Jun. 1, 2024 - The Last Time I Can Get Points on This Day

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: AP Shave Co. G5A
• Razor: Heritage Collection Gibbs 15
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Areffa Soap - The Sea Son
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

In previous years "New to You"/"Bonjour Lather Games" was an easy win as I had a stack of Old Spice dupes I'd never tried before from soapmakers I'd never used but today I realized that this was it (and it's not even a real Old Spice dupe just a Old Spice LE dupe). This is the last time I can earn a point on this day because I've tried every soapmaker's Old Spice dupe. Farewell to this day's points... unless, of course, some intrepid soap maker I've never used before makes one. That list is getting way shorter, though.

As for the rest of the shave... I... ummm... I've never used Old Spice after shave. Yeah... that's it. That's for sure.

Wow! Guys! Have you tried this stuff? It's pretty amazing. It's got some complex scents in there. I think some citrus? Any one ever heard of it. I may have to buy a whole bottle of this stuff. I feel like it would feel good in a ceramic bottle. Does it come in bottles? Mine says it's made in India? Could someone explain the difference? Do you think that's the same as the one in my CVS? I'm sure it is, they probably all smell the same, right? I can't believe I've never used this stuff before. My life is changed! My eyes are opened to the grandeur of scenting! Come, join me, everyone, in using this as-until-now unheard of after shave. I just did some googling and it looks like this may be a vintage scent that everyone use to wear but isn't worn so much now. Man, wow. Wowy wowy wow. So new. Newer than new. Definitely new to me. I hope someone can let me know all about it in detail. Like some sort of connoisseur of this stuff. Whoever that guys is must be pretty awesome... and good-looking. Like really, really, really ridiculously good-looking.

Jun. 2, 2024 - OH WHAT A DAY, WHAT A LOVELY DAY!

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Dogwood Maggards 26mm SHD
• Razor: Heritage Collection Gibbs 15
• Blade: Personna Platinum (2)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning (V2)
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning (V2)
• Fragrance: You Did This

Fellow Shave Boys of the Wasteland, what a joyous day we have today. A day we are sure to ride to Valhalla on our Shave Rigs, to dine with the great Immorten Priusaurus! Come with me, Imperator Cowzilla, as we clean the hair on the Fury Shave to glory and victory. For I have the last available Old Spice dupe, worshipped be its name: The Remote. The Remote, crafted in the Rocket K Halls of the Before using the 455 magic. After the fall, the Old Spice was weak! But no longer. Immorten Priusaurus provides! And he has graced me, yes me, today with The Remote -- the only surviving dupe in the Wasteland.

As the History Man tells us thanks to his proud book from Read-Ut (Read-Ut be the wise. Read-Ut be the knowing), there were many dupes before the big kerblamo but they have all gone the way way. Now, there is only The Remote. Only The Remote to guide us when we need to clean the hair with Old Spice. Only The Remote to lead us to Valhalla and immortality. But the History Man and Immorten Priusaurus tell us it is the scent of the before Spice, the Spice of the world before. The History Man knows his learning and Immorten Priusaurus knows the truth.

But Immorten Priusaurus has crowned me today not just with The Remote Sup but with The Remote Splush! Today is a great day! A great day! The Splush is not Old Spice but another smell. A smell from the Mountains, from the Green Place where something called dew drips from things that grow from the ground. The Splush lasts longer, driving us to Valhalla like nothing else. SPICEY AND OLD! ENTERING THE GATES, SPICY AND OLD!

But I have a secret that not even Immorten Priusaurus knows about. I finds it in the sand while prepping my Shave Rig. It smells a bit like The Remote but there's something else. A secret something. A something that not even Immorten Priusaurus has smellted. It's called the "You Did This" and it is the scent of Valhalla. The scent you smell when you are witnessed, when you ride into the halls, Spicey and Old! I have smellted it and I wear it now!

WITNESS ME!

