July 23, 2023 – Spark joy day

• Brush: DG 14/ Dowgood Handcraft – Sonder release
• Razor: Böker – Elite Carbon 2.0
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Fragrance: Yves saint laurent – Y

Lather audit. I put a lot of pressure on myself today. As I recently won the DG brush, I wanted to test it, and today is the first day I was able to do so. No lather challenge, except: “Try to make the best lather you can.” Maybe I am boring, or do not udnerstand this challenge. Is this the r/wetshaving pendant to r/roastme?
More importantly I was afraid of u/Phteven_j. What if he sees my lather and goes full ”Taken” mode?

#FOF
Soap:
The soap choice was pretty easy for me. Whenever I give people a den tour, as we have guests over, at some point I ll pick SSL. It is refreshing, inoffensive, but there is more depth to it than just lime. Spicy pepper, the sea spray taking you to a holiday at the beach. Unfortunately this soap is not yet available in the Highland base, but the 20.1 base does not need to hide.

Shave:
I was curious about the brush, and will focus on it, as it is new to me and DB brushes are always in the top 3 worldwide. Once soaked, I could watch how it swallowed the lather like watching a pipette pulling liquid. In my f2 mug, you can barely see any of the soap thats too dry. After lathering in my f1 mug and put the brush to my face, it was a completely new experience to me. Lots of backbone, but without beeing scratchy, without too much backbone and stiffness that make it difficult to lather my face and force me to “paint” the lather. So good.
Wait? f1, f2? What?
For my lather audit, I used the successor of u/Merikus GUTL method, the fmf method, to get even better lather.
To keep things short, we add a third mug, with to dry soap to the GUTL method and then iterate between the mugs and face as we need it.
result in the mug, result on face
Once the lather was done, the rest of the shave was no effort and fun.

Aftershave:
I did not want to clash scents and went again with SSL for reasons you read above. Lucky for us europeans, there is a toner without alcohol that we can buy from Maggards.

Fragrance:
My GF recommended me that fragrance because of Insta where it was praised at a scent that would make her “eat me up”(?). With bergamot and citrus we have a classic start, which then goes over geranium and woody accords. As I learned a few days ago, a classic fougere.
There is also some ginger and incense in it to make it a bit spicy and… the incense gives it a mysterious vibe. There is a bit to explore in the scent and I should not write down a quick first impression. Minute by minute it pulls me in and gets interessting with its combination of freshness, woody spice and the well placed incense.

July 23, 2023 – LG Day 23 – Compliments and Audits

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Razorock Mamba 70
• Blade: Lord Classic
• Lather: Wickham Soap Co. – Club Cola
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Monoi de Tahiti
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Unknown Pleasures

Ah, hello there! Sorry, I thought the IRS was coming tomorrow…did I miss a call saying you were coming today instead? What? You’re not the IRS? The Internal LATHERING Service? Oh, okay…well, welcome to my bathroom, I guess. Pardon the mess, I really wasn’t expecting you. I guess that’s the point of an audit, right? If I was expecting you then I would have time to hide things…not that I have anything to hide!!! No, nothing to hide here! Sorry, let me show you around.

Well, over here is my Razorock Mamba 70 razor, loaded with a Lord Classic. I know, it’s not the most popular blade, but it works just fine. It’s a pretty good shaver, mild, but it does the trick. It’s nice to be able to turn off my brain once in a while…no! I didn’t meant that, I promise — I’m always paying attention! Not falling asleep on the job, no siree, not me!

How’s my lather? Well, I used Wickham Club Cola today. 1912 vintage, vegetal…nice and cruelty free! Although tallow might make it a little softer and easier to load…but you can’t beat that smell! I mean, do you get that enchanting aroma? I get compliments on this all the time. My partner loves it. No! I mean my domestic partner. No, she’s not an employee…oh, well, I guess you wouldn’t care about that. Sorry, I really wasn’t prepared for you, I’ve been preparing for the IRS, getting files in order, all that. Anyway, this gives a slick shave, and a rewarding lather if you put in the effort.

