age of 15, and is nothing like the cowboys of old Westerns, but he sure sings like he is.

Colter Wall, Bob Fudge. Wall, another Canadian, released his first EP at the age of 19, already sounding like a grizzled cowboy who has seen some shit. If you think “real country died with Johnny Cash,” give him a listen.

Tyler Childers, Nose on the Grindstone. This Kentuckian is a mighty fine lyricist, but also has some musical marvels like the album Long Violent History and Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?. Like any good modern cowboy, he supports coal miners’ rights just the same as same-sex marriage.

Benjamin Tod (aka Lost Dog Street Band), September Doves. In the tradition of American troubadours, this band’s music tells real stories, evoking a special sense of nostalgia despite being a modern band.

Sierra Ferrell, In Dreams – Alternative Version. I mean, just listen to her. Plus, she spent her 20s as a nomad, hitch-hiking, freighthopping, and living in her van, which is essentially cowboy shit.

June. 10, 2024 - SOTD 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Oumo O4 Venus SHD Badger Brush 26MM
• Razor: King C Gillette
• Blade: King C Gillette
• Lather: House of Mammoth/Barrister&Mann - Smash
• Post Shave: Nivea Men - Sensitive Soothing Aftershave Balm

If you pick any other collaboration besides Smash your are absolutely wrong. One of my favorites scents. As for today's challenge I thought I'd pick a song about booze to go with Smash so I just kept thinking Smash Smash Smash smashing pumpkins. So I listened to Smashing Pumpkins best song Bullet with Butterfly Wings.

June 10 2024: Happy Together

• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR #SUBBROOSH
• Blade: Personna PTFE (15)
• Razor: GEM MMOC #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Cerberus

Cerberus is one of my favorite scents in wetshaving. Not pictured in my SOTD pic is the bottle of Cerberus frag that I have already finished, leading me to grab a backup from the 'zaar like a week before the rerelease was announced, from which I grabbed a third bottle. So yeah, I'm a Cerberus Enjoyer. This is also the only time I plan to trickhole a scent during the Lather Games.

The shave was easy peasy. The MMOC has become one of my favorite razors, after three MMOC Austere Augusts it is an effortless and easy shaver for me. I've given this one a good polish but it still has some patina on it.

Sponsor Spotlight: Barrister and Mann make interesting original scents and have retired bases better than most of what's out there today.

For my song I'm picking Beastie Boys - The Move because it has one of my favorite lines, "Dogs love me 'cause I'm crazy sniffable" and today with the help of three-headed dog Cerberus, I am crazy sniffable. RIP MCA.

Jun. 10, 2024
Brush: Proraso Professional
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE [1]
Lather: Declaration Grooming / Chatillion Lux - Confluence - Soap
Post Shave: Declaration Grooming / Chatillion Lux - Confluence - Aftershave
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented - Balm
Osma: Osma - Osma
Scuttle: Georgetown Pottery - G20

I only have two collabs: La Fôret De Liguest and Confluence. My wife hates one of them, but I can’t remember which. Hope I picked right because it’s our anniversary.

I really liked the song aspect of this challenge. I started with how the soap made me feel—it’s woodsy and smokey and so I felt like fall. This moved me towards acoustic folk music. I was thinking something in the Americana genre, but while going through my library I came upon Le Vent Du Nord, a Quebecois band I’ve been following for over a decade.

Confluence was inspired by history, by the city of Saint Louis at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The cedar and smokey scent is supposed to call to mind the early days of that community.

With that in mind, the song I chose is the first one on Le Vent Du Nord’s second album, and is called “Les Amants du Saint-Laurent,” the Lovers of the St. Lawrence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmQG2NSfsMY

Like the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and how they shaped Saint Louis, the St. Lawrence River shaped the northeast and the confluence of English, French, American, and Canadian cultures.

This song takes place on the banks of the St. Lawrence in 1754, where two star-crossed lovers are running away to get married. They are caught and he is jailed for kidnapping, but at the end of the song he returns to her and they are reunited years letter (or so says this annotated translation).

The use of the hurdy gurdy in the instrumentation calls to mind the era of Confluence, as does the setting along the river and the story from the 1700s. It felt appropriate for all these reasons, so enjoy!

LG24-10: Happy Together

• Brush: Brochas El Druida/House of Mammoth Tobacconist Chisel & Hound v8 Fanchurian Badger Knot #FRANKENBRUSH
• Razor: Wet Shaving Club Winning Razor (Yaqi 316)
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [6]
• Lather: First Line Shaving/Black Mountain Shaving - Sutton Distilled - Soap
• Post Shave: First Line Shaving/Black Mountain Shaving - Sutton Distilled - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Bentley - Bentley for Men Intense - Eau de Parfum
• Song: John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Sutton Distilled is a First Line Shaving and Black Mountain Shaving collaboration for a flanker to the original Sutton. While Sutton is nice, Sutton Distilled is a masterpiece. The whisky notes combined with an incredibly warm and inviting oud, make this scent a stand-out.

The brush was a Brochas El Druida, House of Mammoth, and Chisel & Hound collaboration for the Tobacconist release.

It's been a while since I've used the Winning razor. This time around, I attached a Yaqi 316 Stainless Steel handle which helped with weight, balance, and grip aspects from the original handle.

I don't think the song needs much explanation. A great Blues song that's on theme.

Edit: song link

another day another scruba games post

• Brush: restored Gillette standard 19mm boar

• Razor: ruby adjustable 

• Lather: no scrub X red house farm - no scrub
• Post shave: Wickham shaving co - gothic revival

No failing to be clever as this day is all about doing things together and the no scrub soap is a collaboration between no scrub and red house farm, made especially for the LG 2024 no scrubs. What could possibly be more on theme?

To celebrate I thought a few facts would be useful:

After 9 days of the games we currently stand at 61 no scrubbed posts.

This is broken down across:

• 36 players (including judges)
• 1 non player
• 1 mom
• 1 child 

There has been 1 non LG SOTD post which achieved a no scrub, and on the least scrubbed day 1 non player was the only person who was not blind to the pointlessness of videos. (Sorry I couldn't resist).

I've been being kind too and only three players have been scrubbed. 1 is a judge, 1 a reigning photo champion and 1 is the scrubber himself. 

And here's an entirely appropriate song for me for the day

LG 10 - Happy Together

• Brush: Grizzly Bay Handle - Declaration Grooming Badger knot - Zingari Man coin
• Razor: SCHICK Injector Adjustable #ADJUSTABLE
• Blade: SHICK Injector (1)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. House of Mammoth - ARMONÍA
• Post Shave: Westman Bruji - Oud & Vanilla Toner
• Fragrance: Zara - Tobacco Collection Rich Warm Addictive Edp

Dear Judges, I need extra points to compensate for my laziness and future and past airbuds. Brush, soap & after on theme. Very Appreciated.

.#FOF Tobacco- OUD- vanilla Awesome fougere with tobacco, missed with the vanilla oud after, making a good intro for the Zara's vanilla, rum and peony notes.

Lately when I'm in the gym, Soft Play - Mirror Muscles, Pump pump pump...

LG2024- June 10th

• Brush: Frank Shaving 28mm Pur- Tech synthetic #FAUXFUR
• Razor: Razorock GC .84
• Blade: Astra Green (8)
• Lather: House of Mammoth/ Barrister and Mann- Smash
• Post: Murphy and McNeil- Valle Crucis splash

Shave: except for the 2024 releases I have smelled every HOM soap. Some, like Rumble or Tobacconist, aren’t initially pleasant and need to be lathered for more of the notes to be appreciated. Smash for me was a hit the second i first took a whiff. Tusk base and Will’s scent… I love this stuff. Followed it up with Valle Crucis which was my favorite 2023 release. All around great shave.

