#MMarch24 Madness: (6) Summer Break Soaps vs. (11) Ariana & Evans
- Brush: Mammoth x Voigt & Cop Smash 28mm VC01 Super Badger
- Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
#MMarch24
- Blade: GEM (47)
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Bell Ringer - Shaving Soap
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Homecoming - Aftershave
- Fragrance: DSH - Axis Mundi
- Passes: WTG, XTG
- Coffee: Ethiopia. Chericho. Sidama. v: 74110/74158 p: 72-hour extended fermentation. r: 02/20/24
- Music: Supermoon - Half Country
Honestly, I've only tried a few Ariana & Evans products, so I don't have a strong opinion about the brand. On the other hand, I love Summer Break Soaps. They're arguably the best value shaving soap in all of wet shaving, when you combine price, performance, original scents, and branding, and they're a big part of the community here at r/wetshaving.
Unfortunately, Kyle axed two of my favorites this year, so I'm highlighting both today. Bell Ringer is a little Bed & Bodyworks, but I've always enjoyed its unabashed fruityness, and the just-walked-by-that-mall-storefront aspect of the scent has grown on me over time. There's not much out there like it. Homecoming was my favorite lavender scent in the game, and it's unique; dark but lifted by neroli, spiced with an interesting black pepper and coriander blend, earthy without being mineralic. I noticed a strong and completely-unexpected liturgical incense note in the aftershave version this morning—which I can't explain from the official notes list—so I put a dent in my Axis Mundi sample.