June 1, 2024 – LG Day 1 – Bonjour, Lather Games!

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle #RESURRECTIONBRUSH #SHD
• Razor: Supply Single Edge
• Blade: Black Label Injector
• Lather: AA Shaving – Wapiti
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man
• Fragrance: Zoologist Perfumes – Squid

I have come down from the mountain and out of the forest to wish all of you hearty and joyful salutations. The Lather Games have begun – the tenth annual and my third. Lets clear up some answers to my fans’ frequently asked questions: No, I will not be shaving my beard. Yes, I will be shaving my head, like my brothers in arms u/hairykopite, u/Impressive_Donut114, and others. No, I will not be taking it easy. And most importantly: Yes, I will be drinking lather, and consuming who knows what else. My appetite cannot and will not be sated.

Onto the heart of the matter. AA makes an impressive base. It whipped up easily (especially for my first go at it) and made for a very nice shave (at least in theory), which was surprising to me coming from a brand that nobody in the sub seems to have heard of before a month ago. Thanks to our overlord u/OnionMiasma for sending out approximately three thousand smushes of this stuff.

I was not as impressed with my first injector shave. My favorite part was easily the loading of the blade. Boy oh boy, that is way more fun than your traditional DE or SE razor. My excitement ended there. It took me quite a while to figure out an efficient angle, because the “NickStop Technology” is a bit much. I’m not knocking injectors altogether. I’ll try a Schick or some other lauded brand, but I don’t have much interest in trying the Supply again. Thanks to u/Tonality for the loan.

Finally, my favorite part: the fragrances, or as we call them in my hometown, the smiffs. We begin today with an attempt by Wapiti to evoke the Ho rainforest, with trees inundated with a deluge of precipitation, but which effectively comes off as ozonic all the way through (to my nose). There is a hint of woods, but unfortunately any opportunity for a woody dry down is prevented by the prompt application of Island Man, which doubles down on the aquatic notes but much sweeter, joined by a hefty dose of coconut and jasmine, rounded out by other notes that have become less distinct in this aged and now-empty splash sample. We have shifted from the rainforest to the sea, which makes for a beautiful segue to Squid, which, full disclosure, I adore. The salty, inky opening triples down on the aquatic theme today, but is quickly followed by a beautiful smoky, resinous blend with a background, oceanic quality. Altogether, a true delight. #FOF

June 2, 2024 – LG Day 2 – Ahoy, Lather Games!

• Brush: Omega 11047 Mixed Badger/Boar #MISTURA #RUNT #SMOLL
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Aluminum
• Blade: Gillette Rubie
• Lather: Old Spice – Old Spice (Vintage)
• Post Shave: Old Spice – Old Spice (Vintage)
• Fragrance: Alexandria Fragrances – Smooth Sailing

Old Spice: smells like my grandfather. For better or worse, the soap, on account of being very old, has nearly no scent. There is the lightest clean musk left, and that’s about it. The splash, however, is strong. The last (and only) time I used it, my partner told me something to the effect of “never wear that again.” Well, I’m breaking my vow, but I cut the splash with some Stirling unscented toner, which helped significantly. Undiluted, the splash is a punch in the face of aldehydes and florals, but today I was presented with light, powdery florals, gentle citrus, and hints of spices. As I write this, it has dried down to a lovely floral musk, which still smells like my grandfather, but won’t land me in relationship-ending situation. To round out the shave and sailing theme, this dupe of Xerjoff 40 Knots emphasizes the powdery florals while adding an additional honey sweetness, but like the Old Spice splash, should be used conservatively due to its intensity. #FOF

Alright, I can’t say much about u/Priusaurus beyond what’s likely been said today. However, last year, Prius won in part due to his interview series. The creator of Old Spice is (I assume) dead. Even if they were alive, they probably wouldn’t know as much about OS as u/Cowzilla3. So, Prius, as the saying goes, imitation is the highest form of flattery — and hence I present you all with:

10.5 Questions with…Cowzilla3

1) First, why Old Spice?

There’s a jokey rant to be had here about why you don’t even need to ask that question – Why Old Spice? Because! But I’ll go against type here and answer honestly. I couldn’t tell you why I like it so much, honestly. There’s definitely nostalgia to it as I know my grandfather wore it but my dad did not so it wasn’t like it was a daily scent for me growing up. In fact, I’m of an age that for most of my life Old Spice has been owned by P&G and yet… the scent resonates deep in my core. But also… BECAUSE!

2) What exactly makes it so special?

Everyone is going to be real disappointed I’m answering these seriously, I think. But I believe what makes Old Spice so special (or at least did) was its ubiquity. For a certain set of generations, Old Spice was just the smell of fathers/grandfathers. Everyone knew it. There are few other scents that were so ubiquitous that they kind of became a generational marker attached to feelings of family, love, and closeness. You got a hug from your dad or grandpa and there was a very good chance you smelled Old Spice. Considering scent is one of the strongest senses in terms of memory and emotion, that makes Old Spice truly special.

3) Do you think you’ll ever tire of Old Spice?

Do you tire of asking stupid questions? (There, that’s the funny one.)

[INTERVIEW CONTINUED IN THE REPLY TO THIS COMMENT]

June 3, 2024 – LG Day 3 – Where’s the Beef?

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive MOAR Boar 31mm #SUBBROOSH #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Karve CB SB-C #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY #STAINLESSLESS
• Blade: Treet Classic (1)
• Lather: Red House Farm – Nine Days Up Nort’
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Scots Pine
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Cape Heartache

Between the theme and the challenge today, we’re in for a journey of a culinary conversation. No beef to be seen here. Tallow is rendered from suet, which is the hard fat found around the kidneys, loins, and other organs in particular animals, traditionally cows (beef) and sheep (mutton). Suet is also the term used for the fat in the same area within wild game, but as the Lacey act prohibits the sale of “wildlife”, this is generally moot except in rare cases such as PIFs by u/grindermonk. Hard fat similar to suet is also found in pigs, but is called leaf lard for reasons that are largely unclear and can probably be attributed to the fact that language is weird.

