July 26, 2023

​

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Declaration Grooming B13 Butterscotch
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
• Blade: Personna 74 (6)
• Lather: HC&C - James Bond
• Post Shave: HC&C - James Bond
• Fragrance: Floris - No. 89

​

I went with another James Bond themed shave today. The soap and splash are self explanatory (and EXCELLENT). The fragrance is original to the character from the 50's novels. And the Slim Adjustable was used on screen in Goldfinger. I searched out a date code that was current when the movie was released in 1964 to keep it as authentic as possible.

​

When everyone zigs, you zag. I wanted to think of something unique that no one would use, but the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want to risk it. I decided the only way to secure a point was to shave in the wee hours of the morning. I've been awake and decided to shave at 1:30 AM. I then set an alarm for just now to post as soon as the thread went live. And yes I even put on the fragrance before going to bed. This was me shaving

​

For today's challenge, here is my den. I've shipped out a few sets recently so it's not as full. The only set I'm waiting on that's not pictured is a certain junk-food-snack and soda themed soap and splash from a certain artisan.

​

Good night and until tomorrow

#ROTY

LGSOTD 26-July

• Brush: Blackland - Signature
• Razor: Blackland - Dart #CNC  
• Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium    
• Lather: Southern Witchcraft - Fougere Nemeta  
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcraft - Fougere Nemeta AS 
• Fragrance: ScentUK - Inspired By Sauvage

So today, is it the fastest finger first? Well if I’m first across the line for this set then grand, if not oh well.  As mentioned in previous posts this is a cracking scent and I almost used it for fougere day but went another way, so decided to try and slip it in here.  I think it’s the wrong term but there’s something almost spicy about it which really appeals, another one where I’ll try to get the matching scent at some point.

On to the challenge, this was actually embarrassing, and I had to try and do it on the sly in segments so the Mrs didn’t really see how much stuff there actually is, and I managed to find some stuff I had completely forgotten about.  First up are the Brushes dominated by C&H, followed closely by Simpson and a scattering of other brands, I love them all equally-ish, much prefer the badgers, followed by Boar and only the top synths remain.  One not pictured is the SOC Taj purchased for Austere August and the piggy break in, that's currently packed in the luggage ready for the trip to Turkey on the 30th.  Now the hardware, high proportion of blackland gear with a smattering of other brands.  As I was packing them away I kept finding others that I’d missed so tagged them on at the end.  Now the bit where I get embarrassed, the software, I had to break this into a handful of photos as they are scattered in various locations, I actually got a sweat on at one point lugging all of these around before packing them away again.  I keep thinking I’ll have a clear out one day and I go through the list, but I just can’t bring myself to get shot. 

I’m sure a number of other folk have significantly larger and more varied collections, but this one is mine.

Hope everyone has a grand day.

Cheers

Marc

#ROTY  #PhotoContest

Edit: added another picture of software I'd forgotten to pop on Imgur, and wow haven't seen this many posting first thing in the morning so far, some of you must be knackered.

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

Be Quick Or Be Dead

ROTY

July 26, 2023 – Month of Lather Day 26

• Brush: AdWorried Right Hand
• Bowl: AdWorried Left Hand
• Razor: Baili BD176
• Blade: Gillette Platinum (4)
• Prep: Last Rites Prayer
• Lather: Fruit of the Earth - Aloe Vera Skin Care Lotion
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Cool Balm
• Music: Oingo Boingo - Weird Science

The Challenge: I am blessed with a large medicine cabinet. My original plan was to keep all my shaving paraphernalia in the medicine cabinet, but as you can from this photo collage I'm not doing a very good job keeping with my plan.

Daily Theme/Shave: I was curious whether face/hand lotion could be used as a lather substitute. Well, curiosity got the best of me, so I used Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Skin Care Lotion for today's shave. Four of the first six ingredients can be found in most shave soaps, but I wasn't sure about the mineral oil and cetyl alcohol. The mineral oil kept the "lather" slick, but the lotion provided no cushion and it gummed up everything it made contact with. I ended up with a close shave, but my neck was a casualty (here's another picture collage for those morbidly curious). The weepers were short-lived and there were no signs of carnage by the time I washed the gunk off of my face. The best part of the shave was applying the B&M Cool AS balm. My face has never been this soft. #ROTY

July. 26, 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: 345 Soap Co - Fleet Street Pie Shop
• Post Shave: Nivea Men - Sensitive Soothing Aftershave Balm

ROTY

July 26, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/3RlANlo

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Feather (2)

Lather: Lush - The Olive Branch Shower Gel

Post Shave: Mennen - Skin Bracer

So, I used my daily shower gel for wet shaving today. It actually lathers up pretty nicely, and with olive oil as an ingredient, it was a very slick and smooth shave. This might become my new travel lather. Ya know, a getting two birds stoned at once kinda thing. Surprisingly a DFS.

