July 6, 2023

• Brush: Grizzly Bay Prince with 26mm V9 Fanchurian #SHD
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .84 #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Rhapsody
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Rhapsody

Olfactory Overdose? I think you mean Dickhole Day, my friends. Sure, Dickhole Theory might reference a 4 year old post that references a 20 year old show, but of course we should expect all new members of the sub to be familiar with the concept. And, as it is Dickhole Day, what better scent than one prominently featuring pear blossoms, well know for smelling like - just pear blossoms, what else would they smell like? Also, stacks for the daily challenge.

​

To Lather to the tune of Let's Get Together from the Parent Trap (1961)

Lyrics:

Let's shave together, yeah yeah yeah

Why don't you and I combi-ine

Let's shave together, what do you say

We can have a shave go fi-ine

We'd be a cra-a-azy team

Why don't we ma-a-ake a scene?

To lather, oh oh oh oh

Let's shave together, yeah yeah yeah

Think of all that we could sha-ave

Let's shave together everyday

Every way and everywhere

And though we haven't got a lot

We could be shavin' all we've got

To lather

Oh, I really think you're swell

Uh-huh, we really ring the bell

Woo-wee, and if you shave with me

Nothing could be greater

say hey straight raz-ah!

Let's shave together, yeah yeah yeah

Two is twice as nice as one

Let's get together right away

We'll be having twice the fu-unn

And you can always count on me

A same scent soap we’ll be

Let's get to latherin’, yeah yeah yeah!

LGSOTD 06-July

• Brush: Simpson - Chubby 1 #ANCIENT 
• Razor:  Blackland - Blackbird #CNC
• Blade: Wizamet - Super Iridium
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Vor V
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Vor V Toner
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Vor V Balm
• Fragrance: Wholly Kaw – Vor V EDP

If the judges were trying to make us really appreciate a proper soap and the artisans behind them, after yesterday's canned goop, I think you can give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done. Opening this up and getting a lather going was a relief! 

Took me a while to piece this Vor V set together, we don't often get the EDPs this side of the pond. Think I picked up the soap, balm and splash in December 2021 from Maggards then eventually managed to get the EDP from Slickboys. I use it sparingly as I know it probably won't appear on these shores again, but I love it. 

This brush was purchased in roughly 2011/2012, still going strong and a solid performer but prefer slightly larger brushes. 

For the challenge today, I have to be absolutely honest, I chickened out. I did have my Friodur 17 lined up but I really didn't want to see my beloved straight dinged up to high heaven. Enter the Blackbird, this was one of, if not the first, modern razor I picked up, often my travel razor just for the efficiency and how solid it is. Tried to stack the entire setup but for the life of me couldn't get the brush to balance but I've given it a shot, though apologies for the angle of the pic, my little one had pulled all her toys out in her bedroom and I didn't think you'd fancy seeing that mess!

Have a grand day all. 

Cheers

Marc

ROTY

PhotoContest

July 06, 2023

• Brush: Zenith - 31mm r/wetshaving exclusive MOAR BOAR #CHONK
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co - Overlander #CNC
• Blade: Gillette - Silver Blue (1)
• Lather: Zingari - The Nomad
• Post Shave: Zingari - The Nomad - Balm

Hashtag #photocontest

Good to be home! After using a synthetic travel brush and the King C Gillette razor for the last 3 weeks… wow… amazing to see what a big difference a better brush and razor can do for the shave. Wonderful shave.

Daily challenge:

I was tired after a 9 hour flight, but I came up with this stack

Music
“That Life” - Unknown Mortal Orchestra Spotify / YouTube

Jul 6, 2023 - Olfactory Overdose / Stacking Day

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Gothic 26mm Manchurian T1
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co. Christopher Bradley Copper, SB-D (Copper/Brass Knopf Pommel Handle)
• Blade: Voskhod [1]
• Lather: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Soap
• Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Extrait de Parfum

Juniper Reverie is my contender for scent of the year so far. I can't help but to keep coming back to it. Since juniper is prominent in the scent, I'm assuming that GN must use juniper essential oils in very low quantities. However, I'm "off-the-scale" allergic to juniper, so I very literally overdosed on this stuff this morning.

I haven't had any skin irritation with using it, which is good, but after ~~dosing~~ dousing myself this morning in the scent, I did go off into a sneezing fit, I felt my eyes starting to itch, and my throat started to get itchy—a substantial histamine response!

That's the first time I've had a reaction after using the fragrance, so I'll definitely dial it back next time. It could also just be something else in the air. The symptoms have since subsided, but they're still a small price to pay for getting to enjoy this scent.

Stacking Day Challenge

Rating: 4.0/5

July 05, 2023 – June Shaves

• Brush: Cayuen Abalone w/ 28mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Timeless Shave Bowl, Blue
• Razor: Titanium Henson +++, polished (Tech-Priest Construct)
• Blade: Voskhod (2)
• Lather: The Club – Vanille Vendetta
• Post Shave: The Club – Vanille Vendetta
• EdP: The Club – Vanille Vendetta

I did a coin toss between Signature and Vanille Vendetta and thus we ended up with the latter option. Great shave, great scent, and a great amount of sugary sweet notes all over the place. It smells like I'm shaving with a giant wad of caramel vanilla candy of some sort. Splendid BBS finish, so who can complain about that?

#LatherGames #OlfactoryOverdose

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CTRT_OoZMk ← Oldest video ever recorded, 1874

Lather Games Day 6- Today We Smell Good and Stack Good

• Prep: Hot Shower - Preshave
• Brush: Vulfix Pure Badger #ANCIENT #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINBADGERS
• Razor: Schick M1 Adjustable #DIAL
• Blade: Schick - Injector (1)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Waterlyptus Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Waterlyptus Splash

It is the second day in a row that we are actually having sun and warmth and this thing called summer. As a result, there's no need to get complicated with this whole dickholing thing. Today's a great day to end up smelling like a watermelon Jolly Rancher. Yesterday, I was so excited about the sunny summeriness that I actually ate a Snocone thingy and it was glorious. I must be channeling my inner child right now.

Anyway, today's stacking challenge was achieved continuing this whole inner child/"Let's Play Jenga!!" kind of thing. Have a great day all!

July 6, 2023

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: EverReady C40 Boar #ANCIENT #HOLLOW
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade #YTHO
• Blade: Personna Hair Shaper
• Lather: Stirling - Barbershop
• Post Shave: Stirling - Barbershop
• Fragrance: Stirling - Barbershop

I have many sets, but the only trifecta I own is Stirling's Barbershop. It is an absolutely incredible scent. Keeping with the classic scent theme, I went with a classic brush that I picked up NOS. It's a great little brush. And for the razor, it's my first time using the Sextoblade, and I must say, I love the weight of it. The Personnas are certainly sharp, but no nicks, no cuts.

The biggest struggle of today's shave was taking the stacked picture. The caps on the Barbershop Splash and EDT aren't perfectly flat. After several attempts to stack the EDT on the splash, I threw in the towel, it just wasn't happening. Having them side by side, stacking the Weck was fairly easy, but stacking the brush wasn't, it took probably 5 tries for me to get the brush up and snap the picture before it inevitably fell. Until tomorrow!

#ROTY

July 6, 2023 – Fine ~~Corinthian~~ Spanish Leather

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Bxx 26mm in Summer Break handle
• Razor: Ever Ready Micromatic Clog-Pruf
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (2)
• Lather: Geo. F. Trumper – Spanish Leather
• Post Shave: Geo. F. Trumper – Spanish Leather
• Fragrance: Geo. F. Trumper – Spanish Leather

Well, there goes what’s left of my Spanish Leather frag sample. I’m not sure who the perfumer behind Spanish Leather was, but I’m going to assume it was Mr George F. Trumper himself.

Managed to whip up a pretty decent lather and did a single pass ATG head shave. I would have preferred something mentholated or with other cooling agents due to the heatwave we’ve got going, but the Games require what the Games require.

Looking forward to Fremen Friday tomorrow. Got the spice all lined up and ready to go.

• Lather: Noble Otter Soap Co. - Bare Unscented Soap
• Brush: Proraso - Professional
• Razor: Gillette - Super Speed
• Blade: Feather (1)
• Osma: Osma - Osma
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Paganini's Violin Balm
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented Splash

Trickhole day. There’s nothing easier, right? Who among us doesn’t own at least one trifecta? I got a whole boat load of them. I got really into buying fragrances back in the day when Will first started to do it, and, in my fridge, I got Roam, Night Music, Vespers, all the good stuff.

The problem is that over the years my wife has become more and more sensitive to scents. It used to be that aftershave was fine, but now a days I even dilute aftershave with Stirling’s Unscented. On top of that, my work this winter/spring was generally fragrance free, so I’ve been using a lot of unscented products lately.

I almost considered trickholing Roam, but I didn’t want to smell like soy sauce all day. I would be mad, my wife would be mad; there would be a lot of mad.

So I read the calendar more carefully. “All scented products must match!” And somewhere a flying dog whispered to me, if they weren’t scented, they didn’t have to match!

So I decided to use a variety of unscented products: Noble Otter Bare, Gillette Super Speed, Osma Alum, Barrister and Mann Paganini’s Violin, and Stirling Unscented

This is my last bit of Bare—I famously went through nearly an entire puck using the GUTL in January. It has a nice tallow-ey scent. Not as much as Stirling Sheep (which has this lovely nutty fatty smell), but real nice. I need to try HoM’s unscented to compare them to.

You may ask why I am counting this razor as an unscented product. Well it’s so mild it’s the unscented razor, if you know what I mean. This thing has no pizzaz. Someone (DJ?) told me to ride the cap and I’d agree that helps get hair cut, but it also left me with far more irritation from my (unscented) Osma Alum.

Osma Alum is the only luxury alum. It is also unscented and tastes like salt and made my face burn after using this awful razor.

I find BAM’s balms pretty…gloopy? They feel nice on my face but they are oddly gelatinously gloopy. Paganini’s Violin remains the nicest smelling nothing ever produced.

I ended it all with the gin smelling Stirling Unscented splash. It smells like gin. I don’t know what else to say about it. Fortunately I don’t think it makes me smell like gin. This all reminds me I need to buy more, I’m almost out.

Ranking My Lather Games Shaves

1. 7/4*
2. 7/1
3. 7/6
4. 7/2

*So, I shaved on Tuesday night and forgot to post. But I shaved with my Clog Pruf for the first time in a long time, using Shire, and DAMN it was one of the best shaves I’ve had in a long long time. So I’m counting it.

Epilogue: If I have time later, I will try stacking things.

EDIT: typo

Should discuss merikus's valiant attempt to beat the criteria

Thu Jul 06 2023

• Prep: A hot shower
• Razor: Merker 34C HD
• Blade: Feather HI Stainless
• Brush: Perfecto Badger
• Lather: Proraso - Green Cream
• Post Shave: Proraso - Green AS

Don't have any EDP's. Not really my thing.

ROTY

Jul. 6, 2023
Razor: Blackland Vector Ti
Brush: AP Synbad 26 * Lather: Black Ship Grooming - Stolen Heart - Soap
Post Shave:* Black Ship Grooming - Stolen Heart - Aftershave

Don’t use this soap often for one reason or another. The scent lasts for hours and I can still catch a sniff of it late in the day. Definitely has a unique vanillaesque scent.

