June 15, 2024 – 2024.06.15 SOTD: Lather Games Day 15 – Near Death Experience

• Brush: Paragon Shaving Plisson knot (28mm) with Paragon handle
• Razor: Blackland Era (SB 3)
• Blade: Wizamet (3)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Banana
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime
• Fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent – L’Homme

---

Daily Theme: Near Death Experience

Theme justification: Chiseled Face Banana. After using it almost exclusively last month, this is the soap that is closest to death. It's the only one where you can see the bottom of the tub.

Relevant Post Shave & Frag: I'm continuing the near death theme. Sea Ice Lime is the splash I have that is closet to its death, and Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme is the frag I have that is closest to empty.

---

Scavenger Hunt ~~Justification~~: COMPLETED

Razor facts: N/A

Brush facts: N/A

---

Daily/Special Challenge: Water Day

I typically go with a wet lather (though not full GUTL). So today, I went with a nice pasty lather. I decided to use some special water for today too. See below for more info.

Pic here of my pasty (airy) lather. I'll be honest, it doesn't look too bad, but it's not great. Probably should've used even less water than I did (which wasn't much, I just dipped my brush in the water), but It's very dry and airy. Provided near 0 protection or slickness.

---

Fragrance description

The soap is the odd ball here. Laffy Taffy banana doesn't really mix with citrus and spice. YSL L'Homme is great. I get a lot of spiced ginger, but then it dries down to a nice woodsy scent. I think I've also received more complements with this frag than any other (though, I used to wear it a lot more, so that might be why).

---

Now onto the shave!

Since today was water day, I figured I should use some special water^TM. Thankfully, I always keep a stock of it in my bathroom. It's in a hidden place that nobody ever thinks to look. There's the good stuff!

So I scooped out some of my secret special water^TM and got to work. I'm going to let out a little secret: I'm not a huge fan of the CF base. Though, since Banana is my only tub, it could be that I'm just not a fan of Banana. Regardless, that is why I set out to kill it. With that out of the way, let's get back to today's shave.

I added just enough of my super secret special water^TM to make an airy paste.

Overall, not the worst shave I've had. Without the Special Water^TM it would've been even worse on (what is essentially) bad lather day.

---

Totals:

• Razor Hashtags: 10/10
• Brush Hashtags: 10/10
• Hardware Sponsor Points: 2/2
• Software Sponsor Points: 11/16
• Number of Lather Brands: 15/30
• Number of Lather Scents: 15/30
• Number of Post Shaves: 15/30
• Number of Frags: 15/30

---

Contest Hashtags:

#FOF

#ROTY

LG2024 - June 15 “ what do we say to the god of death?”

• Brush: Elite Razor Custom Birch Synthetic
• Razor: Razorock GC .84
• Blade: Voskhod (3)
• Lather: Noble Otter- BarrBarr
• Post: Noble Otter- Barrbarr splash

Shave: This is my favorite NO scent and probably top 3 in my den, hence the near kill. Maybe 3 more shaves left? But NOT TODAY

Besides a large birthday Murphy and McNeil purchase this year has been more about consumption of soaps vs accumulation, that was last year. In the past 8 months or so I have killed 5 soaps.

Here is where they go to die, the death bottle

Challenge: I usually tub load and face lather but today I did some bowl lather to get it extra wet. I probably err on the pasty side (don’t judge me I’m working on it) typically so today I took the NO base as wet as I could it. Here is the result

https://imgur.com/a/b5qVPoO

Viewing: https://youtu.be/ZAX5Wn4OFQ8?si=bZ6hiMJv-t_ldK7q

ROTY

June 15, 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: Chiseled Face - Trade Winds

I was, perhaps, a week away from killing this tub back in February or March. I really like Trade Winds, so I intended to buy a replacement. But Maggards was sold out when I went to place my order. Between that order and a few gifts received, I haven't felt like I could justify a replacement. So I've been savoring it.

Water day challenge: I only got the brush slightly damp. Frankly, I'm surprised that there was enough soap in the tub to overload the brush, but it is a small brush. Lather was dryer than usual, but Chiseled Face works well without much water, so 🤷.

