July 17, 2023 - Happy Together
- Brush: Oumo Passion Warhammer
- Razor: Karve CB C Solid Bar
- Blade: Gillette Minora Stainless
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Smash
- Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Smash Splash
- Non Luxury Alum: Green Blok
- Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Smash
- Cocktail: Bourbon Peach Smash
FOF
Happy Together:
Well, now I’ve got the Turtles song stuck in my brain. Maybe the cocktail will drive it out. Smash is a wonderful collaboration of those geniuses behind House of Mammoth and Barrister and Mann. They were probably having cocktails at a secret meeting of the shaving illuminati, and said “Let’s make this cocktail into a scent!” Some mixing and magic later, we got Smash. I went for the trifecta + cocktail. I made a bunch of these at my sister’s house last year for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately November isn’t a great time for peaches, so frozen had to do. I picked up a box of peaches at Costco after work tonight.
Today’s Challenge:
I don’t know which is more divisive in the community, using Osma or GUTL. I land firmly in the middle on alum use. I tried it when I was newer to wetshaving, but was pretty meh about it. I still keep it since it does a decent job of stopping the weepers. Today’s use of alum wasn’t bad. A bit drying, but no stinging from it or the splash. I might need a bit of lotion later.
Today’s Sponsor Spotlight:
I’ve already read many great praises of House of Mammoth, and I have to echo them. Last year, I used Alive for Austere August: soap, splash, and balm. If you don’t have it, pick it up if you get the chance. I finally killed the tub from last year just before the LG started this month, but I already had a spare. One thing I can’t praise enough is their commitment to charity. I still haven’t won a raffle, but I’ll keep trying. Even if I don’t win, I feel ok since I helped them raise more money. I do regret not jumping to get the Voices soap when I was more financially stable, but hopefully things will turn around soon, and I can get the soap at least. I also foolishly let Jitterbug slip from my grasp. I had it in my cart for about a week, and when I finally decided to go for it, too late. Not like that feeds the FOMO at all. There are a few artisans making shaving software that I will blind buy, and have not regretted or been underwhelmed by what I got. House of Mammoth so far has exceeded my expectations every time I decide to go for it. They also give me something to look forward to on Mondays. (Except when points are involved.)
Fragrance of the day:
Smash is a set that I wanted as soon as the release was announced. Also, decided I had to try the cocktail when u/mammothben included the recipe in the announcement. So a new liquor was added to the cabinet, a small bottle of St. Germain. BTW, the cocktailis awesome, and so is the scent that resulted from the collaboration with u/BostonPhotoTourist. The soap gives me a slightly smoky scent of the bourbon and tobacco with a slight hint of the peach. The splash brings up the peach and sweetness. The EdP brings out even more peach and sugar, but I can still get the bourbon and tobacco. The scent notes include hedione, but not sure what that should smell like. Fragrantica says it is a “fresh floral fragrance reminiscent of jasmine with green nuances.” I think that is representing the St. Germain in the cocktail. It smells floral and herbal. Having read the description, I’m not quite isolating it from the tobacco and bourbon.
I might be a bit off on the recipe but here is a haiku of my cocktail:
Muddle peach, sugar,
Add St. Germain, Bourbon, ice,
soda splash - enjoy!