July 15, 2023
- Brush: Sunsoaps Maple Walnut – 26mm Motherlode
- Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy
- Blade: Wilkinson Sword
- Lather: Barrister and Mann – Le Grand Chypre
- Post Shave: Elysian Soap Shop – Patchouli Peach Splash
- Fragrance: Guerlain - Vetiver
- Music: Mai Yamane – Don’t Bother None
First things first – Thanks for u/worbx for the smush for today. I own a LOT of B&M, but I don’t have Will’s Chypre. Really appreciate you sharing this. I have an interview with Will Carius from Barrister and Mann, but we have a lot to unpack first…
Before I get to today, I need to set the stage. Yesterday, I posted a super cold ice bath shave for Frigid Friday and included a couple friendly digs at u/Marquis90. We both had the same idea to shave in a bathtub full of ice, and I had more ice, and less water in mine. I thought it’d be funny to tag him and let him know. THEN u/MrTangerinesky came in from the clouds and inserted his COMPLETELY WRONG opinion about which ice bath was more difficult. Honestly, I think some of the menthol he put on his balls somehow found it’s way up into his skull and turned his brain to mush. So today, I shaved in my bathtub. Again. In a Spite Shave, dedicated to u/MrTangerinesky, using a method he thought would be more difficult. Watch me do both and see which one I look more uncomfortable in.
After a brutal, frigid shave yesterday, today was an easy full bathtub shave with only one bag of ice, and more water, like u/MrTangerinesky thought would be difficult. Wrong on every count. The softness of a Motherlode knot and the smoothness of the CF Legacy and only one ice bag was like shaving on easy street for this video. Today was the perfect day to use Barrister & Mann as well. Big fan of a lot of what Will puts out and Le Grand Chypre is no different. It’s fresh, with a little floral earthy perfuminess to it and slightly fruity nature to it, which is why I went with Patchouli Peach from Elysian to finish the shave. It’s a little fruity, with a floral perfumy nature to it. Then to close out the scents, Vetiver from Guerlain to bring everything back down to Earth and compliment, yet tone down the fruit notes from the splash for a great #FOF day.
DISCLAIMER: Elysian Soap Shop sent me this sample size splash because I’m on my way to becoming a world famous shavefluencer. #dontforgettolikeandsubscribe
Daily #photocontest. Took a picture with a mobile phone in it.
As far as the challenge, I posted a video yesterday of the ice bath shave, and I’m posting a sequel video today for my Grand Chypre Spite Shave today, dedicated to u/MrTangerinesky. I spend about 90% of the time explaining just how wrong he is. Spite Shaving may be my new favorite way to shave! And look out u/VisceralWatch, I’m coming for you! Just wait until I hand out TWO stickers to everyone I meet that say, “I met Priusaurus and he gave me two stickers!”. You’re move, HDShaves. Still using the free face filter app (which barely works) because I still want to remain somewhat anonymous, even though half of you probably have my name and address by now. I figure most influencers use filters in their videos, why can’t I? Make sure to SMASH that like and subscribe button! And once we reach 100,000 subscribers, we have an AWESOME PRIZE PACK from our sponsors that I’ll send to one lucky subscriber!
PS – Thanks for (hopefully) being a good sport u/MrTangerinesky!
For the interview, I talked with this unknown artisan that call themselves: Barrister and Mann. Give them a shot, I think they may have a future in wetshaving. Okay… That was a joke! Get it? Because Will Carius is well known to everyone in the community. MOIMO, but Barrister and Mann makes the absolute best soap base in the business. There are a lot that are really, really excellent soaps out there, but Omnibus just does it for me. This community is what it is thanks to Will. His willingness to continuously improve and be willing to take risks is what makes B&M one of the best. I’m really happy that Will was willing to take part in this series. Thanks so much, u/BostonPhotoTourist, really appreciate it!
10 Questions with… Barrister and Mann
1) Why the 2nd “n” in Mann? Ever regret not really going for the gusto and making it “Mannn”?
It was just a stylistic device from the fact that I originally envisioned the line to be geared toward men. Point of fact that that that's still functionally true, hard though I have tried to shift it into a more unisex space over the years.
2) One thing I really admire about you is you aren’t afraid to try new things and experiment with scents. You’ve said you don’t want everyone to like every scent you make. Do you have any scent notes that you won’t work with?
I used to say synthetic amber/ambergris notes, but several of my more recent designs have incorporated Norlimbanol, and Lavender, Interrupted contains a decent quantity of the synthetic ambergris material Cetalox. So not anymore, I suppose.
3) I heard you say that your mother actually names most of your soaps. When do you decide that it’s your turn to name one?
It's really just whichever of us comes up with the idea that the two of us like more. She has named things like Nocturne, Adagio, Solstice, Dickens, etc. I've named things like Hallows, Leviathan, Beaudelaire, Seville, etc.
4) Has there been a scent release that stands out to you as unexpectantly successful, where it sold faster or far more than you expected? If so, which one?
Probably 42. I guess I didn't realize how popular Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy actually is, so the reception caught me a bit off guard. We've leaned into it in the years since, of course, but that first release was a bit of a surprise.
5) When I was researching questions to ask Brad Maggard, I stumbled across this comment you made about Colonial Drug in Cambridge, before you even made shaving soaps. Colonial Drug has since moved locations, but have you been back there since you’ve built Barrister & Mann? I'm envisioning you going in today, slamming your soap on the counter ala Matt Damon, and saying "How do you like them apples!"
Man, that thread is a blast from the past. I've only been in their new location twice, shortly after they moved, and was not further impressed.
6) When you aren’t using your own products, what software do like to shave with?
I still have a jar of tallow Tabac; I haven't tried the new vegetal version. Great soap. Other than that, House of Mammoth products are terrific, but I don't buy much in the way of shaving stuff anymore. I have it EVERYWHERE, so it takes something truly remarkable to catch my interest.
(INTERVIEW CONTINUES IN THE REPLY)