July 10, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Good Gully Maggard Black and White Synthetic 26mm
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .84
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (5)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Adagio
• Post Shave: Thayers – Rose Petal

Adagio is Italian for slowly, or a tempo on music to be played slowly. To my nose, Adagio is very cherry forward, calling to mind cherry pie or maraschino cherries on top of an ice cream sundae. Perfect for the hot summer evenings when you just want to take it slow.

For today's challenge, I chose to Google Draw my soap label. You know, Google Drawings, MS Paint's shittier, web-based cousin.

​

Old Time Shaving Goal to the tune of Old Time Rock & Roll by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

Lyrics:

Just take those old soaps off the shelf

I'll sit and lather 'em by myself

Today's shaves ain't got the same soul

I like that old-time shavin' goal

Don't try to take me to Wicked Edge

You'll never even get a vote there from me

In ten minutes I'll be Wetshaving

I like that old-time shavin' goal

Won't make me stop shavin’ wet

I'd rather use a straight or shavette

There's only one sure way to get me to go

Start goin’ for old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

That kind of lather just soothes my soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old-time shavin' goal

Call me a relic, call me what you will

Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill

Today's shaves ain't got the same soul

I like that old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

That kind of lather just soothes the soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

That kind of lather just soothes my soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

That kind of lather just soothes my soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

That kind of lather just soothes my soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old-time shavin' goal

Still like that old-time shavin' goal

LGSOTD 10-July

• Brush: Chisel and Hound - 'Eyespot' V18 #SHD #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Gillette - Slim J2 #DIAL 
• Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium   
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem   
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem AS   
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem EDT

I am in no way musical, don't get me wrong I tried in my youth and I could just about get away with classical guitar, not particularly competent. Then, misguided, decided in my uni days to try out electric, that lasted all of two weeks. But my hoarding ways pay off, a couple of decades later the thing has finally seen the light of day and today it has been more useful than it has ever been before to hit the scavenger hunt for music…now it's back into the depths again probably never to see the light of day again. 

I like Electric Mayhem for a warm day, and we're halfway there despite being overcast, it's still bloomin warm. It's strange but I really do think Neon when I use this, I've never considered electricswing my thing but this is lovely. Does this also hit the Shawn Mayer vendor points? Not sure with respect to the rules but fingers crossed. 

Daily Challenge was to draw a pic of the soap, chose pencil and pen, can't for the life of me draw faces so we've got a creepy featureless creature, there was no way I was drawing the little people on the LP and I made the clefs too big but gave it a go. My daughter pinched it afterwards to colour in but she takes weeks so sadly no colour, she's only young. 

Hope everyone has a grand one. 

Cheers

Marc

ROTY

PhotoContest

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Semogue SOC Taj Resin boar 24mm
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Razor: Karve Overlander SS
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem - Balm

Agree with u/crossan1983 - EM is great for hot summer day or summer night. Well it’s full “winter” downunder and first day back at work today after holiday. It’s going to be busy for a couple of months - not looking forward to it. But of course I had time to do the Daily Challenge - Sketch of Electric Mayhem label

Music
“Follow the Cyborg” - Miss Grit Spotify / YouTube

• Brush: Van Der Hagen Boar Brush

• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85mm Safety Razor

• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Sharpedge

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem

ROTY

July 10, 2023 – June Shaves

• Brush: Cayuen Abalone w/ 28mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Timeless Shave Bowl, Blue
• Razor: WSC – Winning Razor, mirror polished, w/ Timeless Titanium Crown razor handle
• Blade: Voshkod (1)
• Lather: The Club – BOO
• Fragrance: The Club – BOO

I have little in stock to tie in with the theme today of a music-inspired soap, but this comes close. Peter from A&E said he was inspired to make this after visiting a nightclub in Norway (I think) so this ought to fit with a music venue. There's many florals here but also notes of incense and leather, both notes which you would pick up in that environment. Great start for a Monday.

Today's challenge: https://i.imgur.com/zujJPmz.jpg This is meant for shaves which are so positively thrilling, and so absolutely exhilarating, you'll wonder if you're using a soap infused with Prozac.

#LatherGames #MusicalMonday

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LcGrLnzYuU ← The Questionable Engineering of Oceangate

Mon Jul 10 2023

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Razor: Merker 34C HD
• Blade: BiC Chrome Platinum
• Brush: Semogue 620
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Paganini's Violin Soap (Omnibus)
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Paganini's Violin AS

Quick shave this morning, got to get out the door. One of the few matching splashes I have. Not much for the scent but the splash is certainly cooling.

Nice cup of Black Rifle Coffee.

ROTY

Jul. 9, 2023 - Ring that Bell!

• Prep: Hot Shower and CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Mighty Duck v19 Fanchurian #SHD #COMPOSITE

• Razor: GEM G-bar

• Blade: GEM PTFE (16)

• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Bell Ringer

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

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

• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Every Storm a Serenade

Now at first glance you might not think this soap is the best for todays theme. Yes, I have Paganinis Violin, no I didn’t want to use it today (and no not because it’s unscented u/merikus!) The name of this soap brings me back to middle/high school days when I played in my church’s youth handbell choir. Let me first point out that I am horrendously NOT musically inclined at all! Like to the point where I color coded the notes I had to play so I could remember them. I could’ve just learned to read music but nope…We were pretty darn good though, my favorite song we played was Carol of the Bells and we played it every Christmas for the church service. I had a bunch of friends in the marching band in high school and this was how I got to hang out with them and get to enjoy something that they enjoyed.

Bell Ringer is an incredibly bright and fresh mango scent. It also was just announced that it’s being retired (RIP) which makes me appreciate my tub even more! IA - Every Storm a Serenade might not quite match scent wise but going with the musical theme here so it fits! I’ve enjoyed a lot of the scents I’ve been able to sample from Imaginary Authors and really like their concept for their name. I love to read books when I have free time (which is never lately) so this just jived with me.

Todays #photocontest obviously has to be #Music. I mean how could you do any other one on Musical Monday?

Edit: totally forgot my tub art! I took some artistic liberties to add music notes and a bell to the tub. Try to not stare too long into it’s beauty!

MS paint label

July. 10, 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: Declaration Grooming - Tribute
• Post Shave: Chiesled Face - Natural Aftershave Balm

ROTY

https://imgur.com/a/nme5Bba

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light Soap
• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Flare tip Super Speed
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge Yellow
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Hipster Balm

Fake Yellow Light is a lyric from the song Ten by Jimmy Eat World. The line is as follows: Going nowhere, in the fake yellow light. It's a somber song...which if you're a Jimmy Eat World fan, is expected as their catalog ranges from songs the will make your heartbeat quicken to songs that bring you down into a depressive state. Truly a great band, and the soap does the song justice.

It features a lot of scents, to include some almond and leather notes. It's not light and fresh, but it's not dark and dreary either. I guess you could say, it's in The Middle. The soap does the song and the band justice. Obviously the performance is good like you'd expect from Declaration Grooming.

As far as the label, I gave it a shot. When creating art, a friend of mine once said "I want to sound like me" in reference to singing. Taking that to heart, I'm definitely tracking that it ain't anywhere close to a perfect copy of the label....but it's MY copy of the label.

Have a great day folks!

July 10, 2023 – Ziggy Stardust

• Brush: Maggard Razors Timberwolf
• Razor: Maggard Razors MR7/V3
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle
• Post Shave: Fine Accoutrements – American Blend

Today’s shave with music-inspired soap seemed like an obvious choice. For many reasons, one of which being this is the only option I had and the other being this is just an awesome choice. Wholly Kaw Rebelle features Ziggy Stardust himself, the enigmatic David Bowie. This also happens to smell pretty great.

2023-07-10 Musical Monday - Deep Ellum for Jazz and Blues

• Brush: Shore Shave - "Chubster Martini Olive" with 26mm T4 Fan Synthetic knot
• Razor: Charcoal Goods Level 2 with Stinger Handle
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Crowne & Crane - Deep Ellum
• Post Shave: Crowne & Cranes. - Deep Ellum (Balm)

The Shave:

First off the shave was very pleasant. Clean with no nicks. As I type this no irritation has announced itself. The T4 fan is a bit floppy however still does a good job on the lather. I just like a bit more scritch.

The Scent of Deep Ellum as described by Crowne and Crane: "Our Deep Ellum shaving soap is named after the East Dallas neighborhood known for its down and dirty jazz and blues scene. The scent starts with a smokey orange citrus high note, mingled with subdued middle notes of violet and geranium and finished by bass notes of patchouli, musk and hard woods. This soap has soul."

This is a well done cologne scent with a burnt orange lead and nice supporting notes.

A Little More about Deep Ellum:

Deep Ellum is a neighborhood in East Dallas, Texas was settled after the abolition of slavery in the United States as a freedman's town. Originally known as "Deep Elm" (as in Elm Street) however pronounced as Deep Ellum which stuck.

With the arrival of the railroad the location thrived. However the Great Depression hit hard. The area faded. Highway construction in the late 1940s did more community damage. Elevated highways followed in the late 1960s and 1970s leveling large tracts of the neighborhood. A disruptive fate that hit many inner city and minority neighborhoods during this time period.

From the 1920s through the 1950s Deep Ellum was known for Jazz and Blues with Lead Belly and Blind Lemon Jefferson composing there. While that identity remains. During the 1990s Deep Ellum was home to more than 150 bars and clubs. A punk scene was a feature from the 1980s and by the 1990s Deep Ellum was the place for touring acts and local bands. Deep Ellum remains an entertainment center to this day.

A little reading you may find interesting:

The History of Deep Ellum - Parks for Downtown Dallas (breezy quick read)

The Legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson in Deep Ellum

How to Spend a Day in Deep Ellum (for the tourist)

Deep Ellum, Dallas - Wikipedia

Knights of Pythias Temple (Dallas, Texas) - Wikipedia A Dallas Landmark building with a large role in the neighborhood.

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Kuai Taper w/ V18 Fanchurian 26mm

• Razor: Clix E-Z-Flo Razor #UNICORN

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle

• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle

• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Treachery

Today's Theme: Musical Monday - WK's Rebelle is tangentially related to David Bowie's song Rebel Rebel, though I can't elaborate further because WK never did either.

Today's Challenge: Draw a soap label - I drew Rebelle, but better

My theme for today's shave: Fight the powah

I'll do my writeup in a little bit, gotta finish my morning coffee #photocontest #FOF #ROTY

Edit: OK I'm at work now so let's do this. So for today's musical challenge, I went through my rolodex of soap scents and realized one could probably do 30 days of Barrister and Mann soaps for all of the lather games themes, but I settled on Wholly Kaw's Rebelle which features David Bowie's starman getup on the label and is ostensibly inspired by his song Rebel Rebel which is a banger of a tune.