You want to see my lather? That’s a bit personal, don’t you think? Maybe you want to hear about my splash and fragrance first. Check out this Monoi de Tahiti. Floral, sweet vanilla, some tropical coconut, ginger, lime…you’ve gotta love it. Everyone does. It just makes you imagine you’re at the beach, drinking a tropical beverage, and not in your bathroom with strangers…oh, did I say that out load? I’m so, so sorry. I don’t mind that you’re here at all! Wait, what are you writing down? I didn’t mean it, sir, I promise! Don’t you want to hear about Unknown Pleasures? Tea, honey, lemon, vanilla…it’s like being at one of those coffee shops that makes affogatos, you know? And the sweetness here really just doubles…no, triples down on my fragrances today. What a beautiful, sweet, vanilla shave. Don’t you wanna tell me I smell nice? Everybody does. That’s not professional, you say? I’m so sorry, sir. Just trying to make sure you understand where I’m coming from…but I guess you’re not here to audit my #FOF, are you…

Okay, okay, I know. You wanna see my lather. Let me just whip that up real quick…no, no, I’m gonna head lather as usual. No precision lathering, no GUTL, I don’t want you to think I’m cheating. If you see the real thing, you promise you’ll leave? You’ll close my case? I really don’t have time for another audit from you guys. Okay, okay. Here you go. Be kind, please. You want to see the back, too?! That’s not exactly what most people would call safe for work, you know…okay, okay, fine. Here’s the back. That’s all there is to see!

Now you’ve seen my lather, front and back. Are you done? I have an actual audit to prepare for. Wait a second, you never showed me any identification! Who are you really? How did you get in my house?! Why are you locking the door?!?

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

• Razor: Blackland Blackbird

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Noble Otter - Northern Elixir

• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth Black Watch

• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Admiral

Today's Theme: What is that enchanting aroma? - The specific combination of Northern Elixir and Black Watch is what my fiancee calls "the sexy soap." She doesn't pay particularly close attention to the specifics of this wild and wacky hobby of mine, but if I use one without the other she's totally unimpressed, whereas the combination of the two is her absolute favorite on me.

Today's Challenge: Lather Audit - So I'm a strong believer that the zero-bubble greek yogurt crowd is severely under-hydrating their lather. But if you must, you're welcome to poke fun at my lather.

My theme for today's shave: Small Coastal Towns

So with Northern Elixir and Black Watch already set up for today, the question was how would I tie it all together in a final fragrance? Well, despite Northern Elixir and Black Watch sharing pretty much zero scent notes, one of the things they do share is a sort of coastal vibe. Both remind me of cold mornings on the Pacific coast down in San Luis Obispo where the sea spray and rocky terrain mingle in heavy fog every morning. So I picked Admiral, which is more of a riverboat scent than a coastal scent, but kind of calls to mind the smell of a coffee shop's exterior. Yes, I know that sentence sounds like a ChatGPT response, but bear with me. Admiral kind of smells like the kind of small town coffee shop's exterior where you just know all they serve is lavender lattes and old books.

OK maybe I am just a confused robot, but today's fragrance progression really does take me back to getting coffee in a small town just off the Pacific Coast Highway somewhere between Monterey and SLO where the weather is rarely hot and the mornings are always foggy.

For music, I picked Sonata Arctica's Silence. My personal favorite of theirs, although Winterhearts Guild probably gets more play from their fanbase. Great power metal album that is all about pushing through hard times, heartbreak, and the inner machinations of a stalker. If that doesn't interest you then I don't want to be your friend. #photocontest #FOF #ROTY

July 23, 2023 – My Children are my only complimenters.

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: Gillette Superspeed
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Sharpedge (Yellow) (1)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Banana
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Traditionalist
• Fragrance: Creed – Aventus Cologne

