u/sahenders's SOTDs for challenge 'Lather Games 2023'

Jul 1, 2023 - Bonjour, Lather Games! / New All the Things!

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Zenith New Titanio 22mm Boar Knot #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Betued Shavette #ALLNATURAL
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional [1]
• Lather: E&S Rasage - Zenith - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - Prairie Sky - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Just Right for a Tuesday - Eau de Parfum

Lather Games is finally here! All the things new to me for the first shave.

I've used an SR a hand full of times, but I got an inexpensive shavette to try shaving with an Artist Club blade. Was the shave close? Was the shave comfortable? No, not really, but it went better than expected. I will use it again. As a bonus, no blood offerings were made.

E&S Rasage is a French brand that I've been wanting to try for a while, but have kept putting off. Trying a new soap base on the same day as a new type of hardware can be a little risky. Luckily, the lather was slick enough to provide excellent protection.

The aftershave sample shared some of the fruity, floral, amber notes of Zenith, but without the hints of spice. Prairie Sky is fully fruit forward, but overall a well done scent. On the other hand, Just Right for a Tuesday paired nicely with Zenith.

While the Zenith brush isn't new to me, I couldn't help bringing in the association with the soap name here.

Rating: 3.5/5

Jul 2, 2023 - Don't have a Cow, Man!

• Prep: Coffee
• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: AP Shave Co. Ruby Ripple 22mm Faux Horse Knot #FAUXFUR
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [14]
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Spice Route - Soap (Vegan)
• Post Shave: Zingari Man/Shawn Maher - The Merchant - Splash
• Fragrance: Zingari Man/Shawn Maher - The Merchant - Extrait de Parfum

The MM24 was an easy pick for the #ButterTheToast challenge--smooth and efficient as always. The faux horse synthetic brush created an excellent lather from the Wholly Kaw vegan soap base. The mix of sandalwood, cinnamon, clove, jasmine, and hay between Spice Route and The Merchant created a really pleasant overall shave.

Rating: 4/5

Edit: My daughter has been infatuated with Highland Cows recently, so when she learned of the theme, she insisted her cow make it into the photo.

Jul 3, 2023 - Almonday

• Prep: Hot Towel
• Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR Sub-Exclusive 31mm (508A XL) #CHONK
• Razor: Union 5/8 Full Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Cella - Milano Crema Da Barba - Cream
• Post Shave: Cella - Lozione Dopobarba - Aftershave Lotion
• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Treachery - Parfum

For Almonday, I wanted to lean into the traditional Italian barbershop theme. After stropping the razor, I started with a fresh, hot towel. I soaked the Italian-made MoAR BoAR brush in warm water. I proceeded with lathering Cella until the lather was just right. Using the straight, I attempted a two pass shave the best I could, and the results were fair. I followed up the shave with the barbershop-scented Cella aftershave and a couple sprays of Treachery with hints of almond.

To honor u/RedMosquitoMM, I listened to the playlist I put together last year during Austere August of all the excellent music he had suggested throughout the month in his SOTDs. After sharing it, he even offered some more great songs to add to the list.

Rating: 4/5

Edit: Only three days in and I'm already forgetting to add the link to my photo.

Jul 4, 2023 - April Showers Bring May Flowers / Yeah Science, Bitch!

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 28mm Declaration Grooming B13 #SHD
• Razor: RazoRock Game Changer .84-P #CNC
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [3]
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Mayflower - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Tres Matres - Eau de Parfum

Abstract:
This scientific paper presents an examination of shaving techniques employed by individuals in their daily grooming routines. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of various shaving methods, the social implications of their shaving routines, and the overall satisfaction of users. A controlled experiment was conducted, employing a sample of seventy-six participants, at the time of writing, who were tasked with shaving using different razors and shaving lubricants. The results provide valuable insights into the efficacy and user experience of diverse shaving approaches.

Introduction:
Shaving is a common practice for personal grooming, involving the removal of unwanted facial hair using various methods, such as manual razors, electric razors, and shaving creams. Despite its widespread adoption, there remains a dearth of scientific research on the comparative effectiveness of different shaving techniques. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the impact of shaving methods on hair removal efficacy, skin irritation, and subjective user satisfaction.

Methodology:
Seventy-six participants volunteered for this experiment. Participants were required to shave at least once daily and post commentary about their shave experience on social media.

