March 9, 2024 – March Madness

• Prep: Coffee and splash of warm water
• Brush: Wolf Whiskers w/ Elite 3-band premium badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (10)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Gin & Tonic
• Post Shave: Pinaud – Clubman

Today was an easy choice. I have no Talent Soap Factory shave soap. But I have several Stirling samples. Now that was a tough choice. Although no real wrong choices, they are all good. So I went with the Gin and Tonic. I have never had a real Gin and Tonic drink, but after lathering up I think I could imagine what it smell like. I used my old friend Clubman for the after shave. All in a great shave.

MMarch24

Now for coffee. Have a great shave day my friends.

March 9 SOTD * Brush: Rubberset 400-unnumbered w/ Zenith 26mm * Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 * Blade: PTFE * Lather: Stirling Glacial Electric Sheep * Post: Stirling Electric Sheep splash

MMarch24

Mar. 9, 2024

• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (1)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Bonaparte - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented - Balm
• Osma: Osma - Osma

I don’t think it’s any secret that I’m a Stirling fanboy. I actually didn’t start using their products until a few years into my wet shaving journey, I think mostly because I was wondering how something so fairly priced could be good. Well, Rod has pulled off the miracle of miracles, a product that is high quality and is offered at a fair price. I don’t know how he does it, but I’m happy he does.

Of course, since then, Stirling has wormed it way into my heart. Wonderful scent selection, a great base, a really great base (looking at you mutton base), and a wide range of products and scents to choose from. Oh, yeah, and the owner is an awesome guy who rushed to get my groomsmen gifts in the mail 3 days before I needed them because I’m a procrastinating spaz and then later saved MOAR BOAR.

Which is why I chose one of their most fucking bizarre scents for the March Madness shave today.

I remember seeing this posted on Facebook about six months ago, with a big warning from Rod that if you buy this scent, you very well may hate it. I saw that as a challenge and quickly added it to my cart.

This is my second time using it, and I don’t hate it by any means. It is very bold, and the intense number of citrus notes really smack you in the nose. But all that jumbled up citrus has nice base notes under it which round out the scent.

Not my favorite, no. But I enjoy using this soap and will continue to reach for it from time to time.

Anyway…

LET’S GO STIRLING 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

MM24MM

• Brush: MOAR F’N BOAR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Cayman Express
• Post Shave: Stirling - Coconut Lime splash
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented AS balm

Welcome back to Wetshaving Arena for another first round matchup. The word 'blowout' immediately comes to mind when you look at the teams. Word coming out of the locker room is that Rod and Mandy aren't suiting up for this match up because of (checks notes) stomach pains from laughing so hard since the day the bracket was released. They are apparently more than happy to let their benchwarmers run the TSF folks up and down the court.

When you look at this matchup, it's hard to see a typical 3 v. 14 scenario. It's not like this 14 seed is some upstart from a league that features any number of University of Little Sisters of the Poor. Hell, this looks more like my DIII alma mater (Go Polar Bears!) getting ready to tip off against Duke. I think we are all wondering whether the Mercy Rule is an option here.

Now, I've got plenty of Stirling in my collection and, as you can see, I brought MOAR BOAR and a Stirling splash to the party. But today, I need to support the underdog. TSF has some interesting scents and makes a solid vegan base. They consider this scent to be their bay rum, but it really smells more Spiced-adjacent to me. Maybe using this scent gets TSF to 5 points today, which is where I have the over/under set. Who the hell knows?

Drinking coffee and preparing for yoga teaching. Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

MMARCH24

Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Valiant Varen Vanguard

• Brush: Zenith - r/wetshaving "MOAR BOAR" (B35/508A XL) - 31mm Bleached Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 (2 Tone)
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Company - Varen - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Company - Varen - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Project Lawndale - Balm

MMarch24

March 9, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Scots Pine Sheep Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Christmas Eve Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

Happy Stirling Day, everyone! I have a TSF set in my den, and I love supporting underdogs, BUT I just can't go against Rod. Excited to see what the final score of this match-up is!