Challenge: see below

Viewing: The greatest collab of my lifetime. The entire album is perfect. RIP Chester

ROTY

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Stirling Two Band Synthetic
• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85mm Safety Razor
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: House of Mammoth / Barrister & Mann - Smash
• Post Shave: Van Der Hagen - Unscented Aftershave Balm

6/10/24 Lather Games shave

• Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts SHD

• Lather: Talbot Shaving / Maol Grooming - Island in the Sun

• Razor: Gillette short-comb NEW w/ Suneko

• Post Shave: Maol Grooming - Island in the Sun AS

Talbot & Maol are two artisans that I miss, they made some great products (separately and together).

I don't listen to music anymore while I'm shaving, if I'm listening to anything it's usually the WSJ What's News podcast. Gotta try to keep up on current affairs!

10 June 2024 Complementary Non Dickkhole Talbot Shaving La Terre Verte

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Prometheus Red Boti Fan 28mm
• Razor: Aylsworth Apex
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (42)
• Lather: Talbot Shaving - La Terre Verte (1)
• Post Shave: Sudsy Soapery - Ten A/S
• Post Shave: Thayer's Concoction
• Post Shave: Good Oleo
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Barrister & Mann - Fougere Imperiale

I could have used YRP, but my eyes fell on LTV.

An old collaboration between Talbot (RIP) and CB

Todays Challenge

Cheers

Today I shaved with Zingari Man No. 1 and my AP/Maggard brush. I used an old type with a Polsilver blade. I followed up with Y/R/P aftershave and a blast of Y/R/P edt.

June 10, 2024 - BACK IN TIME!

photocontest

Theme: Time

• Brush: Black & Yellow Merit 99-5 by Heritage Collection Shaving / AP Shave Faux Boar Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Edwin Jagger - DE89 #ZAMAC
• Razor: Muhle Hexagon - DE89 #TWINS
• Blade: RK - Stainless
• Lather: Zingari Man - Mousse Illuminee - Shave Soap
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Mousse Illuminee - Recovery Splash
• Fragrance: Rogue Perfumery - Mousse Illuminee (sample)

-WARNING-
The following contains 1980s innuendo.
Reader discretion is advised.

The year is ~~1984~~ 1985: Miami Vice is a new show filled with vibrant colors, smartly dressed people, and amazing cars. Marty McFly is driving an amazing car at 88mph only to find himself projected in a time-traveling adventure that will eventually fix his family, so that back in ~~1984~~ 1985 they could all have, well, amazing cars.
On a separate note, the predator / prey dynamic seems so pervasive that you have to be constantly on the lookout for school bullies and killer robots from the future.

But fear not, fellow time traveller, as today is all about collaboration between Awesome People. Even if you are using one of those uncool time machines that can only send you back in time if you are butt-naked, our organization, the Scent Resistance can equip you with a full kit of the Ultimate Awesomeness Device. No need to physically carry it, you just wear on your skin. The name? Mousse Illuminee, aka the Powerhouse Fougere From the Future (PFFF).

Mousse Illuminee's turbo-charged Green Mossy Resinous hi-octane power will instantly disarm any adversary. Your clearance status does not allow me to reveal too much, but how do you think that un-moustached guy, Harrison Ford, managed to defeat someone as quintessentially 1980s as Tom Selleck? Yes, our organization uses the power of fragrances to change key events of human history, so to prevent the Stream of Awesomeness from running dry.

While wearing Mousse Illuminee, you are protected by the Power Fougere Projection, a force field that has nirvana-like effects, preemptively neutralizing the risk that you may accidentally give a fuck about anybody else's criticism.

You wanted to object against Dickholing? Sorry pal, I have no fucks to give you: I am wearing Mousse Illuminee.

All I can tell you is that today the soap welcomed me with BOLD core notes of mossiness muskiness resinousness. As soon as I lathered it with my Heritage Collection x AP Shave Co. collab (yes, today is about mixing up, baby!), I was already projecting so much that both the Twins (EJ and Muhle) insisted to do a little rasage à trois. Before you whine about incest and stuff: fear not, they are not real siblings, they just look alike and share the same easygoing attitude. I confess a slight preference for Muhle, who has a more balanced personality under that irresistible green designer dress.

Speaking of green, the AS also revealed the more nuanced green, floral and woody notes, while the roll-on perfume sample just placed the Final Seal of Awesomeness with a deep darker-green and mossy/musky drydown.

FOF

Today's challenge: song day

Far from being in the overconfident Powerhouse Fougere spirit, the song that is in higher rotation in my shaving routine is Tezeta (Nostalgia) by Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke. I'm no expert in jazz or Ethiopian music, I just discovered this song by chance thanks to Episode 4 of Season 2 of The Bear, which is an awesome show with plenty of great needle drops.
So far, I haven't found any other song that reflects as well as Tezeta the state of no-rush introspection that I seek while I shave.

ROTY

LG24-10: Happy Together...in the car for many, many miles

• Brush: Maggard Razors Gray and White 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE86
• Blade: Astra SP (37)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps / London Razors - But First...Coffee - Shave Soap
• Post Shave: London Razors / Summer Break Soaps - Coffee & Contemplation - Aftershave
• Fragrance: DSH - Cafe Noir - EdP
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Music: Coffee and Cigarettes OST

Today I learned that Kentucky has awful highways. I'm traveling home; one state down, but that was one of the wide ones, and I'm heading north. Trying to type anything while the entire car jerks every few seconds makes for liberal use of the Backspace key and auto-correct. I'll keep this post short.

For my collaboration soap, the super-fun Discord But First...Coffee soap. I paired that with the earlier London Razors / Summer Break Soaps coffee-scented collaboration. (Mountain Laurel is my GOAT though.)

Ellen Covey's leathery Cafe-V is my favorite coffee scent by a wide margin, mostly because I prefer the bitter, roasted, woody aspects of coffee to the sweet, lactonic chocolaty tones of creamy latte art on top of steaming mug. However, instead of risking damage to my traveler, I packed this sample of DSH's coffee-amber. Starting with the sweet stuff and moving to the more complex frag worked well.

For today's challenge, the Coffee and Cigarettes soundtrack is an obvious choice. However, the prompt specifies a song, not an entire album, so let's narrow it down to "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James & The Shondells. Not only do I adore this timeless slice of late-'60s psychedelica, covers of the song are usually pretty good too. I'm fond of the shaggy Built to Spill take, which is faithful to the original, and closed out a memorable encore at a local theater. I can still hear the swirling guitars and smell the billowing plumes of dank green. (This video was probably from the same tour.)

** 10.06.2024 **

• Brush: AP Shave Co 28MM G5A SHD
• Razor: Timeless Razor TRBR38
• Blade: Perma Sharp
• Lather: First Line Shave - Sutton Distilled
• Post Shave: First Line Shave - Sutton Distilled
• Post Shave: Mühle alum stone

That was late relaxing shave! Last year you guys moved Lather Games in July just when The Voice started in Bulgaria and I have so much work. This year The Voice started in June. I don't know is there any relation but you really try to make my life miserable. But I'm not give up! So after long day of shooting I poured some fine rum in crystal glass. Take my Bluetooth speaker Soundcore motion 300 in bathroom ( I use it all the time coz every time I shave my self and it's twice a week I listen music). Played some country music to match the ambience of soap. And enjoyed this amazing scent! Yes yes yes I know the scent is whisky and I drink rum! Yes I notice to! You are so anointing and not leaving me a moment of piece! I'm not whisky fan but this soap is best boozy scent ever! Big reverence to Black mountain and First Lane!!! I enjoyed every second on this masculine spa accompanied with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson..... But if I have to put one song for this daily challenge will be this one. Yes I am so romantic have a nice evening! P.S. Little known fact: if you drink whisky from morning you are alcoholic BUT if you drink rum you are a pirate!!!

