LGSOTD 23-July

• Brush: Chisel and Hound - Casanova V11 #SHD #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Gillette - ‘New’ LC    
• Blade: Wizamet - Super Iridium   
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth Black Watch  
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth Black Watch AS

Considering the majority of my days are spent working from home, any comments I receive tend to be from the other half and my 4 year old daughter.  One thing’s for sure, neither are shy about letting me know when they don't like something, full on scrunched face, hand over nose type reaction. However, not quite so forthcoming when it is something that they really like.  So to receive any comments on any of the scents is a big thing so it sticks out, so far it’s close between this one, GN Ernest, A&E Vanille de Tabac, B&M Reserve Spice, Eucris, Fougere Nemeta and Shulton Old Spice.  All very different at least to me (barring reserve Spice and Old).  

So rather than going on a guess I popped them all out for them to have a smell off, this was already a risky endeavour as I don't think the Mrs has any real idea of how much gear I have and as mentioned she's commented more times about things she doesn't like but I think I got away with it. It seemed to be a close one but this one won out, though there were discussions and compromises. The wife loves slightly darker leather type scents and the daughter unsurprisingly likes slightly sweeter. So the leather on this appeals to the Mrs and the fruity plum appears to be what my daughter enjoys. As ever I can't go into the notes as I just don't pick them out, but my daughters comment on black watch was "It's delicious, I want to eat it all up.", so I think that's a winner! If the EDT ever makes it this side of the pond I will pick it up, alternatively I'm going to have to go searching for a close match. 

For the challenge I've tried to get pics, but the lighting is terrible. It would have been easier with a bowl but thought I'd stick with my normal effort and see what I could pull off. It's all quite dark, but a pic of the brush after first application, shot building it on and squeezed out after the 3rd pass today. This soap let's you know quickly when you don't have enough water, sticks to the razor like glue, and there was none of that.

Hope everyone has a grand day. 

Cheers

Marc

ROTY

PhotoContest

Lather Games 2023 Day 23

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: Mühle - Rytmo
• Razor: Mühle - Rytmo R41
• Blade: Gillette - Minora
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Zaharoff Signature
• Post Shave: Gentleman's Nod - Zaharoff Signature
• Post Shave: Mühle - alum block

OMG!!! I feel like virgin seconds before my first kiss! All wet and smelling great perfume of the Gentleman I'm in love!!! If you fallow my posts you already know my number 1 brand is "Gentleman's Nod"!!! Even make a few memes about it!! I love their base! Cardinal v4. Or C4! Like the plastic explosive! I love their strong scent and adore that this scent keeps that way in Lather and and all bathroom smell hours after that!!! Super slick, very dense foam and my skin feels great after shave! What other to say?! I am in love!!! Not only in this soap! In all of them!!!! I already wrote about "Johnny" in day 6 and I regret that I didn't included "Ernest" this month. If you never used something from this brand you have to! You must to!!! This is collaboration with George Zaharoff And his fragrance "Zaharoff Signature". Now writing this I enjoy the smell of aftershave! For the rest of you is this video.

P.S. everything was accompanied with my favorite rum " Plantation " and maybe explained the idea of video. A little bit.

ROTY

Sun Jul 23 2023

• Prep: Soap and warm water
• Razor: Merkur - 34C HD
• Blade: BiC Platinum
• Brush: Semogue 620
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead - Sea Ice Lime AS

I live alone, so I have no one to comment on my shaving scents. Ollie, my big ol Lab seems to like this well enough though. But than again he does seem to lick his neither regions a lot. So maybe he's not the best judge.

ROTY

July 23, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 23

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Jade Green handle w/ DSC 24mm SHD G7 Synthetic knot
• Razor: Rex Supply Co. Ambassador XL Adjustable
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)
• Preshave: Proraso – Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol
• Lather: Proraso - Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol
• Post Shave: Nivea – Sensitive Post Shave Balm
• Music: Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell

Daily Theme: Proraso Green and Nivea Balm is my cheat code. Prior to becoming aware of "the good stuff" last year, it was what I wore at every life event involving my wife and/or daughter. Even now with a medicine cabinet full of better scents/frags I still get the best compliments from the two women in my life when I wear the cheat code.

The Challenge: Lather Audit. Public Ridicule. Ok, I'll play.

