u/whosgotthepudding's SOTDs for challenge 'Rookie of the Year'

7/1/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar) #CHONK
• Razor: MMOC
• Blade: GEM (1)
• Lather: Martin de Candre - Vetyver
• Post Shave: Saponifico Varesino - Opuntia Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Saponifico Varesino - Settantesimo EdP

Hello Lather Games! My LG debut is an homage to one of the communities favorites, u/EldromR. Aside from the MOAR BOAR (though birthed from his Raw Hoggin' challenge) everything in my shave came from him, so far to include even the GEM blade.

Todays shave was my first MMOC shave (this just arrived last night, as a matter of fact) and also marks my first complete safety razor shave. I've used an MM24 in the past, but always in combination with a straight. Thus ends my straight razor streak, I'd guess somewhere around 450 days or so. Given the occasion, I'm good with that. The MMOC gave me a fantastic shave. I was honestly surprised by it. I'm gonna assume, as an open blade user, that the aggression of this razor works in my favor. The correct cutting angle was easy to find, and the balance lended itself to easily maintaining light and consistent pressure. In two passes, I got as close a shave as I would with one of my freshly honed straights. Fantastic razor, I'm thrilled to have it.

As Eld sacrifices his variety of soaps to quench the communities curiosity on the life span of a brain bowl, I wanted to walk a mile in his shoes. He sent me this smush (taken from a previous split, not the experimental brain). This is my first time trying MdC and another very pleasant surprise this morning. The scent is pretty straightforward. A very green and warm, fresh cut grass vibe. Performance was where the surprise came. A little definitely went a long way. The lather built super quick and it was SO much slicker than I thought it was going to be. It's easy to see how how MdC has been in the game as long as they have been. I don't know that I would ever splurge on a bowl myself, but I could see myself going in on a split for sure.

SV is another new experience for me. Both Opuntia and Settantesimo have, what I would describe as, a very classic and masculine scent. Opuntia has fruity, woody, floral, and citrus, a dash of amber and with the musks really leading the way. Not in a bad way by any means, but that musk is what carries that masculine cologne vibe. Settantesimo is again with the citrus, amber and florals, this time, though paired with an aquatic note. Wearing this, I feel like I should be wearing some fat gold rings and a gold chain necklace hanging into a bush of grey chest hair exploding through an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt. Probably on a golf course.

Close and comfortable shave this morning. No nicks or irritation.

#ROTY

7/2/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #brassing
• Blade: GEM (2)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II Aftershave Toner
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Gravefruit II EdP

Vegan soaps are not a common thing in my den at all. One of the first tubs of soaps I had early in my wetshaving journey was vegan, and it was terrible. At first, I thought it wasn't bad at all. I thought the razor burn and uncomfortable shaves I was getting were a result of poor technique and an edge that lacked. One day, after posting a razor I'd made to r/woodworking, a random redditor suggested I cross post to r/wicked_edge. At that point, almost two years into wetshaving, I had no idea there was such a large online presence focused around shaving. I got a recommendation there for a tallow soap, and it just blew my mind. From then, I didn't look really at anything vegan as an option. Fast forward almost two years later, and I received a smush of GFII from u/schontzm. The scent was very unique for grapefruit. The underlying hint of decay was intriguing and complimenting. So I gave it a shot. My mind was, again, blown. By that point, I'd assumed from my experience that vegan wasn't a good performer. This smush changed my mind. Performance was on par with many tallow based soaps. This was a set I had to grab, and with the help of u/J33pGuy13, I landed a trick. I'm very happy to have this one in my den.

Only having used straights for a few years, I'd always told myself I'd try a safety razor if something unique came my way. Enter the MM24 (previously gold plated). I got this in a trade from u/EldromR. Unique and deserving of the hype. I immediately jived with this razor. Up until now, however, I used it in combination with a straight. Today marks my first full shave with the MM24. This razor also holds a very special place in my den for other reasons. During the last weeks of my fathers life, I'd given him a couple of shaves with it. Those proved to be some special and powerful moments for me. As Eld put it to me once, it was "something so profound in something so simple." The last time I used the MM24 was 12/30/22, the day my father passed. After his passing, my sister, a very close family member, and I got him cleaned up and changed so his brothers and closest friends could come say their goodbyes. That's when I gave him his last shave. Using the MM24 again today made this shave pretty emotionally charged. Bro was a fucking rebel to the end. I miss him.

#ROTY

7/3/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks Purple Valley w/ 24mm Lotus Manchuria #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Square Point #ALLNATURAL #STR8SNOB
• Lather: Boellis Panama 1924 - Notes: Almond
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Splash

To pay tribute to u/RedMosquitoMM today, I went through and added to a playlist 3 songs from the last 3 months of posts on the 3rd and listened to those during my shave. That list being:

Roadside Graves - No One Will Know Where You've Been

Tyler Childers - Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?

Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London (Only the artist was listed, so I picked this one).