June 10, 2024 - Happy Together

• Brush: Rubberset 400 w/ Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Yates Precision Manufacturing - 921-H
• Blade: Gillette - Silver Blue
• Lather: Declaration Grooming x House of Mammoth - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Barrbarr Splash

Kind of messed my lather today with this Cerberus smush, but the scent was pretty darn good. Definitely had some sweetness, slickness, and maybe a little smokiness to it and was very unique. Thanks to u/Tetriside for sending the smush. It was one of those soaps I’ve read and heard a lot about but never had the chance to try!

Today’s song pick for me will be Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim. If only I’d used a Fatboy to shave today, but I don’t own one anymore. 921 did great though!

ROTY

Jun. 10, 2024
Brush: AP Shave Co G5C
Razor: Maggard MR11 slant head * Blade: Astra SP Green [4]
Lather: Stirling - Baker Street - Soap
Post Shave: Stirling - Baker Street - Aftershave
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Unscented - Balm

Stirling and strop shoppe collab. Song of the day while shaving was baby shark. Only thing that kept my toddler at bay while doing the deed. I’ll save everyone’s ears and bypass sharing the link. I’m sure you could find it if you wanted

• Brush: Maggard Razors Timberwolf
• Razor: Maggard Razors MR14 with Ikon Bulldog handle
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unconditional Surrender
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Reserve Cool

I totally switched gears and had intended to go with YRP today. But this one fit the song better. I get this stuck in my head far too often.

Snuff is such a fantastic song and Corey’s acoustic versions are so good. Perfect for shaving or just life.

Happy Together

• Brush: Yaqi Ferrari
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
• Blade: Astra
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Merchant

The Merchant is a collaboration between Heather and Shawn Maher.

photocontest Cactus.

Today’s Challenge: Song Day

Beautiful artwork of the Merchant makes me think about Duke Ellington’s Caravan

• Brush: Stirling - Synthetic 2 band.
• Razor: Henson AL13 Mild - Blue.
• Blade: Personna- Super/ aka FKA.
• Lather: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux - 88 Chestnut Street.
• Post: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.

Song of the day: Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie. 2 incredible musicians combining forces for a stellar collaboration. Plus it’s Queen and David Bowie.

ROTY

Happy Together

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Papa Eld with Declaration Grooming B3 knot #SHD
• Razor: Blackland Razors - Vector #CNC
• Blade: Feather Professional
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Cerberus

There was an "Artisan Appreciation" Theme Thursday on January 11 this year ("Use as many artisan and/or collab products as possible. Both software and hardware encouraged.") and maybe I should have copied my setup from then which featured a total of 12 collaborating artisans, but I've done that already and instead this is my first trickhole shave of the games. I'm glad I did it. Cerberus is simply fantastic and I can't tire of it. It's also the symbol of collaboration within our sub with three of our favourite artisans working on it together.

The hardware isn't a collaboration, but me being able to use it is a result of team work:

The razor is a loan from @sahenders@sub.wetshaving.social, and I'm impressed with this stunningly elegant razor. Thanks for loaning it to me! The first shave with it was a breeze and I got a comfortable 3-pass shave in. So nice. I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Hawk V3 on loan from u/Wallygator88.

The brush was originally bought by u/VisceralWatch, then sold to u/EldrormR who loaned and later sold it to me.

For today's challenge, I hate to do this to you, but thanks to Djunior, the song stuck in my head, the only song I can think of today is this abomination.

June 10, 2024

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks purple burl AP Shave Co. 24mm MiG
• Razor: Schick Injector
• Blade: Schick Injector
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus

I love Cerberus. It just smells great to me and probably my most successful full set blind buy. I get sweetness from the stone fruits. I would say apricots. Not fresh – but dried. Older, more leathery apricots. Concentrated and matured sweetness. It goes nicely with the resinous notes. I imagine this scent is tangible and not just volatile. Almost like it is from a tree with wound, slowly oozing. Sappy and sticky. I know there are other notes in there, namely sandalwood, patchouli, and jasmine. These play together to create a base, a surrounding scenery for the fruity resin. Each one is not singular but harmonious. It creates a portrait of that wounded tree with the fruity burnt orange resin center frame in a dense dark forest with tiny white flowers.

It has been hard recall a memory from this one. I do get hit of insulin and bandaid from the resinous accords but not memory evoking I would say. My thoughts remind me of a clip from Somm. The point being – everyone smells and associates smells differently. Whatever notes you smell are yours to smell. So if its tennis balls or bandaids, who cares. It still can smell great to you.

Challenge: I chose this song, which I think of as the OG music collaboration (yes I know it is not) to go with the soap collaboration.

Today’s SOTD features a bird, specifically a blue jay in flight right above the shaving brush. I lured Mr. J with a feeder then painfully staked out this morning to get an action shot.

Photocontest

FOF

Jun. 10, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co AP 400 22MM GELOUSY SHD FAN #RESURRECTIONBRUSH

• Razor: Gillette Rocket HD

• Blade: Nacet [1]

• Lather: Declaration Grooming / Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli

• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming / Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - White Patchouli

Happy together!

Well I am going to get the daily challenge out of the way. I love patchouli, it is by far my most favorite scent whether it be soap, fragrance, oil, incense or candle if it smells of patchouli I’m all over it. Now back in the 90’s you were told you smelled like a dirty hippy if you had it on. So for today’s song I share with you in my opinion the best “hippy artist” from the 60’s Mr. Jimi Hendrix live in Stockholm 1969

So with that all being when I saw today’s theme on the calendar, I finally have an excuse to buy it. I now have the Chatillon Lux matching EdT in my cart. I liked it so much that after I was done shaving I took what was left in the brush and washed my face and hands with it. I would absolutely buy this in bar soap, balm and lotion if they made it.

As I am sitting here typing this out there’s a fuck ton of bullshit going on around me. My soon to be 26 yo daughter came home from work and immediately started loosing her shit because my soon to be 24 yo son who is home for summer break and my 14 yo son left “her” bathroom a mess. It’s not hers but when the middle son is not home she pretty much is the only person to use it. She’s 5’2” maybe 105 pounds soaking wet with a pocket full of rocks, he’s 6’1” 260 pounds. I had to pull her off of him. She was all over him like a spider monkey. After I stopped laughing I told both boys to go clean the bathroom. After that my wife walks in and says you have another box. So I said huh, I did not order anything and she just shook her head and called me a shave nerd and walked away. So now I am finally finishing this write up when this pain in the ass decided he wanted pets and then this one got jealous and pushed him out of the way. So now I smell great and I’m covered in Husky hair.