So when thinking about what fragrance to pair with it, I thought hey rebels, treachery, thematically it's about fighting the current established order. Fragrance-wise the two couldn't be farther apart. Rebelle is easy on the nose, enough so that I kept wondering if it was a dupe of a mainstream fragrance. Treachery on the other hand is challenging. The pipe tobacco scent comes on thick. It doesn't smell like a cigar shop, it smells like you stuck your nose directly into the pouch of some fresh stanky pipe tobacco.

Music-wise, I picked Stratovarius' self-titled album. This album came out after a particularly tumultuous and drama-filled era for the band, and each song is basically the band doing their self-healing in public. It's about feeling crazy because of external pressures, fighting to stay true to oneself, the feeling of alienation, and the power of group unity.

July 10, 2023 – CH-ch-Ch-eery Bomb

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 22mm Faux Horse w/ Ruby Ripple Handle
• Razor: Gillette Superspeed
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Sharpedge (Yellow) (2)
• Lather: Dr. Jon’s – Runaway
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Runaway
• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive – Tempo Rubato

Today I went with Dr. Jon’s (RIP) Runaway. A tribute to Joan Jett, this song lives up to the bands well known hit and is a cherry bomb. For #fof, well I was a bit confused actually because when putting my calendar together I noticed Chatillon Lux has no musical themed scents. For being a place several musicians have called home (Chuck Berry most noteably played the Duck Room regularly until just before his death) I was sorta stunned Shawn hadn’t taken this idea and gone with it on that line. But the Maher Olfactive line does have Tempo Rubato. Theme here shifts from rock to jazz. Based on the notes of apricot, plum and orange essence I had expected more fruit forward scant than what this is. I’m kinda glad it’s not. I wouldn’t want to smell like a fruit stand all day after the cherry bomb. So the end result works. Just like how a good playlist will seamlessly move between genres, so so my scent does. (of note, wife was a fan of Runaway, not of Tempo. Say a prayer for her, this is a hard month a guy going from a spray of adventus cologne every 4 or 5 days to 30 days of niche frags.)

For the #photocontest, I’m entering the picture linked in the date line under what else? Music! This is separate from my picture for today’s challenge. Regarding the challenge, I suck at drawing. But I tried to use the beta photoshop AI to produce a rock star and the output was the stuff of nightmares. Distorted faces, extra arms. For some odd reason I thought adding “Rockstar shaving” would be better but it was even more cursed. The faces we’re lathered from top to bottom and the dipping lather was rendered as dripping face. “fine,” I said, “we’ll do a Rockstar from behind looking at the crowd.” and it produced views from behind of several people with inverted knees (curiously no crowd.) I considered rolling with this, but they were so horrifying I wish I could unsee them (especially dripping face dudes who looked like they peeled their faces off with a straight.) It want from shit post into “negative points” so I deleted them and tried hard to forget. So instead here’s my interpretation of runaway. Since Jett was not my crush like it was the soap Maker’s I opted for a object only label. And added a cherry bomb to tie in the scent notes.

Hey fellow #ROTY 30% done!

July 10, 2023

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: EverReady C40 Boar
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
• Blade: Gillette Platinum
• Lather: Dr. Jon's - Runaway
• Post Shave: Historic & Oak - Italian Soda
• Fragrance: None

2nd day in a row with a shout out to /u/tsrblke for hooking me up this time with Dr. Jon's Runaway; a Joan Jett inspired soap with strong notes of cherry (after The Runaways' Cherry Bomb). Finished up with a splash of Italian Soda, it complements the Runaway very well.

As for today's challenge, I can't draw to save my life, and I don't know how to use Photoshop. I do however know how to request AI to generate me an image, which I understand is a very contentious topic. However, whatever I would've drawn would be such an eyesore that I didn't want to ruin your day. I did actually have to do a surprising amount of back and forth with the AI, at first it was spitting out spray bottles, and even then it still didn't seem to understand the prompt. Anyway, here is what it spat out. Until tomorrow!

#ROTY

7/10/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Macduffs Soap Company - Birth of the Cool
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co - Haverford Aftershave Splash

Birth of Cool is an homage to Miles Davis. Made up of several pre blends, mostly tobacco related. This smush comes courtesy of u/J33pGuy13. This is my first time using a Macduffs soap. The performance was pretty solid. It was easy enough to whip up a slick and thick lather. Primary slickness was certainly there, and notably, so was the residual. A little bit of this went a long way. The scent was pretty unique, and I enjoyed it. Pre lathering, it reminded me of a baked good. Once lathered, it almost smelt like something new each time I whiffed it. The tobacco was pretty consistently there throughout. Being as how there is a dupe of Tom Fords TV, I couldn't think of a better post shave on hand to go with it. Haverford paired really well with it. I think I'd like to get TV at some point.

I never claimed to be an artist

#ROTY

July 10, 2023 – Lather games day 10 – AKA Aladdin Sane

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (13)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle

None other like David Bowie. Wholly Kaw Rebel is clearly a tribute to that look and era. Aladdin Sane was released in 1973 yet is still very iconic today. So much so that there is a shave soap label that pays tribute to it. Rebelle is dank if not a little tallow funky but always makes for a lovely shave. I actually prefer the aftershave splash to the soap. No funk, just Oud, Leather, Tobacco, Sandalwood and Vetiver that come together in a beautiful mix. Definitely one of those soaps that attracted me based on it’s tub art more than anything else. EldrormR’s MM24 is always a great implement for a close, smooth shave. Glad I have one in my den! Good shave to start the week.

Speaking of tub art, I want to revive this one for the newbies as my daily challenge entry. NSFW. You’re welcome!

#PhotoContest

2023-07-10 Meedley meedley meedley waaaAAH

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps - Custom
• Razor: Gilette Milord (1947-1950) #REGUS
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Oud Sigma
• Fragrance: Colornoise - Rock N Roll
• Blade: - Personna Super (5)

Challenge Accepted: Alright, draw a soap label...
Draw a soap label?
Draw [on] a soap label!
*sigh* Draw a soap label. I really do better with geometric/minimal; shapes are easy. Forms are not. Faces? Fuhgedaboudit.

Relevant Post-shave and Fragrance: Music and oud tie these together. The relevance of the "Rock N Roll" fragrance is obvious (I hope), but it also shares the oud note of the lather and post-shave. Oud Sigma is even relevant to the music theme, as well. If you're not familiar with the Ood from Doctor Who, they're a telepathically-linked species that was enslaved; after being freed they were free to sing. I think it's also worth mentioning that there is a musical intrument, the oud, named for and made of the wood, making the unifying scent note all the more appropriate.

Razor: I'm not a fan of this razor, but it doesn't have a date code and I only just got why the hashtag is "regus".

Brush: This beautiful brush is the creation of u/rocketk455, who bestowed it upon me after a month of scentless shaves last August. This would be my daily brush, because I love it, but it's not, because I don't want to wear it out. I'm also telling myself because the "rock" in u/rocketk455 is a tenuous link to music.

#FOF

Lather: Off the puck, sandalwood hits my nose prominently, and nothing else. Maybe oud comes through more than I think but gets mixed in with the sandalwood, but what I think oud is has only been informed by a couple of other scents.
During the shave, a dry, smoky scent reminiscent of Chiseled Face's Sherlock starts to come through. It is not a leafy tobacco, but a smoky, maybe even ashy one.

Post Shave: Oud takes ove with Oud Sigma, a product that I got very excited about when announced by Stirling, my being a fan of (much of) Doctor Who. It was a bit ofh a risk for me to jump on it so readily, especially considering that I'm not a fan of the only other oud scent I know: Razorock Tuscan Oud (boo Razorock). Oud Sigma is much softer, I feel, perhaps lightened by the pink pepper.

Fragrance: This brand, Colornoise, has a general synesthesia theme, and this fragrance boasts notes of smoldering incense, spicy oud, white woods, guitar riffs, and heart-thumping bass. Now, I don't know what anything after "oud" means, but I get ~~mostly~~ only incense out of this. Scent-wise, it's frankly more appropriate for hippy dippy, but it would have been ridiculous to not use it today. I think I also sprayed way too much of it on myself. I'm nose-blind to it now, but hopefully it's not overbearing.

#photocontest

Photo: Music
Okay, again, super surprising for today, I know. Now, I feel like Bowie alone would fit the theme, but just in case I also included my old iPod, a 5th-generation that I think I bought in 2006. It's a relic of a different time, isn't it?

Musical Monday

Prep: Warm shower

Brush: Omega Badger - 63167

Razor: Gillette Canadian Rocket

Blade: Voskhod

Lather: Barrister & Mann - Paganini's Violin Soap

Post Shave: water rinse

Fragrance: Calvin Klein - Be

The soap of the day is a nice fit for Musical Monday. A nice shave today. I like the way the soap and the fragrance interact. A good pairing for most warm weather situations. Have a great day everyone.

Jul 10, 2023 - Musical Monday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Matador 26mm Sweet Spot Badger Knot
• Razor: Gillette Red Tip Super Speed (1957)
• Blade: Voskhod [3]
• Lather: Dr. Jon's Shaving Soap Co. - Runaway - Soap (Vegan)
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - American Vintage - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light - Eau de Parfum

Musical Monday started with the sweet cherry, spice, and leather notes in Runaway (á la Cherry Bomb); leading into the nuanced tobacco, mahogany, and worn leather of American Vintage; and finally the bold leather, tobacco, and nutty amber notes of Fake Yellow Light.

Musicly, Runaway honors Cherie Currie and Joan Jett of the band Runaways, while American Vintage is a "tribute to classic guitars and late night gigs." Fake Yellow Light is an homage to Ten by Jimmy Eat World.

The classic Red Tip Super Speed was so smooth with the Voskhod today, and gave such a great BBS. I'll definitely be using this combo as part of my regular razor rotation.

#photocontest leather

Rating: 4.5/5

Today I shaved with Zingari Man The Soloist. I used a Prometheus/Synbad brush and a Gillette New Deluxe with a Gillette 7 O’Clock super platinum blade. I followed it with Stirling City Slicker aftershave and a couple shots of Iceberg Man edt. Then I drew a soap label.

July 10, 2023 - Air Bud: The Musical

Lather: Black Ship Grooming - Siren's Song

Did you know that there's no Air Bud Musical? Weird, right? Of all the franchises Disney could make into a classic musical this has got to be at the top of the pile. It would also help with my ability to have some sort of segway into the next part of this post and connect everything to the Siren's Song soap, but alas, there isn't one so we'll just have to crash hard into it.