Stacked my pirate treasures on top of each other with my razor made of the most precious razor metal out there.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

Today I broke out the Flowers in the Dark trifecta. To me, this is the reigning champion of lavender scents. I used a Prometheus handle with a 26mm Synbad knot, as well as a Maggard V3A/M5 combo loaded with a fresh Personna. Later, I will probably stack some turkey, cheese, and other things in between two pieces of bread. Precariously stacking shaving supplies ranks just below shaving podcasts and videos as stupidest things in the hobby for me.

July 6, 2023 – Dickhole Day

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Superspeed
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
• Lather: London Razors – Mountain Laurel
• Post Shave: London Razors – Mountain Laurel
• Fragrance: London Razors - Mountain Laurel

I’m pretty sure I had this combo down for another day, so this may mess up my schedule later on, but the London Razors/Summer Break Mountain Laurel is one of my favorite scents. As always, the SBS base is awesome and this scent is just perfect. And I’m always happy to support a fellow Kentuckian who is producing some kick ass products. This is good stuff.

I tried stacking but I just can’t do it. I knocked a bunch of stuff off the bathroom sink and nearly cut off my foot with the razor. So I’ll pass on that 🙂

Edit: i went home at lunch and added the Mountain Laurel edt to the mix to complete the set

July 6, 2023

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive MOAR Boar – 31mm
• Razor: Gillette Fatboy
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Super Stainless (Green)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

I own a total of one (1) full matching set. (u/ItchyPooter would be proud.) Hence, choosing my scent/lather for today was quite easy! Technically, I have two other products (Sea Ice Lime soap and splash), but it felt redundant to shave with both, especially since only one product of each category counts per day. SSL is such a good scent, clearly popular among the sub for a reason, and one of my most oft complimented fragrances.

For my #FOF today, I’m going to break it down per the side contest rubric:

How much are you thinking about your scent choices for a particular theme? Answer: I had one option to meet the theme requirements.

Why did you choose to dickhole (or if you are like me, non dickhole?). Answer: I had to dickhole/trickhole to meet the theme requirements. This is not normally my preference.

How does your scent evolve over the course of your shave and the day. Answer: Unlike many of my fragrances, I find SSL to be fairly consistent over the course of the day, particularly the soap and splash. When using the EdP alone, I definitely notice a shift, and there’s much more subtlety to the individual notes. With the whole trickhole, though? I smell, as my partner describes it, “like man and limes.”

How do your scent choices make you feel? Answer: I love this scent. It brings me joy. It’s a bonus that often I get told I smell nice when I wear SSL, which definitely increases my confidence, but even without this, SSL simply makes me happy.

Can you write out a thoughtful comment/haiku/shitpost to give us an insight into all of this? It does not have to be a million words. Pretty Please – make my life easy. Answer:

—

In scented realms where sweet aromas soar,

a blend of joy does swiftly come to pass,

that Spearhead Shaving’s Sea Spice Lime, adore,

brings contentment with each fragrant class.

Upon my face, a smile begins to bloom,

as blade of steel glides on my cherished skin,

tahiti lime, a scent that does exhume

the praise and kindness from those who breathe in.

A show’r of compliments like summer rain,

each passerby bewitched by fragrance fine,

well favored and yet never sought in vain,

ocean, pepper, cedarwood do shine.

Oh, Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime, my true delight,

a rare concoction bringing joy so bright.

—

The only downside to SSL is the slight curvature of the EDP bottle, making stacking a moderate challenge. Only took ten minutes and several variations of stacking to get it to stay.

https://imgur.com/a/gGeXFKx

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - West Indies Lime
• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Gillette Ball End Tech #REGUS
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge Yellow
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - West Indies Lime

I heard you guys like stacked up dickholes. The first one is free. For more, subscribe to my OnlyFans for more subpar content.

I like this scent way more than I ever thought I would. Lime with smokey overtones. It's delightful. Performance is good....just a solid good. Not flashy, incredibly consistent, puts up with my shitty lathering technique, exactly what you'd want if you were imagining your ideal soap performance. Same with the splash...good, doesn't kick your ass, smells nice, and eliminates irritation.

Have a great day folks!

7/6/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Silvertip
• Razor: C.V. Heljestrand MK 31 11/16 Full Hollow
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch EdT

Todays shave goes out to u/gcgallant (whose razor I was not about to attempt to stack). He sent me this Heljestrand to try out, and for my final shave before sending it home, I couldn't think of a better trick.

Spearhead holds a special place in my heart, as they were the first artisan with a complex scent that I had tried. Early on in my soap exploration, I kept it simple. Sandalwood or citrus in my soaps. I was hesitant for a long time to try anything more than that. Then I tried Sea Spice Lime, and it honestly blew my mind. There was a sharp rise in the growth of software in my den after that. Black Watch holds a high spot in my den (and dare I say for u/gcgallant as well). The scent is just wonderful. It has a classic and masculine vibe. The bergamot, jasmine, and plum stand out in the front and are accompanied in the background by a lovely blend of leather, oakmoss, incense, and sandalwood. It scratches an incense itch I had while at the same time being much more. If you haven't had a chance to try it yet, 10/10 would recommend it.

The Heljestrand has proved to be a great shaver. The steel has a gentle feel, and even with the thinner grind, it is firm and moves with conviction. The edge is smooth yet very keen. This mornings shave was a pleasure.

#ROTY

2023-07-06 LG Day 6 - Wolf Mother x 3

• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Above The Tie - Windsor SSRH2, OC Base Plate, DE - (not Windsor Pro)
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Wolf Mother
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory - Wolf Mother
• Fragrance: Talent Soap Factory - Wolf Mother

Nice shave. Although not the most aggressive razor I own - you do need to take your time with this one. Very clean shave. A really good lather from a maker with a very diverse scent catalogue running from novel (pickle, I ♥ Bacon) to delicate (Dusty Muave) to complex (Toki, Wolf Mother).

This trifecta of Talent Soap Factory Wolf Mother software, Aftershave, and Edp, pulls in scents of blackberry, merlot, tobacco flower, whiskey, cocoa, marshmallow, sandalwood, some smokiness, and cedar along with hints of amber and patchouli. A nice blend suggesting a campfire shared by a couple.

Although campfires happen all spring and summer long this seems more of a fall scent.

I did decide not to play Jenga with my most expensive tools and software. Somehow I think it would be discouraging to a loved one who seems happy for me to have this hobby. So I passed. I wish others well in their feats of gravity defying stacking.

Take care and have a good one.

July 6, 2023

• Brush: Zenith B16 24mm Boar #OLDWORLD #HOLLOW
• Razor: Gillette – Fatboy #DIAL
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. – 40 Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. – 40 Splash
• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. – 40 EDT
• Music: Prince Swanny - Stacking

I have mixed feelings about today. On the one hand, Chicago Grooming Co.’s 40 is one of my favorite scents. It’s inspired by Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous, which I have never smelled, but I can confirm that 40 is absofuckinglutely fabulous. But on the other hand, I want to #ridewithitchy for every day of the Lather Games because matching your soap to your aftershave to your fragrance is indeed bad, sad, and boring. But the Lather Games Djudges bestowed this upon us today, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Today is the only day I’m going to match scents, so I’m sorry to the #FOF judges for being uncreative and lame today. My hands are tied. The good news is the scent is awesome. It’s a perfect balance of leather & tonka with a subtle sweetness coming from vanilla and almond and a slight floral of lavender and sage. It is so, so good. If there’s one scent that I don’t mind dickholing to, it’s this one. This scent is my go to when I need to smell good in a formal setting – weddings, funerals, trips to the dollar store, or important meetings… Things like that. I have to leave the house today for work today, and I’m happy the stars aligned with my schedule and I’m smelling ~~remarkable~~ Fucking Fabulous on a non-work from home day.

For my #photocontest, I’m doing light sources because this product deserves to be in the spotlight and I thought adding my desklamp to the stacking would make for a cool pic.

And of course, everyone’s favorite challenge (that we missed last year): Stacking! I was originally going to use a 3-piece razor today, buuuuuttt I figured the butterfly doors from the Fatboy would act as a better stand to balance stuff on, plus the weight and girth of the Fatboy would make for a decent base. Also used this Zenith brush because it is the lightest one I own (thanks to being #hollow) plus it matched the color scheme I was going for. After many falls, I have to say thanks to Chicago Grooming Co for using a well-made splash bottle. The thing literally hit my hardwood floor about 10 times. The first time, my heart skipped a beat. Mostly because I hadn’t shaved yet and I needed to use it today, but also the thought of breaking a bottle of splash on my office floor would make me incredibly sad... But my perseverance prevailed and I was able to balance everything for just long enough to take a couple pics before everything came crashing down. Hopefully this challenge doesn’t serve as a metaphor for my 2023 Lather Games performance – Strong presentation, and trying so hard to hold everything together just long enough to matter, then everything comes crashing down behind the scenes. Could actually be said for my life, as well. Big yikes! ANYWAY, let’s move on…

For my interview today, I chatted with Vida Perez from u/chicagogroomingco. She’s one of the absolute best in the business. You ever get the sense of “I really don’t know this person, but I could absolutely be friends with them”? That’s what I got going back and forth with Vida. She’s so nice, down to earth, and completely got what I was going for with my questions. Thank you so much for playing along, Vida, and making amazing stuff!

10 Questions with… Chicago Grooming Co.

1. It took me far too long to connect the duck dots in the naming of Canard and Darkwing. So, I ask you, as a cartoon duck aficionado: How do you think Scrooge McDuck is able to swim through all those coins?

Loooolll (thanks for that laugh) Scrooge McDuck has been around a long time and practice makes just about anything possible. Plus, I hear ducks are slippery little buggers.

2. On a roadtrip, who should be in charge of the music playlist? The driver or the passenger?

Always the passenger BUT you gotta have some trust in your co-pilot otherwise that playlist might have you rethinking your whole trip.

3. You clearly put a ton of effort into making products that will make your customers’ skin feel good. Other than skin care, what do you do to make yourself feel good?

Hair care! I went from COMPLETELY bald to rocking a lovely poufy head full of hair. Gotta take care of the locks.

4. Of the different scented products you’ve made, what’s your favorite scent that you’ve released?

Hmm, man this is always a tough one...Pucker… Probably because it's so darn fresh and clean

5. It’s not a secret that you are the one making the products for House of Mammoth, how much of you time is spent making and developing your own stuff vs making products for Ben (or others?)?

Lately most of my time is spent in production for House of Mammoth but I have plenty of time for CGCo and other creative pursuits. Around a drop, things can get hectic but after that everything calms down again. It's all manageable.

6. How often does someone think they’re hilarious and hit you with a “Livin’ the Vida Loca” reference? Did this question count as one?

Oh goodness when that song came out EVERYONE thought they were so clever. I got REALLY good at giving a meanie faced hard stare. Nah, you're fine. It was a long time lol

7. What’s the best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago?

Giordanos, argue with your momma (please don't argue with your mother). I'm sorry Mrs. [Priusaurus’ Last Name], I didn't mean it like that!

8. Women have much larger area to shave, and (generally speaking) women tend to put a greater emphasize on skin care and self-care, yet the wetshaving “hobby” a male dominated. Keeping that in mind, my question is: Why do Chicagoans still call the Willis Tower the Sears Tower?

