July 18, 2023

• Brush: Anbbas Silvertip Badger – 22mm #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Razorock Game Changer .84
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (11)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Thayers – Rose Petal

Autumn Ash perfectly captures the smell of fall, in a very Southern Witchcrafts-y way. This soap is not apple cider and pumpkin pie, but decaying leaves and a sweater that probably hasn't been worn or washed since last winter. The soap has a definite stank, but to me it smells just like a walk through the woods in late October. I'm passing on today's challenge 'cause goddam, that's nasty. I mean, that's just a whole new level of weirdness on top of normal LG.

​

Autumn Mash to the tune of Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett

Lyrics:

I was lathering my soap, late one night

When my brush begot a slippery sight

For my lather from its bowl, began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

(I shaved with ash) I shaved with Autumn Ash

(I shaved with ash) It was a shaving bash

(I shaved with ash) It caught on in a flash

(I shaved with ash) I shaved with Autumn Ash

From my lather-tory in the bathroom east

To the master shave den where the brushes feast

The shavers all came from their humble abodes

Got out their brushes and began to load

(I shaved with ash) I shaved with Autumn Ash

(I shaved with ash) It was a shaving bash

(I shaved with ash) It caught on in a flash

(I shaved with ash) I shaved with Autumn Ash

LGSOTD 18-July

• Brush: Simpsons - M7 Manchurian   
• Razor: Blackland - Tradere  
• Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
• Lather: Ariana & Evans - Revolution
• Post Shave: Ariana & Evans - Revolution
• Fragrance: Viktor Rolf - Spicebomb

A woody-spicy scent and one that I've always loved ever since catching a whiff in Debenhams years ago, and more importantly the Mrs loves it as well! I went looking around for dupes to get my grubby mitts on and it was only when one of my fellow forum members suggested this one. Would never have linked them based on the artwork, but took the leap and glad I did. Tomorrow's selection would probably be on the nose for this category but decisions had to be made.

Decided to run with the Tradere OC today, nicely efficient and will perhaps give me the best chance of getting a decent showing.  Love this tradere, I wasn’t around when the original came around so being able to give it a bash with Blacklands recreation was brilliant.  On top of that, the recent announcement of a final run and the opportunity to get my hands on parts has allowed me to get an order in for the SB baseplate, can’t wait for that to arrive on these shores.

Now for the challenge of the day, this one is genuinely pathetic. Yesterday's shave was incredibly efficient, so growth today wasn't massive, but I still had a go. Though the Mrs now thinks I'm absolutely batshit, end of the shave tried to half open the plug, whoosh good chunk went down the sink, couldn't stop the loud expletives, wife comes rushing into the bathroom to check what's wrong and I whinge that it's gone down the sink. The look of utter bewilderment will stay with me forever. 

Edit: I had to explain the challenge after I'd finished, which she thought was disgusting and insists we're all off our rockers, but was more concerned that the bathroom wasn't respectable...she's an odd one. I'm definitely going to have to tell her about tomorrow's ahead of time.

Hope everyone has a grand day.

Cheers

Marc  

ROTY

PhotoContest

Spooky Season

• Brush: Zenith B8
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade Med Prep #YTho
• Blade: Kismet Rostfrei, Polymer beschichtet (2)
• Lather: Zingari – Nocturne
• Post Shave: Zingari – Nocturne – recovery splash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash

Oh, good old u/MajorMinceMeat and his Atlas Challenge. This is one of the crazier stories of our sub IMO: MMM (back then a daily shaver) decides one day to create this challenge for the non-daily shavers, hypes it to the max, and decides in the last moment that he has better things to do than dealing with it. Somehow, three years later, Atlas is still a thing, and yet again I'm finding myself trying to determine the best way to show Mighty Atlas shouldering his burden of tonsorial detritus in an SOTD picture. This is wild to me.

I narrowly avoided having to shave my head or something (legs are reserved for never skip leg day), because I almost forgot about the challenge, and my proof of participation shown in the SOTD picture is from the very last stroke of the first pass, i.e., the last chance for saving stubble of photographically relevant size.

Nocturne and Autumn Ash shave a lot of the same idea of autumn, a smoky harvest time scent (relevant post and frag), and they play very nicely together, but they are very different scents. It seemed frankly like an uninspired pairing in my spreadsheet, but now that I used it again, I kinda love the combo.

Interesting(?) titbit*: when googling "Autumn Ash" without "Southern Witchcrafts", the first hit I get is from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement showing the mugshot of a Sexual Offender/Predator called Autumn Ash.

The theme for today's #photocontest is light sources. The light source for this shot was my beaming grin after reading this.

* Yes, titbit.

July 18, 2023 – June Shaves

• Brush: Cayuen Abalone w/ 28mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Timeless Shave Bowl, Blue
• Razor: Titanium Henson +++, polished ("Hail the Omnissiah!")
• Blade: Voskhod (1)
• Lather: B+M – Amazelnut
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash

This tends to be an autumn release scent from B+M, and I regret not getting another tub or two when they were on sale late last year. Delicious scent which unsurprisingly reminds of hazelnut candy or hazelnut flavored coffee, the latter of which shall be my morning beverage once I get to the office. Another fun-filled shave with my fancy, fantastic razor.

#LatherGames #SpookySeason

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9FMHn02EMs ← Leaf Shave Leaf – Chatting about "Broman" – Mine Just Shipped An Hour After This Released... 🧐🤨

July 18, 2023 – LG2023 Day Eighteen

• Brush: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain 26mm SHD #SHD
• Razor: Dorko Solingen – SE Wedge
• Blade: Dorko Wedge
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Lamplight Penance
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux – Lamplight Penance
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Lamplight Penance

Autumn, Fall, whatever name you prefer its the best season there is period.

My den is stuffed full of fall scents, you have the normal pumpkin scents but also some really creative scents and that’s where Lamp Light Penance falls and what a scent it is.

I picked this set tentatively but in my defense it does come up a lot in best fall scent posts such as HERE I’m hoping u/hawns will be able to confirm and save me the DQ from one of the Djudges.

I know many find this a marmite scent but its so so good, in my head I imagine an old sea Captain sat in his dusty mahogany clad cabin late one evening filling in his log with just his desk lamp flame flickering away, a flagon of rum as a nightcap.

I got lucky with the hardware today as I had already puled out this rare brush poured and turned by Courtney herself as I have touched on in a previous post. The razor is a little bit of a rarity, its a Dorko SE razor that used a specific wedge style blade, I need to get the wedge honed really for a smother shave but it did enough to cut through my beasty stubble.

• ** Daily Challenge**

I honestly have no idea why you would want to see this, but here is some damp as fresh stubble

Lather Games Day 18- Spooky Season

• Brush: Shore Shave 26mm Motherlode
• Razor: RazoRock GameChanger .84-P
• Blade: Astra - SP Green (9)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Bay Rum Splash

And another SW scent that doesn't do it for me, even though I really, really want to like them. The soap is amazing. Unfortunately, their scents bring me no joy and are just too...murky. But hey, we are on theme here.

Today's Challenge. Uhhhhh, I've got silver stubble. There is no black, there is no brown, there is no red, just silver. Here's my blurry photo of my stubble in lather.

Spooky Season

Prep: Warm shower
Brush: AP Shave Co - Cashmere 30mm
Razor: Gillette Canadian Rocket
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash - Soap (Vegan)
Post Shave: Water rinse

A nice shave with a good soap from today's sponsor. Scent notes include: Maple, spice, smoke, amber, cedar, oud, rain, plum, blackberry, ash, birch tar, pumpkin, coffee, dirt, mildew. I think the smoke and pumpkin remind me of the Autumn. Have a great day everyone.

Jul 18, 2023 - Spooky Season

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound Chocolate Drop 26mm v19 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette NEW DeLuxe (1930) #BRASSING #REGUS
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [11]
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - Haunted Cabin - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain - Eau de Parfum

Hallows is marketed as a spooky, late October scent and I can't argue that it fits that description. Unlike the other two scents used today, it works pretty well anytime. Hallows is such a great scent, and Excelsior is still a great base. The lather this morning was phenomenal.

Haunted Cabin has a sweet, syrupy vibe, that while done well, really makes it fit squarely in the Autumn seasonal category. The pumpkin note worked supremely well with Samhain, and overall, I can't complain about any of these scents.

The New DeLuxe may be a scary looking razor at first, but the long open comb teeth make it a gentle shaver. For all it's efficiency, it's not aggressive at all.

Atlas Shaves Challenge: I don't understand this challenge, but here you go, weirdos. The longer hairs are from also shaving the back of my neck. I can provide a picture of my toenail clippings as well if anyone is interested.

#photocontest evil forces (chaos tokens)

Rating: 4.5/5

Edit: Razor verification for brassing on the top cap and a serial number instead of a date code.

*July 18, 2023 – Spooky Season

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Lite
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Sonder

Southern Witchcraft has some of the more deeply complex scents on the market and I’ve struggled to find something of theirs I really love. Gravefruit 2 is probably my top choice, but I’m not sure I could handle the richness of the scent for a whole day. Solid shave this morning – smooth and clean. Not a ton of stubble for the daily challenge because my shave yesterday was in the afternoon and my beard still grows about as slow as possible, but, hey – it’s something.

The worst thing about a slow growing beard is that it’s fast enough for there to be annoying itchy stubble every day or two, but it’s so slow that to attempt to grow it out would result in disaster.

Anyway – paired Gravefruit (“a highly-nuanced scent profile that is perfect for crisp Autumn weather”) with Sonder in a juxtaposition of citrus scents. They’re dancing nicely together on my face. Maybe that’s my struggle with SW scents – I prefer brighter notes to the darkness that is SW. They are well executed, I like Phteven and Courtney and all their work (Dogwood++), my nose is just sus. Grapefruit and Sandalwood explicitly link these two scents and I like it!

Anyway – driving the family to Michigan today. 7+ hours with 3 kids in tow should be… an adventure?