As Cowzilla3 has recently admitted in this insightful and upsetting interview, he has only watched Air Bud once in full. The more we learn about it the more we understand just how unfit he was to carry the Air Bud Rule mantle forward. It's facts like these that would have helped us all know that he'd turn on us the moment it got hard.

Well, I won't. I Air Bud Ruler have watched Air Bud 457.5 times (that half time was because I had to rescue some puppies from a well in order for them to star in Air Bud 34: Bud Plays Shuffle Board). As such, I know that not all judges are bad. In fact, the judge at the end of Air Bud sides with Air Bud! Yes, there are judges out there who see logic and reason. In fact, this judge ignores almost all legal precedent and any actual law to decide who Air Bud should go to. If that's not Air Bud Ruling, I don't know what is.

You should check out the ending of Air Bud yourself and then watch the entire film four or five times to truly understand what a masterpiece it is. It will definitely help you with the Air Bud Quest.

* **Lather:** Barrister and Mann - Seville Shaving Soap (Omnibus Base)
* **Brush:** AP Shave Co. AP400B XL Brass 28 mm (G5C Fan Synthetic)
* **Razor:** Karve CBSS (D Plate SB)
* **Blade:** Gillete Silver Blue
* **Post Shave:** Barrister and Mann - Seville AS Spalsh
* **Post Shave:** Barrister and Mann - Seville AS Balm
* **Post Shave:** Barrister and Mann - Seville EdT

I know it's not dickhole day again...but we are on theme because the name Seville "comes from the famous opera The Barber of Seville". Granted I'm not in the running for bonus points here. This is my first year participating in LG, and I'm getting inspired to be more prepared next year...

#ROTY

2023-07-10 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: SHAVE⭐DANDY St Vincent (26x55mm Synth)
• Razor: Feather Artist Club SS
• Blade: Kai Captain Mild ProTouch MG (10)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Ramblin Man
• Post Shave: Mennen - Skin Bracer
• Fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent - Jazz

Musical everything today! Brush inspired by Annie Clark. And YSL Jazz because what else would I have used?

Lather Games Day 10- A Musical Shaving Interlude

• Brush: CaYuen 26mm Tuxedo
• Razor: Schick M1 Adjustable
• Blade: Schick - Injector (3)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Adagio Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

When the LG calendar came out, my original thought was to use HoM Alive because every time I pull it out, the only song I can hear in my head is "Alive" from Pearl Jam. Plus, the way u/mammothben describes the inspiration for the scent makes me think that this song was playing in the background while he was doing the write up. But after rejiggering my calendar several times, HoM got pushed to a different day as I try nail 30 soap artisans in 30 days. As a result, I did a blind buy on a tub of Adagio because...MUSIC! The scent notes certainly sounded great, but when I got the tub and cracked it open, all I could smell was earthiness. I figured that maybe it opens up a bit when lathered...and it didn't. All I got this morning was more earthiness and none of the brighter notes mentioned in the description. Sigh. But, Alive came to the rescue in splash form and made me a much happier camper on this musically challenged day.

So, onto the daily challenge. I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I recently took an "Art as Meditation" workshop from a friend of mine and started to look past my perceived lack of artistic ability and decided to just accept what ended up on the paper. I've got a pretty great and musically cheesy sketchpad book. This was made by another friend who makes them out of album covers. How could I not resist grabbing one with the Wham! cover. Ultimately, my vision of this soap's cover took shape and I'm happy with what I was able to sketch out here.

photocontest

With today's Music theme. I have a lot of albums to choose from but the Cult's "Electric" just seemed to work for me this morning. It's such a bad ass album to represent a bad ass month here on the sub.

Treble clef notes!

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Maggard 24mm SHD Bulb
• Razor: Gillette Flat Bottom Tech #JETSETTER #REGUS
• Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Jitterbug - EdP

Razor Proof of no date code, and the handle coming apart and screwing back onto itself for travel.

This 4-piece FBT is a tad too aggressive for my taste. I honestly didn't get that great of a shave from it. A bit rough, and not super close. Perhaps it was the blade's fault?

Mood Indigo, as it was called back before some litigious son-of-a-bitch sent u/mammothben a cease and desist letter, is a bluesy as it gets. It really makes you feel like you've just stepped foot into a blues club. If whoever is judging this still doesn't think it's musical -- https://youtu.be/jaq9Gx9GT5E

From Blues we move to Swing, with Jitterbug stepping up the energy.

• Prep:
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Hybrid / Maggard Premium Boar 26mm
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite SS
• Blade: Personna Comfort Coated (4)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co - Bay Rum
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented BALM
• Fragrance:

Had a super early appointment right near my house today, and intended to go unscented Noble Otter Bare, but since I rarely use it and keep it in the bedroom closet, I forgot to bring it into the bathroom then was too lazy to go get it...So I figured, lets live life like /u/Old_Hiker and others and just go balm. Just an incomplete feeling. Like eating dinner with no side dish.

Bay Rum can be likened to a musical scent as it has a harmonious blend of different aromatic notes that come together to create a captivating composition. Just like the various instruments in an orchestra, the spices, citrus, and bay leaves in Bay Rum harmonize to produce a symphony of fragrance. The top notes dance playfully, the heart notes provide depth and complexity, and the base notes create a lasting resonance. Bay Rum's aromatic composition is like a melodic arrangement, evoking emotions and creating a sensory experience that is reminiscent of the power and beauty of music.

July 10, 2023 – Musical Monday

• Brush: Semogue 2013 LE #ANCIENT
• Razor: iKon B1 OC
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem

Nice electric swing shave, I think. It’s sorta like a really tame version of War. The brush is a 2013 silvertip that’s already 10 years old. Time flies. The iKon is not too agressive. Anyways here is my masterpiece.

July 10, 2023 – HD Day

• Brush: Summer Break GP B11
• Razor: Gillette Ball End Old Type #REGUS
• Blade: Pol silver Super Iridium (2)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Fern Concerto (Mentholated)
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Fern Concerto
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Vide Poche

Fern Concerto is such a bright and enjoyable scent. I’ve also always really likes the combination of synthetic menthol in the soap and real menthol in the splash also provides a really nice level of cooling.

I know the u/wyze0ne always dreads these draw the label days because eventually I might realize the raw artistic talent I have and start doing my own labels again. I mean look at this masterpiece. Raw. Talent.

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Yaqi – Barbershop Boar 24mm #SMOLL #TEXASPIGSTINKMASSACRE
• Razor: Schick – Krona #UNICORN
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks Soap
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Tangerine Dream Splash
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
• Music: Jimmy Buffet – Boat Drinks

Growing up, my mom would always say that “Music is food for the soul”. Well today, my soul is HUNGRY! Three different music related products, all with scent notes that go well together, with a poorly drawn label, and killer interview coming up today. But first, I’d like 6 sentences to touch on the importance of music, before we move onto shaving things. Music connects people and brings a sense of community, which is so, so, so important to everyone. As human beings, we NEED connection to other people (which is why r/wetshaving is awesome). If you’ve ever gone to a concert where everyone is singing along and living in the moment, and you can feel the music inside you, then you know what I mean. It’s absolute magic and can bring a sense of euphoria that is unlike anything else. When I’m at a great concert, that dopamine rush is better than any other substance known to man. If you haven’t gone to a concert of a band or artist you love in a while (or ever), do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a night out - you won’t be sorry. Now, back to our regularly scheduled shaving:

I love sweet scents, but even for me the Jimmy Buffet inspired Boat Drinks scents is kind of pushing the envelope. If this scent was actually a drink, one would be enough for me. During the shave, I felt like a Parrothead at one of his concerts, so Stirling nailed the vibe of the scent. But I’m gladly in for a two-pass shave today. I’m #ridingwithitchy every day and not matching a scent all games, so I chose Tangerine Dream for the splash because (1) it’s musical and (2) the tangerine actually makes for a pretty good digestif after the Boat Drinks sweetness. And for the people, I chose Electric Mayhem because (1) it’s named after one of the greatest musical acts of all timel and (2) the yuzu and plum played well off the tangerine & vanilla in the splash for a really spectacular #FOF. I’m smelling great and ready to party like it’s 1999.

Why, oh, why is today the drawing challenge? I suck at drawing and I was lucky enough to choose one of Stirling’s more complex labels today. But goddammit, I’m tried my best. And that’s what matters! I “took my turn” with my daughter’s crayons. My twins are almost 3 and they can be very possessive, so I had to give these back the second I was done using them.

DISCLAIMER: I didn’t pay for this bottle of Electric Mayhem. I won it as part of last year’s Lather Games Prize, but that did not influence my opinion of the awesomeness that is Electric Mayhem.

#photocontest – Technology. The fact these two tiny devices wirelessly connect to my phone and deliver awesome quality music into my ears is a modern marvel, as far as I’m concerned.

​

For today’s interview, Rod Lovan from Stirling Soap Company was kind enough to take part in my Lather Games games. Rod doesn’t need any introduction. I’m going to guess every single person reading this has used and is familiar with Stirling Soap. One of the best soaps out there. Period. And one of the best people out there. Without him, the sub’s exclusive, MOAR BOAR brush would’ve just been a dream, but with his help, it became a reality. So, thank you u/stirlingsoap – for everything you do and for answering all my questions! I’m happy to present to you:

​

10 Questions with… Stirling Soap Co.

​

1) Of all the different scents you offer, which is your favorite?

It changes all the time. I work with so many scents that olfactory fatigue is a major issue, and no matter how much I may like a scent, I'll need something new all the time. Right now, it's the West Indies Lime scent.

2) How much of your business is shaving products (soaps/splashes/balms) vs. everything else (the lotions/body butters/bath soaps/edts/coffee/etc)?

We sell more bath soaps than anything else, but the shaving stuff is still driving the train. We wouldn't be as well known if it weren't for shaving.

3) Unsurprisingly, the coffee you roast is also very good. What is your preferred method of brewing coffee?

Thank you! It's world class coffee, and I'm not just saying that because Mandy is the roaster. I typically do a pour over

4) Of the different coffee roasts you offer, which is your favorite?

If you made me choose just one from our current offerings, I would probably choose the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe.

5) Are you a black-coffee sort of guy or do you take it with cream and sugar or flavoring of any kind?

Black coffee, or a latte with nothing but steamed whole milk. I hate sugar in coffee, and flavored coffee gives me a headache.

6) If you could sit down and get a coffee with any person in the world, who would it be?

My wife, Mandy. I'm pretty easy like that.

7) If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

For relaxation, anywhere with a beach. I love the Caribbean, but would love to visit the South Pacific one day.

8) Where do you see the wetshaving industry trending over the next few years?