*Cackle*

Because you just don't go around changing things simply because someone bought something. I mean, seriously!

9. What's next on the horizon for Chicago Grooming Co?

EDP samples, collabs... A little of this, a little of that ... Good times to be had all around

10. How does Chicago Grooming Co. differentiate itself from other shaving soap companies out there?

My goal has always been to make very high quality products accessible to as many people as possible. Whether it's shaving soap, hair care or personal care products, I believe everyone should have an opportunity to try some of the good stuff and I'll continue to do exactly that as long as I can.

Interviews are impressive. Great idea and initiative, even though, posts are a bit too long.

Jul. 6, 2023

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Twist B8 Badger
• Razor: Timeless SS.68
• Blade: Personna Super
• Lather: Spearhead Seaforth - Sea Spiced Lime - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Seaforth - Sea Spiced Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: GreenBox - Alum
• Fragrance: Spearhead Seaforth - Sea Spiced Lime

This is the third time I am attempting to post this shave. I have gone back to using a app on my phone as the wet shaving database is apparently smarter than I am.

Anyway, I am a big fan of Shawn’s work. This isn’t the only scent he’s crafted that I intend to use this month. 🤐

Spearhead’s Seaforth! Sea Spiced lime was what I used in the 2021 Austere August. It went with me to Maui, and to a wedding in Ohio.

We don’t need no stinking stacking….

We do need more Stacked Actors….

The Foo Fighters’ debut album was released today in 1995.

I was Manager of Reporting and Planning for another "Stacked" outfit at the time.

July 6, 2023 – Lather Games day 6 – AKA Executive stank stack

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Gillette Tech #REGUS
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (8)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Executive Man
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Executive Man
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Executive Man

My olfactory overdose for today, brought to you by Executive Man. Pretty widely liked I think, and boy am I a cologne wafting stank bomb right now. I really enjoy the pineapple notes in this one.

Stacking is hard, especially when the caps of the frag and aftershave are slightly convex. Did what I could and for what it’s worth, the AS was not touching the rest, just didn’t know where else to put it and could definitely not stack it. Voila.

#PhotoContest

2023-07-06 Honoring the Olfactory Oeuvre + Horology

• Brush: West Coast Shaving - Two Tone Synthetic 26mm #PREMIUMPLASTIC
• Razor: Clix E-Z-Flo #UNICORN
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Blade: Personna Super (2)

Challenge Accepted:
Not only have I outdone myself this time, I think it's very clear I've even outdone u/Tonality!
Behold! Such expert, delicate, and unsuspicious stacking to put u/Tonality to shame! There is no trickery afoot, as the pocket watch clearly demonstrates the direction of gravity! A round bottle of aftershave on its side, mid-stack! The brush, bristles-down and without compromising the structural integrity of the bristles! See it close-up if you do not believe me! Can u/Tonality do that? I think not! Crown your new king of stacking!

(I wasn't too pleased with the photo quality, so I updated the SOTD pic, albeit with a much lamer stacking method. There is no masterful weaving of powerful invisible forces, no expert control of electric currents within the very air. Just the boring vertical-only gravitational force. The much more impressive version is still here, too, though.)

Relevant Post Shave and Fragrance: As required by the daily theme.
Also: black razor, black brush, and black watch to match Black Watch.

Brush:
Sure, it's not completely black, but that's beside the point, contrarian person I just made up! Its bristles are all black, which is remarkable enough, and I made up the rules for whether the brush counts for my points-less theming, and I say it counts! Plus, being that this brush is going for $34.00 after a 20% discount, it also gets the "pricey synthetic" badge.

#FOF

Lather/Post Shave/Fragrance:
As I attempt to document my experiences for #FOF day by day, I am slowly coming to realize that, as a collection, my ramblings may be tied together under a theme of The Haphazard Explorations of an Olfactory Rube. I'm okay with that, because I think there's value in such a perspective. There's no harm in appreciating a scent for what it is,

The human brain is a curious thing; it is very suggestible, and it will often confirm what it expects to be true, regardless of the reality. In my experience, this tends to be true when it comes to my perception of scents. That is, what one (read: I) perceives a scent to be is heavily influenced by what they are (I am) expecting it to be.
For example, Shawn Maher, today's spotlight and the creator of this scent, compares it by metaphor to a pair leather shoes, evoking the leather note of its base. As a result, my mind said, "Alright, we're smelling leather now! Smell that leather!" And it did.

There's of course more to this scent, and that becomes clear to me only through focus. I can be convinced that there is incense, oakmoss, and sandalwood tied in with the leather, although my nose reads it as "flavoring" the leather, if that makes sense.
There is definitely a fruitiness to it, which seems to be the plum; however, I do not believe I detect the jasmine that is said to accompany it. A shame, because I've evidently mentioned my fondness for jasmine a few times already these Games, though I do concede that too much jasmine might threaten Grandma territory.

Of course, this is all just me trying to decipher my own perception of the scent, a clumsy attempt to analyze it. All the while, I can't help but wonder if that's really necessary.

When I take the scent in as whole, and let the description of leather shoes and 1950s department stores form a context around the scent, an image forms in my mind right out of Mrs. Maisel (I stopped after the first or second season, after she ditched Zachary Levi's character for like, no reason). I imagine a particular kind of vintage classiness that "never feels dated but never goes out of style." And that's how I feel when I wear it.

Razor:
While this razor predates the image I described above, it's close enough for me, plus I think it fits well aesthetically (and I have an odd yet mild fascination with Bakelite, possibly just because the word inexplicably has three syllables). I haven't been able to find much about the razor aside from that these were made by one Conrad Razor Blade Company in the 1940s. What I can say about it is that it's a surprisingly good little shaver. It's the kind of thing that makes me think, "man, they really had razors nailed ~~60~~ ~~70~~ 80 years ago!"

#photocontest

Photo: Technology

Speaking of going out of style, it's a real bummer what happened to pocket watches, isn't it? I get it, though; technological advancements in horology allowed smaller wrist-watches to take over, and waistcoats fell out of style, too. But that doesn't stop me from wearing both; the relentless, merciless, all-eviscerating sun does!

This is some impressive stacking!

This is some impressive stacking!

Jul. 6, 2023
Brush: AP SHAVECO AP400B XL (G5C)
Razor: Karve SS CB - B Plate (SB) * Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1) * Lather: Barrister And Mann - Seville Shaving Soap (Omnibus Base)
Post Shave: Barrister And Mann - Seville AS Balm * Post Shave: Barrister And Mann - Seville AS Spalsh * Fragrance:* Barrister And Mann - Seville EdT

One my favorite scents.

For the challenge, here’s a Stack of Seville!!

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

ROTY

July 6 2023 - Lather Games Day 6

• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR #CHONK
• Razor: Muhle Rocca R95 #CNC
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox (3)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti

A tasty trickhole of Tahiti, a splendid summery scent that I initially bought just the soap and splash but eventually had to go back for the EdP. I actually used my 2022 Lather Games prize of a $10 Noble Otter gift card to help pay for it so it all comes full circle. And I did get to waste 20 minutes putting my stack together so today is off to a great start.

July 6, 2023 – Alive with Olfaction

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Cashmere
• Razor: Gillette Superspeed
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Alive

Today is a good day. Shave was somewhat lessoned by the fact that the cashmere knot does not work great in my hands yet but there are no bad shaves with Alive. I went all in on olfactive overload, literally bathing myself in it with the Alive bath bar.

This theme dictates my choices top to bottom so for #fof I’m going to note Alive was my first dickhole set that grew to become my second trifecta. As I’ve noted before, I went from Stirling sampler to 4 horsemen, which will make one a bit gun-shy about new stuff. I had a used tub of hygge I bought when u/MammothBen posted about his pending Black Friday clearance. Get a free beanie! How could I resist? I looked over the things in the sale, and was sorta cautious. I saw Alive and went “hmm sounds like a fairly safe bet.” TTS estimated a 3 for me, but I also knew it was always a bit low on guesses. (Almond Creme 2.6?!)

Up until now I had 0 matching balms, following u/Itchypooter’s dickhole theory, I had a bunch of generally complimentary to stuff I owned balms but nothing matching. But this was on sale, so I went in. I distinctly remember thinking even at half off blind buying a trifecta was madness, especially since at that point my entire frag collection was a 25ml bottle of YSL l’homme gifted to me 5 years prior. I passed on the frag and would not realize my mistake for some time.

When it arrived, I found the smell pleasant, but didn’t get around to using it. I finally did, and I was sitting at my desk later, frustrated by some paperwork I was tired of and I put my hands to my face and suddenly I smelled it. A scent that said “hey, pick yourself up, you’re alive and that’s a damned good start.”

I used it several more times and realized I needed that whiff of smell through the day wanted and EdP. But by then they were all gone. I stalked the ‘zaar but most of them came in lots and I didn’t want extra stuff. Then a fateful email came, Alive was coming back. I snagged a bottle the morning it launched and haven’t looked back.

Alive and Hygge while being totally different categories of scents, share themes of comfort. But while Hygge surrounds you, protecting you from the outside world, Alive draws you back into it. It reminds you, sure life sucks sometimes, but you’re alive and that’s a damned good start. I come back to it whenever I need this uplifting reminder (which lately is quite a bit.) When this tub gone, I hope Ben’s still selling it so I can buy more.

So, a thank you to u/Mammothben for creating this and so many other scents that have brought me enjoyment or renewed energy these last few months (and for years to come).

OK, emotional time over, after probably getting a negative point for being too wordy. It’s #photocontest time. Went for the “Pets” theme. Also, you’ll see my stacking challenge completed here. This was a fun challenge and when I was talking with my daughter (Preview of hobbies tomorrow, we do photography together so she’s helping on all these) we agreed that stacking in front of the only pet we own was appropriate. Took forever to get that fish in frame, but we did it. The items are not leaning on the aquarium I promise (the brush fell once, luckily it was a seconds brush so I think the scratch was already there.) Also #ROTY

Jul. 6, 2023 -Got Stacks?

• Prep: House of Mammoth Alive Bath Bar

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR #CHONK #OLDWORLD

• Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley SB-C

• Blade: Astra Green

• Lather: House Of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Alive Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive EdT

“And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive”

It’s Trickhole/Dickhole/All the Smellz day and I’m enjoying one from my favorite all around artesian today. House of Mammoth is by far my favorite brand, while there are some individual scents from other people I like more, everything I have tried from Ben has been absolutely incredible! Even the award winning Voices which isn’t my style I can appreciate the incredible work put in to create it.

For todays challenge I’m a little more Slacking than Stacking compared to some people. I had the help of an almost 4 year old this morning so it’s as good as it was going to be.

Going for the #Gaming theme for todays #photocontest picture. I distinctly remember stacking quarters on the HydroShock racing arcade console in the Pizza Inn every Sunday after church. Oh to be able to go back to days like that with no responsibilities!

