2024-06-01 Bonjour, Lather Games!

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcrafted Series "Summer" with 24mm Gelousy SHD fan knot (A1)
• Razor: Blackland - Blackbird, DE safety razor, Brass, 101 mm handle - "Brassbird"
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: A A Shaving – Gale
• Post Shave: A A Shaving – Gale

The quick of it for the judges - Artisan never used before = A A Shaving and I enjoyed it. Could not fulfill new blade format today (had the razor for months but the blade is still in the mail). AP Shave Co. featured today? All good I love the handcrafted series handle and Gelousy fan knot from them. Plenty happy to use this today.

Lots going on in the Zombie household. PZombie Jr. graduated high school earlier this week and this morning had the party / reception. Pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Been a crazy week with graduations, business travel, and today is my anniversary. Don't worry I have not forgotten Mrs. PZ with all that is going on.

A A Shave: New artisan for me. I know they have been around but I have spent too much Seriously - how cute! It comes with a guitar pick! Shave went well enough. I followed the lead of the artisan and scooped with the pick and may have not scooped enough. With a new soap I'm not the best at gauging what I need. I usually brush load from the container and whip it up in a bowl. But this time I followed the lead. Next usage I will go my regular route. Basically I did not get enough mushed into the bottom of the bowl. It was an easy lather. The scenting - I enjoyed it as I like aquatics, storms and even violet (the funk flower). That said, if you do not enjoy violet you may want to pass as this is a very prominent note.

The after shave was an equivalent matching set of notes with a not overly fussy set of ingredients. All in all happy with the set.

The featured artisan of the day: AP Shave Co.

I have a beautiful handle from their handcrafted series that was made from a blank the owner of AP Shave Co. custom ordered from a pen maker whose wares he took a liking to.
The Gelousy SHD fan knot is nice blend. While low scritch and more of a painter it is an all around winner.

I could not meet the all new! I have a GEM based razor that I have restored, but the blades are still in the mail.

Take care and have a good one.

He did a good job of highlighting the daily sponsor here.

2024-06-02 Ahoy, Lather Games!

• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable - Date Code J3 #ADJUSTABLE
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Zinagari Man - Navigator
• Post Shave: LBCC Historical– 1889 Superior Bay Rum
• Fragrance: Procter & Gamble - Old Spice Classic Eau de Cologne

"When I was a boy, The Dead Sea was only sick." - George Burns

__________________

So, I assemble a disparate collection of interpretations of scents related to, inspired by and bound to the sea.

Setting out upon the wine dark sea to traverse such vast waters where the earth shares it's curve I am going with the:

"...or something with nautically-themed branding / marketing.

Note: this means the soap brand or soap concept must be nautically themed in some way. It does not mean "scent must be from the Aquatic fragrance family."

The Software:

For today's shave I pull out Zingari Man's Navigator with it's mermaid figure head adorned ship on the cap, scent notes of Amber, salt water, musk, and fruits, and a name that shows the course it plots.

To accompany this voyage for post shave I am making use of LBCC's Historical's 1889 Superior Bay Rum, a nice recreation of a vintage Bay Rum recipe applied to an updated base. This particular bay rum is strengthened with orange amongst it's notes.

Lastly I finish with Old Spice in a Proctor and Gamble Eau de Cologne format.

___________________

Figureheads are sometimes only a head though often depict a whole figure, and though often depicting a female can also be any number of other things like dragons, warriors, or grotesque beasts. In times past they could be protective as a magic charm or an appeal to a divinity such as a goddess for protection. At other times they serve almost as a herald for owner and the owner's personality. Other schemes see the figureheads taking on a role of warning, or being there to intimidate potential foes.

Some examples that are not so pretty as a mermaid include:

(An appeal to personality) King George III appeared as figurehead on the ship the Royal Sovereign in an attempt to show the royal as leader of the fleet.

(Attempt to intimidate) The privateer The Terrible had a skeleton, and the French corsair the Revenant fittingly represented a corpse.

______________________

Scent notes for those interested:

Navagator -

• Top notes: Bergamot, dewfruit, ozone, water, lemon
• Heart: Dry grass, Ozone, lilly of the valley, jasmine
• Base: Ambergris, musks, soft woods, green florals

1889 Superior Bay Rum

• Orange, bay leaves, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, Sandalwood, unspesified herbs and spices.

Old Spice (Classical version) -

• Top notes: orange, lemon, spices, clary sage, anise, aldehydes
• Heart: cinnamon, carnation, geranium, jasmine, heliotrope, pimento berry
• Base: vanilla, musk, cedarwood, frankincense, benzoin, tonka, ambergris

___________________________

...and u/priusaurus your epic posts are read every time I "sea" one. Think I'm gonna have nachos (doritos) and dew for lunch.

Be curious what u/cowzilla3 chooses for a soap.

As always, take care and have a good day

I just want to gripe somewhere about the author using "female" as a noun.

2024-06-03 Where's the Beef? Oh, Lardy I Need A Vacation

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Shore Shave - "Chubster Martini Olive" with 26mm T4 Fan Synthetic knot
• Razor: Above The Tie - Windsor SSRH2, OC Base Plate, DE - (original version not Windsor Pro)
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Lakewood Soap Co. - Lard Lass: Two Weeks With Pay
• Post Shave: GBS - Alumn Block of unknown quality and station.
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory – Echo Beach
• Fragrance: Alvarez Gomez Perfumes - Agua de Colonia Concentrada

The Lather:

With Lakewood soap's Lard Lass: Two Weeks With Pay The first ingredient listed? Yup - Lard! No beef follows. Even stearic acid is relegated to fourth on the list.

Full listing of ingredients is as follows:

Lard, water, shea butter, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, castor oil, sodium hydroxide, fragrance.

Post Shave:

Pulled out the alum block (no, not a block of such high station as Osma) so never having driven a Rolls Royce so to speak I cannot extol the virtues...but it did it's job giving me two small pings one one my neck and one under my left nostril. Neither cut visible but just reminding me of where I need to better mind my manners with a sharp small peice of steel.