I'm hoping and praying that it grows, and breaks out of the plateau it's been stuck on the last few years. I'm going to be putting all of my efforts into reaching people who don't know wetshaving is a viable option. The industry can't continue to rely on selling shaving software to people who already have enough to last a lifetime.

9) I read that last year, you started to offer health/dental/vision insurance, on top of other benefits, such as a 401k plan and above average wages to your employees. How has that impacted your business? Are you currently feeling the pain of the labor shortage that we so often hear about? We're adjusting. Adding the benefits helps us to keep good employees longer, and it's the right thing to do given how much we've grown in the last 11 years. We wouldn't be where we are at without the help of our employees, so I want to make sure they are able to meet their financial obligations and take care of themselves and their families. We're not feeling any pain at the moment, but we were. We've become extremely selective in who we bring on, and it someone is not pulling their weight or making things harder for their co-workers, they typically move on quickly.

10) How does Stirling Soap Company differentiate itself from other shaving soap companies out there?

Our pricing structure. I keep things priced at what I'd be comfortable paying. I'm not cheap, but I also appreciate the feeling the comes from getting good value for my money.

LG23-10: Musical Monday

• Brush: CaYuen Workshop 24mm 2BED #TOLL
• Razor: Blackland Sabre
• Blade: GEM (3)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Lather Bros. - Flamingo Trance - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Black Rabbit Perfumery - Banshee Ambré
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Ethiopia. Guji, Werka - v: Ethiopia Landraces - p: Natural. Dried on raised beds.
• Music: Joy Divison - Unknown Pleasures
• LG Tags: #FOF

I found Musical Monday to be a surprisingly challenging theme, but a compelling one. Even pulling from the strategic samples reserve, I scrounged up just four viable options in my den: Runaway, American Vintage, Fern Concerto Menthol (on deck for Fougère Friday), and my colored-pencil rendered House of Mammoth selection. I like the more esoteric themes added to the calendar this year. They encourage creativity and—combined with sponsor points and 30 unique soapers—help narrow down my selections for the days that have countless on-theme options.

Getting back to my musical shave, I covered three different genres. The combination is…jarring.

First up, everybody’s favorite meme genre, jazz. “Mood Indigo” is one of those songs that’s almost always great, including that lurching cut from Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus and the Duke’s classic take. Lately I’ve enjoyed Frank Morgan’s reserved approach to a standard. I don’t pull out this soap often since I burned out on it during my first Austere August, but I love Ben’s calming, nocturnal tribute to the song. The soap is more vetiver and rum forward, while the fragrance reveals more lively pepper nuances, but the distinctive blueberry note is always there in various degrees of strength. The fragrance is what I reach for when going out on a fall or winter evening; it’s seen me through restaurant dinners, an opera, and multiple rock concerts. I once wrote a piece for my college newspaper about listening to Kind of Blue walking through campus at night in the midwest snow. Using this HoM scent reminds me of that particular beautiful, lonely, formative evening:

Indigo smells like you've left that blues club late at night, tired but feeling good, a little less alone. You take a look up at the night sky and breathe a bit, and sort of unconsciously hum the tune.

Which brings me to my aftershave and genre number two. Flamingo Trance is one of my favorite bay rums, spiking the expected notes with a generous dose of tropical fruit. While the name technically refers to putting people in a trance with your dope smellz, the neon label and name suggests kaleidoscopic electronica concerts—bass thumping along at “a tempo generally lying between 135–150 beats per minute” (thanks Wikipedia!). Does it smell like Trance music? I assume an indoor ‘90s rave smells like Ecstasy sweat, body spray, and spilled beer. If that’s an accurate description, then no, tropical-fruited bay rum doesn’t match the vibe. But then again, Flamingo Trance would be the smell of an outdoor festival in Miami; now we’re on theme.

And finally, moving from pulsing nightclubs to seedy smoke-filled bars, I sprayed on Banshee Ambré. Black Rabbit Perfumery is an Etsy perfumer whose “conceptual perfumes” have a distinct Pacific Northwest flavor (for example, Fire Walk With Me). Banshee Ambré and Banshee Noir are dark fragrances inspired by post-punk and dancing at goth bars. This heavy combination of earthy notes, black leather, and billowing clouds of both incense and clove cigarette smoke captures “Temple of Love” blasting from the stage, lights flashing above and bodies crammed together in front of beat up amps. It reminds me of Christophe Laudamiel’s Club Design / Scent Tattoo, but less bondage-sexy and more Bang Bang Bar grime. I haven’t tried Banshee Noir, but I can’t imagine Banshee Ambré without its sweet amber accord, which has got to be the difference between “ugh, go take a shower” and “go take a shower right now”.

User uses musical themes to tie all the softwares together.

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Lost Nativ 26mm Fanchurian V13
• Razor: Gillette Slim Aristocrat H4 (setting: 4)
• Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Soap
• Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Creed Green Irish Tweed  

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

---

In addition to being a dupe of Creed Green Irish Tweed, Sharp Dressed Man is a ZZ Top song that was released in the '80s when MTV was a novelty. A more fitting guitar for the photo would have been a 1959 Les Paul which which is the same model as Billy Gibbons' famous "Pearly Gates". My son's Statocaster was at hand so I used it.

I shave in the morning and plan my shave the night before so I have time to think about a photo. After checking today's challenge, I took a phone-photo of Sharp Dressed Man and texted to my daughter who was visiting. I asked her to do a quick sketch of the label while I figured out the SOTD photo composition; thinking that I would do a separate photo of her sketch when it was done. She handed me her sketch shortly before I finished so I just included it in today's SOTD photo.

Theme: Music -- #photocontest

July 10, 2023 - Dun dun duuun dun dun dah duun

• Brush: Chisel & Hound "Chocolate Drop" / 26mm Maggard Razors faux horse #FAUXFUR #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Karve CB (copper) / D plate
• Blade: Wizamet (5)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Smoke on the Water
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman
• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. - Smoke on the Water

Any fledgling guitar player knows that the first song you learn how to play on it has to be Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple. I no longer play guitar, but it was definitely one of the first tunes my Dad taught me.

As for the shave this soap is an excellent scent in a top tier base as I've said many times before. I have the trifecta, but I felt like using Clubman for my splash today. Paired nicely in my opinion.

Here's a little update of today's soap label for the challenge. Happy Monday Lather Gamers!

Lather Games 2023 Day 10

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: APSaveCo - 28MM G5A SHD
• Razor: Wacker - Cheavalier #ALLNATURAL
• Blade: 6/8"straight razor
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Adagio
• Post Shave: Osma - alum block
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Adagio

Amazing shave!!! Razor and soap perform outstanding!!! Barrister and Mann have great base for straight razor shaving!!! Scent is interesting. Most of people smell it at first thinks that is almond. But because I don't like almond fragrance ( you known that if you read my post from day 3 ) I was not be misled. Sour Cherry was first in my head with some mixture of grass and smashed peel of lime. All we know how great is theirs soaps. Strong scent in lather. Gives a little chilling effect that I find amazing in this hot summer. Aftershave is mentholated to. I know people that is deal breaker for them but I like it. The straight razor is beast! The guys from Wacker knows their job! And this black Buffalo horn o boy! Beautiful and performance is great! I don't have much experience, this is second razor that I use and maybe I'll fall deep in rabbit hole with razors and sharpening stones. About drawing .... Yes is crappie But I did my best and I'll explain what is in cases is not recognizable! Label is violin with staff instead strings and straight razor instead of bow. I know its look so simple but took me entire day and bunch drafts.

ROTY

July 10th 2023 - Lather Games Day 10

• Brush: Dogclaration B9A #SHD
• Razor: Gillette Sheraton #REGUS
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox (5)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Paganini's Violin
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Sandalwood balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Shire

Paganini's Violin is such a pleasant, clean scent and Soft Hearts is such a fine base, this shave was very nice. The Sheraton (REGUS proof) can be bitey but wasn't today, it was very smooth. Everything's coming up Oswald today. Draw a Soap day is one of my favorites during Lather Games, and it was fun taking 20 minutes from my work day to make my contribution. The lettering needs work but overall I think it came out pretty well.

For scent-synchronicity, the clean scent of Paganini's Violin went nicely with the creamy Barrister sandalwood, which like Paganini's Violin is not very complex but is very comforting. And I feel the same way about Shire, the dry-down is simple and comforting, with a bit of grassiness to add some complexity lacking from the soap and balm.

July 10, 2023 - Musical Monday

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps Mood Indigo - 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: Schick Krona #UNICORN
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - ~~Mood~~ Indigo - EdP
• Music: Duke Ellington - Mood Indigo

Daily Write-Up:
Growing up I was a music nerd. Though my band camps never had the kind of hijinks that they do in the movies, they were plentiful. And as nerdy as band camps are - choir or drama camps are way nerdier.

But back to band - I played the saxophone. Pretty well too. I was in multiple bands during high school, and continued on in college. Alto was my favorite, but there are a LOT of alto players, so it always seemed like I ended up playing tenor. Though I was better in choir, and college choir was a blast, in high school my favorite activity was jazz band. It was so much fun being able to be in an ensemble where the notes on the page were just a suggestion - a framework for the music to be created, as opposed to a recipe to be followed.

My favorite song in my three years of jazz band that we played was Caravan, by Duke Ellington. That particular year our band was really good, and we thought that a state championship was not outside of the realm of possibility. I remember the feedback we got at the state contest - though it was crushing at the time, it was right. “Your band is one of the tightest ensembles we’ve heard. But they aren’t playing as a jazz band, they’re playing as a rock band with trumpets.

He wasn’t wrong, but playing with that group was so much fun. Some years later I remember my director lamenting that that was the best ensemble she had in her career, and felt robbed that we didn’t do better at contests. But, that’s life - and at least 3 members of that group are professional musicians. Myself excluded. I mostly just sing in the car and shower, and haven’t touched a saxophone since I donated mine after college. But - listening to Duke all morning while I work has been nice.

The Shave
One of the things that really struck me about the Lather Games last year was how many shit-tier shaves you can end up with if you really try to hit all the daily themes. No one is getting a great shave in a child’s kitchen, or at Pei Wei (props again for that), or on the CTA.

Today was great. I really like this razor, the new SBS brush (which I’ve nicknamed Mood Indigo because the color is almost a perfect match to the label, and I didn’t see that /u/rocketk455 named it) is perfect, and I never get a bad shave with HoM. But- I think so far, good shaves have been the exception rather than the rule.