Procedure:
During today's shaving session, three grams of a shaving soap with a Spring-themed fragrance was carefully measured, loaded into a designated bowl, and adequately mixed with approximately twenty-five milliliters of water to produce a sufficiently hydrated lather with which to soften the facial hair and lubricate the shave area. The participant was instructed to shave the facial hair using a manual safety razor. After each pass, hair removal efficacy was assessed by measuring the remaining hair length using subjective sensory input. Skin irritation was evaluated through visual inspection and subjective self-reports using a standardized scale. Additionally, the participant was asked to rate overall satisfaction with the shaving method.

Results:
1.0 Hair Removal Efficacy:
The manual razor with shaving soap demonstrated the highest efficacy in hair removal, leaving the shortest hair length on average (p < 0.001) compared to other common shaving methods.

1.1 Skin Irritation:
The participant reported significantly lower levels of skin irritation after shaving with a manual razor over other shaving methods (p < 0.001). The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.072).

1.2 User Satisfaction:
The participant expressed the highest satisfaction with shaving using a manual razor and shaving soap. The differences in user satisfaction ratings between other common shaving techniques were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Discussion:
The results of this study indicate that using a manual razor with shaving cream offers superior hair removal efficacy. Additionally, the manual razor with shaving cream exhibited lower levels of skin irritation and higher user satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of adequate lubrication during shaving to minimize skin irritation and maximize user satisfaction.

Conclusion:
This study provides valuable insights into the efficacy and user experience of different shaving techniques. The findings suggest that individuals seeking optimal hair removal results with reduced skin irritation and increased user satisfaction should consider using a manual razor with shaving cream. Future research could explore additional factors, such as different fragrances with shaving creams or the impact of pre- and post-shave skincare routines, to further enhance our understanding of the shaving process.

Rating: 4.5/5

Edit: Happy 4th of July!

Jul 5, 2023 - Canned Shave Goop / Channel Your Inner Perfumer

• Brush: Eberbart 24mm Best Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: Wilkinson Sword Classic Razor
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic [1]
• Lather: Speick - Men Active - Soap
• Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Wild Ride - Eau de Toilette

The Local Software

I am very fortunate that our neighborhood Apotheke carries some quality shaving products. Speick is mass produced, but it is still a good value for the price. Nivea aftershave balm has been a staple in my shave den since I started shaving with carts. It just works and it's not expensive.

The Janky Brush

The brush is the first brush I bought when I started wetshaving. I knew nothing about what to look for then, and this brush proves it. It's the scritchiest little, good-for-nothing bugger I've ever used. Using the brush now it's funny to see how far I've come.

The Supermarket DE

This budget razor is the least efficient and simultaneously the most aggressive razor I've experienced. I was expecting it to be mild to the point of boredom, but I was unpleasantly surprised. The blade was easy to get misaligned, so I had to try loading it several times. When I rinsed the razor, something metal inside the plastic cover seemed to rattle around, so I kept checking to make sure the blade was secure. I mean, it was 5€, so there's that.

The Fragrance

Tabac Wild Ride is just what it says it is. It opens clean and fresh, but it's still just a level above Axe body spray. The dry down wasn't pleasant at all. It's a shame because the Tabac Man line of fragrances, like Gravity and Fire Power, are not bad.

It was a shave, but I've had better. I came away shaven, but the software was the saving grace in all this.

Channel Your Inner Perfumer

I like fougères, I like lavender, fig, sandalwood, Palo Santo, and jasmine. Rose or petrichor can be nice when done right. When a scent has any of these in the description then I pay attention. I think any scent that I came up with would incorporate, and probably feature, some of these scents.

Rating: 3/5

Jul 6, 2023 - Olfactory Overdose / Stacking Day

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Gothic 26mm Manchurian T1
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co. Christopher Bradley Copper, SB-D (Copper/Brass Knopf Pommel Handle)
• Blade: Voskhod [1]
• Lather: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Soap
• Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Gentleman’s Nod - Juniper Reverie - Extrait de Parfum

Juniper Reverie is my contender for scent of the year so far. I can't help but to keep coming back to it. Since juniper is prominent in the scent, I'm assuming that GN must use juniper essential oils in very low quantities. However, I'm "off-the-scale" allergic to juniper, so I very literally overdosed on this stuff this morning.

I haven't had any skin irritation with using it, which is good, but after ~~dosing~~ dousing myself this morning in the scent, I did go off into a sneezing fit, I felt my eyes starting to itch, and my throat started to get itchy—a substantial histamine response!