FOF Haiku of the day

Dark meets bright this fall
Sonder and Gravefruit pair up
Grapefruit, Sandalwood

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR
• Razor: Karve Overlander SS
• Blade: Feather
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Darkfall
• Post Shave: Proraso - Red - Aftershave

Playing it ultra-safe with Darkfall today. I was going to use Gatlinburg by Stirling, but then got cold feet by the way it was marketed on the website: “We set out to create a fall scent and ended up with what may stay with us all year long”

I miss fall. We don’t have fall here in Australia, at least not where I am. I’m not going camping in Australia, dude. Nope. Not gonna happen. That’s spooky.

My wife bought a PS5 today Yeah. Just like that. No questions, no nothing…

Music:
“Been and Gone” - Louis Baker, Wallace Spotify / YouTube

---

Today’s Daily Challenge aka Grossed Out Day:

Djudges, may I suggest you finish your lunch/dinner before your djudging today? Well, you’re the ones who asked for it!!

Y tho?

https://imgur.com/ZZdoFwS https://imgur.com/a/s20Ifs5

• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash Soap
• Brush: Erskine Synthetic
• Razor: Ever-Ready 1912 SE
• Blade: GEM Blade
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Hipster Balm

I'm still mixed about Autumn Ash, but it continues to grow on me. I get more campfire now embers now with a touch of sweetness, and it works. I'm a huge camping fan, and if things go to plan, my 25 July shave will be from the woods. The lather this morning was pretty crappy, but that has way more to do with me and nothing to do with SW's product. I just get lazy with these samples and I should have worked it more.

For the challenge, the water in my sink is cloudy because it's full of whiskers. Enjoy that, I guess.

Have a great day folks!

Today I shaved with Darkfall. I used my Prometheus/Synbad brush and a Maggard V3M with a Polsilver blade. I chased it with Darkfall and more Darkfall. This is also one of the best in the game, though I normally don’t use it in the warmer months. I split a set with a member of the sub when it first came out and was immediately hooked. Though he is no longer around, we used to send each other random shaving related goodies whenever we felt like the other might enjoy it. There are many more users here now, but the quality seems to have gone down. Now people praise Osma and call your sister a sucker. No whiskers pics, as there’s no telling what these creeps do with those.

July 18, 2023

​

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Zenith 507U XSE
• Razor: Merkur 34G
• Blade: Gillette Platinum
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
• Fragrance: None

Samhain; Lord Of The Dead. I would have never known without seeing Halloween II. This scent encapsulates the spirit of halloween perfectly. A boozy pumpkin smell with hints of oatmeal. I don't have an orange razor to match, but figured gold would be closest.

For today's challenge, I'm both disgusted, and in a rush for jury duty, but points are points. Here you go

Until tomorrow!

#ROTY

• Prep:
• Brush: Wolf Whiskers Beehive / Maggard Premium Boar 28mm
• Razor: Wolfman WR1 OC SS
• Blade: Personna Med Prep (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co - Bay Rum
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Bay Rum
• Fragrance:

Bay Rum is a great scent for fall due to its warm and spicy characteristics that align perfectly with the cozy and comforting atmosphere of the season. The aromatic blend of bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, and other spices in Bay Rum creates a sense of richness and depth, reminiscent of autumnal scents. The earthy and slightly sweet undertones of Bay Rum perfectly complement the crisp air and changing colors of fall, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a fragrance that embodies the spirit of the season.

Downvote this challenge, specifically the dumbest part of Atlas Shaves. Worst part of the worst thing the sub does.

2023-07-18 Spooky Season

• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - Li'l Brudder, Synthetic 22mm
• Razor: Simple Clean Shave - SCS Model A
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Hallows (balm)

Not at all awake this morning.

So, yeah. Just like normal I sent the day's shavings down the drain without thinking twice about it. So I guess this shave was basically Yak Shaving Day although I think the soap and aftershave balm fit the day.

Couldn't even find the original Shaven Yak segment from Ren and Stimpy. Only could find clips from a video game.

This is the last semi-useful dregs of that aftershave balm. I will be excited to replace it. This one has been used up and aged out.

Take care and have a good one.

July 18, 2023 – Lather games day 18 – AKA death becomes her

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Tooth Fairy B14
• Razor: Gillette Tech
• Blade: Voskhod (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Desairology
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II

Strange day today. Rainy and gloomy and I have to go say goodbye to a loved one who is dying. TMI perhaps, but really kind of fits today’s theme for me. Anyways, SW soaps are great. Autumn ash actually paired nicely with Desairology. Adding a spray of GraveFruit II makes it perfect for today’s mood and a full Southern Witchcrafts shave. Too dark?

Similar to not showing you a picture of my poo, I will not show off a picture of my beard trimmings. Why would I do such a thing? SMH Please enjoy my SOTD pic instead.

#PhotoContest

Jul. 18, 2023
Brush: AP ShaveCo Synbad
Razor: Razorock Game Changer .68
Blade: Wizamet SI
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash - Soap
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Bare - Aftershave
Post Shave: Ariana & Evans - Post Shave Balm - Balm

Second time I’ve had to use this soap so far, I’m sure I could have gotten away with something else but I’m just trying to hang on this year.

Only a one pass shave today, not a lot of whiskers.

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

LG23-18: Spooky Season

• Brush: Sawdust Creation Studios 26mm High Mountain White
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (30)
• Lather: Oz Shaving - Woodchopper - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory - Wolf Mother
• Fragrance: DSH - Bois Fumée
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: West Java. Cijapati, Garut - v: Typica. Tim Tim. Catimor - p: Triple picked. Washed.
• Music: The North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative - Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?
• LG Tags: #FOF

While it's gross, uncouth, and a stain on the quiet dignity that governs every aspect of the Lather Games, here's a photo of my stubble unceremoniously discarded in my sink. Behold the lonely whiskers, shorn from their home and left to wonder what left them in this fitful state. Was it something they said? Were they not perky enough? What if they had been bigger? They cry, "We can be better!", but the damage is done. Their fate was sealed minutes ago. Now they sit, with nothing but their thoughts, dreaming of the handsome face they lost to time's relentless blade. Nature is cruel and I am crueler.

However, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about the shave.

When I first read today's theme details, "woody spicy accords" immediately made me think of Oz Shaving's Woodchopper. The brand’s first scent, meant to "evoke a night stroll through the trees," is pure dry woods and spice, unsullied by any hint of sweetness. Rare is the outdoorsy scent without the greenery, wood sap, balsam, moisture, loam, and dirt of the forest, or a squeeze of citrus to lighten things up and suggest patterned sky through rustling leaves. The shaving soap label even reduces Woodchopper’s scent description down to sandalwood, cedar, and pine. The lightly-smoked cardamom note is what stands out to me; it’s got more character than the layered woods and makes that accord more than pencil shavings. It also makes Woodcutter feel autumnal. And while a strong blend of sandalwood and cardamom is common in attars, I’m still getting used to its creamy-camphoraceous aroma.

Woodchopper’s setting and “hint of campfire” prompted me to build the rest of my shave around those flickering flames in the woods at night. For my aftershave, I selected Wolf Mother, a “grownup” campfire scent featuring a boozy fruit accord and warm amber-patchouli base. Smoky fruit wine and a sweet marshmallow accord are upfront, and I barely notice the listed wood notes, making Wolf Mother an ideal combination with Woodchopper. The soap has plenty of woodiness to go around. Rounding out the clean-burning bonfire at the center of this scene are a few rolls of my Bois Fumée vial. This nostalgic third addition to DSH’s Bois series is a hyperrealistic woodsmoke scent painted by smoldering birch tar and cedar. Cozy myrrh and frankincense mix with the barest suggestion of caramel to make the campfire feel right there in front of you, warmth on your face, smoke floating off into the night. Because Bois Fumée smells more like the real thing than a perfume, I need to try it layered, adding the rasp of primal fire and smoke to cleaner bosky perfumes. Combined with Woodchopper and Wolf Mother, it renders the warm, glowing campfire via 8K Holodeck.

July 18, 2023 – LG Day 18 – FALLing Slowly into Madness

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic Li’l Brudder
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: Gillette Rubie (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Pomona
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Teacher’s Pet
• Fragrance: Ineke Perfumes – Jaipur Chai

Ah, fall. The best time of year, shorter every year as our planet inches closer to becoming uninhabitable.

Pomona is simply one of the best fall scents out there. Honeyed apple wine? Sign me up. Honey scents and honey flavored things are tough for me, because they often taste too sweet and don’t quite capture the unique characteristics of a good wildflower honey. Pomona manages to do what others don’t – smell like a really good, local, complex honey. I bolstered the apple with Teacher’s Pet, which smells to me like the bowl of apple peels that comes from making an apple pie, and is incredibly nostalgic. Truly a delight. Finally, a spritz of Jaipur Chai to represent the hot chai my partner so often drinks in the fall (plus, chai spices are really good in apple desserts – throw some cardamom into your apple pie next time if you haven’t tried this before). #FOF

Hard to truly celebrate Atlas Shaves with only one day of growth. I figured a glass would show off what the challenge asked of us and be easier than trying to wipe off my razor on a towel. And behold, it worked! It looks gnarly, but it smells so good…in fact, it smells tasty……

yes, hugbckt, let the intrusive thoughts win…[warning: NSFW]

Drank whisker water.

Drank whisker water.

Jul. 17, 2023

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Jefferson “Summer’s Gone” B9A+ Badger
• Razor: Wolfman WR2 Stainless
• Blade: Personna Super (3)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Soap
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Osma - Alum
• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur

Spooky Season/ AKA “Fall Into The Lather Games”

After yesterday morning’s frustration, today’s shave was super easy. Raconteur was released in November 2019, and features notes civet, spice, cedar, patchouli and leather.

I think this may have been the last thing Dan released entirely under his own label.😞

Today’s Challenge:

I used to have a goatee in the winter time. My wife makes me shave because otherwise I looked like Burl Ives, (Google him, kids…)

Here’s your picture

Whisker Porn

Two passes plus a neck buff.