Jun. 3, 2024 - There was only one choice

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Dogwood Maggards 26mm SHD
• Razor: Heritage Collection Gibbs 15
• Blade: Personna Platinum (3)
• Lather: MERShaving Old Timer Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

Believe it or not, I don't actually plan ahead all that much to shave with only Old Spice dupes all month, which led me to today as I frantically searched through my bin of dupes for something that wasn't vegan but also wasn't beef tallow. I was about to give up and grab Bundubeard, which I'd just shaved with, when I flipped over MERShaving and realized it was a Duck Fat base! Ducks are not cows. That's just a hard science fact.

I did not use Osma. Why? Is it because I don't own any? Is it because I don't want to? No. It's because u/onionmiasma is the worst kind of friend. The kind of friend who turns his back on you just because you forget one tiny little smush one time! The kind of friend who writes a mean song about you just because you didn't put some soap in the mail. Well, I've got a song for him now.

You Suck, A Song About OnionMiasma

LA LA LA LA You Suck.
LA LA LA LA You Suck.
LA LA LA LA You Suck.

That's the song.

User trolls Onion with a simple refrain of "La la la you suck"

User wrote a song about Onion - short and funny.

Jun. 4, 2024 - When Does a Scent Become a Note?

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Unknown Boar
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird OC
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Ginger's Garden - Old Spice Type
• Post Shave: Old Spice Classic (US)

I have espoused on this subject before when discussing OLd Spice and will leave it up to the judges (wise and correct may they always be) to decide but a day like today once again begs the question: Can a scent be a note? If one were to make the argument that it could, I can think of no other scent better suited to do so than Old Spice. I would argue that there are three factors that could turn a scent (a compilation of notes merged into one thing) into a note (a singular smell) and that Old Spice easily checks all three of these.

1. Ubiquity - For a scent to become a note it needs to be so universal that it is recognized instantly as that scent. You smell a note of Lemon, you know its Lemon. You smell a note of Cinnamon, you know its cinnamon. Etc. (All assuming, of course, you've smelled the smell before). In order for a scent to accomplish that feat and turn into a note it must then be as ubiquitous as a note itself. Old Spice is such a scent. It may, in fact, be the only such scent given the lack of agreement around what a Barbershop or even Bay Rum smells like. Old Spice, though, is Old Spice.
2. Use - A note must be used! One may argue that something such as the scent of Tabac could be a note, given its distinct scent profile and the inability by any human to understand what collection of scents could possibly create its unique perfume, but Tabac is very rarely used as a note outside of Tabac. Scent makers must use a note to build scents, not just as a duplication. Yes, you could have a Lemon shave soap but Lemon is also used to build more scents. Notes are used in the construction of more robust scents, not just as scents themselves. Old Spice is used as such on a regular basis (Nearly 1 out of every 4 soaps with Old Spice in them use it as a note with other scents).
3. Description - A note must be escribed as such. To continue our Lemon and Cinnamon example from above, when those are notes in a soap they are just listed as such, without further explanation of what the scent is or a breakdown. One may even chuckle at the idea of trying to break down Lemon scent (there a notes of... lemon in here with some... lemon... and lemon). Ho ho! What fun! Now, I will be the first to admit that there are multiple soap makers out there who break down Old Spice into its "notes" when listing their dupes. However, there are just as many who do not, simply stating Old Spice as the only note with no explanation of its components or using it alongside other notes that they have combined (Ginger's Garden, which I've used today, does the former only describing the scent as Old Spice on its select a scent page. Something like Chiseled Face Trade Winds does the latter). We can clearly see here that these soapers consider Old Spice as a note, not a scent for the list it alongside other notes.
4. u/OnionMiasma Is the worst. He does not wear Old Spice. I think that should have been my first sign that his friendship was fake and that he would turn on me the moment I forgot to send one tiny smush in the mail. This has nothing to do with my argument but I felt it should be noted. He'll probably show up in the comments trying to argue against this. Just ignore him.

Now that I've laid out these facts, I think we can all agree that Old Spice is a note, not a scent and that OnionMiasma is terrible. Thank for coming to my TED Talk.