🍻 u/RedMosquitoMM

This smush of Boellis comes courtesy of u/J33pGuy13. Almond scents are not really something I go for. I mean, the scent isn't gross to me or anything, I just find it pretty meh. This was my first time with Boellis, and, like the scent, I also found performance to be pretty meh. Primary slickness was fine, residual there wasn't much of. My post shave feel with it wasn't bad by any means. Reading that almond is a typical Italian barbershop scent, I opted to stray away from the genre. The first thing that comes to mind when I think "almond" is HoM - Almond Leather. I reached for something with leather. Black Watch is so much more than leather. Spicy, incense-y and with a hint of citrus and leather. It was quick to drown out the almond, but I liked the concept of the two together.

This Ralf Aust is 🐐 in my den. I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it. The shorter blade with the thumb notch, the scalloped spine, and middle ground 6/8 size make this razor a comfortable tool for hair removal (and it's so pretty 😍). Overall, it was a nice shave this morning.

#ROTY

7/4/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian #SHD
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Gentleman's Nod - Juniper Reverie
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux - Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Two Kings EdP

I have a hard time with this daily challenge. I forgot to measure stuff during my shave, along with other steps to make an extra post. So I'll just speak to the experience.

This Juniper Reverie is another smush in from u/J33pGuy13. I don't typically care for Juniper. Recently, I tried NO Jack and wasn't a big fan because the Juniper was so strong in it (even though the overall scent strength is pretty weak). This was a little different of a story. The juniper opened up with a bit of citrus and cognac, then transitioned to add in florals and a little bit of incense. It was a unique experience that I didn't expect.

When I think of spring, the fresh blooming of flowers is at the forefront. So, I wanted to add to the floral in Reverie. Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli legit smells like walking in a garden. To build on that, I added the NO Two Kings EdP. The combination of the three was amazing. I came out of this shave smelling like an amazing garden. As the juniper disappeared behind a wall of yuzu and rose, the backround was filled with a combination of Patchouli and Oud and a little incense and spice.

This Filarmonica is a wonderful addition to my rotation. A first run Gen 1 Doble Temple JMP. I got incredibly lucky with this blade, both in price and just getting my hands on it. It sings the prettiest note when stropping and is easily the most talkative blade I have. The steel has such a light and gentle feel and the size behind it helps it move with serious conviction. It still has the edge I first put on it, which is good but still just of tester quality. I will revist it here shortly, now that I know the temper is fine, and give it the best to my skill set as I can. Fantastic shave today.

#ROTY

7/5/23

• Brush: None
• Razor: Thiers Issard "Evide Sonnant" 6/8, Extra Hollow Round Point
• Lather: Barbasol - Original
• Post Shave: Nivea Men - Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Picked this can of Barbasol up the other day at the Safeway down the street from me. Its been a minute since I've used something like this. I sprayed some globs in my hand and wiped it over a wet face. It still felt fairly dry, so I splashed a little water on my hands and rubbed in the lather on my face. This actually really stepped up the Barbasol game. I don't know if this is a standard approach, I know I haven't done it like that before, but man what a difference. Definitely wasn't terrible.

The Nivea I've had for some time and picked up at the same safeway. It's not a terrible balm by any means. Prior to getting HoM - Z balm, this is what I'd use if my technique lacked during a shave and it has worked just fine for me.

The Evide Sonnant I chose for no particular reason to fit this. I'd thought about using a disposable to fit the theme, but at the same time I was curious how a straight would do with this kind of lather.

For an ideal scent, I want incense. I want to straight smell like I'm standing at the incense section of a head shop. A little something like: Frankincense, Myrrh, Patchouli, Dragon's Blood, Nag Champa, Sandalwood and Lavender.

#ROTY

7/6/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Silvertip
• Razor: C.V. Heljestrand MK 31 11/16 Full Hollow
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch EdT

Todays shave goes out to u/gcgallant (whose razor I was not about to attempt to stack). He sent me this Heljestrand to try out, and for my final shave before sending it home, I couldn't think of a better trick.

Spearhead holds a special place in my heart, as they were the first artisan with a complex scent that I had tried. Early on in my soap exploration, I kept it simple. Sandalwood or citrus in my soaps. I was hesitant for a long time to try anything more than that. Then I tried Sea Spice Lime, and it honestly blew my mind. There was a sharp rise in the growth of software in my den after that. Black Watch holds a high spot in my den (and dare I say for u/gcgallant as well). The scent is just wonderful. It has a classic and masculine vibe. The bergamot, jasmine, and plum stand out in the front and are accompanied in the background by a lovely blend of leather, oakmoss, incense, and sandalwood. It scratches an incense itch I had while at the same time being much more. If you haven't had a chance to try it yet, 10/10 would recommend it.

The Heljestrand has proved to be a great shaver. The steel has a gentle feel, and even with the thinner grind, it is firm and moves with conviction. The edge is smooth yet very keen. This mornings shave was a pleasure.

#ROTY

7/7/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar) #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Spanish Point
• Lather: 345 Soap Co - White Buffalo
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Spiced Aftershave Toner

I'm definitely a bigger fan of Freman Friday than I am of Fougére Friday. I enjoy spicy notes.