Nine Days up Nort’, as featured in u/OnionMiasma’s underrated SOTD for the fall theme last year, uses deer tallow and has a requisite gaminess to it which I quite enjoy. There’s a hefty amount of woodiness, sure, but the natural scent of the non-fragrance ingredients is what makes this special. This is much harder to recreate in an aftershave, so doubling down on the pine note with Scots Pine (no sheep in the aftershave, at least per the label) seemed like my best option. Rod writes that it’s “nothing like a pine oil used in cleaning products,” which I don’t entirely agree with, but it’s not bad, just not particularly complex. Then, to entirely divert the vibe, Cape Heartache comes along. The blast of fir and pine at the top are welcome additions, but as they dry down to a sweet amber, it’s a strange combination with the Nine Days funk that I can still smell. The Scots Pine has completely faded just two hours after using, but this soap has some oomph to it, and would have benefitted from a more complementary frag today. In the journey of fragrance, we live and learn. #FOF

Now, back to our culinary journey. Let’s talk about salt. Samin Nosrat tells us all about the importance of salt in her book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat as well as in this gifted article (you’re welcome). Salt aids in enhancing flavor. It reduces bitterness – hence why dark chocolate and sea salt are a wonderful pairing. Try a sprinkle of salt in black coffee. Taste is weird. Salt also enhances sweetness, which is why Maldon salt belongs on cookies after baking, and why classic cookie recipes typically need more salt than what is listed. Salt, through various chemical reactions, improves the taste and texture of food, such as its work drawing out moisture from meat and vegetables through osmosis, which then dissolves the salt and allows it to be reabsorbed into the food. On a molecular level, salt ionizes when it dissolves in water, breaking into sodium and chloride ions; then, these ions interact with the flavor compounds in food and our taste receptors, making flavors more pronounced and enjoyable. I prefer Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, just like many chefs and recipe developers, because it’s easy to pinch and sprinkle and is far more forgiving than Morton’s or especially table salt. Take a look at some of Kenji Lopez-Alt’s work for more about salinity by volume among common culinary salts.

This is all to say that I love salt, my doctor tells me I consume too much of it, and I don’t need to rub it on my head after shaving. (Yes, I know it’s a different type of salt. No, I don’t care).

June 4, 2024 – LG Day 4 – K.I.S.S.

• Brush: Omega Model 10048 Pro 48 Chrome Handle Boar #HOLLOW #TOLL
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24 #FLIPTOP #MODERNGEM
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Almond Creme
• Post Shave: Cella – Lozione Dopobarba
• Fragrance: Bon Parfumeur – 901: Nutmeg, Almond & Patchouli

Marizpan. One note.

Marzipan is primarily made from almonds, hence the name: Almond Creme. (It’s worth noting that marzipan is neither a creme/cream, nor does it contain cream, so the latter half of the name is rather silly.) If you were to take a good huff of a fresh tub of this soap, you might say out loud to the customer’s at Maggard Razors, “Say! This doesn’t smell like almonds at all! Brad Maggard is a fraud, and so is Rod Stirling! Lock them up, I tell you!” However, there was no fraud committed, nor was there a mistake at the Stirling factory/compound/roaster/household. Almond Creme owes its cherry-like aroma to benzaldehyde, a chemical compound naturally found in almonds. Interestingly, this same compound is also present in cherry pits. So, in a backwards sort of way, if you were to bake a clafoutis, you would be equally as surprised to find the flavor more almond-like than cherry. None of this is particularly relevant, but I seem to have niched myself into a corner of providing fun facts as part of my SOTDs.

Now, if you dive further into my shave, you’ll notice that I don’t keep it simple (stupid) in my post or frag. This is primarily because I don’t own a one-note frag (does one even exist?), nor do I own a one-note aftershave. There was a clear thread going on when I planned this, however. Cella, the grandpappy of almond soaps, created a lozione dopobarba (aftershave) with a bafflingly different and not particularly complementary scent. This isn’t like when Will of BaM made different scented products that were meant to pair beautifully, and then got ran out of town. Quite the opposite. Cella is still beloved, at least among the boomer markets, and the soap and post shave seem to have each been created with complete disregard of the other. So, almond soap, “relevant” post shave, at least per the folks at Cella. Now is where the screw up occurred. On paper/in theory, my frag is relevant, and I believe should be considered as much for the purposes of djudging. However, “901: Nutmeg, Almond & Patchouli” is not the pairing I would recommend. Firstly, my sample of Almond Creme seems to have magically given up all its cherry delights and has absorbed the scents of the other Stirling samples I haphazardly threw in with it. Secondly, as noted, Cella aftershave does not smell like almond (or even cherry). It’s a masculine, barbershop-like, rather stereotypical and inoffensive cologne smell. Which is fine. I like it. But it’s weird to use after an almond soap. Lastly, this frag also does not smell like almond. It smells like the version of patchouli that you smell when entering a hippy-dippy shop that immediately gives you a headache, and then someone threw some warming spices into your face as they leave through the same doors you just walked through. TL;DR: soap that doesn’t smell like almond followed by barbershop splash followed by aggressive hippies. #FOF

I’m too new to the hobby to have fond memories of bases past. I could be like some of the folks at the Ranch and wax poetic about the days of Reserve and complain about how Omnibus funk is an affront to nature, but I don’t actually feel that way. I accept that the Base Race will go on, even though it is a neverending race to the bottom. My favorite base is Highlander because it’s so easy to use, to the point of being foolproof. But 20.1 was also great. I don’t know if either Doug or whatever SBS’s base is called have ever changed. Tusk is rad, as is Darkwing. Stirling sheep base is fantastic, but I’ve never had a bad shave with their standard base that couldn’t be chalked up to user error. All artisan bases are good. We are ultimately slowly destroying ourselves. The end is nigh.

June 5, 2024 – LG Day 5 – GOOP

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Synbad Fan
• Razor: Merkur 34C #ZAMAC
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Nature’s Promise – Lime Scent
• Post Shave: Eleven – Lime and Basil
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Saint Julep

I am not convinced that this “cream” is meant for shaving. It looks like bad sunscreen. Per my last use of this goop, it was “aggressively marked down.” I recently saw it in the clearance bin at Hannaford again, and it was around $2. Per the challenge, I need to lather/shave in reverse. I typically tub load (or bowl load for samples) and then build a lather on my head, with a lot of scrub and :whipit: action. Today, I added way too much “cream” (read: goop) into the bowl, as seen above, but then remembered the old adage: moar water moar soap. So I added water. And added more. And more. Too much. Remembering that I need to make a serviceable lather in the bowl and that I have to paint it onto my head, I made sure we were drippin’ so we weren’t trippin’. It looked like (shit)[https://i.imgur.com/1hINCS5.jpg]. The shave was fine. Not enjoyable, but no cuts. I really don’t enjoy painting the lather onto my head since I’m so used to building a good lather right on my skin from the protolather I build while loading. But again, fine, whatever. However, the post shave feel was downright greasy. Like, very very gross. A good rinse followed by Eleven splash seemed to do the trick, but I’m still thinking about that icky greasy feeling and how I don’t really want to save this tube of goop even for next year. Quick #FOF today: Straight lime oil smell. Allegedly "persian lime." Followed by a much more pleasant, herbal quality in the splash, evoking memories of the days I worked in a bakery. We had pizza on Sundays, and I would often be the one to go and pick the basil, the most relaxing part of my 3am-11am shift. Finished with a sweet mint julep, herbal, sweet, with smooth bourbon - the perfect drink after a long, hot shift making bagels in the peak heat of August.

Note for the judges: This was purchased at Hannaford, my local grocery chain, from the location nearest to my home, a 4.9 mile drive and equidistant to the nearest pharmacy.