That's the first time I've had a reaction after using the fragrance, so I'll definitely dial it back next time. It could also just be something else in the air. The symptoms have since subsided, but they're still a small price to pay for getting to enjoy this scent.

Stacking Day Challenge

Rating: 4.0/5

Jul 7, 2023 - Fremen Friday - Two Dragons and a Sandworm

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Shore Shave Honey Jar 26mm Plisson Knot
• Razor: Aylsworth Razors Drakkant Plus
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [10]
• Lather: Subtle Art Soap Co. - Draconis - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Mélange - Balm
• Fragrance: Bentley - Bentley for Men Intense - Eau de Parfum

“A man’s flesh is his own; the water belongs to the tribe.” - Dune

Draconis is a spicy concoction of "cinnamon, coriander, and clove, combined with smooth sandalwood, and vanilla, with hints of citrus and soft florals." It's a bold, powerful scent when you just need something spicy. The base takes a little work to get the slickness right, but it can produce a nice lather.

The Drakkant+ has become one of my top razors. It's intuitive, smooth, efficient, and the handle design stands out against all my other razors.

Mélange is spicy with a touch of bright ginger and bay. It's an homage to "the spice" found on the planet Arrakis in the novel Dune.

Challenge: Another hobby of mine is board games. Partly due to Kickstarter, there has been an explosion of new boutique board game designers in the last few years offering limited runs on board games that make them somewhat collectable. Some of these have some interesting game play mechanics and unique themes. The game used as the backdrop in the picture is Dune: Imperium, which combines card drafting, worker placement, take that, and an optional solo play variation to bring the world of Arrakis to the tabletop.

Rating: 4/5

Jul 8, 2023 - Small Business Saturday: At the Barbershop of Good and Evil

• Prep: Coffee
• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: AKA Brushworx 28mm Maggard Synthetic Knot #TOLL
• Razor: Maggard Razors V3A (Matte Black)
• Blade: Voskhod [2]
• Lather: Maggard Razors - London Barbershop - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Angelique - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Gothique - Eau de Parfum

Small Business Saturday is the day to use all things Maggard. From the 28mm synthetic powerhouse knot that makes an easy lather from anything I've thrown at it, to the V3A (aggressive) razor, or the bestselling London Barbershop soap.

The V3A gave a super close shave, but it is very particular about having the exact angle to prevent it from "biting." I learned that the hard way on my neck--no blood, but just a little irritation. Although, the irritation could have had more to do with the combination with the Voskhod.

London Barbershop is a light, sophisticated scent, reminiscent of an old barbershop my dad used to take to me to as a kid (albeit not in London). I might consider a full tub at some point. I followed it up with another Maggard collaboration, Fougère Angelique. While Fougère Gothique is not associated with Maggard, it complements nicely.

DQ Appreciation Challenge

Rating: 3.5/5

Edit: Since I set the #TOLL knot myself, I figured that the judges might like some verification.
* 70mm total height from the Maggard store description * Actual brush measurement

Jul 9, 2023 - Death Before Decaf

• Prep: Coffee
• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Monster Dark 26mm SHD Gelousy Knot
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co. Christopher Bradley Aluminum, SB-E #RAINBOW
• Blade: Perma-Sharp Super [3]
• Lather: HAGS - Memento Mori - Soap
• Post Shave: Westman Shaving - Dark Man - Aftershave Lotion
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Embrace - Eau de Parfum

The name of the theme today made me think of Death Wish Coffee, which I haven't tried, but I've always liked the name of the company. Going with Death and Coffee for the theme, I used Memento Mori and Dark Man, which are both bold, rich coffee fragrances. Memento Mori leans into the sweet chocolate and rum notes at the start, but adds complexity with coffee and sandalwood. Dark Man opens strong with coffee and settles into earthy and woody notes like nutmeg, sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, and incense. Both excellent scents that pair very well together. I finalized the shave with HoM Embrace; a lovely, warm scent with a beautiful coffee note.

The Karve CB is always a great shaver for me, but not having a full mirror to shave with this morning made things a little more difficult. Shaving in the kitchen has been a staple of LG, and my family has just accepted these types of challenges at this point.

For the #Rainbow tag on the razor, I'm hoping that the red base plate is enough to pass it.

