Mar 3, 2024 - MM24 2nd Match-Up: SW vs. CFG

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Purple Hybrid 28mm Declaration Grooming B7 Knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [3]
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Lycanthropy - Soap (Vegan)
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Lycanthropy - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Sunrise on LaSalle - Eau de Toilette

SW and CFG will be a close match-up today. So many sub favorites on either side, and many complimenting or playing off of the other. Both have incredible soap bases and have extended into hardware—with the Dogclaration brush I used today as an example.

SW Desairology was my introduction to artisan shave soaps. As such, SW beats out CFG by a small margin. Lycanthropy, which I despised when I first sampled it, has recently become a top favorite. Enough that I just bought a full tub at the end of last year after finishing off the sample I had from years ago.

Rating: 5/5

March 3, 2024 – Sunday Funday

• Brush: Wolf Whiskers w/ Elite 3-band premium badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Fougere Nemeta

Welcome back to the next next edition of March Madness. I was torn between using Boonana and Samhain this morning. Two of my SW favorites. But after reading u/Crossan1983 post I decided to try this. So glad I did. I bought this set some time back, but never reached for it. That will change after today. Also, its one of the few trifecta’s I have. Not a frag guy, but i do like this one. So fresh and airy. Kind of reminds me of being in the woods behind my house in the spring.

#MMarch24

Now for coffee. Have a great shave my friends. Good luck to both teams, No real wrong choices here!

MM24MM

• Brush: MOAR F’N BOAR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: Heritage Hill - Washington
• Post Shave: Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel
• Post Shave: Crowne & Crane - Green Tea AS balm

I don't have either of today's contestants in my den, but I'll be watching this with keen interest.

I opened my tub of Washington this morning and the scent is damn near gone. I haven't used this LG, but it has devolved into an almost unscented soap. That's too bad because this isn't worth having around as an unscented soap. The base is good but not Milksteak good. I might just have to carve out the soap and use the 3oz tub for some Stirling samples.

Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

MMARCH24

Mar. 3, 2024 - March [MMarch24] Madness Bracket HSOTD

• Brush: DSCCosmetic Jade Tuxedo 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (9)
• Lather: Chiseled Face Groomatorium - Ghost Town Barber - Soap

The one that counts today. I have to go the first of two hometown favorites, and today’s underdog, Chiseled Face. GTB was the first CF scent I experienced and it has become one of my favorites in the barber shop genre.

Post shave to follow in my MM24 Bonus Shave.^©

March 3, 2024 – March Madness Non-Bracket MM24 Bonus Shave.^©

• Brush: Dogwood Independent T2 26mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (10)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Ghost Town Barber
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Ghost Town Barber
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face – Ghost Town Barber

Welcome to the #MMarch24 MM24 Bonus Shave.^© And, by any account, it might as well be called the “luxury” shave, if compared to my more utilitarian head shaves, which are slightly less utilitarian thanks to getting bumped up in the order by way of becoming the shave of record for the competition.

Have a happy shave, a happy Sunday, may the best artisan win, and be kind to one another.

Mar. 3, 2024
Brush: Razorock Plissoft (24mm Synth)
Razor: u/EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [5]
Lather: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti - Soap

Vacation shave in Cancun today. We checked bags so I was able to bring my MM24, a puck of soap, and a synth brush (I figured that would dry better for travel). I don’t own anything by SW or CF, so I’m just watching from the sidelines today in the lather bracket.

#MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 3 SOTD * Brush: TDR w/ Soft Tuxedo * Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 * Blade: PTFE (3) * Lather: CF Midnight Stag * Post: NO Bare Balm

As much as I love SW's performance and scents, CF wins because of the direct connection Midnight Stag has the best memories of my grandfather.

MMarch24

March 3, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts X John Butcher - "Mark" - 24mm - AP Cashmere
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Pomona Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Hot Apple Cider Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

This should be a close match-up today, but I'm sticking with SW.

Man, does Pomona smell good... Gone but not forgotten...