ROTY

Jun. 15, 2024

• Brush: Vikings Blade Dark Stallion #FAUXFUR

• Razor: Blackland Sabre

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [18]

• Lather: Proraso - Eucalyptus & Menthol

• Post Shave: RazoRock - Mudder Focker

• Fragrance: Christian Dior - Suavage EdT

Near Death Experience

Proraso green and the Vikings Blade brush were the first brush and soap I bought before I ever knew about soaps and brushes. I have used the Proraso more than any of my other soaps. I’ve used it to practice lather, to get the funk out of brushes and of course to shave with. As you can see in this picture both are on their last legs.

Todays challenge Water or lack there of. This was terrible, I hated it. The only saving grace is, nothing there is no saving grace. Heres a picture of the paste on my face along with a 35 second video proof that it sucks ass

I can’t wait to shave my legs tomorrow….

I went with Sauvage because of all the days to use a Me2 frag, I thought today was that day.

Today’s Sponsor Chisel & Hound. My first artisan brush was from CH. Was also my first real badger knot and actually used Proraso to lather it a few days in a row to get the funk out. I also have this one with a TnS half moon synthetic. I am looking at one right now from Thursdays drop that I might grab if it’s still there tomorrow. Photo Contest DIY

#ROTY #FOF #PhotoContest

Jun. 15, 2024 Near Death Experience * Brush: Chisel & Hound Quartermoon
Razor: Maggard V3M/MR5
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Lather: Barrister & Mann - Adagio
Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Adagio * Post Shave: Osma - Alum
Post Shave:* Jack Black - Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

ROTY

SOTD Bucket * Brush: Omega - 10065 Boar #OLDWORLD.
Razor: Henson - AL13 mild.
Blade: RK - Stainless.
Lather: Ariana & Evans - Undersea.
Post: Zingari - Sego Unscented Balm.
Fragrance:* Ariana & Evans - Undersea.

I would call this a dry lather as I typically leg lather in the shower unless it’s from a sample and then I start in a bowl, make a paste, and go to town on my leg.

I probably use this soap the most often, making it closest to death. I like it so much I bought the fragrance which I’ve only done with one other soap. A & E has really strong cologne- like scents and though I like the 6-7 samples I’ve tried I prob wouldn’t buy a full tub. I have more to try so maybe down the road. I do think the k2 base is incredible. This one was a blind buy and I love it. Like I said I bought the edp bc it was so unique. Well the edp had me second guessing things - I know they enhance the scent, but so far I’m not loving the edp and it has skewed my love a bit. I never thought the soap was “fruity,” but now the fragrance has me second guessing my sniffer. I guess this is middle aged.

PHOTOCONTEST Bucket

ROTY

June 15, 2024 - Near Death Experience

• Brush: Rubberset 400 w/ Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Yates Precision Manufacturing - 921-H
• Blade: Gillette - Nacet
• Lather: Murphy & McNeil - Gael Laoch Orange
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Barrbarr Splash

Today's Theme: None of my full size tubs are nowhere close to death, but according to My Shave Den numbers, my Gael Laoch Orange has the most shaves out of it.

Today's Challenge: I had to do a paste job today. Quite easily the shittiest lather I’ve put on in a long time. The lather couldn’t even rinse off the razor properly. Barrbarr is a gentle splash and even that gave me a lot of sting… We are being punished today for being able to make a good lather…

ROTY

LG SOTD Jun 15 2024 - I CAN FEEL IT COMING IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Needle drop: the theme of Near Death Experience reminded me of how the song contributes to evoking a sense of impending doom in Michael Mann's Miami Vice (2006).
A previous incarnation was already in the original 1980s TV series.

photocontest

Theme: Air (Air as lack of anything else: Air in the sky, Air in a bottle, Air in the almost-emty tub, Air in the Sea breeze in Sea Spice Lime, Air in the windy notes of Uitwaaien)

• Brush: Simpsons - Chubby 2 - Synthetic 27mm
• Razor: Rex - Konsul #ADJUSTABLE
• Blade: Voskhod - Teflon Coated [2]
• Lather: Simpsons - Lime - Ultra Glide Shaving Cream
• Post Shave: Seaforth - Sea Spice Lime - sample
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Uitwaaien - sample

Years ago I got a complimentary tub of Simpsons Lime Ultra Glide Shaving Cream together with the order of a Simpsons Chubby 2, my first synthetic.