Ok. Before any not u/j33pguy13 judge reaches for the DQ button, allow me to explain. This is not a wild gambit to get u/j33pguy13 to give me a legendary point. I had thought this out before I knew he was gonna be a judge. Today’s theme is “product that gets you the most compliments.” Now a Creed dupe or something classy from HoM would be an easy play. But also not me. I work from home 3 days a week, and my wife doesn’t care much for my fragrance choices. But if yesterday’s SOTD video showed anything it’s that my kids get a kick out of this whole thing and are always telling me what’s good, what’s bad and what they want to lather and pretend with. So I let them choose and this is the result. They love the banana. It beats out other fruit scents (Runaway) and flower scents (Rose of Phyrgria) which are distant second and 3rd accordingly. But wait there’s more! My #fof today is my craziest. Now u/pridetwo beat me to banana split yesterday, but, with due respect, it was sorta Meh (banana and an ice cream cone who serves a split in a cone?) So let me walk you through this: banana, obvious here. Traditionalist: the vanilla and musk here smell EXACTLY like the mix you put in a frozen custard machine. (The cream and eggs give an oddly musky tone to the vanilla.) Now Shawn Maher perfumed this, and he pulls from his STL experience, maybe this was intentional, maybe it’s my sus nose. But that’s what I get. Finally the Aventus Cologne. It’s not as pineapple forward as Aventus regular, but it’s citrus fruity, and it works to complete the stack. That’s right, this is my kids’ favorite set: the banana split. Complete with ice cream smells. (My wife likes the adventus too so 1 for 3).

Challenge: CF is the only soap I exclusively face lather and exclusively with a boar brush. So here’s some pics of my face and my brush. Go ahead sub, roast me, give me 1s!

For #photocontest. On the surface this looks llke a horrible SOTD post. And as a display of gear it is. The creed is basically hidden. But it was challenging to get. Since today is about my kids I bent the no kids rule to be no kids’ faces. This is my entry for “society” and can be seen 2 ways. The background is my son pretending to shave his face with my empty 96R. So it’s either shaving (something many people do every day) or parenting (also something many people do every day.) After leg day he wanted to get a picture and video shaving too. He also asked if he was gonna “win the games. ” And he’s using banana soap of course. I will refrain from the argument he’s an honorary sub member and that this should count for 30 points.)

OK #ROTY folks, home stretch, last week coming up. Let’s finish strong. No more dropouts.

Edit: many embarrassing typos.

2023-07-23 What's that smell?

• Brush: Yaqi Metal Timberwolf
• Razor: Gillette Travel Tech (J3: 1964) #JETSETTER
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Oro Valley
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Oro Valley
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Oro Valley

Relevant Post-Shave and Fragrance: Trickhole.

What is that enchanting aroma?:
Wait, you guys are getting compliments?
I'm just going to make the excuse that I don't generally have a habit of getting close enough to people—wait, uh, close enough in physical proximity for them to get a whiff. Yeah, that's it. Not the other thing.
That said, I have presented my ridiculous soap-filled cabinet to a small few people who, after smelling a number of scents therein, request a re-sniff of Oro Valley, agreeing that it is indeed phenomenal.

#FOF
Oro Valley is a dupe of Tom Ford's Ombre Leather. Honestly, the main reason I bought this is because of the name (it's not the first time I bought a soap for this reason, and it was far from the last), plus the promise of jasmine seemed, well, promising. I assume that u/stirlingsoap chose the name because they wanted something to evoke the US southwest and isn't so close to Tuscan to cause confusion, plus Valley has an idyllic connotation to it. I couldn't help but want to find out what kind of scent Stirling would name after such a place. Once it hit my nostrils, I immediately got the whole set.
That was the direction of causality: I was curious because of the name, and after that I fell in love with the scent. Don't want anyone thinking I chose this for today just because of the place for which it's named (that part's just convenient).

I assume that the noses under which I've shoved this scent appreciate it for the same reasons that I do. My overall impression is that the leather is masculine and earthy without being too dark or rugged. Cardamom is quite prominent; it is close to being too much, but it mellows out after not too long. It seems to fill a transitional space between the leather and jasmine—so much so that I hesitate to say I can pick the jasmine out, but I believe it's there.

Side note: if you're following along (why would you?), you may recall that I had a couple other run-ins with cardamom earlier this month, at which point I was like, "I don't even know what this is!" I since just went and grabbed a jar of the cardamom spice and bam I know what it smells like. It seems obvious, but if you—like me—feel uncertain with a lot of scents, just find the thing in isolation and (if you can) compare it to scents that purport to contain that scent note. It came in super handy yesterday, when I was hesitant about the berry-ness of Spitfire, and then it was super-obvious that that scent is packed with juniper after I stuck a bunch of juniper berries up my nostrils.