Frag. Tom Ford White Patchouli really goes well with Y/R/P

Photo Contest Theme Wood

#ROTY #FOF #PhotoContest

Jun. 10, 2024 Happy Together * Brush: Chisel & Hound Quartermoon
Razor: Yates Winning Ti
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue * Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Armonía
Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Armonía * Post Shave: Osma - Alum
Post Shave: Jack Black - Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

Armonía is a collaboration between Chicago Grooming Co. and House of Mammoth. CG Co. provided the base while HoM supplied the fragrance. Both names appear on the label of the soap and aftershave. Dynamite teamwork! 🧨

Challenge: Simple - Florida Georgia Line This has been one of my daughter’s favorite songs as of late and has been requesting it often. 😃

ROTY

June 10, 2024 – Lather Games 2024 Day 10: Happy Together

• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Hallows Maggard SHD 26mm #SHD
• Razor: Eversharp Eagle
• Blade: Gillette Winner (4)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Gratiot League Square
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Gratiot League Square
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Rose Santal

Use of Theme: Happy Together

For today’s theme, I chose Declaration Grooming/ Chatillon Lux Gratiot League Square. It’s a warm, sweet, leathery, spicy scent that is supposed to be reminiscent of the trading square in 1800s St. Louis. I followed up with the matching aftershave, and I have always found the potion that Scott has concocted to be very nice and soothing without being too sticky. To fragrantly finish the shave this morning I chose Rose Santal from Chatillon Lux. We’ve all come to live the genius of Shawn Maher. I think it’s helpful when a perfumer works within a theme as he has in this case with historical St. Louis. He has woven commonalities between his various perfumes masterfully enough that they can easily pair. Here using rose and sandalwood, which are predominant notes also woven into Gratiot League Square. Having sat with it for about eight hours, I can say that the GLS is predominant through the dry down though when I first put on the EdP, the rose was very forward. As the day wore on the sandalwood seems to carry the weight. Alas, another reminder of the scents that I don’t have, but want.

Daily Challenge: Song Day

Out of the thousands of songs that could possibly be in my head, I just figured I’d go with the first thing that came into my mind this morning when I woke up. For whatever reason that song happened to be Star by Earth Wind & Fire. I don’t know why. The B-side of the single was You and I. Quite appropriate, I suppose, for Happy Together, but we’ll run with Star.

Somebody said the song starts off on a somber note, but it’s really more thoughtful or hopeful. It does start off slow, but not somber. It does kick into a funky rhythm and happy tune that’s representative of how I want to feel most days.

Star bright, starlight, mighty light to see Shinin’, smilin’ down on you and me

There are a lot of things I tend to get cranky about and I’m not even a Boomer. I’m a Gen Xer, we’re not supposed to give a fuck. It’s a wonder we get mistaken. I genuinely don’t like being negative. It’s not who I ever was and it’s why I started signing off on my posts the way I have been—a reminder to be positive. Every so often I get an external reminder to stay positive.

I can feel the dark, take the night apart But then the stars come out to lift my heart

I think that’s just what I got today.

Happy shaving and be kind to one another.

Edit link and format

June 10, 2024 - Happy Together

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive 31mm Moar Boar #SUBBRUSH
• Razor: A. Witte NY. A1 5/8 Hollow Round Point #REVENANT
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - 1904
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Smash

FOF

Today’s Theme:

Almost everything here is a collaboration. 1904 has the soap by Declaration Grooming and the scent by Chatillon Lux. It is the same with Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli. For the fragrance we leave the Midwest and get what I guess is a collaboration between the Boston Red Socks and NY Yankees (maybe Mets). Smash is a collaboration between House of Mammoth & Barrister and Mann. The brush is a collaboration between Zenith and r/Wetshaving with an assist by Stirling Soap Co. I count the brush because the logo was designed by the sub.

Today’s Shave:

It is my third shave with a regular straight (maybe 80th including Wecks). I got it partially restored from the seller who had removed the rust, but did not fix the edge. It was about as sharp as a butter knife, and had several chips near the point almost like a serrated knife. Definitely not shave ready, and almost no bevel to the edge. I ground the chips down with my medium diamond plate. It made a bit of a flat spot near the round point, so I fixed the profile on the same plate. I set about remaking the bevel starting on the 600# diamond until I got a burr and the bevels looked pretty even. I moved to the 1200# Diamond, and did the same. Next were Japanese ceramic water stones in 3000#, 8000#, and 12000#. I stropped it on linen and buffalo hide. I didn’t try a hanging hair test, but it easily shaved hairs on my arm. This was the second straight that I went through this same process and it also had similar chips. Today’s razor shaved better than the other one did. I did three passes wtg, xtg, xtg except my neck. Neck was xtg and xtg. The lather was excellent, but I think I could have hydrated it a little more. Just a slight tingle from the aftershave too. It is still a little intimidating using a straight, but it does feel pretty good. A spritz of Smash on my wrists finished it up.

Today’s Challenge - Music to Shave by:

I think the kind of music I like for shaving is calm and almost ethereal. I chose Still Corners “The Trip”. I’m linking to an unofficial video I think. Someone set the song to old 8mm vacation footage to emphasize the title.

Feats of Fragrance:

Today I mixed things up and decided to use multiple collaborations. My first instinct for this category is to go with possibly my favorite use of patchouli, but I’ve done that. At work while ~~goofing around~~ waiting for some programs to kick out the results, I was looking up collaboration soaps that I have. I had written down Cerberus Fougere to start, but I got a strange idea. How can I link the three together? The hardest part was the splash, though I do have Smash. Browsing DG’s website on my phone, I saw 1904 has coffee. Well smash is a drink flavor, and coffee is a drink. Stretching my potential matches that are still collaborations, I realized that I’ve had a yuzu drink before. My daughter really likes those Ramune sodas from Japan. One that we all liked was the yuzu flavor. Ok I’ve connected the dots in my mind, but will this work? First I’ll say if I used 1904 in a splash or EdP, this probably would be a fail. The darker earthiness of the coffee and other scents would probably clash in EdP strength, but in the soap base, it was better as an earthy undertone to this drunken brunch theme I made. The splash for yuzu/rose/patchouli definitely has a stronger citrus and rose scent than the soap. In my mind I’ve moved it to a fragrant black tea with yuzu and rose notes. This is starting to work now. Smash is a sweet cap to this meal (ok, the brunch theme fails at dinner time). I am not a coffee drinker except once in a blue moon I get the urge for coffee with pancakes. While I love brinner, this isn’t going to be that. No strong caffeine this late in the day. The bourbon in Smash gives a subtle sweet smokiness to the peach and herbal elements like the St. Germain in the cocktail. That is what this scent is doing. I’m sipping a cocktail and unwinding from work. Now at home I don’t have any peaches, so I think just an old fashioned might be in order.

DAY 10 LATHER GAMES! COLL/ABO/RATE

• Prep: Water
• Brush: Hand made resin pour with dried flowers inside, 22mm synth pure badger imitation
• Razor: Soluna
• Blade: Nacet
• Lather: Zingari Man - Mousse Illumine
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Mousse Illumine
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Cape Hearthache

Collaboration! What is collaboration? The pure etymology of the word means "to work together", and it's from Latin, so you know it's old. But how old, not more than 14 centuries. But what about before that? Was there no collaboration before it was called that? Of course there was, one does not start or stop existing purely because Latin doesn't exist(or has died). The biggest wonders of the world have been built because of collaboration, between people and hard work. The Great Pyramids, the Library of Alexandria, The Eiffel tower, The Stature of Liberty. Everything amazing that has happened in the world was due to collaboration!

Why am I saying all of this? Because my friends, all of history and mankind has led to this timeline and to this moment of time, the apogee of shaving culture, where artisans of titan proportions join forces and create immaculate, perfect products so that we the mere mortals can enjoy them! We are blessed!!

The collaboration between Zingari man and Rouge perfumery has created a very interesting and complex fragrance. The first time I took a whiff from the tub, I didn't like it. And now... I still don't like it, but wait there's more. I am not here to hate speech, because I have grown as a person. With the hundreds of soaps and perfumes gone through my nose I have had my horizons expanded. Even though Mousse Illumine is not to my liking, this time around I really appreciate the subtleties of the scent, while the bluntness of Artemisia and Cypress overwhelm you in the beginning you then are embraced by a hug of sweetness, finished by a mellow kiss of oakmoss. It is a very stellar fragrance! I paired it with Cape Hearthache, cause I wanted some fruits in there, and it turned out great.