The Shave: Today's lather is a good example of focusing too much on checking boxes and not enough on doing the job right. I precision loaded/bowl-built the lather in order to capture a representative picture, yet two decades of experience tells me that tub loading/face-building Proraso gives me the best results. While the lather looked wet in the bowl, but on the face the slickness just wasn't there. Recognizing this, I kept buffing/cleanup to a minimum and finished with a CCS. #RO

• 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.

July 23, 2023

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• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Declaration Grooming B13 Butterscotch
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Aluminum
• Blade: Personna 74 (3)
• Lather: Stirling - Barbershop
• Post Shave: Stirling - Barbershop
• Fragrance: Stirling - Barbershop

Only 3 times since I've gotten into the hobby has anyone mentioned how much they liked the scent I was wearing, once was at the post office where a couple mentioned "it smells like Christmas in here" when I had on DG Convergence. The other two times was with one scent; Stirling Barbershop. I was gathering with friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and as they all hugged me one by one, they remarked how good I smelled, being echoed by each friend. Barbershop is just such a clean and fresh scent, while also being sweet. If you haven't smelled it yourself, I HIGHLY implore you to try it.

As for today's challenge, here is my immaculate lather

Until tomorrow!

#ROTY

July 23, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/YpUQ1dj

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons - Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (2)

Lather: Noble Otter - Logbook Shave Soap

Post Shave: Noble Otter - Logbook Aftershave Splash

Logbook is definitely the scent that gets me the most complements. I think the reason why is because it's a very "mature" scent without being too "old man smell".

Challenge: Laugh away fellow shaving nerds

#ROTY

JULY 23, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette - King C. Chrome
• Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth BlackWacth
• Post Shave: Spearhead - Seaforth BlackWacth splash and Toner

Finally today has arrived!! I love Seaforth BlackWatch scent. This is a match made in heaven by Shawn Maher of Chatillon Lux and Maher Olfactive. An amalgam of bergamot, plum, leather notes all adds to this unique and long lasting retro scent. Oh I can only imagine what luxury in the 1950s would be like! Well maybe not…. Still this is the only scent in my small Den that is tolerated at work and at home.

TODAY’s CHALLENGE: My lathering technique is not 100% yet but getting there. I am a fan of using a little bit of the splash when bowl lathering. Read that somewhere on this sub but can’t remember who said it so sorry for not giving credit where credit is due. That being said I think it got a pretty good amount of fluffyness (which I believe is the official measuring term!) I have to realized that not every base is created equal. So this is my best attempt using Seaforth Highland base. Although not a lot of froth it’s crazy slick PIC which makes all the difference to me. Ya’ll have a good one.

ROTY

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Mammoth coin Rumble brush 

• Razor: Dubl Duck Satin Edge Straight Razor

• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - Felce Aromatica soap

• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - Felce Aromatica aftershave lotion

ROTY

I usually wear Felce Aromatica during the springtime and it always gets me lots of complements. I enjoy the scent alot and feel like the soap performs really well. This puck is pretty hard but lathers easily for me with minimal fuss and stays down in the lather bowl for a nice slow release. I really like the aftershave lotion too. Leaves my skin feeling fantastic.

I probably over scoop this soap but the lather today was to my liking. I'm curious to hear what others here much more experienced than I think. Usually I just go with if its not runny all over my chest and it's still rinsing clean easily from the blade im hydrated well enough? Lather shot below.

https://imgur.com/gallery/eJeRj68

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

• Brush: Van Der Hagen Boar Brush
• Razor: Parker Clip-Type Shavette Dark Sheesham Wood Handle
• Blade: Treet Carbon Steel "Black Beauties"
• Lather: HAGS - Eulogy

I chose this scent because it's something simple that everyone could like. Who doesn't love coconut?

ROTY

7/23/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Herod by Parfums de Marly

MOTI and Herod are easily the products I get the most compliments from. It probably helps that I wear it to my most crowded events. Like holiday get togethers, for example. In my line of work, guys will never tell me if I smell good, only if I smell bad.

To the Mrs, it smells almost chocolaty and she loves it for that. Mostly I just get general compliments about "Wow you smell good" and "What is that? Smells wonderful".

Some pics of my lather. Please judge me.