March 03, 2024 – Mammoth MMarch24 Sunday

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Pueblo Opaque handle w/ 26mm v20 Fanchurian Badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna PTFE Stainless Steel GEM (2)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive (2)
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger - After Shave and Face Tonic
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented AS Balm (170)
• Tags: #MMarch24

Precision Load; Face Lather; WTG/ATG Passes; DFS Result; 1st Consecutive / 275th Overall SOTD Post

The bug I've been fighting went from bad to worse and yesterday I felt so crappy I couldn't muster enough energy to safely shave. With yesterday's missed shave went my goal of 31 MMarch24 SOTD posts, and my consecutive SOTD post tally was torpedoed. Today I'm much better and the scent that best sums up how I feel is Alive! My lather was awesome and the MM24 was more efficient in 2 passes than I normally achieve in 3 passes with my DEs. My MM24 technique is still fluid, but if I can continue to repeat today's shave, I may have to reconsider my favorite razor form factor. Happy shaving and have a wonderful day.

Mar. 3, 2024 #MMarch24 * Brush: RazoRock Monster
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE [4]
Lather: Chiseled Face Groomatorium - Midnight Stag
Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Leviathan

Stag++ MM24++

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Traditionalist

For today’s #MMarch24 shave I was torn. I actually only own 1 SW scent, and I have more CF. But the CF base is only OK and I mostly use it when I’m in a hurry. So I went the better base.

Will be interesting if u/phteven_j’s order of the stag boots his soap from March madness.

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Dogwood 2022 POTG SHD Badger 28mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Pomona
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Unscented - Balm

#MMarch24

This wasn't an easy choice, but ultimately my love for Pomona (and this brush) came out on top.

Hey, Courtney and Phteven, I hear all the cool kids are doing sub-exclusives. What about a limited-run sub-exclusive of Pomona? If it helps, I'm willing to fire up my Microsoft Paint to make a custom label.

I probably shouldn't be trusted with the artwork though, because I got the idea of using AI to make it, but then I started having it make pictures of famous people shaving. Betty White is probably the most unsettling.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

• Brush: Declaration Grooming - Cream Jefferson - 28mm B16
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 (2 Tone)
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Santa Paula - Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Santa Paula - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Project Lawndale - Balm

MMarch24

March 3, 2024

• Brush: DG B14
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Grave Fruit II
• Post Shave: Wet the Face – Grapefruit Tangelo
• Fragrance: Bon Parfumeur – 801 Sea Spray, Cedar and Grapefruit

First time with a DG brush (thanks to u/EldrormR). Holy cow does this thing hold water. It’s gonna take a few tries to figure out how to build a good lather more easily, but I can see why people like these – it’s a very comfortable brush to use. Not sure that I would spend $400 on one, but it’s less of a mystery to me now why others do.

SW was the clear choice to me today. I haven’t used very much Chiseled Face, and all I own are samples of Sherlock and Stag (which I am categorically not in the cult of). Meanwhile, although I struggle with the complexity of some of the SW scents, I’ve grown very fond of them over the last couple years, and the base is stellar.

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps w/Maggard 28mm Silvertip Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Gearhead - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Incorporeal - Aftershave
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather - EdP
  (#MMarch24)

I love SW and CFG about equally, but CFG makes my favorite razor and the only SW scent I have left in my collection is unscented, so CFG won today.

According to the photos app I have, I got this MM24 razor exactly one year ago today!

March 03 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts w/ 30mm B9A
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (28)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana

Southern Witchcrafts for me as I appreciate Ptheven’s contributions to this community, their very good vegan base, and the excellent perfumery by Courtney. Plus one time Phteven sent me a bunch of free Grapefruit splash and my vote is very much for sale.