White Buffalo is very Anise forward off the tub with a small bit of citrus and tobacco, that seems to just highlight the anise. The longer it sits and on the dry down, the scent really evolves. The cinnamon becomes so much more noticeable and is sweetened up with a hint of amber and balanced out with the sandalwood, oakmoss, and patchouli. It is a unique combination and really enjoyable. Spiced is in a similiar vein, but certainly a unique scent of its own. The anise and vanilla really stand out to my nose, and it's a very pleasant combination. Highlighted with clove, mandarin, and tonka, Spiced easily captures a classic feel tied with modernity. Nice shave this morning with a very pleasant scent combo.

I have a couple of hobbies outside of wetshaving, but one very near and dear to me is woodworking. This is, by design, a big part of my life. For those that don't know, I'm a licensed Journeyman Carpenter. When I decided to take up this trade, it was with the intention to learn both carpentry and finer woodworking. Hoping to spend my younger years doing carpentry and when I'm older, and my body is broken, I can do woodworking full time and carpentry to help those close to me (or for a little cash on the side). I've been at this for about 12 years or so now. I've worked various jobs for the sole purpose of learning new skills. I've built high rises in Downtown Denver, hidden bookshelf doors in overpriced homes, schools out in BFE, classified military facilities, houses and trailers, custom cabinets, and fixtures. Getting into woodworking has opened up other hobbies for me, like sharpening, for example. These two things would eventually be one of the catalysts that led me to wetshaving. Some of you may know that I mostly make wetshaving items, primarily brushes and most recently, scales. Did you know that I also make a number of other things? After all that, it may not come as a surprise. I've done pens, trays, lighters, candleholders, relief carvings, boxes, jewelry, jars, and more. Here's a couple of the things I've done (I could/should find more, but I'm stretching myself thin enough as it is with this post). I've met a wide array of interesting and talented people in the woodworking community from around the world. Like any other hobby, there's bullshit, price hiking like crazy, some weirdos on the fringe, and surprisingly, a lot of folks that don't like to share information (the temporarily embarrassed millionaire types). There's a lot of acronyms and jargon, i.e.. raw, stabilized, checks, inclusions, spalted, dyed, double dyed, BAB, HRB, caps, live edge, etc. Wood has a deep, rich history and has played so many different roles for man. There is an almost unparalleled and fascinating beauty in some woods. I have some woods in my collection that are thousands of years old. Just imagine the stories they could tell. It's a pretty neat hobby.

#ROTY

7/8/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks Purple Valley w/ 24mm Maggards Silvertip #SMOLL (the proof is in the pudding)
• Razor: Wade & Butcher 7/8, "The Celebrated Extra Hollow" Barber's Notch #RAINBOW
• Lather: Maggards - London Barbershop
• Post Shave: Oaken Lab - Batavia Barber Aftershave Splash

My first time with a Maggards soap. It wasn't bad at all. Crafters Choice preblend scent pretty straightforward, but I so happen to like the scent. Performance was fine, nothing that wowed me or anything, but definitely not bad. On the sweeter side of things, I opted to pair it with a darker barbershop, Batavia Barber. The leather plays in comfortably with the barbershop vibe.

I had been hanging on to this knot for a while, and noticed an opportunity to get another scavenger hunt item in. The bore in this brush is pretty deep, so I took this new Maggards Silvertip and set it nice and low. Maggard knots always feel fantastic. Nice shave today.

Me in the DQ

#ROTY

7/9/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian
• Razor: Koraat 8/8, Near Wedge Square Point
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - 42
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - 42 Aftershave Splash

I only have two soaps in my den with tea notes, so the answer to which was obvious. The ultimate answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. 42. Admittedly, I wasn't too hot on this scent when I first got it and picked it up for the HHGTG theme. After a while, though, it grew on me. The base in this tub is Excelsior and has started showing the ring of death around it. I don't use this set that often, but I enjoy it when I do. The performance is fantastic and whips up a slick lather.

This Koraat is a gentle giant. Tons of weight behind it. I just recently used it to shave a friends head, and it just mowed through his hair. It may be about time for a refresh of the edge, but great shave all the same this morning from it.

#ROTY

7/10/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Macduffs Soap Company - Birth of the Cool
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co - Haverford Aftershave Splash

Birth of Cool is an homage to Miles Davis. Made up of several pre blends, mostly tobacco related. This smush comes courtesy of u/J33pGuy13. This is my first time using a Macduffs soap. The performance was pretty solid. It was easy enough to whip up a slick and thick lather. Primary slickness was certainly there, and notably, so was the residual. A little bit of this went a long way. The scent was pretty unique, and I enjoyed it. Pre lathering, it reminded me of a baked good. Once lathered, it almost smelt like something new each time I whiffed it. The tobacco was pretty consistently there throughout. Being as how there is a dupe of Tom Fords TV, I couldn't think of a better post shave on hand to go with it. Haverford paired really well with it. I think I'd like to get TV at some point.

I never claimed to be an artist

#ROTY

7/11/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)
• Razor: Wade & Butcher 7/8, "The Celebrated Extra Hollow" Barber's Notch
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Shire 2
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Shire 2 Aftershave Splash

My attempt at todays challenge.