Jun. 6, 2024 - Old Spice is... sigh... a beverage

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Paragon Plisson Type
• Razor: Heritage Collection Gibbs 15
• Blade: Personna Platinum (2)
• Lather: Stone Field Shaving Company - No. 37
• Post Shave: Old Spice Classic (US)

No. I am not going to drink Old Spice. Aftershave does, in fact, have multiple carcinogens in it that should not be consumed and aftershave poisoning is a real medical thing. Sadly, alcoholics who lose access to alcohol have been known to drink aftershave in order to get their fix and it can cause extreme health issues. Given that, and the general rules about not doing stupid stuff for fake Internet shaving points, I am not going to drink Old Spice aftershave to prove to everyone that Old Spice is a beverage.

However, I do have some old spice. As in spice that has been sitting at the back of my spice cabinet for years, going through multiple moves. It is, in a literal sense, an old spice. People put spices in all sorts of beverages. In fact, many beverages are simply water flavored with spices of some sort or another. Thus if I put this old spice into water I would have an Old Spice Beverage. By logic then, Old Spice soap could be inspired by this Old Spice Beverage.

"Wait," you and the judges (always right they are) say, "In order for a beverage to be a beverage someone has to drink it." To which I say, "Hold my beverage."

On a more personal note, you may have noticed I didn't post yesterday. This is not because I didn't have some Old Spice canned goup I picked up at Walmart (they sell a head shave Old Spice cream) but because of u/onionmiasma. You see, he and I were kind of playing a fun thing on here pretending we were arguing with each other over a smush I forgot to send him - trading barbs back and forth in a light-hearted way. However, Tuesday, he kind of took it too far, claiming I was some sort of convicted criminal and sex offender because he found one on the Internet who wore Old Spice. There's jokes and there's insulting someone. It, honestly, wasn't cool at all and not in the spirit of what we were doing. I'm not one to air laundry out so I won't go into too much detail but suffice to say I was genuinely not feeling like putting on Old Spice or participating yesterday thanks to his post. Anyway, Onion is kind of an actual jerk so... yea.

Edit: I'm supposed to say something nice about u/visceralwatch but when I met him all I got was a stupid sticker.

User makes highly compelling (but wrong) case for Old Spice to qualify - going so far as to drink a "tea" made of All Spice blended in water. Excellent content.

User makes highly compelling (but wrong) case for Old Spice to qualify. Also a nod to Visceral and his Maggard stickers.

Jun. 8, 2024 - Duuupe

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Omega 11126, Ovangkol Wooden Handle
• Razor: Henson AL13 Mild
• Blade: Personna Platinum (3)
• Lather: Maggard Razors - Definitely a Maggard Old Spice Dupe. Not Just Some Other Soap I Wrote That On Tape With.
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

For some reason I think the judges may not have heard about one of the most popular and longest lasting Old Spice dupes on the market from Maggard Razors. But if it doesn't exist why is there a Great Spice Off for it? Answer me that.

I don't go big when I'm wet shaving shopping but I can tell you the quickest order I've ever placed: when Maggard finally got some Indian Old Spice in stock. After advising the man himself on the purchase I bothered him until he finally got it on the page. I'm pretty sure I'd added it to my cart before the page fully loaded. I should have grabbed that bottle for this shave but I save it for travelling because it's smaller.

User creates his own soap to be on theme.

Jun. 11, 2024 - Easy Peasy

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: AP Shave Co. G5A
• Razor: Henson AL13 Mild
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Black Ship Grooming - Classic
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

I'll be honest. Some of these days I'm stretching a bit (but still should get points) but today there's no need. Florals prominently in the scent? Check the Old Spice scent list. It's like floral heaven. Probably would have called it Old Floral. Just so there's not too much effort in award me the point as I know the judges have a lot of work to do (especially since they're still teaching u/OnionMiasma how to read) here's the flowers: Carnation, Geranium, Heliotrop, Jasmine. Floral as fuck.

Player take a tip from watching Judge Judy and taunts a judge.

Jun. 12, 2024 - Behold the Complete Dupe Collection!

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Paragon Plisson Type
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM Stainless PTFE (1)
• Lather: Old Spice - Lather Shaving Cream
• Post Shave: Old Spice (1980s)

The only actual Old Spice shaving product is a cream so that's a check right there. Doesn't smell much like actual Old Spice but it's got the branding on there so still counts.

