June 12, 2024 – 2024.06.12: Lather Games Day 12 – CREAM

• Brush: Shave Forge Horsehair, 20mm #HORSESASS #HOLLOW
• Razor: GEM 1912 #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Harry’s – Shave Cream
• Post Shave: Proraso – Menthol and Eucalyptus
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Every Storm A Serenade

---

Daily Theme: CREAM

Theme justification: Harry's Shaving Cream for Men is listed as a shaving cream. The tube is also clearly labeled as a cream.

Relevant Post Shave & Frag: Today's matching theme is Eucalyptus (otherwise known as the plant that koalas eat). All elements incorporate eucalyptus into their products. The Harry's Shaving Cream is made with "aloe and eucalyptus"(it's also listed on the tube), the Proraso Aftershave is with Eucalyptus & Menthol, and Imaginary Authors' Every Storm a Serenade has a note of eucalyptus as well.

---

Scavenger Hunt Justification:

Razor facts: This GEM 1912, which was provided on loan by /u/EldrormR, has a patina. I did my best to capture it: here, here, and here.

Brush facts: This brush, loaned by /u/OnionMiasma, is made of horse hair and has a hollow handle. It is the same brush he used here. A judge wouldn't lie about the brush characteristics, would they?

---

Daily/Special Challenge: Den Tour Day.

All I ask today is that you do not judge me on the messiness of my den/bathroom. Also, my cat wanted to take part in the den tour. I am willing to answer any questions related to my cat.

Here you have the right side of my counter. Encounter #1 with the cat. He was very interested in what I was doing. I keep all my brushes & razors up here because I have not found a good storage solution for them. I'm open to suggestions. My toothbrush also lives nested in the warm embrace of the brush forest, as does my CaYuen bowl. To the left of the sink is my organization tray. It has some of my most used items. My frags also live on this side, along with most of my lotions, because I haven't found a better place for them yet. The items on my HoM x Lancaster towel just haven't found a home yet either.

Here is the drawer on the right side. It has a few soaps and some miscellaneous items. It also has my blade bank. Under that drawer, we have a cabinet that I've installed two pullout drawers in. On the top we have my soap, and on the bottom we mostly have my aftershaves. The bottom does have my Stirling samples as well. I will say I greatly prefer the top drawer. It is much smoother and feels higher quality. Plus, I think it looks nicer. There are some boxes on each side of the drawers that have various items in them. The ones on top are filled with samples (one for smushes the other for actual sample products), while on bottom we have smush making items.

On the left side, the top drawer has my floss, hair stuff, and my sample frags. The cabinet below is a hodgepodge of items... Cat! What are you doing? You don't belong there! Come one, get out. Don't give me that look. I know you like drawers, but I don't want to be in a position where I have to tell a vet that you at a razor blade. Great, now that he's gone we can continue.

The top is mostly blades and boxes, while the bottom is a lot of bath soap and other miscellaneous items (like drop kits, travel razors, canned goo, and other various items I don't really use any more). This side really needs more organization. Next time I go to a place with a Daiso I'm buying some more organization items. The box I bought for my blades is perfect, and the stand on my countertop is nice too.

So thanks for taking a tour of my ~~crib~~ den. See you next year.

---

Fragrance description

The Harry's cream was so bad that it's not even worth mentioning in this section.

The Proraso lived up to its name and smelled like eucalyptus. Good on you, Proraso.

As for Every Storm a Serenade, the main note I'm getting is spruce and a bit of vetiver. I, unfortunately, do not get the any sense of storm or west coast of Denmark. Nor any sea notes. Not bad, but a bit different that I expected.

---

Now onto the shave!

Overall the shave was decent. I probably wasn't supposed to use a brush for the cream, but I did anyway. I mean, it doesn't say not to use a brush. The cream smelled horrible, but provided enough slickness to shave with the 1912. Result was a decent enough shave that was presentable without murdering my face.

I'll call it a win.

Finished up the morning by making some eggs, the Kenji way.. I prefer my scrambled eggs on the harder side, and this method worked great for that. They were still moist and delicious.

---

Sponsor Spotlight

House of Mammoth (/u/MammothBen). What can really be said. Active in the community while making great stuff. Him and Vida make a great team, and I've never been disappointed in a HoM product.