Late shave today, but damn was it a nice one. This combination was just wonderful. Shire 2 has such a nice mix of violets, vetiver, spices, and tobacco. I liked Shire 2 when I first got it, just liked it. One of the times I used it, though, the tobacco seemed to be a lot more forward; and everything just clicked. Taking in some deep whiffs, it was really easy to picture myself sitting in the Shire, surrounded by bright green grass, flowers in bloom, and with a pouch full of pipe tobacco. It's a very relaxing scent. On top of that, tusk is such an awesome base. It's my favorite base, and I easily have more sets of Mammoth than any other artisan.. It is just super slick and always leaves my face feeling great. HoM post shaves are just top tier. I was surprised to find I like mentholated splashes as much as I do and never knew I would like a balm as much as I do (Z++).

This W&B is another favorite of mine. I picked it up for super cheap, and it didn't need a ton of work. It took a super keen edge, and the steel glides light as a feather. The scales I did myself, Buckeye Burl Forest Moss hybrid. Damn fine shave this evening.

#ROTY

7/12/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Silvertip
• Razor: Thiers Issard "Evide Sonnant" 6/8, Extra Hollow Round Point
• Lather: Arko Shave Stick
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Aftershave Splash

I haven't bowl lathered since I got the MOAR BOAR and I don't know how I'd of bowl lathered with a shave stick. Out of pure principle, I could not. This was my first time with Arko, and the first time, I've had the pleasure of rubbing a shave stick all over my face. Does that count??

I was pleasantly surprised by Arko. Nothing so special that I'm gonna write home to Mom or anything. I just expected it to be a lot worse. I had a late shave yesterday, so not a ton of growth this morning, so rubbing this all over my face wasn't exactly the greatest. I'm gonna keep the stick and try again post AA when I have some more growth. It's a very soapy smelling soap. With an old classic shave soap like this, Clubman was the #1 choice for pst shave imo. Clubman is really like the barbershop scent. It reminds me of getting a haircut as a kid at my cousins barbershop. It's a super nice scent, I wish it lasted longer. Nice shave overall this morning.

#ROTY

7/13/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Harmony
• Post Shave: Grooming Dept - Ketoret Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Black Watch EdT

I've been waiting for today. I absolutely love incense scents.

Harmony fits the bill perfectly. Dragon's Blood and Nag Champa. It is a very straightforward incense scent, and I love it. Dragon's Blood is an incense that brings back a lot of fun memories. The first one that comes to mind is from when Mrs. Pudding and I were still dating. We went up to a small mountain gambling town named Cripple Creek. We'd taken a bus up from Old Colorado City on a beautiful sunny day. Spent the day checking out different shops, walking the small town, and even got in a couple hands of poker. That evening, we went out and got some dinner at one of the casinos. It was then, before dinner showed, that we ate a shit ton of mushrooms. We ate our quick meal and went to another casino, one we were in earlier that just had tons of lights and mirrors, and sat down for some slots. As the mushies kicked in, and the world became weirder and weirder, our pulls on the slots became slower and slower. Til finally they just came to a stop, and we found ourselves just tripping balls and taking everything in. We eventually mustered the mental strength it took get up and head back to our hotel. We stepped out into a wonderland of some super cool ice sculptures they had done earlier in the day. We got lost in that, too, for a while. After breaking free from those wonders, we slowly made our way back to our room, regularly stopping to take in the amazing night sky. We eventually made it back to the room. We settled in and the (now) Mrs. lit some Dragon's Blood incense sticks, put on some music, and I proceeded then to melt into the world around me while my brain did a complete factory reset. A 10/10 night. The next morning I drank some coffee and ate breakfast at a hold em table before we took a bus back down to Old Colorado City.

Ketoret is another fantastic incense scent. A lot of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Saffron. The Mrs. is not a fan of this scent, primarily because of the saffron, though she can enjoy it in other things. I don't care for the post shave experience (I could potentially be using too much) from GD splashes. They honestly leave my face feeling gross and almost slimy, but I wanted to commit to the bit. Mixed with Harmony, though, it's a nice combination and gets me closer to feeling like I'm standing in a head shop.

To top it all off, enter Black Watch. This is a very classy incense kind of vibe. A little sweetness from the bergamot, plum, and jasmine rounded out with incense, oakmoss, and sandalwood, topped with a hint of leather. Again, this is a very classic and mature feel to this scent.

I was originally going to link a Pink Floyd song, possibly the one I want them to play when they bury me under a tree. They are my favorite. With the memories of tripping balls in the mountains fresh in my head, I opted for something else and more fitting: Joe Walsh - A Life of Illusion.

Life is just that, my friends, an illusion. We are the universe manifest in to consciousness in order to experience itself. Enjoy it.

#ROTY

7/14/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Moon Soaps - Union
• Post Shave: Moon Soaps - Union Aftershave Splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: 345 Soap Co - Fresh Cut Fade EdP

A nice chilly start to the day with one of my favorite genre of scents, barbershop.

I really like Moon Soaps, from my limited experience with them. Union has a classic barbershop scent while still being able to stand apart from others. The soap and splash have a light menthol feel to them, which came in clutch with todays challenge. I haven't done an ATG pass in almost 2 years now. My muscle memory took little bit to kick in. The lather on my first pass was a little under hydrated. My atg pass on my neck was fine, but I definitely felt that lack of slickness on my cheeks. The cooling came in clutch between passes. My second pass was XTG and hydration and slickness were a lot better. The end result was a very close shave. The Union splash felt great, but I opted to top it off with Z, for an even chillier effect. My face feels good.