I'm gonna talk juuuust a bit about the razor, cause this thing hits WAY above it's weight class. This razor is one of those olden razors where you use it and then you think "The fuck did I buy a xxx$ razor for?!?!?". I've tested this on a couple of days of growth and now on daily growth, it is a terminator in terms of stubble removal efficiency and with great easy, not tugging, no blade chatter, no nothing. I advise those who are curious, go get one, you'll thank me later, if not I'll buy it off you!

Comment continues below:

June 10, 2024 - Happy Together

• Brush: Parker Safety Razor - Chrome Handle Silvertip Badger
• Razor: Schick - Krona TTO DE 1960s
• Blade: Personna - Platinum
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere
• Post Shave: Noble Otter Soap Co - Cerberus Fougere Splash
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli Collaboration

SOAP - This is a Fougere soap packed with tons of variety! Scents like spicy-sweet woody star anise, balsamic fruity notes of Egyptian geranium, orris, and herbaceous woody lavender! Wow I have no idea what any of that means but does it sound Boujee? Yes it does because it is very fancy.

That’s what happens when you get three celebrity soap makers like Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth, and Noble Otter all together magical things appear. I was lucky enough to get a smush from u/curbside_champ because I missed the limited release….I was sad.

Now because it’s collaboration day I also got a small sample of the splash to Matchy Matchy my scents and used the Fragrance collaboration from Declaration and Chatillon Lux. Score!!!

RAZOR - I went back to my shick today because the personna platinum is really comfortable right now on that razor. It’s weird that every time I change a new personna blade the first few shaves are a bit uncomfortable then it gets better as I go through more shaves. Very odd.

THE THEME- Since it’s collaboration day the first song that splooge into my mind was FAME by David Bowie, John Lennon and Carlos Alomar released in 1975.

It has an interesting history because the written part was where the collaboration happen but according to Bowie this was the results of some litigation issues he was having with his manager which came as a result from getting famous.

Turns out this crazy popular song to this day became one of his least favorite because of all the negative emotions it carried. In essence after Bowie’s death in 2016 this song became one of four to be included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll (Wikipedia told me and I thought it was cool so I’m sharing wit’yall)

Bowie would later describe fame as “not that rewarding and that the most you can say is that it gets you a seat in restaurants”! But if you don’t wait in line then you can’t mingle with everyone waiting!!! Damn you Fame!!!

Jun. 10, 2024 - The good good stronk

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Stirling x Zenith 510SE

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #FLIPTOP #OLDWORLD

• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming/Noble Otter - Cerberus

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming/Noble Otter - Cerberus

Daily Challenge: There are so many directions to go today with a song of the day! Like u/djundjila, the majority of my songs are dictated by the whim of my son. Thankfully we skated past Blippi quickly.

I cannot recommend listening to any of those songs unless you want to permanently go insane from listening to them on repeat. Whenever I need an escape into music I pull out a Dave Matthews Band playlist and just drift. My go to song is Satellite - Dave Matthews Band, there’s just something about his songs that I love!

Daily Theme Justification: Technically the only one that works since the theme says “Product was produced in collaboration with two artisans” thus three artesians needed to be involved! Technically correct, the best kind of correct! And yes, all three Brands are prominently featured on the label!

Relevant Post Shave & Frag: Todays theme features fruit forward scents that dry down to sandalwood. Cerberus is stone fruit over strong sandalwood base and Sonder is Lemon over a creamy sandalwood base. Both the same thought but opposite directions. Also extended my theme into my hardware with a Stirling x Zenith brush and u/EldrormR’s collaboration of two razors into one!

June 10, 2024 - Happy Together

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: AKA Brushworx - 26mm G5C #FAUXFUR #FRANKENBRUSH
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti #CNC
• Blade: Voskhod (1)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere

One of my favorite collabs with some of my favorite artisans.Like a Stone by Audioslave is one of my favorite songs by my favorite band so I figured what better song for today's shave.

PHOTOCONTEST - Eyes

June 10 - Happy Together

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Mint Smoke anchurian V20 26 mm #SHD
• Razor: Rolls Razor Imperial No. 2 #FOREVERSAFETY #STAINLESSLESS
• Blade: Rolls Razor Imperial No. 2 (2)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming - Armonia
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus

Theme: All software products are collabs. Soap: Chicago Grooming x House of Mammoth. Splash and frag: Declaration Grooming x House of Mammoth x Noble Otter. There's a Mammoth on every label.

Challenge: Today’s theme is collaboration. So, I wanted to pick a song from a collaborative album. I listened to Love This Giant by St. Vincent and David Byrne while I was making dinner and landed on I Am An Ape. I found this stunning live performance. My software labels feature Mammoths, Bison, and Otters. An ape seems fitting.

I love Armonia. I purchased the frag when it was re-released this year to complete my trifecta. The draw of the fragrance is the note of spicy cured tobacco. That's complemented by a composition of green notes providing touches of powder and herb. There's a slight earthiness. Cedar serves as a backdrop. This is one of my favorite uses of tobacco in a fragrance. Chicago Grooming describes this as a fougere. The tobacco and cedar make this stand out in what is typically a lavender heavy genre. This Darkwing soap base is low-key one of the best on the market.

I bought this Rolls Razor for “new to you” last year. I haven’t used it since. I didn’t enjoy it. I saw many people using it this year have a bad time. And yet, here I am, using it again for hardware points. Time for a little secret, I’ve never used the built-in hone or strop. u/gcgallant was kind enough to hone it for me last year. I stropped it on a paddle strop today. I was reasonably sure I’d get a slick lather with Darkwing. So, today seemed as good as any to try shaving with this again. Despite my best efforts, it was still bad. The razor was tuggy. It didn’t do well on curved surfaces, or with the tougher hair around my mustache, goatee, and chin. This thing just doesn’t work well for me.

After the awesomeness that is Cerberus, the triumvirate of Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth, and Noble Otter reunited to grace us with Cerberus Fougere. Splashing this on, I get heavy oakmoss right away with a bit of lavender. I have the set in front me. If I smell the splash in the bottle I get a big whiff of sweet bergamot. Nosing it a bit more, the oakmoss comes through. Smelling the soap, bergamot is there, a hint of oakmoss, and the sandalwood in the base is apparent. It’s an interesting exercise in fragrance. Going from the fruity sandalwood of Sandalorian to the dialed back interpretation of Cerberus, this fougere version came out of left field. The fougere elements are prominent. I can also detect the core Cerberus sandalwood note underneath. It lacks the fruit notes from the original. It stands alongside fragrances like Beaudelaire, Fougere Angelique, and Fougere Gothique as outside the box fougeres.

After missing out on Sandalorian, I was excited when Cerberus was announced. The opening is floral bordering on vanilla, green, slightly fruity, sweet balsamic, and sandalwood. It’s a fun combination of scents; the contrast of light, playful, sweet elements drawing to resinous, dry elements at the core. Wearing this makes me feel happy. Of the two Cerberus fragrances (Cerberuses? Cerberi?), the original still takes the cake in my book.

#photocontest - DIY. My mobile phone repair kit is to the right. The gaming PC I built last year is behind.

#FOF

6/10/24

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ TNS 28mm M7 Fan
• Razor: Wade & Butcher "The Celebrated Hollow Ground Razor For Barber's Use" 8/8, Half Hollow Barber's Notch
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts/ Australian Private Reserve - Gravefruit
• Post Shave: Noble Otter/House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming - Cerberus

I showed up to the APR party a little late. I didn't smell this OG Gravefruit til last year. Before that, I had already gotten a trick of GFII. I like GFII, but damn, the OG is just fantastic. There's a little something different about it. I'm sure someone more articulate could better describe. It's good tho and I like it.