I logged onto Reddit this morning as I often do, to make sure I don’t copy something someone has done. And I saw u/Crossan1983 lather with his foot. I can’t beat that. That’s funny as hell. Also, I can’t even do that as I am large and physically inflexible. So, instead, let me tell you about what the hell “Nature’s Promise”^(1) shaving ~~cream~~ goop is, and more specifically, some unsolicited information about the history of grocery stores and the concept of the store brand, or as it’s called in the biz, private label. The grocery store as we know it was pioneered by Clarence Saunders when he opened the first Piggly Wiggly on September 11, 1916. Before this, you would go up to the clerk and he would grab, weigh, and box/bag everything you needed. Saunders introduced the concept of self-service, which decreased labor costs and gave customers lower prices, which quickly outweighed any skepticism folks had about this major change. The concept of self-service took off, and now we find ourselves in a world of complete grocery store automation.

(CONTINUED IN THE REPLY)

edited because I forgot my #FOF

June 6, 2024 – LG Day 6 – It Is Thursday and I Am Thirsty for Lather

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Razorock Mamba 70 #CNC
• Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
• Lather: Catie’s Bubbles – Irish Coffee
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Amazelnut
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Follow

Coffee. Possibly the greatest beverage ever created. Today, our journey begins in a sweet, creamy mug of coffee with a splash of bourbon and a level of cream and sugar that would make any Bostonian Dunkin regular proud. It smells like the coffee milk I used to enjoy on vacations with my family growing up; as a little kid, I wanted to drink coffee like the adults, so we got a glass of milk with a little coffee and probably some sugar. If we were Rhode Islanders, we would have known about coffee syrup, which is even better. Then, to honor my partner’s favorite coffee flavor, we follow with a cornucopia of hazelnuts and vanilla, with some notes of woods and vetiver to round everything out – still sweet, though. Wouldn’t want to give up on our sweet coffee theme. If hazelnut coffee tasted like this smells, I might actually like drinking it. Finally, Kerosene Follow. Maple and vanilla keep the air of sweetness about, but bitterness comes through as well in this rather realistic coffee accord, so I can feel a little more grown-up and celebrate the type of coffee I actually drink. Just like me, dark and bitter. #FOF

For the daily challenge, I hereby present the second episode of PodShave, the podcast where you listen to me shave, with a concept that was definitely not ripped off from u/merikus. Don’t forget to watch the follow-up video the world has been waiting for.

June 7, 2024 – LG Day 7 – Vetiver isn’t just dirt, apparently

• Brush: Semogue Owner’s Club Boar, Cherry Wood Handle
• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable #ADJUSTABLE
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps – Vetiver
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Carpathia
• Fragrance: American Perfumer – Honeyed Vetiver

Today is my first time using a vetiver-forward fragrance that doesn’t just smell like dirt. It’s opened my eyes a bit, honestly. Thanks to u/wyze0ne for the smush – I’m considering snagging a tub when my buying hiatus/GRUYE is over. Mike’s Vetiver is deep and earthy and holds a nuttiness which reads as somehow sweet, like a forest floor covered in freshly cracked nuts. Clean earth, nothing like the dirty, smoky Dirtyver, which I had previously judged this scent note by. Not having any vetiver-forward splashes, I reached for SW Carpathia, as its wet stone note hits my nose as dirt/earth. This was initially gross to me when I first tried it, but it has grown on me enormously. As the stony opening fades, it dries down into a musky, bitter, herbal accord that feels like I’ve been transported into a dungeon in a fantasy TTRPG…that’s also somehow sexy? Even though there’s no vetiver here, it adds to the complex earth accord we’re building. Finally, Honeyed Vetiver is a feat. Think about how honey smells. Not literally how honey smells or tastes, but how we imagine it. That’s Honeyed Vetiver. It’s floral yet earthy, sweet but not sickly so. It is the true essence of honey, and makes today’s fragrance combination far more than the sum of its parts. I smell good today. #FOF

Challenge: I shaved against the grain, one pass, my entire head. I had to crank up the adjustable to 8 or 9 because I wasn’t getting an adequately close shave with the 5 it had been set at, and I didn’t want to cheat and do a second pass. You never know who might be watching. This was the least comfortable shave of the Games so far. Somehow, no bumpy redness though, so I guess my technique is alright. I don’t plan to shave against the grain again any time soon.

You know what should be cut against the grain, though? Meat. Muscle fibers (aka “the grain”) run in a particular direction in most cuts of meat. It’s worth noting that some cuts of meat find the grain switching direction in certain spots, because muscles are complicated. Also, some cuts (read: muscles) don’t get much of a workout, so the muscle fibers aren't very pronounced, and cutting ATG/WTG doesn’t really matter, like with filet mignon. For most cuts, however, slicing against the grain shortens the muscle fibers, making the meat easier to chew and enhancing its tenderness. Even if your uncle overcooked the strip steak (again), cutting against the grain will make your eating experience better. When meat is cut with the grain, the long muscle fibers remain intact, resulting in a tougher texture. This is bad. Don't do it. For more details, we can look to Kenji (there you go, u/bmac92).

June 8, 2024 – LG Day 8 – All Hail Daddy Brad

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
• Lather: Maggard Razors – Mango Sage Tea
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Bell Ringer
• Fragrance: Zingari Man – The Brewer

This shave hurt way more than it should have. Things that may have set me up for failure include, but are not limited to: hours between showering and shaving, having just done yardwork and probably actively sweating, the mid lather that this soap makes, and yesterday’s ATG shave. I used my Tech because it’s the mildest razor I own by far, and though it felt gentle while shaving, I started getting a burning feeling even before I put on the SBS splash. Then the burning got much worse, which isn’t something I typically experience with even the highest alcohol-content splashes. I love Maggard Razors. I just wish TTFFC made a higher quality soap for them (even though the lather wasn’t the only contributor to my pain today). The scent is nice, though. Tropical with herbal undertones, creating a balanced fragrance rather than the juice bombs out there that seem to mimic the NEIPAs I unabashedly enjoy. But I really wanted to double down on the mango. Transport myself to a magical tropical island, sitting in a pool of Newman’s Own Mango Tango “juice,” my favorite beverage as a kid. That’s where Bell Ringer comes in – sweet and juicy, unapologetic and indulgent. Remember those NEIPAs I mentioned? That’s where The Brewer comes in. I’ve already been called out as sus for feeling like my impulsively-purchased tub is redundant when I have a tub of Bell Ringer around, but the frag really captures the essence of a hazy, juicy IPA, the beverage I’d have in hand today if I were on that aforementioned tropical island. Cheers. #FOF

I’ve compiled the details of all my shaving purchases (not including second-hand/zaar, fragrances, the Maggard meet this year, or prizes/gifts) in one fairly-easy-to-read spreadsheet. It seems that the largest purchase, both monetarily and in number of products, was on 5/7/2022 in preparation for that year’s Lather Games, when I was just starting to get into the hobby. $93.19 for ten samples and three tubs of soap. Nothing too crazy or impressive. What I struggle to fully comprehend, however, is why I had three separate purchases that May. I can understand the late-May purchase, probably taking advantage of a sale, as well as likely having some FOMO or realizing I missed something I needed for the games. But the sample purchase just two days before this one? What was going on there, past me?? Total of 15 purchases in a little over two years of the hobby, 8 of which were from Maggard Razors. Plus, let’s not forget the Big Soap Sale TM of May 2021, where I was overwhelmed with an inheritance of products that I sold when my nose was very sus and my knowledge of the hobby was approximately zero. RIP to the APR soaps, C&H brushes (under the TDR name), as well as several products that I’ve since realized I love and should never have sold. Here’s an old version of the original sale spreadsheet for anyone who wants to bask in my idiocy.