Lather Games 2023 Day 6

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: Mühle - Rocca silvertip bager
• Razor: Wolfman - WR2 1.25
• Blade: Gillette - Platinum
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Jonnny
• Post Shave: Osma - alum block
• Post Shave: Gentleman's Nod - Jonnny
• Post Shave: Gentleman's Nod - Jonnny balm
• Fragrance: Gentleman's Nod - Jonnny

After work I taked shower. Pure a glass of my favorite brand rum. Played "Buena vista social club" and start this magnificent relaxation. Heaven on earth!!!! O boy, o boy, o boy! I waiting this shave from the beginning because for this day I choose Gentleman's Nod!!!! My favorite brand!!! OK I have few others of course but here I love every soap that they make! I'll exchange all prices if I win Lather Games for a week making this magnificent products together!!!! Every scent they make hit me right in the spot ( and my wallet to ). Also they make the only soap that everyone from our shaving club like. Everyone says "COSECHA CATALANA" is great. We arguing about different soaps who adored who 🤮 but for that one there is consensus. Everyone love it. Even picture of the group is picture of this soap! After Cosecha I order for one friend Johnny's balm. When delivery come I open it and instantly love it. After that I order for myself full line! Few weeks later I ordered Jackie, Earnest, Zaharoff Signature . I never smell the scents but I have faith in this brand! And I was not disappointed! All of them was great!! Base is amazing everting that I want from a soup. Great slickness, firm cushion, protecting my skin. Scent is strong in lather and all bathroom smells amazing. Also aftershave and balm prolonging the feeling!!! Amazing quality and finesse! A perfume.... O My God! Speechless! Really my dictionary is to poor and my writing skills is not enough to explain! Have to smell it ! The safety razor!!! Bling Bling 🐺 This is jewel! Work of art! Machining and polishing is on highest level! Somebody will say why is this necessary? Because This is the Thing that distinguishing us form animals. Striving for perfection! Making things better and beautiful. Eiven people from stone age draw paintings! Now we can use machines to make masterpieces! Every car can deliver you from point A to point B. Prius can. But if you can afford Lamborghini ....o boy o boy. Art by machining!!! Gentle but the efficiency is incredible! Shave deep without aggression. Mùhle Rocca brush give this option to unscrew the knot and screws another. So I have this option to choose silvertip badger or his synthetic versions. Of course today I choose badger. Great mashing on handle to. So I'll leaving you guys because all enjoy the rest of the evening. I have a date 😉

ROTY

July 6, 2023 - Dickhole trickhole stack

• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR 31mm bleached boar #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Elmax Pro Kamiso shavette
• Blade: Wizamet (2)
• Lather: House of Mammoth x Lather Talk - Voices
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth x Lather Talk - Voices
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth x Lather Talk - Voices

It's been a while since I've used the ol' MOAR BOAR it seems because I somehow underloaded Tusk. Lather was a bit thin by the third pass, but I soldiered on unfazed. I just picked up this cheap Kamisori shavette from Amazon on a whim and it's a neat little shavette. I really think I prefer this style as opposed to the traditional folding straight razor style. It's just easier to maneuver I think. Voices is a wonderful scent and I was happy to break it out for Dickhole Day. My wife loves it too so bonus there. I think my stack came out well after one fall (eek) and about 5-10 minutes of trying to get it to work.

P.S. What's with renaming this day oLfAcToRy OvErDoSe? Is the term "dickhole" or joke behind it too offensive to our delicate sensibilities now? It would be a shame to get rid of the lexicon of jokes and terminology we've created that make this sub fun, but the fun police seem determined to do just that.

July 6, 2023 – An Easy Win?

• Brush: Omega 11126, Ovangkol Wooden Handle
• Razor: Fatip Piccolo
• Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (2)
• Preshave: Baxter Shave Tonic
• Lather: Old Spice – Old Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice – Indian

You’d think today would be an easy one for me, right? Old Spice Cream and Aftershave and I’m locked and loaded. Hell, if the brand rule wasn’t in place I’d be fulfilling this challenge in 75% of my shaves. But, alas, even the easy ones aren’t actually easy.

I’m not sure why I’m admitting this as I’m pretty sure most of the judges would assume that Old Spice cream is scented like Old Spice but I believe in full honesty with the Lather Games so let’s just shoot myself in the foot. As you can tell from this far too detailed review, Old Spice cream doesn’t actually smell like Old Spice in any real way. Is it supposed to? I don’t know. Maybe they gave up and just went with soap for some reason. Or is the scent still Old Spice scent because it was scented as such by a company called Old Spice? If that’s the case are these both the same scent despite not being the same scent? They have the same name, are made by the same company, and are branded with the same brand. It’s like the inverse of a “rose by any other name.”

These kinds of questions are obviously only to be handled by our esteemed and wise judges, who probably think I’m even more annoying after spending two days in a row basically arguing I shouldn’t get points. Strong LG strategerie right here. Really going to rack em' up.

As you can see from the photo, I took things one step further. I did not just stack my shaving stuff, but instead stacked the entire world. You may have felt the earth turn sideways (relative to your normal alignment, we’re all floating in no direction in the middle of space in reality) for a moment this morning. That was when I snapped this photo of nearly my entire collection stacked on top of each other. How does one “stack” the earth? It’s a complex mathematical equation that I can’t explain here, but if you’ve ever seen that scene where the math numbers fly around the guys head in that movie it’s a lot like that. Once I had all those math numbers I just took my camera out and snapped the stacked photo before making the math numbers go away and turning the earth the proper way again. This is just as scientifically accurate as flying around the earth in the opposite direction of its rotation in order to rewind time. We’ve all seen how that can be done as well so I don’t think we need anymore proof that I rotated the earth and “stacked” everything in my bathroom.

July 6, 2023 – Olfactory Overdose

• Brush: Dogclaration B6 – JohnB Blue Swirl #SHD
• Razor: Muhle R41
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II

Gravefruit II trickhole. Couldn’t stack up my treasures very well. The cap on the splash is rounded and made it a pain to even get the EdT up there.

Day 6 - Olfactory Overdose

• Brush: APShaveCo - Butterscotch Handle with Synbad Knot
• Razor: Gillette - Fatboy #DIAL
• Blade: Astra - Green
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Sunrise on Lasalle
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Sunrise on Lasalle
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Sunrise on Lasalle

In honor of Chatillon Lux and Dickhole Day, I went with Sunrise on Lasalle. This is the most floral scent I own. It is an excellent blend of floral notes. The lather games have challenged me to think about how the scent changes throughout out the day.

Edit- I cut out the info about hobbies. That is for tomorrow. My bad.

ROTY #FOF

• Brush: Vie-Long Cachurro #HORSESASS #OLDWORLD

• Razor: Gillette Old Type #REGUS

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original

• Post Shave: Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original

• Fragrance: Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original

Today's Theme: Olfactory Overdose - Tabac soap, aftershave, and eau de cologne

Today's Challenge: Stacking Day - Vertical stack

My theme for today's shave: Nursing Home Sadness #photocontest

So first things first, I had /u/tsrblke tagged in today's brush hashtag section of my LG spreadsheet and I'm not sure why but I'm leaving it there, he's pretty cool.

Alright, with that out of the way, let's talk Tabac, misery, and what it's like growing up in a care home family business. Most of us have read the nursing home sadness copypasta at this point, but I think it'll help to put in perspective why it smells like that. First off, the powdery floral scent from the carnations in Tabac is what really pulls in the rash-preventing wipes and powder that nursing homes homes use to keep your grandparent bedsore-free. Then the neroli, lemon, and bergamot bring forward the memories of Lemon Pledge cleaner that nursing homes use for glass surfaces. And finally, the pine tree needles and aldehydes are reminiscent of Pine Sol cleaner that nursing homes use for pretty much everything else. In truth, the tobacco flower is doing very little heavy lifting in this memory association for most people. Maybe just the faintest whiff of it to remind people of the stressed out Filipino caregivers who sneak the occasional cigarette break once all the residents are generally pacified.

My family owned a small care home business for all of my formative years and then some, so I grew up helping out around the care home, I did anything and everything from lifting residents who fell out of their bed at night back into their hospital beds to clearing out old dressers and walkers that the family of the deceased had no use for, and even occasionally helping hold up the residents who needed to be cleaned more thoroughly than a bed bath could accommodate. It's a grim business, you watch people deteriorate physically and mentally until they die. And you watch that happen over and over for years. So when Olfactory Overdose day came up and I realized my only viable option was to use a Tabac trifecta, I honestly dreaded the prospect. It was a generally unpleasant shave, and the Old Type that I used for "theme" purposes as well as hardware hashtags didn't help.

But the worst part of this shave wasn't the soap scent that reminded me of hearing residents with sundowners' scream out for their families to help them because they had no idea where they were. The worst part of this shave was the absolute garbage-tier Vie Long Cachurro horse brush. Worst animal funk I've ever dealt with and I used it totally raw in this shave. Zero backbone, glue stuck to some of the hairs. Just a bad time in every way. Doesn't matter; acquired LG points. #FOF #ROTY

Edit: Oh right, music. I picked Ozzy Osbourne's Tribute, a live recording of one of legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads' best shows. There was a "boomer metal" idea going into the album choice, but it really is an incredible recording and also something of a piece of history as it documents the peak of one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

Edit 2: putting this here since robodjudge is an imperfect being: /u/tsrblke

Tabac = nursing home sadness

Really impressive Tabac photo stack, Tabac copy pasta

July 6, 2023 – Trickhole SOTD:

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Fae B8
• Brush: Gillette British Aristocrat #16
• Blade: Leaf Super Platinum (4)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve – Marbles
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve – Marbles
• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve – Marbles

I rarely bust out this set, especially the extrait because it is strong AF, but I won’t lie, I smell awesome (or like Play-Doh depending on who you ask)!

I decided last night I was just going to skip this challenge because I’ve been too lazy to take SOTD pictures. As I was shaving I decided what the hell and gave it a shot.

https://imgur.com/a/qbyYQHq

Dickhole Day

• Prep:
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Hybrid / Maggard Premium Boar 26mm
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite SS
• Blade: Personna Comfort Coated (1)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Waterlyptus
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Waterlyptus
• Fragrance:

There's only one answer today. Does the world need scented alum? Discuss.

2023-07-06 Your Stack Must Be At Least This Tall To Ride

• Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts Liquid Rainbow
• Razor: Weber ARC with wave handle
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Amazelnut in Soft Hearts
• Post Shave: Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer spf 20 and Jack Black Protein Booster Eye Rescue
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Amazelnut EdC
• Blade: Polsilver SI

Listen children, I've looked over some of these poor excused for stacks, some of these attempts at deception for false stacks and frankly, I'm pretty disappointed. I know you can do better.

You know what else is disappointing? Your wallet after you shell out for matching aftershave. Let me ask those of you with 15+ of the same aftershave in different scents, does one work better than the other, or do they all work the same? Are you looking for a long lasting scent to follow your shave? Do you wish to be as consistent as possible on your posts shave routine because it's better for your skin?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then why the fuck are you still buying matching aftershaves when you could buy just one aftershave that works great, and you could invest that money into a long-lasting EdC or EdP of your favorite scents? I'm here to tell you to pull out of the dickhole and instead stick it into the fraghole. I know change is scary, but if you open your minds, you just might like it.

Brush: DG Ivory B16

Razor: Rockwell 6C

Blade: Wilkinson Sword

Soap: Noble Otter - Lonestar

Lather: Noble Otter - Lonestar

Post Shave: Noble Otter - Lonestar (Aftershave)

Post Shave: Noble Otter - Lonestar (Balm)

There is only one scent that is approate for DICKHOLE DAY (Don't call it that whatever name bullshit), and that is the greatest scent known to man.

Lonestar.

In honor of this day, I even cut a hole in the bedsheet to please to Missus. Well, please may be a stretch, but I was happy.