Mar. 9, 2024 - Mad for Stirling! * Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Stirling x Zenith 510SE

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM PTFE (19)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen

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

• Tags: #MMarch24

Like so many others here I got started with Stirling. Their Eucalyptus Mint was the first tub of soap I bought and my first kill. In fact, I’ve killed it twice over! Stirling is by far the best value in wetshaving, I don’t know how Rod and Mandy do it but everything they put out is fantastic!

Had to pair up with my Stirling/Zenith brush, almost grabbed my MOAR BOAR but this was more appropriate. If it wasn’t MMarch24 I would’ve used their SSS razor too.

March 9, 2024 – Valiant Varen Virtually Victorious

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (9)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Coffee: Stirling - Rwanda (Drip)

Yes I needed to get more of the Christmas Eve sample done. There will be time for that later. For now I’m on the Varen Vanguard. May we conquer the day. Of which, it’s my son’s birthday and I have to take two of his friends to a local children’s museum. I’ll be exhausted but I’ll smell good.

As always #MMarch24 rolls on. Scoring here is entirely transparent (did you shave?) so I’m gonna post some summary numbers in about a week (after the ides of March.)

Have a good one.

Operation Valiant Varen Vanguard

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving exclusive MOAR BOAR, failed kintsugi edition (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - GEM Division: MM24
• Blade: Personna #GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. — Varen
• Aftershave: Stirling Soap Co. — Varen

It didn't come as a surprise to me that I had a simply stellar shave today. The MM24 is my third-most used razor, Varen my second most used soap, and the broken MOAR BOAR my second most used brush (with its unbroken sibling catching up slowly) for a reason.

Aside from just being excellent, the gear occupies a soft spot in my heart:

• The MOAR BOAR was a wild little adventure to organise, and I couldn't be more happy with how it turned out, how it was received by our sub, and how — in many ways — it symbolises the spirit of our sub: An idea pops up, it gets discussed in a subadjacent chat, and a group of volunteers forms and makes it happen. BOOM. It's hard to overstate how fond I am of this let's-do-it attitude that also brought us the Lather Games and most recently, this awesome #MMarch24 madness.

• u/EldrormR's MM24 hits in the same vein. He had this idea, tried it, perfected it, and now he cranks out these unique and wonderful Frankenrazors that fill the SOTD pictures on the sub.

• Varen is an original scent by Stirling and the soap I used to break in this MOAR BOAR brush last year. Rod from Stirling was the one who helped us when we were in over our heads dealing with US import regulations during Project MOAR BOAR. I'm not sure how we'd have managed without him and stay roughly within budget. For that alone Stirling deserves winning this match (no knock on Talent, they got paired up with this juggernaut through no fault of their own), but they also produce some of my favourite software like Varen, Haverford, and Mountain Man.

March 09, 2024 – Mammoth MMarch24 Saturday

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Pueblo Opaque handle w/ 26mm v20 Fanchurian Badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna PTFE Stainless Steel GEM (4)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Damocles (6)
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger - After Shave and Face Tonic
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented AS Balm (176)
• Tags: #MMarch24

Precision Load; Face Lather; WTG/ATG/Cleanup Passes; BBS Result; 7th Consecutive / 281st Overall SOTD Post

Successful 3-peat of my new v20 lather-building technique and killed the 10g Damocles sample in the process. I really like this scent, so I need to consider getting a tub down the road. Happy shaving and have a wonderful day.

March 9, 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts / Maggard SHD Badger 28mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Scots Pine Sheep
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Unscented - Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead - Seaforth! Black Watch

#MMarch24

#MMarch24 Madness: SSC vs TSF

• Brush: Maggard Razors Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM (46)
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Lonesome Dove - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Pacific Shave Co. - Caffeinated Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: Etat Libre d’Orange - Fat Electrician
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Hotel Drip (not too bad!)
• Music: Amen Dunes - Boys Single

I assume that me and a few others on the sub make up the majority of Talent Soap Factory's sub usage, so I have to rep the brand today.

