u/tsrblke's SOTDs for challenge 'MMarch24 Maddness Matchup 2024'

March 1, 2024

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (1)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. – AG1899
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. – AG1889
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps – Picture Day

You didn’t think I’d miss my own #MMarch24 challenge did you?

I don’t dislike Barrister and Mann but my first experience with them was war. So the choice was obvious here.

AG1889 is interesting, I get a cleaner type smell off it which I realize is because the stuff my cleaners use is scented like Jicky. It occurs to me any good smell will likely end up as an air freshener at some point once they reach popularity. 20 years from now our bathroomz will smell like Aventus. Eventually my mind will retune and I’ll appreciate it better. It’s a good scent.

March 2, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (2)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Oceana
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Rope Swing
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Deep Blue Sea

We place bets on the winner today right? So here it is. I shaved to fast and got some irritation. Oh well. I could have spent more time shaving but I’m doing a ham radio contest this weekend. I’ll lose but have fun

Edit: lolz forgot my own tag #MMarch24

March 3, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Traditionalist

For today’s #MMarch24 shave I was torn. I actually only own 1 SW scent, and I have more CF. But the CF base is only OK and I mostly use it when I’m in a hurry. So I went the better base.

Will be interesting if u/phteven_j’s order of the stag boots his soap from March madness.

March 4, 2024 – Birthday Shave

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (4)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Ghost Town Barber
• Post Shave: Zingari – The Wanderer
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps – Picture Day

So #MMarch24 came to me in part because I was contemplating the date of my birthday and various numerical stuff. So today is a birthday shave, also a quick one and CF soap really isn’t slick enough for the MM24 but here we are.

Have a good one.

March 5, 2024 – Nuke it with Orbit

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (5)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Orbit
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. (Formerly Oleo Soapworks) – Montrose Beach
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Creed – Aventus Cologne

It’s well known I’m in the Moos club but here I take a stand. Tabac is depressing and cannot be allowed to move forward. I’ll use Moos tomorrow. Though it’s only an OK cream so we’ll see how it goes wish #MMarch24.

March 6, 2024 – Moos is Loose

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (6)
• Lather: SIR Irisch Moos
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Fragrance: Sir Irisch Moos

If I’m honest, had yesterday been about the Moos I may have chosen it. But it was not. And so I backed team otter. But I can still use the Moos today and smell wonderful. It’s one of the few scents my wife enjoys.

#MMarch24

March 7, 2024 – The Three Headed Monster

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Brasilia V18
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (7)
• Lather: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Cerberus
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Cerberus

Well this is a bit awkward, I used DG soap and Zingari balm... I don't actually have any ZM soap, aside for some samples. But I have a ton of her balm, and a few bars of bath soap. They hit the sweet spot for me more than the soap. Cerberus is in WSDB as “House of Mammoth” which I think is fairly accurate as a scent (oddly the splash is here as DG). Nevertheless, we’re counting soap makers. So I made a tweak. Hopefully u/ShavinginCT can account for anyone who forgets.

I think DG kills it today because of Cerberus, but lookign at the post so far I'm not sure actually. I own a trifecta, it’s pushing the edges of my Stonk, but I use it because it’s oddly appealing in in that way. The soap, splash and frag all accent differnet elments too, which is fun. Granted my wife is not really a fan, but she’s also out of town and won’t be back until tonight when it’s mostly going to be worn off.

Edited: #MMarch24 (not that it matters for me)

March 8, 2024 – Tomorrow’s shave today

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Brasilia V18
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (8)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Christmas Eve
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva – Ice Blue
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Noble Otter – Two Kings

Normally I’m shaving with the second contestant in yesterday’s matchup but as mentioned I own a lot of Heather’s skin care stuff, but no soap. So I did tomorrow’s shave today, and will do it tomorrow, and probably Sunday as well because I really need to kill this sample of Christmas eve to make room for more samples. And eventually to make room for tubs under my sink. I did nick myself twice on each side of my chin, so hopefully that’s not for tomorrow.

And #MMarch24 rolls on, by the end of today u/Impressive_Donut114 will have managed to hit the 2 entry tier. And in just over a week he’ll have maxed his entries (something I didn’t plan on) The rest of you are slacking. (Nevertheless, we’re well on our way to the top spot for this month on the hardware report).

March 9, 2024 – Valiant Varen Virtually Victorious

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (9)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Coffee: Stirling - Rwanda (Drip)

Yes I needed to get more of the Christmas Eve sample done. There will be time for that later. For now I’m on the Varen Vanguard. May we conquer the day. Of which, it’s my son’s birthday and I have to take two of his friends to a local children’s museum. I’ll be exhausted but I’ll smell good.

As always #MMarch24 rolls on. Scoring here is entirely transparent (did you shave?) so I’m gonna post some summary numbers in about a week (after the ides of March.)

Have a good one.

March 10, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (10)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Christmas Eve
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva – Ice Blue
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Versace – Eros

Working through some frag samples my wife gave me. This one is nice. Nothing special. The Christmas Eve sample has reached the stage where it’s almost cream consistency due to use and lack of product remaining. Good shave though.