For those interested in the scents:

Lard Lass: Two Weeks With Pay -

• Scent profile: Passion fruit, jasmine, sweet citrus and florals

Echo Beach -

• Scent profile: cactus blossom, coconut, musk & sandalwood

Agua de Colonia Concentrada -

• Scent profile: lemon, bergamot, geranium, lavender

Take care and have a good one.

Ed: Date typo

Lather Games 2024-06-04 K.I.S.S.

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - Li'l Brudder, Synthetic 22mm
• Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy Titanium with Imperial Handle, DE
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Pompelmo
• Post Shave: Eleven - Lime and Basil Balm

There are three soaps that I am planning to use in these games that I could have used for the Bonjour, Lather Games entry on June 1st. I ended up using A A Shaving's Gale soap there as I have different plans for the other two new to me soaps. Wholly Kaw is one of those soaps that is completely new to me. Instead, today I am using it for the one-note (KISS) shave.

One Note Shave Soap:

Wholly Kaw's Pompelmo is a one note grapefruit (kind of a creamy one, but yeah really just grapefruit) Per Wholly Kaw: "Single scent edition...The way grapefruit should be."

Soap was certainly creamy and slick, I had no idea donkey's are slick! Well, okay their milk as a soap ingredient - I guess I assumed it was a novelty and I don't know maybe it is but I had a lovely shave.

Anyway, good soap and not a biting version of grapefruit. Nice not bracing.

Followed this up with Eleven's Lime and Basil balm to keep it citrus.

What Base do I miss?

• Oz Shaving (defunct) released a new base about a year before they closed up called their "Emerald Base". It was quite good.

Current Favorite Base?

• I do have a large amount of love for House of Mammoth's tusk and also for the recent base offering from Catie's Bubbles (don't know the name for this base). But really I am going to go with Chicago Grooming's Darkwing. I really like it in the sub exclusive AG1889.

Scent notes for those who are interested:

(Kinda short today)

• Wholly Kaw's Pompelmo - Grapefruit
• Eleven's Lime and Basil balm - Lime and Basil

Take care and have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-04-05, Canned Goo - But Why a Brush??? B'cuz Lather Games

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Semogue 830, Boar bristle 22mm
• Razor: Parker 11R - 3 Piece, horn handle #ZAMAC
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Edgewell Personal Care - Edge Shave Gel With Aloe, "Canned Goo under pressure."
• Post Shave: Pinaud Clubman - Lilac Vegetal

Grocery stores are weird. I thought this canned goo was from Gillette or Schick with the Edge name, but no...it is made in the UK by some American outfit spun-off from Energizer Holding (yes the battery and bunny mascot people) named Edgwell Personal Care. Edgewell Personel Care additionally owns other grooming brands including Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Playtex, Carefree, Stayfree, Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, Cremo, Billie, and yes, Edge. Apparently Edgwell has gotten big enough and gobbled up enough personal care product companies that the FTC moved to stop in from purchase of Harry's.

The Lather?!

_______________

But why a brush????

Seriously, you press the button and the gel shoots out in a part gel, part foam, all goo format. Smush with hands if not satisfied.

Why a brush???

Because because to meet today's challenge I have to lather how I do not normally lather.

Normally I bowl lather.

Since I bowl lather and don't just spray an expanding blast of over-engineered chemical goop onto my face arguably that would be lathering in a way I don't normally lather. That is not the spirit though.

This being Lather Games it is logical when lathering to carry this out in a bit more extreme manner. I decided to face lather but only in a roundabout way.

I used the base of the handle to shove said canned goo to locations on my face I need it to be. This is for certain and without question a lather that I would not ever do under any normal circumstances (read non-Lather Games shaves).

I then smushed the lather (gel-foam blob?) around in a circular manner so as to ensure this is a face lather creating a goopy lather.

Finally - yes, I used the actual part of the brush that makes it a brush just so I can say I did a face lather, which again is not normal for me.

Handle did enough, but we got a true face lather from the bristle, or as true as you can with canned goo, using the brush.

The Post Shave

_________________

The Veg is just there to confuse / annoy my coworkers because, aftershave or not, this beautiful monstrosity hangs around much longer than most things labeled an aftershave.

I can see it now...

"So PZ? Ah, just how long were you in the restroom? You seem to have taken on a certain, uh, aroma."

"Did a cat pee in someones messenger bag?"

"Hey PZ, did you fall in when you were there?"

"Is the urinal puck stuff just on your shoes?"

"PZ, WTF Mate!"

Actually I think I am one of the lucky ones,. One of those that was chosen by the Veg.
You know the saying...You don't choose the Veg; the Veg chooses you?

But more likely I am deluding myself. I am good at that.

________________

Scent Notes for those interested:

Edge goo - could not find official notes, product might actually be discontinued. I'm guessing mint, fresh-y stuff, sandalwood-ish stuff, soapy stuff and maybe the liner from the container.

Pinaud Lilac Vegetal - Official notes are Lilac, Floral accord, and Musk. Note: I have seen references that the musk being simulated is deer musk...what kind of deer I've no idea.

_________________

In the end. The quality of the shave was okay. Not great, not terrible, but kinda icky.

Take care and have a good one.

In attempting to understand what it truly means to reverse lather, u/PhilosphicalZombie decides to use the other side of the brush and uses the handle to dollop canned goo onto their face.

Lather Games 2024-06-06 Thirsty Thursday, Coffee and Other Intoxicants

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Stirling Soap Company - Stirling Stainless Steel "SSS" Austin Handle / ST plate #CNC
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Iced Coffee
• Post Shave: Henri et Victoria - Absinthe

About the intoxicating beverages of this shave:

Did ya know C affine is one of the most used mind altering substances in the world? Yup the cup of coffee - it plays a bit with your mind. Fortunately, mostly in a useful way, but yeah, technically it is psychoactive. Just don't forget ya gotta go to sleep sometime.

Alcohol, the ethanol kind (and only the ethanol kind...never methanol or isopropyl - know your poisons...no need to go blind or die here immediately) is another of the most oft used psychoactive substances in the world. Coffee and booze does create some nice beverages for example Irish Coffee, Kahlua, Tia Maria, and so on).