This was also my first time trying the FCF edp. Up until now, I've only whiffed it off the bottle. The combination of Union and Fresh Cut Fade was nice.

#ROTY

7/15/23

• Brush: Turkish Walnut Pure Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Spanish Point
• Lather: West Coast Shaving - Chypre
• Post Shave: Barrister and Man - Le Grand Chypre Aftershave Splash

This smush of WCS Chypre comes courtesy of u/RedMosquitoMM. I really enjoy this soap. Made for WCS by Chicago Grooming, if I'm not mistaken. The duck fat base is a great performer. Both primary and residual slickness are there. The scent, though, is my favorite part. Citrus and resin done very well. To me, it comes across as very incense-y and I love it for that.

Prior to this, my only experience was with LGC, which I honestly don't care for. I had a set and gave it away to a friend who was also into wetshaving. The splash I used today came from him. Though I don't care for it, I borrowed it so I can commit to the bit today. This same friend is who I borrowed the brush from. I made him this brush super early on when I started making anything wetshaving related. Looking at and using this brush makes me think of that scene in Avengers when smart Hulk is back in time and watching in embarrassment as his old self just runs around, mindlessly smashing. I used to think these knots were pretty alright. They were definitely a huge step up from what I'd started with. Then u/sgrdddy gave me some education on badger hair and nudged me in the right direction. That nudge, as it turns out, brought me right to the edge of the rabbit hole. I am incredibly thankful for the advice and help he gave me. Both my shaves and what I make are the better for it. Thanks again, u/sgrdddy.

#ROTY

7/16/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)
• Razor: Koraat 8/8, Near Wedge Square Point
• Lather: Noble Otter - BarrBarr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - BarrBarr Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - BarrBarr EdP

Barbershop scents are another favorite, tied with incense. I had thought about using 3 different artisans for todays theme, but in thr end I decided to give full credit to the best artisan Barbershop scent out there. BarrBarr, to me, has the best western Barbershop scent that I've tried, and at this point, I've tried quite a few. It was a fantastic shave this morning, and this Mrs thinks I smell liked baked goods. I have no complaints.

What better to pair with a 🐐 barbershop scent than a boar and a fat 8/8 near wedge? Nothing, that's what. These large and heavy blades move through the thickest hair silently and with the utmost conviction. There is no skipping, no extra pressure needed. You just gotta let this fat boi do the work. I recently shaved a friends head with this razor. For science, I used two different blades to start, and we did not buzz his hair short beforehand. First, I used a W&B 7/8 Extra Hollow, and it admittedly struggled with that much hair. I mean, it did it, but it took a little convincing. I then pulled out this Koraat. It took no convincing. It plowed through everything effortlessly. It was much easier to control. It was immediately apparent why these styles were preferred. I finished the rest of the first past with this. The second pass was done with the W&B.

I hear you like memes. One More

#ROTY

7/17/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian
• Razor: Wade & Butcher 7/8, "The Celebrated Extra Hollow" Barber's Notch w/ Muninn Woodworks Forest Moss Scales
• Lather: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth - Cerberus
• Post Shave: Noble Otter/House of Mammoth - Cerberus Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming - Cerberus EdP

Every single item of my shave today is a collaboration. Cerberus being, imo, one of the biggest powerhouse collabs there are. HoM, DG and NO are absolute titans in this hobby. Cerberus is (like every other scent from HoM) a very unique scent. Stone fruit and resins balanced out with earthy and woodsy notes. I can honestly see why some would find it overpowering. There is a lot going on with it.

I don't use Osma because why would I? There's nothing very appealing to me about it, and I'm not out here nicking myself every or every other shave. I'll just use a piece of toilet paper and some pressure for a second. Am I really missing out on anything? Really?

#ROTY

7/18/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Thiers Issard "Evide Sonnant" 6/8, Extra Hollow Round Point
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Firefighter Aftershave Splash

I got this smush of Autumn Ash from u/J33pGuy13. First time with this scent. Can'y say I'm wow'd by it or anything, but I don't dislike it. The scent wasn't as strong as other SW soaps I've tried and I'm grateful the birch tar wasn't overpowering.

I wasn't quite sure what I had that would pair well it for a post shave. After a few side by side sniff tests, one thing that stuck out to me was the Cedar. I immediately thought of Firefighter. I like how the pair works together. Firefighter took a little of the dankness out of it and added in some freshness with the aquatic and Grapefruit notes. Nice shave overall this morning.

I completely forgot to take a picture of my stubble. 4am shave and I am only barely functioning.

#ROTY

7/19/23

• Brush: Sock
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple (JMP) 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Proraso - Green
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Aftershave Lotion

This was my first time trying Proraso. This is not how I imagined my first time with Proraso. This challenge, man. I'm not a fan of it, and I'm not quite clear why this is a thing. But it is, and none of us are the better for it. The proof is in the pudding. I'm thankful my wife didn't wake up early and see that. As far as the Proraso goes, I liked the scent and also enjoyed the menthol. I can't speak to the performance really, because I built my shitty lather with a god damn sock. The method is flawed. I will try Proraso again after AA.