---

Totals:

• Razor Hashtags: 10/10
• Brush Hashtags: 10/10
• Hardware Sponsor Points: 2/2
• Software Sponsor Points: 8/16
• Number of Lather Brands: 12/30
• Number of Lather Scents: 12/30
• Number of Post Shaves: 12/30
• Number of Frags: 12/30

---

Contest Hashtags:

#FOF

#ROTY

June 12, 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: Goodfellow & Co - Moroccan Mint & Cedar Shave Cream

After carefully considering all of the shave creams available at Target, I chose this one because it was the cheapest. I suppose, if I had planned ahead, I could have double dipped and used this on goop day. Alas, a rookie mistake.

I squeezed out quite a lot of product while trying (and failing) to whip up a lather. I think this stuff is meant to just be slathered on without the aid of a brush. It's certainly slick enough, but no cushion at all. It smells very strongly of mint. I'm prepared to believe that there are cedar notes, too, but my nose couldn't really detect them.

ROTY

June 12, 2024 - CREAM

• Brush: Omega 10077
• Razor: Yates Precision Manufacturing - 921-M
• Blade: Gillette - PermaSharp
• Lather: Proraso - Eucalyptus Oil & Menthol Shaving Cream
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge Balm
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Barrbarr Splash

Today's Theme: Today I used Proraso Green in a tube, which is explicitly stated as their cream. I actually got a really nice lather and decided to full Italian with the Omega brush as well. I was so happy I remembered Proraso was a cream because I would not have to use Barbasol again, cue the Geto Boys.

Today's Challenge: Here is a small album of my den. I try to keep things simple as much as I can, but realized I have a lot more shit than I thought I did. Oh well....

Sponsor Highlight: I've only used House of Mammoth products a handful of times, but every time I am impressed with it. That Tusk base is to die for.

ROTY

• Brush: Stirling - Synthetic 2 band.
• Razor: Gillette - Flare Tip Superspeed.
• Blade: Gillette - Nancet.
• Lather: Taylor of Old Bond Street- Almond Cream.
• Post: Geo F Trumpers - Coral Skin Food.
• Fragrance: D.S. And Durga - Rose Atlantic.

Shave Den- this is most of my soaps/hardware, but we just met so I can’t reveal everything. I also have a box of 15-20 samples, an assortment of blades, and various smushes.

ROTY

June 12 2024 - FIELD OF CREAMS

#photocontest

Theme: Baseball

• Brush: CREAM & Wine Merit 99-4 by Heritage Collection / AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD Premium Synthetic 24 mm
• Razor: Rex - Konsul #ADJUSTABLE
• Blade: Voskhod - Teflon Coated [2]
• Lather: Acqua di Parma - Barbiere - CREMA soffice da rasatura
• Post Shave: S.M. Novella - CREMA pre-dopo barba
• Fragrance: Murphy and McNeil - Barbershop De Los Muertos 2 Solid Cologne

American newsletters inform me that I should hurry with my carts checkout, as the Father's Day discounts are about to expire. I am moved by how online stores really care about my attention for family-related festivities. There's no better way to show affection that to buy some stuff.

Following Father's Day rules (yes, I committed to keep following the rules), for my lather and AS I diligently used two local brands that are older than me.

Accidentally, they also happen to be mention their adherence to the CREMA category, Italian for cream. The first word in my brush description is also CREAM. As this creaminess seems to be important to someone out there, I even tried to find a fragrance that came in cream form: as deodorants are not eligible, the closest approximation I could find was a "solid" (actually kind of soft lip-balm consistency) cologne.

Today's photocontest scavenger theme is baseball, which as you all know is Italy's national sport: depicted in today's photo is a snapshot from tonight's amateur leage game, together with my shaving gear. Yes, I do follow the American habit of regularly taking my shaving gear out to public arenas. I am well aware that you are nothing but a sore loser if you're not taking your gear out and shave in public while watching people trying to grab or bat each other's balls.

Thanks to American cinema, I also learned that a father/son relationship will never be fulfilling unless you spent a lot of time playing catch in your backyard. Grabbing balls is really essential if you want to live up to your potential.