Song of the Day:

(Like you didn’t see this one coming?)

The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes

Bonus: Steady As She Goes Live Glastonbury (2008)

I think they are back together as well....

2023-07-18 Halfway Happy

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps - Custom
• Razor: Rockwell - 6S
• Lather: London Razors - Coffee & Contemplation
• Post Shave: Henri et Victoria - Cognac & Cuban Cigars
• Fragrance: For Strange Women - Decadence & Debauchery
• Blade: Astra - Platinum (2)

Relevant Post-shave and Fragrance: Ampersands & Alliteration!

Spooky Season: In case it's not immediately evident how Coffee & Contemplation (C&C) fits the theme, the below is from the original description; it was explicitly marketed for Fall:

Being a little on the heavy side, we think this scent is going to be perfect for the upcoming cooler, Fall months.

#FOF On paper, it makes sense: Russian leather (which is also relevant to the show), cedar, and amber come together with the coffee headliner for a darker scent, with a sweet side introduced by cocoa, vanilla, and coconut...

C&C smells like Tootsie Rolls.

It took me a little while to figure it out; I had decided that it smells like a kid's bag of candy, and thus appropriate that it's indirectly Halloween-themed. More specifically, though: Tootsie Rolls.

Cognac & Cuban Cigars comes in strong with the former part of its name, or at the very least that's brought to the forefront when layered on top of Tootsie Rolls.

Will the fragrance provide any respite? Yes. Despite the brand, Decadence & Debauchery is marketed as a unisex scent. I was pleasantly surprised by it, but tobacco in a scent's list always gets my attention. Immortelle and violet provide a floral prominence, which is deeply darkened by tobacco, myrrh, and amber. It doesn't quite tip it toward masculine as much as I'd prefer, though. I do detect the blood orange and bergamot, and I don't find it off-putting—rare for me, because I loathe orangey notes.

Challenge Accepted: This challenge is disgusting.
This is something people do for Atlas Shaves? That's the thing where you go for increasingly long periods without shaving, yeah? Yeah, no thank you. I had a daily-shave streak for a really long time. Then, a week in the hospital reminded me that one of the biggest reasons that I got started with DEs—trichotillomania—is still very much a thing with me. I don't know if we have any other trichsters in here. If you're unfamiliar, though, see that big ol' bare area on my jaw and cheek? I pulled that all out of my face without even realizing I was doing it. But I digress.

#photocontest
Photo: The Law
Yes, it is a picture of a lawman (Hopper, if you're familiar with the show). But I thought to myself, "What real, physical thing represents the law, so that I can do better than just an image for the photo theme?"
Handcuffs! 100% bona fide handcuffs... of a sort. And it happens to tie in perfectly with Decadence & Debauchery.

Before you get too carried away with your imagination thinking about that, let me draw your attention to the miniature recreation of Steve's bat from the show. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, after giving it a non-boring color and pattern, risking an unfortunate encounter between my kitchen counter and a drill, and the finished product, cat for scale.

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Wald Stratos Goldvein 29mm A1 Fan
• Razor: Filarmonica 12 Doble Temple 5/8" Full Hollow (Straight Shave 272)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash - Soap
• Post Shave: Fabergé - Brut - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner

3 passes. Bowl lather. Good shave.

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I always enjoy the Southern Witchcrafts soap base and I like the unusual scents. I don't use these products enough. The edge on this razor needs a refresh. I have a close, comfortable shave, but it should have only needed two passes.

2023-07-18 Lather Games SOTD

• Brush: Semogue SOC Mistura - Butterscotch
• Razor: Wolfman WR1 - Black Anodized Aluminum
• Blade: Lord Classic (3)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented with Menthol - Balm
• Fragrance: Azzaro - Wanted by Night
• Incense: Shoyeido - Kyo-Nishiki Autumn Leaves

Orange brush, black razor, Halloween soap with jack-o-lantern on the label, woody-spicy autumnal fragrance and incense... everything on theme except the aftershave because I had no suitable aftershave, so unscented balm it is. Oh well.

July 18, 2023 – You Said the Word Spice!

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm
• Razor: 1940s Star DE
• Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (2)
• Preshave: Baxter Shave Tonic
• Lather: Obsessive Soap Perfectionist – Old Gold
• Post Shave: Old Spice – European

Is Old Spice a fall scent? I dunno. Maybe? I think it qualifies for every season because it goes so well with every facet of life at any time. That makes it a year-round scent, right? If something is year-round does it then not qualify as a specific seasonal scent? These are tough questions to answer and may disqualify my points again but it must be said that in the description of the day the word Spice is used. Sure, it’s woody spicey but Old Spice gives me one hell of a woo…

What’s that? oh, it’s… it’s not that kind of woody…

You mean getting one during your shave isn’t normal?

I’ll… I’ll see myself out.

7/18/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Thiers Issard "Evide Sonnant" 6/8, Extra Hollow Round Point
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Firefighter Aftershave Splash

I got this smush of Autumn Ash from u/J33pGuy13. First time with this scent. Can'y say I'm wow'd by it or anything, but I don't dislike it. The scent wasn't as strong as other SW soaps I've tried and I'm grateful the birch tar wasn't overpowering.

I wasn't quite sure what I had that would pair well it for a post shave. After a few side by side sniff tests, one thing that stuck out to me was the Cedar. I immediately thought of Firefighter. I like how the pair works together. Firefighter took a little of the dankness out of it and added in some freshness with the aquatic and Grapefruit notes. Nice shave overall this morning.

I completely forgot to take a picture of my stubble. 4am shave and I am only barely functioning.

#ROTY

July 18, 2023 - Autumnal Shave

• Brush: "Graffiti" handle / 26mm Maggard Razors mixed knot (badger/boar) #MISTURA
• Razor: Rolls No. 3 Imperial Model #SELFSHARPENING
• Blade: Rolls
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Darkfall
• Alum: Osma
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Nocturne
• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve - Carnivale

This is one of my favorite scent combos to use during my favorite season (or anytime really). All the delicious cozy scents of fall are encapsulated here (sans pumpkin spice). You've got the smoky, woody goodness of Darkfall followed by a nice tart apple with a kiss of smoke in Nocturne. Carnivale brings an autumn festival vibe with sweet dried fruits, cannabis, brandy, spices, and various woody base notes (sandalwood, cedar, ho wood). It is a rich intoxicating scent that unfolds like a story. Top notch juice this is!

This was also the first full shave I've done with the Rolls razor and it wasn't half bad to be honest. I hated this thing when I tried it before so I was dreading using it. I figured what the hell, might as well pick up the hashtag since I have one lol. I had some major tugging in my trouble spots, but I was able to escape with a DFS, no cuts, and surprisingly little sting from the alum. I'll call that a win.

Atlas Shaves--

That is all...

July 18, 2023 – Spooky Season

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps – Seneca – Synbad
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird OC
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain

Pumpkin trickhole. Love the Blackbird. Synbad is nice, I wish the brush handle was wider. Not sure why I’m posting this.

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Stirling 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Muhle R89
• Blade: Elios Inoxidable (1)
• Lather: Zingari Man/Barrister & Mann - Nocturne - Soap
• Post Shave: allMan - Fearless - Aftershave

Nice shave. I haven't used this razor in a while. It's actually an "Art of Shaving" razor that I got at the world's premier shave store - T.J. Maxx. There's no Mühle branding, but back in the day I emailed them to confirm that they made razors for Art of Shaving, and they said yes they did.

Anyway, very nice shave, although slightly more aggressive than some of my favorite razors. Combined with a mild blade it worked great. It's a zamac razor, but they used to make the threads out of brass. It has been said that in recent years they switched to zamac threads, so now Mühle is no better than any of the multitudes of cheap clones. It's a real shame.

Perhaps in an attempt to appease one of our most demanding-of-others-yet-somehow-uninspiring-at-the-same-time players this year, u/jeffm54321, or maybe just to satisfy my own morbid curiosity, I didn't rinse the soap off after the last pass. I just wiped it off with a dry towel. Skin feels great! I can feel myself getting younger.

I really like the scent of Nocturne, but if I ever finish this tub I wouldn't replace it with another. The leaves come across as a sort of metallic note that goes well with the apple (which is a tad too strong for me) and the smoke (not strong enough). Probably the soap bases fault, or so I've heard. It'd be interesting to compare it to an aftershave.

July 18, 2023 – Fall into Lather Games

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Tech
• Blade: Parker (1)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Gatlinburg
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Confluence

Autumn day. Before I picked this I checked the description. While all the SW scents seem autumn llke, wanted to be sure. Description says “This no ordinary banana scent – it is a complex and rich blend of dark and spicy accords that are perfect for autumn.” Works for me. Blame u/j33pguy13 for me liking this scent, it was a smush he sent. I bought a whole tub.

My #fof is a bit interesting here. Went with Gatlinburg, another autumn scent. Ended with confluence, which, while fresher than the others still has a cedar undertone that ties everything together nicely I think. Shawn is right about the importance of confluence in stl and I’m bringing it to lather games by mixing up my vendors, mixing my vacation with lather games, and apparently meeting fellow sub members on the road. Shout out of u/admirable-nobody-946, who graciously hosted my family for a few beers last night. A confluence of reddit and vacation was not in my original plans when I started this month but it was a lot of fun. We both discussed how nice everyone here is, so if you get a chance to meet up sometime with others do it!

On to #photocontest, say hello to my dead azalea in the plant category. Dead stuff fits SW so we’ll I couldn’t pass on the visual here. It only just died I’ll replace it in… Autumn! Just confluence of life and lather games everywhere here.

For the challenge, the judges have some wierd kinks but… Uhh here’s the Pic. I’m in a hotel so I had to sneak this shot in the shared bathroom before my wife jumped in the shower and I had to explain myself. https://i.imgur.com/7VtETSK.jpeg

OK #ROTY let’s… Uhh I’m out of confluence jokes. Let’s mix it up.