• 7/1 - Valet Autostrop - Abysmal shave 1/10
• 7/2 - Valet Autostrop - Only slightly better 2/10
• 7/3 - Almond Shave - Pretty good. Stirling++ 8/10
• 7/4 - Spring Shave - Great shave, great scents 9/10
• 7/5 - Dollar Tree razor. Gentle 3# baby Jesus 2/10
• 7/6 - All Zingari Watchman - Pretty good. 8/10
• 7/7 - Old Spice - not a good soap 5/10
• 7/8 - Maggard - decent shave 6/10
• 7/9 - Toy kitchen shave with homemade kamisori - 3/10
• 7/10 - Mood Indigo Trickhole - 10/10

Best shave of the games. Great music. Great software. Gentle unicorn razor with my favorite blade. Against an average of 5.4, today was transcendent.

Daily Challenge Notes: Close up of my drawing here. I’ve never thought I was good as an artist, but I think this turned out pretty well.

Soap Theme Justification
* Duke Ellington - Mood Indigo

Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes
* (Mood) Indigo Trickhole. Yeah, my EdP is just Indigo instead of Mood Indigo. But they all match.

July 10, 2023 – LG2023 – Musical Day

• Brush: Grizzly Bay – 30mm SHD
• Razor: Blackland – Vector #CNC
• Blade: Schick Proline (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks

So I must confess I have never listened to a Jimmy Buffett song knowingly in my life, that said someone tipped me off that he did a track called Boat Drinks ( Also JB so here we are using this Summer Banger from Stirling.

It seems summer has already been and gone in the UK now and the rain is here to stay for a while so this fruity, rum, coconut scented shave was a welcome reminder that it is still the Summer Time. We all know the quality of Stirling and for most of us it would of been our first Artisan Soap we used and with a huge soap catalogue and more fresh releases each year they continue to be a staple in my den for many years to come.

I thought I would bring my own sunshine by using this Custom Grizzly Bay Brush, this is one of favorite handles in the den and the chunky almost chubby style handle fits my bear mitts perfectly.

The Vector was my first “Premium” razor and I have used it a lot of the years but more recently it has taken a backseat to all the vintage come into the den but all it takes is one spin out like today and I’m reminded that this is a great razor a one that works so well for headshavers.

I tried to bribe my daughter to draw this picture for me but apparently she doesnt need money for clothes and the threat of homelessness didnt go down particulary well with the wife so here we are with my shoddy Daily Challenge

July 10, 2023 – Music Monday

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Declaration Grooming B16
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Paganini’s Violin
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Barrbarr

Paganini is great – the story is fun and the soap is clean! This isn’t a scent that I would buy to stock in my den, but, if it was gifted to me and I had a set I wouldn’t be sad about it.

The thing is, I’m sure Paganini was great – he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for some skill. But, let me ask you, have you ever heard of Johnny? Because he defeated that same devil who gave Paganini his skill. So. Good luck against Johnny, ol’ Pags. Seriously though, Charlie Daniels is an absolute legend on those strings.

Overall, solid shave this morning. I don’t have any single scented splashes or frags to go with the simple Paganini’s, but, this scent to me feels very “barbershop adjacent” so I went with a build on the scent – Pags, BarrBarr, and GTB. Smells good in the end – the lemon kind of ties both the simplicity of the laundry-ish scent of Paganini and the smokier shop of GTB together. Overall a very winning combo.

I should have used a less HD brush as the amount I had left in my sample was very small, but, I just eeked out three passes with the B16 and it worked. Blackbird lite was as smooth as ever and of course, as for the whole games, my Georgetown GUTL Scuttle has been stellar.

My 7 year old is already a legitimately better artist than me, but, here’s how I would concept a new label for Paganini’s Violin – I’m sure Will is going to steal this so I’m already contacting a copyright lawyer.

July 10, 2023 A song about a soap

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm #OLDWORLD #CHONK
• Razor: Razorock – Eco
• Blade: Permasharp (1)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Waves
• Fragrance: Jill Sander – Sun men

Ohh, Boat drinks,
r/wetshaving ordered boat drinks,
scent scores on the summer scale,
Everything seems to be right.

#FOF
Did you know the song is about a soap? Ahem, the soap is about a song? Stirlings writes: “Our goal was to capture the essence of this intoxicating tune and we think we’ve done just that.” I thought by tune they meant the imagination of a carribean summer cruise they want to evoke with it. Turns out there is a real tune to the soap. And its label got a parrot, because Fans of Jimmy Buffet are called Parrotheads. Well, i am too young to know much about Jimmy Buffet. I guess I heard his name in sitcoms where they make comparisons to him, for example in ‘married with children’.
Boat drinks is about beeing homesick. Buffets songs are about island escapism and alcohol, so I got told.
What do we find in the soap? Months ago I would have said cherry, but now I think its lots of banana with frangipani and rum. Maybe this is not my type of drink, but as a soap I enjoy it. I was a bit out of practice with the brush, but had a good lather. With a fresh blade I am getting good shaves again with the Eco.
My sub-theme today is more derived from the names. Sun, waves, boat drinks. A wonderfull holiday combination. Unfortunately, its all broken by the aftershave. Its scent does not match the rest of my setup. Too much lavender brings this composition in a herbalous and dark direction.
The fragrance of Jill sander is fitting well to the soap. In a creamy composition we smell a warm combination of bergamot, cedarwood and again frangipani. I guess the later is responsible for the creamy scent.

My setup, besides the orange fragrance is a warm up to tomorrows challenge.

Daily Challenge:

I used Dalle2 with the prompt: “A parrot drinking a cocktail on a surfboard”. Then I started to draw it with a pen and put my own ideas to it. It’s my alternative label for “Boat drinks”.
To be honest, I think on the current label the parrot makes the phteven meme face.

Jul. 10, 2023

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Jefferson B14 “Troll Toll” Badger
• Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley
• Blade: Perma Sharp
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Troll Toll - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Troll Toll - Aftershave
• Post Shave: GreenBox - Alum
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Troll Toll

This was the easiest pick in my Den. Tomorrow’s shave was an easy pick too.

“The Nightman Cometh” was the final episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia “4. It aired on 30 November, 2008. If you are a fan of the show, it’s likely your favorite episode too.

2 pass shave.

I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler….

But I do have a link to the live play they did…"The Nightman Cometh - Live"

Jul. 10, 2023
Brush: Maggard’s Synthetic
Razor: Blackland Vector Ti
Blade: Kai Captain ProTouch MG
Lather: Ariana And Evans - SoCal Hipster - Soap
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Bare - Aftershave
Post Shave: Ariana & Evans - Post Shave Balm - Balm

This is the closest I’ve got to a musically themed soap, hipsters love music.

Long day at work and got back to the hotel late, had to wait to shave at night since I’m so far ahead of the US right now to see what the challenge was before shaving. My drawing turned out pretty solid if you ask me for a quick sketch before bed.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

Jul. 10, 2023
Brush: Wilkinson Sword OUMO Synthetic Tuxedo Smoky Gray #hollow * Razor: Green Cult GC 2.0 II
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Lather: House Of Mammoth - Indigo - Soap
Post Shave: Zingari Man - Sego Base Unscented - Balm

Based on the amazing song Mood Indigo. Favourite scent and probably favourite soap. Didn’t have free time today to make a picture so that’s a shame :(

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

Monday, July 10, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Sparkly Blue Translucent Reject - 28mm B16
• Razor: Karve - Aluminum Overlander
• Blade: Personna Med Prep
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cygnus X-1 - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Cygnus X-1 - Aftershave

Day 10 of Lather Games: Cygnus X-1 is a black hole, and two Rush songs

Edit: Very rough artwork attempt

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Semogue Owners Club #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Valet Autostrop #SELFSHARPENING
• Blade: FHS-10
• Lather: Hoffman’s Shaving Company – Phantom 309 Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Beloved Splash
• Fragrance: Boucheron – Pour Homme

I was all ready to go for today’s shave with a great set-up, and then I saw the challenge posted yesterday. Tough day to be a dude with a free sample without a label. I thought about changing soaps to accommodate a better picture, but that would involve a chain reaction to my carefully crafted calendar, so I decided to continue to use Phantom 309. Luckily, the internet exists and I was able to look up what the label is supposed to look like. Then I recreated a MSPaint version of Phantom 309’s actual label. Boom! See if you can guess which one is the actual label and which is my creation.

Phantom 309 is a song by Red Sovine from 1967, that I had originally (mistakenly) thought was going to be 409 by the Beach Boys. Boy, was I in for a surprise when I listened to Phantom 309 on youtube and I got the dollar-store version of Johnny Cash and not the upbeat tunes of Brian Wilson. Live and learn. Phantom 309 tells the story of a hitchhiker that gets picked up by truck driver and come to find out, (SPOILER ALERT) the truck driver ends up being a ghost. 👻 Weird song, but I wasn’t around in 1967, so I’m not sure what was considered “normal” then. At any rate, it’s music and taste in music is subjective. Hell, even Nickelback sold like a billion records.

Phantom 309 (the soap, not song) has Bergamot, Leather, Lavender, Geranium, Cypress, Sandalwood, Suede, Spiced Musk, and Tobacco. It’s actually quite nice. Phantom 309 (the song, not soap) has a hitchhiker, a cup of coffee, and a ghost who drives a big rig. Beloved (the splash) shares Bergamot and Lavender with the soap and is similar, but much lighter and brighter than Phantom 309. And closed it out with Boucheron Pour Homme (the fragrence) shares the same Bergamot and Lavender connection. All-in-all, good shave. #FOF

Day 10 - Musical Monday

• Brush: 28mm Synthetic Badger Bulb Knot homemade handle
• Razor: Vikings Blade - The Chieftain JR
• Blade: Astra - Green
• Lather: Barrister And Mann - Paganini's Violin
• Post Shave: Barrister And Mann - Paganini's Violin
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Beaudelaire EdT

For Musical Monday, I picked B&M Paganini's Violin. This was the only real option in my collection, but I am always happy with a B&M shave. I didn't draw anything for today's challenge, but I wanted to argue for cool bottles. I recently saw a vintage Avon bottle collection. It contained lots of funky bottles like a snowmobile, firetruck, and steamboat. The firetruck made me think of NO Firefighter Splash. Anyway, I found this cool violin bottle

For the fragrance, I went with Beaudelaire. I am always a fan of wearing something Fougere. The Mousse de Saxe paired nicely with the smell of Paganini's Violin.

ROTY #FOF

** Lather Games Day 10** 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 2-band 24mm
• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85MM Safety Razor
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox
• Lather: HAGS - Barbershop Dance Macabre
• Post Shave: Chanel - Bleu De Chanel balm

The most musical soap I have on hand, we're all fascinated by death and countless artists have referenced the so called "dance of death". As for the soap itself I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's floral with a kind of spicy cologne undertone. Certainly interesting and as with all HAGS labels it's one of the coolest out there.