Challenge: Alright, here we go: First up on the tour is my drawer full of shave soaps and creams.

Then we move on to the post shave shelf

Can't forget the overflow corner

And finally here's where my razors live

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Happy shaving!

#ROTY

7/26/23

• Hands: Left and Right
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple (JMP) 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Jell-O - Boomerscotch Pudding
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Aftershave Lotion

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shave with pudding? Surely you're wondering more important things, i.e.. What's the lifespan of a brain bowl? How does the difference in humidity affect the weight of said brain bowl over the course of a year? Are feathers really the sharpest?? But what about pudding as a shave soap substitute?! Part of me wants to say, "Of course not!" But the other part of me knows what some of you are capable of. So yeah, you probably have.

Well, wonder no more! I've answered this question. I answered this with the boomerest pudding you can legally get your hands on. ~~Butterscotch~~ Boomerscotch. There was only one suitable answer for a post shave: Tabac. Probably the most boomer scent out there. And what better razor to pair this with than something as venerable and rare as a First Generation JMP Signature Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple??

Butterscotch dates back to the mid 19th century. The invention is often credited to S. Parkinson & Sons of Doncaster in South Yorkshire after an issue of Liverpool Mercury printed a recipe for "Doncaster Butterscotch". This candy became famous in 1851 when Queen Victoria was given a tin filled with Parkinson 's Butterscotch. Parkinson's Butterscotch would later be advertised as "The Queen's Sweetmeat" (lol).

As to my lather for today: The scent is very straightforward Butterscotch, as is the taste. It's not my favorite. I prefer the hard candy to the pudding. It was surprisingly slick, though. The shave went fine and I didn't get any razor burn, nicks, or irritation. It could've been a closer shave, but I'm not complaining. I expected a lot worse.

Today was my first time with Tabac. I mean, you guys were not joking. It smells like old people. The nursing home copypasta makes so much more sense. Mrs. Pudding thinks I smell like her grandma. As far as an aftershave product, it was good.

I didn't want to leave any doubt about what I'd done, so I recorded this event. So if you're curious to watch someone shave with pudding, run their faucet longer than they should and awkwardly talk about their razor, you can click here

Here is a tour of the collective spaces that make up My Den.

#ROTY

July 26, 2023 – Wildcard Wednesday, Baby

• Razor: Gillette Travel Tech #jetsetter
• Blade: 7 O’Clock – Sharpedge (Yellow) (4)
• Lather: Johnson’s – Baby Oil
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Marilyn
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Marilyn

Let’s get down to it. This is a baby shave. Even the razor is baby sized. I mean look at the travel tech! So tiny! Another loaner from u/Chronnoisseur420 to help with the tags.

The internet says mineral oil (the main component of baby oil) can be used as a shaving solution. So we’re gonna do it. Baby Oil, baby post shave, and a baby frag. “Wait what?” you’re thinking. Well let my #fof post explain. I get a very heavy powder note off Marilyn. Not to say I don’t like it, I like it enough to own a trifecta. But it reminds me a bit of baby powder, (I’m old enough to remember using that for my siblings.) So here we are, a shave that’s not quite BBS but smelling like a baby’s butt. Even my #photocontest entry is babyfied. It’s an entry for “food” and what food did I choose? A pouch of baby food puree. (alas the only way our kids will eat vegetables.)

For challenge, I give you a video tour of my den led by my daughter. It’s only a minute and 20 seconds so take a look around with us.

OK #ROTY folks. 5 let’s go.

Lastly, since this is Wildcard Wednesday, Wildcards are cards that than mimic or beat another card’s value. I’m gonna assume that applies to LG bits today too. Sorry u/Priusaurus, gonna make use of your interview bit your use with a not at all made up interview with ~~our friends~~ the assholes at PAA.

1. So you’ve gone by a few names, who exactly am I talking to now?

I suppose that depends on who gets me the most clicks.

2. Ok.. Uhh how did you get into shaving supplies.

I was on on a trip to the exotic land of…

Ok I’m gonna stop you there. Don’t really need one of your rambling bullshit product descriptions. Is there a real answer?

I saw some marks to leverage.

3. You mean markets?

No.

