Mar 19, 2024 - MM24 10th Match-Up: NO vs. DG

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps Hopper 28mm Boti Stone Middle Flower SHD Badger Knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [19]
• Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Unconditional Surrender - Eau de Toilette

This match up could go either way. For #teatuesday I had both TNeV and Chaotic Neutral lined up for today, and ultimately went with the Otter.

Rating: 4.5/5

MM24MM

• Brush: MOAR F’N BOAR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (16)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus splash
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented AS balm

Wetshaving Arena is packed to the rafters today for what should be another action packed second round match up. After the barnburner that was B&M v. SW, will Declaration Grooming v. Noble Otter live up to the hype and come down to the wire? Some think it might. Vegas, on the other hand, has the Otter as a 12 point favorite. What do the oddsmakers see that the regular shavers don't?

Today will be the first true test for either team. In Round 1, Noble Otter was responsible for a day that will live in infamy in the wetshaving world when they pulled the Tabassacre. Some old farts might even call it the Tabacalypse. Regardless, Noble Otter put on a clinic against Tabac. Word has it the Tabac players thought they were showing up for a shuffleboard tournament, but were happy they were done in time to catch the Early Bird Special. Declaration Grooming had a slighly tighter 19 point victory over The Man from Z. Reports of DG actually having to break a sweat to pull out the win were apparently overblown as the postgame locker room smelled only of Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli. Onto the shave we go!

Cerberus got the call up from the den this morning. Milksteak just works much better for me than the NO base. But with the splash, I'm giving my tip of the hat to NO for their hard work and contributions to the community. This is going to be a fun matchup all through the day.

Time to Tuesday and make sure the coffee gets the party started. Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

MMARCH24

March 19, 2024

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive MOAR Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (12)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Proraso – Menthol and Eucalyptus
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Arance Mandarini

Voting for the little otter that could.

#MMarch24 Madness: Elite Eight - (5) NO vs. (4) DG

• Brush: Rubberset 400 26mm Soft Tuxedo
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM (55)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Le Jardin Retrouvé - Mousse Arashiyama
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Honduras. Cabañas. La Paz Dedertment. v: Lempira. Catuaí. Ihcafe 90. Pacas. p: natural. r: 2024-03-14
• Music: Gillian Welch - Soul Journey

If this was just a soap base shootout, Declaration Grooming would take it with Milksteak. It's not quite as stupid-easy to lather as Noble Otter manages with their own significantly-above-average base, but its a stronger performer overall.

However, I'm trying to be more holistic about this, and Noble Otter is going to win most matchups when you include the number of their scents I enjoy and their best-in-class branding. Also, DG entered this matchup with a benched MVP; I've never tried one of their brushes. Tough break!

Going for a woody-aquatic thing today since I picked Firefighter to get my shave started.

Mar. 19, 2024 - March [MMarch24] Madness E8 Bracket HSOTD

• Brush: DSCCosmetic Jade Tuxedo 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (41)
• Lather: DeclarationGrooming - Gratiot League Square - Soap

The GLS gets better every time I use it, or maybe my nose does.

The blade is becoming a wreck.

M24 Bonus Shave^© coming soon.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Sparkly Blue Translucent Reject - 28mm B16
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 (2 Tone)
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Marshlands - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Marshlands - Liniment

MMarch24

• Brush: Chisel and Hound X House of Mammoth “Rumble” brush
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24
• Blade: Gem Blue Star uncoated (8)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Hamami soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Vespers splash
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Hallows EDT

MMarch24

March 19, 2024 – Elite Eight

• Prep:
• Brush: Wild West Brushworks W / 26mm Maggard 2-band
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #MMarch24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (10)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus

Very tough choice for me today. I really enjoy both these artisans. And of course no real wrong choice. Great lather today and of course another great shave.

I got this brush on a pass around from u/OnionMiasma. Thank you sir. It has a purple handle and is called Nebula. Beautiful pour. And the brush I think is just about perfect for me. Just the right amount of splay and a little scrub. He sent me 4 total to try, so excited. Sad huh? Looking forward to trying new brushes? Sometimes being simple is a plus!