This is some OG Cerberus, I dont think it's any different from the second release. Cerberus is that stronk, but it's good. I'm glad it doesn't give me overload and an accompanying headache. I couldn't use it daily, but I do certainly enjoy the occasional wear. The pairing with Gravefruit wasn't as wild as I had thought it was gonna be. Pleasant in its own way.

This M7 brush is one of my favorites. It feels so good. I really like the density. It has just a little bit of gel. It's a terrific knot.

This W&B has gotten a lot of use already since Saturday. Last night, I refreshed it on my jnats and man... what a fantastic shaver.

Would you shave me? I'd shave me.

June 10, 2024 – Happy Together

• Brush: Semogue 2000
• Razor: Blackland - Blackbird Lite
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (7)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus Fougere
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Cerberus Fougere
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Yuzu Rose Patchouli
• The Lather: Like all Declaration Grooming soaps, Cerberus Fougere lathers quickly and easily. The scent is dark, woody, and herbaceous.
• The Shave: My neck is still a bit angered from the one pass shave the other day so today’s shave was a bit slower. The soap definitely provides all the right cushion for an enjoyable shave though.
• Challenge: I know, the challenge explanation before the aftershave and frag, how scandalous. For today’s song I chose Tekilla by Cerberus (Spanish version). I know it sounds like I took the easy route from the bands name matching with the soap name, but while that did factor in its not entirely what made me pick this song. When traveling down the rabbit hole searching for the perfect song I had a few criteria I was looking for (aside from a name connection to the soap). Is it unique? I didn’t want to pick a song that everyone knew or multiple people used, but rather share something I found on a musical adventure. Does it fit the theme? Today’s theme of collaboration meant I needed to have more than just that one group. Tekilla fuses the sounds of metal laden guitar with the horns of mariachi and is an interesting collaboration that I had never personally heard. My final consideration was how it would relate to the dark idea of Cerberus as the guardian of the underworld and the shaves dark resinous notes. To this end I felt like the video connected the aspect of the dead quite well and the sound was sufficiently dark, but it had some brighter sounds from the horns. I knew I would need to resolve the scent connection in my post shave.
• Aftershave/Frag: I knew I needed to match the soap with it’s corresponding aftershave to enhance and strengthen the dark complexity of scent going on with the shave, or it would get overwhelmed. That just left me with the bright mariachi notes to bring into today’s scent, enter Yuzu Rose Patchouli (YRP). YRP’s citrusy yuzu not brought that pop of bright freshness like a horn blaring through guitars. The woody notes let the frag blend a little into the herbaceous and dark woody notes of Cerberus without deadening the resinous nature. To say I was pleased with this pairing would be an understatement. As if the song link wasn’t enough both the aftershave and the frag were part of collaboration sets (DG/NO/HoM and DG/Chatillon Lux)
• Theme: Cerberus Fougere is the well-known collaboration between 3 artisans (DG/NO/HoM).

SOTD 2024-06-10 Zamac Attacc

• Brush: Vie-Long Alfil
• Razor: Gillette - Travel Tech #ZAMAC
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (2nd use)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus balm

!Today you will!< get to see me make use of my NOS Travel Tech for the first time today; just look at that adorable pouch! Made in Argentina in Q1 1967 (based on the N-1 stamp), you can tell it's >!be!!engraved with!< Gillette branding on the cap >!screams!< "quality potmetal". The tiny 2" handle was actually easier to use than I was expecting; possibly because this thing weighs next to nothing. The light weight made it super easy to do the WTG pass; however going ATG was a challenge. This razor is >!LOUD!<! It also bounces around on my face, especially against the grain. It was >!like driving on!< a farm road! As >!you'r!!face!< any favours. Needed to go >!for a third pass because two wasn't enough!< with this razor. With the three passes my skin felt decently smooth; though >!the mirror told me,!< that my skin probably wouldn't have appreciated either alum or an alcohol-based splash.

For the theme I used both the Cerberus soap and balm. I really like the scent, but it makes my nose tingle and run for as long as the scent is given off. This is why I've kept it stored away >!for half a year!<.

Thinking of "Happy Together" I couldn't help but picture Dr. Evil and Mini Me singing "Just the two of us". So naturally I had to also pair my largest brush with my tiniest razor.

June 10, 2024 – Purple Urple

• Brush: Chisel and Hound “Acer Pearl” w/ V20 Fanchurian #composite #SHD
• Razor: Gillette Tech Fat Handle
• Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome
• Lather: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux – B Cubed
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Trouble Maker

Not a fan of Bay Rums but the B Cubed is the one exception that I just happened into. To me it’s a finely sweet purple urple collaborative effort from DG and CL. As one good turn deserves another so does this lather pair with a new and excellent purple urple smokey lavender from Kyle from SBS. Sometimes everything comes together in a shave and tonight was one of them, spot on lather and shave.

As for a song to pair, I have to be an evangelist for the newish Mannequin Pussy album. Such a strong album front to back hard and fast and soft and dreamy. Punk as fuck with a soft poppy mellow center. This could also fall under the theme for today as it shows the excellency of both the band and super producer John Congleton, who reached out to the band to collaborate. I can’t pick a favorite to here’s the opener and title track: I Got Heaven

Cheers!

https://imgur.com/a/EyUT8bW

• Prep: PAA - The Cube 2.0
• Bowl: Naked Armor - Silver Fox Scuttle
• Brush: Wolf Whiskers - Iron Throne Bob Badger Knot
• Razor: Timeless - Aluminum Slant
• Blade: Gillette - London Bridge
• Lather: Zingari Man/Rogue - Bon Monsieur
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory - Fantastic
• Post Shave: Omega - Alum Stick

Another shave down. The Timeless slant was nice, but the London Bridge Blade was a little rough. The scent of the Zingari Man/Rogue Collaboration is out of this world! I just bought a full tub after trying this sample.

Challenge: The song I hear when shaving is The Scorpions "No One Like You" I guess I should say I hear it and picture the video. Especially the forks! Something clicks when I am shaving and that the song and video pop into my head frequently. Perhaps it is that the time I spend shaving is an escape from all of my trouble, like escaping prison or maybe it is just a good song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VwbyBGbqPY

Personal challenge to use a different blade, razor, brush, aftershave and soap brand is still going.

ROTY

SOTD - 2024-06-10

• Beard Growth: 24 Hours
• Prep: Hot Shower
• Pre Shave: None
• Brush: Yaqi - Mysterious Space Synthetic
• Razor: Lambda Athena
• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum
• Passes: WTG x2
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Gratiot League Square - Chatillon Lux Collaboration
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Fougere Nemeta After Shave Splash

• Fragance: Southern Witchcrafts - Fougere Nemeta EDP

• Comments: Collaboration day more like, Shawn Maher day… both Dec. Grooming and SW products I used today had his custom fragrances. Hopefully this is considered to be on theme for today.

Man! I love this base, great slick lather, very thick and could handle a significant amount of water. The smell is great too I got some strong incense notes, maybe that’s the sandalwood, vetiver and tobacco coming through.