4. Sigh. Ok. You’ve been accused of ripping off… Well a lot. including recently the Hawaiian Punch logo Care to talk about this?

You’re blatantly ripping off this bit, do you have a leg to stand on?

5. I’m shit posting. But I did walk into that, so let’s move on. Is there anything that makes PAA different?

A legion of bought YouTube influencers, SEO, and a ton of r/w_e shills posting affiliate links? What do you got?

My integrity. And enough sense to end this.

Edited to fix some formatting

Edited 2, forgot the travel tech pic.

Lather games day 26

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR #CHONK
• Razor: Razorock - Lupo 95 OC SS
• Blade: Sputnik
• Lather: Biofresh - Spatia
• Post Shave: Men's Master Professional - Aftershave balm
• Post Shave: Osma - alum block

At first I was thinking to shave my self with something unusual and crazy. Like gun lubricant or other striking slick liquid that no other person will use today. But why I have to do that if I have shaving cream made in Bulgaria and totally unfamiliar for you guys. This is "Spatia" ( this is "Clubs" from deck of cards ). Yesterday I meet MrTangerinesky to give me his Zenith "MOAR BOAR" brush aka " The soap killer", "Soap eater", " The Big Pig" and I told him if someone in USA or Western Europe use this cream I'll be glad to be DQ. Price is 0.90 $ and I don't know what is the scent. Maybe clean, citrusy, barbershopy and is mentholated. Aftershave balm is mentholated and similar smell but More expensive. Almost 4.50$. But for all my fans ( if I have any ) is this video. Today challenge.

ROTY

Day 26 - Wildcard Wednesday

• Brush: Royal London -
• Razor: Gillette - Fatboy E-4
• Blade: Astra - Green
• Lather: House Of Mammoth - Shire
• Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Shire
• Fragrance: Alexandria Fragrances - Blue Memoire

Today, I went with Shire. Why? Because I just got it, and no one has used it yet. And really, who is crazy enough to do motor oil or something. K.I.S.S.

For the fragrance, I went with Blue Memoire. I have some meetings for work today, and this is one of my go toos. I know that is not Wild but I need the job more than the Lather win.

ROTY #FOF

Wed Jul 26 2023

• Prep: Coffee and a shower
• Razor: Merkur - 34C HD
• Blade: Feather HI Stainless
• Brush: Perfecto Badger
• Lather: Lacoupe - Argon Oil Complex Bar Soap
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva - Classic Ice Blue AS

Sitting in a motel out of town this week. Trying to decide which shaving soap to use so someone else didn't already use it. As I was showering, I thought why not use this Lacourse bar soap. Surprisingly enough a very pleasant shave. Had good lather and very slick. Am I ready to give up my regular stuff, no but still a good shave.

When I travel I usually throw in my Pinaud Clubman. As I was unpacking my bag last night I noticed I forgot it. So I made a run to Walmart. Among the weak offerings I noticed the Aqua Velva. My dad always kept some of this on the shelf. Kinda like finding an old friend. As I splashed it on this morning it brought back memeories of Dad.

ROTY

JULY 26, 2023

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillete King C. Chrome
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Carnivale
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Gent splash

Australian Private Reserve hasn’t been around for a while so I am taking advantage of this fact in my post today. Carnivale is such a unique soap! There is some fruityness, some warmth, some spice all mesh together in the right amounts. The scent is not strong and does not last but it’s pleasant and comfy. Gent splash covered most of it but it was amicable. This is all I had time for before work so go ahead and SCRUB me….lol…

DAILY CHALLENGE: I have a small collection so far. Still growing but I am running out of room so I have most of my soaps HERE. Few others are spread out either at work or gym bag. Nothing to brag about but hey I haven’t done it for very long! I know weak excuse….

ROTY

• Brush: ZENRC Golden Bamboo Matcha Whisk #HOLLOW

• Razor: Razorline Razor Master Kamisori Shavette Straight Razor for Barbers #KAMISORI

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Ujido - Matcha Green Tea Powder

• Post Shave: B_Lab - Matcha Hydrating Facial Toner

• Fragrance: Le Labo - Thé Matcha

Today's Theme: Wildcard Wednesday - I think I went a little too hard on this theme. First, I decided to make my own whipped-cream based Matcha tea lather. So land o lakes heavy whipping cream and a whisk it is!.

I knew it was going to be a process to get my homemade whipped cream together, so that I worked on last night. It took me several tries of refrigerating, whisking, refrigerating, whisking, and more refrigerating and whisking before it left frothy cream consistency and started to resemble something close to whipped cream. When my fiancee got home she questioned my logic for the first time all month. The thing that finally didn't make sense to her? "Why aren't you using a hand mixer?" Well I don't have one, and didn't realize I should have one. So that's why I used a normal whisk.