July 10, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm G5C
• Razor: Blackland Razors Vector
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (AC) (7)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Adagio
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Bell Ringer

For the music theme, I originally just picked a soap with a musical name. I then spent a while wracking my brain trying to figure out what post shave to pair with it, when I remembered this recording a student of mine found on the internet and then shared with me last year. Here is the recording (for full clarity, this is not me or anyone I know, a student of mine found it last year and shared it with me). Yes, this is a recording of Adagio by Mozart (I’m not a huge music person, so I’m not sure which Adagio this is), played on the bells.

Overall this shave was nice. Did two passes of head shave and one pass on the face. I’m impressed with the Vector every time I use it. Full week’s growth on the head shave to BBS in two passes with no clogging. I love this thing.

I recreated a picture of the label for Adagio using LaTeX with tikz. I use this software to generate documents for work, things like assignments, assessments, notes, etc. My biggest pet peeve is when teachers make things using terrible screenshots, dump them into a word document, and then get mad when kids can’t read their blurry paper. I really like this program because it lets me be super specific about where everything goes on the page, what it looks like, and hand craft every figure to be exactly the right size. Here is a blurry screenshot of the soap label, and a blurry screenshot of the codebecause I can't figure out a good way to upload the pdfs. I am very bad at this. Please make fun of me.

Healthy activity of the day. I got 4 more miles in this morning’s ride, probably going to take a rest day tomorrow to give my wrists a break (you’d think biking would hurt your legs, but nope it’s all wrist pain for me). LG Mileage: 27 miles

Tags: #ROTY

July 10, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/N7MPVL5

Prep: Shower + Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6s R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (1)

Lather: Declaration Grooming - Dayman shave soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Bromleys - Bergamot Lavender Balm

I feel like a real master of karate and friendship for everyone after today's shave.

#ROTY

Musical Monday

• Brush: APShaveCo Butterscotch w/ 24mm Tuxedo knot
• Razor: Victoria 4 (6/8″, half hollow, round tip, carbon steel) #AllNatural
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Fake Yellow Light
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Paganini’s Violin
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Ozark Mountain

This was a tough one, theme-wise for me. In previous Lather Games, I poured over the calendar the moment it got published, and I traded for whatever I needed to set it up to my liking. This year, at the time the calendar was published, the issue tracker of the portal had dozens of open tickets and I had to work on those instead of prepping and I didn't start planning my roster until Lather Games eve. The musical themed soaps in my den are BaM (Rhapsody, Paganini's Violin), Stirling (Glastonbury, Witchy Woman), Mammoth (Mindigo), WK (Rebelle), and DG (Night/Dayman, Fake Yellow Light) and all these artisans were really useful in other days. I managed to free up DG and still make today's theme whithout blocking the path to 30 soapers (I think).

This razor with its beautiful 100 years old #AllNatural horn scales completes my razor hashtag scavenger hunt for this year.

I'm leaning into the relevant post shave and fragrance rubric this year. In previous years, I always tried to somewhat match the scents in interesting ways, but this year's formulation of the rules encourages thematic links of any sort, and I'm having fun with it. Today's link is colour, all software today prominently features the colour yellow on the artwork (including the brush, since it's suspiciously soft for a hardware item), yet none is citrusy.

For today's challenge, I decided to share my business plan of becoming a soaper with only one scent, the scent of scents, pure Mousse de Saxe. This label shows the Musical Monday edition of my soap.

Obviously, my #photocontest submission today is #music themed.

July 10, 2023 – Lather Games: Day 10  

• Brush: Yaqi Synthetic  
• Razor: Karve Overlander  
• Blade: Gillette Nacet   
• Lather: Mammoth Soaps – Mood Indigo  
• Post Shave: Mammoth Soaps – Mood Indigo  

I have the original Mood Indigo soap (now just called Indigo). My biggest complaint with this soap is that the scent isn’t strong enough. It smells so nice, but is medium strength, at best, for me. I really love the blueberry in it. It surprisingly works well. Performance is fairly good, just not the best I’ve ever used.

By the way, the soap's name is based off of the song by the Blues artist Duke Ellington. Give it a listen.

I drew a pic for the challenge, based on the soap. I am not an artist, and the pic proves it.

Mood Indigo

DAY 10 LATHER GAMES! BA DUM TSS!

• Prep: Water
• Brush: DS Cosmetics 30mm Tuxedo Knot
• Razor: Blackland Razors - Vector
• Blade: Chinese blade(2)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light splash
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light EdP

PIC OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

​

INTRO:

Oh I was so happy for today's shave, cause I got my Vector back and I used one of my favourite scents EVER!. I finished listening to the podcast and I am trying to make my posts shorter, but at the same time I'm trying to fill them with content.

RAZOR:

This. Is. MY FAVOURITE RAZOR EVER!!!! I almost feel dumb I didn't choose it last year from the LG reward pool, but then I wouldn't have had a titanium razor, bla bla... Honestly nothing(we don't count straights) shaves me as good as this razor. And Shane has one of the best customer support I've ever seen! No other razor has been able to shave me to an ULTRA BBS(20-22 hours) 3 days in a row without destroying my skin! I will probably use the Vector for most of my shaves till the rest of the LG, just of how good and convenient it is! These are my stantings on razors:

STRAIGHTS>AC>GEM=INJECTOR>DE

Some people might not agree, most people actually probably won't, but hey, it's how I LIKE IT!

DAILY CHALLENGE:

While I am an artist, I AIN'T NO PICASSO! Last year I did a hand drawing with a pencil and it was.. OK... This year I tried with MS PAINT(out of all the things to choose from) and I did give it quite some effort, still looks awful... Look for yourself

BUT, what I did put effort into, was THIS masterpiece! Now... Some of you may see a squished up image.... I am tagging u/InfernalInternal cause he said he'd help with the task of the djudjes being able to see it how it should be seen. But if you truly want to see PURE GOLD!! When on PC, choose the option "Open Image in new tab", you'll thank me lather!

#FOF

Now I had problems with DG in the past, in particular, lathering it, making a great lather. Thankfully u/FMKJuli's posts at the end of July last year, helped me a lot with learning how to make a great lather(the secret it patience). So when learning it quickly became my favourite soap as such tied together with HoM. Now the only thing was to find a fragrance I liked, cause I had smelled a few of their soaps and none so far gave me that exhilarating thrill that you get when you know you've hit a banger(scent wise).

So during the Black Friday I just made an almost blind purchase, u/sgrdddy helped with a suggestion, and got my trifecta of Fake Yellow Light. I was so nervous if I would like it... I shouldn't have been....

It's just wow, I don't think I've ever experienced such a warm and embracing fragrance. Oh the chestnut, oh the walnut, oh the vanilla baby, oh the leather, oh the tobacco... They blend so well, it's like going into the Sistine chapel, I was just speechless of how much I liked it. It's kind of like warm rain pouring over you on a hot steamy day... Whoever says it has almonds, they lied, no almonds!(at I don't get that scent, thank God) I'm trying to put it into words cause it's such a complex fragrance. Probably cause on their own site, they don't give instructions, they say the scents listed are in no particular order...(I just really suck at descriptions, but if you could take a look at my face, you'd see how happy this fragrance makes me) Initially I would say it opens up with a strong vanilla which after some time gives way to the earthy-ness of the chestnut+walnut combo and it ends with the leather and cognac!

Although it probably is an autumn fragrance, I wear this stuff all year round!!! If it smells good, it smells good! Fuck the seasons!

EDIT: Here's the song FYL was inspired from!

​

• Daily Lather Themes: 10/30
• Daily Challenges: 10/30
• Hardware Scavenger Hunt: 10/20
• Hardware Vendor Points: 1/2
• Software Vendor Points: 5/13
• Software Vendor Bonus Point: 0/1
• 30 Different Soap Brands Point: 10/30
• 30 Different Soaps On Theme Bonus Point: 10/30
• 30 Different Post-Shaves Bonus Point: 10/30
• 30 Different Fragrances Bonus Point: 10/30

Player makes a meme with caricatures of judges, commits grievous error of portraying painfully Canadian judge as American

July 10, 2023 – LG Day 10 – Musical Monday

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic Li’l Brudder
• Razor: Karve CB SB-B
• Blade: Lord Classic (2)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Trade Winds
• Fragrance: Zoologist Perfumes – Squid
• Song: Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem – Can You Picture That?

I’ve been impressed today looking at everyone’s posts today, seeing the variety of lathers used. I anticipated more Electric Mayhem, and definitely more Pagination’s Violin. I even have a couple in my den that I hadn’t even considered using, despite their clear connection to the theme. I went with Electric Mayhem, though, because of my partner’s love of the Muppets. I can get down with electroswing, don’t get me wrong, but we’re really enjoying The Muppets Mayhem (on Disney+). It’s worth a watch, and one of those shows that is effectively built to be entertaining to adults who are seeking some nostalgia (in this case, the Muppets). Mrs. Hugbckt started playing “Can You Picture That?” out of the blue yesterday, and I was struck by how it connected both with my soap and the challenge today. We were asked to “picture” our soap label, right?? Okay, I know it’s a stretch.

For my #FOF, I haven’t used this soap in quite a while, and I had forgotten how much I love the plum and sour/tart fruit notes. I’m surprised at how much I like these notes, considering I recently tried a rhubarb-centric frag which had sour notes that I immediately perceived as vomit. Regardless, it’s a really cool and unique scent. I wish I had a splash, because I would have dickholed today. Instead, I tried to playing on the aquatic-y nature of Mayhem, on account of the ozone. Squid was a good frag to use. Trade Winds was not a good choice. It’s a wonderful scent that I really love, but it’s too different from the lather today. The spicy base notes totally overpowered all of the tart fruit and the other cool things in EM that I can’t quite describe. Squid’s musky, inky, tangy, saltiness immediately hit as something that would have paired with Mayhem perfectly…if only I could still smell it at that point.

I may not have “drawn” my label today, per se, but I did learn how to layer PNGs to make the label art better.