Challenge Accepted

#photocontest
Photo: Scenery

I took a little trip to the soap's namesake.

There's still going to be an "outside" challenge eventually, isn't there? I was really hoping it was going to be today. We've finally started getting some rain, lowering our high to 107/42 today (during the past week, we hit 113/45 for a couple days). Obviously, I brought some drinking water—ahem, some drinking water. It turned out not being too bad, though; I left before the sun, and there was also generous cloud-cover.
(Edit: As I update this in the afternoon, now back at home, it's 110 with a "feels like" of 111 (like that matters). It's fucking death out there. Technically cooler than last week, though.)

I had no idea where I was going to go, but I noticed a sign for a state park. I thought that sounded promising, but I noped out of there after seeing signs about park fees and then a scary-looking ranger began to emerge from the ranger station. Nah, I'm sure he was a friendly chap, but I still left. I decided instead to go to the empty parking lot of a government subcontractor I briefly worked for a few years ago. I'm totally revealing too much information about myself now, but oh well.

It's too bad the depth of field in my phone's camera is limited, but watcha gonna do? I shaved there in the parking lot, eyeing a lone white van that also happened to be there for some reason, and that big bag of water came in quite handy.

July 23, 2023

• Brush: TerraFirma Soapery Deep Blue - Oumo Best 3 Color Synthetic 28mm
• Razor: Gillette Tech
• Blade: Feather
• Lather: Hoffman’s Shaving Company – Cooookie Monster Soap
• Post Shave: Elysian – Maple Coffee Splash
• Fragrance: Hoffman’s Shaving Company – Affogato EdP
• Music: Sesame Street – C is for Cookie

First things first. I want to address the figurative mammoth in the room and call for a truce with u/MrTangerinesky. Wacky shaving hijinks are funny, but our Spite Shave feud clearly went too far yesterday and shaving while driving is not a good idea. So, I wave the white flag of surrender and hereby withdraw from this feud. I don’t want to be the reason anyone does anything potentially dangerous. From here on out, I’m gonna stay in my lane - and be thankful that you stayed in your lane yesterday.

Now, onto the regular post:

What is this enchanting aroma? It’s chocolate chip cookies! As the self-proclaimed Gourmand King, this shouldn’t surprise anyone following my posts. I love products that smell like delicious food *Cough, cough*. I fully recognize that a chocolate chip cookie soap isn’t for everyone, but it’s probably my favorite. Smells just like chocolate chip cookies and reminds me of my childhood, just crushing Chips-Ahoy and drowning each one in a glass of milk. As soon as I open the tub, I’m hit with a sensory blast of nostalgia. This is such a fun soap to shave with. And my wife and kids love it too. Some time ago, my wife asked how our favorite artisans can make soaps that smell like cookies or coffee or rocket pops, and I honestly don’t have a good answer. Science, I guess. But everyone in my household loves when I shave with fun, delicious scents like Coookie Monster.

I decided to stick to gourmand and use Elysian’s Maple Coffee Splash for the common theme of delicious things I want to put in my mouth today. This splash is way sweeter than I usually drink my coffee, but it smells wonderful and is a great addition to a chocolate chip cookie soap. And finally, for today’s fragrance I’m riding with Hoffman’s again, and matching the coffee splash with a different coffee frag and using Affogato EdP. It smells AWESOME! Coffee, cream and sugar – yum, yum, yum. None of these scents are the most sophisticated or most complicated in my den, but I love all three them and I get complements when I wear them. If you walked by me today, I’d smell like an upscale bakery or fancy coffee shop. #FOF win for The Gourmand King!

Quick sidenote: Did you guys know that cookies are a “sometimes food” for the Cookie Monster now?? And he only eats ONE AT A TIME??? I was reading a Sesame Street book to my toddlers and was flabbergasted when Cookie Monster started talking about eating apples, bananas, peas, corn, and healthy food! It’s not right. He’s not the “Well-Balanced-Diet Monster”. He’s the COOKIE MONSTER. He has one job and it’s to eat cookies nonstop! Ughhhh… Poor Cookie Monster…

For the challenge, audit this lather!