Eventually it turned into proper stiff-ish peaks whipped cream, so I popped it into the freezer to save for this morning's shave. Well, apparently homemade whipped cream freezes way more than cool whip does. So while that thawed, I got to work on my matcha base. The matcha whisk I got worked great for the matcha powder and some water.

Once enough of the whipped cream had thawed, it was time to fold it into the matcha. It folded in easily enough and got to a nicely hydrated matcha whipped cream mixture that I was hopeful would shave decently.

Well I found that a matcha whisk makes a poor brush for applying the matcha cream to my face, so I resorted to applying it with my hand which gave me big evangelion vibes. Eventually I got my face covered with the matcha cream and it was time to have one of the worst shaves of my life.

So fun fact, I've never used a kamisori shavette before. Or an Asco half DE blade. But they showed up together from ebay, so here we are. Sliced my right cheek a little, but the styptic pencil took care of that. Otherwise an awful, rough shave.

Today's Challenge: Den tour day! - I have cleverly arranged my main soap drawer to hide the majority of my shame. Then under the sink I have space set aside for only the highest quality stuff like APR, Fine (new base), and Van Yulay. Overflow space above my soap drawer for a couple extras that don't fit anywhere. I keep the current and upcoming razors just by my sink. And lastly, samples, frags, some overflow software, brushes/razors that I don't plan to use, and blades all go in the medicine cabinet.

My theme for today's shave: Matcha

I'm a big tea guy in general, it's one of my other rabbit holes of a hobby that I enjoy. I happened to have a bag of matcha from 2018, and when /u/j33pguy13 sent me a link to a matcha whisk as a joke, I knew I had to take the joke way too far and have a literal matcha shave, with matcha aftershave and matcha fragrance. Well, I did it. Your artisan soap bases have nothing on my 35% superfatted matcha whipped cream emulsion. Suck it /u/bostonphototourist.

Real talk though, this was a miserable shave. All the grease and none of the slickness. 2/10 would not shave, elbows too pointy. #photocontest #FOF #ROTY

July 26, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co. 26mm G5C
• Razor: Blackland Vector
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (AC) (15)
• Lather: Abbate y La Mantia – Garibaldi
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Valedictorian

Going with Garibaldi today. Felt like a tobacco day, and this scent just showed up in the new hard base. djundjilla recommended Valedictorian splash as a pairing with Shire 2 and it works pretty well here too.

Here is the den. Just under 30 full tubs and splashes, mostly trickholes, with at least that many samples, though a lot of those aren’t in this picture. Favorite set is still Black Watch, just wish I could use it. Not shown is my hardware, but my favorite brush and razor were both used in today’s shave.

Healthy Activity of the Day: 10 miles today. Broke that 100 barrier! LG Mileage: 101 miles.

Tags: #ROTY

• Brush: Simpson Classic #1 synthetic brush
• Razor: Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn 49 straight razor
• Lather: Eleven Shaving - ??? soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Bare splash

ROTY

Well for this wild card Wednesday I decided to use an unlabeled sample from Eleven shaving acquired at the Maggard meet up. No idea what the scent is which is what makes it a wild card! Smells just like a soap. Performance was A OK. I don't know if I'll get the point for this, but oh well. Sometimes that's just the way she goes.

I had a great plan to use Okra slime harvested from my tiny farm for today, but I am traveling for work and the Okra isn't ready for harvest for another week or 2. Maybe next year.

I'm pretty disappointed that I'm traveling which is stopping me from getting a full shave den picture. Here is a pic of most of the den that I already had on my phone. It's not complete but probably 70 percent of it or so. It's the best I can do!

https://imgur.com/gallery/WzlehWQ

July 26, 2023

• Brush: Oumo Pandora 28mm
• Razor: Leaf Elite
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue(2)
• Lather: Banedon38's – Tobacco and Bay
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Tabaconnist

Like many others during 2020/2021 I found myself with some free time and decided to give making my own soap a go. Still make my own bath bars from time to time, but I have so much shave soap that I don't really make it all that often.

I believe the recipe I used was:

50% Stearic acid, 30% Beef Tallow, 10% Coconut Oil, 5% Lanolin, and 5% Cocoa Butter.

It works rather well and provides a good shave, though not up to the bases these days. Fragrance was something that I picked up from Nature's Garden or Bramble Berry I believe.