Among my tubs, this is the NEAREST TO DEAH, as my SOTD pic shows.

Scent is simple but nice, a Lime one-note.

I decided to pair it with Spearhead Seaforth Sea Spice Lime AS splash, which I wanted to review after yesterday's experience with the Sea Ice Lime soap. This helped me understand that there are indeed some "synthetic" edges (more metallic than plastic, I guess) to the lime top note, possibly related to the sea air breeze deliberately evoked among the scent notes (ozonic component?).

In any case, the drydown binds it all together, and the lather -> AS progression felt really rewarding.

For the fragrance at the end of the shave, I had a couple of options, and in a daring moment I picked Uitwaaien. I remembered it had iris and oceanic notes, together with seaweed and driftwood, and wondered if there was any chance of it being an intriguing counterpart to Sea Spice Lime.

The short answer, for me, is no: there's some cedarwood in Uitwaaien's drydown that screeches against the whole Sea Spice Lime experience. The fault is all mine, I tried to pair the two fragrances on the basis of a vague conceptual analogy, wihout paying sufficient attention to their respective specificities.

Lesson learned. Maybe.

FOF

SPECIAL CHALLENGE: As Simpsons' shaving cream is advertised as "Ultra Glide", I accepted the challenge to use as little water as possible, fighting all my instincts. I deliberately under-lathered, adding too little water, and not getting rid of the air bubbles. Proof here, for the perverts among you. Using the Konsul helped getting a 2-pass shave done, in this joyless shave. I removed my stubs and didn't get cut, which is a testament of the forgiving quality of the products I used. I want to be a team player, but am not sure I understand the point of "challenges" like this.

#ROTY

SOTD - 2024-06-15

• Beard Growth: 24 Hours
• Prep: Hot Shower
• Pre Shave: None
• Brush: Yaqi - Sagrada Familia Synthetic
• Razor: Lambda Ares
• Blade: SuperMax Platinum Plus
• Passes: WTG x2
• Lather: Proraso Red Sandalwood
• Post Shave: Stetson Aftershave

• Fragance: Salvatore Ferragamo - Incanto Pour Homme EDT

• Comments:

Just have to say - what a great day spent outdoors today, got in an morning bike ride and had an afternoon picnic in the park maybe the airbud rule is onto something. Felt like I was shaving the whole time.

You can see the ring of death on the Proraso soap, I've been aggressively trying to kill this tub, only because I want to bring more soaps into the rotation. I'm guessing 10-15 more shaves and I'll kill this tub.

Stetsons is also on its last legs.

The Incanto bottle I've had for years and no wonder it's still around. Generic mild smell nothing special and doesn't last much anyways, I hardly use it, maybe I should bin it

Challenge: I've never been left more unsatisfied while making a lather. No soap blooming, wet my brush and squeezed all the water out. Ended up with this sad looking lather, tried to swirl it onto my face and create more suds but no such luck. Thankfully there was no tugging plus the Ares/Supermax combination has been super smooth for me to begin with, so it was all good. Maybe the shower right before also helped to soften the hair up.

#ROTY

https://imgur.com/a/9FiGuP9

• Prep: PAA - Bubble Gube
• Bowl: Naked Armor - Silver Fox Scuttle
• Brush: Mühle - Purist Karelian Masur Birch Silvertip Fiber #PREMIUMPLASTIC #FAUXFUR
• Razor: Merkur - Progress #ZAMAC
• Blade: PAA - Strangelet Super Sharps
• Lather: Ariana & Evans - Low Scent Skeletor Gets all the Babes
• Post Shave: Murphy and McNeil - Gael Laoch Orange Aftershave

A very nostalgic shave today! I used my made of Zamac Merkur Progress which was the first DE razor I owned. I learned to shave with it. It is always like seeing an old friend. The shaving with my closest to empty well used soap, Low Scent Skeletor. My Brush today was a Mühle with the synthetic Silver Tip Fiber knot. These knots cost well over $20.

Todays Challenge: I usually have a thick and dry lather, but today is Water Day so I drowned my soap with water. https://imgur.com/a/JW9QVhc

I was glad to have an adjustable razor and dialed it down, thinking I would not have enough cushion because of how thin the lather was, but the A&E was still slick and had just enough cushion on my first pass. For the second pass I wasn't as lucky and my styptic pencil got a work out. Still having fun! Different blade, razor, brush, soap brand and aftershave still going.