My #photocontest is dedicated to r/wicked_edge. Blurry Photo: Check. Feather Blades: Check. Picture of my neck: Check. Razor baseplate installed upside down: Check (but hard to see because it’s blurry because it’s wickededge).

P.S. – The fact I had to actually type out that first paragraph seems like fake life to me.

I was fortunate enough to talk to Robert Cipolla, who started Hoffman’s Shaving Company a year ago this month. The fun scents drew me into his offering and I’ve been hooked since I first tried his stuff last November. His soap base is really good and he is pumping out a ton of unique scent options. When I reached out to Robert, he asked for a phone call, instead of doing this over email because it’s more personal. That’s the type of guy he is. He and I spent like 30 minutes on the phone shooting the shit about shaving, our shared traits, and his company. It was honestly an absolute delight and I really appreciate the time he gave me for this silly series. Super nice dude who is doing his best to make his mark in a crowded space. He’s not on reddit, so I can’t tag him, but he reminded me a lot of the guys I know in real life. Really down to earth and appreciative for the people that support him.

10 Questions with… Hoffman’s Shaving Company

1) The artwork on your labels is very cool. Do you design the labels yourself, or does someone else do that for you?

I design them all. Sometimes I have an illustrator do the color work because there’s not enough hours in the day. But 90% of it is all in house. I’m a graphic designer by trade, and web designer and marketer, so it kinda makes sense to me. I like scents. I like artwork. That’s kinda how I built it. We try to make it fun and tell a story.

2) Your scents are fun. My favorite one, Coooki Monster, smells like chocolate chip cookies. You also have one that smells like Red Candy Fish and another scented like a Root Beer Float. Which is your favorite scent?

Ooof… I have my heart in all of them. Gourmand would have to be Red Hallow. It’s a red maple and French vanilla – it’s a phenomenal, phenomenal scent. Regular scentwise… I gotta go with Burn the Ships. Or The Great Reset. It’s like a Barbershop on steroids.

3) The Root Beer Float scent is called “Space Boy”. What do you think the most difficult part of being an astronaut would be?

Not making it home. I want this to be a two-way trip, you know? And also I gotta know if I’m allowed to bring my shave stuff!

4) Did scientists do Pluto wrong by stripping it of its status as a Planet?

I don’t think anybody gives a shit. If I can’t see it, I’m not concerned about it.

5) When I previously ordered from you, you included a Swedish Fish in the order, which was delicious and appreciated. Why Swedish Fish?

I have fond memories of walking the boardwalk as a child with my dad and everytime we would go to the boardwalk at Seaside, NJ, I would try to win this 5lb box of Swedish Fish. And we’re all chasing that nostalgia and I want people to knonw we’re a fun company and make getting a package from us fun and exciting.

6) You also have a Swedish Fish scented soap/splash/EDP, so you seem to be up for anything. Are there any scent notes you won’t produce because you’re not a fan of them?

Anything menthol. I want nothing to do with it. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

And I’ve had people ask me to do a motor oil scent and I’m just like “Noooooope”

INTERVIEW CONTINUED IN THE REPLY

LG23-23: "What IS that enchanting aroma?"

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 26mm AP Shave Co. Gelousy SHD
• Razor: Wolfman Razors WR2-DC 0.95 SB / 1.25 OC #CNC
• Blade: Voskhod (16)
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Essentials - Shave Soap
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon's - 53 East and 51st - Aftershave Tonic
• Fragrance: Day Three Fragrances - Midnight Whisper
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Burundi, Kayanza - v: Red Bourbon, Jackson - p: Washed
• Music: Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
• LG Tags: #FOF

I shower after I shave; any compliments I'm getting are about my aftershave or fragrance (probably the latter), not my soap. Fortunately, my wife always reacts favorably to a few, and one of those options stood out as the best fit for today's theme.

The Essentials was a fundraising release that resurrected ZM's older Lothario scent, a fresh blend of tobacco, bergamot, and bay leaf. The bay leaf tames the tobacco's pungent qualities, while the zesty bergamot makes it lively and invigorating, instead of heavy and smoky. It's a handsome combination. I'm not one for gendering fragrances—that's all culturally-defined and full of normative baggage anyway—but Essentials/Lothario smells like it's intended to read as masculine. Brian Fantana approved.