But why not throw in another intoxicant? Absinthe, also known as the "Green Fairy" is an anisette (anise flavored liqueur) that contains wormwood. Wormwood is a plant that contains thujone. This particular booze flourished in the late 19th and early 20th century bohemian culture. Detractors of the drink basically had better more focused propaganda and it became generally outlawed due to the supposed mind melting attributes of the drink. A light rebirth has followed first in Europe in several countries, then in the United States after a change in law in 2007 (for thujone free versions). There is a sort of ritual for drinking it where a sugar cube is placed on a special spoon across the rim of the cup and the Absinthe is slowly poured over it.

So, whatever the case, drink responsibly, have a driver ready.

A quick note about the razor:

Rob Lovan (Stirling Soap Co.) wanted his own razor on his own terms. A 316 stainless steel razor to his design, machined in the USA, and certainly not a mild razor. The razor was sold with three handle options. I opted for the Austin. There were two plates available and I have both. The plates are a standard "ST" plate and a hyper aggressive "HA" plate. The ST plate is quite efficient and does have blade feel. The HA plate is damn well a shavette on a stick. I don't have an R41 but I do have an Ikon Tek head and it is a well mannered gentleman compared to the HA plate. It is rare that I opt for using the HA plate but really do enjoy the ST plate.

While I don't have a favorite YouTube shaver I have watched many a YouTube shaver sweat through a shave using the HA plate.

The link above for the razor has side profile pics of each razor with a blade loaded if anyone is interested.

Scents for this shave:

Iced Coffee - Coffee, Hazelnut, Menthol.

Absinthe - Anise, Juniper, Spice, Citrus, and Wormwood

Take care and have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-06-07 Vetiver You Want

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcrafted Series "Summer" with 24mm Gelousy SHD fan knot (A1)
• Razor: Charcoal Goods Level 2 with Stinger Handle
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Dirtyver
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Dirtyver

Shave and Software:

This is the third soap from a company I am making use of this Lather games that I have never used before. I took my time getting to it. Really don't know why? Anyway, I am a big fan of Vetiver. Love it. I was less sure of the "Dirty" part of the Dirtyver. More specifically not so much dirt as marsh or swamp. I've had this soap sitting here for around three months. Every now and then I give it a sniff it. I've just been unsure. Will it grow on me. I mean Tabac did - bottom of grandma's purse and all.

So here we are and I had a very enjoyable shave.

I have not been getting enough sleep and I am really dumb this morning so this is not going to be my most eloquent entry for these games.

When I was younger I often said, "sleep is for the week!", however with aging now I think otherwise. Work is killing me and my family's schedule is really packed at the moment.

One Pass Against the Grain

Should've picked a different razor for today. It is a great razor but the one pass only against the grain is a bit much for the level of aggression available from the level two Charcoal Goods set up.

Take care, snooze a bit when you can, and have a good day.

2024-06-08 Small Business Day

• Pre-shave: Maggard's Razors - Grapefruit Pre-shave Oil, Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Maggard - V3A Head / MR8 Handle
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Maggar's Razors. - Mango Sage Tea
• Post Shave: Henkel, Iberica - La Toja

Everything soap to razor blade was bought from Maggard's. The only exception is the shave bowl which was won as a prize at the 2023 Maggard's shave meet up.

I don't use a pre-shave oil much - only when my face is getting dry. When needed the Maggard's private label one is my choice.

My Maggard's V3A Head / MR8 Handle is my travel razor of choice. Why? Other than a nice shave it is substantial - it is easily the heaviest safety razor I own. For a car trip I just like a substantial razor. Don't exactly know why. So when work sends me to a client in another state. This razor is on board. If flying, a different story but by car this one goes with me.

Interesting Maggard's Order

The order wasn't crazy. The order's trip was.

No bad reflection on Maggard's this order was packed well and addressed properly. The US mail system, yeah this one particular order left me wondering if I was going to get my order.

I'm in the middle Midwest. So not terribly far from Maggard's. Even though only a couple states adjacent I had one order go (at least by the US Mail tracking) Through the states to Georgia, then to Missouri (the order spent four days in a town of 120 that does not have a postal facility). After that the order next went to Nebraska then began a rotation where it passed through six states completely circling and hitting all states adjacent to mine. It then disappeared from tracking for a day, then reappeared in my own state, and two days later was on my doorstep.

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-09 Two Bits

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Pharos-C3, Black Horse Hair 21mm, Ocean Green Beechwood #HORSESASS
• Razor: Blackland - Blackbird, DE safety razor, Brass, 101 mm handle - "Brassbird"
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Eleven - Barbershop
• Post Shave: Clubman - Osage Rub

I have had many a sample of smush of barbershops. I have had trouble deciding on what to have in my collection for this type of scent. I have two barbershop soaps on hand Country Barber from The Shave Mercantile and Eleven's Barbershop. Realistically what is a barbershop scent classically is regional (for example Cella Almond/Cherry and Prorasso Eucalyptus/menthol)

But somewhere along the line a sorta, kinda, somewhat agreed upon set of notes congealed into "Barbershop". To allude to it in musical terms it is a bit like the blues baseline known as 12-bar blues. Upon this progression you hang all the extra notes that make the music it's own unique song. But it is all tied to that baseline or with Barbershop a somewhat agreed upon set of notes with more unique notes hung on it to make the unique fragrance. I am very carefully saying somewhat.

Software information:

Today I am going with the barbershop by Eleven. To it's baseline of powdery, lavender, it at least to me adds or brings forward a slight herbaceous layer (rosemary is a bit elevated). I like herbal notes so this works well for me. The Julien base has also worked well for me so it was a good purchase.

I'm a wee bit hung over this morning. Was at a large birthday last night held at a bar. Fortunately a classical barber product (this one not a barbershop type scent) in the form of a hair tonic - turned - aftershave came to the rescue with a bracing medicinal almost burning brutal eye-watering coldness. Osage Rub. Been around for ages. Seriously I think some enterprising barber realizing he had full-on butchered some poor clients face and needed to quickly resolve the poor souls discomfort simply reached for the thing with the most menthol available to him and just splashed it on out of desperation. And it worked, and became yet another use for Osage Rub.

Honestly, for all you glacial class mentholated soap lovers - get some Osage Rub. It is like $8 for 14 oz.