DAY 6 LATHER GAMES! RACK EM STACK EM!

• Prep: Water
• Brush: OUMO 30mm SHD G5A Fan knot synthetic
• Razor: Timeless Ti 0.95 SB
• Blade: Minora (15)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist EdP

​

STACKING PIC OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!

​

DAILY CHALLENGE:

I'm kind of annoyed, cause I really wanted to add two more items on top, but after loosing an OSMA(one I opened up half a month ago) and another drop of the EdP(didn't break thank God) I gave it up. It's not the best stack, cause I could have done better, but it'll have to do!

LATHER+SHAVE+WHATEVER ELSE

I chose HoM Tobacconist, cause it IS the 2021 scent of the year, don't care what anyone else says! It is definitely one of my all time favourites!! Furthermore Tusk base is at the top tied with Declaration Grooming. Basically HoM products are top of the top cosmetic and scent wise!

This is gonna be my #FOF in general, cause it's all the same scent.

What is Tobacconist? It is not just some fragrance, no, it is more than that. As the ancient greek philosopher's thoughts were transcending way beyond their time so does this masterpiece. The description says that you should imagine going into a tobacco shop. I say you go into a tobacco shop into the woods, where the shop itself is a house made out of massive tree trunks and when entering you can smell all the different, almost palpable, nuances of Tobacco. What compliments this cocktail of tobacco are the scent notes of dried fruits, amber, spices and a hint of sweetness brough by coumarin. I would not say it is a manly rugged smell, like STAG, cause it is more than that. It is a complex sophisticated scent which makes you stand out. This is one of my most complimented scents I've ever used. Women frolic around me in amazement as soon as I enter a room and ask me "WOW What is that perfume you are wearing...!!?!?!?"

Smelling great and feeling smooth I am gonna finish this comment with a small poem(it's cheesy but it's from MAH HART) for Ben( u/mammothben sorry for tagging you two days in a row)

There once was a man called Ben
He made soaps/afters and EdP's for men
He even told me once he had a hen

His devotion knows no bounds
And what he makes never confound
His fragrances are like musical sounds

Tobacconist took him 2 years to make
There was probably a lot at stake
But he did not make a mistake

May he always make products so fine
Neigh! I should say even more so, divine!
May his character always be so bening

I raise a toast to you, with my cup of red wine!

Cheers Ben!

• Daily Lather Themes: 6/30
• Daily Challenges: 6/30
• Hardware Scavenger Hunt: 10/20
• Hardware Vendor Points: 0/2
• Software Vendor Points: 1/13
• Software Vendor Bonus Point: 0/1
• 30 Different Soap Brands Point: 6/30
• 30 Different Soaps On Theme Bonus Point: 6/30
• 30 Different Post-Shaves Bonus Point: 6/30
• 30 Different Fragrances Bonus Point: 6/30

Player surprises judge by posting a stacking photo that is also a Very Nice Photo. Aren't... Aren't stacking photos supposed to look dumb?

July 6, 2023 – I am an idiot

• Brush: Böker – Synthetic
• Razor: Valet Autostrop
• Blade: Feather – FHS-10 (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II

FOF

Daily challenge:
First I have to thank u/Teufelskraft for supporting me again with this trifecta. Fragrances of our beloved artisans are either hard to get, or super expensive in europe. My first challenge is in fact two challenges combined. I wanted to shave outside, but also in the kitchen. So either, I shave on the balcony and put a few plates and my grill there to make it more kitchen like, or I open the kitchen window to let the outside come in. I decided to do the later. If you wonder about the perspective, I chose to shave on the floor lying flat. Next I needed lather challenges. The obvious one was to add some ice. The next one was knee lathering. Maybe I ll be successfull this year? No. I cant reach my knee while lying flat on the floor. Damn. As you can see on the pictures, I was already running into problems and I havent even done the first swirl. The ice froze to my brush. I tried to pull the ice cube out, but it would have destroyed my brush. I started to panic. Don’t worry. Just wait till it melts. But you need to get to work, so work with the things you have. I chose to shave and lather with my non dominant hand. Compliments to Southern witchcrafts, that even with ice and a motorical handicapped morron, I was till getting something that was close to lather. The icecube fell out of the brush while I did that. What a relief. On the new to you day, I have used this razor and not again, so maybe we can also count it as new to you? The trifecta was new to me, although I am not unfamiliar with SW. I ll let the djudges decide. Unfortunately this is just a Valet Autostrop and not Rolls, because I wanted the #skindonor achievement. Ohh, before I forget it. As I could not knee lather, I tried armpit lathering. The runny mess, called lather did not change much. Damn ice in lather. Who comes up with these things? You may have noticed, that I am wearing a kitchen apron? Well, I wore it last year when i build my barbershop. Can we count that in? Since it’s stacking day, my setup looked like the following: Setup. In the bowl above my head, there is a wash cloth to get the used lather off my face between the passes. Keep in mind that I cant get up, as we are flat shaving. The bowl above that was there to clean my razor. It was pretty difficult to do that, as I did not know when my razor was in the water. Wait! Why am I wearing a hat? That had been a challenge too. But not in the last LG. This thing screams: I am a tourist. Lets do the first pass. I only get earthy notes from the soap. The grave in Gravefruit is the perfect name for it. Am I even smelling soap, or my armpit? We will never find out. As I am flat on the floor, I can only look towards the ceiling. No mirror, just audio feedback. The Valet was loud! #butterthetoast unlocked. I placed the razor on my stomach, reached behind me into bowl 1 and cleaned my face off lather. On the second pass with watery airbubbles, I realized that the combination of floor and head is annoying. You can not stretch your neck. As I could not see what I am shaving, if I am shaving at all or doing a massacre, I went with what i heard and scrapped off hair by hair until the razor got silent. Time for a photo finish. Do you remember the stacking challenge we had last year? Stacking samples is pretty difficult, but I thought it’s funny if I stack things on myself. There are also sexy feet in the background. Does that count as Den Tour? Last year it did. Turns out that the shave was okay. Of course it was not super close and I had slight irritations, but I guess I own that to the sub. Yesterday you had your worst shave in years with Barbasol, while I got something decent from Palmolive. Today was my turn to shave mediocre at best.

The aftershave was night and day compared to the soap. It was Grapefruit up front with a tiny bit of earth. The fragrance was much more interessting to me. It started off with boath these scents dominant. Then settled down and after an hour you can better distinguish them. Even later it got … werid. In the first sniff it was dominant in Vanilla. The range of the fragrance had shrunk to skin closeness by now. In a second whiff, the fragrance was soapy, bit grapefruit and bit of dark earth. I liked the scent much more at this stage. The earth played wonderfull with the sweet accords.

Edit: I am an idiot. Stacking challenge! Not stack challenges!

Armpit lathering, shaving from the floor

Armpit lathering, shaving from the floor

LG23-06: Olfactory Overdose

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Moar Boar #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Gillette Tech #REGUS
• Blade: Astra SP (12)
• Lather: West Coast Shaving - Chypre - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: West Coast Shaving - Chypre - Aftershave
• Fragrance: West Coast Shaving - Chypre - EdP
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Ethiopia. Guji, Werka - v: Ethiopia Landraces - p: Natural. Dried on raised beds.
• Music: Woods - City Sun Eater in the River of Light
• LG Tags: #FOF

Let's get this out of the way—I'm dutifully abiding by today's theme, but I don't like it. I don't even use matching sets all that often, let alone trifectas, and I'm feeling totally burned out on this scent already. And that's a shame, because West Coast Shaving Chypre is a personal favorite.

Composed by Chris over at Catie's Bubbles (I think, could be wrong on that), this chypre doesn't remind me all that much of others I've tried, especially the big, animalic, vintage-inspired ones. The packaging is accurate—it's "a citrus resin scent." And it's a strong one at that. The citrus component is thick, and relatively dark, like orange juice reduced down to a syrup. The resins are equally potent but vary in tone between the three products. In a soap form, the citrus takes the lead; I'd guess there's lots of orange in there, but maybe some grapefruit and lemon as well, spiked with something bristly and floral like bergamot or petitgrain. The aftershave is my favorite of the three; the resins are woody in a way they aren't in the other two products, and there's a subtle smokiness to balance the sticky wash of citrus. While I like the fragrance, I think it's the least effective version of this scent; it splits the difference between the soap and the aftershave and on my skin wears linearly. It also goes and goes and goes. WCS Chypre is not a subtle, delicate example of the genre, but it's one of my first wet shaving loves.

And before I go, here's my stack. Eye-hand coordination is not my strong-suit. (Also, if you're still planning out your shave last-minute, choose hardware with squared-off edges. Learn from my mistakes.)

2023-07-06 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: Semogue SOC Mistura (24x53mm Finest Badger / Boar Blend) #MISTURA
• Razor: Feather Artist Club SS
• Blade: Kai Captain Mild ProTouch MG (9)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Seville
• Post Shave: Absolutely Nothing
• Fragrance: Barrister & Mann - Seville

Lest anybody wonder if I write the Theme Details to benefit myself by reflecting the contents of my own shave den, take note of today:

I. Own. Zero. Trickholes.

I have a few matched soap/aftershave sets and I have a bottle of Seville EdT to go with my soap, but full 3-piece sets? Nope. Thus I had to make a choice today to be on theme, which states that "Lather and all post-shave products (including perfume) must be scented by the same artisan with the same scent," but doesn't specify how many scented products you have to use (because I know that many players don't bother with perfume, and some players like to go wild with how many scented products they incorporate into their shaves).

Do I use a matching soap and aftershave and go without perfume, thus making all my fragranced products match but throwing away the opportunity for a 30-fragrance bonus point in a competition where judges traditionally aren't even in the running for prizes, or do I use my matching Seville soap and EdT and let my face suffer without a post-shave product so I can chase the prestige of thirty different fragrances this month? Either way, I also lose the "Relevant post AND fragrance" points...

Ahh fuck it, I'll let my face sting for a while. Excelsior ain't that bad.

July 6, 2023 – I hope you’re happy.

• Brush: Zenith 31mm MOAR BOAR #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: CJB GR-100B Kamisori #KAMISORI
• Blade: Kai ProTouch MG
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch

This shave sucked. I hate this razor so much. I don’t know how it can technically have the same head geometry as the Feather SS yet feel so much different. I told myself I would never use this razor ever again, yet here I am. Placating you jerks. I hope you’re happy.

From a lather perspective, I love Black Watch. All time favorite scent. The Highland base is phenomenal, if it wasn’t so good I would have so many weepers right now instead of just one. This was the first ever alcohol free toner I bought, and while it is great I definitely prefer the alcohol burn. This was also the first fragrance I bought, and I would wear it every day if it wasn’t a migraine trigger. That’s right. I’m giving myself a migraine for you people today. I hope you’re happy.

I copped out slightly on the stack. I didn’t realize that none of theses bottles have a flat bottom. Stacking is hard! I risked breaking a bottle of frag for you. I hope you’re happy.

Healthy Activity of the day: I’m taking a rest day today. Primarily because it is going to rain all day and I don’t feel like biking in the rain. But also because I’m giving myself a migraine for you people today. I hope you’re happy. LG Mileage: 13 miles

In all seriousness, I love this subreddit. Every bad decision today was my own. I legitimately hope you're having a great day.