My den is basically just a wooden stand, two metal ones, and then under the kitchen sink but I realized I hadn't taken a picture of what is now the complete collection of every Old Spice dupe on the market and some that aren't. Is it a complete collection of every one I know of? No... still seeking that elusive Wild West Shaving and Wickham but this is as complete as it gets. You can also see my toothbrush in these photos so count yourselves lucky to see such a rare sight.

This may all change soon, though, as just this morning my wife said that she'd ordered more boxes for me to put shaving stuff in and we're about to put some shelves up in the bathroom. Next your you may see what could only be described as the 54th greatest shaving den ever.

https://imgur.com/a/DCrzbg5

Jun. 13, 2024 - Another Day For Me!?

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Paragon Plisson Type
• Razor: Schick Injector Type L
• Blade: Shick Injector (1)
• Lather: Lisa's Naturals - Mariner
• Post Shave: Old Spice (European)

I know that shave with water/boat stuff theme day was my day but I also claim this one. But I am not one to go out here and just get points easily. No, I like to offer a bit of challenge to the judges, who have already expressed that they're kicking through these scoring at record paces. I figured I should at least give them some pause here and there, right? So how about Mariner as an Old Spice dupe. Sure, Lisa claims that she's selling an Old Spice dupe but anyone who smells it would know it is not an Old Spice dupe at all. I, in fact, had to award it a never-before-seen zero in The Great Spice Off for Oldness it smelled so little like Old Spice: https://www.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/comments/yq4w0h/the_great_spice_off_lisas_natural_herbal/. So what does that mean? We have the soaper claiming Old Spiceness but the soap not being Old Spice at all. Is that then demonstrable? Is a failed dupe a dupe none the less? Does intention count? Who knows! The wisdom of the judges is shrouded in mystery.

Oh, and u/djundjila, this is another soaper where the scene description is not on the shave soap page but on the bar soap page, just to add another wrinkle. Maybe the Mariner in the shave soap is a different Mariner from the bar soap. Does it still count!? Why am I even doing this? If I said nothing then I'm 99% sure I would have gotten the point without a moment of hesitation from the judges.

Anyway, now that I've forced them to think once again, here is a boat that looks almost exactly like the boat on the label.

Jun. 14, 2024 - Stacks

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Chisel and Hound False Kamani Fanchurian V18
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird OC
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Cold Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice (1950s)

Another year that I am forced to bust out PAA Cold Spice as it's the only mentholated duper out there. In celebration of this I asked AI to write me a defense of PAA and, true to AI form, it stole all the cringiest arguments from the web in order to gloss over "Mr. Smythe" and his business practices. I feel a bit dirty just reading it so now you (or whatever judge gets this) can feel a bit dirty too. Interestingly, this kind of shows the many faults of AI-generated content, which writes here with an authoritative voice but provides little background into anything.

A Shaving Renaissance: In Defense of Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements

Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (PAA), a name synonymous with the wet shaving revival, has found itself at the center of some debate. While some celebrate their innovative spirit, others criticize their business practices. Let's delve deeper into the world of PAA and examine the arguments on both sides.

PAA's Enduring Influence

Undeniably, PAA has been a driving force in the resurgence of traditional wet shaving. Their alluring fragrances, high-quality shaving soaps, and commitment to craftsmanship have drawn in a new generation of enthusiasts. They've expanded the market, offering a wider audience a chance to experience the satisfaction and closeness of a proper shave. PAA's influence extends beyond their products. They've fostered a thriving online community of wet shavers, providing a platform for education, shared experiences, and enthusiastic debate. This community aspect is crucial for niche hobbies like wet shaving, keeping the practice alive and ensuring its knowledge is passed down to new generations.

Addressing the Business Concerns

Some criticisms lobbed at PAA focus on their business practices. Accusations of borrowing from smaller artisans and the use of a flamboyant persona by co-owner Douglas Smythe (Eric Hodges) have tarnished the brand's image for some.

Here's a possible counterpoint: The shaving world, like many creative fields, thrives on experimentation and iteration. While inspiration is drawn from various sources, PAA puts its own unique spin on classic scents and products. This fosters a dynamic environment where artisans learn from each other, pushing the boundaries of the craft. Imagine a world where every soap recipe was rigidly protected – innovation would stagnate, and the consumer would be left with a limited selection.