ROTY

Near Death Experience

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Scholar V20
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Brass SB Long Handle
• Blade: Personna - Comfort Coated
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Old Spice - Classic Aftershave
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Rumble

Daily Gratitude
Thank you so much to Blackland for fixing up and polishing this razor. Thanks to my mom for buying this aftershave. Thanks to the judges and fabulous people putting this whole thing together.

Daily Mistakes
Forgetting to put a blade in until after I "shaved" half of my face lol.

Daily Writeup
Man, I missed this razor, but now it is even better than it was. If you are lame and you aren't active in the discord then you probably didn't see what it was like before, and that's a good thing lol. The blade gap was on the wrong side of the blade. But they polished it and apparently that fixed the problem? But I'm thrilled because when I was researching this razor I wanted to get a polished one before I asked them and they told me that the polished brass will not be returning in the brass drops, so I had to go for a matte one second hand. But now it's even better than it was!!! I decided to do a 3 pass shave for the first time in 2 weeks because today work was really busy and I needed a calming shave with my favorite razor. So smooth and so nice.

Daily Theme Points
Coincidentally, today was the shave with this soap that revealed the bottom of the tub! Near death experience, I'm really scared, I saw it's life flash before my eyes, a lot of good shaves, also that time that I wanted to scrape the top of this because it wasn't looking good and I only had a razor blade to use, I cut myself up really bad lol.

Daily Relevant Post Shave & Fragrance Points
For today I just went with some of my favorite stuff, and more on the darker warmer side like black watch. Old Spice is really good and it's pretty dark to my nose. I honestly didn't think I would like rumble based off of the scent notes but I actually loved it! Super chocolatey.

Daily Challenge
Usually my lather is super fast and poorly hydrated. This picture was taken after I did a stroke on the side but here is kind of what it looked like in one spot. Also the saying is, "if it aint drippin you trippin" and it was dripping all over my body lol.

Hardware Scavenger Hunt
Nothing new.

Photo Contest
It's super packed or something.

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

Side Contests

photocontest

ROTY

June 15, 2024

• Brush: Commonwealth 'CW' Badger, purchased on Ebay
• Razor: Fatip Piccolo Slant Closed Comb
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (Green) (6)
• Lather: Spearhead – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: The Club – Poison Hemlock
• Fragrance: Chris Rusak – After Every Ounce of Joy (Leave My Body)

I have only one tub of shaving soap (everything else is samples). This made the decision easy—it can only be Spearhead Black Watch, which smells (to me) like a sort of dessert. Recent developments with the tub have portended the proverbial Ring of Death. Prior to tonight’s shave the Ring of Death first glimmered. Tonight, however, I avoided dilating the aperture, preferring instead to work the periphery.

Ever had a near-death experience? I have…twice. Once a goat knocked me off a cliff. The other… I won’t describe the other instance.

Theme-wise, I’m interpreting “Near death” as “on the verge of death.” Hence Poison Hemlock, an aftershave from The Club (an outfit that seems to be affiliated with A&E— though how affiliated I have yet to determine). Poison Hemlock is the weirdest aftershave I’ve ever smelled. It’s more cocktail than aftershave. Blood orange, pine tar, and (supposedly) actual hemlock(?!?). It packs a punch.

Chris Rusak After Every Ounce of Joy (Leave My Body) was described by someone online as the smell of being in a car accident. In fairness, admirers of the fragrance insist that it’s not more than this—according to a more favorable description, it smells like repairing an engine in a pine forest in the fog. Midnight Stag devotees take note!

Brush Strokes today features the The Death of Socrates as painted by Jacques Louis David. Socrates, of course, was condemned to death and forced to drink hemlock. This French Revolution-era painting turns Socrates into something of a superhero, fearlessly overcoming injustice and unreason in a single melodramatic flourish. A more humanizing (and who knows, more realistic?) portrait was furnished by Raphael in The School of Athens, wherein Socrates is depicted not as a hero but as one among many in a crowded field, in his natural element, discussing, disputing—as one who tirelessly argues and questions.

#ROTY