Another American pastime that is super-popular here in Italy is showing off our own shaving den: man, what fun that is! It's even more popular than staring at each other's dicks while talking about your preference in cream.

As requested by the judges who don't even want to get paid for the privilege of looking at such mind-opening photos, here's my metonymic picture that reflects the chaotic spirit of my shave products collection. It feels so rewarding to share some sexy visuals! Words are boring, but a lifetime is not enough to enjoy all the shaving den pictures that can be found in the world!

Now, I have to interrupt this celebration of Uncle Sam's values in the overseas consumeristic domains, to say a few words about the topic of fragrances. I know, it's not as sexy as grabbing balls and peeking into each other's bathrooms, but you don't really have to read it if you don't care.

My lather, Acqua di Parma crema soffice da rasatura, is a surprisingly good reflection of the Acqua di Parma Colonia scent, including the bright topnotes: compared to the muted AdP balm I used on day 3, this was actually very centered and expressive in terms of scent. And it even performed more than decently, even if I had no clue about the appropriate level of hydration, and eventually just started shaving hoping for the best: it all went way better than I feared.

On the other hand, Santa Maria Novella pre- and post- cream was an olfactory disappointment - possibly because it's a few years old. Not much to say here.

More recognizable scent notes were provided by the BDLM2 Solid Cologne, which is allegedly inspired by Tom Ford for Man (according to the manufacturer's website). Fragrantica mentions no individual Man, but plural Men. In any event, I am not familiar with the original fragrancel. The dupe, while offering a very convenient form factor with its lip-balm-like tube, feels generic and ultimately meh.

Acqua di Parma was the star of the day.

All the rest was as memorable a fun as a sport that makes a big deal out of balls-grabbing since you early childhood. Too bad the day is almost over, and tomorrow we'll have to move to different challenges!

#FOF

#ROTY

LG 2024- June 12th “OH HURRRAH”

• Prep: Proraso- Green Preshave
• Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts custom Baseball Bat Birch with 28mm APshave co G5C knot
• Razor: Razorock GC .84
• Blade: Astra Green (10)
• Lather: Proraso- Green cream
• Post: Proraso- Green splash ** Fragrance:** Stirling- Sharp dressed man EDT

Shave: Ahh proraso green. Prior to finding this sub and purchasing some Barrister and Mann soap in late 2022 this was the only stuff I used to shave with, for a decade. I will probably never NOT have some in my den. Same goes for the green splash, just a classic scent.

Challenge: One shelf. This is what my wife gave me. One shelf! I think that’s adequate. We are moving more to a minimalist type of lifestyle which certainly has its merits. We have purged a lot of in there past couple of years but it seems my den has only grown in that time hahaha. I feel this hobby lends itself towards the opposite of minimalism and it’s certainly a struggle to balance. We are also in the process of moving so my den isn’t at all organized in its full glory.

Some takeaways

• I highly value software over hardware. I only have one razor. Will this change? Likely. I would like to add an adjustable, a titanium, and something bronze in the near future. The Razorock Gamechanger serves all my needs for now.
• I like samples.
• All 7 of my brushes are synthetics. I may dabble into the high end badgers but for now synthetics serve me just fine.
• Taking a survey and an accounting of what you own is an interesting exercise in self reflection. I currently have 58 soap samples, 33 soaps, 25 splashes, 7 brushes, 1 razor.

Do I really need all this stuff? probably not but that’s why we are all here.

lather game stuff and brushes

Splashes/ frags

Soaps

Samples

Viewing: Just a little lad that likes berries and cream I always wonder how they pitch stuff like this and where they find the actors. This guy kills it.

ROTY

June 12, 2024

• Brush: Commonwealth 'CW' Badger, purchased on Ebay #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: Fatip Piccolo Slant Closed Comb
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (Green) (3)
• Lather: Geo. F. Trumper – Eucris Soft Shaving Cream
• Post Shave: Løthur – Samber
• Fragrance: Jovoy Paris – Private Label

Of sandalwood and oakmoss, shave dens and cream art

A den isn’t built in a day. I don’t really have den to speak of. It’s more like hovel. Or a storage closet with bathroom cleaning supplies. But for the sake of the daily challenge I’ve posted a before SOTD and an after SOTD photo.