Of course, I had to start the morning with a really good cup of coffee, so I used the French Press and documented some of the preparation:

• Coffee to Water Ratio: 1:12 (23g:270ml)
• Grind: 5
• Temperature: 93°C
• Time: Bloom for 30s / Steep for 3m 30s

#photocontest coffee

Rating: 4/5

Edit: formatting

Jul 10, 2023 - Musical Monday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Matador 26mm Sweet Spot Badger Knot
• Razor: Gillette Red Tip Super Speed (1957)
• Blade: Voskhod [3]
• Lather: Dr. Jon's Shaving Soap Co. - Runaway - Soap (Vegan)
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - American Vintage - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light - Eau de Parfum

Musical Monday started with the sweet cherry, spice, and leather notes in Runaway (á la Cherry Bomb); leading into the nuanced tobacco, mahogany, and worn leather of American Vintage; and finally the bold leather, tobacco, and nutty amber notes of Fake Yellow Light.

Musicly, Runaway honors Cherie Currie and Joan Jett of the band Runaways, while American Vintage is a "tribute to classic guitars and late night gigs." Fake Yellow Light is an homage to Ten by Jimmy Eat World.

The classic Red Tip Super Speed was so smooth with the Voskhod today, and gave such a great BBS. I'll definitely be using this combo as part of my regular razor rotation.

#photocontest leather

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 11, 2023 - Sunny Days

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Lowborn Supply Montrose Beach 26mm Synthetic Knot
• Razor: Wet Shaving Club Winning Razor
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic [2]
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Montrose Beach - Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Montrose Beach - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Falling into the Sea - Eau de Parfum

Montrose Beach displays the tagline, "Just in time for Summer!" With the scent notes of sea salt, dried coconut, eucalyptus, jasmine, carnation, vetiver, driftwood, and seaweed, Montrose Beach is a headier beach scent with unique aquatic notes.

Falling into the Sea was the perfect companion to Montrose Beach with citrus, tropical flowers, and warm sand scent notes. Unfortunately, the frag is a sample; otherwise, the bottle would have coordinated nicely with the photo for the challenge.

The Winning razor is an intuitive shaver, and the BBS shaves I get are distinct to this razor. They seem to last longer and feel closer than many of the other razors I've used.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 12, 2023 - IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE

• Brush: AKA Brushworx Orange Resin 26mm Tuxedo Knot
• Razor: Gillette English Flat Bottom Tech #REGUS
• Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless [13]
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Santa Paula - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Druantia - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Monarch - Eau de Parfum

The Chiseled Face website warns that Santa Paula is orange trees, not oranges. It's also an amazing scent. I've had this sample for a while, and was never compelled to use it. However, it fit the running orange scents in the fragrances today. From woody, bitter orange to earthy, orange to powdery, orange, the shave software today worked together better than expected.

Chiseled Face's Tallow soaps contain coconut oil, and produced some FLUFFY goodness.

The Feather blade in the FBT was ready to be binned. I should have swapped it after the first pass, but I stuck it out for the shave.

Reverse Lather Challenge: depending on the type of soap determines how I usually lather. If it's a hard or firm soap, then I will typically tub load and face lather. Croaps and soft soaps, I will typically portion out, start a lather in the bowl, and finish hydrating the lather by face lathering.

Samples usually dictate bowl lathering. To unnecessarily complicate the process this morning, I opted for starting by hand lathering, but also skipped loading the bowl altogether. This had the undesirable effect that soap doesn't stick to the palm of the hand well and large soap pieces flaked off into the lather. I managed to work the pieces back into the lather, and added more hydration while face lathering. It's not an Uno reverse, but rather a wild card.

#witchcraftswednesday
#photocontest oranges

Rating: 3.5/5

Edit: phrasing

Jul 13, 2023 - Hippy Dippy Baloney

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Farvour Turn Craft Eye of Jupiter 27mm Motherlode Knot
• Razor: GEM Flying Wing Micromatic (w/ Guiding Eye) #BRASSING
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [15]
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Retreat - Soap
• Post Shave: Oaken Lab - Sanctum - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)

• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Santal Auster - Eau de Parfum

• Song: The Apples in stereo - Energy

Frankincense and patchouli combined with delicate floral notes defined the shave this morning. The 27mm Motherlode made easy work of the Catie's Bubble's base and produced a beautiful, shimmering lather. It's been a while since I've used the Flying Wing, but it gave a close shave.