Today's shave was good - so I did not need Osage Rub. Instead I just wanted it.

So about that quiz.

Keeping in mind I'm a bit hung over. I started it thinking oh yeah I have a few of these soaps. And yes I do. Unfortunately I stared at the quiz as the time went ticking by. My mind saying "wait, how does this quiz work?" Yes, hung over me could figure it out until I had only about a minute left. But I did score 2 - after I started typing in names correctly. Oh well. I think I may need a bit more sleep. Yikes, I'm slow today.

Scent Notes for the day:

Eleven Barbershop - Bergamot, Rosemary, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Powdery Musk.

Osage Rub - Eucalyptus (and menthol), yeah that is it in total.

Take care and have a good day.

2024-06-10 Happy Together

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Robin Razor - Snap! 2.0, SE (Half DE)
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery - Mousse Illuminee
• Post Shave: Santa Maria Novella – Vetiver

The Software:

The collaboration between Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery, Mousse Illuminee that results in a beautiful sweet forest scene / scent-scape.

The hardware:

The Robin Razor is an aluminum CNC razor made in Canada that accepts half DE blades.

Scent Notes:

Zingari Man / Rouge Perfumery, Mousse Illuminee - Treemoss, Frankincense, Green Cypress, Artemisia, Laurel Leaves, Cedar, White Floral Notes, White Musk.

S. Maria Novella, Vetiver - Scent Notes: (Top) lemon, jasmine, bitter orange peel (Middle) rose, bitter orange flowers, vetiver (Base) patchouli, oakmoss, vanilla

Take care and have a good one.

Song:

Ed: forgot to mention I had Blizten Trapper's "Furr" looping this morning.

Wilderness just seemed a correct theme. It's a strange song involving wolves and wilderness and maybe werewolves and wilderness and, well, it is odd but I like it. I don't usually post songs. I often have something on while shaving but I just never think about adding it to my posts. Even today when I really should.

2024-06-11 April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Summer Break Soaps - Blue Swirled Without Name, 26mm Maggard Maggard's Razors SHD Badger Knot #FRANKENBRUSH
• Razor: Above The Tie - Calypso Blue V2 SB90, DE
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory – Dusty Mauve
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory – Dusty Mauve

Color Coordinated Scheme:

Going for the "non-monchromatic" color matching scheme...judges do the judging thing and let me know. Keying in on the blues and whites of the flowers and the painted pony.

Hewing close to the phrase, and since we are past April, and even may, now we have flowers. Got a nice bouquet in Talent Soap Factory's Dusty Mauve with tea rose, geranium leaf notes.

Hardware Notes:

The ATT Calypso is a bit wicked of an aluminum razor. Do not press - ha ha! I miss this razor maker. I do remember getting an email from Blackland stating it had received permission to resurrect the brand but I have not seen anything sense that.

This is my first use of this unnamed brush handle by Summer Break soaps. I bought it at the 2023 Maggard's Meet-up. Then I promptly misplaced the knot I bought for it. So it now has a knot. Like I said, I don't have a name for it. So I am just calling it "Blue Swirled Without Name" unless u/rocketk455 would like to christen a name for it?

Software notes:

Scent notes for both the Talent Soap Factory Dusty Mauve shave soap and aftershave are - tea rose, geranium leaf

The cover of this soap had me cue up a song...

"Talkin' 'bout your troubles It's a cryin' sin

Ride a painted pony Let the Spinning Wheel spin

You got no money, you got no home

Spinning Wheel all alone

Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you You never learn

Ride a painted pony Let the Spinning Wheel turn"

• Spinning Wheel by David Clayton-Thomas, (Blood Sweat and Tears), 1968.

Etc., Etc.,

Spinning Wheel is most certainly a product of it's time. I like it in small amounts. It probably looped a few too many times. No, it did loop a few too many times. However, as the song suggests and according to it's composer 'Don't get too caught up, because everything comes full circle'.

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-12 Catie's "Luxury Cream Soap"

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Ikon Razors - Ikon Short Comb with Bulldog 80 mm handle
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles – Greek Fire "Luxury Cream Soap"
• Post Shave: Hendrix Classics & Co. - Alpine Forest – “Tiger Milk” Edt & Aftershave splash

The Cream:

Going the Catie's Bubbles route with a soap in their "Luxury Cream Soap" base. I understand this is one was made originally for Razor and Brush. Here is the entry from the shop.

The Shave Den (& Storage): https://imgur.com/a/shave-den-tour-OYdt8kZ

So...about the den...yeah the den (AKA downstairs bathroom). In a bargain for storage space I had to agree if it can't fit on the counter or in the drawers then it had to be in storage. So no shelves. Okay, all good. The door to the shave den is adjacent to the unfinished part of the basement. I repurposed a book shelf for storage. So I have a large part of the collection five feet from the counter in the shave den. I have a shelf bought for the remainder that is sitting on a step stool - unless that deal falls through - I hope to pick it up this weekend. There is a few other bits and bobs but this is the largest chunk of the collection.

Scent notes for those interested:

Greek Fire - Myrtle essential oil, menthol

Alpine Forest - Pine and Menthol

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-13 Dupelgänger

• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Simple Clean Shave (REB Engineering & Machine, LLC) - SCS Model A
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co – AG 1889 - For r/Wetshaving
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - AG 1889 - For r/Wetshaving

The Dupe:

AG 1889 for r/wetshaving is based on Guerlain Jicky. Never had smelled the source material but I'm certainly happy with it. The darkwing base makes for a great shave.

Today's Challenge - Draw a soap label.

I'm using AG 1889 so here is my drawing of Chicago Grooming's AG 1889!

Take care and have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-06-14 Frigid Friday

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel, synthetic 26mm Maggard knot (from London Razors Mountain Laurel release PIF)
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable - Date Code J3
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Cannonball!
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Cannonball!

Cannonball! Shave soap and Aftershave set by Summer Break Soaps

- fortified with WS-23 synthetic menthol analogue!