Tags: #ROTY

Player triple-doses on a migraine-triggering scent that he, tragically, loves dearly.

July 6, 2023 – Olfactory Overdose Day

• Brush: Wolf Whiskers Badger
• Razor: Coles/Merkur – Slant DE
• Blade: Polsilver (7)
• Lather: Daisho – Rose Triumph
• Post Shave: Daisho – Rose Triumph
• Fragrance: Daisho – Rose Triumph

We all love a little Matchy Matchy don’t we, ever since coming back into the hobby/cult I wanted to make sure everything match. It starts with matching splash, then we move onto a matching frag, then we get worse and we need a brush that ties it all together because god forbid we take a picture and the brush or razor doesn’t match the labels on the software, its not our fault its an affliction and we shouldn’t be blamed for our hoarding.

Rose Triumph is a masterpiece of a scent from Daisho, Rose forward this could of easily been quite a floral feminine scent but with notes of tobacco, Oud, booze, and spices this is actually by his own admission one of Daishos most masculine offerings. The base is one of my favourites out there and the splash just feels great on my skin, the fragrance on the edp lasts for hours and when I normally wear this in the cooler months I can still smell it the next morning on my skin.

Today’s Stacked Challenge

I wanted to create a masterpiece but sadly what you can’t see in this picture is my not very understanding but always put apon wife and my five kids all shouting at me telling me I’m making them late for school/work. I did a double stack then bolted out the door under the muttering of moans from my non supportive family.

I had woken up with great aspirations of some shithousery and getting on u/enndeegee No Scrubs list but sadly everyone is just too damn nice this year so I have yet again let my Northern Monkey friend down. Someone needs needs to start some beef like telling u/Jeffm54321 that alum is pointless and just a way to part a fool from his money, or u/J33pguy13 that Jeeps are just the poor man’s Land Rover.

Lets hope tomorrow brings a little spice

July 6, 2023

• Brush: Wald Nimbus Chryselephantine 29mm A1 Fan

• Razor: Koraat 7/8" Near Wedge Spanish Point (Straight Shave 267) #STR8SNOB

• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Soap

• Post Shave: Thayers - Lemon - Toner
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Eau de Toilette  

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

---

Last year I was able to plan my entire LG calendar a couple of days ahead of time. This year I don't seem able to do better than look a couple of days ahead. However, on my first scan of the calendar I knew that today I would use (exactly as u/whosgotthepudding predicted) the Black Watch trifecta.

What an absolute joy Black Watch is. For me the scent has the perfect balance between sophistication and the seafaring ruggedness portrayed in the old Old Spice ads. The Highland base is exceptional, and while today's level of closeness is only a little better than yesterday's (Cremo, Nacet blade, Parker Travel razor), the overall shave quality is cuts above [ points deduction for bad pun ].

It did not occur to me last night (when I planned today's photo) that stacking this setup could go under the "Urban/Architecture" photo contest theme. Instead, I decided to try the r/wicked_edge theme. But, to show that I have some trifecta stacking chops, here is an image of this trifecta horizontally stacked in an improbable way, and this is an image of the Midnight Stag trifecta stacked in a physics-defying way.

Theme: r/wicked_edge -- #photocontest

Edit: Added hashtag for razor

July 6, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts w/Maggard SHD 30mm Fan #SHD #CHONK
• Razor: Blackland Era - Level 3 SB #CNC
• Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium (1)
• Lather: London Razors/Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel - Soap
• Post Shave: London Razors - Mountain Laurel - Aftershave
• Fragrance: London Razos - Mountain Laurel - EdP

My
first
LG
in
2021
I
won
a
Gift
Certificate
to
London
Razors.
I
used
it
to
partially
pay
for
this
Mountain
Laurel
trifecta.
#BlindBuy!

It's a fantastic scent, and nothing else in my collection is similar. This is one of the few trifectas that I own, the other ones being Santa Noir which I won in a raffle, Noble Otter - Hamami which I bought, Summer Break Soaps - Woodshop which I got as a gift from my wife, and Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather, another gift from my wife.

No stacking today, except for the first paragraph of this SOTD post.

Djudge attempts creative exploitation of perceived loophole, falls from grace.

July. 6, 2023 - SOTD 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Oumo O4 Venus SHD Badger Brush 26MM
• Razor: West Coast Shaving Multi Titanium Collection Razor
• Blade: Treet Platinum
• Lather: Chiesled Face - Gemutlichkeit
• Post Shave: Chiesled Face - Gemutlichkeit Splash

ROTY

July 6, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co handle with DS Cosmetic Horse hair brush #HORSESASS
• Razor: Blackland – Blackbird #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Druantia Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Druantia Splash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Druantia EdP

If today is Olfactory Overdose Day, then I might need someone to call me an EMT because I’ve overdosed on Southern Witchcrafts! When I’m not participating in Games of Lather, I’m not a huge fragrance person. I’m the type of person that has a few fragrances that I rotate through, so I’m relying heavily on samples to get me through the 30 fragrances in 30 days. And I’m glad I am, because Druantia is absolutely delightful and I’m not sure I buy a sample EdP without the Lather Games scoring system pushing me it expand my horizons. It’s really cool to smell how the scent changes between the soap, splash, and fragrance. It only gets better and better and better with each stage in the process. I think it’s more of a winter scent, so not exactly seasonally appropriate, but it’s woody with a tiny bit of sweetness to it. This scent warms my heart on this already hot and humid July day. #FOF

Stacking! This was a fun little challenge. I think using the sample EdP is definitely an advantage, but my tower likely isn’t as high as other peoples stacks, so that balances out (pun intended). Lessons Learned:

• The Blackbird’s geometry and weight really helped me out here. Originally, I was going to use a different razor today, but with the challenge to stack, I thought the additional heft might help me.
• The cap on the aftershave is slightly convex (or concave? I always get those mixed up – but it wasn’t flat). Taking the cap off the aftershave made this stack possible.
• Horse hair is flexible enough where the razor could easily just plop down in there and stay put (again, thanks to the weight of the Blackbird).
• The flat bottom of the Blackbird made a perfect stoop for the sample EdP.
• Next time, take the blade out of the razor before doing this. I sliced my finger open because I was an idiot and tried to catch it as it was falling. Also, it sliced a few hairs on the brush.
• Luckily, I was already in the bathroom, so I had Band-Aids at the ready and this brush sucks anyway, so the blade cutting a few hairs doesn’t bring a noticeable difference.

• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85mm Safety Razor

• Blade: Shark Super Chrome

• Lather: Noble Otter - Monarch

• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monarch Balm

ROTY

Jul. 6, 2023
Brush: Wilkinson Sword OUMO Synthetic Tuxedo Smoky Gray
Razor: Green Cult GC 2.0 II
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Lather: Stirling - Margaritas In The Arctic - Soap
Post Shave:* Stirling - Margaritas In The Arctic - Balm

Come one come all to the greatest death defying feat of our time, Marsangelino the Magnificent balancing on slick soaps and sharp razor blades! All at precarious heights!

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

Olfactory Stacking Games

• Brush: Viel-Long B0320921 Cachurro Horse Hair #HorseSass #Toll
• Razor: Hoffritz Travel Slant #JetSetter #Unicorn
• Blade: Astra (Blue) (1)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch

Stacking is hard, risky, and the best case scenario is, well, you get a stack. Still, this was fun, and 44 attempts doesn't seem too shabby.

I went with Black Watch, a recent favourite of mine for the theme today. Plum is an underused scent note IMO. Warm and sweet without being cloying. I also really enjoy using the Highland base, although I can't help but remember u/pppork describing it as greasy :)

Regarding the unicorn hashtag: I can't prove that this particular travel slant was made before 1971, and this particular model seems to have been made until the late seventies or early eighties, when they switched to the scalloped cap that we still know today from the Merkur 37C (Hoffritz are rebranded Merkurs), but this model was produced since the sixties. I think this should satisfy the hashtag rule since this razor is itself, or is at least interchangeable with and indistinguishable from, a unicorn by the hashtag's definition. Either way, this is a great little 4-piece razor that folds into a tiny 5x5 cm shiny box. Oh, and this was my first ever vintage, which I proudly showed off on r/wicked_edge back in the day.

EDIT: after u/enndeegee gave me a bad conscience about the #unicorn, I did some more digging. This razor in the exact packaging I have is was sold as a 1960s Hoffritz Travel Slant on Razoremporium.com

Regarding the #Toll tag, this razor is sold as a 57mm loft, but I measure it at a solid 62mm.

I'm shooting for the history theme of the #photocontest, specifically a piece of history of obsolete technology. The odd stamp-looking thing on the right in my SOTD picture is a pagination machine. Imagine yourself in the age before digital word processing and your job is to produce 1000 numbered raffle tickets and all you have is a photo copier. Or you are a clerk in charge of writing up a lengthy contract that is still being negotiated and its (type-written and carbon-copied) sections can still grow or shrink, but in the end it needs page numbers. Enter the pagination machine: This stamp has only one setting to choose, the revolution period, and then it counts. If you set the revolution period to 1, it'll start by stamping 1, then 2, 3, you get the picture (and it's literally in the picture, on the left side, where I used it to count my attempts at stacking). If you set the revolution period to 2, you can stamp your raffle tickets twice each, to have the sequence 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, ... so that you cat tear off half the ticket and use half for the raffle drawing and the other as a receipt for the participant. Neat, and obsolete now that you can just set a form field or page numbers in your word processor of choice and never worry about the pagination problem again.

JULY 6, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Paragon Shaving ‘Don’ DE razor
• Lather: Grooming Dept - Laundry II
• Post Shave: Grooming Dept - Laundry II splash

So a big thanks to u/mitosismonkey for my paragon razor. Today’s challenge was a doozie!!!! I took all the components of my morning shave and tried to build a sky scraper sand castle style. I got the job done (20min later) but had to explain to my wife why I was playing with the shaving stuff that early in the morning (6am). I had no good explanation aside from what is already obvious to the rest of us. Great scent and the splash lasts a long time. It literally makes you feel like you just got all your clothes out of the dryer. Superb! Ya’ll have a good one now.

ROTY

July 6, 2023 - Olfactory Overdose - Stack of Tabac

• Brush: Yaqi Cola 22mm Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Travel Tech J3 #JETSETTER
• Blade: Gillette Rubie (3)
• Lather: Mäurer and Wirtz - Tabac Original
• Post Shave: Mäurer and Wirtz - Tabac Aftershave Lotion
• Fragrance: Mäurer and Wirtz - Tabac Eau De Toilette

#FOF

Today’s Theme:

I have do have some trickholes in my den. Samples of House of Mammoth make those a bit more affordable to add with the soap and post shave products. I also have a few from Barrister and Mann, Summer Break Soaps, Noble Otter, and Declaration Grooming. Normally, I try the soaps first, and then if I liked it, I’d get the splash or balm. I have started getting the EdP/EdT more often in the last year. So if I have all those other options, why the Stank? First, my calendar balanced better with my trifectas from other brands slotted into different days. Second, When I first got the soap, it definitely had some stank, but not unpleasantly so. Once I added the aftershave and then the EdT, the scent opened up more and drove off that funkiness of the soap. I’ve fully embraced the Tabac. Ok not to the point of getting a matching brush like u/djundjila, but my Yaqi Cola brush matches the brown, and the mixed part of the handle is orangish like the stripe. It has become my dedicated Tabac brush. I also like the brush with Tabac because it is a smaller knot, and is easier to load from the tub. With a full complement of Tabac, definitely on theme.