#ROTY

July 23, 2023 – What IS that enchanting aroma

• Brush: Paladin Chief 26mm Satin Juma Smoke
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Astra SP (2)
• Lather: HAGS – Darkside (Donkey Milk)
• Post Shave: HAGS - Darkside splash
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Yuzu Rose Patchouli

The Soap: I will admit, I bought this soap simply for the label art. As a Star Wars fan I just couldn’t pass it up, but I had high hopes for a dark masculine scent. I had never used HAGS soaps before and I briefly read the scent as being a woody floral. Upon arrival my perception of the soap had definitely changed as the floral notes overwhelm the scent right off the tub. Thankfully it dries down to a fantastic scent.

The Lather: For me, Darkside is tricky to get the lather right. It’s a very soft soap and I find it easy to over hydrate. That said, if lathered correctly it produces a slick and cushioning lather.

The Shave: The shave was nothing short of spectacular. The Blackbird Ti shape reminds me of a light saber, and not the Chapelle version, so of course it adds to the Darkside shave experience.

Post Shave/Frag: Being such a great scent there was of course no other option than to follow it up with the matching splash. To match the floral notes of Darkside I decided to follow it up with Chatillon Lux YRP. The two blend well together and have me feeling like a new man.

Theme: Today’s soap choice was fairly difficult for me. You see I work with 16 women and 1 man so I get a fair number of women weighing in on any scent choices I make. In the end, HAGS Darkside won due to the way it was received by the office ladies. One even went to far as to tell me “If this is what Darth Vader’s helmet smells like, I’m in.” Whatever that means.

Challenge: This is the lather you were looking for.

#ROTY

July 23, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co A3 28mm
• Razor: Henson Ti22 +++
• Blade: Wizamet (2)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

Sea Spice Lime is my girlfriend's favorite scent so far, bonus that I really enjoy it as well. Very lime forward and refreshing. Probably the scent I think of first when it comes to summer.

#ROTY

Jul. 23, 2023
Brush: AP Shave Co G5C
Razor: Karve CB
Blade: Astra SP Green
Lather: A&E - Monte Carlo - Soap
Fragrance:* Dior - Suavage

I get laid every time I wear this scent. So pretty big compliment lol.

https://imgur.com/a/en3s0Ei

ROTY

July. 23, 2023 - SOTD 

• Prep: Splash of warm water
• Brush: Oumo O4 Venus SHD Badger Brush 26MM
• Razor: West Coast Shaving Multi Titanium Collection Razor
• Blade: King C Gillette
• Lather: Ariana and Evans - Asian Plum
• Post Shave: Nivea Men - Sensitive Soothing Aftershave Balm

It's probably my biggest compliment getter. What can I say? Apparently, ladies love Asian Plum.

ROTY

July 23, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm G5C
• Razor: Blackland Vector
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (AC) (13)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Lonestar
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Lonestar

Late night headshave. 2 passes, about a week’s growth, Vector does good work.

Lonestar is by far the most complimented scent I have. This is the only scent I’ve been stopped in public by a stranger for them to ask what I’m wearing and where I got it. Not totally sure why other people like it so much, but every time I smell it I get a vivid flashback to little league baseball on a Texas summer evening, with the hay field just cut nearby and a big heat lightning cloud over the trees on the other side.

Here's my lather, did a head lather today, so the first pass is already on my head. There’s enough on the brush for 2 more passes, even though I only did one more. Not quite as slick as I’d like, but it did the job.

Healthy Activity of the day: Took another break after yesterday’s long ride. Bought a bike computer so I can start keeping track of more things than just heart rate and distance. LG Mileage: 80 miles

Tags: #ROTY

July 23, 2023 – OoooOoooOoohhh my favorite!

• Brush: Chisel and Hound “Acer Pearl” w/ V20 Fanchurian #composite
• Razor: Gillette Super Adjustable #dial
• Blade: Astra SP (Green) (1)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Hamami
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Hamami

This was my first purchase with my partner first in mind and consideration. She has familial roots where hammams are commonplace. Plus the jasmine and wet stone intrigued her. It wasn’t at first but over time it’s been a more difficult scent for me to wear. But sure enough tonight when I came up from my shave den her eyes lit up as soon as she smelled me. I do this hobby first for me, but I love doing it for her too.

Late to the party with the scavenger hunt and going to try to fit it all in this last week. So with my other photo I also have dial and composite.

Have a great night all. 🤙

ROTY