July 18, 2023 – A little spooky

• Brush: Maggard Razors Timberwolf
• Razor: Gillette Aristocratic
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Hallows
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Spice

I am hoping Hallows covers the requirement for today. It says something about Halloween and certainly smells like it fits. This is way more pleasant than I remembered it being. Maybe it has mellowed over time but it was quite enjoyable. I paired it with some Barrister and Man Reserve Spice, which is criminally underrated

July 18, 2023 – Fall Day

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Fae B8
• Razor: Gillette British Aristocrat #16
• Blade: Leaf Super Platinum (5)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Back to School
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Back to School
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps – Woodshop

I typically strongly prefer spring and summer scents to fall and winter scents; however, my fondness for Back to School has definitely grown over the years. It is probably my favorite of my discontinued scents.

Challenge

July 18th 2023 - Lather Games Day 18

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts B9A
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM PTFE (10)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Ébène Fumé

First of all, and this is not just ass-kissing for judge points, but much respect to u/J33pGuy13 for seemingly making at least one soapmaker realize there was a huge untapped market for non-terrible, non-meme banana-related soaps and getting in on the action. Like all of us, I am trying to limit new purchases (that being said, fuck GRUYE) so I let this release pass me by, but I was so intrigued by it that when I saw someone offering it up for trade I couldn't resist. And it lived up to the hype, the scent is a very natural banana, not artificial/candylike at all, and has a spicy element that contrasts the banana beautifully. You would never expect a scent like this to work as well as it does. I used the MMOC again today because it has a reputation for being scary, although once you get used to it it's a fine daily shaver.

Ébène Fumé (trying to earn some judge points here by getting all of the diacritics correct) was a great pairing with Boonana, as both are mysterious and spicy, with the smoky wood of Ébène Fumé playing nicely with the long-lasting scent from the SW splash.

And finally, a note of appreciation for the djudges who volunteered to look at a bunch of sink whiskers. Photo here and as an apology for having to look at that, here are some dachshunds to serve as a palate cleanser:

So cute!

Long boi, long stick

Indeed!

• Brush: Simpson Classic #1 synthetic brush

• Razor: Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn 49 straight razor

• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash

• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash

ROTY

Hello again! Had a superb shave with Southern Witchcrafts Autumn Ash. I have to say Southern Witchcrafts has really become a personal favorite of mine since stumbing on them through the sub. I love the approach to the scents and the soap has one of the best performing bases I have tried thus far vegan or not. My first time using this scent and I rather like it. Smoky and woody, with some Autumn spice which comes together to me maybe like an incense with maple sweetness remniscent of a spiced cookie. It's very Fall so should fit the theme nicely.

For the challenge I tried to get a pic of some hairs suspended in the foam on the blade of the straight razor (in its natural state) but I also wiped it on a paper towel so you can really see it all splayed out and gruesome for the kids to see. Just did one pass against the grain to actually get stubble.

https://imgur.com/gallery/TTFhPuP

Jul. 18, 2023 - 👻🍌🍌

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Zenith 506U XSE unbleached boar

• Razor: GEM Junior

• Blade: GEM PTFE (18)

• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana

• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash

• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana

BOO! I didn’t scare you did I? Don’t worry I don’t have any videos of drinking lather today, just spooky decaying banana soap that is perfect for autumn. Or perfect for u/j33pguy13’s autumn I should say because banana is not really my thing. This soap is so much more than just banana thankfully, Southern Witchcrafts put their signature touch on this scent transforming the sweet banana into something deep and dark.

Paired it with Autumn Ash because it fit with the theme, not only is all of my software a fall/Autumn scent but all made by SW! Their scents can be a bit polarizing and difficult to grasp at first, especially for people like me with sus noses. Their vegan base is absolutely top notch though and not “just for a vegan base.” It will hold its own against any base out there which is a testament to the work they do!

Todays Daily Challenge proof I’m sorry judges for the pain you have to suffer through today.

I really enjoyed making todays #photocontest picture of Light Sources. I was trying to show off light without actually showing what was actually making the light.

July 18, 2023, Death or Glory

• Brush: Böker – Synthetic
• Razor: Böker – Elite Carbon 2.0
• Lather: Dr. Jon’s – Death or Glory
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain
• Fragrance: Trussardi - Uomo

Halloween is a hit or miss day in Germany. Although clubs often offer free entry if you come in a costume, you can still be one of 6 dressed up people and look like a fool.
Cool thing is, that the day after Halloween is a public holiday, so there are lots of parties.

Death or glory is unobtainium since a few weeks. I got a smush by u/worbx. Informations about the soap are scarce, now that it is discontinued. What I found out is that it was a Halloween release in 2020 and “Death or Glory (Dracula)” or that it is vampire approved. To sum it up, I guess I am on theme.
The soap was easy to lather. The roses in the soap are a bit sweet to me. I am very proud that I got the “blood” note in the soap. Blood scent is very close to the scent of iron. Now I am thinking about the scene in Planet Terror, when that one guy is looking for the missing ingredient for the perfect barbecue sauce, only to find out after a huge carnage, that the salt in blood is the missing piece to glory.

I liked todays challenge for scientific reasons and was thrown back to my first straight razor shaves. Back then i prepared myself with some videos and remember that one advice is to not clean the razor in the sink, as you might hurt the edge when you swing the razor. Thats why it was recommended to wipe off the lather in a kitchen tissue. Scientifically, I am curious how effective each pass is. Now I got the answer:
WTG
XTG
ATG
Pass by pass, the hair that is shaven off gets shorter. An exception was a spot at the chin in the ATG pass. You can see the hair in the front of my lather mess, but these hair pieces are “dry”.

Summing it up, I am back in the straight razor game. The elite Carbon 2.0 looks a bit like a scythe, which is my best fit to celebrate the dark season on a sunny day.

Back on theme with the Samhain aftershave, which celebrates a Gaelic festival at the end of harvest season. Almost gourmand like notes of bourbon, tobacco and vanilla touch my skin. All notes together remind me of christmas cake or cookies.

#FOF

Linking all my software together, I wanted to celebrate Halloween, celebrate Samhain and finish it off with a “dark”scent. Trussardi Uomo is said to be of that kind.
Uomo is labeled as a woody fougere. Woody notes are on theme today too. Unfortunately, this fragrance makes me feel old. It is dark, it is woody and I get the direction of a fougere. Fougeres are not like a hit or miss for me, but something I have to be in the mood for. Today I was not in the mood and the fragrance is not a good match for me.

User posts picture of bloody lather, and not in the "bloody hell" usage of "bloody"

Tue Jul 18 2023

• Prep: Soap and warm water
• Razor: Merkur - 34C HD
• Blade: Feather New Hi-Stainless
• Brush: Perfecto Badger
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Cosecha Catalana Soap
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman AS Lotion

This may be one of my favorite soaps in my rotation. I just love the scent. And the lather is very lubricating. Sorry no whisker shots. I am not good at the picture thing and I am out of town this week.

ROTY

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Soap Company – 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Rockwell 6s
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
• Post Shave: 345 – Bana-O-Rama Splash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana EDP
• Music: Hocus Pocus – I Put A Spell On You

It’s Spooky Season and in honor of that, I have history lesson that will eventually make sense for my shave today: The Salem Witch Trials were a series of false accusations and mass hysteria that occurred in 1692-1693 in Salem, Massachusetts. Accusations of witchcraft ran rampant across the town, and in total over 200 people were accused of witchcraft, 30 people were found guilty and 20 were executed, and another 5 died in prison. Of the 20 people executed, 19 were hanged and 1 man was pressed to death.

The man who was pressed to death was a dude named Giles Corey – an 81-year-old farmer who was accused of witchcraft, and refused to plead guilty or innocent. You see, at the time, if he entered a plea, he would stand trial and his estate would be forfeited to the government when he was found guilty. He knew he’d be found guilty, because, well, everyone was found guilty of witchcraft in those days. If he didn’t plea, there couldn’t be trial, and his estate would be passed down to his family. In order to FORCE him to enter a plea, the Sheriff (along with the people of Salem) stripped Giles naked, laid him down, put boards on top of him, and put heavy rocks and boulders on the boards. They were going to keep putting more rocks on top of him until he pled, so he could stand trial. Giles was a G and was steadfast in his refusal to plea. When the sheriff asked him to enter to plea, Giles only responded with: “More weight” - Like I said, Giles was a fucking G - and the sheriff complied and continued adding more weight. After 3 days of torture, he died under the weight of all the rocks and boulders.

According to local legends, the ghost of Giles Corey appears and walks in his graveyard when a disaster is about to strike the City of Salem. There were reports that his ghost was seen at the Howard Street Graveyard, where he was pressed to death, the night before a great fire in 1914. It was also said that he put a curse on the Sheriff the pressed Giles (who died of a heart attack at 30), as well as every Sheriff to take that position thereafter for the next 300 years. Every single sheriff, since the one that pressed him, had either died in office with heart problems or retired due to a blood disorder. This happened until they moved the Sheriff’s office OUT of Salem in 1991. Spooky shit.

So, Priusaurus: This is interesting, but what the hell does this have to do with your shave today? Well, today, I took a trip up to Salem today to shave with Giles Fucking Corey for Spooky Day.

First, I went to downtown Salem and said hello to their statue to Samantha from Bewitched and snapped my SOTD #photocontest for Urban/Architecture. Downtown in a densely populated city counts as Urban, right?

I then went to Giles Corey Memorial down the road a bit. It’s settled nicely on a small lake where a couple people were fishing. There’s a marker for our boy Giles and his wife, Martha (who was executed 3 days after he died), as well as a display for them. I plopped down right in front of Giles marker, took out my stuff, got a good face lather going and got to shaving. It was hot and humid, but quiet and peaceful. For my 2nd public shave of the Games, this one went a lot better. Loaded up right from the tub and had a relatively quick, two pass shave using one of my favorite soaps. I do miss not using a mirror with a public shave, but I like to travel light. No one kicked me out, but a couple dudes with fishing poles walked by and side-eyed me. Like two dudes fishing on a Tuesday afternoon have any business judging a guy shaving in front of a dead witch’s memorial.