Looks like we have our first busted #MMarch24 post. 50/50 chance I remember to adjust at the end. Eh more like 30/70 in favor of me forgetting.

March 11, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (11)
• Lather: London Razors/Summer Break Soaps – Mountain Laurel
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Bergamot Lavender
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Deep Blue Sea

Well this is awkward. I woke up and already had a set out for the next match. Sorry u/rocketk455 this was such a no brainer I actually forgot about it.

Mountain Laurel is a collab between u/ahjoyc2 and SBS. A wonderful scent. Indeed, my first exposure to SBS was the clearance of “But first… An Experiment.” it’s a wonderful base and I have several tubs of it at this point (including the cheesy goodness.)

But today my kids are off and we’re going hiking at a nature reserve so I wanted that light outdoor scent for my morning shave. #MMarch24 rolls on. Many people have broken the first level, and one sole 2x daily shaver has already hit the 2nd.

March 16, 2024  

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20  
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24  
• Blade: GEM (16)  
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle  
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw – Rebelle  
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented  

Containing my trend of shaving with the second soap in a match-up the day after. Had some trouble lathering this. I think I needed more soap and a wetter brush, the puck was pretty dry. Was in a hurry so stopped at 2 passes.

I’m not really using the #MMarch24 tag because the portal doesn’t count me, but I know I’ve been good every day, so I’m excited to see where we land. I posted an update in the results thread.

March 17, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Brasilia V18
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (17)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Traditionalist
• Fragrance: Ralph Lauren – Ralph’s Club

Gotta back the underdog today. Boonana again because that’s all I got. Maybe the luck of the Irish will help carry SW over the top.

Keep using the #MMarch24 tag fellow MM24 users! We’re half-way there.

March 18, 2024

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive Moar Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (18)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Oceana
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Rope Swing
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Zingari Man – The Watchman

Little aquatic 3 ways today. Sad that SW couldn’t topple the king but it came close. NO or Dec will prove to be a challenge I think. But the level of shenanigans has hit form. We’re back baby!

Also hope you’re all still enjoying #MMarch24.

March 20, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20

• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24

• Blade: GEM (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth – Cerberus

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Cerberus

• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Cerberus

Yesterday was a bit of a stunner but here we are. My “shave with the other guy” shave today leaves me only one option: Cerberus. Luckily my wife (who is not a fan) is at the office. Though I’ll probably still smell like this when she gets back from her happy hour.

Was thinking about brushes after u/jwoods23’s side by side yesterday. I think the V20 is becoming my favorite because it’s a hair softer with a tiny bit less backbone than my V18. Just feels a bit better. I never thought I’d get that picky about a brush but here we are.

Reminder I'm not using the #MMarch24 hash tag because it's extra work for nothing for me (the portal makes me judge but awards 0 points). But you should still use it! (Stares at u/onionmiasma)

March 21, 2024 – Thrilla with Vanilla

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (21)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Christmas Eve
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva – Ice Blue
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented

Was a tough one today to choose. So I choose the fun that is SBS maybe cheese it up a bit or go with the soap that served as my lathery baptism into Wetshaving. Ultimately nostalgia won out, if only because Stirling has been there for me from the beginning (even if SBS was the first full trifecta I bought.) but this could go either way. And I’ll be both happy and sad at the outcome.

We’re in the last 10 days of #MMarch24 let’s finish strong!

March 24, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Brasilia V18
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (23)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

Yesterday was close and today I shaved with the runner up. Was close in my mind too. If I could only have 1 set it’d actually probably be SSL. I find it the most generally enjoyable especially in warmer weather. But I went with my overall favorite (even if it’s not an every day driver for me.)

No let’s all be cheeky little otters and take down the #1.

Last week of #MMarch24, finish strong!

March 25, 2024

• Brush: u/J33pguy13 TnS L4 Pass around
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (25)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Sir Irisch Moos

Team Otter show up! Otters are social creatures, unlike lawyers, so I have big expectations for today. We’ll see. The legal beagles came strong out of the gate.

This blade is probably past its prime, but I only have 6 more #MMarch24 shaves so I’m probably gonna ride it out.

But let’s talk about the brush. It’s on loan from our resident ~~horder~~ archivist, and this is only the second hand tied knot I’ve ever tried. The other being a B3 which was…suboptimal. In advance I ran through my V18 and V20 fanchurians again because they feel different to me and I was trying to figure out why. Looking at them, the hair in the V18 seems a bit thicker, and it has a slightly more hybrid shape than the totally flat top V20. Both these give the V20 more splay, and to me a better feeling of the brush on my face (as opposed to it being more like a thick cloth.

The L4, splits this somehow, having the splay of the V20, with the “can feel no individual hair, wall of badger” feeling. And like the B3, it feels made for this brush in a way the fanchurans can’t. I like it. Having said that the V20 gets me 80% of the way there for 30% of the price so, not sure about that. And having said that, if I never experienced the V20, I’d probably say the V18 gets 75% of the way there.