Geo. F. Trumper of London make Eucris, of which I have the Eau de Parfum. They also make “Hard Shaving Soap” and a “Soft Shaving Cream” versions of the scent. In my initial foray into the hobby I was about to buy the hard soap, but online reviews by wet shavers—who can sometimes be opinionated—suggested that the hard soap doesn’t perform well.

Today the soft soap worked just fine. I put it in the bowl, added a bit of water, and got a decent lather. In some ways I prefer the scent as a shaving cream, which is more diffuse and understated than the rich, heavy scent of the EdP.

I chose Løthur Samber as the aftershave because like Eucris it has a sandalwood note. Today’s fragrance is Jovoy Private Label, which I’d previously described as smelling like a musty library. Upon smelling it for the first time in ages, I’d revise my assessment: it smells like a wood-paneled musty library with a bowl of fruit in it. According to the perfumer, Private Label has notes of papyrus(!) along with sandalwood.

In potentially useful art related news, this video shows how kids can make art using shaving cream.

#ROTY

Jun. 12, 2024

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Strata W/TnS Quarter Moon Synthetic

• Razor: Ever Ready 1930’s Streamline Stroper Set

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [19]

• Lather: Taylor Of Old Bond Street - Jermyn Street

• Post Shave: Guy Laroche - Drakkar Noir

• Fragrance: Guy Laroche - Drakkar Noir

CREAM day.

I was looking forward to today’s shave, I don’t use TOOBS enough. It’s the first soap/cream that I successfully face lathered. The sent is light but it is enjoyable while shaving. I’ve had the Streamline set for awhile now, first use today. When I planed out my calendar I penned in Streamline and Drakkar. The Drakkar for me is 8O’s-90’s barber shop scents and what better to go with a soap that’s literally the name of the street and barber shop.

The shave was great but my thoughts during it were how I was going to set up today’s picture. The theme I chose to day was Onion. I call it Romance of the onion.

Today was youngest son’s 14th birthday. I know I have been saying I have a 14 yo lately but today it’s official. He’s outside right now in the blistering heat running around in his new cleats kicking a soccer ball around. I almost past out from heat stroke just watching him. Oh to be young again.

Today’s Challenge Den tour.

I only started wet shaving a 6 months ago and have fallen down the rabbit hole very quickly.

I’ll start off with frags. I was collecting fragrances long before wet shaving.

This drawer is body washes, body sprays, deodorants, unopened frags, bar soaps and lotions.

Here is the den

Soaps

Samples and pucks

More samples

I also have a lazy Susan of Badger and Synthetic brushes

I need to buy more storage for my aftershaves

Here are my boars and Weck. The green one is on loan

And lastly here are my razors and blades

Razors 1

Razors 2

Razors 3

Blades

That’s it for today!

#ROTY # FOF #PhotoConest

12JUN2024

• Brush: Aurora Grooming Viscount w/25mm Paragon Boar
• Razor: Karve CB [SB-D]
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum
• Lather: St. James of London - Mandarin and Patchouli
• Post: St. James of London - Mandarin and Patchouli
• Fragrance: St. James of London - Mandarin and Patchouli

Oh my, who do we have here? One of my favorite scents, in lather, post, AND fragrance. My I had to put down my book to do this one. Well we went with a classic cream today, with an amazing scent. The shave den tour is definitely not as great as others though. Don't just read it from me though, take a look!

ROTY

Jun. 12, 2024
Prep: Cremo - Coconut Mango Shave Cream - Preshave
Brush: Simpsons Chubby 1 Best Badger
Razor: W.C.S. Multi Titanium Collection Razor, 84M
Blade: Lord Platinum [1]
Lather: Proraso - Coarse Beards - Sandalwood Oil & Shea Butter - Soap
Post Shave: Proraso - Coarse Beards - Sandalwood Oil & Shea Butter - Aftershave
Post Shave:* Tower 28 - SOS Rescue Spray