As far as my den goes, I have stuff stored all over the place. A bookcase dedicated to soaps/splashes/frags, with brushes on the top. Storage containers that can be hidden under the bed. Overflow under the sink, and probably more...

Save money they said...

#ROTY

Jul. 26, 2023
Razor: Karve CB
Blade: Astra SP Green
Lather: James Gent - London - Soap
Post Shave: Nivea - Post Shave Balm - Balm

I guess I am a scrub. Found this in a hotel bathroom in Mexico when I went on vacation in June. Wasn’t very well performing but I guess it would work in a pinch.

As for the den, here are the two shelf’s my wife allowed me(which she generously uses half of one for storage of unwanted items). Very disorganized. I’ll get to it eventually.

https://imgur.com/a/4BmhyNZ

ROTY

July 26, 2023 – Wildcard Wednesday

• Brush: Edwin Jagger Silvertip Badger
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette 7 o’clock Super Stainless (?)
• Lather: The Handmade Soap Company – Shaving Soap (Basil, Lime & Sweet Orange)
• Post Shave: HAGS - Megalodon
• Fragrance: Duke Cannon - Huron

I guess I didn’t really get that we were supposed to shave with something not meant to be shaved with on Wildcard Wednesday. I instead went with a shave soap that was given to me a number of years ago. At the time I was only using creams and not soaps so it has sat neglected in a drawer.

The Soap/Lather: The scent on the soap is pretty much gone at this point ant it smells more of regular hand soap than anything else. The puck of soap is extremely hard, but I was able to scrap some of the soap off in what looked like pencil shaving and press it into my bowl. What was amazing, though, is how easily and well it lathered up.

The Shave: To mix things upn a little bit, I went back into my drawer of old blades and decided to draw a random blade from the bottom of the pile. I wound up with a 7 o’clock so I threw it in my 34C. While not the slickest formula out there the lather provided me a decent shave even if the blade was past its prime.

Post Shave/Frag: For my post shave/frag I tried to stay with a naval theme and use products I didn’t think had been used yet.

Theme: Pretty sure I’m the only one with a puck of this.

Challenge: While my den is nothing too impressive, it helps me get the job done and all of it has been acquired over the last year of shaving with soaps. I have a few other pieces around in other odd spots, but pretty much all of it is pictured.

#ROTY

July 26, 2023 – Tour de Lather

• Brush: Maggard Synthetic
• Razor: Schick Injector Type I1
• Blade: Personna Injector
• Lather: Chamois Butt’r – Coconut
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Post Shave: Proraso – Menthol and Eucalyptus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Contemplation

So as mentioned in the previous theme day where we discuss our other hobbies, I am a cyclist. Loathed by both driver a pedestrian everywhere. I wear Lycra and ride on an expensive but not too expensive bicycle for way to long to the frustration of my partner. An essential part of your “kit” is a good bib with a good chamois, basically overalls with a butt and ball pad. Why this is important can be explained here.On top of that for extra comfort and to protect from sores or chafing on hot, extended, or very rigorous rides some people use Chamois Butt’r, the major branded anti chafe cream. I do use it on occasion and like a good wetshaving sicko, I use the euro style, which is mentholated. That was my first choice but then I found out they came out with one that used coconut oil s it’s second ingredient! Also in a convenient one time use sample size? Fluffy lather here I come!

Or not.

To keep on with my cycling theme I wore my favorite pair of bibs, socks, shoes, and not seen the photo, a neon yellow cap. For a lather bowl, I used an old, VERY CLEAN, pair of shorts with a chamois. And for this weeks u/J33pguy13 unofficial step it up challenge, I upped the ante and stood on not one but TWO step ladders for my first pass.

We’ll the Butt’r didn’t lather, it just kind of got moved around and was absorbed by the chamois. I then tried a face lather to no avail, eventually I settled on just smearing it on my face. Slick but that’s it. Two passes with the Schick was enough. I did a third pass with a lather of Varen since the chamois Butt’r had no scent or real lather at all. Proraso was used first as a splash as a nod to the great cycling traditions of Italy. I’m sure many of its champs have shaved with it. Finally for me, I finished with contemplation, a reminder of the beautiful hot days and cool summer breezes carrying the sweet grasses as I ride on.

I’ve included all photos related to this shave in one album.the product, my favorite bibs, step ladders. as well as two of my shave den. Included is evidence of most recent favorite ride via cycling computer. I went up Mt. Baldy, just outside LA, totaling 62 miles and over 6000 feet of elevation in climbing.

Keep the rubber side down. 🤙

ROTY