Stirling would have been a fine choice too: the best value proposition in the game; two soap bases (haven't tried the beeswax one) that both compete in the big leagues (Sheep is the MVP); a scent for everybody, since there are one gazillion options on the site regardless of season; my go-to bar soap at a killer price; the MOAR BOAR; everybody likes Rod and Mandy. Nevertheless, most Stirling scents are dupes—that I have no interest in—and there are a select few Stirling originals that I enjoy more than competitors' similar offerings. I should have grabbed a set of Pharaoh's Dreamsicle before it disappeared from the Stirling site (hopefully it's just out of stock and coming back regularly); if not that musky orange wonder, I would have pulled out Electric Sheep or joined the Valiant Varen Vanguard Venture for Venerable Victory.

On the other hand, I have a soft spot for Talent Soap Factory. TSF soaps are a similarly great value, both current soap bases work well for me (and they're vegan, if that matters to you), and I like the labels that feature the artisan's mom's artwork (about half their available catalog, I think). I like supporting the underdog; in this case, the tiny Etsy seller. Also, I like TSF's approach to wet shaving scents, which usually work for me. Many are relatively simple blends that translate well in a soap medium, are rarely candy-sweet, and often are weird enough to be interesting in a crowded field. I'm pretty sure they're just blends of pre-blends, but I enjoy the results. It's a wise approach for the untrained perfumer; more wet shaving brands should try it.

Give Talent Soap Factory a try! Happy to smush you some.

Mar. 9, 2024 - March [MMarch24] Madness Bracket HSOTD

• Brush: DSCCosmetic Jade Tuxedo 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (21)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Deep Blue Sea - Soap

A fantastic shave from the number three seed, quick as it was. Full commentary in the MM24 Bonus^© Second Luxury Shave^©.

Mar. 9, 2024
Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR B35
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Gem PTFE [9]
Lather: Stirling - Glastonbury - Soap
Post Shave:* Noble Otter - Bare - Aftershave

Thanks to u/35048467 for inspiring today’s choice. I really dig this scent and it’s been a while…

It’s not easy being green.

#MMarch24

March 9, 2024 – March [#MMarch24] Madness Non-Bracket MM24 Bonus© Second Luxury© SOTD

• Brush: Grizzly Bay Blue Copper Fanchurian 26mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (22)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Deep Blue Sea
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Deep Blue Sea
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Deep Blue Sea

My journey into wet shaving was an interesting one. When I started, I was on a tighter budget and I was using Cremo and a brush to pretend. The tub of Proraso Red I soon bought wasn’t cutting it either. Lo and behold, this company started showing up in my Facebook feed and my initial skepticism eventually waned. Soon I had a medicine cabinet full of Stirling and so began my foray into artisan soaps.

Today’s shave was nothing short of fantastic. A luxury shave, if there ever was one. Some people are quick to pooh-pooh Stirling for what could be said to be a lack of innovation in artisan soap. Their base was perfected early on thanks to feedback from the community and the willingness on Rod’s part to humbly get it right. Other artisans have, in some people’s eyes, left Stirling to pick the grit out of its teeth after eating their figurative dust. Yet Stirling is consistently on the podium and they will always have a place in my den.

As for Talent Factory, I had never heard of them until the posting of the MM bracket. If they are as good as their small band of supporters claim, the prime time exposure they are getting this month should bring them up in future rankings. I love a solid underdog and will certainly be adding them to my repertoire.

Have a great Saturday and be kind to one another.

Mar. 9, 2024 #MMarch24 * Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Maggard SHD Badger
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE * Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen
Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots

Stirling has always been one of my favorites since the beginning. I had a few options for today but Varen is such a great original scent and the mutton base is outstanding, so it was an easy choice.

