u/squid_monk's SOTDs for challenge 'Rookie of the Year'

July 1, 2023

• Prep: Proraso Green
• Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Boar Brush #TEXASPIGSTINKMASSACRE
• Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate
• Blade: Treet Platinum (1)
• Lather: Arko
• Post Shave: Bromleys - Bergamot Lavender Balm

First time trying Arko soap and it was pretty good performance-wise. Not sure if I'm a fan of the scent though. Anyways, it was a DFS for my first day of my first lather games.

#ROTY

July 2, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/4498iu6

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Spiffo! Steinway

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (2)

Lather: Saponificio Varesino - Manna Di Sicilia soap

Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - Manna Di Sicilia aftershave

My first lather games is off to a good start. First day I got to try something new, and today right on to one of my favorites. Can't ever go wrong with this scent or SV performance.

#ROTY

July 3, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/IktaikV

Prep: None

Brush: Vikings Blade White Knight Synthetic #COMPOSITE #FAUXFUR

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (3)

Lather: Cella Red soap

Post Shave: Cella red aftershave

Travel shave today, so nothing too fancy. I'm a much bigger fan of this almond scent over Arkos. Always a DFS with Cella.

Challenge: In honor of u/RedMosquitoMM and their avatar I opted to shave while wearing sunglasses today.

#ROTY

July 4, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/JAZBtfG

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger Shave Brush

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (1)

Lather: Stirling Queen of Hearts soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Stirling Queen of Hearts aftershave splash

This was a great shave. Stirling is an awesome soap and this scent is killer.

Challenge: For science I used a teaspoon (at least I think that's how much that lil spoon holds) of soap and once I mushed it into my scuttle I realized this was far too much soap for a single-pass shave, so I took about 1/2 of it back. I lathered in a clockwise motion for exactly one minute, then again in a counter-clockwise motion for exactly one minute. That's about as scientific as my shave got today, but it was a DFS.

#ROTY

July 5, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/DhvVXG4

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Knot today

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (2)

Lather: Equate - Sensitive Skin Shave Foam

Post Shave: Skin Bracer

Worst Lather of the Lather games so far. That is, if you can even call what just happened upon my face "lather". This stuff smelled so bad that I actually shaved my upper lip first just to get it away from my nose ASAP. Straight to the trash with this canned crap. Skin Bracer came in and saved the day though. I love the scent and how smooth it makes my face feel. I wouldn't call it a DFS, but it was a DFA(fter)S

Challenge: I am a lime and citrus degenerate. If I could create a scent, it would most likely feature lime, bergamot, and maybe some lilac or Lavender to pull it all together.

#ROTY

July 7, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/4k2Zkmj

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Boar Brush #TEXASPIGSTINKMASSACRE

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (3)

Lather: Zingari Man - The Merchant Shave Soap

Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Post Shave Recovery Splash

Zingari Man - The Merchant Aftershave Balm

Spicy shave day! With temps in the 90s already this morning, I wasn't really looking forward to this scent, but to my pleasant surprise it fits really well. I can picture myself walking through the bazaars in Istanbul or something like that. Truly a great scent and definitely nice in the hot weather.

Challenge: My other hobby? Fly fishing. There are definitely some weirdos in the sport. Just check out r/flyfishingcirclejerk for the cream of the crop. Interesting jargon? How about names for flies like "Sex Dungeon", "Barr's Meat Whistle", "Hippie Stomper", "Rainbow Warrior", or the "Grizzly Klinkhammer" to name a few.

#ROTY

July 8, 2023

Prep: Proraso Green

Brush: Spiffo! Steinway

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Treet Platinum (1)

Lather: Maggard Razors - Lilac shave soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Tabac original aftershave lotion

This is my first time using a maggards soap, and I gotta say, the scent and Lather are excellent. DFS

Challenge link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/comments/14tvgmp/saturday_daily_questions_newbie_friendly_jul_08/jr5izoj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2

#ROTY

July 9, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/9OaU3nT

Prep: Shower + Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons - Commodore X3 Best Badger Shave Brush #OLDWORLD #SMOLL #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS

Razor: Gillette - Slim Adjustable Prospector Edition

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (1)

Lather: Caties Bubbles - Irish Coffee shave soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Pinaud Clubman Aftershave

I've never used a coffee or tea scent before, but thanks to u/chronnoisseur42O I got to sample this Caties Bubbles Irish Coffee soap. It was a very pleasant smell and the CB lather is always awesome.

#ROTY

July 10, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/N7MPVL5

Prep: Shower + Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6s R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (1)

Lather: Declaration Grooming - Dayman shave soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Bromleys - Bergamot Lavender Balm

I feel like a real master of karate and friendship for everyone after today's shave.

#ROTY

July 11, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/dUfsR2W

Prep: Shower + Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Phantom Aerolite Spectral Synth Hybrid Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6s R6 plate

Blade: Personna - Super (1)

Lather: Declaration Grooming - Shore shave soap

Post Shave: Alum Block + Declaration Grooming - Shore Aftershave Splash

With the paste-like milksteak base and the useless floppy, fake hair of the PAA Phantom Aerolite I had a real tough time getting a decent lather going. In the spirit of the Lather Games, I pursued and was finally rewarded with a decent, albeit somewhat watery lather. Double-pass shave with the Personna blade turned out nice and smooth. Not BBS, but definitely a DFS.