I don't know if Clubman was the best mix to go with this, but I don't really have anything with eucalyptus or mint. So I just decided with something equally as boomer.

The Fili was my shining star today and carried me through this sad shave. I'm thankful for this.

#ROTY

7/20/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Spanish Point
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Scarn
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Scarn Aftershave Splash

Super nice shave today compared with yesterday and the sock. Scarn is a dupe of Dior Sauvage. I haven't had the pleasure of trying the original, but I'm tempted because of how much the Mrs. and I enjoy it. Spicy and woodsy, this scent has a very traditional masculine cologne scent. It's very nice and even better that it comes from a pillar of this community. In hindsight, I should've used the MOAR BOAR.

I typically prefer my lather to be basically dripping. No peaks in the lather and should be easily rinsed off my razor, if not already slopping off. So I went with a thicker and pastier lather today. Pics. It was fine, I guess. I didn't have any irritation or razor burn, but in the end I still prefer a wetter lather with some more glide and easier rinse on my blade.

#ROTY

7/21/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Fougére Nemata
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - King of Oud Aftershave Toner

I don't have any Fougéres in my den, but thankfully I had a smush I'd gotten some time ago from u/EldromR. I don't dislike them, they just don't wow me or anything. All to Mrs. Puddings disappointment, as she does really likes them. I did enjoy Fougére Nemata, though. It has that very familiar Fougére smell to it, but with that little extra something in the back, unique to SW.

Here's a haiku to the coolest flair on the sub:

Open blades on necks

Headless Horsemen brave the ride

Balance on the edge

#ROTY

7/22/23

• Brush: Zenith Two Band Fan
• Razor: Koraat 8/8, Near Wedge Square Point
• Lather: Caties Bubbles - Blugère
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Embrace Aftershave Splash

This smush of Blugère comes courtesy of u/EldromR. This is a Fougére that surprised me. I'm not typically fond of blueberry or very into Fougéres, but the combination of the two I really like. Thankfully, this was a generous smush, and I had enough for two passes on each leg. The only other scent in my den with berry is Embrace. This is a scent u/EldromR turned me on to. It smells so damn good and went pretty well with Blugère.

For todays Leg Shave challenge, I chose to go with the 8/8 Near Wedge Koraat. Admittedly, this isn't my first time shaving legs with a straight, just the first time on myself. I've also shaved other peoples heads and faces as well. In my experience, the heavier blades are so much easier to index and control in awkward positions. They also move with serious conviction and silently mow down anything in their path. As soon as I got started, any concerns I had went out the window; with the exception of going over my achilles, I definitely made sure to slow down for that. Aside from that, I cruised through this shave. Mrs. Pudding was a little tripped out about me shaving my legs... I'm glad I didn't tell her about the sock. Overall, a close and comfortable shave with no nicks or irritation.

#ROTY

7/23/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents Aftershave Splash
• Fragrance: Herod by Parfums de Marly

MOTI and Herod are easily the products I get the most compliments from. It probably helps that I wear it to my most crowded events. Like holiday get togethers, for example. In my line of work, guys will never tell me if I smell good, only if I smell bad.

To the Mrs, it smells almost chocolaty and she loves it for that. Mostly I just get general compliments about "Wow you smell good" and "What is that? Smells wonderful".

Some pics of my lather. Please judge me.

#ROTY

7/24/23

• Brush: Zenith Two Band
• Razor: MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Smoky Grapefruit
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Smoky Grapefruit Aftershave Splash

A PIF, a gift, and a trade.

This brush came to me via a PIF from u/ConquerorChromatic over a year ago now. For a long time, this was the largest brush in my den. It has since essentially became Mrs. Pudding's leg brush. Not a bad brush at all, and if I were to use it regularly, I think I would need to raise the loft a little.

The MMOC was gifted to me by community giant u/EldrormR. I have no doubt he's going to be pinged quite a bit today. This MMOC is the 2nd safety razor I've tried, the first being the MM24. I think it's fair to say I really like GEMs. As an open blade user, their aggressive blade feel is right up my alley.

The Smoky Grapefruit I got in a trade from u/oswald_heist. I distinctly remember this trade because before this, I had only briefly peeked in on this sub, but very briefly. He had pinged me on his first use of the Citricuya set I'd traded him. One thing led to another, and I found myself reading all posts on that SOTD thread and even going back and reading older threads and the DQ threads. I liked what I had seen, all the bullshitting, joking, sharing of information, and also the immediate shutdown of shit advice. That's when I started to frequent the sub and participate regularly.