March 9, 2024 - #MMarch24

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive 31mm Moar Boar
• Razor: MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co - Bergamot Lavender
• Post Shave: Thayers Facial Toner - Lavender
• Fragrance:Barrister and Mann - Lavender Interrupted EdP

Instead of my usual Otterday, I’m having a Lavender Day. Lavender is not one of my favorite scents, not the least, but I don’t go too heavy on it. Stirling’s Bergamot Lavender is definitely one I like. I got a sample of the bath soap thrown in as lagniappe from SSC and added that scent to my next order. That citrus blends so well with the lavender. Thayers lavender is not one I will replace when I finish it. Just too much of the witch hazel bitter scent coming through. Cucumber and Rose Petal do not have it. I finished with my favorite lavender centric fragrance, Barrister and Mann’s Lavender Interrupted. Will did an amazing job with this scent. Vanilla is a scent that can often overwhelm other scents in a fragrance. Too much lavender will also get out of control. This scent lets you smell both, but neither is too much in my opinion. He really got the balance perfect for me. I can smell the two main components, but I can smell it is much more than those two. I haven’t isolated the other scents yet. It often takes my nose a while to distinguish the other parts, but it will be a wonderful journey discovering what else I can get from it. I need to wear it more.

I don’t think I’ve said it before, but both my Zenith brushes hold the heat more than any other brushes I have. If I ever get a scuttle, those two will be the go to for a warm lather shave.

Mar 9, 2024 - MM24 5th Match-Up: Stirling vs. TSF

• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Souls 26mm Manchurian T1 Knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [9]
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Echo Beach - Soap (Vegan)
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Waves - Aftershave

I was surprised that Talent Soap Factory made it to the tournament, as small as they are, but I think that just goes to show the special creativity of their scents. TSF has a fantastic lineup of unique scents (doughnuts or grape soda), and sometimes odd scent notes (corn husks, radish, or spray paint). Even their more standard fragrances like Moon Shadow, Riviera, and Seven Stones are excellent. Talent Tuesdays have been my way to experience and enjoy their scents.

Rating: 4.5/5

March 9, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co. - 24mm Synbad Fan
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (1)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lavender Sage - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave
• Post Shave: allMan - Refined - Balm
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - EdT (#MMarch24)

I should have just made it a full Varen trick, but Lavender Sage was pretty good!

March 9, 2024

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Gulf Short 26mm V22 Fanchurian
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (7)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Mountain Man - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Aftershave: Stirling Soap Co. - Mountain Man - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Creed Silver Mountain Water

2 passes. Face lather. Good shave.

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A very nice weekend shave.

#MMarch24

Mar. 9, 2024
Brush: AP SHAVECO AP400B XL 28 mm (G5C)
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Coated [7]
Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - AG 1889 (r/wetshaving exclusive) - Soap
Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - AG 1889 Aftershave Skin food (r/wetshaving exclusive) - Aftershave
Post Shave: Zingari Man - (Unscented) - Balm
Fragrance:* Versace - Man Eau Fraiche EdT

MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 9, 2024

• Brush: Omega 11047
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (6)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Intrepid Man
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Intrepid Man
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented (Aloe & Witch Hazel)

This might be the only matchup where I don’t have anything from one of the sides. Looking at TSF’s lineup, a couple do look worth trying – too bad they don’t have samples. Intrepid Man is one of my favorites in the Stirling catalog, and felt perfect for this evening shave.

Mar. 9, 2024
Brush: Stirling/Zenith 31mm x 50mm Boar
Razor: u/EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [9]
Lather: Stirling - Deep Blue Sea
Post Shave:* Stirling - Deep Blue Sea - Aftershave

Headed to Kauai early tomorrow, so Deep Blue Sea seemed an ideal choice. (Monoi de Tahiti would have been even better, but today is Stirling day.)

#MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 9th, 2024 - March Madness Match 5

• Prep: warm shower

• Brush: Zenith /r/Wetshaving MOAR BOAR

• Razor: EldromR Industries MM24

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (9)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Company - D-503 - Soap

• Post-Shave: Stirling Soap Company - D-503 - Splash

• Fragrance: Mont Blanc - Legend - EdT

D-503 is in one of the top 5 best Stirling scents imo, always an easy grab!

MMarch24