June 9, 2024 – LG Day 9 – ( –··–· –· )

• Brush: Omega Model 10048 Pro 48 Chrome Handle Boar
• Razor: GEM 1912 #TWINS
• Razor: Ever Ready 1912
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Seville
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Barrbarr
• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. – Windy City Barbershop

Like many others on the sub, Barbershop scents don’t excite me too much. Today was my first time trying “god’s barbershop” Seville. Off the puck, I’m presented with a zestful burst of citrus and herbs, like laying in the sun-drenched groves of Seville. Upon lathering, the scent deepens, unveiling a soft, earthy lavender and distinct rosemary. This is nothing like any barbershop I’ve been in, and I can see why many see it as an easy addition to their dens. With Barrbarr, we take an aggressive turn. I’m hit with a wave of bubblegum initially, which dries down into a sour lemon candy with a backbone of woods and herbs to keep it from feeling like a gourmand. A light powdery quality reminds me that it does indeed fit into the barbershop genre, but the genre is starting to feel too diverse. I considered using No. 11 for my frag today, but there are only so many takes on a barbershop accord that my nose can handle today. Windy City opens with clear notes of amber and musk, mixing with a subtle, sweet powder and a lighter bubblegum accord than that of NO. It has an inviting softness and timelessness, while remaining grounded by the steel accord that reminds us of the brutal Chicago winds, giving a notable coldness to the ensemble. Altogether, a shave almost entirely disparate from my childhood haircuts, with the only things tying it to my barbershop experiences being the light powdery notes and something about the scent of the boar hair in this particular brush. It may be worth noting, though, that I grew up going to the hair salon in my tiny town, usually with my mom. (I've tried to shake from my memory some of the embarrassing haircuts I was allowed to get.) I don't think any barbershop managed to stay open for more than a couple of years; those shops, like most businesses in my town, were doomed from the start. #FOF

Thanks to others trying the quiz first and noting that you do not have to answer in order. Going in order, I would have been stuck at >!Vernal!<. Being able to bounce around (my preferred test-taking strategy), I managed a solid 19/32. I would like to thank the LatherBot minigame in the sub discord for expanding my knowledge and helping me to passively memorize scent notes. The latter half of the quiz seems to act as inspiration for those unsure what to use for Information Overload day later this month. Even when the answers came up at the end, there were no “oh, I should have known that one” moments. Definitely a situation where either I know it or I don’t. Not sure that anyone other than u/wyze0ne could get all 32 without cheating, but time will tell.

(edited: forgot hashtag)

June 10, 2024 – LG Day 10 – Best Friends Forever

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. x House of Mammoth – Armonía
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Black Label
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist

First time trying Armonía today. I’ll be honest, smelling it when the tub initially arrived in the mail, I thought I would use this once for the Games and then sell it. After using it today, though, I might keep this one. I dub today’s #FOF as a modern, sophisticated cowboy. Armonía Soap unfurls with a deep, rich tobacco accord that exudes elegance and mystery. As the lather builds, the fragrance reveals a bright freshness, with the requisite fougère herbs and citrus. Despite my initial belief that this fragrance would be heavy for summer, it eschews the typical heaviness I expect in a fougère, instead evoking the delicate scent of a tobacco plant in bloom. The richness of of Armonía melds seamlessly with Black Label’s bold tobacco and earthy oakmoss, and hints of bergamot with delicate whispers of violet and lavender infuse a refreshing brightness and floral elegance. Strawberry, the most unexpected note, imparts a light breeze of sweetness, and keeping the shave appropriate for summertime. Tobacconist is so effective in transporting me to a tobacconist’s shop. The cedar and tobacco create a warm, nostalgic embrace that simply feel like comfort. It’s an interesting pairing with the rest of today’s shave, because of the emphasis on an entirely different tobacco accord, but I think it works beautifully. This must be how cowboys feel. Yeehaw.

To add to the Happy Together theme, I used a collab brush, and you might argue that the MM24 is a collaboration of two different razors, the final product being greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Thinking about the idea of the “modern, sophisticated cowboy,” here are five musicians (in no particular order) that present entirely different representations of the archetype. (To my judge today, feel free to pick just one song to listen to if you don’t have time and/or don’t like these genres.)

Orville Peck, Daytona Sand. Like today’s shave, Peck is mysterious and unexpected. He doesn’t reveal his face publicly, kind of like u/Priusaurus. He was born in South Africa, took 12 years of ballet lessons, moved to Canada at the age of 15, and is nothing like the cowboys of old Westerns, but he sure sings like he is.

Colter Wall, Bob Fudge. Wall, another Canadian, released his first EP at the age of 19, already sounding like a grizzled cowboy who has seen some shit. If you think “real country died with Johnny Cash,” give him a listen.

Tyler Childers, Nose on the Grindstone. This Kentuckian is a mighty fine lyricist, but also has some musical marvels like the album Long Violent History and Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?. Like any good modern cowboy, he supports coal miners’ rights just the same as same-sex marriage.

Benjamin Tod (aka Lost Dog Street Band), September Doves. In the tradition of American troubadours, this band’s music tells real stories, evoking a special sense of nostalgia despite being a modern band.

Sierra Ferrell, In Dreams – Alternative Version. I mean, just listen to her. Plus, she spent her 20s as a nomad, hitch-hiking, freighthopping, and living in her van, which is essentially cowboy shit.