Scent Notes for those interested (both soap and aftershave):

Pineapple, Orange, Water, Ozone, and Chlorine, (includes WS-23 a synthetic cool-menthol analogue which does not impart a mint scent)

Great interpretation of a summer pool to me:

Most local public pools where I live opened with Memorial Day. Growing up the local pool had a concessions area and sold Wacky Wafers which were kinda like overgrown sweeTARTS. These were fruity and tart, about the size of a US half-dollar, and far from chalky like those repugnant NECCO WAFERS (may NECCO Wafers rot in hell). Wacky Wafers are now discontinued but you can understand what they taste like if you open up a roll of sweeTARTS.

This soap with the fruit, ozone, and chorine notes is a great interpretation of my experiences at the local pool growing up.

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-15 Lather Games: Near Death, or the "Ring of Death"

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water, garlic mouth wash
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Ralf Aust - Ralf Aust 5/8" Round Point Straight Razor
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Carpathia
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Tres Matres

Near Death Experience:

Currently my Carpathia is the soap in my collection nearest death. Before pic and now Currently with Ring of Death. Interesting for such a gothic soap to be teetering near it's demise.

Daily Challenge:

I like my lather a bit more on the fluffy peak and a bit loose so I went a bit more pasty. While better for a safety razor in my opinion the pastier lather did not seem to have a bad result with today's straight razor. In other words my OCD drives me to tend to be bowl latherer...

A bit of thought on things Gothic:

I love weird folklore of the past. Myths, Fariy tales, legends, parables and supposed first hand accounts from the histories of peoples all over the globe.

Southern Witchcraft's Carpathia is a tribute to Vampires (Dracula specifically). Vampiric creatures abound throughout folklore and are not bound only the the eastern European areas which Bram Stoker's Dracula draws the bulk of it's underpinning sources. Similar creatures from cultures very remote from each other share many of the vampire's characteristics. Some examples include the Scotish Baobhan sith, the Aswang of the Philippines, the Lamashtu of ancient Mesopotamia, and the Boo Hags of US Gullah and Hoodoo culture,

The vampire's curse and fate is often considered transmissible in folklore as if a sort of spiritual disease of soul leaving the corpse of it's victims captured and bound to a murderous thirst and their souls in a sort of undetermined limbo. This supposed spiritual disease has often been linked to the very real disease of Rabies. And may to some extent be an attempt by society over time to grapple with the disturbing onset of this uncurable disease, gained by bites and exposure to an already infected being's saliva. Some side effects are the victim being deathly afaid of water, hyperactive, hallucinatory, and excitable. Although it can be disrupted by vaccine if caught early enough - access to such vaccines are akin to access to any number of other resources. In many places a vaccine, or any medical intervention are not readily available. Although largely controlled in North America It remains a very present danger in parts of Africa and Asia unvaccinated and stray dogs remain a common disease reservoir.

Scent notes for those interested -

Carpathia: (Gothic in tone) notes are centered around accords of black tea, exotic musk, and evergreen balsam. A tribute to Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Tres Matres: Scent notes: Amber, Oakmoss, Terrasol, Rosewood

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-16 Father's Day

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Rubberset - "Plastiset" 3IONT Nylon
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable - Date Code J3
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Combe, Inc. - Williams Mug Shave Soap
• Post Shave: Maria Teresa & Proenca, LDA - "444"

Today's Theme:

But is it older than you? Today I went old school. I broke out an old scuttle, dropped the Williams (1840) puck in, lathered with my Rubberset "Plastiset", and settled up matters using part of a tube of Maria Teresa & Proenca "444".

...and yes the Williams shave soap has a few more years upon this blue marble than I do. Believe it...or not! (I really can't think of that phrase in any other voice than that of Jack Palance's)

Yes, that was a full 14:43 of Jack Palance saying "Believe it, or not!"

Today's Challenge:

No, I am not lazy. The real reason is I fight with eczema a bit and while it has been kind to my face and even my neck. Up there it ususally allows me to get away with anything. The eczema does however, bother me on my hands and legs so I am leaving the legs out of it. So I will follow along with u/Priusaurus and a few others today.

Take care and have a good one.

OP shaves will old stuff.

2024-06-17 Cow's, Don't Have One

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co. - Bison #RAINBOW
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles – Miracle
• Post Shave: Catie’s Bubbles - Miracle

This new base from Catie's Bubbles is just so good. The scent on this is...overall think incense but not heavy. Great set! Should have picked up the Edt and had the whole shebang...I'm not always the brightest.

Today's Theme - Don't Have a Cow Man!

And I won't, though I often do. But not with this great Moo, snort, and quack free all veggie shave soap. It is free of all that!

Today's Challenge:

Well, I skipped leg day yesterday. Not out of embarrassment or being lazy, just out of an abundance of caution. I suffer from eczema (mostly hands but also legs). Yep, my own body decides let's be a jerk to itself and why does a body do that? Hell if I know. Things are reasonably good on the legs but I don't want to trigger it. Face and neck have always been free of it but if I ever go dark that would be why. So, I will go with the shoulder. I hope this is acceptable, however if it is not, all is good. Rules are rules.

So with that said, here is a shoulder lather pic. I do, weirdly think the knee might have been easier.

Scent notes for those interested:

Catie's Bubbles Miracle (both soap and aftershave) - Bergamot, Lavender, Amber, Vanilla

By the way, per the maker - In a round-a-bout way the soap is named after Miracle Max (played by Billy Crystal) in the Princes Bride, who wishes us to "Have fun storming the castle!". If you like a good movie - The Princess Bride has held up quite well and is still fun.

Take care and have a good one.

User convinces judge to give daily challenge point even though he couldn't physically do the challenge since he did a more difficult version of the challenge.

2024-06-18 RIP in Pieces

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Blackland - Blackbird, DE safety razor, Brass, 101 mm handle - "Brassbird"
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Dr. Jon's – Runaways
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Runaways

Theme of the Day: - R.I.P. in Pieces:

Dr. Jon's was a well regarded artisan. The soaps were a bit harder and less of a croap and came in metal tins.
Between the soap being less croap and the metal tin - the soap was noted for often spinning in the tin as you loaded your brush. Dr. Jon's had some great scents and amongst my favorites are his holiday soap "Krampus".
As with many artisans this was not his day job and Dr. Jon retired from soap making after accepting a position in a new job.