Also the Fougere Nemeta - wow! Love this scent probably my favorite, managed to get one from the bazaar was lucky enough to get for today’s shave. Thanks u/EldrormR for the speedy shipping 🙂

Now coming to the song selection for today: Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

Let’s get serious for a minute here. We all know that Kendrick Lamar recently came out with a diss track for Drake. And it’s know that Kendrick is a long time wetshaver, some speculation is that this song is actually not a track for Drake, but rather commentary on some of the unsavory elements here, who keep chasing baby butts. There are also some folks who are participating in #FOF contest, who keep chasing notes but I think that’s still okay as long as they don’t go after the minor notes. We can root out these smooth baby butt chasers, they will never give up and will keep going against the grain of our societal values.

#ROTY

June 10, 2024 – LG 10: Happy Together

• Brush: That Darn Rob Declaration Grooming B6 #COMPOSITE #FRANKENBRUSH #SHD
• Razor: Gillete NEW Long Comb London Razors #REVENANT
• Blade: Treet Carbon Steel #STAINLESSLESS (3)
• Lather: Zingari Man – Mousse Illuminee
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Cerberus Fougere
• Fragrance: Rogue Perfumery – Mouse Illuminee

Mousse Illuminee Fougere sandwich, with Cerberus fougere in the middle. Also all collabs today throughout software. Brush is from multiple artisans, and the Gillette is a revamped/replated from London Razors, so basically a collab too. So we have ZM, NO, DG, HoM, Rogue, TDR and London Razors among small artisans repped today for hardware/software.

For our #FOF mouse illumines is a soft but intriguing take. Its very ‘clean’ smelling while also being extremely mossy. Hints of white florals and a woody base. It lacks the herbal medicinal qualities, likely due to the omission of lavender so commonly found in fougeres. Some components remind me of a lighter version of BM Fougere Aromatique, the musky, almost damp mushroom smell. Solid silage for an EDT. I prefer Cerberus fougere to its predecessor. Its a bit spicy and fruity, with intense woody herbaceous lavender. The dry down is darker, resinous and mossy, yet still a strong scent.

For our #PHOTOCONTEST we opted for grass. It seemed fitting for going with the fern and foresty feels. There’s The fancy grass in the photo, as well as the annoying crab grass. Seems like each time its pulled 3 more heads spring up (see what I did there?).

As for the daily challenge, let’s take it back to 2006. Cool surfer dude Jack Johnson is taking the world by storm. Since today was Happy Together, it seemed fitting to go with his song Better Together, and what better way to showcase it than as a collaboration

Oh yeah, and BM and Will are the bees knees. I’d say BM lavender way my gateway drug to pull me down this rabbit hole.

soap brands 10/30, post shave 10/30, frag 10/30, post/frag linked 10/30, software sponsors 7/16, hardware sponsors 6/2, razor hashtags 8/15, brush hashtags 9/15, photo contest 10/30, daily challenges 9/26, special challenges 1/4

SOTD June 10, 2024; first ever LG Post

• Brush: Auroroa Grooming LG24 brush w/26mm OUMO synthetic knot #SUBBROOSH #FAUXFUR #FRANKENBRUSH
• Razor: Dorco Pace 6 Pro handle [I know, I know :( ]
• Blade: Dorco pace 6 Sport cartridge [I know, I know x2 :( ]
• Lather: Zingari Man x Rogue Perfumery Bon Monsieur shaving soap
• Post Shave: Zingari Man x Rogue Perfumery Bon Monsieur recovery splash
• Fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent L’homme

This is my first LG 2024 post, my first ever LG participation, and even my first ever SOTD post I’ve ever done… so to say this was overwhelming is an UNDERSTATEMENT. Been mostly lurking and sometimes commenting for maybe the past 4? months, but have definitely spent WAY too much money on products already. Love it though! Mainly for the scents and skincare stuff (as you can see I’m still using cart razors) BUT being clean-shaven has always been a requirement for my job and this has really helped turn it into something I enjoy rather than just feeling like a chore, and my skin has been much healthier on top of it.

Anyways I hope I did the hashtags correctly, as well as working in the bonus points for the scavenger hunt using Aurora Grooming’s LG24 brush (which I love and recommend), a sponsor software, for having a relevant post shave and frag (here’s to hoping that having them all be full French names works/is creative enough), and any other bonuses I did that I’m forgetting as I type this out.

As for the daily challenge: I’m going with Closing Time by Semisonic since this shave was for a closing shift!

Cheers!

June 10, 2024 – LG24 Day 10 - Happy Together

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Carrot handle w/ 26mm 2-band Badger + Synthetic mixed bulb knot #MISTURA
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #FLIPTOP #MODERNGEM
• Blade: Personna PTFE Stainless Steel GEM (1)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Armonia
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist AS Balm
• Fragrance: OriginLab - Inspired by Fahrenheit Parfum

PIFs/Collaborations: Today's soap and GEM blade came my way via separate PIFs from the one and only u/tsrblke, whose collaborative spirit makes my LG participation possible. My post was PIF'd by House of Mammoth as a NOS add-on to an order I placed last fall. The frag was PIF'd by the vendor as a "buy ten get one free" add-on to an order I placed in preparation for this year's LG. The MM24 is a two-timing collaboration - u/EldrormR combined the Ever-Ready 1924 Head with the MMOC handle to create this beauty, and u/ShavingInCT donated it to the LG 2023 Prize Pool. I was lucky enough to win it and I couldn't be happier. The brush (an AliExpress purchase for use in last year's LG) is collaborative in the sense that the knot joins together badger and synthetic fibers. Unlike the other collaborations (which are all fantastic), this one is meh (even a cheap Chinese knockoff of a G5 series knot is 10 times better than this knot at one-tenth of the cost).

Daily Theme & Relevant Post/Frag: Armonia is collaboration between Chicago Grooming Co. (the soap maker) and House of Mammoth (frag creator). Both vendors are prominently presented on the soap label, thus meeting today's theme. The post and frag have two levels of relevancy to today's shave. Both post and frag were vendor add-on PIFs to orders with the vendors. The second relevancy is not as obvious but still fits today's collaborative theme: Armonia is described as a modern tobacco fougère, whereas Tobacconist is straight-up tobacco and the frag (a Dior Fahrenheit dup) is an aromatic fougère. The post and frag "collaborate" to form a tobacco fougère profile which compliments the lather nicely.

Daily Challenge: When I first reviewed the LG 2024 calendar, The Beatles song, Come Together, leapt into my brain when I reviewed the "Happy Together" theme details. As I prepared my LG calendar, "Come Together" popped in my head every time I thought about Day 10. Even as I performed today's shave, "Come Together" played over and over in my head like a broken record. No reason fighting it, my song recommendation for today is The Beatles - Come Together.

Thirsty Thursday

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Scholar V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #FLIPTOP #MODERNGEM
• Blade: Personna PTFE Coated Stainless GEM
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Armonia
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Cologne Russe Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Smash

Daily Gratitude
Thanks to ShavinginCT for the soap and fragrance sample. Thanks to EldrormR for including some free blades with my MM24. Thanks to our wonderful judges and other people for putting this whole thing together.

Daily Mistakes
None, I am perfect.

Daily Writeup
Writing this after work, I originally was going to do it right after I shaved but then someone asked me to cover their shift and I couldn't refuse so I didn't have time to do a writeup. Ngl today's shave was very tobacco smelling and I smelt like a smoker at work lol. Pretty good base though! It's also been a while since I've used the good ole Scholar V20 and man badger is so much better than synthetic lol. There's a big gap in my collection for some badger brushes so I might start the hunt for a nice DG brush secondhand. Today was the first time I had bacon in years and it was terrible, not much more to say.

Daily Theme Points
The scent for Armonia was crafted for Chicago Grooming Co. by House of Mammoth.