July 10, 2023 - Musical Monday

• Brush: Yaqi ROCKS 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: CJB GR-100B Kamisori Shavette #KAMISORI
• Blade: Dorco BB-20 Barber Shavette
• Lather: Dr. Jons - Runaway
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem Splash
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Electri Mayhem EdT
• Pencil: Brass Kaweco Sketchup 5.6 mm lead holder
• Lead: Koh-I-Noor Hardmuth 5.6mm 2B
• Ink: Pelikan Edelstein - Star Ruby #FOF

Today’s Theme:

Runaway by Dr. Jons is a tribute to Joan Jett. The main fragrances are a play on songs performed by Joan Jett either solo, with the Blackhearts, or The Runaways. Cherry and clover are tied to “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways and “Crimson and Clover” covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. I was wracking my brain for something to tie into the soap, looking for cherry, clover, carnation, leather, or musk and having a hard time. Then I looked over and saw my EdT of Barrister and Mann’s Electric Mayhem. How did this not just leap into my mind. I had thought about it for music or trickhole day when planning this month. Once I realized I wanted to use Runaway, it just slipped my mind. (Dr. Teeth and the) Electric Mayhem is not only a musical themed splash and spray, but one of the listed scents is rosewood fretboard. That matches the wood used on the Les Paul fretboard in the label art for Runaway. That convinced me to combine these three today.

Today’s Shave:

I got this kamisori shavette on a whim when it was on sale at Maggard Razors. Not being to sure about the whole shavette thing, I cheaped out and got the Dorco blades that were also on sale. Then I left them on my desk for a few months, and then put them in the tin that houses my blades and some razors. Honestly, open blade razors intimidate me. I feel pretty awkward using my left hand, but I did shave for over a month left handed earlier this year, and about once a week try to be ambidextrous in my shaving. It thought that would help me when I finally tried the shavette. Nope, awkward as f*** today. Pretty sure the shavette is a clone of the Feather Kamisori, and I tried a very shallow angle to start wtg on my cheeks. Very crunchy feedback, and the razor didn’t glide well. I have a very slick lather, but added a touch more water. I found an angle that seemed to work ok. Finished my cheeks, then started on the neck. Yikes, I had a hard time finding the angle on my neck, but made it through the pass ok. The xtg pass after, I messed up my neck. A big weeper/almost a nick on my Adam’s Apple, and not blood somehow on the right side, but really managed to give it a strong burn. The xtg pass on the cheeks was ok. Two passes was it for me tonight. I feel like I can get a decent shave with most safety razors, but the shavettes I have tried now were such a different process. Probably going to stick to safety razors.

Today’s Challenge:

I got out my journal/sketchbook and gave the Runaway label a try. Not the usual pictures I draw, but made for an interesting challenge. I never had a natural talent for drawing, but a few years ago I gave a camera obscura app a try. I figure if it was good for the old masters, I could see how it helped. It was crazy how fast I got used to it for finding my proportions and making things line up. Drawing withoutit, I have improved, but with it, I usually get good results. Unless there are lots of straight lines. I don’t use a straightedge or ruler, so straight lines get a bit wobbly. I picked up this brass Kaweco Sketchup a couple years ago. I really like the weight and feel of it. Even though it is a huge lead, you can still get a decent amount of detail in the drawings. My ultimate goal is to try to sketch out a drawing on canvas, then paint a picture from that.

Sponsor Spotlight:

Barrister and Mann is one of my favorite artisans. They had the first blind trickhole I bought - 42 soap/splash/EdT (plus a towel). They were awesome and threw in the matching soap. I’ve since blind bought Electric Mayhem and Marilyn. No regrets on the results with those. If you bought the Marilyn set before Valentines Day this year, you got a wonderful presentation when you opened the box. Everything was packed and wrapped with a Marilyn/Valentine theme, and some chocolates with cherry filling to top it off. I really like it when the packaging is so well thought out. Sure, I want everything padded and safe, but if you can do it with some flare you get a lot of points from me. When I mentioned that before, u/BostonPhotoTourist told me his mother did the packaging. Pretty cool that the family works together. I don’t think I would last a month working with my folks or my in-laws.

Today’s Fragrance:

These scents are working great together. Both have a fruity, floral, and a bit of musk and funk. The leather and musk of Runaway play well with the woody musk in Electric Mayhem. The florals and fruit notes are sweet together, but not cloying. I worried about pairing the Runaway soap with its upfront hit of cherry. Once lathered the cherry was out there, but really mellowed and allowed the leather and musk to come out. I think I could pick up the carnation, but those are the fragrances I picked up. If I didn’t know it was carnation, my nose would have just said flowers, but my mind is taking the hint and I can recall what a carnation smells like, and it is mildly present in the soap. Only at day 10 of this increased use of fragrances, but I feel like my nose is starting to develop a little. The Electric Mayhem for me is plum up front, then the wood and musk come later. I think this trio harmonizes pretty well.

Haiku 10:

Electroswing and some,

Joan Jett- Queen of Rock and Roll,

Ch ch cherry bomb!

10 July 2023 Complementary Non Dickkhole Barrister and Mann Presto

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving 2022 Moar Boar
• Razor: Mongoose Alumigoose
• Blade: Feather Pro Guard (14)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Presto (1)
• Post Shave: Oaken Labs - Serious Moonlight 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: Amouage - Meander

Meandering through a Serious Moonlight sonata at a very fast tempo.

Cheers

Jul. 10, 2023
Brush: Art Of Shaving - Silver Tip Badger #ANCIENT * Razor: Merkur 37c
Blade: Astra SP Green
Lather: Stirling - Sharp Dressed Man - Soap
Post Shave: Stirling - Sharp Dressed Man - Aftershave
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Unscented - Balm

Always liked this scent but my wife is on the fence and says it smells ‘too old’ for me whatever that means. I’m a beat down father of a 9mo who’s taken care of her for two days and is shaving for fun lol. Here’s my shitty drawing. https://i.imgur.com/eCreqXM.jpg

ROTY

"please buy our soap" written on the back of an opened envelope

• Brush: Simpson Classic #1 synthetic brush

• Razor: Karve Shaving Christopher Bradley

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Adagio

• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Bare unscented splash

• Fragrance: Catie's Bubbles - Blugere

ROTY

My musical soap was Adagio by Barrister and Mann a sample I purchased for today from Maggards. I rather enjoyed the soap but couldn't really decide what I thought it smelled like. Which I don't mind. Performance was great. Adagio in a musical sense means to play at a slow tempo. Im about to play some saxophone at the brewery so I'm going to try and chill out and play slow and clean this evening in honor of Adagio!

Went with the Noble Otter bare splash as a representation of silence. Silence is the canvas for which music is written upon so if you love music you must also love silence!

Here's a drawing by yours truly of the Adagio label. It looks like my 2 year old kid drew it. Challenge did not state it had to be good.

https://imgur.com/gallery/Fz9ZJAD

July 10, 2023 – Musical Monday

• Brush: That Darn Rob White w/ Blue Ferule w/ Fanchurian
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .84
• Blade: Wizamet (6)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle
• Fragrance: Berceuse Parfum – Allegretto 7.2

Challenge: Do you think I can get a job drawing labels?

This set of Rebelle was a prize from a previous Lather Games. Rebelle is a fantastic fragrance. It’s a leathery oud fragrance. Or is it an oudy leather? I smell notes of sandalwood and vetiver which give the fragrance a raw, natural feeling. Everything blends really well. The fragrance feels rich, luxurious, and masculine.

Allegretto has a smokey oud characteristic. I get notes of lavender and vetiver. It’s woody. After some time to dry down it smells a bit aromatic. I still get a smokey/musky feel and smell a dry woody note. There’s something sweet coming through now as well. The note is difficult to place. Maybe a light floral? This is more of a cold weather fragrance to me.

#FOF

July 10, 2023

• Brush: Oumo Pandora 28mm
• Razor: High Proof
• Blade: Wizamet (2)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle
• Fragrance: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle EdP

Rebelle -- Wholly Kaw's tribute to David Bowie, with notes of Oud, Leather, Tobacco, Sandalwood, Vetiver. I can't say that I can pick up most of the individual notes, but a very pleasant, earthy scent.

#ROTY

July 10, 2023 – LG23 Day 10: Musical Monday

• Brush: AP Shave Co. – Rose Gold Flake – 28mm Cashmere
• Razor: Gillette – Atra
• Blade: Personna Twin Pivot (10)
• Lather: Dr. Jon’s – Runaway
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Runaway
• Fragrance: Banana Republic – Dark Cherry & Amber

A musical instrument is not hard to find in the Donut114 household. Off the top of my head, there are at least 2 dozen, including one of Junior_Donut’s guitars, which made the perfect accoutrement for today’s photo.

As a kid, I was always a sucker for the bad girls. Anyone remember The Facts of Life which ran on NBC from 1979-1988? All those private school girls and who did I have the hots for? Motorcycle riding Jo Polniaczek. Before Jo it was Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days. And of course I rocked out to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Here’s where I become the butt of Billy Crystal’s bit he made from real-life question, “Daddy, is it true that Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?”

Before I knew anything about the debaucherous lives of rock stars (or in this case their pervy producer) Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, and Micki Steele (later of The Bangles) formed first teen-girl punk band, The Runaways. Debauchery aside, the cherry, carnation, clover, leather, and musk of Dr. Jon’s Runaway really captures the essence of rock and roll. It’s a shame it is now Unobtanium.

Any 70’s rock star shave has to be done with a Gillette Atra, so out from the shower mine came. I’m kind enough to let Mrs_Donut use it as her daily driver. Damn, if it wasn’t worse than shaving with the Rolls. Well, maybe not, but I could have changed the cartridge.

Tying it all together
Banana Republic Dark Cherry & Amber is a warm, sweet, gourmand scent that perfectly augments the notes of Runaway. Though it is marketed for men and women, it is another of the test fragrances I acquired that I find to be too feminine. Maybe in the right circumstance, like a Lita Ford concert, it would work.

Daily Challenge
One thing I was never, and that is an illustrator. Yet I seem to have enough creativity to make due once in awhile. Enjoy this pencil drawing of Runaway.

EDIT: #photocontest music

July 10, 2023 – Musical Monday * Brush: Paladin Chief 26mm Satin Juma Smoke
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Lather: Van Yulay - Woodstock * Post Shave:* HAGS – Hellfire Club

Monday’s are always a little rough, but music makes it a little better. Music themed soaps, however, are not always as pleasant.

The Soap/Lather: In my search for a musical soap I stumbled upon Van Yulay’s Woodstock. Unfortunately it did not work out as well as the actual festival. The scent was a moderate level and thankfully didn’t smell like the namesake. That said, it still wasn’t an enjoyable scent. The lather was likewise lackluster in performance.

The Shave: The shave was similarly poor, but what else would you expect with unenjoyable lather. The post shave was substantially helpful in dealing with the after effects and shortcomings of the shave though.

Theme: Today’s theme was music and in that regard Woodstock nails it. As one of the most iconic musical festivals I am sure that goes without saying. My post shave may not be as clear though. Hellfire Club was inspired by the Stranger Things Season 4 and specifically in loving memory of Eddie Munson. For those that do not know Eddie, he was in a rock band on the show. So, yes, Hellfire club is made in memory of a musician.