Song Challenge: The song selection from The Apples in stereo is Robert Schneider's burst of sunshine in musical form.

#photocontest incense smoke

Rating: 4/5

Jul 14, 2023 - Frigid Friday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Summer Break Soaps Hopper 28mm Boti Stone Middle Flower SHD Knot
• Razor: Blackland Razors Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Voskhod [4]
• Lather: Noble Otter - Orbit - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Kryptonite - Splash
• Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Sun Soaked - Eau de Parfum

Here at Luther Corp. we pride ourselves in developing novel methods of neutralizing new and increasingly more powerful threats to humanity. The latest threat that has captured the attention of the media are the exploits of the Man of Steel. However, there is no need to fear his powerful capabilities because our R&D team has discovered multiple ways to keep his powers in check:

1. He gains his powers from the light of a yellow sun, so trapping him in the cold, darkness of space will greatly weaken his abilities.
2. A rare mineral from his home planet will rapidly diminish his powers to provide us greater opportunities to take quick and effective actions against him.
3. If he completely absorbs the light of a red sun, like the one of his home planet, he will be rendered completely powerless.

Today’s demonstration showcases how our latest technologies have been distilled into everyday products. With common elements of synthesized cold and notes of cedar, the combined effects can be harnessed to help incapacitate this new threat.

ATG Challenge: TIL the TiBird is a capable single pass shaver. Going ATG on the first pass was not what I would call comfortable, but it did take down most of the growth. I managed only one small nick on my neck from the first pass. Comparing one side to the other, both sides ended BBS. This is not something I'd want to do everyday, but I guess if I was really in a hurry, only had a single day's growth, and needed a close shave, the TiBird would do the job.

#photocontest superman

Rating: 4.5/5

Love the Superman theme!

Love the Superman theme!

Jul 15, 2023 - Sheep-ruh

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Declaration Grooming Magic Hour B8
• Razor: STAR Model 100 (1946-1959) #UNICORN
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [3]
• Lather: Grooming Dept - Chypre D'Ananas - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Chaipre - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Fougere Nemeta - Eau de Parfum

Chypre D'Ananas and Chaipre seem to be somewhat unconventional chypre scents, at least when compared to others I've used like B+M LGC or Death. Each have an extra bright, fruity top, the common chypre notes, and a woody base. Finally, Fougere Nemeta hit all the right notes even if it strayed from the chypre theme.

The STAR razor looks like a cross between a Gillette Old Type and a Tech. It's mild like a Tech, but a bit more efficient. After the first two passes, there wasn't much left for the ATG pass. However, it's still a mild razor and wasn't the closest shave. I probably could have done without the third pass.

WetTuber Challenge: I enjoy watching Jon from Latherhog. His recommendations are usually inline with my own preferences, and his videos are always easy-going, quality work.

Rating: 3.5/5

Jul 16, 2023 - Shave and a Haircut - Two Bits

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound/Oumo Geaux 28mm Sparrow S-1 Knot
• Razor: Ever-Ready Jewel Streamline (1949-1953)
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [16]
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Fleur de France - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Fleur de France - Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Hygge v2 - Eau de Parfum

Fleur de France is "rethinking the classic French barbershop scent through a modern lens." The jasmine and musk added to the more traditional barbershop notes, elevate the fragrance and make it more than just a barbershop with floral overtones.

Hygge is another barbershop that also interprets the style through a modern lens. The warm, comforting orange note that carries the fragrance makes it one of my favorite in wetshaving.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 17, 2023 - Happy Together

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Brochas El Druida/House of Mammoth Tobacconist Chisel & Hound v8 Fanchurian
• Razor: CJB GR-100B #KAMISORI
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional [1]
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Voices - Soap
• Post Shave: Osma - Alum Block
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Voices - Splash
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II - Eau de Parfum

Voices is a beautiful, slightly gourmand fragrance that is a collaboration between House of Mammoth and the Lather Talk podcast. Voices showcases Ben's ability to capture and distill the essence of mango sticky rice into a wearable fragrance. No small feat to pull off well, but he has the award to back it up. GF2 is a white-label Shawn Maher scent for SW, but it carried the mango note forward from Voices. The brush is also a collaboration between Brochas El Druida, House of Mammoth, and Chisel and Hound for the Tobacconist release.

