July 25, 2023 – Christmas in July
- Brush: Semogue 610
- Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
- Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (10)
- Lather: Noble Otter – The Night Before
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Vespers
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Vespers
Challenge: I’m left handed. I typically use my right hand for certain areas. I used it exclusively for two passes today. It’s wasn’t great, but it didn’t cut myself either.
I bought The Night Before with this day in mind. Sadly, I don’t smell much of anything from the lather. Noble Otter scent strength tends to be light. But, with this one I’d smell my brush and get nothing. There was maybe a hint of Christmas tree, but that’s reaching. When I smell the tub of soap, the fragrance is light but easier to smell. It’s very muddled. There’s a Christmas tree note, but something about this fragrance doesn’t work. It’s like the notes are canceling each other out. It feels flat and bland. The lather wasn’t very good. I probably needed more soap.
I love Vespers. I’ve come to the opinion that this is Will’s best work. The fragrance is an exciting combination of cardamom, cranberry, and (here comes the buzz word / wetshaver crack) mousse de saxe. It’s sweet fruit, warm spice, and evergreen all at once. The mousse de saxe is used very skillfully by Will. It’s subtle and intriguing. The cranberry cardamom hits me with fruity sweet aromatic spice up front which quickly blends into evergreen notes of fir and balsam. The mousse de saxe adds a lot of depth. Beneath the evergreen is a long complex smell composed of dark moss, amber, maybe something like ambergris.
#FOF