The Douglas Smythe Persona: A Marketing Masterstroke?

Regarding the Douglas Smythe persona, some might view it as a marketing ploy, a fabricated character to drum up interest. But isn't a touch of theatricality part of what makes PAA interesting? It injects personality into a traditional practice, making it more approachable for a wider audience. In a world saturated with generic marketing messages, the Douglas Smythe persona stands out. It sparks conversation, generates a sense of intrigue, and allows PAA to connect with customers on a more personal level. Whether it's a calculated move or a genuine expression of individuality, the persona is undeniably effective.

PAA's Legacy: A Secure Place in Wet Shaving History

Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements' impact on the wet shaving scene is undeniable. They've introduced countless individuals to the joys of a safety razor and shaving soap. Their dedication to quality and their willingness to experiment have kept the hobby fresh and exciting. They've fostered a thriving online community and, perhaps most importantly, ensured the continuation of this time-tested ritual for future generations.

The Final Shave

PAA isn't perfect, but their role in the wet shaving revival can't be understated. They've introduced a new generation to this niche but rewarding practice, while their commitment to quality ensures a delightful shaving experience. So, the next time you meticulously build your lather with a PAA soap, take a moment to appreciate their contribution to this niche yet thriving corner of the men's grooming world.

Jun. 15, 2024 - A Legally Binding Contract

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Chisel and Hound False Kamani Fanchurian V18
• Razor: Blackland Sabre (2 Plate)
• Blade: GEM Stainless PTFE (1)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Spiced
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

As I have remarked before, I don't especially plan ahead for these games given I'm only using Old Spice dupes to rack up as many points as possible. As such we got to today and I opened my cabinet to realize that my lowest shaving item was a tube of Praraso I bought when I first got into this hobby. But wait! The rules state that tubes don't count, only tubs (oh, the power of a single letter). Rejoice! I have many tubs of sopa but definitely an Old Spice dupe is the most used. Until I started going through my tubs and realized that this tub of Soapmakers of Awesometown that I picked up from the Maggards Meet Up PIF table was actually pretty low and much lower than anything else I had. You see, the problem with having a plethora of Old Spice dupes is that the love gets spread around so I don't actually use any one soap all that often.

What to do! I had to get rid of this tub of Awesometown. And so I did. Here you will find a legally binding document that transfers ownership of one (1) tub of Soapmakers of Awesometown into the ownership of one u/bmac92. This document has been signed by both me and bmac92 himself, thus transferring this half-used tub of soap from my den to his in a very legal sense. The aforementioned soap is heretofore not a part of my den and is, in fact, placed in a corner of my house now dubbed "Bmac92's Den Corner" until such time it can be transferred into Bmac92's possession. I will also note, for the record, that the tub of soap was transferred to bmac92 after his shave today, meaning it was not part of his den when his shave was completed and thus should not impact any scoring for him, especially as this tub of Soapmakers of Awesometown is clearly more full than the tub he shaved with.

As such, Soapmakers of Awesometown is no longer the closest-to-being-killed soap I have in my Den, since it isn't in my Den by any legal or physical standard, and Seaforth Spiced (which I do count in my grand schemes as an Old Spice dupe since it received a Great Spice Off) is my most killed. Odlly, that's not because I've used it any more than others but because people have asked for a lot of scoops for it and thus I've scooped it a bunch. If there are any arguments over this please speak to my lawyers.

I shaved with a god-awful pasty bit of lather, which I forgot to photograph because I was so angry at shaving with it.

Jun. 16, 2024 - Never Skip Leg Day

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Omega 11126, Ovangkol Wooden Handle
• Razor: Schick Injector Type L
• Blade: Schick Injector (2)
• Lather: Old Spice - Lather Shaving Cream
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

I skipped it.

Jun. 17, 2024 - Never Skip Knee Day

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: MRed 26 mm Badger
• Razor: Schick Injector Type L
• Blade: Schick Injector (3)
• Lather: Mama Bear Soaps- Aged Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

I skipped it.