June 11, 2024 – LG Day 11 – Springtime

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive MOAR Boar 31mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Rawr
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Arance Mandarini

It’s Springtime, everybody, aka Rawr Day. I was excited to go outside and take photos next to some dandelions, until I realized that dandelions are genuinely just a spring thing and they’re all gone. It’s interesting that so many of us flock to Rawr on this day every year, considering Noble Otter doesn’t explicitly market it as a spring scent. There’s just something about it, though, that screams “it’s spring!” Maybe the dandelion notes? It’s certainly grassy, but sweet, not dirty. The inspiration for this scent is childhood happiness, and it certainly hits the mark. So much so, that I felt the need to dickhole, something I don’t plan to do often this month. However, for my fragrance today, I wanted to step into summer a bit. Don’t worry, it’s still a relevant frag – lemon, grapefruit, mint, basil, and orange blossom all bring home the springiness of Rawr. However, Arance Mandarini also brings some complexity that Rawr lacks. It’s fresh, aromatic citrus all the way (so I guess not that complex), is bright without being sweet, and dries down into a pleasant, floral musk. Mediterranean without being aquatic, perfect for spring and summer alike. #FOF

For my photo/challenge today, I tried to feature green as much as I could, hitting several shades across the green spectrum, and the gold MM24 highlighting the foreground colors in Rawr. I hope everybody is able to embrace their inner child today.

edit: WSDB didn’t copy over my frag

June 12, 2024 – LG Day 12 – Mmm…Creamy

• Brush: Chisel & Hound v23 Fanchurian
• Razor: Karve CB SB-C
• Blade: Treet Classic (2)
• Lather: Derby – Lemon
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Glacial, Lemon Chill
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Sonder

Artisan shaving cream: for when you don’t have 30 extra seconds to make lather from soap. This is incredible. A marvel. Why are we using soap? Saving those extra 30 seconds was honestly life-changing. I got just as good as a shave with a fraction of the work! I’m actually so excited about this that I went back in time eighty years to make a radio ad, which you can listen to here!

The fragrance theme of the day is (obviously) lemon. Because of the use of lemon oil in ubiquitous cleaning products, using Derby Lemon brings that unfortunate association to the front of mind. It’s a big “lemon fresh” vibe, which wasn’t helped by glacial lemon, which is…also just lemon oil. Neither Derby nor Stirling were trying to do anything fancy, tricky, or convoluted here. Just bright, fresh, clean lemon. Sonder, on the other hand, is something special. I’m brought back in time to my childhood, taking my first bite of a lemon Oreo (or some other sandwich cookie brand; my memory's not great). Swirls of fragrant vanilla, sweet lemon, and pure childhood bliss. Sonder exudes comfort and summertime joy. #FOF

Den tour time! Album link for those who want just a quick look.

Photo 1: Razors live on a test tube rack in front of all my splashes (and a few balms), and above them on a shelf made with scrap wood live my brush collection, which is starting to get too big.

Photo 2: A disorganized mass of shaving soaps and a dopp bag containing a plethora of blades, many which have fallen out of their tucks and into a dangerous grab-bag layer on the bottom, as well as smushes and some other random items. On the right is where all my samples are, once organized, but now a chaotic mess.

Photo 3: My full bottles and travel sprays of fragrances. I wish this collection was bigger, but…money. I would like to figure out how to display these better.

Photo 4 and Photo 5: My fragrance samples, the only organized thing in this den. This system has made my daily SOTD pairings a whole lot easier, since I choose based largely on vibes when it’s not June, and when they’re all in a messy box, some (many) get forgotten about.

June 13, 2024 – LG Day 13 – d00p day

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
• Razor: Razorock Mamba 70
• Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
• Lather: Eleven – Apollo
• Post Shave: Captain’s Choice – Venture
• Fragrance: Guy Fox – Tyler

Apollo is ”inspired by” Creed Aventus, as is Captain’s Choice Venture.

This is one of very few dupes that I own, most of which (including this one) were inherited, not purchased. I don’t tend to really like designer fragrances in general, so having my soap smell like one seems silly. As an added ~~bonus~~ drawback, my partner says this smells like her orthodontist from childhood, so she doesn’t like me using Aventus dupes. But the calendar calls and I must go. Maybe because it’s so busy, or maybe because my brain insists that all designer/mall colognes smell the same, but picking out notes is really hard for this one. I know that pineapple is supposed to be here, and I can smell the ambery, oakmoss, woody base. Noting that soap is a terrible way to highlight fragrance, and also noting that dupes aren’t always spot on, I’m trying not to knock Aventus itself – I’ve never smelled the real thing. I assume that this ain’t it. It’s fine. GF Tyler is largely the same vibe, but with a clear fougère quality. I’m not sure what pineapple leaf smells like, but it’s not the juicy pineapple note I wish was here. It’s very citrusy/fruity, aquatic-adjacent – I think this is what a gym bro wears when he goes to the beach to try and fail to “pick up chicks.” #FOF

Challenge:

*wakes up* *looks at challenge* *looks at soap* *looks at hands and lack of artistic ability*

oh no.

*thinks more* *dies* *comes back to life* *chaos consumes me*

Using the power of Microsoft Word, I hereby present to you: the much awaited follow-up to Apollo by Eleven, EIGHTEEN/APOLLO, a celebration of the eighteenth Apollo mission. BEHOLD!

June 14, 2024 – LG Day 14 – She’s as Cold as Ice

• ~~Brush:~~ ~~AP Shave Co. Synbad~~
• Pre-Shave: AP Shave Co. Synbad, Frozen
• Brush: Omega 11047 Mixed Badger/Boar
• Razor: Gem MMOC, Frozen
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Co. – Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Co. – Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime – Splash
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

TL;DR: Don't freeze your hardware. Most photos are mildly NSFW, but nothing too exposing. To make up for it, I'm adding to the cat photos that so many others have graced us with so far this month.

Frigid Friday. What to do? I'm not buying $50 of ice at the gas station just to repeat what others have already done last year. My partner suggested shaving in a beer cave (maybe next year), but I knew I wouldn't have time this morning before work. The ice kamisori, though...that was good inspiration.

Frozen Brush: This worked about as well as anyone could have anticipated. Turns out freezing the knot in a chunk of ice doesn't make for good lathering.

I tried tub loading anyway, which did a whole lot of nothing. I also tried using another brush to put lather on the ice brush and then paint it on. That also didn't really work. Ultimately, I used the ice as a pre-shave and as my water source for building an ultimately shitty lather that looks like it should have been saved for tomorrow's daily challenge. Definitely colder more because of the WS-23 than because of the ice though...it's almost like synthetic cooling agents are made to feel cool.

Frozen Razor: This was both successful and also a total failure. Successes: I could hold it in my hand (with the help of one of those rubber jar opener things). The blade/head was exposed enough to get the right angle. It was cold. Failures: Blood. Lots. Of. Blood. Full album here for your pleasure and for a couple of bonus pics.

Why I chose an MMOC for this is truly a mystery. The first cut I got is a gash that won't heal for days, but the rest are small nicks at least.

Was any of this worth it? You be the judge.

Daily Challenge: Stack seen in the SOTD photo, with close-ups also available here.

Sea Ice Lime, just like the non-cooling SSL, is perfectly pleasant. It's a crowd pleaser and an easy grab, but that doesn't mean it's not special. It begins its aromatic voyage with an invigorating burst of fresh lime and the sharp zest of pink pepper, set against the expansive backdrop of salty sea air. The heart of cedar with nuances of coriander and bay, all in perfect balance, accentuate the lime and salty nature, giving a clean, invigorating, masculine finish. In the words of a former coworker, "you smell like a MAN." As an owner of SSL soap and toner, SIL soap and splash, and SSL EdT, this is a scent I'm not ashamed to trickhole. #FOF

June 15, 2024 – LG Day 15 – It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.