Today I am using Dr. Jon's Runaways soap and aftershave. This soap was inspired by the band of the 1970's (1975-1979) and certainly inspired by Joan Jett. This scent uses a set of notes that could seem difficult to combine - fruit, floral, hide and musk. Two notes I think could get more use in modern scenting out of this lot are clover and carnation.

Yes, the soap did spin. This is a Volume III soap (bases were described as volumes for a naming convention). Aside from the soap, I think Dr. Jon's had one of the best aftershaves on the market during it's run. In this particular one the cherry note shines.

Challenge of the Day:

Not today's shave, and perhaps a bit repetitive, but here is a link to one an earlier W_E shave (actually for this particular reason - well the imgur part of it anyway). 2022-06-11: I did this shave. I gotta ask those blades always sharp like that? I mean I know they need to cut but I want it doing the beard part only. Maybe I didn't get a good blade? Anyway I thought you might enjoy the great use of filters. My phone comes with them. I wanted to get my old hobby (artistic camera phone pics) and my new hobby (shaving things like my face) together."

Anyway...enough of that.

Scent notes for those interested - cherry, carnation, clover, leather and musk

Take care and have a good one.

2023-06-19 The Land of Lincoln

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcrafted Series "Summer" with 24mm Gelousy SHD fan knot (A1)
• Razor: Ikon Razors - Ikon Short Comb with Bulldog 80 mm handle
• Blade: Tiger Platinum, DE
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co - Montrose Beach
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Sandy Cheeks

Chicago Grooming comes from Chicago, Illinois - the Northern State also known as the "Land of Lincoln."

During the Civil war Chicago rose to prominence as a major meatpacking, wheat, lumber, and rail hub. Supplies from Chicago to he Union Army were second only to those of New York.

Here are some interesting facts about Chicago during the Civil War by the American Battlefield Trust

Today's Challenge:

The Best Meme...is a stolen meme

Scent notes:

Montrose Beach - Scent notes are sea salt, dried coconut, eucalyptus, jasmine, carnation, vetiver, driftwood and seaweed.

Sandy Cheeks - Coconut, Salt Water

Take care and Have a good one.

2024-06-20 Semi-Obscure Summer Holiday San Juan Night / Saint John's Eve (Summer Solstice)

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcrafted Series "Summer" with 24mm Gelousy SHD fan knot (A1)
• Razor: Karve Shaving Co. - Bison
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Xabons Xavieiro - Herbas De San Xoan
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Shire 2 (Splash)

Daily Theme:

The Summer Solstice / San Juan Night / Saint John's Eve? There apparently is a soap for that. This is a holiday observed by Eastern Orthodox; Oriental Orthodox; Roman Catholics; Eastern Catholic Churches; Lutherans; Anglicans.

I only say semi-obscure being that this is not an overly noticeable holiday from a US standpoint. I'm sure it or a spin on it is more common in other countries.

Other Information on the theme (for context) -

Herbas De San Xoan is a very verdant and herbaceous and minty scented soap. One of the reasons this soap was chosen was due to the "foraging" nature that is the inspiration for the soaps scents.

The ingredients chosen for the scenting of this corresponds to a sort of "potion" made at this particular holiday from several herbs steeped in spring water in the moonlight.

Made with four herbs from the following information supplied by the maker -

"The night before Saint John’s Day we collected seven herbs and placed them in a container filled with water, preferably from seven sources. We leave it overnight so that the dew mixes with it. When we get up in the morning we wash our faces with this water that has acquired magical and healing properties. This is the ritual of the Herbs of San Juan that we do in Galicia"

Soap is made in Galicia (a semi-autonomous region of Spain)

Daily Challenge (Old Hiker Appreciation Day):

Despite a heat dome - it is raining. ~~***~~~~I will edit this comment if it breaks by noon. I have been walking at lunch despite the heat dome to get my lunch, but since I have already shaved an out door shave is kinda out at this point.~~ Managed to get out for a walk at lunch, but having already shaved, no outdoor shave today. Did get a nice burrito and a scolding from some geese along the way.

Scent Notes for those interested - hypericum (St. John's wort), spearmint, fennel and rosemary) translated from Spanish - hierba de San Juan, heirbabuena, hinojo y romero

Take care and have a good one.

Ed: Speeling, etc.

2024-06-21 Fougère Friday

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Semogue 830, Boar bristle 22mm
• Razor: Gillette Sterling (7 O'Clock)
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Heather
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Heather

Today's Theme is Fougère Friday and per Dennis of Spearhead Shaving:

"The scent for Seaforth! Heather was developed by Shawn Maher of Chatillon Lux and Maher Olfactive.  Heather is a classic fougère structure, but instead of a dated, oakmoss-heavy fougère, it leans to the light and soapy side. It has a crisp green note of clary sage in place of the weighty, damp green oakmoss, fortified with a big dose of French and Bulgarian lavender and sunny bergamot citrus. Along with geranium, a classically crisp, fruity-green note, Heather is an invigorating, refreshingly classic scent without feeling dated."

Today's challenge is to appreciate u/Enndeegee - poetically:

There once was a shaver named Enndeegee,

Clearing way stubble with glee

On the watch for scrubs,

And other misbegotten schlubs,

To point out for all to see.

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-22 Spooky Season

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Stirling Soap Company - 24mm Synthetic Shave Brush
• Razor: Parker 11R - (3 Piece, horn handle)
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox, DE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Hallows
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann – Hallows

Today's Theme: Spooky Season - went with Barrister and Mann's Halloween seasonal Hallows! As you can see I have two different years. I like the cartoon graphic a bit better. Just more fun.

By the way Hallow means to consecrate, make holy, or set aside or devote for holy purposes and usages such as a spot for burial. In reference to Halloween the word hallows is short for another term for the night, "all hallow's eve." which in turn is another term for All Saints Day. In pagan practices this time of year was when the natural and supernatural were in closest contact and the time was known as Samhain pronounced SOW-in (Irish) although nearby places had other names. The Jack-O-Lanterns with think of as carved pumpkins originally were carved turnips (to bad, I did not have one of those on hand).

I picked the Parker 11R with it's carved horn handle because of all my razors it looks the most like bone.

Today's Challenge: finding no pumpkin in the house, not even in a can I went with another fall staple the apple.