While I'm on the topic of shave soap, today's a good day for a lather audit. I didn't shave my face yesterday (🧼🪒🦵) and have more stubble to mow down than usual; that's the kind of shave that puts a crummy lather to the test. I thought mine was a good one, but you be the judge. I also snapped a photo of my lathered brush and all the lather squeezed out of the brush after my shave. No stiff peaks, lots of shine, minimal bubbles, and protective density.

I followed up my shave by taking our suave playboy into the evening, splashing on a nightcap aftershave and finishing with a seductive night-out fragrance.

Dr. Jon's 53 East and 51st is a Jazz Age black tie affair, carnation boutonnieres pinned to midnight-blue jackets, expensive cigarettes weaving fragrant lines of smoke through the music-filled air. There's a chilly gin martini sitting on the glossy bar—no lemon slice, heavy on the juniper and, strangely, cedar. Not his usual brand. Our subject takes a sip, and with a twinkle in his eye, leans in to kiss his partner's cheek. He's staggered by the gorgeous floral perfume wafting from neck and chest. "Should we go back to my place?" The decision is immediate and unanimous.

Appropriately named for what's to come, Midnight Whisper leads with a jewel-toned rose, lush and heady. I'm not a rose guy, but gosh, what a rose it is. The opening also includes subtle citrus, but this dark, dreamy fragrance is all about the simmering drydown. Fine bourbon in a snifter mixes with creamy sandalwood, supported by an oud-amber base and just enough decadent vanilla to reinforce that caramel dram. Lingering traces of rose flash like crimson satin in low light. If you like warm, captivating fragrances, Day Three does them exceptionally well.

July 23, 2022 - What Smells So Good?

• Brush: Yaqi Dandelion Green 24mm Cashmere
• Razor: Fatip Classic Grande Nickel Open Comb
• Blade: Gillette Minora Stainless
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - 42
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - 42 - Splash
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - 42 - EdP
• Music: Herb Alpert and the Tiajuana Brass
• Book Recommendation: “Last Chance to See” - Douglas Adams

FOF

Today Theme:

This was a bit of a thinker for me. I usually shave after work, so my coworkers never say anything. Plus, I haven’t been into the office since May, and I don’t wear EdP if I do go into the office. Now most of the time, just about anything I use my wife and daughter like. I picked 42 because every time I use it my wife and daughter tell me I smell good. I set up my gear for the picture, and our cat Phoebee came over and knocked the tub over. I think she was saying good choice, now pet me. When I stepped out of the bathroom after the shave, my wife did say, “Ooh, that smells good.” That’s a win in my book. She told me she likes the lemon, and I told her it is from the Pan Galactic Gargleblaster. She said, “So I was right.” I love that she knows the reference.

Today’s Challenge:

I had the idea for this brewing in my head since the last lather games. Wouldn’t you know it, u/Impressive_Donut114 beat me to it by a bit over an hour. My whipped soap and other delights. I had to promise my daughter I would return her Hermione doll back the way I found it. For the photo, I needed a lot of lather, and to keep it thick. For the shave, I added some water in the remaining lather to get a well hydrated lather.

Today’s Shave:

After my bloodbath yesterday for leg day, I wanted an easy shave, but something that could handle a bit more stubble. The Fatip was a good choice for me. I find it pretty easy to use, and the open comb keeps it from getting clogged. I moved the blade from the Karbe over to the Fatip. Still plenty of shaves left in it. Great shave and now my face is as smooth as my legs.

Today’s Fragrance:

When I first started posting and reading SOTDs, It was close to Towel Day. I read a lot of posts using it, but it wasn’t available until a few days after. I set a reminder for the drop, and got a the trifecta plus Towel. Barrister and Mann threw in a sticker and bath soap. From the first use, I really liked this scent, and my family agreed. Unfortunately, I don’t bring it out often enough. With LG, AA, Sample September, and Moarch Madness, theres a big chunk of the year gone. I truly do like this one. From the first hit of citrus, to the petunias (my favorite flower that we plant every summer), later comes the tea. It is a great tea scent, and tea themed scents are among my favorites. I do need to use the EdP more often. The lemon lasts longer than it does from the soap.

Today’s Haiku:

Answer: 42.
And the ultimate question?
What really smells great?