• Brush: Chisel & Hound v23 Fanchurian
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Murphy and McNeil – SFWS South Beach
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Coconut Lime
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Falling Into The Sea

After my massacre yesterday, I was thinking to myself, “Maybe it’s time for a comfortable shave, just a regular old shave, a shenanigan-free shave.” And then I woke up from my dream and remembered that it’s the Lather Games and that there will be no rest until July first. Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

Unlike many of the noble, committed shavers today, I have never killed a tub. Between typically shaving every other day and my unwavering desire for variety, the closest I have to a tub kill is this 60g puck, which seemed low until I converted it and realized it’s 2.12oz. Embarrassing. I can’t even get halfway through a tub. I am filled with endless shame. I am brough dishonor onto my family. It's only a matter of time before I am disowned and must shed the Bucket name, leaving me to just be "Hug," the shaver who couldn't finish what he started. When I'm gone, my only legacy will be these half-empty tubs, gathering dust, symbols of my failure.

Moving on! M&M’s base is…fine. I really like this scent, though, made for South Florida Wet Shavers, so I use this pretty frequently throughout the summer. Wearing this is like teleporting to a beach where the water is bluer, the sand is whiter, the breeze is cool but the ocean is warm. Coconut and bananas come together in the most perfect sunscreen-like fashion. My bottle of Stirling Coconut Lime also happens to be one of my emptier post-shaves, but it’s getting old and it really doesn’t like to rub into the skin well, just like when I put on sunscreen. It has the same sunscreen/tanning oil coconut scent, but less on-the-nose; the lime is fully lost in the balm format (or because of its age). Finally, Falling into the Sea eschews the idea that the beach has to smell like Banana Boat. Bright citrus, lightly aquatic, comfortingly floral. The lychee is a very nice touch. Nostalgic in a very special way. #FOF

For my pasty lather, let my brush soak while I showered as usual, tub loaded, and spread it on my head with no extra water. Slightly pastier than the proto-lather (if you can even call it that) which I usually build up a lather from right on the dome. No extra water or lather-building today, though. This is what we got. What a delight. To further elucidate just how pasty this lather was, here it is on my razor. My water pressure isn’t enough to get it all off, so I had to take the razor apart after each pass and carefully wipe the blade, ignoring the warning on literally every tuck of blades I’ve seen. The judges have taken the "wet" out of "wetshaving." Who knows what's next.

June 16, 2024 – LG Day 16 – Father’s Day

• Brush: Omega Model 10048 Pro 48 Chrome Handle Boar
• Razor: Razorock Mamba 70
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
• Lather: Proraso – Menthol and Eucalyptus
• Post Shave: Long Rifle Soap Co. – 1776 – Tonic
• Fragrance: Olympic Orchids – Dev #2: The Main Act – Parfum

It may be Father’s Day, but this shave is much more akin to how my mother probably shaves. Proraso was founded in 1908, nearly ninety years before I was born, and almost a half-century before my Dad was born. It’s not what my Dad shaves with, though. Last I checked, he shaves in the shower, with Irish Spring soap and a 3-blade cartridge, though he used to use Bic disposables. I think he probably taught me how to shave, but if he did, I don’t remember it. That might be related to why I started growing and keeping a beard at the age of 14.

Today’s shave is inspired by my father in a different way. The soap keeps with the theme, but this old puck smells vague, clean, and soapy. Not quite the Irish Spring my father uses, but it has the same vibe. 1776, in addition to the mahogany scent that reminds me of school field trips to Lexington & Concord, has a tobacco leaf aspect that reminds me of the pipe my Dad used to smoke on special occasions, particularly while camping in Vermont every summer (until my parents split). The cigarettes he and my Mom smoked were abhorrent and not a smell I romanticize, but the scent of dried pipe tobacco in his leather bag is a magical fragrance – the scent of safety, youth, and a more carefree time of my life. Dev 2 represents the other thing I associate most with my father – the Catholic Church, which we devotedly attended every Sunday with exceptions only made for significant illness. This parfum of course is meant to evoke our more animalistic intentions (and how could it not, with such deep, resinous seduction), but the liturgical incense note is unmistakable, harkening to Holy Thursday mass and others, where incense would remind us of the solemnity of the occasion. #FOF

Shaving my legs up to my nethers took so damn long. It’s not like I wasn’t warned, but I think the whole process took me nearly two hours. The hair clogged up the razor constantly, but I was too nervous to use something like the Ever Ready 1912 that might not have clogged so quickly. My body hair is pretty dark, pretty thick, and my legs are pretty long. But Mama didn’t raise a quitter, so I stuck with it. It looks weird and I know it’s going to itch like hell, but we did it, folks. Unlike some, I’m not phoning it in (*cough cough*, u/Priusaurus).

Edit: fixed broken link

June 17, 2024 – LG Day 17 – Don’t Have a Cow, Have a Banana

• Brush: Stirling Two-Band Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Boonana
• Post Shave: Murphy and McNeil – SFWS South Beach
• Fragrance: Blackbird – Y06-S

Vegan soaps – they’re not hard to find, and it’s increasingly easy to find a good one. Catie’s Bubbles and Southern Witchcrafts are the GOATs, but ~~Vegemite~~ ~~Vegan Bussy~~ Veggiebus is supposedly very good, and I’ve enjoyed other vegan bases littered throughout my den. As previously stated, the base race is slowly destroying us. Vegan bases are a good thing, because it brings us one day closer to BEEF DAYS becoming a reality.

Today is an ode to the banana. Did you know that the bananas we eat today (the seedless, sterile Cavendish variety) is at risk? It turns out that cloning plants isn’t great for keeping diseases away. The cavendish may go the way of the Gros Michel, which was itself destroyed by fungus in the 50s, and only meaningfully exists today as the basis for the “banana candy” flavor. In the meantime, bananas still seem to be bafflingly cheap, and I imagine they will continue to be so with the next cultivar, should the cavendish meet its peril.