The Shave:

Just like it was a normal Tuesday, I loaded the damp brush with as much soap as it could hold. Then transfer to my trusty kiddie IKEA cereal bowl to finish hydrating. Once I got a soft, wet, but not drippy lather, I proceeded to shaving. This Travel Tech was a bonus razor I got off eBay. I won an auction for an Ever Ready razor, and when it arrived there was Travel Tech in the box with the Ever Ready. It had a red leather case, but it practically disintegrated when I took the razor out. It is not the aluminum handle, but a short heavy little thing. I’m guessing plated brass based on the heft. While the razor head is nice, the short handle makes it a bit awkward to find the angle. Three passes today, and a fine shave is the result.

Sponsor Spotlight:

I first experienced the work of Chatillon Lux and u/hawns in the scents made for Declaration Grooming like Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli. In the last year since the 2022 Lather Games, I have been adding more fragrances to the den. In preparation for this year’s games, I got the sample sets of Chatillon Lux and Maher Olfactive. So far I’ve used a few and am blown away by how much I’ve liked them. If I had the extra cash right now, a full bottle of Treachery would be on its way to my house. I think scent mixing is a magic art. I am better at seeing differences in color than in differentiating the complex components of perfume. One thing I’ve said many times is sometimes you get a new fragrance that completely changes your perceptions of a scent. Y/R/P is one such scent. It opened my eyes to patchouli, and that helping me embrace more scents I may have passed on before.

Today’s Fragance #FOF:

Tabac is a strange beast. The soap itself is where everyone talks about the stank tank. I never found the funk unpleasant, but my wife and daughter both liked that I had a more old fashioned scent that reminds them of my wife’s father. He used mostly drugstore scents, but when I use a more traditional scent, my daughter says I smell like Papa. The smile I’d get from them was enough to keep using it. At first I’d play up the floral by using Thayers - Rose Petal or Lavender, but in the last few months, I finally got the aftershave and EdT. What a difference the medium makes for Tabac’s fragrance! Gone is that stank, but more lavender and citrus comes out. I can’t tell what the rest of it is, but it is much nicer as a trickhole than just the soap.

I thought about trying to write a limerick for Tabac using stank and tank, but then I kept trying to set it in Nantucket and gave up.

Tabac Original,

Normally on a Tuesday,

But good for Thursday.

Today’s Challenge:

Nice thing about Tabac for stacking (photo linked above) is the flat caps and lid. It reminds me of when my daughter was little and we’d make towers with her Duplo bricks. “Make it go high”, my daughter would tell me. We’d make skinny towers that were taller than me. For today’s challenge, I stacked it as high as I could and the Travel Tech made a nice finial on top.

Jul. 6, 2023
Brush: AP Shave Co G5C
Razor: Karve CB
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome
Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr - Soap
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr - Aftershave
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr - Balm

Love the NO Rawr. Not really a big fan of scented balms but coincidentally my wife likes the rawr scent so much she bought the balm for her hands at work 😂. So stole some for todays lineup! No stacking today unfortunately.

ROTY

Edit: was able to stack! Was supposedly going to get mandated an extra 12 hours at work but I was set free. Here is said stack https://imgur.com/a/YmNwzNv

July 6, 2023 – LG23 Day 6: D̶i̶c̶k̶h̶o̶l̶e̶ Olfactory Overload Day

• Brush: AKA Brushworx “Mr. Green J33p” Oumo ACE 26mm
• Razor: Timeless Titanium Slim
• Blade: Durablade Sharp Titanium (5)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Arkadia
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Arkadia – Splash
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Arkadia – Balm
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Arkadia – Beard Balm
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Arkadia

If only I had a Stirling brush and razor for D̶i̶c̶k̶h̶o̶l̶e̶ Olfactory Overload Day…

For LG21, I went all in on Stirling Arkadia and after playing a game of “just the tip” with Mrs_Donut, I made an epic horizontal stack for that same daily challenge. I can’t remember last year, but the stack is back in ‘23 and I’ve managed to take a little green pill and got it up not once, not twice, but thrice in one day! 😅

Arkadia is one of my favorite orangey scents and I’m surprised I didn’t join the weirdos at r/showerorange today, but my family can only take so much. Hell, you people can only take so much, but I’ll give you some time off.

Happy Day 6!

EDIT: Links added for your viewing pleasure.

** Lather Games Day 6** 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Maggard Two Band Badger Fan Knot 24 mm
• Razor: Viking Revolution Long Handle Safety Razor
• Blade: Viking Revolution Stainless Steel
• Lather: Barrister & Mann - Behold The Whatsis
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Behold The Whatsis balm

Double Behold The Whatsis makes for a much better shave than canned goop. In other news this was the last of my viking revolution blades that I honestly was not a fan of at all especially in this razor.

2023-07-06 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: Yaqi Ferrari 26mm

• Razor: Gillette Slim

• Lather: Proraso - Red

Proraso is the first shaving soap I tried, so it has strong nostalgic feelings for me. Proraso red was my second soap after the green one, and the smell of it is still one my favorites. Also, I don’t like to use aftershaves and this one is the only matching AS in my den, so it is very special.

Tags: #ROTY #photocontest r/wicked_edge

July 6, 2023 - Olfactory Overload Day

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive 31mm Moar Boar #CHONK #OLDWORLD

• Razor: Henson AL-13 Medium #CNC #RAINBOW

• Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)

• Lather: Zingari - The Watchman - Soap

• Post Shave: Zingari - The Watchman - Balm

• Fragrance: Zingari - The Watchman - Extrait

Daily Write-Up

Short and sweet post today, just like my stacks. I’m sure the djudges will appreciate that, given that I’ve thus far been… circumlocutory.

I tried really hard to stack one tall stack, but this is just one of the many things that I’m not great at. My calendar has been set for a while, I had no idea that stacking day would fall on trickhole day. Unfortunately, ZM uses domed lids on their fragrance and balms which makes stacking very challenging. It wasn't worth potentially breaking a bottle or the Moar Boar, so regrettably my stack is tiny.

I expect to be scrubbed today because of my tiny little stack, but it's not the height that it's important, it's what you do with it. Right guys?

Right?

The Shave

• Superlative, particularly when compared with yesterday..

• I am always amazed at how strong and long-lasting this scent is. Props to Mr. Maher - it’s a great scent – but a little goes a very long way.

Soap Theme Justification

• All three software items are scented by Shawn Maher and produced by ZingariMan.

Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes

• Watchman Trickhole

06 July 2023 Complementary Dickhole Caties Bubbles X - Lather Games Day 5

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Declaration Blunicorn B8
• Razor: Wolfman WR3
• Blade: GEM (24)
• Lather: Caties Bubbles - X (1)
• Post Shave: Caties Bubbles - X A/S
• Post Shave: Thayer's Concoction
• Post Shave: Cold River Soapworks - Sandalwood Post Shave Lotion
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co - Project Lawnsdale Balm
• Fragrance: Caties Bubbles - X

Cheers

Thursday, July 6, 2023

• Brush: Declaration Grooming - Thaw Jeffington - 28mm B16
• Razor: Wolfman Razors - WR2 0.75 DC x WRH2
• Blade: Personna Med Prep
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Aftershave Splash

Day 6 of Lather Games: Great trickhole! Seaforth! Heather is such a good scent.

While I didn't use a Chatillon Lux trickhole, I did at least manage to serendipitously use a fragrance at least created by Hawns, so that's a neat coincidence.

As for today's challenge, I will not be tricked by Big Aftershave's and Big Fragrance's little ploy to have us shatter our splash and cologne bottles on countertops and tile floors. Buying 2/3 of a trifecta again because I was thristy for 2/3 of a point? No, sir, not I.

Edit: typo

July 6, 2023 – Olfactory Overdose * Brush: Lefty
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Lather: First Line Shave – Star Odyssey
Post Shave: First Line Shave – Star Odyssey splash

Today was the first day of lather games that seemed like a normal shave. Yes, I am the dickhole day shaver on a regular basis. It is in fact this mix and match scents kinda thing I struggle with.

The Shave: Being a rather straightforward day it was a smooth and easy shave. Lather got slick, new blade was sharp, and the facial hairs were cut. Today was no blood sport gentlemen. After an enjoyable shave a little splash was used to completely destroy any chance of smelling something other than Star Odyssey for the rest of the day.

Theme: All software used is the same scent from the same brand.

Challenge: Stacking day was a fun challenge. Since todays right up was rather short, I had a fair amount more time to play. I began with the obligatory stack of everything used today. I then decided to do one better and start messing around with more soaps in the stack. Suffice to say I enjoyed myself, and I have no shortage of soaps.

#ROTY

Thursday, the 6th of July, 2023

• Brush: Zenith 502BC #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Maggard Razors V3A
• Blade: Topaz Platinum (65)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

First, the challenge: this trio of stacked items was unfortunately the best I could do, and have time to take a picture. Every configuration I tried with more in the stack came tumbling down before I could take a picture. And I decided to quit before I broke the glass bottles.

The lime in Sea Spice Lime pops quite nicely, in all three products here. The spice adds some great complexity, and the sea spray is a nice touch in the opening. I cannot quite tell you where the oakmoss is, but I'm sure I'd notice if it were removed. No wonder this stays in the Lather Log top scents.

Then, later, after looking at u/Tonality's stack, I guess I can do slightly better.

Olfactory Overdose

Prep: Warm Shower

Brush: Semogue Torga - C5

Razor: GEM MMOC version 2

Blade: GEM Stainless (6)

Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

​

Sonder is lovely stuff. Have a great day everyone.

July 6, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 6

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Queen Red handle w/ DSC 24mm SHD G7 Synthetic knot
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .68-P
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (4)
• Preshave: Proraso – Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol Cream
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Stick (tallow)
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original AS Lotion
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original EdC
• Music: Rammstein - Du Hast

Daily Theme: The Rank of Stank (trademank pending) wasn't my original plan for Trickhole Day. My work in Singapore gets me access to U.S. military mail, so I attempted to order from Stirling/Maggards some stink-pretty to match one of my soap/balm tricks, but no can do. Because of ~~The Man's Stupid Rules~~ Federal Regulations vendors can't mail products with alcohol to my Military postal address. Luckily Tabac is reasonably popular in this part of the world so the Stank Trick is the flavor of the day.

Daily Challenge: I was trying to figure our a way to stack my shaving stuff when my wife comes up and asks "What ya doin?" I explain my dilemma (what to do with the razor) and she retorts "Just stick it in the brush". A problem I've been trying to resolve for the last day she resolved in 15 seconds. Go figure. Thanks Hon!

The Shave: An extremely enjoyable BBS shave. It took some effort to Precision Load the Stank Stick shavings, but once they became paste a quality lather was easily built. I wasn't sure how my wife would take to Tabac, Luckily she liked it. Now it's time to share my Stankiness with the fellow passengers on my puddle-jumper hop back to my Philippine abode. #ROTY

July 6, 2023 – Travel Tower

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Guard
• Blade: Gillette Guard (2)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Dammusi
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Dammusi

Welp. Landed in LA, got to the Airbnb, and opened up the Dopp kit to shave before a dinner out with my girlfriend and her friend we came to visit. Dammusi seemed like the perfect scent for beautiful evening, blue skies and sunshine. I love how the scent on the splash settles in. Also it really is the post shave my skin loves the best.