July 23, 2023

• Brush: Boti – Stump – 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: Star – Silver Star
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving – Spiced Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving – Spiced Splash
• Fragrance: Hugo Boss – BOSS Infinite

I love, love, love, love, love this scent. When I first started down this hobby everything about this set called to me. The label and branding, the scent notes, the story, and the great reviews of the performance all made me blind purchase a full set. And I’m really glad I did! This soap and splash did not disappoint! It smells like a spice bomb went off in my bathroom whenever I use it. And whenever I use it, there’s a woman that I work with who ALWAYS compliments me. Guys don’t get random compliments too often, so I take notice of things like that. I remember years ago, I wore a pair of jeans and a striped sweater, nothing fancy, but nice-ish, and a girl who I’m friends with complemented my outfit. I wore that same set up nearly daily for like the next 2 years. Why? Because no one ever complements guys on stuff like this. When we get a complement, we take notice.

I used Hugo Boss EDP today because it’s a spicy fragrance with strong cinnamon notes, just like Spiced does. I’m feeling great, and I know if I went into the office today, I’d get a compliment from Susan. And that makes me happy. #FOF

CHALLENGE

Here’s my Lather

Day 23 - Sex Panther

• Brush: APShaveCo - Butterscotch Handle with Synbad Knot
• Razor: Karve - CB
• Blade: Astra - Green
• Lather: Noble Otter - Roar
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Roar
• Fragrance: Paco Rabanne - Invictus

60% of the time, it works every time. Noble Otter is why I'm here. Roar was the first soap I bought when building my own bundle from Maggard. I've been hooked. I received a few compliments about the shaves, but they knew how excited I was for the box.

For the fragrance, I have a group of fragrances I consider safe for all occasions. Invictus is one that gets the most complements.

ROTY #FOF

July 23, 2023 – “What IS that enchanting aroma?”

• Brush: That Darn Rob White w/ Blue Ferule w/ Fanchurian
• Razor: RazoRock Lupo SS .72
• Blade: Wizamet (14)
• Lather: Zingari – Mousse Illuminee
• Post Shave: Zingari – Mousse Illuminee
• Fragrance: Rogue Perfumery – Mousse Illuminee

Challenge: way too much soap. Not my best work 🙁.

Someone sent me a smoosh of this soap last year. I loved it, and ended up accumulating the trifecta over time. I received the soap as a birthday gift and everyone who smelled it really liked it. Soon after, I bought the soap and then ended up getting myself the fragrance for Christmas. It’s garnered multiple compliments.

I used the fragrance before I left the house early this morning. I didn’t have time to shave until later in the day. Below are my thoughts on the fragrance.

#FOF

Mousse Illuminee is striking. It is dark and seductive and has an air of mystery about it. At first it smells mossy with a tonka-like smokiness and a cumin-like spice. Given some time to dry down, a prominent civet note makes itself known. I feel foolish for not picking it out sooner. Lavender is faint but present. florals are kept to a minimum. Once it gets down to base notes, the civet is faint, leaving mostly moss and bit of tonka.

DAY 22 LATHER GAMES! ENCHANTING? AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!

• Prep: Water
• Brush: DS Cosmetics 30mm Tuxedo Knot
• Razor: Wolfman WR 2 1.25
• Blade: Gillette Minora (16)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Fougere Gothique
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Fougere Gothique splash
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougere Gothique EdP

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PIC OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

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INTRORight, after yesterday I want to say sorry! I will not endanger anyone else for LG points! The Spite Shave wars with u/Priusaurus will have to be put on hold. Truce! Of course he has to be the smug one who waves his flag and gets the moral high ground... Figures... But as we said, none of that anymore!

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DAILY THEME

It was tough to pick out a winner, cause my most compliment getter, is a tie between Tobacconist and Fougere Gothique, I think I would have used Tobacconist, but this damn callender man.... I love both a lot and whenever I wear either of them get compliments for the scent I am wearing. More on this in the #FOF

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DAILY CHALLENGE

You want to laugh at my lather? Here! I hope that Mr. Lather brings a smile on your face!