Samhain is a perfect fall scent as far as I’m concerned. I have the trickhole, but since I’m #ridingwithitchy and not matching any scents all game, I got creative and used 345’s Bana-O-Rama Splash. To me, the Samhain smells like a baked good, kinda like a banana bread without the banana. Sooooo… I added the Banana with the splash! Boom! Tasty. Now with all that Banana, I had to finish everything off with Boonana by SW to complete this awesome #FOF. But not here. I went to the scene of the crime. Where Giles was pressed to death and said to be still haunting. I went to the Howard Street Graveyard in Salem, and sprayed my Boonana on there, and paid my respects to ensure no ghosts followed me home. Boonana is so, so, so much better and more complex than Bana-O-Rama. Bana-O-Rama is a fun, almost meme scent, wheresas Boonana is dark and sophisticated, while still having the sweetness of a banana that is just past it’s ripeness. Man, Boonana is so, so good.

For the challenge… Ummmm… WTF? Not sure which Djudge wanted this one, or which personal collection this is going in, but here you go. I didn’t use a sink today, thanks to the Spooky Giles Corey shave, but I dumped my whiskers on some paper towel for you weirdos.

Sadly, no interview to post today, which is why you got a history lesson and spoooooooky Giles Corey tribute shave today.

Dude goes to Salem and shaves at a memorial and graveyard of guy that, apparently, haunts Salem.

Dude goes to Salem and shaves at a memorial and graveyard of guy that, apparently, haunts Salem.

Lather Games Day 18

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: APSaveCo - 28MM G5A SHD
• Razor: Karve - The Christopher Bradley Razor #BRASSING
• Blade: Gillette - Minora
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Deton-8
• Post Shave: Reuzel - Wood & Spice
• Post Shave: The Bluebeards Revenge - Alum block

Today I tried to insert pirate note!!!! Spooky! Pirates are not spooky enough? OK your knowledge about subject is only from "Pirates of the Caribbean" with cute Jack Sparrow! But in real life cold fear stiffened hearts and squeezed throats of sailors and some of them piss in their pants only hearing the word. And if you don't want to dive in historical books take a boat and go nearby shore of Somalia. Or ask Capitan Philips! Stirling!!! That's enough! The artisan with most soaps I'm my collection then others! Right next to him neck to neck is Gentleman's Nod! Deton-8 is inspired by my favorite "Spicebomb" by Viktor&Rolf. This fragrances is my favorite! Woody and spicy, sweet but masculine. First time I try Karve and I am definitely buy one because I'm looking for affordable brass safety razor and I am so pleased today from the performance. Maybe open comb. This one was with C ( 0.85 ) and D ( 0.98 ) plate. I choose D because I prefer aversive safety razors and I was not wrong. And two handles 3" and 4". Shorter one perfectly fit in my hand ( I feel comfortable with small objects in my hand ). This challenge is amazing because provoked me to find and try things that I'll never think I'll use. Now know that i like short handles avoided before and find brass razor that I looking for. Reuzel is brand that I known earlier then all artisan brands even TOBS and Proraso because I use their beard balms. Till November I have 10 years beard ( I mean didn't shave just grooming ). The name meaning is lard on Dutch. And even they not admit official the scents is like Spicebomb. Maybe for more professional nose their are differences but for me is very close. Aftershave "Wood &Spice" is one of my first since my new shave awakening! Because of the pirate label I choose and "The Bluebeards Revenge" alum block. I am not sure but i notice now opening new one for picture and I think is made by Osma coz looks like it. I'll investigate when I have time. Give me and your opinion. Today challenge.... I don't know!?! Everybody knows that sex is best seller! .....And I wandering did video shaving my balls and collect whiskers ...... Dry it....and sniff it like my Osma addicted friend MrTangerinsky will put me on top of the judges list......or they just throw up? What is pirate without rum??? Was more easy for me to go through today challenge with glass full with rum! My favorite drink and my favorite brand is "Plantation"! What is your favorite rum and did you taste this brand?

ROTY

July 18, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm G5C
• Razor: Blackland Vector
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (AC) (12)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Homecoming
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Homecoming

Today’s theme is all about fall. To give y’all some insight into my life, I want to showcase our local/state take on a national tradition. As a current Texas high school teacher, and former Texas high school student, there isn’t really a time more important in the fall than Homecoming week. Usually held in October, Homecoming is marketed as a chance for former students to come back and interact with the community. In reality it’s a week long nightmare built to infuriate me as an educator. Y’all these stupid fucking mums are the worst. The kids where them all week long, they’re covered in literal bells, whistles, and other distracting items, and half of them are bigger than the child wearing them. If you haven’t tried taking a test while your neighbor jangles like a cat every time they shift, I don’t recommend it. The week culminates in a school dance, and a big important football game that 12,000 people will show up to watch your terrible school team lose. Don’t believe me? Check out this video. That is not my district, but I teach at a similarly sized school with an even larger stadium for high school football. I’m one of those weirdos that thinks school exists for knowledge and not for experiences (aka a math teacher), so I’ll never understand the appeal of Homecoming. But I wanted to take the Fall theme day to shout it out anyways.

Today’s shave was great. 2 pass head shave with a quick 1 pass face shave to finish off the lather. The picture is gross. This is probably going to be my AA software.

Healthy Activity of the Day: The PBs are rolling in. 7 miles today, probably could’ve gone more if the temp didn’t break 100F. LG Mileage: 53 miles

Tags: #ROTY

Lather Games Day 18 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Maggard Two Band Badger Fan Knot 24 mm
• Razor: Van Der Hagen 85MM Safety Razor
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Chanel - Bleu de Chanel balm

I love Southern Witchcrafts base but Autumn Ash is too hardcore for me.

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 49ers Custom w/ Declaration Grooming B5 28mm

• Razor: Muhle Rocca R94

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows

• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Hallows balm

• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Yesterday Haze

Today's Theme: Spooky Season - Hallows is straight up a spooky scent, and Yesterday Haze features fig which actually ripens from June all the way through October (and even into November for some varieties)

Today's Challenge: Atlas Shave Day (aka why do the djudges put themselves through this day day) - I'm not proud of this but here you go

My theme for today's shave: Dank Trees

Hallows is very much a dank, October forest type of scent, and with IA's Yesterday Haze I wanted to top that scent off with a very nice green tree scent. It was actually a delightful combination that took my mind off the recent heat. Up until I realized we were doing a community service thing at work which meant I had used a fall scent and thick balm on a day I'm going to be outside and sweating. To be quite honest, it wasn't the worst. Shaving with BaM soap is always easy on the skin, and the balm was great too. And I was mainly picking weeds and raking leaves, so I basically went from smelling like musty woods, to smelling musty woods.

Halloween is actually a holiday I have kind of a mixed affection for. I don't like horror movies much, big costume parties really aren't my jam, and it always seems to be kind of an ordeal that doesn't work out very well for me. This past year was the first time I lived in a house on my own, so it'd be the first time I was the one handing out candy to kids. Well I stocked up on full size candy bars and got a cool storm trooper costume ready to go. Fewer than 10 kids stopped by, and apparently everyone walked a route around the edge of the neighborhood instead of through the middle where I live. sadtrombone.mp4

For music, I picked Helloween's Time of the Oath. Great power metal album that's just a lot of silly fun. Definitely worth checking out. Though Keeper of the Seven Keys pt. 2 really is their magnum opus. #photocontest #FOF #ROTY

July 18, 2023 - Spooky Season

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps “Mood Indigo” 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (4)
• Lather: Red House Farm - 9 Days Up Nort’
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Darkfall - Splash
• Alum: Nope
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth - EdP
• Music: Death Cab for Cutie - Marching Bands of Manhattan

Daily Write-Up:
I love fall. It’s my favorite season, and it’s not even close.

And part of fall in the upper midwest is deer hunting. People take time off of work during the small windows when deer hunting is allowed, and arrange their personal calendars around being able to get out in the woods. To me, that’s what this soap is about - setting time in the fall (Wisconsin deer season is November 18th-26th) to get outside and spend some time in the woods. And if you bag a deer, even better - you can fill your freezer and maybe make some shaving soap.

The music (which feels very autumnal) and the shave has me feeling in a very fall mood. Autumn is only 10 weeks away. So, in honor of that fact, I am going to be completing a 10-pass shave today (broken up, throughout the day, for obvious reasons).

Passes 1 and 2: * Location: Home. * Direction: WTG, ATG * My wife insisted that I clean my sink before showing my internet friends my dirty sink, so… it’s clean * Pic of whiskers available here * On a personal note - I find this to be the most revolting daily challenge thus far, across two Lather Games. It is made far worse by the video etched in my mind of u/hugbckt drinking his whiskers.

It's officially fall on the Lather Games calendar. So I got my flannel on, time to go get my fall on. Luckily I have autumnal tunes and somewhat autumnal weather. LFG!

Passes 3 and 4: * Location: Starbucks * Direction: XTG, XTG * Nothing says fall like a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I learned my lesson from others and chose a chain coffee shop for these two passes, as the baristas don't get paid well enough to deal with randos wearing flannel and shaving on the patio.

Coffee was...sweet. Passes were ok- I should have chosen a less aggressive razor for a 10-pass day.

A lot of times during the fall we get our of the concrete jungle and head up to quieter areas. Given the source and theme of my soap today, I just decided to head to Wisconsin. Maybe do some apple picking and get some Octoberfest beer? See some woods? I don't know if there will be time.

Half an hour into the drive I realize that the PSL already needs out. I pull into a tollway oasis and make my way to a surprisingly clean and empty restroom.

Passes 5 and 6: * Location: Tollway Oasis * Direction: WTG, ATG

I made it to Wisconsin!