My technique with this Feather Artist Club knock-off kamasori needs a ton of improvement. I finished the shave with several nicks on my neck (expected) and two weepers on my cheek (unexpected). I can't remember the last time I cut myself on the cheek. Geez!

So of course the challenge for today would be to use Osma. I've not used alum for some time, but it didn't sting like I thought it would. I think it helped that, despite the cuts, I didn't have much irritation from the shave.

#mammothmonday

Rating: 2.5/5

Jul 18, 2023 - Spooky Season

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound Chocolate Drop 26mm v19 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette NEW DeLuxe (1930) #BRASSING #REGUS
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [11]
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - Haunted Cabin - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain - Eau de Parfum

Hallows is marketed as a spooky, late October scent and I can't argue that it fits that description. Unlike the other two scents used today, it works pretty well anytime. Hallows is such a great scent, and Excelsior is still a great base. The lather this morning was phenomenal.

Haunted Cabin has a sweet, syrupy vibe, that while done well, really makes it fit squarely in the Autumn seasonal category. The pumpkin note worked supremely well with Samhain, and overall, I can't complain about any of these scents.

The New DeLuxe may be a scary looking razor at first, but the long open comb teeth make it a gentle shaver. For all it's efficiency, it's not aggressive at all.

Atlas Shaves Challenge: I don't understand this challenge, but here you go, weirdos. The longer hairs are from also shaving the back of my neck. I can provide a picture of my toenail clippings as well if anyone is interested.

#photocontest evil forces (chaos tokens)

Rating: 4.5/5

Edit: Razor verification for brassing on the top cap and a serial number instead of a date code.

Jul 19, 2023 - CREAM

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Sock
• Brush: The Razor Company Cream Soda Acrylic 28mm Synthetic Knot
• Razor: Gillette English RFB NEW No. 77 (1933)
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [4]
• Lather: Taylor of Old Bond Street - Mr. Taylor's - Cream
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Classique - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Cape Heartache - Eau de Parfum

Sock lather!? Okay, I guess we're doing this...

Using Yosh's instructional video he posted before his lather video shown for inspiration, I managed to work up something that didn't really resemble lather at all. I'm actually kind of impressed that he got what he did from his sock lather. I opted to use a brush for applying it to my face, which helped some to build better consistency by adding more air to the mixture.

The RFB is a wonderful shaver, and still managed to shave well with the quasi-lather produced this morning.

While I normally really enjoy fougère scents, Mr. Taylor smells like my grandfather, but not necessarily in an enduring, nostalgic sort of way. It seems more like a scent from a bygone era. Some have said that Fougere Classique also has an old man scent quality, but I think it fits into that timeless fougère category.

Rating: 3.5/5

Edit: So distracted by sock lather, I forgot to finish my write up.

Jul 20, 2023 - Dupelgänger

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Farvour Turn Craft Harvest Moon 27mm Lotus Manchuria (LM-1) Knot
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy (Aluminum)
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [5]
• Lather: Ethos Grooming - Blue Note - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company/Pastuer Shaving - Birth of the Cool - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Maison Martin Margiela - Jazz Club - Eau de Parfum

Ethos Blue Note is inspired by Jazz Club by Maison Martin Margiela. After comparing both the soap and the fragrance this morning, I think Ethos comes very close to the original scent. Other dupes such as ZM Soloist really feel more "inspired by" than a faithful copy.

Birth of the Cool is a little of an oddity. It is not strictly a dupe of Jazz Club, since it includes custom notes and elements from Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille. BotC tones down some of the more challenging aspects of Jazz Club while still retaining its ultracool vibe.

This was my first use with the LM-1, and I’m already experiencing tips breaking off the knot. I’m hoping this is just due to the first use, and the knot will settle in…

Challenge: The lather dried out before I could finish the first pass, and I finished the pass with the dry lather rather than try to rehydrate it. I guess it helped that this was my first time using the base, and I wasn’t certain of the water-to-soap ratios anyway. Subsequent passes were better hydrated.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 21, 2023 - Fougère Friday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound Fougère 26mm v16 Fanchurian
• Razor: Mühle Rocca R94
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [2]
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz - Sir Irisch Moos - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Fougere - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Auryn - Eau de Parfum

The SIM shave stick was my fougère choice for today. Using a brush to actually create the lather made the process a little easier. I finished everything up with Cerberus Fougere—a modern masterpiece. I really wish I had bought the EdP when I had the chance. I used the Neverending Story inspired Auryn fragrance this morning instead. I love the top notes of this fragrance, but the scent overall really doesn't last long.enough for me to enjoy much of the dry down. Maybe just my nose.

