Mar 13, 2024 - MM24 7th Match-Up: Spearhead vs. CB

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Chocolate Drop 26mm v19 Fanchurian Knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [13]
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Blugère - Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Blugère - Aftershave Lotion

Today's match-up could have gone either way. Spearhead has excellent bases and beautiful vintage scents re-created by Shawn. Still, when I woke up this morning, I just wanted to use Blugère.

The CB Luxury base is fantastic, and Blugère is one of favorite fougères besides Passiflora. I used the Aftershave Lotion this morning for the first time, and I love how it brought out the scent notes in such a different way.

Rating: 4.5/5

March 13, 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 4
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! — 3 Scots
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! — 3 Scots
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! — 3 Scots

I am going to call today a luxury shave. This was my perfect lather day. Very rich and creamy. And so slick. Two great passes. Easily a bbs. And the splash was so soothing. Not a big frag guy. But this one just feels right. I don’t have any CB but after today I will get some. And Dennis gives back to his community.

Good luck to both competitors.

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

MMarch24

MM24MM

• Brush: MOAR F’N BOAR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (13)
• Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - Retreat
• Post Shave: Catie’s Bubbles - Retreat
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented AS balm

Welcome back to Wetshaving Arena shaving fans for the 1st round matchup we've all been waiting for. Thus far, the first round has held very few surprises. Is this the matchup that's going to electrify the sub and come down to the wire? Will it be scents or bases that's going to push one of these teams to victory? Whose dreams of tournament glory will be dashed when the clock strikes midnight? Tune in today to find out.

Coming in as a 10 seed has to have Catie's Bubbles feeling a little chippy today. They've been a stalwart of the shaving scene creating great soaps at a great price point for a number of years. They've even been able to wow new recruits to the team with their Premium base. They may not be flashy, but there is no doubt they will do a far better job of repping their home state of New Jersey in this tournament than their flagship university has in any tournament (Has Rutgers actually won anything notable???). Spearhead was a bit surprised to find itself as the 7 seed. Coming into the tournament, word was they felt they should have had a higher seed due their putting out a couple of sub favorites. But all of the SSL and Black Watch fans weren't strong enough to push them higher up the bracket.

In breaking news, the National Wetshaving Association has sent Spearhead a notice alleging recruiting violations. The NWA is looking into the timing of Spearhead's recent 3 Scots limited release followed by the announcement of the price reduction on 20.1 base soaps. Were these ploys to propel Spearhead to the championship? Have no fear, like the NCAA, the NWA will take years to investigate this matter and then do absolutely nothing.

On to the shave and I decided to go with the underdog. Catie's Bubbles makes two of my favorite scents- Connecticut Shade (because god damn I love pipe tobacco) and Retreat (motherfucking sandalwood glory for the win)- and then there's Waterlyptus (iykyk). For me, Catie's Bubbles scents can be used more regularly than Spearhead's. And like the 3 seed, Stirling, I appreciate the value.

Time to power this Wednesday up with caffeine and see how this battle unfolds (in between work stuff). Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

MMARCH24

March 13, 2024

• Brush: Maggard Mixed 70/30
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Co. – Seaforth! 3 Scots
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Co. – Seaforth! 3 Scots
• Fragrance: American Perfumer – Lockdown

Spearhead was the clear winner for me today, and yet I don’t feel good about it. CBubs is a great soap made by a great human - I just haven’t tried enough of it (especially the fancier bases) to fall in love yet. Meanwhile, 3 Scots slaps. So do BW and SSL. The Highland base is probably the easiest and most forgiving I’ve ever used - I can turn my brain off and still make a great lather effortlessly. So, here’s to Spearhead/Seaforth/Dennis/Hawns. There’s no wrong choice today - but this is definitely the right choice for me.

Mar. 13, 2024 - March [MMarch24] Madness Bracket HSOTD

• Brush: DSCCosmetic Jade Tuxedo 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (29)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots - Soap

Rooting for fellow Buckeye u/Ironbeard_Sys.

MM24 Bonus Shave^© coming soon.

March 13, 2024

• Prep: House of Mammoth Embrace Doppio Bath Soap
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 24mm 2-Band
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: PTFE (?+6)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Azure - Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Azure - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Spearhead - Fleur de France - Eau de Toilette

Both teams deserve their spot. Today sucks, but I smell fantastic.