Jun. 18, 2024 - Old Spice

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Heritage Shaving C-Mon 28 mm
• Razor: Star DE (1940s)
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Shulton - Old Spice
• Post Shave: Old Spice (1950s)

I could have gone with OSP today, which I'm pretty sure is shut down once again after a brief re-opening in 2022. But I like to make the judges think a bit. Really scratch their heads, you know. Of course, their decisions are always the right ones but why make that decision black and white? What's the fun in being a judge if no one is making you creatively judge. In short, you're welcome, judges.

And so I chose my 1950s vintage Old Spice soap, which came in the mug in the photograph. Of course, Old Spice still exists and still, in fact, has a shaving cream. So how does this fit into today? Well, this mug and soap was made by Shulton, the original company that made Old Spice and a company that is no longer around today. See Old spice is a brand, not a company and is now owned by P&G. However, this product is not from P&G, it is from Shulton and Shulton no longer exists. This isn't a rebrand either since the soap is still Old Spice and Shulton is not P&G rebranded. As such, I think we're all in line here for this soap to be considered from a dead wet shaving company.

Let's all pour one out for Shulton.

EDIT: I'm realizing the soap I used and that is in the photo in the box is a 1970-80s puck. Still Shulton, though.

In leu of writing the once a month w_e request for good Old Spice dupes that go up over there on the regular I will instead replicate the community members from both here and there's responses to said posts.

ahem...

"u/cowzilla3 is your guy."
"Old Spice? u/cowzilla3"
"Yo, u/cowzilla3"
"There's that guy who does the Old Spice reviews. I can't remember his name but he could help."

and my personal favorite...

"u/cowzilla3"

(For real, thank you for tagging me because I don't pay attention that much over there and I do like spreading the knowledge)

Despite having several old spice dupes from brand that are dead, user tries to use Old Spice brand Old Spice, which is a brand that still exists, albeit with a different corporate overlord.

Jun. 19, 2024 - Minnesota

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Heritage Shaving C-Mon 28 mm
• Razor: Star DE (1940s)
• Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
• Lather: Cooper & French Old Goat
• Post Shave: Old Spice (1950s)

As the label says, Cooper & French is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minnesota was a member of the Union so we're all settled up today without any argument.

As for making a meme...

Bitch, I am a meme. My very existence in the wet shaving community is a meme. I don't need to make you pictures with white text on them. Step away and put some respect on my name.

Jun. 20, 2024 - Points

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Chisel and Hound False Kamani Fanchurian V18
• Razor: English Flat Bottom Tech
• Blade: Personna Platinum (2)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Trade Winds
• Post Shave: Old Spice Classic (US)

Thanks to u/RedMosquitoMM for pointing out I actually had a soap that earns points today. Not that whatever excuse I came up with to use another Old Spice dupe would be invalid, of course.

Jun. 24, 2024 - It Burns!

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: Chisel and Hound False Kamani Fanchurian V18
• Razor: Gillette Old Type
• Blade: Personna Platinum (3)
• Lather: Hoffman's Grooming - Burn the Ships
• Lather: Hoffman's Grooming - Burn the Ships
• Post Shave: Old Spice Classic (US)

No, that's not a typo for the double lather. I'm not one to do things in a half-assed manor like some other folks competing here. One gifted soap? Please. Two soaps but they're different? What are you even doing? The same soap gifted by two different people? Pro level.

Through entirely fault of my own, I received a sample of Burn the Ships from u/impressive_Donut114 and a tub of Burn the Ships from u/onionmiasma. I had been wanting it in Hoffman's base as my version was in Hendrix and Donut offered to send me some and I told him to just bring it Maggards. Then I forgot about that because I have the memory of an untrained seal and Onion offered to bring me a puck he just got right before Maggards. I failed to mention the fact I got two of them to them at Maggards because until Donut put his tub in my hand at the meet up I had honestly forgotten about it entirely. Then it would have been all awkward. So I just took it. And here we are today. The end result is two of the same soaps from two LG participants. Double the points, right?

u/mammothben has repeatedly told me that he will never make an Old Spice dupe/riff but if the entire sub forced him to well he'd have to do it, right? I think that should all be our unifying goal from here on out.