• Here is my carved apple - Malum in commutari cucurbita hoc spooky diem

"The moon is full,

The trees are bare,

Dead leaves glide through The cool, dry air.

The night is silent as a grave,

Or some deep, dark, unfathomed cave

Beneath the stars’ cold stare.

The silence breaks With hollow moans

And beastly snarls And clacking bones:

The God-forsaken, restless dead

Awaken from their earthen bed

Beneath cold, carven stones."

• Adam J. Sedia, All Hallows Eve - 2021

Scents for the day:

Barrister and Mann's Hallows - vetiver, oakmoss, black pepper, cocoa, labdanum, and cedar

Take care and have a good one.

Great apple carving.

2024-06-23 A Sweet Sunday Shave at the Kitchen Sink

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Maggard Razors - Maggard Blue Swirl, Timberwolf Synthetic, 24mm
• Razor: Gillette - Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed (1954 Z3) #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox, DE
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co - Animal Crackers
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Pharaoh’s Dreamsicle (aftershave splash)

Daily Theme: Sweet Sunday

Used Chicago Grooming's Animal Crackers which has the scents of Cookie / Flour, Butter, Spices, Sugar. This soap - I love, love, love the scent as does my wife. This is a flat-out gourmand scent and it does it so well. But this one is a "sometimes" soap, an occasional treat for me. I get a little tingle from it. So I use it sparingly.

I followed up post shave with another gourmand - Stirling Soap's Pharaoh’s Dreamsicle aftershave (Sweet Orange, Blood Orange, Vanilla, and Egyptian Musk) which comes together to smell quite a lot like an orange dreamsickle - too bad this is discontinued I have always liked this one.

Daily Challenge: Kitchen Shave

My Wife was not really down with this one and never really is. She did not say no. But did not want to see it. She also said, "Clean up after yourself." Leaving me to briefly contemplate Ren and Stimpy's Shaven Yak Day. So I waited until she went out to run some errands.

So here is the shave at the sink - https://imgur.com/a/UHpdWQp

Note: This was a blind shave...mirrors are very useful.

Scents for the day:

Chicago Grooming Co., Animal Crackers - Cookie / Flour, Butter, Spices, Sugar

Stirling Soap Co., Pharaoh’s Dreamsicle - Sweet Orange, Blood Orange, Vanilla, and Egyptian Musk

Take care and have a good one.

Now off to clean the sink, oh and always remember to wash you hands before eating.

2024-06-24 Christmas in July, but in June's Eve

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Pharos-C3, Black Horse Hair 21mm, Ocean Green Beechwood #HORSESASS
• Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy Titanium with Imperial Handle, DE
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter
• Post Shave: Kosmetik R. Nuener - Alt-Insbruck

Today's Theme: Christmas in July, but in June's Eve

• Gotta thank u/onionmiasma for the Noble Otter Firefighter. Good solid guy!

Today's Challenge: Who would you like to make the next r/Wetshaving exclusive?

I'm gonna vote for Talent Soap Factory. They have soaps with scents that are all over the place. I have a pickle scented soap from them, another one is a garden scent, and another smells of grape bubblegum. So, yeah, I'm just curious what would happen.

Take care and have a good one.

2024-06-25, Christmas in July, but in June's Eve or Shaves From a Hat

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Semogue 830, Boar bristle 22mm
• Razor: Razor: Hendrix Classics & Co. - Garand
• Blade: RK - Stainless (green package), DE
• Lather: K Shave Worx - Jingle Bell Spice
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Krampus

Paired two retired artisan's Christmas releases together for a nice shave involving a hat.

Daily theme:

K Shave Worx released a Christmas soap called Jingle Bell Spice It is small it's a 2 oz little tin packed to the gills) it smells great also with bayberry spice with cloves and peppermint. Smells great with Kiwi - more on that later.

Dr. Jon's had a Christmas season soap with a bit of a wicked twist. Krampus was themed around the Krampus character of some European traditions. If Santa (or St. Nick, Father Christmas) was the guy who treated the good children the Krampus was his opposite. Really a great smelling soap and aftershave set.

Daily Challenge: Shave with a hat on...

Here is me with a felt winter gambler hat from Duluth Trading just enjoying a shave.

Much, much easier than my first reading of the instructions...let us talk about flightless birds and other fruits.

First I read this:

Today's Challenge: Shave in a Hat

And no, I did not read further...so, I had to find something to shave in a hat!

Having misread that shave and hat thing...I tried to find something that would fit in a hat to shave. You know - shave in a hat. Not having a gerbil, hamster, small rabbit, marsupial, or any other small mammal as such I settled onto shaving a small flightless bird. Not actually having a small flightless bird I had to settle for a fuzzy fruit named after said flightless bird.

So, I did find something to shave in a hat.

The Process of shaving a Kiwi in a hat

Upon finishing the Kiwi shave I was looking forward to my own shave when I finally read the directions:

Just that. Wear a hat while you shave.

Feeling silly I popped the now wet and soapy hat on my head and did the shave. As also seen above the actual hat shave.

As always, take care and have a good one.

shaved a kiwi inside a hat

shaved a kiwi inside a hat

Lather Games 2024-06-26, Wildcard Wednesday - Brilliantine & Hair Tonic shave

• Brush: The Left Hand of PZ
• Razor: Wilkinson Sword - TTO
• Blade: Tiger Platinum, DE
• Lather: Tres Flores - Brillantine
• Post Shave: Pinaud Clubman - Eau de Portugal Hair Tonic

I got be getting up earlier so I can have time to post these before I go to work in the morning.

The Daily Theme is Wildcard Wednesday:

So today I am trying out hair preparations. To tie the theme together there are two styling products in this shave.

Tres Flores Brillantine - (really hair oil) I have now found out does shave...okay. I've never tried using a shaving oil - other than a pre-shave oil when my skin is dry. All I can say is it was viable but without cushion. Obviously no brush needed. Just slap and rub it on with a hand you are not going to try to hold a razor in. Not really enjoyable.

• Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Fragrance, Yellow 11, Red 17. (So, yeah basically weird but nice smelling baby oil).
• Scents: Flowers (presumably three of some kind) and a small twinge of vanilla.