#MMarch24

March 13, 2024 – March [#MMarch24] Madness Non-Bracket MM24 Bonus Shave^©

• Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze Mew Brown 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (30)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! 3 Scots
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! 3 Scots

Here’s another cheer (off the bracket) for u/Ironbeard_Sys, but I cheer for everyone in the top 16. I have a TSF set in my shopping cart and I have tried A&E in the past, so 15/16 I have used. The exposure all of these artisans are getting is only good for them and us.

Cheers to all the artisans! Happy shaving and be kind to one another.

Mar. 13, 2024
Brush: RazoRock Monster
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE [13]
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots
Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots * Fragrance:* Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots

Tough decisions being made today.

MMarch24

March 13, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Irish Coffee Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co - Seibo Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

Tough match-up here. Catie's Bubbles is one of the OGs of wetshaving. Been around for over 10 years and started making a vegan soap because someone told him it couldn't be done. Mr. Bubbles in my LG interview series:

"... there were two soapmakers in a Facebook Group that threw down the gauntlet saying that you can't make a good shaving soap without using animal fat. I took that as a challenge and I've never turned my back on that. Neither of them is involved with the industry anymore, yet here I am..."

This is a guy that I want to ride with. Chris has been a big part of this community over the years, and makes stellar products.

Nothing against Spearhead. Everything Dennis had made is fire. Spearhead doesn't miss. But I think Catie's Bubbles is gonna need all hands on deck today, so I gotta do what I can for the underdog.

Mar. 13, 2024 - Choosing is Madness

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: That Darn Rob Green & Ivory w/Paragon Boar

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM PTFE (1)

• Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth! Sea ICE Lime

• Post Shave: Spearhead - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

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

• Fragrance: Spearhead - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

• Tags: #MMarch24

This sucks.

I absolutely love the Caties Bubbles soaps that I’ve tried and the Premium base is crazy good! Chris has been a pillar of wetshaving community for a long time and I hate choosing.

My self proclaimed tiebreaker is how much I’ve used one side vs the other. As you can see in the picture I have a shit ton of Sea Spice Lime. I’ve killed 2 tubs of soap, one bottle of toner 1/3rd the frag and many many bath bars.

#MMarch24 Madness: (7) Spearhead Shaving Company vs. (10) Catie's Bubbles

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks "Red Amboyna Burl" 26mm Maggard Premium Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM (49)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Dusk - Luxury Cream Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - V - After Shave Lotion
• Fragrance: Catie's Bubbles - Blugere - Eau de Parfum
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Sumatra. Aceh. v: Ateng. Bor Bor. Catimor. Timor. p: Washed. r: r: 02/20/24
• Music: Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd

This will likely be the toughest Round One match-up for me. I narrowed it down to Catie's Bubbles, but this was a very close game.

Spearhead's Seaforth! lineup is very cohesive, combined with excellent top-tier soap bases. Plus I love Spiced, especially as an aftershave (those samples go a long way, btw). Unfortunately, the lineup's scents largely don't work for me, despite appreciating the concept and execution. I think I'm one of about three people that can't stand Sea Spice Lime.

On the other hand, Catie's Bubbles has many original scents, a few of which are absolute bangers. That new Premium Shaving Soap base is a contender for S-tier, but it's only available in a few scents so far. The two older bases feel dated, but they're fine, and might even be ideal depending on how you like a lather to behave (the Luxury Cream Soap has plenty of structure when hydrated, but little density). 2022 and 2023 were particularly good years for the venerable wet shaving brand; looking forward to what 2024 brings.

For today's shave, I'm using Catie's Bubbles for all the software, highlighting a few scents I enjoy.

Dusk seems to be under the radar, but if you like a dry hay smell, you should try it. It's a minimal blend—four notes and "some accents"—which is the kind of scent I prefer for shave soaps. Nice label design too. (Chris, if you're looking for inspiration, I'm curious what you could do building off Dusk as the core of a fragrance with more complexity. Combine it with ideas from Connecticut Shade? Happy to help you test. 😎)

I followed up my shave with a splash of V and two sprays of Blugère. Both do interesting things with the fougère archetype. I'm always surprised by the significant spice accord in V (the cardamom pops for me) and the latter's blueberry note is just wonderful. Recommended.