Challenge: When I saw the challenge for today I immediately regreted my soap decision. I did, of course, grab one of my kids pencils and take a horrible stab at it.

#ROTY

July 10, 2023 – LG #10

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks purple burl AP Shave Co. 24mm MiG
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. (Formerly Oleo Soapworks) – Armonia

Another shave made possible by /u/tetriside (again, thank you!). I had to ask and look up what made this musical but am now enlightened by David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel and recognize his face on the label of the tub. I get to repeat with Armonia again to compliment the tobacco notes in this soap.

As for the challenge, I suck at drawing and don’t really have more than a couple pens at home at any given time. I still have my ~~trusty~~ clicky pen from college over a decade ago. I don’t even think they use paper and pens in schools any longer. Well, apparently, it doesn’t have any more red and the blue looks like black. Otherwise, this masterpiece may have been sold for at least tens of dollars. It still can probably be kept as an family heirloom sketch.

• Brush: DG B9A Unicorn Ivory
• Razor: Tatara Masamune #CNC
• Blade: Personna Israeli Red
• Shave Soap: Barrister & Mann - Paganini’s Violin Soft Heart base shave soap
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Paganini’s Violin shave balm
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Every Storm is a Serenade

I loved today’s shave and challenge. Music and art play an integral part of my person, yet I forget to foster these pieces. I made a simple watercolor from the face of Paganini and also the face of his violin to represent the soap of namesake. I married IA’s Every Storm is a Serenade to the soap and balm simply based upon name, but I am blown away by the scent combo. This is a fantastic pairing.

shave

watercolor

This SOTD pic with the watercolor is a stunner

July 10, 2023 – LG 10: Musical Monday

• Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts Liquid Rainbow 26mm Fanchurian #SHD
• Razor: Rockwell 6S
• Blade: Voskhod (6)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Paganini’s Violin
• Fragrance: Berceuse Parfum – Allegretto 7.2

Electric Mayhem – rock and roll muppet band Paganini violin – Italian violinist and composer Berceuse – lullaby or a soothing refrain Allegretto – played at a brisk tempo

I mean, music all around today brought on by todays spotlight sponsor barrister and mann (and of course the fabulous nose of Mr Maher for our soap). I don’t normally listen to music while shaving, but today it seemed fitting: I went with The Crown by Alligator Spacewalk. Went to HS/in jazz band with this dude who DJs and plays various instruments, most notably trumpet. This tune seemed fitting for today’s inspiration.

Electric mayhem is a solid plummy citrus scent. The plum, yuzu, and tamarind give it a deep, jammy richness, unlike a lot of bright citrus accords you often find in wetshaving. It has an ozonic quality, which really helps capture the picture Will and Shawn were trying to paint by bringing the roaring 20s into modern light with electro swing beats (here’s the playlist Will sent Shawn). It’s hard to capture this one in words, but its awesome. Paganini is perhaps the lightest scent I own, with just the smallest hints of dried fruit tea. Some days it seems unscented if you’ve smelled a lot beforehand, but it has an unmistakably clean, fresh scent. Allegretto 7.2 was composed by Antonio Gardoni for Will’s perfume house berceuse. I actually applied it well before shaving today so I could get a better idea of how it smells and develops. I got a lot of sharp mint in the initial spray, quickly leading into other herbaceous garden notes and lavender. A bit woody at times during the day. Then it manages to get itself to vanilla and smoke. How from such a green opening is beyond me, but this scent changes IMO more than most things I’ve worn. Truly unique and an array of smells throughout- crescendos and decrescendos if you will. #FOF #PHOTOCONTEST (music, duh…)

Todays art challenge: drew all the software. Actually decently impressed with the scale of the dancers and use of negative space. Top notch stuff from a 12 pack of target brand colored pencils.

I def Rockwell n’ rolled through todays shave (I’ll see myself out now).

soap brands 10/30, post shave 10/30, frag 10/30, post/frag linked 10/30, software sponsors 5/15, hardware sponsors 2/2, razor hashtags 5/15, brush hashtags 8/15, photo contest 10/30, daily challenges 9/25, special challenges 1/5

July 10, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 10

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Carrot handle w/ 26mm 2-band Badger + Synthetic mixed knot
• Razor: Rex Supply Co. Ambassador XL Adjustable
• Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (2)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Baker Street
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented Balm
• Music: Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

Daily Theme: I picked up Stirling's Baker Street to help with my SAD. While ~~googling~~ researching for today's theme I discover that a favorite song and the Stirling soap are both inspired by London's Baker Street. Flashback to 1978, I'm fourteen, and I just saved enough money from my part-time jobs to purchase a Sears stereo system (complete with turntable). What good is a player without records, so as soon as I could I went 45 shopping. I chose Gerry Rafferty' Baker Street because it had an awesome saxophone riff (I played sax our school band, so I was sax-biased). Back to today, the 45 and stereo system are long gone, but using Stirling's Baker Street brings nostalgic flashbacks of teenage me playing Gerry Rafferty' Baker Street over and over on my record player.

Daily Challenge: To get started I ~~stole~~ borrowed some of my daughter's art supplies. She has the artistic talent in the family. Me, not so much. There's a reason why my background is in engineering and not in graphic design, and here is the proof.

The Shave: The first pass was fantastic. Lather, razor & blade all working in harmony. Second pass not so much. Why? Because while lathering my face for the second pass I stupidly dropped my loaded brush in the sink. I should have reloaded but stubbornness kicked in and I attempted to save what lather I had left. I ended up with a DFS but gave myself razor burn in the process. I'm an idiot. #ROTY

July 10, 2023 Musical Monday

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Wild West Brushworks - Invasion - 26mm Oumo SHD #SHD
• Razor: Stirling Stainless Standard Head #CNC
• Blade: Voskhod (3)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Boat Drinks
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth

Great shave but sadly rushed this morning due to an early show time for work. Boat drinks by Jimmy Buffet and Labyrinth by Taylor Swift are both names of songs so all the software was on theme for today.

Challenge - This has been one of my favorite challenges the last couple years. Again this year I sat down with the kids and we each took our shot at drawing the soap label. It is always a blast!

Monday, the 10th of July, 2023

• Brush: Omega 20106
• Razor: Gillette late model English Tech
• Blade: Gillette Rubie (25)
• Lather: Dr. Jon's - Pan's Pipe
• Post shave: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle
• Fragrance: Dr. Jon's - Pan's Pipe

What would life be without the sound of music? Or the sound of musak? It would be very dull, indeed. And what could be a better choice than a tribute to one of the most ancient musicians of legend, Pan?

Although I didn't get either until after Dr. Jon's had closed up, I liked Pan's Pipe enough to snag one of the last bottles of the eau de parfum. I do not have the splash, but Rebelle works as another musically inspired choice for today's aftershave.

I didn't get to post this until very late in the day, and I'm running out of time for the challenge! ... oh, man, those flowers around the edge are killing me. And this half-lit, half-sillouette of Pan... this is going to look terrible. Man, I'm missing last year's art challenge being on Small Business Saturday. Drawing a big maple leaf was quite simple! Today, I even couldn't keep the background rays consistent from a centerpoint... that was bad tool choice, though, as I used a thick, opaque straightedge which obscured the part of the drawing underneath it.

Argh.

JULY 10, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette King C. Chrome
• Lather: Van Yulay - Woodstock
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Gent

So it doesn’t get any more musical than Woodstock historical concerts. I believe the most famous to be 1969. With performers like Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Baez, the list goes on. The soap well….hmmm…let’s just say if I was at the concert and it was raining and I was sitting in the muddy grass then maybe?? It does have the whole outdoor concert feel I guess but I am not sure if it would make into my daily rotation.

TODAY’s ARTISTIC CHALLENGE was just that! Challenging as hell. I can’t believe how hard coloring was!! I mean I thought I would have some descent skills since I work with my hands all day but goodness. Well I tried hard. This is what I was attempting to copy and here is my final masterpiece :-). Ya’ll have a good one!

ROTY’

July 11, 2023 – Friendship for Everyone!

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Guard
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Dayman
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Contemplation

Dayman (ah-ah-ah) Fighter of the Nightman (ah-ah-ah) Champion of the Sun! (ah-ah-ah) You’re a Master of Karate And Friendship For Everyone Dayman (ah-ah-ah) Fighter of the Nightman (ah-ah-ah) Champion of the Sun (ah-ah-ah) You’re a Master of Karate And Friendship For Everyone! Dayman!

Need I sing more? If you are not an IASIP fan, this is the perfect episode to start with; The Nightman Cometh, season 4 episode 13. My soap label was designed in the illiterate styling of Charlie Kelly.

Wishing I got this shave posted earlier as I was looking forward to this post for awhile.

Scent is fire, orangey yellow bright citrus with definite brininess to it, paired so so well with contemplation as a splash. Love DG!

Cheers!

ROTY

July 10, 2023 – July 10  

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue   
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Paganini’s Violin  

Paganini’s was the only choice for today.

I have to admit I’m not much of a music person. I’ve never paid money to go to a concert. I did not have an angsty teen music-my-parents can’t stand phase. I do however have a few good memories linked to music. Mountain drives with my brother on a cold day, top down and heater up singing along to Tenacious D and Buck-O-Nine. The Lord of the rings movie score and singing my nieces to sleep with Into the West. And I met my best friends in high school marching band. I might not value any one song or artist all that much, but I do value the memories that were made because of it.

Challenge. I cross stitched the label. I started with a basic treble clef pattern and modified heavily to try and give it the brush stroke look. I’m pretty proud of it. My aida cloth is a pale yellow/warm cream color. I might try going through with some pops of yellow thread but I think it would overwork the fabric. Anyway, this can join my Barrister and Mann Reserve Cool and Summer Break Soaps Bell Ringer cross stitch label collection.

Player chooses one of the slowest possible methods to "draw" a soap label

July 10, 2023 * Brush: Omega Pro 48 #HOLLOW #TOLL * Razor: CJB GR-100B Kamisori Style Shavette #KAMISORI * Blade: Schick Proline (AC) * Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap * Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm * Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - EdP

Mood Indigo is hands down the best scent from House of Mammoth. I still remember my the first time I used this after it was released and it was snowing outside. The blueberry note is my favorite part.

The Omega Pro 48 smacks. I like the scritch of the knot. According to the Maggard Razors listing, it has a 65mm loft meeting the #TOLL tag. The #HOLLOW aspect of the handle is my least favorite part of this brush. Many times I've considered transplanting the knot into a solid handle. The kamisori style shavette is, eh. I probably need to dedicate some time trying to use it more than just 1x a year for LG.

Here is today's label drawing. Enjoy!