Eau de Portugal Hair Tonic - the Post Shave? To be fair I have seen a few people use this version of Eau de Portugal Hair Tonic as an aftershave. I does have the alcohol And the "light hold" is provided by glycerin primarily. Maybe slightly sticky, I cannot tell with all this damn oil. Smells like mandarin oranges - very briefly, like under two minutes.

• Ingredients: Alcohol denat., Water (Aqua, eau), Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Yellow 5 (CI 19140).
• Scent: Mandarin Orange

By the way I had to take a shower to get all the residual oil off. I also had to soak my razor in shampoo water.

Today's challenge: Talk about brush cleaning.

I don't really clean them much.

For all shave brushes every time I shave I rinse under running water to get the excess off then I refill my brush soaker with warm water and lather the water, dump and repeat, until is no longer making any bubbles. Really adds about a half minute to the shave.

Not really much other cleaning takes place for brushes that only I am using. Disinfecting one is another story.

Take care and have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-06-27 Information Overload

• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Handcrafted Series "Summer" with 24mm Gelousy SHD fan knot (A1)
• Razor: Blackland - Blackbird, DE safety razor, Brass, 101 mm handle - "Brassbird"
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Uitwaaien
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Uitwaaien (Splash)

Daily Theme: Information Overload - must have at least 10 scent notes!

Uitwaaien's official scent notes -

Top: Cold iris, tinged green, with a barely there subdose of mint.

Heart: Transparent deconstructed florals ride the salty wind, underpinned by a haze of seaweed and driftwood.

Base: Rooty orris and vetiver mingle with cedar, sandalwood, and spiky modern superambers.

So we end up with 10 notes -

Iris

Mint

Florals

Salty air

Seaweed

Driftwood

Orris

Vetiver

Cedar

Superambers

_____________

10 notes!

Daily Challenge: Shave with non-dominant hand

Being right handed, I shaved using my left hand for my whole face today. Although, this one is not really an issue for me. While I'm right handed I usually do the left side of my face with my left hand anyway. So doing the whole face goes pretty well.

Take care and have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-06-28 Frugal Friday

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Unbranded - Amazon Boar, 22mm ?
• Razor: Gillette - Super Click
• Blade: Astra - Superior Platinum, DE
• Lather: Godrej - Godrej Shaving Round
• Post Shave: Lustray - Blue Spice

Today's Challange: Frugal Friday

Unbranded Amazon - Boar Brush 22mm $6.95 (Amazon) derived from set.

Godrej Shave round - $2.95 beats Arko by 5 cents! (Maggard's)

Astra, DE razor blade - $0.65 price as single (as not from a 100 pack - about $0.15 if that is the case)

Gillette Super Click - $6.99 (TRC)

Lustray - Blue Spice - 5.99 (Walmart)

The Shave itself:

The Lows - The brush sheds bad - really bad. The razor is all plastic and all one peice, super mild and yet still scary, the lightest weight I own. Blue spice works well but the scent lasts maybe a generous minute (though not a bad scent).

The Highs - The Godrej Shave Round is actually a good performer. Kinda fun to lather. You dump it into the palm of your non-dominate hand and lather with your brush right there. After you are done you place it back into it's little plastic home.

Take Care and Have a good one.

Lather Games 2024-06-29 Sandalwood Saturday

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Cloud Shave - 18mm Nylon #FAUXFUR #RUNT
• Razor: Stirling Soap Company - Stirling Stainless Steel "SSS" (Austin Handle / HA plate)
• Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green), DE
• Lather: Lodrino - Sandalwood
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Company - BASH
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning 2023 Meme Addition

Today's Theme: Sandalwood

Went with a sample of Lodrino's Sandalwood. This is a one note sandalwood scent. Sandalwood is one of those notes that for me if it is gonna be the dominate note then you gotta be careful with the supporting notes. Otherwise things can get weird fast. So I opted for a single note sample. As a supporting note sandalwood seems more forgiving to me. But again as the main note, let's just say I would want to sample first.

Other notes about the shave, Bash is a sample from the Maggards Razor's meet up two years ago. I have no idea what the notes are or what it is a dupe of. I just remember it is a dupe. And I think there is some sandalwood in there. The Remote Learning fragrance is just for fun.

By the way, the Cloud Shave brush was a freebie and is a terrible shedding nightmare. The thing is Stabby enough it could work for a nail brush. It appears to be attempting to look like a blond boar. The wood of the handle is totally unprotected and should anyone attempt to use it much will fail less than gracefully given much time. I ended up using to get in the RUNT tag. Now I have to clean a lot of fibers out of my sink. Ha ha oh well - free! Save money right?

Today's Challenge: Do Your Homework

Who is winning - Main Contest? (Probably) u/Priusaurus or possibly u/MrTangerinesky

Who is winning - ROTY? (Probably) u/bmac92

Who is winning - FOF? (Probably) - I have not been following this one that well but I'm thinking it looks like u/hugbckt.

Who is winning - Photo contest? (Probably) I've not a clue. Maybe u/Chronnoisseur42O because that looks about right.

Take care and have a good one.

ed: typed FOF twice...shuld be u/Chronnoisseur42O for photos.

2024-06-30 Bon Voyage, Lather Games

• Prep: Coffee, Face wash soap/warm water
• Brush: Semogue - Semogue 830, Boar bristle 22mm
• Razor: Robin Razor - Snap! 2.0, SE (Half DE)
• Blade: Schick - Stainless Steel
• Lather: BBS Soap Shop - Flamingo
• Post Shave: Saponificio Bignoli - Mora E Muschio

Today's Theme: Bon Voyage, Lather Games

I am from the USA

BBS Soap Shop's Flamingo, my soap for the day, is made in Greece

Today's Challenge: World Traveler

Brush - Portugal

Razor - Canada

Blade - Germany

Soap - Greece

Aftershave - Italy

Scent Notes for today -

Flamingo: Scent Notes: (Top) Citrus, (Middle) Grape, Strawberry, (Base) Amber, Cedar

Saponificio Bignoli – Mora E Muschio: red berries, blackberry, blueberry florals, white musk, cream and vanilla notes.

Well that's a wrap

Take care and have a good one.