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#FOF

It is not an accident that this is one of my favourite scents. Where do I even start. I bought the soap, it was a blind buy, a full tub blind buy. The first whiff I got off of it my face made a face, but with every second of prolonged exposure to this scent I grew fonder and fonder of it. At the end of the day I knew, I HAD TO GET THE FULL TRIFECTA!!!

All three products have different emphasis on what is the dominant note. The soap is the most mushroomiest, after that the aftershave really puts forward the ash and smoke scents and the EdP in the end is adding the leather, wood and oakmoss, and this ain't no ordinary oakmoss. It's a cave damp oakmoss!

Lots of people compare this scent to what a grave might smell like, I wouldn't say so. It evokes strong memories of when I was picking mushrooms with my parents in the woods. The mushroom part is quite present.

When combining the three products one after another you get something quite unique that is neither the soap, aftershave or EdP. It just mixes everything and becomes a reaaaaaally unique scent. Funny thing is, that the aftershave is stronger than the EdP, at least to my nose!

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• Daily Lather Themes: 23/30
• Daily Challenges: 23/30
• Hardware Scavenger Hunt: 16/20
• Hardware Vendor Points: 2/2
• Software Vendor Points: 12/13
• Software Vendor Bonus Point: 0/1
• 30 Different Soap Brands Point: 23/30
• 30 Different Soaps On Theme Bonus Point: 23/30
• 30 Different Post-Shaves Bonus Point: 23/30
• 30 Different Fragrances Bonus Point: 23/30

EDIT: Jokes were brought to you by u/Emmenias. You can find more genius jokes of that user, here!

July 23, 2023 – Compliments?

• Brush: Chisel and Hound v19 Fanchurian
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man

I don’t think I’ve ever got a compliment about how I smell from someone other than my wife. I’m very much ok with that. So – what does she compliment me most on? Island Man, and it’s not close. If I wear this, I hear “you smell good” or “have you used this before, whatever it is it smells good” or something along those lines. It’s not an aggressive compliment, it’s not really personal, but, like many of your posts indicate – that’s about as good as it gets. And, hey – for somebody who is not remotely interested in wetshaving wares to even express that much, I guess I’ll take it.

Solid shave. Feel free to rate my lather but it’s tough to mess up in that Stirling travel bowl. V19 performed admirably, as always, and the Merkur was smooth. I did manage to shave off the top of a little bump on my neck and it bled for a long time, but, I spared you the pictures. Remember – we have dignity over here on r/wetshaving. This isn’t that other shaving forum.

Anyway – solid shave today overall and, per my wife, I smelled at least “good.”

FOF Haiku of the Day

Tropical Island
Dupe or not, I don’t care much
Island Man: banger

July 23, 2023 – LG 23: Enchanting Aroma

• Brush: CaYuen Maple Opal 26mm Silvertip
• Razor: GEM MMOC #BRASSING
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (33)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta

I think I get the most compliments on this because it is a fairly safe, albeit unique, scent. It’s captivating without being too adventurous to the average person. As much as we love the world of perfumery here from our fragrancers and soap makers, there are a lot that aren’t for everybody. Off the top of my head, I’ve gotten compliments on this from GF, her parents, my parents, my brother and his partner, and 2 co-workers. This set was a PIF during LG for label artwork I drew, 2 years ago from u/youarebreakingthings. I almost immediately got the EDT to add. The razor a PIF from u/eructate. Here’s some pics of the brassing, not a ton but there.

As for #FOF, fougere nemata is a crisp and green scent. It has its noticeable strawberry addition, smelling of not just the ripe fruit but of a warm plant that’s been basking in the sun. There is a slight bitterness, perhaps the petitgrain. Plenty of sharp lavender florals but more subtle blossoms too. Anchored all by a mossy base, with some woody vetiver.

For my #PHOTOCONTEST, I went with insects. Some ants passing through. Just in case you can’t see them in the photo, here’s a short video, easier with movement. Lastly, here todays lather audit. I’ll be honest, ‘‘twas a touch dry even for me.

soap brands 23/30, post shave 23/30, frag 23/30, post/frag linked 23/30, software sponsors 12/13, hardware sponsors 2/2, razor hashtags 10/15, brush hashtags 10/15, photo contest 23/30, daily challenges 20/25, special challenges 3/5