One thing though that was totally different was how this thing held lather. It felt like there were extradimensional pockets just expelling the lather as I went. I did a bit longer load than normal because it didn’t look like it picked up enough soap and ended up with enough for 6 passes if I wanted. And I kept having to add water to my face (despite being a mostly bowl latherer) because it kept putting out more soap as I went. I could definitely see that as being a boon to the face lathering crowd. I may try face lathering with Chesire tomorrow.

March 26, 2024

• Brush: u/J33pguy13 TnS L4 Pass around
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (26)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice – Old Spice Original
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented

Disappointing loss yesterday for the otter. But he played hard. B&M is going to be hard to beat and I’m torn whether HoM or Stirling is most likely to take down our sub king.

This brush continues to be interesting to me. I’ll defer to its owner and our sub Brush expert but it strikes me as having tips that are more medium gelly than not. I did do a face lather today and it holds water like crazy. I didn’t really have to go back to my sink to get a crazy slick lather. I did have to go back to the tub as my initial load just didn’t work.

#MMarch24 rolls on entering the final countdown phase. This blade is getting beyond where I like it but with only 5 shaves left I’ll keep on keeping on.

March 27, 2024

• Brush: u/J33pguy13 TnS L4 Pass around
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (27)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Christmas Eve
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva – Ice Blue
• Post Shave: Zingari – Unscented
• Fragrance: Ralph Lauren – Ralph’s Club

So it should be stated up front, I am not a member of Mammoth Mafia. Am I a Mammoth stan? Yes, but I cannot be accused of betraying anyone here. This was a hard choice. My first soap vs. My first fragrance experience. I remember having only 1 tub and having to burn through a Stirling sample before I could switch, and wondering if that was even possible. So were better than others, I started with Almond Creme, got a loaner lotion tub from my wife so I could use barbershop, then on to Pumpkin Spice (the “eh it’s ok” of that group.) In then end 3 things won out:

1. Dance with the one who brought you
2. Wanna see at least one more upset
3. I finally killed that sample of Christmas Eve

Mammoth will always occupy the most of my den, and I’ll probably order Everett 20 seconds after it drops, but today went to the green monster who gave us moar boar. If we keep begging maybe we’ll get our Moos dupe too.

Edited: Also I sorta regret running one blade for all of #MMarch24. This one is over it has some rust and it's just sorta meh. But only 4 more shaves.

March 28, 2024

• Brush: Tns L4 on loan from u/j33pguy13
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (28)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Diamond
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Diamond
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Yesterday Haze

So this month I’ve been shaving with the competitor on off days. But I must turn my back on HoM again unfortunately, as something more important is happening. Today is opening day! And so out comes the Diamond. My daughter proclaimed it smells like the fresh cut field. The balm smells like the concession stand. There’s frost on the ground but summer is just around the corner.

I’ll be here to rep Mammoth (with Smash) tomorrow don’t worry.

A reminder that #MMarch24 continues beyond the bracket until the 31st. Hopefully your blade is in better shape than mine.

March 29, 2024

• Brush: Tns L4 on loan from u/j33pguy13
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (29)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Fragrance: Noble Otter – Two Kings

The finals. The frag seemed appropriate since clearly these are the two kings of this sub when it comes to soaps. How best to choose without actually choosing? Use the collaboration soap. Allows me to support HoM (and avoid the mafia) while also giving a nod to Will.

Just a reminder #MMarch24 keeps going for 2 days after this. Keep those shaves up. We’re over 500!

March 30, 2024

• Brush: Tns L4 on loan from u/j33pguy13
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (30)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist

Victory shave today. Congratulations to u/mammothben. While I’m breaking my “shave with the other guy” trend I did that in the mammoth v. Stirling battle to shave with Diamond so it all balances.

Tomorrow is the last day of #MMarch24. It’s gonna be close but we could break 600 shaves. Not bad.

Have a good one I’m off to decorate eggs and bake a pie.

March 31, 2024

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Bangalore V20
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (31)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Alive
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Alive

Was only one obvious choice today. I know u/mammothben didn’t intend to create an Easter scent here but I suppose it was inevitable. Thought about this last night at the Easter Vigil.* Ben’s stated inspiration was coming out of the covid lock downs. Many thematic parallels here to the start of the Vigil taking place in the dark for the first ~1/3, emerging into the light after the Gloria. Add in the spring and rebirth elements in Alive and you get the idea. A wonderful scent and perfect for the day.

Letting u/j33pguy13’s brush dry out so I can send it to the next person. The wonderful thing about these pass around is I can learn what I like. I’m not sure I could have articulated what gel is prior to this, but now I know it’s more like what my v18 is and why I prefer the v20 (but only by a bit).

#MMarch24 comes to a close. I’ll run numbers and get final information out next week. Thanks all for participating!

*Amazingly both kids did fine. Youngest fell asleep towards the end. And there was an incident outside where I tried to get him off my shoulders and he knocked someone in the face.