#MMarch24

MMarch24 Madness: SW vs CFG

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts “Dune” with 28mm Declaration Grooming B8
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM (40)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Anthropophagy - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory - Gia 10 - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Etat Libre d’Orange - Soul of my Soul
• Passes: WTG, XTG, ATG
• Coffee: Ethiopia. Chericho. Sidama. v: 74110/74158 p: 72-hour extended fermentation. r: 02/20/24
• Music: Nils Frahm - Day

Chiseled Face makes one of my favorite in-production razors, but neither of their bases are standbys for me, and the brand's scents feature notes and genres that aren't my jam. Southern Witchrafts also makes challenging scents that I rarely reach for, but their vegan base convinced me the tallow vs. vegan argument is moot, I love their branding (opinionated, consistent, unique), and Stephen made me a Dune brush, so they're taking the game today.

As for the specific soap, Valley of the Ashes is a wet shaving classic, but Anthropophagy is the Southern Witchcrafts scent wet shaving forgot. Maybe it will come back eventually in a different formulation.

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (6)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Aftershave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum
• Talc: Pinaud Clubman Finest Powder
   
  2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

---

I get to support today's underdog and use the Stag on the same day. What's not to love?

Enjoy your day!

#MMarch24

Mar. 3, 2024 - Madness!

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Burnt Butterscotch v11 Fanchurian Badger

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM PTFE (12)

• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II

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

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

• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts/Australian Private Reserve - Gravefruit

• Tags: #MMarch24

SW sets the bar high for vegan soaps even challenging a bunch of tallow based soaps! I was fortunate to acquire a bottle of the OG Gravefruit fragrance secondhand and it’s the bright version of Gravefruit while II has that dark spin that SW it known for.

Mar. 3, 2024
Brush: Dogwood Tooth Fairy B14 Badger
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Gem PTFE [3]
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts x Australian Private Reserve - Gravefruit - Soap
Post Shave:* Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit - Aftershave

I remember being so obsessed about finding this set. What a great scent and for me, the label artwork just adds even more appeal. I also love skulls. After a few years wetshaving I have found better aftershaves, I prefer alcohol-based but nonetheless. This is my only APR scent and as we know there will probably never be another. SW vegan base is also great. Happy to break out this set for today’s shave.

Shave 3 with this GEM PTFE blade. I find the first few shaves rough and then the blade feel mellows out and gets great. Almost there. Have a happy Sunday!

#MMarch24

Dirty Luxury

• Brush: Dogclaration LG 2022 Mystery Brush (B16)
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - GEM Division: MM24
• Blade: Personna #GEM PTFE
• Lather: Chiseled Face — Midnight Stag
• Aftershave: Southern Witchcrafts — Valley of Ashes

The match isn't over, but skimming the SOTD thread today, it sure looks like SW is taking a solid lead. I couldn't help but adding a Second Luxury Shave® with what I thought would be the main contestants today, The Stag and VoA.

With Valley of Ashes, the description that puts it best IMO is from u/jimtasticness:

The dirtiest clean scent I’ve ever smelled. Just amazing.

The Stag definitely strikes a different balance. u/WiReY_GuY put it like this:

FWIW, SW’s Valley of Ashes is in the same neighborhood as the Stag, but a little more approachable. It is more “there is a machine shop on the corner of my block” and less “the sweat running down a mechanic’s ass crack”...

It's difficult not to like these two scents!

#MMarch24

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts The Matterhorn handle with Declaration Grooming B15 knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24
• Blade: Gem Blue Star uncoated (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana splash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana EDP

MMarch24

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Yaqi Panda 24mm Two Band Badger
• Razor: MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Chiseled Face Groomatorium - Trade Winds
• Post Shave: Thayers Facial Toner - Cucumber
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Limon Cologne

Today’s match up was a coin toss for me. I don’t have full tubs of either brand. I do have several samples. I grabbed Trade Winds because I have tried it yet. The sample was getting old, and I couldn’t make out much of a scent to it. Went with Thayers and the Limon since they go with almost anything.

MMarch24

March 3rd, 2024 - March Madness Day 2

• Prep: warm shower

• Brush: DG Vaster B12

• Razor: EldromR Industries MM24

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (3)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Woody Lavender - Soap

• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Woody Lavender - Splash

Have to rep CF as he makes both Banana and Stag, 2 must haves in any shave den!

MMarch24