I worked last night, so time for some coffee. Have a great shave day all.

MMarch24

March 19, 2024 – March [#MMarch24] Madness Non-Bracket M24 Bonus Shave©

• Brush: DG B13 Butterscotch 28mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (42)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Gratiot League Square
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux – Gratiot League Square

I’ve only had samples of several of the NO soaps and they are all fantastic. It’s only my empty wallet that keeps me from full sets. Some day, my dear otter, we will become better friends.

Today it’s Declaration Day. Gratiot League Square is a rich and wonderful combination of scents that I appreciate more each time I use it. And the B13 is a fantastic knot to deliver the lather.

The GEM at 42 shaves is becoming quite horrible. I don’t have much irritation to speak of, likely thanks to the MM24, but it took four passes to get what I consider a good shave. If I were getting anything beside Internet points, I might keep going with this blade. We’ll see.

Have a great day and be kind to one another.

Mar. 19, 2024
Brush: Razorock BC Silvertip
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Gem PTFE [19]
Lather: Noble Otter - Neon Sun - Soap
Post Shave: Noble Otter - Neon Sun - Aftershave
Fragrance: Noble Otter - Neon Sun

Neon Sun trickhole +++

Have a sunny day.

#MMarch24

March 19, 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts w/Maggard SHD 30mm Fan
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (7)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Batters Up - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Hamami - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Harry's - Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Hamami - EdP
  (#MMarch24)

Noble Otter makes great stuff. I would have done a Hamami trickhole but I killed my tub of soap a while ago. Batters Up is a great scent that has really grown on me.

March 18, 2024 – MMarch24 Madness Elite Eight Tuesday

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Pueblo Opaque handle w/ 26mm v20 Fanchurian Badger knot
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna PTFE Stainless Steel GEM (14)
• Preshave: Stirling Soap Co. – Unscented
• Lather: Noble Otter – BarrBarr (3)
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger - After Shave and Face Tonic
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented AS Balm (185)
• Tags: #MMarch24

Precision Load; Face Lather; WTG/ATG/Cleanup Passes; BBS Result; 17th Consecutive / 291st Overall SOTD Post

I enjoy both NO's and DG's soap offerings so artisan selection for today's matchup came down to Lather Games 2023 sponsorship - NO was a sponsoring vendor and DG was not.

I got the hydration right and was very happy with my lather. The blade was noisy but not scrapy, so I hope that's an indicator that the blade is settling in and will continue to be usable until at least through the end of the month. Happy shaving and have a wonderful day.

March 19, 2024

• Prep: House of Mammoth Embrace Doppio Bath Soap
• Brush: Billy Goat Brushworks 26mm Declaration B15
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: PTFE (?+8)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougère - Eau de Parfum

#MMarch24

Mar. 19, 2024

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Mighty Duck v19 Fanchurian

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks Weru Burl w/ 24mm B16

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM PTFE (7)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter

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

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

• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Firefighter

• Tags: #MMarch24

Did a little brush comparison today. B16 vs V19. Both spectacular knots IMO, the B16 is more natural feeling with more splay. The V19 had more backbone which makes sense for a 26mm vs the 24mm of the B16. This is my only DG knot so I’m going to compare it to what I’ve been using and am familiar with. My badger collection now includes B16, V19, V11, Gelousy & a two band. V19 has been my favorite out of those since I got it but I also know it’s touted as the Goldilocks of the Fanchurians.

Mar. 19, 2024
Brush: Declaration Grooming B2 (25mm) no-name "gaslamp" handle Badger
Razor: u/EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [14]
Lather: Noble Otter - Lonestar - Soap
Post Shave:* Noble Otter - Lonestar - Aftershave

I just back from Kauai yesterday, so the only question for me was which Noble Otter to use. Do I look back and reminisce about Hawaii by using Monoi de Tahiti or accept that vacation is over and that I’m back in Texas again and go with Lonestar. I picked Lonestar as the optimistic forward looking choice.