Three distinct takes on the banana. First, a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich (sans peanut butter), my favorite type of sandwich as a child, and which still brings me joy when I eat one today. Honey isn’t in the notes list, so it’s possible that the florals and maybe bourbon are doing tricks on me, but that’s what I get from the puck – banana and honey. It lathers and dries down into a much more “normal” scent, not a gourmand by any means, and on the tame side for SW. Full tub worthy for sure. Next, SFWS South Beach. I described the matching soap a couple days ago, and the splash is the same, sunscreen scent, but with a bigger punch of synthetic banana, unlike the soap which leans more coconut. Finally, Y06-S. This might be the weirdest fragrance I’ve ever worn. It “starts off as friendly floral with a clear and contrasting electronics note to distract you from the fact – that what you are truly smelling is banana.” No, Lauren, what I’m smelling is burning plastic. I sprayed this and immediately became worried that this is definitively not something one wears to work. Alas, they weren’t totally wrong. It did indeed dry down into some soft, white florals (mind you, with a synthetic/plasticky backdrop), and something reminiscent of banana. Not the banana you think of when you think what a banana smells like. More like the smell of green banana skins, not yet ripe, sitting on the grocery store shelf having just been unboxed by an underpaid employee. This fragrance is an enigma. #FOF

I lathered on my freshly-shaved knee. I then scooped the lather onto my head and painted it with the best I could with my brush. I resisted the urge to build a better lather once it was on my head, and only had enough for one pass with some cleanup, but that’s okay as my MMOC scars are still healing.

edit: fixed broken link…again

June 18, 2024 – LG Day 18 – RIP in Peace in Pieces

• Brush: Chisel & Hound v23 Fanchurian
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
• Lather: Arsenal Grooming – Beach Goer
• Post Shave: Tiki Bar Soaps – Volcano
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Fields of Rubus

“When you’re playing the Lather Games and you’re playing all out, you end up with about half the days where your shave is just not at all enjoyable, and really pretty terrible.” — u/OnionMiasma

Ain’t that the truth.

Today was a good shave, though – it’s nice to have writing challenges interspersed to break up the physical challenges which are slowly destroying my scalp. Everything I used today is either RIP or RIP-adjacent. Arsenal Grooming Co is dead by all accounts. No Instagram posts since late 2023. Nothing seemingly sold by them in several years. Their website is 403 Forbidden (which I only got to after two distinct efforts on my computer’s part to keep me safe from malware). No official closing announcement – just mysteriously went out of business and sparked various folks to simply wonder what happened. Similarly, Tiki Bar Soap went out of business without announcement, but back in 2017, according to Boomer & Blade. Volcano is one of my favorite summer splashes, and I was happy to grab the old “tester” bottle from the Maggard Meet PIF table as backup stock. Kerosene isn’t going anywhere, but Fields of Rubus has been discontinued. Silver Blue blades are either discontinued or temporarily out of production, but who knows if this is a legitimate concern – it’s certainly not the first time B&B has been worried about this. Chisel & Hound has moved onto the v24 knot, so my v23 is officially discontinued, and I don’t think Gillette makes Ball-End Techs anymore, unless they’ve decided to discontinue cartridge razors because they got tired of making money.

In honor of the heat wave hitting Northern New England and elsewhere, my shave is aggressively beach/tropical-inspired. Beach Goer, on account of its age, is starting to lose its luster. The pear note is the most interesting part of it, bringing the tropical fruit notes beyond the typical sunscreen scent I would expect of a soap like this. I’m also picking up some floral notes, but anything else has either faded, is well-masked, or can be attributed to “nose is sus.” Volcano, on the other hand, is a powerhouse despite its age. Before the alcohol smell wears off, I get immediate flashbacks to poorly balanced “cocktails” my college roommate would make, typically consisting of orange juice, pineapple juice, and too much vodka. Once that settles down, it continues to be a citrus bomb which settles into a fruity, green, whimsical accord; it really is perfect for the beach and hence is a great match with this soap. Fields of Rubus: raspberry, patchouli, tobacco, woods. Better than it has any right to be. It adds a layer of complexity to today’s fragrances, and keeps it from being juice juice juice all day long. #FOF

---

Instructions on how to make an r/wicked_edge post:

1. Write an overly vague and somewhat clickbait-y title.
2. Write an SOTD post with somehow way too much detail and yet saying nothing meaningful at all.
3. Take a bathroom sink photo.
4. Make sure you leave a review that’s way too complimentary of a lackluster soap.
5. State everything as fact; no YMMV here.

Instructions on how to make an r/wetshaving post:

1. Pretty much same as above but do it in a comment.
2. Make sure your soap brand/artisan is one of the sub favorites.
3. PAA is on the do not buy list.

Instructions on how to make u/SaintBandicoot miserable:

1. Blood.
2. Don’t offer free soap.

Instructions on how to make u/hugbckt miserable:

1. Insist on spelling “paid” as “payed.”
2. Ask if you should buy a $400 brush but refuse to listen when everybody says no.

June 19, 2024 – LG Day 19 – Juneteenth

• Brush: Shave Forge 24mm Horse Hair x Muninn Woodworks Handle #HORSESASS
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Aluminum
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Valedictorian
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Valedictorian
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps – Valedictorian

u/Priusaurus wrote an excellent summary of Juneteenth – check it out – so I don’t want to be redundant. Reflecting on my shave, however, caused me to think about the main accord of Valedictorian: tobacco. Tobacco use in America is inherently linked to slavery and the slave trade. Colonizers brought slaves into the original Colonies often for the express purpose of farming tobacco, and by the inception of the US as a country, tobacco and slavery were completely intertwined, and slavery was seen as a necessity to maintain American economic growth, with tobacco as a major American commodity. The most common tobacco product today, cigarettes, didn’t become popular until after the outlaw of slavery in the US, but even with the shift away from loose/pipe tobacco, the roots of slavery were still deeply connected to tobacco farming. Sharecroppers, usually poor African-Americans, continued to be the core source of labor on plantations. So, today, as I use a soap made in Nebraska (which, as a territory, was certifiably pro-Union), I find myself thinking about all the ways that this country’s history of slavery continues to show up in our day-to-day lives. Juneteenth is important, and we should have been giving it real attention long ago.

Valedictorian is up there among the tobacco scents for me. I love tobacco scents so much that I might resurrect the u/chefkoolaid review series one day. It’s clearly tobacco forward, but neither dry like Tobacconist nor rich like the Tobacco Vanilla dupes. The accord supporting the tobacco is complex but wearable, very difficult for me to discern notes other than “smooth.” The citrus quality is a standout, keeping it away from vanilla world, but it’s not uniquely fruity in the way Dr. Jon’s Black Label is. Chefkoolaid described it as a “complete departure” from the grungy, funky tobacco that he (and I) love about this category, and calls Valedictorian a “sophisticated suave and clean space in the tobacco spectrum.” I quote him because I couldn’t agree more and don’t want to bother rephrasing or plagiarizing. Worth the trifecta today, particularly with the theme connection described above. #FOF

MEMES MEMES MEMES

Album link

RIP u/pridetwo

the calendar grind

frigid friday regrets

what are jeffm/alg doing

u/rocketk455 profiting off our degeneracy

u/Priusaurus ruining my life

j33p’s favorite day

throwback to last year u/tsrblke

sharing is caring, right u/OnionMiasma?