My travel kit was perfect for this special challenge. As you can see an old noosa container is my travel bowl that also conveniently is my brush case and can hold multiple sample, perfect for the upcoming week of LG on the road. For my splashes I use blue apron containers that previously held vinegar. And the Gillette guard surprises me, nice and mild, zero irritation. Headed out on the town feeling sharp thanks u/mammothben

Cheers! Shaka Emoji.

ROTY

July 6, 2023 Stack attempt

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Troll Toll B14
• Razor: Leaf Elite
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (2)
• Lather: First Line Shave - Sutton Distilled
• Post Shave: First Line Shave - Sutton Distilled
• Fragrance: First Line Shave - Sutton Distilled EdP

The scent notes for Sutton Distilled are listed as: Whiskey, Oud, Cedar, Blood Orange, Saffron, Cardamom, Lavender, Patchouli, Cypriol Oil. To me it comes across as as a slightly sweet whiskey/tobacco fragrance. An amazing scent! The presentation with the copper look to the aftershave bottle, and the wax seal is incredible as well.

Poor attempt at stacking, but there was an attempt (and no desire to smash glass bottles)!

#ROTY

• Brush: Zenith Moar Boar #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Tatara Nodachi #CNC
• Blade: Personna Israeli Red
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr shave soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr after shave splash
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Rawr EDP

Rawr is such a fun shave- I always love how playful it makes the day.

shave

July 6, 2023 – LG 6: Olfactory Overdose

• Brush: r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR #CHONK #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Henson AL13 #CNC
• Blade: Astra SP (Green) (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford

~~Dickhole Day~~ Olfactory Overdose is always a nice day you don’t have to think too much about, and I’m guilty of having far too many trifectas to choose from. That said, always love a Haverford shave. I think I actually prefer Haverford to TF Tobacco Vanille, but the sillage on the actual one is way better. Price on the Stirling however can’t be beat- I’ll have to get a full bottle. This set (well soap and AS) was actually my first LG prize along with one of their travel cases 3 LGs ago. The balm and frag since added. Apparently dickhole and stacking were paired together 2 years ago. I will say sparkle suds, shave shiny from that era folded just like Entertainment 720. Too ahead of its time. Also, let’s not forget this Haverford classic from the djudicial djudge man himself- one of the top posts I’ve seen in the games.

Haverford is named after the Parks and Rec character Tom Haverford, here’s a great highlight reel of his inventions. It’s sweet and strong off the puck, with lots of caramelized vanilla. It shifts into the tobacco, with dried fruit undertones, and is built on a base of cocoa. There is some spiciness to it, but nothing crazy. The AS and frag are very similar to soap in how they transition, albeit quicker and slower respectively. The AS is also notably very heavy on the vanilla and a bit more spice appears in frag form. #FOF #PHOTOCONTEST (mobile phone, complete with Tom guest starring near the base of the stack).

soap brands 6/30, post shave 6/30, frag 6/30, post/frag linked 6/30, software sponsors 2/15, hardware sponsors 1/2, razor hashtags 4/15, brush hashtags 5/15, photo contest 6/30, daily challenges 5/25, special challenges 1/5

• Brush: Simpson Classic #1 Synthetic Brush
• Razor: Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn 49 Straight Razor
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Shire soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Shire balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Shire EDP

ROTY

Mmmmmmm delicious Shire. Will update with a stack pick before the night ends.

July 6, 2023 – Sonder Tri and All the Yellow

• Brush: Summer Break Soap “Dundy” 26mm Motherlode
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Sonder
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Sonder
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Sonder

Sonder is the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. I’m sure u/mammothben knew that when he titled it – he’s a thoughtful guy who considers others well. I strive to be similar and, after shaving with Sonder for all of August last year I grew in my affections both for this scent and for the concept of Sonder.

The scent opens beautifully with a complex yet light citrus and then settles down into a soft blend of sandalwood and something green. It tickles the olfactory bulb in all the right places and, in spite of using it for 30 days straight for AA, I have not grown a single percent tired of this scent. It is outstanding.

As for Sonder, well, much could be said about the concept but it is a one that each of us should become familiar with – it’ll help you grow in compassion and empathy in every relationship you have from your own child (who you usually adore) to the neighbors who continue to shoot off fireworks on July 6th (a full two days after they should be done). It takes work, you’ll mess up and forget, but – it’s freeing to realize that just because someone tells you off doesn’t mean they hate you – maybe they had a bad morning or their parent has a chronic illness or any number of things that probably aren’t about you. It changes the way you interact with your spouse because yes, you do forget that they’re a person with a whole life, too – and their life isn’t just about you. It’ll change how you parent – your kids are people, too! And, lastly – it’ll change how you approach these lather games; you’ll understand the judges have way too many posts to read and you don’t have that much interesting stuff to say, anyway – so you’ll mercifully shorten them up.

All that said – consider Sonder. Learn it, live it, let it impact your interactions with all varieties of people. Yes, even the ones you loathe.

And here’s the stack that includes my brand new Summer Break handle (Dundy) that just came in today courtesy of u/rocket455 – it’s got a motherlode in it for now but is worthy of a much better knot than this! My son, who loves yellow, took 1 look at it and immediately exclaimed, "when I'm big and shave, I'm going to use that brush!"

FOF Haiku of the day

Bright shining greenscape
Intoxicating my nose
Could use this always

July 6, 2023

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks purple burl AP Shave Co. 24mm MiG
• Razor: Karve CB OC-F
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Alive

I have to say I didn’t expect a bunch of wetshaving enthusiasts to have the real life skill set of M. C. Escher with their gear. I hope you enjoy my comparatively sad /r/wicked_edge styled tower #PHOTOCONTEST

The soap and fragrance were obtained in a trade with /u/wudulikadrinkpackage, the decant generously thrown in. After I tried it, I had to get the AS too. To me, Alive blends tangy, sweet, and herbaceous into fresh laundry. It’s like what I expect a 30’s black and white idyllic prairie TV show to smell like as they hang their clothes on the line, for whatever reason. The cooling AS is a must in this heat wave.

July 6th, 2023 - LG Day 6: Olfactory Overdose

• Prep: warm water

• Brush: Wald Gengar J2 #SHD #OLDWORLD

• Razor: Aylsworth Drakkant Prototype #CNC

• Blade: Gillette Minora (1)

• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz - Sir Irisch Moos - Soap

• Post-Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Sir Irisch Moos - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Sir Irisch Moos - EdT

I love stack day. Moos trickhole smells amazing. Hope nobody broke any gear during today's challenge!

Edit:

Forgot the best part! The Stack Brotherhood Oath! As a wise man once asked, are you a stack brother or a slack brother? Also holy hell this video is 10 years old now wtf.

July 6, 2023 – Olfactory Overdose

• Brush: Semogue SOC Boar #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable H4 #DIAL
• Blade: Wizamet (2)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Mood Indigo
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Mood Indigo

Challenge: It’s my SOTD pic.

I love Mood Indigo. My first Lather Games, Mammoth soaps were hard to come by. I was sent smooshes of Shire and Mood Indigo and loved both of them. Fortunately, production increased and I was able to buy a trifecta of Mood Indigo later that year. I’ve used this for Austere August, so I can say with confidence that it’s a fragrance I don’t get tired of. It has staying power. Opening the soap was like seeing an old friend. Rich oud and sweet blueberries caught my attention right away. With a little more time, my nose picks up vetiver and black pepper. Black pepper is easy to miss at first. Once I noticed it, I felt like it’s role in the fragrance was pivotal. While the oud is the first thing that grabbed my attention, and the blueberry adds a tantalizing touch, the fragrance isn’t an oud bomb, or even fruity. The black pepper keeps everything in check with a subtle spice.

I smell the fragrance a bit in the balm when I put it in. But, it doesn’t last long. Balm isn’t a great medium for fragrance.

I’ve been wearing the fragrance for about 30 minutes now, and have already gone nose blind. I sprayed it on my wrists and chest. I can smell the oud, blueberry, pepper combo up close, but don’t get any projection.

#FOF

July 6, 2023 – Lather Games: Day 6

Brush: Yaqi Badger

Razor: Tatara Muramasa #DIAL

Blade: Gillette Nacet

Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford

Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford

Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford

I must be a Dickhole, because so far, this has been my favorite Lather Games theme. lol Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is one of the best colognes I have smelled. Stirling makes a fairly great dupe in Haverford. The soap, AS, and EdT are all strong and long lasting which for the EdT, is especially nice. Stirling’s performance can go toe-to-toe with many other “top tier” soaps.

I mentioned in a previous post that my Blackbird was my favorite razor until the Karve Outlander came along. Well, it was bumped to 3rd after I got my Muramasa. This is a smooth, efficient razor which, in my opinion, looks absolutely great. Being able to adjust it, makes it even better. Honestly, the Muramasa and Overlander could flip-flop on any day for my favorite razor.

I tried stacking my treasures on top of each other for today's challenge, which I’m assuming are supposed to be my greatest shaving assets. If not, then I have totally failed at Stacking Day.

July 6, 2023 Olfactory Overdose

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Semogue Pharos C3 Horse Hair #HORSESASS
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable #DIAL
• Blade: Voskhod (1)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist

Wonderful shave this morning with what is probably my favorite HoM scent. I have been pleasantly surprised each use of the horse brush and am determined to use it more after LGs and AA.

SOTD photo has my attempt at the daily challenge.

July 6, 2023  

• Brush: Century – Pure Bristle  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue   
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Sunny Lane  
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Sunny Lane  

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: sets don’t make sense for leg shaves. I go through soap alone at roughly quadruple the rate of face shavers. Setting aside how quickly I would run out a bottle, covering my legs in aftershave would literally violate my workplace dress code that requires aftershave and perfume be applied moderately.

It’s safe to say overdose day isn’t high on my favorites list. But, I do have a set from a pif and I reserve it for this occasion. I also set aside this day for an underarm shave. There is no good way to apply aftershave to your armpit FYI. But I achieved it and now I smell like my grandpa. That is not a bad thing. My grandpa was fantastic and I’m lucky to have a scent that associates good memories of him.

Title and picture refer to my own little amusement. It’s my theory that Bath & Body Works body wash + body lotion are the mainstream/ladies version of our soap + aftershave sets. So I dug out my favorite set and used it in my shower. For the judges to note: body wash and lotion were not involved in the actual shave today. It just amused me to have two sets of stuff. I should have included a picture of my shampoo & condition to really round it out.

Challenge: see SOTD picture.

July 06, 2023 * Brush: Viking Soaps w/ 28mm Odin's Beard Badger #SHD * Razor: Merkur 34C * Blade: Gillette Nacet * Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II - Soap * Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II - Aftershave * Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II - EdP

Selected Gravefruit 2 today for my Olfactory Overdose. While the scent isn't bad by any means, it had very large shoes to fill. I prefer the stronger grapefruit kick in GF1. I didn't realize just how precarious my stack was until I saw it from the side while taking the picture. It may not be vertically impressive, but I was certainly fearful for the safety of the glass aftershave and perfume bottle. Per usual, Southern Witchcrafts base is incredible. Anyone who adds the conditional "for a vegan soap" is doing a disservice. Easy to load, lather, and incredible performance.