Second shave with the B2 today and am on the fence. I think it may be a little too gelly for me, and I just can’t figure out the loading and lather release with it. It seems perfectly happy to sling lather onto the mirror or my arm or my chest, but then won’t let any go on my face. After my first pass the brush seemed to be full of lather, but literally nothing would come off onto my face when I tried for a second pass until I fully reloaded. Will keep trying because general consensus is that the B2 is a great knot so not sure what I am missing…

#MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 19, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

🦦Happy Noble Otter Day!🦦

Mar. 19, 2024
Brush: AP SHAVECO AP400B XL 28 mm (G5C)
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Coated [2]
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

MMarch24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

March 19, 2024

• Brush: Turn n Shave L4 Pastel 28mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE (19)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Monarch
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Unscented - Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Super Secret Frag Dated 2/8

/#MMarch24

This was a hard one for me: * Tubs killed: 1 DG, 1 NO * Scents in my top 10: 1 DG (Albizia), 1 NO (Rawr) * I find performance to be the about the same. * I like branding on the NO better, but the printed tape on the sides of the DG tubs is cool. * In the end, I wanted to wear this frag, and all of my DG soaps are strong and would overpower it. Plus, I like the Otter better than... whatever is on the DG label

Turn n' Shave on loan from u/J33pguy13. This brush is great. The handle is super comfortable, and the brush is just about perfect to me. Little-to-no scritch, lots of backbone but will splay nicely when pushed. Reminds me a lot of u/infernalinternal's B9A+, actually. Note: I totally boomered this post and posted it in yesterday's SOTD thread. Sorry if people got tagged twice.

Mar. 19, 2024
Brush: Chisel & Hound Quarter Moon
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE [19]
Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Co. - Seaforth! 3 Scots

MMarch24

March 19, 2024 - Accelerate into Spring

• Brush: AP Shave Co Purple/Ivory 26mm G5A SHD
• Razor: MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Eroe Balm
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Delta V

MMarch24

This wasn’t a horribly difficult decision for me today. I have a lot of both brands, but I try to use Noble Otter at least once a week. Spring starts tonight, so I had to go with Rawr. Rawr is among the first artisan soaps I bought. Sea Spice Lime was first, and I got it after seeing all the posts with Sea Ice Lime in the mug. Rawr was next in the early days of my habit. It is on my list of soaps I must replace when I kill the tub (Barrbarr too).

Declaration Grooming though had a big impact on expanding my horizons of fragrance. For years I was pretty anti-patchouli. Goes back to students over doing the fragrance back when I was in college. A significant number of students at CU Boulder seemed to bathe in it. Some guys in the dorms thought that patchouli could cover up the pot smoke. It doesn’t though; it just smells like patchouli with a side of pot smoke. Cigarette smoke probably disguised the smell more. Anyway, after reading some posts about Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli, I got a sample of it from Maggards sent by u/OnionMiasma as a surprise with another soap. I discovered that I do like things with patchouli, just don’t hit me over the head with it. DG’s Y/R/P is now one of my favorites and on the definitely keep stocked list. I also have the DG splash and a bottle of the perfume from Chatillon Lux. If it were up against someone else, I’d have possibly gone with DG (except my other Final Four picks). I’ll give it my fifth spot in the bracket. In honor of that, I went with Delta V as my fragrance. I got about 7 or 8 fragrances out to compare. Delta V or Chaotic Neutral would be ok with Rawr. A few other scents seemed to fit well - Manoi De Tahiti, Barrbarr, Dr. John’s Hydra (citrus goes with a lot of scents), and a few others got a good sniff.

Great shave today, and I’m enjoying my foray into Spring.

Mar. 19, 2024 - New Luxury

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Spearhead - Seaforth! Heather

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

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

• Tags: #MMarch24

New soap day = SLS