Passes 7 and 8: * Location: Welcome to Wisconsin Sign * Direction: WTG, ATG * I asked a nice woman walking a dog near the sign where she goes apple picking around here. It might be my Illinoisan accent, or the fact I was actively shaving, but she didn't seem to understand my question. After I ~~asked~~ shouted at her three more times she gave me some suggestions and walked away very quickly. Nice lady.

I stopped by a liquor store to pick up some local craft beer. When in Rome, am I right? I was hoping to get some stag, but sadly, they were out, and I got some Moon Man instead.

Knowing my trip up Nort' was coming to an end, I stopped to get some gas, and noticed that the temperature outside had dropped a bunch. Time to cardigan up and put a beanie on!

I finally got to the apple picking place the nice dog lady suggested. I was amazed at the apples I could pick. I made my selection and walked to my car, dejected that there didn't appear to be a good place for my final two passes, and were nary a wood anywhere. Turns out SE Wisconsin is really pretty suburban.

I got in my car, and it hit me. Anything can be a mobile shave den if you try hard enough! I used my remaining PSL, to rehydrate the lather in my brush and lathered up.

Passes 9 and 10: * Location: The Ultimate Shaving Machine™ * Direction: WTG, WTG

Now that all my passes were done, I after shaved and then got back on the road for home.

Fall is the best.

Soap Theme Justification
* 9 Days Up Nort’ is a u/grindermonk creation celebrating the 9 days of the Wisconsin deer season, and is made with deer tallow. Rules require the soap be “Explicitly marketed for a holiday occurring between Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice “ - deer season is undoubtedly a holiday in the rural upper midwest, and falls in November.

Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes
* My theme for scents is “fall in the midwest” * For the AS, I chose Darkfall. Scott made this scent to evoke a Southern fall, but the scents feel really similar to fall in my midwestern hometown. Specifically the burning leaf note, which is ever-present. * For the Frag - I pulled in SW Labyrinth. The note here that really rounds out the theme is the wet stone - midwestern autumns can be pretty wet at times, and the damp notes in this frag really round out the theme well.

Dude made a trip to Wisconsin and shaved at multiple stops along the way. Also, mobile shave den > djunjilla

Dude made a trip to Wisconsin and shaved at multiple stops along the way. Also, mobile shave den > djunjilla

Also, the shave theme choice was very creative: deer hunting season.

July 18, 2023 – LG23 Day 18: Spooky Season

• Brush: Dogwood Independent T2 26mm
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89 #TWINS
• Blade: Astra SP (Green) (5)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash

It’s day two of #TWINS with the EJ DE89 courtesy of Junior_Donut. It was late into planning my calendar that I realized his score from the Maggard Meetup PIF table would net me another hashtag. Yay me! The razor gave as good of a shave as the Mühle and any difference was imperceptible. I tried to pay close attention after u/OnionMiasma commented yesterday that he notices a difference between the two. I can not complain about either shave.

Keeping the theme alive It’s an Autumn Ash dickhole day. How easy is that? Yeah, but I seriously need to get some wax melts and scent up the whole house. I picked up a sample of AA for the 2021 Lather Games and soon found myself the recipient of a trifecta during Christmas in July. In speaking with the lovely Courtney at the Maggard Meetup, I learned this was the first scent they created and it has stood the test of time.

Daily Challenge

Why do we do certain things? Like participating in contests that have the potential to put a person in a socially awkward situation. Like having a troglodyte neck beard at a family funeral. Thankfully that didn’t happen for me, but it very well could have had my aunt’s service been a day earlier. So I did make it an adventure and packed my Atlas gear for the trip. That was for the Atlas Shaves of 2022 and, if anything, I learned the true power that lies within the GEM OCMM/MMOC. That peculiar power to effortlessly mow down seven days of growth. It almost felt like cheating, like bringing to a gunfight a gun with a caliber that begins with the number 4. Train to win, fight to win.

So, why do we do certain things? Like participating in a silly contest you are guaranteed to win if you can finish (And why wouldn’t you set yourself up to finish?) even though everyone that finishes wins, for a second year in a row. Apparently it was for a few extra days of Stank^TM as I chose the legendary Tabac for my heavy lifting this year, though I swapped the MMOC for the MM24.

So, why do we participate in worthless, trivial games like Atlas Shaves? I have no idea, if nothing more than we are just simpletons helping to provide fodder for other shaving games. Oh, and because a bunch of Internet randos want to photograph their cut whiskers in the bottom of their bathroom sinks. Let’s just go with that and I will be sitting out Atlas Shaves this year…unless I can fashion a Kamisori from a Dorito chip.

• Brush: Van Der Hagen Boar Brush
• Razor: Parker Clip-Type Shavette Dark Sheesham Wood Handle
• Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain

ROTY

2023-07-18 Spooky Season:

• Brush: Semogue 2020 Best Badger.
• Razor: Parker 96R.
• Blade: Personna Lab blue.
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Necromantic.
• Post Shave: Thayer's - Witch Hazel Toner.

I was looking forward to this one because I really like this soap! Also the name, it reminds me "A Little Piece of Heaven" by Avenged Sevenfold (do yourself a favour and watch the music video). My wife also got a good chuckle out of the name.

The scent of the soap smells like flowers on freshly turned earth, such as would be found on a grave of the recently deceased.

And in keeping with the theme of All Hallows Eve, what better post shave than Witch Hazel?

[Day 18 - Spooky Shave] (https://imgur.com/a/EbL2iHt)

• Brush: Maggard - Black and White Synthetic Knot Homemade handle
• Razor: Baili - BR179
• Blade: Astra - Green
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows
• Post Shave: Pinnacle Grooming - Who U Gonna Call
• Fragrance: Alexandria fragrances - Royal Equestrian

I have been running late all day. Here is a late post.

ROTY #FOF

July 18, 2023 - Spooky Season

• Brush: AP Shave Co - Ivory Purple 26mm G5A SHD Premium Synth
• Razor: GEM Junior
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Valedictorian Splash
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Valedictorian EdP

FOF

Today’s Challenge and shave:

Look if you want to here. My beard is a lot of white hair, but some darker blond bits are holding out. Still wasn’t sure how visible it would be, so I evened up the sideburns to get some darker, longer hairs to show. I over hydrated the lather and tried adding more, but the sample is running low. I got it to an ok lather, but on the drippy side. Still, the performance was pretty good. Pretty decent shave today.

Today’s theme:

Reading through the previous posts today, Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain is an obvious choice. The Druidic (I think, maybe just Celtic?) holiday of Samhain got restyled into All Hallows Eve (Halloween) with the spread of Christianity. Christians were really good at co-opting other culture’s holidays like Saturnalia. So the name alone would make it a fall theme, and definitely spooky season. Also pumpkin is in it, and that is a fall fruit.

Today’s fragrance:

It is getting harder to match up new fragrances for me. Some that may fit, I used already, or may be a better fit later this month. Looking at the scent description of pumpkin, sandalwood, bourbon, and tobacco, I knew I’d have the best chance by working up the tobacco. Smelling the soap, I get an earthy sweetness, with dark undertones. I think I am mostly getting the pumpkin and tobacco. For the last decade, pumpkin spice has really blown up. So I thought, can I incorporate some of those scents. I settled on SBS Valedictorian. It has a lot that works well with Samhain. Vanilla, Ginger, Tobacco, and Smoke are some that bring out the scents in the soap. Ginger and vanilla are usually in pumpkin pie. The tobacco is what really tied it together for me.

Southern Witchcrafts has some creative scents that play up with the Witchcrafts in the name. Samhain and Pomona are the two I’ve liked the most out of those I have tried. The others had to much of a darker earthiness that didn’t gel with me. The soap base though is excellent even when I start with 3x more water than I should have.

Today’s Haiku:

Pumpkin Spice Season,

Is back early in my house,

But not in my mug.

July 18, 2023 – Shorter Sweeter

• Brush: Chisel and Hound “Acer Pearl” w/ V20 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette Tech
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain
• Post Shave: Santa Maria Novella – Tabacco Toscano

Getting close to throwing in my Lancaster Razors towel. I don’t have the time or energy for all this strange. Here’s a photo with a few whiskers you sickos

ROTY

July 18, 2023 – LG 18: Spooky Season

• Brush: Mojo Maggard 26mm Synthetic
• Razor: Karve CB SB B #CNC
• Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux (4)
• Lather: Storybook Soapworks – Carnivale
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Lyssa
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain

Today, I went on a super lengthy hike, all the way to my side yard. I grabbed one of the shovels, a spade to be precise, dug a ditch, so I could do my SOTD for #PHOTOCONTEST. What's spookier than being buried alive... Then, I left the mojo buried under ground, where it belongs (kidding… I still needed to shave and I use it to dust my mountain of LEGO, it normally does not get shave privileges).

All software is fall themed today. Storybook/APR Carnivale is a perfect fall scent. To use their words, “Carnivale. Elegant Fall Molecules.”. Also described as “Carnivale is the story of festivals and celebrations that occur during the cool months of autumn.” I mostly get stone fruit, touch of spice, woods. It opens with dried apricot and plum and a hint of citrus, quickly enveloped by muscatel grapes – though not juicy per se. It’s supported by soft woods and mellow spices, non of which I’d pick out individually. There’s a slight dankness to it, the faintest whiff of jazz cabbage, and I’d know I’m something of a chronnoisseur myself.. Lyssa was dubbed zombie repellent, and is another clear fall scent (Oct 2019 release). It’s quite spicy, with sage and nutmeg leading the charge. There is a floral sweetness though, composed of rose, violets, and geranium. All resting upon a mossy, oud wood, and patchouli base. Lastly, Samhain (holiday on Nov 1st), the quintessential SW fall scent. Instead of making pumpkin spice a basic bitch, it’s wrapped warmly in a boozy bourbon. Sweet vanilla and tobacco, with just a touch of musk underneath it all on the dry down. #FOF

Here’s my Atlas Challenge, who I can say I proudly accomplished 2 or 3 years ago. Here’s a short normal vid of the shave. Getting them quicker, but remember playback speed is your friend.

soap brands 18/30, post shave 18/30, frag 18/30, post/frag linked 18/30, software sponsors 9/13, hardware sponsors 2/2, razor hashtags 9/15, brush hashtags 8/15, photo contest 18/30, daily challenges 16/25, special challenges 2/5

JULY 18, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette King C. Chrome
• Lather: Southern Witchcraft - Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Tayers - Witch Hazel

I have not had the pleasure of trying a southern witchcraft scent so this was my first! Lots of first this month which is cool. So it’s definitely very autumn-ny to say the least. Lots of undertones of pumpkin, dirt, smoke and so fourth. Lather was of good quality as well considering it is vegan!