Daily Relevant Post Shave & Fragrance Points
For the fragrance I went with House of Mammoth Smash because it's another tobacco scent by House of Mammoth. For the aftershave I went with Cologne Russe because it's another darker matching kind of scent and I thought why not throw in a 3rd artisan in the mix and have a super collab shave!

Daily Challenge
For the song I went with probably my favorite song, Misty, specifically the Ella Fitzgerald version. Pretty good song especially for a band kid like me, the first time I heard this was when I was in 7th grade and decided to go to the high school jazz band concert, a kid name Alec was the lead alto at the time and he had a killer solo and that was the first decent saxophone playing I've ever heard, so this song is always special to me.

Hardware Scavenger Hunt
No new hashtags because I'm too lazy to change razors and have to make new hashtags, I just copy paste. If you want to see my reasoning for these hashtags look at my previous SOTDs.

Photo Contest
Comedy! If you can't read the note it says: Knock knock Who's There? Freep Freep Who? Free Poo? ew

TL;DR
I win rookie of the year thank you very much give me my prize.

Side Contests

photocontest

ROTY

June 10, 2024 - Animalia

• Brush: Chisel and Hound 26mm V20
• Razor: Dubl Duck Goldedge
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Civet
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Cerberus
• Fragrance: Zoologist - Civet

This soap showed up just in time to use it for this theme. It's a collaboration between Chiseled Face (who made the soap) and Zoologist (who made the scent). The frag today matches the lather cementing the collaboration, and the post shave is another animalic collaboration software that paired quite nicely with Civet.

In traditional Chiseled Face fashion, this soap explodes on the lather. It needs like zero water to give a super voluminous, cushiony lather that is a joy to shave with. In the past I've struggled with slickness from this brand, but I really wanted to continue the animal theme with the Dubl Duck, so I had to hydrate it quite a bit. Happy to report it was plenty slick for the shave, but still leaves a little to be desired from the post shave feel. The otter more than makes up for that. Got a fantastic shave today, easily one of my best with a straight. There's still one trouble spot that I can feel isn't quite done all the way, but nobody would ever notice looking at me. Working on the skin stretching has been the key to steadily improving with this razor.

It's really incredible how evocative some of these Zoologist frags are. Civet continues to make me super antsy and energetic. It honestly makes me feel like I have to hyper focus on what's happening around me and that I can't afford to miss out on anything. It gives you a drive that you can't afford to ignore, very fun scent to wear.

Let's put that feeling into overdrive with some Rancid. Here is Olympia, WA off the album ... and out come the wolves. I thought the forward drive of this song was very fitting for the way that Civet makes me feel.

Today's photo contest theme is Wood. This is a little baby Arabica plant that I've got growing in a pot until I can transplant it into something bigger. Was very fitting to pair this plant with Civet when Luwak coffee is essentially just a civet pooping out coffee beans that we then roast and then brew. #photocontest

June 10, 2024

• Brush: Stirling Soap Company Finest Badger 24mm Fan Knot
• Razor: Fatip Piccolo Slant Closed Comb
• Blade: Astra Green (1)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming + Chatillon Lux Collaboration – 88 Chestnut St.
• Post Shave: Cella – Riserva Fresco
• Fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent – L’Homme Ultime

Fine shave. Love the brightness of 88 Chestnut St. I chose Cella Riserva Fresco aftershave not because it’s a collaboration, but because it suits the current transition (where I live, at least) from spring into summer. In addition to the citrus in both the soap and the aftershave, Cella Riserva has herbal notes such as basil and jasmine that lend some lushness and depth.

Wasn’t sure if I had any collaborative fragrances (that is, fragrances marketed as collaborations between houses). Upon checking, however, I discovered that YSL L’Homme Ultime, a scent that happens to go quite well with the two above, is the work of three perfumers (or “noses” as they sometimes say): Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion, and Juliette Karagueuzoglou. A trio of noses, if you will.

Song about Being Happy…Together

As one of Adam Sandler’s characters famously mused, “Some of us will never find true love.” But that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. For me, the song that comes to mind when I think “Happy Together” is one by the Carpenters…about praising Satan. Just kidding. It’s this song (as performed by Shonen Knife).

POST 1/2

#ROTY

June 10, 2024 – Lather Games: Day 12

• Brush: Shavemac w/ AP Shave Co 26mm Pure Bliss™ SHD Premium Synthetic Knot
• Razor: Tatara Muramasa
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – The Full Measure of Man

Cerberus, for me, is just a mediocre scented soap. Perhaps I was expecting my socks to be blown completely off, especially with the artisans involved, but it just never packed that punch that I was anticipating. That’s not to say that it’s bad. It’s definitely not. It just isn’t a favorite of mine.

The quality of the product is awesome. Declaration Grooming’s milksteak base is no joke. It performs extremely well for me.

Today’s Challenge: I was listening to Imminence – “Heaven Shall Burn” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rAUiieikoE). It just seemed appropriate when using the Cerberus shaving soap.

June 10, 2024 - Happy Together

• Brush: Declaration Grooming B15 Miscellaneous

• Razor: Charcoal Goods Gen 1 Level 2

• Blade: Wizamet

• Lather: Chiseled Face x Zoologist - Nightingale

• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

Just a super quick shave this evening. I’m doing my best to keep up with what shaves I can this month just off my collection and skipping the days I can’t hit the theme. This scent definitely reminds me of something along the lines of Tabac and screams retirement home to me. Either way I do enjoy the scent, but this base is just nothing to really write home about.

SOTD June 10, 2024 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 2-band 24mm
• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85MM Safety Razor
• Blade: Van Der Hagen Stainless
• Lather: House of Mammoth/Barrister & Mann- Smash
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monarch balm

June 10, 2024

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps 'Mood Indigo' / Maggard Synthetic 28mm
• Razor: Blackland Razors Era
• Blade: Gillette Platinum
• Lather: Zingari Man - Nocturne (with B&M)
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Nocturne (with B&M)
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Admiral

Very late post, as I was working on the podcast and lost track of time.

I suggest everyone go listen to your favorite organ jazz.

Scent theme today - took the smoke note from Nocturne (made by Zingari, in collaboration with Barrister and Mann) and pivoted to Admiral. Great scents today.

June 10, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II  

Soap is a collaboration.

Today was pretty terrible. We had put our dog down. The soap name made me giggle in an ironic and morbid sort of way.

Song: my dad liked the gunslinger ballads. We used to sing big iron while we drove up to camp or worked in the yard. When he was in the hospital it was on regular rotation as he napped.

https://youtu.be/Sag7hLly0qg?si=-pwMBJccPqGNn7DX

SOTD - June 10

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Moka
• Razor: Henson - Al13 Mild
• Blade: Gillette - Platinum
• Lather: Declaration Grooming x chantillon Lux - 88 Chestnut St.
• Post Shave: Epsilon - blue

photocontest bokeh balls

Fun one today. Song choice is easy because of the photo challenge. All of the Lights - Kanye West.

Wish I spend more time shaving and less time taking a bomb photo. yOuch.

June 10, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm Synbad

• Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley OC B Plate

• Blade: Ladas Super Stainless

• Lather: Storybook Soap Works - West Egg - Soap

• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - West Egg - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Persephone

West Egg is an r/Wetshaving exclusive collaboration between Storybook Soap Works and Chatillon Lux. Unfortunately, Storybook is no longer. Their base is still great by today's standards. West Egg and Shaken are two of my favorites in this base. West Egg smells so delicious. It's incredibly creamy while still having a touch of that champagne bite. Persephone is also sweet and I think the tart pomegranite red fruit goes nicely with the champagne creaminess.

I don't know why, but songs about champage just make me think of Like a G6. I'm probably just showing my age as this song was popular when I was in college.