Challenge: I really dislike this brush and wasn't looking forward to using it today, but it helped fit the bill of color coordination, so today was a nice blue skies at the beach kind of shave.

#ROTY

July 12, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/x4VtwNW

Prep: Shower + Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons - Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Rockwell - 6s R6 plate

Blade: Personna - Super (2)

Lather: Razor Emporium Small Batch Shave Soap - Old School

Post Shave: Alum Block + Mennen - Skin Bracer

This is my first time trying this soap, and it's actually pretty darn good. It was a very mild scent, though, which isn't my thing, but the lather was top-notch and left my face feeling nice.

Challenge: I am normally a bowl/scuttle lathering kinda guy, so today I face lathered. It was tough to properly load the brush from the small, sample sized tub, but I eventually got it to work out. Only a single-pass shave today because of that, but still a DFS.

#ROTY

July 13, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/dPUyY1p

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Gillette - Slim Adjustable Prospector Edition #DIAL

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (2)

Lather: Zingari Man - The Merchant Shave Soap

Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Recovery Splash

Zingari Man - The Merchant Aftershave Balm

This scent is becoming one of my favorites. It's very complex - there's a lot going on, but it's all blended together so well. It features a "soft patchouli base" that perfectly accompanies the rest of the spices, honey, and vanilla.

Challenge: For today's Hippy Dippy Baloney theme, only one song came to mind: Granola Head by The Queers. Why? Because whacked-out hippies brains are scrambled eggs.

#ROTY

July 14, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/UgKwmF2

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Gillette - Treet - Platinum (2)

Lather: Noble Otter - Orbit soap

Post Shave: Noble Otter - Orbit aftershave balm

I loves me some NO Orbit. This is the only soap with a cooling agent that I own, and I really dig it.The scent is great, and the NO base performs well every time.

Challenge: My neck on the right side is prone to bumps and ingrowns, so I did the first pass on my left side against the grain. Can't say I noticed a real difference, but I "took one for the team" per se.

#ROTY

July 15, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZODSQCV

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (1)

Lather: Barrister and Mann - Le Grand Chypre Shaving Soap

Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Le Grand Chypre Aftershave Splash

Barrister and Mann - Le Grand Chypre Aftershave Balm

This is one of my favorite soaps. I absolutely love this scent and how it really "blooms" into something different once you start creating a lather with it. Being the citrus degen that I am, I could leave this lather on my face all day. Alas, that isn't possible or practical, but the aftershave splash and balm combo ensures the scent sticks with me for quite some time after a shave session.

Fresh Treet Platinum blade + Le Grand Chypre = DFS

#ROTY

July 16, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/22iODkC

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (2)

Lather: Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Shave Soap

Post Shave: Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Aftershave Lotion

Maurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Aftershave Balm

Tabac is always awesome, in my opinion. It was one of the first soaps that I ever wet shaved with, and I've never looked back.

Although it's not explicitly marketed as a barbershop scent, it's hard to argue that it isn't a classic barbershop scent or, at the very least, a classic German barbershop scent. The rules don't state that anything about needing to be an American barbershop scent, so I rest my case. Here is one source referring to it as "one of the all time great barbershop scents" : https://www.westcoastshaving.com/collections/tabac#:~:text=Tabac%20is%20a%20classic%20German,to%20try%20at%20least%20once.

As for today's challenge, I apologize in advance: https://imgur.com/t86p9IS

#ROTY

July 18, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/xfGOMkb

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (3)

Lather: Zingari Man - The Merchant Shave Soap

Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Recovery Splash

Zingari Man - The Merchant Aftershave Balm

This scent hits a lot of notes. And with more than a hint of clove, pink pepper, and "woods" I think it more than qualifies for Woody Spicy

Challenge: Why?

#ROTY

July 19, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/7hHh4so

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Sock: Gold Toe - Men's No Show Sock Black

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (1)

Lather: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real (Green) Shave Cream

Post Shave: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real (Green) Aftershave Splash

I really enjoy this stuff. It's the second tube I've bought, and it's almost gone. The scent isn't too strong, but it is very pleasant.

Challenge:

Alright

Here we go...

What the hell is wrong with me?

I guess this is my life now

#ROTY

July 20, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/kmavtG6

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (2)

Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man Shave Soap

Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man Aftershave Splash

Sharp Dressed Man is a dupe of Creed Green Irish Tweed.

Challenge: I'm usually a "eh, medium water" kinda guy, so I went pasty today. Not the best shave, I definitely need a bit more slickness to my lather.

#ROTY

July 21, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/9xQ8V7n

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Treet - Platinum (3)

Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Tonsorium

Post Shave: Cremo - Heritage Red Post Shave Balm No. 508 Spiced Amber

I don't know how I feel about this scent. I do know that my SO is not a fan. You can't really beat CBs lather performance, though. Turned out to be a DFS.