⁂

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'm pretty-sure Chris designed the scents for the exclusive line West Coast Shaving sells. Chypre is a desert island soap scent for me and I love the Fougère. Can't speak to the others tho'.

Mar. 13, 2024
Brush: Sawdust Creations Studio Floyd
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Gem PTFE [13]
Lather: Catie's Bubbles Retreat
Post Shave:* DG / HoM / NO - Cerberus - Aftershave

Thanks u/J33pGuy13 for the smush. Finally getting around to using it today. Wonderful scent and slickness. Cerberus for the after just upped the ante. Happy Wednesday!

#MMarch24

March 13, 2024 – Mammoth MMarch24 Wednesday

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Pueblo Opaque handle w/ 26mm v20 Fanchurian Badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna PTFE Stainless Steel GEM (8)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Smash (2)
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger - After Shave and Face Tonic
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented AS Balm (180)
• Tags: #MMarch24

Precision Load; Face Lather; WTG/ATG/Cleanup Passes; BBS Result; 11th Consecutive / 285th Overall SOTD Post

Smash is a scent I really enjoy, and my lather today was top shelf. The blade seemed a bit scrapy today (I chock it up to sloppy technique) but I escaped irritation due to my lather being uber-protective. Happy shaving and have a wonderful day.

Spearhead Gonna Win It!
Brush: AP SHAVECO AP400B XL 28 mm (G5C)
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Coated [3]
Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Soap
Post Shave: Spearhead - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Aftershave
Post Shave: Zingari Man - (Unscented) - Balm

MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 13, 2024

• Brush: Farvour Turncraft 'Blue Diamond Dust' / AP Shave Co G5A 26mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (13)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Maggard Razors 2023 Meet Up
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Unscented - Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch - EdT

#MMarch24

This was a tough decision.

I don't get the hype about Premium base. Like, why isn't there more hype about it?

March 13, 2024

• ⁠Brush: 26MM Mojo 2023 Select w/ Ultralux

• ⁠Razor: Blackland Osprey Machined

• ⁠Blade: Voshkod

• ⁠Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather

• ⁠Post Shave: Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather Toner

• ⁠Fragrance: Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather EdP

Heather is one of those scents for me that smells differently on different days. Its still pleasant. I have other seaforth products but gotta show Heather some love in here.

MMarch24

• Brush: Simpson Classic #1 Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24
• Blade: Gem Blue Star uncoated (5)
• Lather: Caties Bubbles - Irish Coffee soap
• Post Shave: London Razors / Summer Break Soaps - Chapter 2 Coffee and Contemplation splash
• Fragrance: London Razors / Summer Break Soaps - Chapter 2 Coffee and Contemplation splash

MMarch24

Had to put the splash as the Fragrance too because the staying power on this aftershave is insane.

Happy Hump!

Mar. 13, 2024
Brush: Razorock Plissoft (24mm Synth)
Razor: u/EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [11]
Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth! Black Watch - Soap

Both of these competitors today are awesome people and the community is lucky to have to have them both. That said, this wasn’t much of a contest for me. There are lots of soap scents that I like, but 3 Scots was the first that I loved (so much so that I had to go begging to get a bottle of the fragrance — still the only fragrance that I own). Yes this is about soap, not fragrance, but Spearhead will always hold a special place for me for that. Black Watch today which is a close cousin of 3 Scots because that’s the one I brought to Kauai with me.

#MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

• Brush: Declaration Grooming - Thaw Jeffington - 28mm B16
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 (2 Tone)
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Project Lawndale - Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Eau de Toilette

MMarch24

March 13, 2024 - The Spice Must Flow

• Brush: AP Shave Co Purple/Ivory 26mm G5A SHD
• Razor: MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Caties Bubbles - Le Piment De La Vie
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Spice
• Post Shave Bonus: Thayers Facial Toner - Unscented
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Mélange EdT

MMarch24

Today is a triple spice day. I don’t have Seaforth! Spice soap, so went with Caties Bubbles Spice of Life. Finished with a yet another spice fragrance with Mélange. I might have gone overboard on the spice.

March 13, 2024

• Brush: Brad Sears Gonzo handle manchurian fan 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (5)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Osma Alum
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Unscented Liniment

I love Spearhead's soap and the fragrances that /u/hawns has created for the line. I own most of them.

#MMarch24