For my community shout-out, I wanna shout a few people.

u/EldrormR - Again, a giant in this community. The man is creative, knowledgeable, and kind. He's always pushing people to try new things or coming up with something new if he's not finding it. You can come to this guy with questions about anything, and he always approaches it with patience, and if he doesn't have the answer, he looks for that answer with tenacity. Cheers, Eld, your friendship has been a pleasure.

u/J33pGuy13 - Hot takes, hot memes, and a weird obsession with Banana. He's funny, kind, and creative. Always on the lookout for other members and always with an open mind. I absolutely love watching this guy take off when he gets fired up about something. J33p, I know it's been a little rough lately, but I'd like you to know I appreciate you. I've gotten a ton of laughs out of our conversations and broadened my horizons.

u/gcgallant - Another extraordinarily kind member. This gentleman has an attention to detail to match my own and an eye for photography that I can't even begin to imagine. If there's ever a question he knows the answer to, rest assured you will get a kind and comprehensive answer from this man. GC, I have appreciated our talks and value your insight and admire the depths you will go to gain said insight.

There's so many more people here I appreciate and could say these things about. Those of you who know me, though, know that I am not one for large blocks of texts, and even making it this far has stretched me extraordinarily thin. I appreciate this community for the wide range of characters in it and what each of you brings to the table.

#ROTY

7/25/23

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian
• Razor: Ralf Aust 6/8, Full Hollow Spanish Point
• Lather: Noble Otter - The Night Before
• Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Amber Bomba Aftershave Splash

I got smush of TNB from u/J33pGuy13 and I actually really liked it. The Frankincense and Myrrh really stood out to me, as well as the sandalwood. In the back I got hints of the vanilla, amber, and fir. It was more incense-y to me than it was christmas feeling. Zero complaints, this is the kind of scent I'd wear year round.

To pair with it I chose Amber Bomba. The AB label I think really does a good job of giving you an idea about this scent. The warm light of candles in the night. Not only did I think the amber, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla would fit well with TNB, I also felt that vibe really captures those Christmas nights, at least for me anyways. The kind of nights that followed a day of family fun. Kids are all worn out and sleeping and the night is ending just chilling out in soft light from the tree and candles with the Mrs. The two paired well together.

Todays challenge wasn't the hardest, but it also wasn't the easiest. I never use my left hand to shave. I strictly stick to my right, as I can comfortably and confidently get a great shave out of it. I didn't nick myself any and I don't have any razor burn, but I can certainly feel some of the spots where I didn't get near as close as I typically do. Overall the shave was fine, nothing to right home to Mom about or anything.

#ROTY

7/26/23

• Hands: Left and Right
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple (JMP) 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point
• Lather: Jell-O - Boomerscotch Pudding
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac Original Aftershave Lotion

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shave with pudding? Surely you're wondering more important things, i.e.. What's the lifespan of a brain bowl? How does the difference in humidity affect the weight of said brain bowl over the course of a year? Are feathers really the sharpest?? But what about pudding as a shave soap substitute?! Part of me wants to say, "Of course not!" But the other part of me knows what some of you are capable of. So yeah, you probably have.

Well, wonder no more! I've answered this question. I answered this with the boomerest pudding you can legally get your hands on. ~~Butterscotch~~ Boomerscotch. There was only one suitable answer for a post shave: Tabac. Probably the most boomer scent out there. And what better razor to pair this with than something as venerable and rare as a First Generation JMP Signature Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple??

Butterscotch dates back to the mid 19th century. The invention is often credited to S. Parkinson & Sons of Doncaster in South Yorkshire after an issue of Liverpool Mercury printed a recipe for "Doncaster Butterscotch". This candy became famous in 1851 when Queen Victoria was given a tin filled with Parkinson 's Butterscotch. Parkinson's Butterscotch would later be advertised as "The Queen's Sweetmeat" (lol).

As to my lather for today: The scent is very straightforward Butterscotch, as is the taste. It's not my favorite. I prefer the hard candy to the pudding. It was surprisingly slick, though. The shave went fine and I didn't get any razor burn, nicks, or irritation. It could've been a closer shave, but I'm not complaining. I expected a lot worse.

Today was my first time with Tabac. I mean, you guys were not joking. It smells like old people. The nursing home copypasta makes so much more sense. Mrs. Pudding thinks I smell like her grandma. As far as an aftershave product, it was good.

I didn't want to leave any doubt about what I'd done, so I recorded this event. So if you're curious to watch someone shave with pudding, run their faucet longer than they should and awkwardly talk about their razor, you can click here

Here is a tour of the collective spaces that make up My Den.

#ROTY

7/27/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Manchuria Fan
• Razor: Wade & Butcher 7/8, "The Celebrated Extra Hollow" Barber's Notch
• Lather: Mickey Lee Soapworks - Jefferson Square
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Two Kings Aftershave Splash

This smush was sent to me by the generous u/J33pGuy13, as I don't have anything Lavender forward in my own den (aside from Tabac now, but I just used that Splash yesterday).

This was my first time with anything by MLS. As far as the scent goes, just straight lavender. Not just lavender, but all the lavender. I had no idea there were so many types of lavender. English lavender, spike lavender, topped lavender, and Lavadin Grosso just in this scent alone. I guess saying all the lavender is a bit of a reach. I decided to look up how many types of lavender there are. There are over 45 different species with almost 450 varieties. I was pretty surprised by that. In terms of performance, it was okay. Nothing to write home to Mom about or anything.