Jun. 27, 2024 - The Scents Be Here

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: AP Shave Co. G5A
• Razor: Heritage Collection Gibbs 15
• Blade: Personna Platinum (3)
• Lather: Van Yulay - Spicy Man
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Indian)

Easy Old Spice Day. Thankfully Van Yulay lists the full scents notes of Old Spice on the page so this counts. https://www.vanyulay.com/product/shaving-products/all-shaving-soap/cologne-types/spicy-man-shaving-soap/

Jun. 28, 2024 - Math is Hard

• Prep: Shower, Baxter Shave Tonic
• Brush: WCS Tuxedo Synth
• Razor: GEM G-Bar
• Blade: GEM Stainless PTFE (2)
• Lather: Bundubeard - De Goede Hoop
• Post Shave: Dollar Tree - Spice Aftershave

Ugggg, Lather Games making me do math now? I'm not good at math. I thought for sure that, as with previous years, my cheapest soap would be the $4.595 Old Spice cream that you can pick up from Maggards. I've had this tube for a while and there's not much out there that could beat it price wise ounce for ounce. But as I went into my cabinet I realized that I may indeed have something new to shave with on frugal Friday thanks to Bundubeard's Spicy Trio of Old Spice riffs. For those not acquainted Bundubeard is a South African soapmaker and he sells his soaps at dirt cheap prices (partially making up for the shipping cost of getting it over here, but shipping doesn't count in an MSRP so shouldn't count here.)

Bundubeards soaps range in price but De Goede Hoop is 185 South African Rand. This, however, presents a secondary challenge to cost analysis. I recall the US dollar equivalent at the time of purchase being around $.850, though I can't confirm that as the invoice for the purchase shows the cost in ZAR. However, in doing conversions on Bundubeard's site today it is around $10.01, meaning the cost in U.S. dollars for the soap is constantly fluctuating depending on how strong the Dollar is compared to the Rand. In fact, whenever a judge is reading this that conversion rate may have changed again but lets work under the premise that the judges don't want to do math so we'll have to do it for them.

So to begin we'll go with the easy set price of $4.95 for 70 g of Old Spice Shaving Cream. That comes to about $0.07 per gram for Old Spice.

Next, we'll take the low price I think I paid for for De Goede Hoop at $8.50. That makes it $0.04 per gram of soap. OK, cheaper for sure.

But just to be totally sure I've used the cheapest soap we'll do it with today's market value of $10.01. That still comes out well below the Old Spice shaving cream at $0.05 per gram.

So there you have it. Even if the Dollar drops in value in the next few coming days thanks to the lack of faith in our political institutions plummeting towards total failure by the rest of the world it would still have to drop pretty hard for Bundubeard to even come close to touching the $0.07 per gram of a cream of Old Spice. What's more ridiculous is that Bundubeard's sheep tallow base is one of the best on the market and it is this cheap. Craziness.

Everything else in my shave is the cheapest I own. This brush is the first I ever bought and I hate it to death. It is one of the worst synths I've ever tried, with "hairs" that visibly look like pieces of plastic. Rubbing it on my face now I realize what a terrible experience I was having when I first started wet shaving. And yet... it still felt better than canned stuff.

The razor is vintage but I bought it and another GEM in good condition for $32 on eBay. That puts its value at around $16. I have other vintage razors, all in good condition and doing a quick search around $16 is definitely the cheapest of them.

Jun. 30, 2024 - Last Day

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: MRed 26 mm Badger (France)
• Razor: Fatip Piccolo (Italy)
• Blade: Personna Platinum (2) (Germany)
• Lather: Signature Soaps - Novum Spice (England)
• Post Shave: Old Spice (Italy)

The final day of the games. It has been pretty damn fun this year even if I haven't participated as hard as I could have. In fact, it was noted that if I actually did try and drop my desperate attempt to get the best score possible with only Old Spice dupes I might actually contend. That is an interesting thought...

I live in the U.S.A. so everything I used today was from another country. I was going to use the Indian Old Spice but realized I was already super European-centric anyway so decided to go with the European one, which is made in Italy. (Just had to sneak one more shooting myself in the foot in, evidently)

At least those crazy Air Bud Rulians didn't ruin everything.