Happy #fougerefriday

Haiku Challenge:
Sir! The Irish moss
'twill grow over everything
'till there's only green

Rating: 4/5

Jul 22, 2023 - Strange Times for Berry Club

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Shore Shave Pestle 24mm Motherlode Knot
• Razor: Gillette Rocket Heavy Duty 500 (1950s)
• Blade: Perma-Sharp Super [4]
• Lather: Abbate y La Mantia - Don Jose - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Atomic Holiday - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Agua Fresca - Eau de Toilette

Admittedly this is a stretch, but in honor of this weekend's viral movie feud, Barbenheimer, the banana and coconut of Don Jose hopefully evokes images of Malibu Barbie, matched with Atomic Holiday to call to mind the work of Oppenheimer. It's not quite in line with the original intent of the scent being dedicated to Enrico Fermi. Also, last year there was an Atomic age hashtag for razors made in the period between the late 1940s and the early 1950s.

The shave today was full of botanical berries such as banana, pineapple, melon, strawberry, and cucumber. A strange time for Berries Club indeed.

Rating: 4/5

Jul 23, 2023 - "What IS that enchanting aroma?"

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Space Portal 25mm Mühle STF
• Razor: Wolfman Razors WR4 (Aluminum)
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional [2]
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Boonana - Eau de Parfum

Banana two days in a row. Nice! Southern Witchcrafts' Boonana is the scent that has been the most complimented this year. It's always interesting the reactions I get when I answer their question about the name of the scent. They don't quite understand the spooky connection, and sometimes don't really notice the banana note until it's pointed out. Either way, this scent is amazing, and plenty of other people agree.

I decided today would be a good day to try out this new aluminum WR4 head that I used on the Razorock SS handle. I'm not sure if the balance was exactly right, but it's a remarkable shaver. I took it slow and used short strokes.

Lather Audit Challenge

Rating: 4.5/5

Edit: #photocontest banana

Jul 24, 2023 - Christmas in July's Eve

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Muninn Woodworks Turkish Walnut 24mm Golden Nib Silvertip Knot
• Razor: Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed (1964)
• Blade: Voskhod [5]
• Lather: 345 Soap Co. - White Buffalo - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - The Night Before - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Lubin - Akkad - Eau de Parfum

The stipulation that the gifting user must be actively participating in LG this year helped to narrow this choice down considerably. I received this generous sample of 345's White Buffalo from u/whosgotthepudding. This is my first use of 345 soap, and the Deus Vult base performed really well. The warm, woody scent from White Buffalo matched well with The Night Before. TNB really opens up in the dry down, and it's delicious. It also fits well with the theme today.

Community Tribute: I mentioned u/whosgotthepudding earlier, but what I didn't mention are the amazing brushes and straight razor scales he makes. I used one of his brushes this morning. He also has a vast knowledge of straight razors. I learn a lot just from reading his posts.

Rating: 4/5

Jul 25, 2023 - Christmas in July

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound Fu Dao Flare 26mm V20 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette British Ball-End Tech Spiral Handle (1960s)
• Blade: Voskhod [6]
• Lather: MacDuffs Soap Company - Christmas Cabin - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - 'Tis the Season - Aftershave
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Santa Noir - Eau de Parfum

It's Christmas in July (and the theme actually fits this year)!

The Scents:

Between these three scents cedar, sandalwood, fir, musk, and warm, amber notes blend into a euphony of Christmastime goodness.

Macduffs Christmas Cabin: Cedar, Cardamom, Cashmere, Evergreen, Oud, Spice, Cocoa Butter, Patchouli, Santal, and Musk.

NO 'Tis the Season: Raspberry, Apple, Rosemary, Freesia, Oakmoss, Pine, Cedarwood, Musk, and Fir Balsam.

HoM Santa Noir: cassis, balsam, jasmine, honey, sandalwood, and deer musk.