TODAY’s CHALLENGE: This is my first time using the sink to rinse my razor. I usually just let the hot water pass over it. Can’t say the water stayed hot very long but I was surprised to see how much stubble I got. Nevertheless had to explain to my wife that I was going to clean it all up and that it was another challenge from my “silly” (her words!!!) Reddit shaving Olympics!! Ya’ll have a good one.

ROTY

July 18, 2023 – Spooky Season

• Brush: APShaveCo w/ 24mm Cashmere Fan
• Razor: Razorock Hawk v2
• Blade: Feather ProGuard (AC) (11)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana

Challenge: Here you go, sickos.

This soap is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
It also smells like bourbon. B-O-U-R-B-O-N.

Southern Witchcrafts use both the words “spooky” and “autumn” in their description of the soap.. This is a fun fragrance. As soon as I started loading my brush I smelled banana candy. It’s a boozy fragrance with a strong bourbon note. The rest of the soap fragrance is a mix of pumpkin, floral vanilla, and a hint of something earthy. The sweetness and banana give it a plasticy runt candy vibe. If you’re the type of person that needs to drink to get through a night of trick-or-treaters knocking on your door, or if you just have a nose and think this sounds interesting, this is for you.

The aftershave projects the fragrance quite a bit. The fragrance in the splash comes off a bit spicy with the tobacco note coming through a bit. The sweetness has a caramel syrup quality to it. The banana is closer to banana ice cream (chunky monkey, anyone?) than candy. The fragrance is strong enough that I’d want to be careful what cologne I paired it with.

The edp has a lot of the tobacco note present. I get a lot of pumpkin, and a bit of banana. The bourbon note comes through underneath the tobacco. There’s a note of something earthy / dirty. This is the most wearable expression, although I do enjoy the big banana note in the soap while shaving.

#FOF

July 18, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/xfGOMkb

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (3)

Lather: Zingari Man - The Merchant Shave Soap

Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Recovery Splash

Zingari Man - The Merchant Aftershave Balm

This scent hits a lot of notes. And with more than a hint of clove, pink pepper, and "woods" I think it more than qualifies for Woody Spicy

Challenge: Why?

#ROTY

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Bone - 28mm B16
• Razor: Wolfman Razors - WR2 0.75 DC x WRH2
• Blade: Personna Med Prep
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Hallows - Aftershave

Day 18 of Lather Games: Had to break out a new tub of Hallows... so good, any excuse is to use it is welcome.

July. 18, 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: Southern Witchcraft - Samhain
• Post Shave: Nivea Men - Sensitive Soothing Aftershave Balm

I like many others chose Samhain. It's so good to see how many people have this. It's definitely one of my favorite scents of all time.

ROTY

DAY 18 LATHER GAMES! BOO!

• Prep: Water
• Brush: DS Cosmetics 30mm Tuxedo Knot
• Razor: Blackland Vector
• Blade: Chinese(7)
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Cosecha Catalana
• Post Shave: Gentleman's Nod - Cosecha Catalana splash
• Fragrance: Antonio Puig - Agua Brava

​

PIC OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

​

Damn calendar, ruining my plans. Today would have been such a great fit for Tres Matres which is based on the horror movie "Suspiria" which did have a remake in 2018. But points I guess.....

​

SOAP

Anyways, I went with a different route which is Cosecha Catalana by Gentleman's Nod. This is a scent that when it got to our group in Bulgaria, everyone went nuts over it, except me(cause I'm a pretentious cunt), but it did spark the mania for getting soaps by Gentleman's Nod in their C4 base. I gotta admit that their scent, Juniper Reverie, especially in the EdP is one of the finest things I've smelled!!! Simply amazing! This one though, while I recognize it is a good scent, it doesn't really tickle my nose the way I liked it to be tickled!

DAILY THEME

Yes I am on theme today with a fall scent, but it would have been more awesome to have incorporated something that was actually spooky... So I will leave you with a boring story.

Some might have experienced sleep paralysis at some point in their life. I forget when it was actually the first time it happened to me, around 5-6 years ago. I had heard about it but never cared that much to read about it. And then it happened.... It was so surreal, sends shivers down my spine. At one moment I was falling asleep and a second later I could not breathe as though someone had grabbed my throat and was choking me. Furthermore all my senses were tingling, my hair was standing up like lightning was about to strike near me. I was in my room but everything was different, and then I saw it, a shadow figure in the corner of the room, before I could fixate my gaze it was in front of my face. Words escape me to this day to explain what hellish creature was in front of me. That was the braking point of my mind where I started actually screaming and woke up and stood up, drenched in sweat. The whole experience lasted a minute or less, but for me it felt like ages. That night I learned the true meaning of fear. All previous fears that I have had, like fear from heights paled in comparison. Truly if hell existed, at that moment I thought that being trapped in it was a similar experience. Sleep has never been the same afterwards. Fear truly is the mind killer....

​

DAILY CHALLENGE

Don't know about the 2020 LG, but last year there was no such thing, much like the daily challenge for tomorrow. Either the djudges are getting crazier, or I'm getting more normal, but having in mind I snorted OSMA yesterday, I'd say it's the first.

Here you go..... Honestly with such a challenge it really is hard to get inventive into what crazy thing one could do.... I had the idea of drinking the damn glass, but then thought, naaaah too icky, also soap might fuck up my innards. I chose the glass cause I hadn't yet decided whether I would drink it, but when I looked at it, I lost my appetite...

​

#FOF

Man reading some of the latest posts I did for the FOF, I ain't placing anywhere.... I even thought about stopping and not putting any more effort until the end, but then I remembered "never half-ass stuff".

So why Agua Brava? Well it's a fragrance that my father really likes and it is a very masculine chypre scent that projects confidence, combined with the warmth of Cosecha Catalana gives you a great experience of what a fall can smell, albeit a more positive and non-gloomy fall.

• Daily Lather Themes: 18/30
• Daily Challenges: 18/30
• Hardware Scavenger Hunt: 14/20
• Hardware Vendor Points: 1/2
• Software Vendor Points: 8/13
• Software Vendor Bonus Point: 0/1
• 30 Different Soap Brands Point: 18/30
• 30 Different Soaps On Theme Bonus Point: 18/30
• 30 Different Post-Shaves Bonus Point: 18/30
• 30 Different Fragrances Bonus Point: 18/30

• Brush: Zenith MOARBoar #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Perma Sharp
• Shave Soap: Southern Witchcraft - Boonana shave soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcraft - Boonana aftershave splash
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - City on Fire

What’s scarier than a banana? A smokey banana. Just check out those bats- this has Halloween written all over it.

shave shave bowl

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks purple burl AP Shave Co. 24mm MiG
• Razor: Karve CB
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Macduffs Soap Company – Autumn Cabin

This is gross, enjoy!

I went with the autumn part of the theme today. I definitely don’t use this soap enough. It has just the right amount of smokiness and dampness reminiscent of a fall day. After a long day outside I felt like coming back to the fireplace in the autumn cabin. I got an enormous amount of pineyness upfront (I thought I grabbed Tis the season by accident for a second). It really settled down to a beautiful piney/woody smoky maple sweetness. The two scents have been by far the best complimentary scents I have used. My wife who dislikes 90% of everything I use and then gives an “it’s alright” for 9.5% said she couldn’t get enough of smelling my face today. Looks like I got a new favorite too.

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Chisel and Hound/Mammoth Voices V16
• Razor: OneBlade Genesis
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: First Canadian Shave – Jack
• Post Shave: First Canadian Shave – Jack
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain

While First Canadian Shave may be better known for their soap based on the literary works of Charles Dickens -- Jack is "A wonderful fall scent with notes of pumpkin spiced bourbon, scotch, sandalwood, and oak moss.". Definitely a warm, boozy, gourmand fall scent.

Southern Witchcrafts' Samhain is likewise a warm and boozy, slightly less sweet fall scent. I think they pair quite well.

#ROTY

Jul. 18, 2023
Brush: AP SHAVECO AP400B XL 28 mm (G5C)
Razor: Karve CB SS SB (B Plate)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1) * Lather: HC&C - Empire State of Mind Shave Soap (Hendrix Classics & Co Pasteur's Exclusive) - Soap
Post Shave: HC&C - Empire State of Mind Shave Soap (Hendrix Classics & Co Pasteur's Exclusive) - Aftershave
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - AS Balm (Unscented)

This soap is a dupe of Dior Savage Elixir. It’s spicy and woodsy: “Sauvage Elixir is an extraordinarily* concentrated fragrance steeped in the emblematic freshness of Sauvage with an intoxicating heart of spices, a "tailor-made" lavender essence and a blend of rich woods forming the signature of its powerful, lavish and captivating trail.”

ROTY

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

July 18, 2023

• Brush: Boti – Stump 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Executive Fatboy
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co – Wayoh Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co – Wayoh Splash
• Fragrance: Azzaro - The Most Wanted Parfum

Woody Spicy on Woody Spicy on Woody Spicy. That’s the theme of my shave today! I’m not sure I ever much paid attention to the term “Woody Spicy” before, but I realized I have quite a few scents that would be considered woody spicy. If nothing else, I’ve learned a TON about fragrances thanks to these here Lather Games. I’ve also bought a ton of samples to fill out the calendar, and I’ve really liked so many things that my wallet is going to be hurting when this is all said and done.