Challenge:

This is a haiku

It's a very bad haiku

End the haiku now

#ROTY

July 22, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/os9iVDG

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (1)

Lather: Geo F. Trumpers - Limes Shaving Cream

Post Shave: Mennen - Skin Bracer

Limes is hands down my favorite shave product of all time. It's nearly impossible to fuck the lather up, and the scent is simply wonderful. I always overload the scuttle just so I can do an extra pass or 2. 10/10 Highly recommend. DFS.

Limes, and other citrus fruits are botanically defined as berries. Specifically, they are hesperidia.

Challenge: I had a hard enough time explaining what the hell I was doing with a sock the other day. This is a no-go for me.

#ROTY

July 23, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/YpUQ1dj

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons - Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (2)

Lather: Noble Otter - Logbook Shave Soap

Post Shave: Noble Otter - Logbook Aftershave Splash

Logbook is definitely the scent that gets me the most complements. I think the reason why is because it's a very "mature" scent without being too "old man smell".

Challenge: Laugh away fellow shaving nerds

#ROTY

July 24, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/CRCv2KW

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Gillette - Slim Adjustable Prospector Edition

Blade: Gillette - Nacet (1)

Lather: Red House Farm - Sedona

Post Shave: Clubman - Pinoud Aftershave Splash

Shout out, and many thanks to u/chronnoisseur42O for the smoosh of this Sedona soap. To be totally honest, I am not a fan of the scent whatsoever. It kinda reminds me of an old ladies house or something like that. There wasn't much usable soap since the permanent marker seeped through the wax paper, and I didn't want to stain my brush and/or face. I did get a nice lather out of what I could salvage, though. The performance was top-notch and lead to a DFS.

For todays challenge, I'd also like to say thanks to u/chronnoisseur42O for being a great guy and sending me a bunch of samples to help me complete as many lather games themes as possible.

#ROTY

July 25, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/i1GEbT3

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Rockwell - 6S R6 plate

Blade: Feather (1)

Lather: House of Mammoth - Santa Noir Shave Soap

Post Shave: Cremo - Vintage Red No. 508 Spiced Amber Post Shave Balm

Today's shave was pretty great. Thanks to u/chronnoisseur42O for the excellent quality smoosh today. This scent is very mild but pleasant. I wish it was still available, I would definitely buy a tub. HoM base was great as always, giving me a nice lather and a DFS.

Challenge: I started wet shaving with a straight razor, so using both hands to shave kinda came naturally to me when I picked up a DE. I thought everybody shaved that way (left hand on the left side, right hand on the right). I guess not, lol, so in honor of today's challenge, I switched it up a bit and shaved my left side with my right hand and my right side with my left hand. Boy, was that fun. I don't think I'll be doing that again soon.

#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

July 27, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/aaEu3PS

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Boar Brush

Razor: Gillette - Slim Adjustable Prospector Edition

Blade: Treet - Platinum (1)

Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Purple Grapefruit

Post Shave: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro - Principe Real Green Aftershave Splash

This soap is kind of a weird blend of scents to me, but Catie's Bubbles is an awesome soap base so this was, of course, a DFS.

No challenge for me today.

#ROTY

July 28, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/S5bjgDI

Prep: None

Brush: Anbbas - Birch handle synthetic

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Astra - Platinum Green

Lather: Arko

Post Shave: None

All things cheap day! So this was my 2nd shave using Arko soap, and I really can't get past the burnt plastic smell. But, hey, it's cheap. Also, credit where credit is due; my face did feel freaking awesome after the shave, so it's definitely not a bad soap at all. Just the smell, man. That damn smell. Anyways I used a cheap synthetic brush/stand/bowl combo I bought on Amazon a while back. The Astra greens were super cheap in a 500 pack. Besides the scratchy brush, it turned out to be a nice shave. And I'm sure I saved some money along the way somewhere.

#ROTY

July 29, 2023

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Spiffo! - Steinway

Razor: Rockwell 6s R6 Plate

Blade: Astra - Platinum Green (2)

Lather: Noble Otter - Monoi De Tahiti

Post Shave: Clubman Aftershave Splash

#ROTY

July 30, 2023

https://imgur.com/gallery/ju5D6Tw

Prep: Proraso - Refrescante Preshave Cream

Brush: Simpsons - Commodore X3 Best Badger

Razor: Gillette - Slim Adjustable Prospector Edition

Blade: Feather (1)

Lather: Cella - Aloe Vera (Blue) Shave Soap

Post Shave: Cella - Aloe Vera (Blue) Aftershave Lotion

This was a great shave to end the lather games. The blue Cella soap with Aloe Vera was just what my face needed after a month of daily shaving. I live in the US and Cella is an Italian soap, so it's definitely on theme. I don't have what's needed for the daily challenge though, so I'll end my lather games posting by saying thank you to all of the organizers and fellow participants. I'll be looking forward to next year's games. Happy shaving!

#ROTY