Leftorium Challenge:

When I started the shave, my muscle memory kicked in with my right hand. I got through the first pass and remembered, the challenge! Switching to the left hand for the second pass I had to take it very slow. Unfortunately, I ended up getting so frustrated with my complete lack of coordination with the left hand that I switched back to finish the shave.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 26, 2023 - Wildcard Wednesday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Zenith Cobalt Blue 28mm Boar Knot (505BC SE) #HOLLOW
• Razor: RazoRock SLOC
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic [3]
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Cannonball! - Soap
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Cannonball! - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Armaf Perfume - Club de Nuit Intense Man - Eau de Toilette

Some rules clarification early on had me scrambling to rearrange some of the soaps on my list. Summer Break Soaps happened to be a casualty of that change. While it might be a boring way to use Wildcard Wednesday, Cannonball certainly isn't boring. A cold, crisp, refreshing jolt to the face to temper the Summer heat. I followed the set up with an Aventus dupe that my wife loves.

I don't pull the SLOC out that often, but this gives a great shave. No clogging, slight blade feel, no aggression, and a smooth finish.

Shave Den Challenge: Over the past few years, my shave den has steadily grown, much to my wife's annoyance. It's a bit of mess right now due to my complete lack of organization for LG this year.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 27, 2023 - Lavendursday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound/House of Mammoth Beloved 26mm v15 Fanchurian
• Razor: Rotbart 5031 (1950s)
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [6]
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Lavioletta - Soap
• Post Shave: Ethos Grooming - Lavender Suprême (Lisse Collection) Skin Food - Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved - Eau de Parfum

These three picks are a beautiful mix of lavender scents: the powdery, floral APR Lavioletta with French, Spanish, and Australian lavenders; the crisp, sharp Ethos Lavender Suprême with lavender grown in the fields of Provence, France; and finally, French lavender wrapped in a creamy, woody base via HoM Beloved.

Rating: 4.5/5

Jul 28, 2023 - Frugal Friday

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Stirling Soap Co. Green & Ivory 24mm Synthetic 2-Band Knot
• Razor: BAILI BR 176
• Blade: Perma-Sharp Super [5]
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Saguaro Blossom - Soap
• Post Shave: Pitralon - Swiss - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Armaf Perfume - Tres Nuit - Eau de Toilette

So after taking into account market prices and excluding soap that I bought on sale, Stirling still comes in as the cheapest soap at almost USD $0.09 per gram or $2.46 an ounce. The Stirling synthetic brush was a steal at USD $11.99. While I bought it on sale, it's still on sale for that price now at the Stirling website.

The BAILI was USD $10.99 and 100 Permasharp blades were USD $0.11 each. The Swiss Pitralon comes out to 0.06€ per ml, and the fragrance set me back 0.22€ per ml.

Saguaro Blossom and the Pitralon worked really well together. Tres Nuit was not quite as complementary, but it's still a great scent. It's a dupe of Creed's Green Irish Tweed.

Rating: 4/5

Jul 29, 2023 - Sandalwood Saturday: The Diplomat and the Aristocrat

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Chisel & Hound The Diplomat 26mm v19 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette English Aristocrat No. 22 (1948-1950)
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [7]
• Lather: Zingari Man - Barrel Proof - Soap
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Eau de Parfum

A triple dose of creamy, hearty sandalwoods: Barrel Proof, Traditionalist, and Sonder. Sandalwood Saturday may have to be something I add to my weekly roster now and then.

Homework Challenge: There have been so many great posts this month. The portal has made keeping up with the highlights much easier this time around. That said, I've thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to the vendor interviews hosted by u/Priusaurus.

Jul 30, 2023 - Bon Voyage, Lather Games! / World Traveler

• Brush: Highlander Brushes Jade 26mm Cashmere Knot
• Razor: Ever-Ready 1914 Little Lather Catcher #JETSETTER
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [17]
• Lather: Westman Shaving - Adamastor - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - Black Rock - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Zingari Man - The Navigator - Extrait de Parfum

This shave is coming to you from 🇩🇪, so everything I've used today is made in another country. The brush is from 🇲🇪, the razor and blade are from 🇺🇸, the soap is from 🇵🇹, the aftershave is from 🇨🇦, and the fragrance from 🇺🇸.

With a sense of traveling in mind, I've used a travel razor and aquatic scents for the products today. The soap and aftershave also have petrichor notes as well that make the aquatics all the more interesting.

I guess this is a wrap on LG 2023. A big thank you to all the judges for making this a great month. I know there was some initial concern around pushing LG back a month, but I'm glad that it was done to make sure everything was in place to make this such a smooth games. Maybe it only seemed smooth to the players, but either way, nicely done!

Rating: 4/5