Chicago Grooming Co’s Wayoh is a dupe of Viktor and Rolf’s Spice Bomb, which is “woody spicy” and Azzaro – The Most Wanted is also woody-spicy, so they go perfectly together! Wayoh has a teensy tiny bit of sweetness in there and The Most Wanted is darker, but they are both extraordinarily similar. #FOF

Since today is in honor of Autumn, Pumpkin Spice, and Halloween, I’m going to present to you: My list of the Top 10 Most Underrated Halloween Candies to get as a trick or treater. Remember coming home from a long night of trick or treating dumping out your bag and finding you got a bag full of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, or M&Ms? Sure, those candies are all delicious, but getting a fun-sized Snickers bar on Halloween is like getting a Barbershop Scented Shave Soap: BORING!

So here is iamhonestlylying’s Top 10 Most Underrated Halloween Candies:

10) 100 Grand

9) Sour Patch Kids

8) Dots

7) Skittles

6) Rolos

5) Swedish Fish

4) Sugar Babies

3) Reese’s Take 5

2) Mike and Ike’s

1)Reese’s Pieces

Honorable Mention: Those fruit flavored Tootsie Rolls. Specifically the Vanilla Ones, however, my mom wouldn’t ever let us eat anything like that on Halloween because they weren’t hermetically sealed and she was convinced someone would put a razor blade in them. So I'm not including them on a Halloween candy list but they are 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CHALLENGE

Ummmmm. I’m a little weirded out right now.

July 18, 2023 – Spooky Season

• Brush: Paladin Chief 26mm Satin Juma Smoke
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Astra SP (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: First Line Shave – The Weight
• Fragrance: Duke Cannon – Saw Tooth

The Shave: While I’m not a fan of this scent, the Southern Witchcrafts base is definitely fantastic. It lathered up easily for a smooth shave. What wasn’t as easy was trying to gather up my trimmings for the challenge. I decided to use a glass cup to facilitate this and make for easier picture, but the basin would have been much easier for the actual shave. There was so little water in the cup I almost felt like I was putting more hair on my face than I was taking off in the later passes.

Post Shave: For my post shave I went with The weight for 2 reasons. First it just smells like fall to me. The patchouli with the tobacco gives it that earthy with the saffron and pink pepper notes providing some spice. Second, it reminds me of fall hog hunting with the gunpowder notes. After the splash I tossed on a little Saw Tooth which has both cedar and amber notes to round out the fall theme.

Challenge: Yep I collected my shavings in a cup. Then I got to thinking, what could I use them for. So I collected the shavings as best I could on a paper towel and allowed it to dry before doing a little arts and crafts. Admittedly shavings are an awful medium to work with. I even did a little online research to find other options for the shavings. Now I have 2 boys myself who, on occasion, shave with dad. It’s a great way to connect with your boys, but I want to help those of you with little girls that might not want to shave like dad and dad likely doesn’t want to shave their legs. I have the answer to that gentlemen. Now you too can shave with your daughters and nieces and not just in their play kitchens u/OnionMiasma, u/iamhonestlylying, and u/tsrblke. Just a note, I did not make the Barbies, but if you gentlemen need help with it I got you.

#ROTY

Tuesday, the 18th of July, 2023

• Brush: Zenith 502BC
• Razor: Gillette travel Tech #JETSETTER
• Blade: Gillette Rubie (29)
• Lather: Murphy & McNeil - Magh Tured
• Post shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Gothique

I, uh, decided to spare the honorable djudges a picture of lather with cut hair in it.

Magh Tured is allegedly an "homage" to Tom Ford Oud Wood. Murphy & McNeil describes it as "spicy and woody," and that was enough for me to pick it today. Although now that I look, Fragrantica describes Oud Wood as an "Amber Woody fragrance." Amber may be categorized as an "animalic," and Oud Wood is not present in their "woody spicy" category.

Well, crap. Am I arguing myself into a DQ today? I hope not. Even different batches of the same fragrance by the same producer can differ, and dupes might vary a little as well. I'll also point out that despite how the fragrance is categorized, the #3 accord in Fragrantica's ranking for Oud Wood is "warm spicy," while "amber" is #8, below even the #7 accord "fresh spicy." The notes for Oud Wood include cardamom, Sichuan pepper, vanilla, and tonka bean, all of which are indeed spice notes. As I perceive the scent from the soap, I'd say I do not find neither amber nor the spices particularly prominent.

Therefore, given their own profile of the fragrance, it sure looks like this could as easily be categorized "woody spicy" as much as "amber woody." One of the characteristics they note for "woody spicy" is "warm, bitter spices," with pepper as an example... cardamom fits this profile, as does Sichuan pepper, even if vanilla and tonka bean do not.

I'm posting this pretty late in the day, so I dunno if anyone will catch this, but please, if you've smelled Magh Tured or Oud Wood, please weigh in. Am I off my rocker here?

I'll also tag this #FOF so there's another post near the bottom of that stack.

In other news, I finally have electricity again! No more visiting the public library to keep things charged, or trying to be judicious with the hotspot data usage.

Oh, and I shouldn't forget the splash or perfume today. While I'm not going to make the argument that Labyrinth could also be a "woody spicy" fragrance, I do think the scent goes quite well with what remains of the soap scent after the shave. And of course Fougère Gothique is expressly an Autumn scent. Overall it's a good setup, and I got a good shave today.

July 18, 2023 Spooky Season

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Skull Brush 21mm Synth
• Razor: Blackland Dart
• Blade: Voskhod (11)
• Lather: Soap Commander - Heritage
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II

Heritage was the 2021 Fall scent from Soap Commander. The scent makes it a fan favorite in my household and a joy to use. I was able to whip up a wonderful lather that, quite frankly, makes me wonder why I don't use it more often. Paired with the Dart, I started the day with pretty much the perfect shave. Rounded the shave off with Gravefruit II aftershave and frag. SW states that "Gravefruit II combines notes of bright citrus with dark woods and intricate florals to create a highly-nuanced scent profile that is perfect for crisp Autumn weather". With that being said all the software is linked by being on theme for today.

Challenge - We spend the last couple weeks listening to the djudges asking us to be considerate and keep our posts short. Then they go and do this challenge and expect us to remain sympathetic? I think this challenge may be a cry for help to be honest. Has anyone checked on them recently?!

July 17, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 18

• Brush: Ever-Ready 100 Boar #ANCIENT #HOLLOW #RUNT
• Razor: Rex Supply Co. Ambassador XL Adjustable
• Blade: Treet Carbon Steel (3)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Cedar & Spice
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original AS Lotion
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original EdC
• Music: Metallica - Atlas, Rise!

Daily Theme: CF Cedar & Spice prominently features woody spicy accords. According to Fragrantica, the following Cedar & Spice notes are considered woody: Cedar, Guaiac Wood, Haitian Vetiver, & Patchouli; and the following Cedar & Spice notes are considered spicy: Black Pepper, Clove, and Ginger. Juniper Berries and Lime notes are also added to "keep things from getting boring".

The Challenge: Being in/associated with the military for four decades, daily face shaving is all I know. Joining a month-long Atlas Shave Challenge is not something I would normally do. Taking part in today's Atlas Shave Day challenge, now that's a different story. Here's the proof: Lather catching, Whisker straining, and Atlas results.

The Shave: I was concerned that my lather technique wasn't good enough for The Runt, but The CF base and The Runt got along famously and quickly built quality lather. During the shave I focused too much on lather catching and ended up with a CCS. I really like the CF base, but scent-wise the Cedar & Spice was just ok to me. I remedied that by applied a bit of Tabac magic post-shave. #ROTY

Jul. 18, 2023
Brush: AP Shave Co G5C
Razor: Karve CB
Blade: Astra SP Green
Lather: Barrister And Mann - Bay Rum - Soap
Post Shave:* Zingari Man - Unscented - Balm

Spicy bay rum. Also waited until the evening for maximum whiskers.

https://imgur.com/a/6RhVE1n

ROTY

July 18, 2023  

• Brush: Century – Pure Bristle  
• Razor: Gillette Tech  
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)   
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain  

Theme: It smells like pumpkin. There is a little jack o lantern on the label art.

Challenge: have we checked on the judges? Made sure there’s no bodies in the freezer? Cause asking for pics of used lather is….I’m concerned about what’s being done with these pics.

18 July 2023 Complementary Non Dickkhole Barrister and Mann The Full Measure of Man

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Ebony 28mm SHD Badger Fan
• Razor: Gillette Red Tip
• Blade: Gillette Red Tip (17)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man (12)
• Post Shave: Tallow & Steel - 7x A/S
• Post Shave: Thayer's Concoction
• Post Shave: Cold River Soapworks - Sandalwood Post Shave Lotion
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man Balm
• Fragrance: Slumberhouse - Baque

Does anything scream fall more than the scent of richly appointed libraries, peppered with winged leather armchairs, a glass of fine whiskey, and the smell of aging teak and mahogany wafting from the shelves?

Cheers

July 18, 2023 * Brush: Yaqi Moka Express 24mm * Razor: Karve CB OC B * Blade: Gillette Silver Blue * Lather: Oz Shaving Co - Jack Pumpkin Head - Soap * Post Shave: Oz Shaving Co - Jack Pumpkin Head - Aftershave * Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain - EdP

Woooo doggy! The opening blast off this tub gives me Hobby Lobby vibes. The cinnamon and nutmeg spice bomb. Apparently this soap is made with a boozy malt pumpkin lager as well as real pumpkin too. After the initial assault, it's really not too shabby though. The incense and oud provide a sweet, warm base. The soap quality was also surprisingly nice. I usually only bust this out 1x a year for LG, as SW Samhain is my go to fall soap. I'll have to remember this shave and revisit this set more this coming fall.

I didn't realize how nasty some of y'all mofos are. Y'all naaaaastyyyyy. If a sink full of hair shavings triggers you, consider this your warning and don't click. Don't mind the old sink with water stains. Here's the daily challenge.. Apparently my beard doesn't grow as fast as some of yours. I had to take close ups to capture any of the shavings.