Not having anything Lavender forward opted to go with more florals. Enter Two Kings. Rose and Oud with a hint of spices and a dash of incense in the back. The strong combination quickly drowned out the lavender, but it was still just ever slightly present and acted as a nice compliment to the rose and oud. I've found that I really like florals (when done right). I walked away from this smelling like a garden, and Mrs. Pudding blessing in this combo.

No daily challenge for me today, as this one just isn't feasible with what I have going today.

#ROTY

7/28/23

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/ 24mm Silvertip
• Razor: Wade & Butcher 7/8, "The Celebrated Extra Hollow" Barber's Notch
• Lather: Arko - Shave Stick
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Aftershave Lotion

This is a brush I had made for my dad a couple years ago. The knot is a 24mm Silvertip from The Golden Nib and the handle is a piece of black buffalo horn. The knot I had gotten for $30 and the horn for $10. Making this the cheapest brush in my den at $40.

I wanted to try this Arko stick again after trying it for the first time on "It's so fluffy I could die" day. Then I realized it was the cheapest soap I have. It still smells super soapy, but my lather was better this time. It's definitely a good alternative for a quick travel shave soap. My only real gripe with it is the scent. Smells like I'm shaving with hand soap. I got this stick for $2.87.

This W&B I paid $49 for and cleaned up myself. It is a wonderful shaver that takes a keen edge and has a super light feel. I also made the scales myself, which contain $3.33 in hardware, about $.25 in Buckeye Burl and about $.10 in resin. This brings the total for this razor to $52.68. Making it surprisingly my cheapest razor.

The Pinaud I picked up for $9, and by volume is the cheapest splash I have. I really like this splash, I wish the scent would last a lot longer. I also wish an artisan would do a scent like this.

I didn't break this all down by $:ml/g, but in what I ultimately paid for each of these things. I have razors that don't cost as much, but I didn't pay for those. This brings todays shave set up to: $104.55.

#ROTY

7/29/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar)
• Razor: Thiers Issard "Evide Sonnant" 6/8, Extra Hollow Round Point
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Traditionalist
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth Aftershave Toner

This is my first time trying something from Zingari Man. I got this smush from the generous u/J33pGuy13. The scent is really nice. There's definitely a traditional feel to it. A powdery sandalwood blended with musks and spices. The performance I thought was really good. Honestly, better than what I was expecting. It was easy enough to whip up a thicc and slick lather.

I got a trick of labyrinth in mid LG and I immediately fell in love with this scent. It paired really well with The Traditionalist. The sandalwood in both sticking out more while being sweetened up by the Myrrh and lavender. I can't wait to trickhole this set.

As far as leaders in LG, u/MrTangerinsky, u/OnionMiasma and u/Priasaurus are definitely leading the pack. u/gcgallant has provided some amazing content for the photography contest. u/djanovshaving and u/pridetwo are crushing roty. u/RedMosquitoMM is delivering on FoF, as you would expect.

#ROTY

7/30/23

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving Exclusive MOAR BOAR (31 mm × 57 mm bleached boar) (Italy)
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple (JMP) 8/8, Extra Hollow Square Point (Spain)
• Lather: Beefimus - Beefs Clean Laundry (Canada)
• Post Shave: Løthur - Samber Aftershave Splash (UK)

A fond farewell to this years Lather Games. It was my first year (if you somehow couldn't tell by the roty tag all month), and I can definitely say I enjoyed myself. It was fun to watch how others approached the games. I don't have a lot of shit posting in me, but I made sure to try my best for WCW. I tried more combos of soaps and splashes this month than I have probably the entire year. I also had the opportunity to try a number of new scents and bases this year than I anticipated. Big shout out to u/J33pGuy13 for helping me out with smushes.

My brush of choice today is the ever infamous MOAR BOAR made in Italy by Zenith. This brush was my first experience with boar and a 31mm knot. By everyone's account, this hair was an exceptional batch. I was completely surprised by this brush and just how awesome it feels when broken in. It is easily one of my favorite brushes.

Today's razor comes from Spain and is a treasure in my den. This a first generation Filarmonica and an original 14 Doble Temple, made by the man himself, Jose Monserrat Pou. The face of the blade still features his signature JMP initials. It sings the prettiest note when stropped.

My soap today comes from one of my dearest friends, based out of Alberta Canada (I am based out of the US). We met gaming on Playstation about 7 years or more ago. This gentleman is the first person I ever made anything wetshaving related for. He became interested in trying to make soap and has since made a couple of batches using Silverfox's old recipe, with an addition of bentonite clay. It's a tallow based soap with a fresh laundry scent (to me) composed of Bergamot, vetiver, and fir needle. The performance is really good. It whips of a thick lather quickly and has really good primary and residual slickness. I hope he continues to make and experiment with soap, as well as perfumery.

Say what you will about Løthur, and you'll hear no argument from me, but damn Samber smells so good. Based out of the UK, it is one of my only splashes from outside of the US. Amber, incense, sandalwood, patchouli, and spices. This one is way up my alley. It's honestly a shame about the soap and toxic marketing. The splash is good, though, and my face feels great.

It was a very nice shave today as I said goodbye to the Lather Games. Best of luck to everyone.

#ROTY