ROTY

I used the Proraso cream thinking it was the only cream I had, then realized after the Cremo i’ve been using as appreciate is also a cream. So I kind of used two. I tried the Lord platinum blade for the first time too. I’m not sure yet what I think. It felt like it was tugging a lot, but I got a really nice smooth shave and don’t seem to have any cuts or irritation. i’m trying to Passo aftershave for the first time too. We’ll see how my wife feels about it.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

https://imgur.com/a/0URP8sG

• Prep: PAA - Bubble Gube
• Bowl: Naked Armor - Silver Fox Scuttle
• Brush: Riva - Resin and Wood Badger #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Wolfman - WR2 Ugly Wolfman #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
• Blade: Bic -Astor Stainless
• Lather: Pre De Provence - No.63
• Post Shave: Tallow + Steel - Morocco

https://imgur.com/a/oQ0WCOG

Today's Challenge: Pictures linked above to some of my den items. Some of my soaps are hanging in a bathroom being renovated, the rest I have in drawers in the bathroom I am currently using. Most of my razors are away. Too much stuff, but I am having fun.

My shave was OK. I used my Wolfman WR2 with patina. I bought it used and the previous owner called it the "Ugly Wolfman" I disagree, I think it looks great. The patina is mostly on the handle. The cream was Pre De Provence No. 63. My first time using it. I face lathered. I was not a fan of the scent or performance. It could just be me, I really never use creams. Finished up with Tallow + Steel Morocco.

My personal challenge of a different blade, razor, brush, soap brand and aftershave still going strong.

ROTY

CREAM

• Brush: Wallygator - mystery vintage brush #SMOLL #RUNT
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable J1 #ADJUSTABLE #STAINLESSLESS
• Blade: Treet - Classic Double Edged Blade (2)
• Lather: Bevel - Shave Cream
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Ramblin' Man Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: Creed - Himalaya

Daily Gratitude
Thanks to wallygator88 for the brush. Thanks to whoever sent me this blade with their smooshes, sorry I don't remember who. Thanks to my mom for buying this cream in my first shaving starter kit ever. Thanks to my grandma for buying the aftershave as my first non bevel shave product. Thanks to my dad for buying this razor from the antique shop with me after pho as my second razor ever! Thanks to the judges and fabulous people putting this whole thing together.

Daily Mistakes
Joining marching band, it sucks... again... I already went through this pain once and I hated it.

Daily Writeup
My whole body is sore. The knot fell out of the brush. The shave cream sucks. The aftershave and fragrance was nice though!

Daily Theme Points
This is indeed veeery CREEEEEEEEEAAMMMIIIIEEEEYYYY.

Daily Relevant Post Shave & Fragrance Points
For today's shave I went with some of my first products, my first lather, my 2nd aftershave, and a matching fragrance for that aftershave, actually the first fragrance that I ever tried because I tried it in a mall department store or something before I got into this whole thing lol. Also for matchy matchy I went with my slim which was my 2nd razor.

Daily Challenge
I have to stand up and take pictures? Man I'm too sore for this, but Lather Games doesn't give a fuck about my excuses. Here are the soaps (excluding arko because that's in the other picture and juniper reverie because that's at my dad's house) and here is my bottom mess of a drawer that was organized like 2 weeks ago before the lather games but now it looks like this, this is where I store my aftershaves, used fragrances, and razors (exluding stuff from yesterday because it's at my dad's and exluding my brassbird because it's over with blackland for inspection). The only brushes that are currently at this house are pictured in the reference photo for hashtags below.

Hardware Scavenger Hunt
This brush is definitely a #RUNT. I think it's #SMOLL but I don't know exactly how big that is and I don't have measuring stuff so up to you and this reference photo.

Photo Contest
Football! Or soccer or whatever the hell you call it. This is a jersey from the local Real Salt Lake soccer team that I have never seen in my life, I got this shirt for free from my school because I was a good student or something. I actually played soccer in like 2nd grade, didn't really play it because my mom forgot about every practice lol.

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

Side Contests

photocontest

ROTY

Jun. 12, 2024
Brush: Chisel & Hound Quartermoon
Razor: Yates Winning Ti
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Lather: House of Mammoth - Avocado
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Everett * Post Shave: Osma - Alum
Post Shave: Jack Black - Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

Picked this sample of HoM Avocado cream up at the Mag’s meet this past April. It is, in fact, nice and creamy. Followed up with Everett splash, which carries on with the gourmand theme including dried orange slices and marshmallows. The Everett font on the label is also green, just like avocados. 🥑

ROTY