June 20, 2024 – LG Day 20 – Summer has begun

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Aluminum
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Zingari – The Gatherer
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Summer of 84

Today’s shave is in memory of u/loudmusicboy. Just to be clear, the man behind that account is alive and well. But the u/loudmusicboy persona? Dead. He should probably just change his Reddit handle to boringcorporateman. See, today’s lighthouse shave was supposed to be done together. Just the two of us, like old times. But he has eschewed internet fun to step up the corporate ladder. He’s traded in his music posters for charts about this quarter’s growth. His tattoos have sloughed off his body and have been replaced with a business suit that fused with his skin. I’ve even heard that he stopped teaching yoga and now spends Saturday mornings golfing with his coworkers, pretending to have a good time. We used to have fun, he and I. Drinking all night, staring at the stars, talking about girls and how we’d never be stiff like our dads. We listened to metal in basements that were hot and smelled of blood and sweat. Now he worries about meeting deadlines and listens to the Dave Matthews Band. We always talked about how we’d never grow up. We would be different. We would stay cool.

That young man I once knew is dead.

~~Anyway, I shaved in front of one of the most iconic lighthouses in the country, Portland Head Light.~~ A torrential rain and active thunderstorm foiled my plans.

I shaved in my backyard, with the rain having ~~unfortunately~~ fortunately slowed down right before I wandered outside. To make it a little more interesting, I didn’t bring a mirror and recorded a 30 second timelapse.

The Gatherer represents “summer’s masculine potential.” It’s among the ideal peach scents for me. It smells neither like peach rings (one of my favorite gummy candies) nor farmers market peaches, and yet with one whiff, it’s unmistakably peach. With the zesty, powdery orange and light floral musks, it becomes complex but maintains its clear peach trajectory. Impressively wearable. Smash has a sharper and sweeter peach accord, bolstered by the sugar cube and accentuated by bourbon, with a somehow buttery essence to it. Finally, the explosion of citrus that is Summer of 84. Imagine slicing into a grapefruit – zest essence spraying, juice spilling out, the aroma flying into your nose with reckless abandon. Yes, sweet and smooth melon, salty sea water, and white florals give a backbone and tie it to the rest of the shave, but it’s ultimately grapefruit all the way. This is the most summery shave I could have possibly asked for. #FOF

June 21, 2024 – LG Day 21 – Fern! Fern! Fern!

• Brush: Omega 11047 Mixed Badger/Boar
• Razor: Gillette Gold Ball-End Tech
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Fougère Bouquet
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Fougère Angelique
• Fragrance: Rogue Perfumery – Mousse Illuminee

A bouquet of fougere on my skin,

A walk through a forest within.

Sandalwood’s charm,

And cedar’s warm arm,

A journey where freshness begins.

---

Woodsy and floral extremes,

With lime and neroli in streams.

Oakmoss and fir,

With a smoldering blur,

Fougere Angelique in my dreams.

---

With oakmoss, a fragrance so bright,

The vintage vibes are a delight.

For those who seek,

A modern antique,

Mousse Illuminee feels just right. #FOF

---

And now, a real tribute to u/enndeegee.

 

Lyrics for the scrubs who need them:

!There once was a scrub across the sea!<

!The name of that scrub was NDG!<

!He judged our shaves with no remorse!<

!Scrub, my bully boys, scrub!<

!Soon may the scrubberman come!<

!To bring us shitposts and no scrubs!<

!One day, when the scrubbin' is done!<

!He’ll take his leave and go!<

June 22, 2024 – LG Day 22 – sp00ky szn but in June

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm
• Razor: Ever Ready 1912
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Darkfall
• Post Shave: Hub City Soap Co. – Friday Night Lights
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Blackmail

Darkfall, the essence of fall in Georgia a la burning leaves, is pure smoky goodness. My partner would say it smells like smoked meats (she might not be wrong), but once lathered that quality drifts away. The birch tar is strong, but as it fades, a pleasant smoke with warming spices and woods remains. With our splash, we move over to fall in the Midwest, where the local high school football game is a true community event. Or rather, the party after the game. If it were realistic, the prominent marshmallow note would be replaced with eau de Bud Light, but I’m thankful they opted for the vanilla approach. The campfire element is fairly subdued here, and though I usually wish it was stronger, a softer, smoother scent works nicely in this lineup. Blackmail is a lovely finish to the shave, although the region it represents is likely more in fantasy land. Berries and two smoky elements, incense and woodsmoke. Maybe a land where the folks at the bonfires in Friday Night Lights are roasting berries instead of ‘mallows, or an American South where raspberries fall from the trees and are alit with the coming of autumn. #FOF

I’m tempted to take us on a horticultural and capitalistic journey where I explain why pumpkins aren’t available at the supermarket in June, but I’m tired after spending quite a long time carving my masterpiece.

I popped over to the grocery store to get my in-season canvas and sauntered to the shave den to grab my tools. After a test run on the backside with the sole intention of scaring Jeffbot, I got to work. An hour and change later, I’m quite proud of the final result. Quite spooky, if I do say so myself.

June 23, 2024 – LG Day 23 – Sugar, Spice, & Everything Nice

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic Li’l Brudder
• Razor: Hitohira – Futana – Super Blue – Kurouchi Nashiji – 170mm Santoku – Cherry Wood Handle #KAMISORI #RUSTYBUTTRUSTY #STR8SNOB
• Razor: 十八子作 Chinese Cleaver #KAMISORI #STR8SNOB
• Razor: Karve CB SB-C
• Blade: Treet Classic (3)
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory – Cakehole
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Co. – Seaforth! 3 Scots
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – A Whiff of Wafflecone

Are you ready for some nonsense?

How about a face reveal?!?

The KitchenAid lather has been perfected; I believed this even before Prius posted his SOTD today, and as it turns out, the bar of “perfection” can raise when 3D printing gets involved. As such, I didn’t breakout the mixer today. Instead, we went low-fi with my immersion blender whisk attachment. To try to save myself a step, I first checked to see if I could do this without tape. Alas, that wasn’t going to work. However, a single layer of duct tape was all it needed to stay put. I then lathered the traditional way – on high speed, with a mug of water nearby for reinforcement. This took a couple tries, and ultimately was easier without holding my phone for video, but the final result turned out a-okay.

Even though we have some good lather in this bowl (better than I often have the patience to do by hand), I’m a ~~face~~ head latherer at heart. This immediately made a mess, all over my shirt as you can see, and also on nearly every surface of my kitchen. As to not give myself a massive cleaning chore, I resorted to painting the lather on, which was somewhat difficult with the blender attachment still taped on. Then the real work began – seeing if the sharpest knives in my kitchen are razor-sharp. First came the Hitohira Santoku, which is apparently not as sharp as when I bought it last year. I don’t think it took off any hair. So I tried what I’m confident is the sharpest non-serrated blade in my kitchen, my Chinese cleaver. Alas, again, no hair shaven, as you can see from my look of disappointment at the end. With some forethought, I could have had them sharpened at my local shop, but even then I’m not sure how good of a shave I would have gotten. So I lathered up again and had to grab a real razor. I was bummed that this was necessary, so I made sure to at least choose one with a patina to match the carbon steel of my first knife choice. I also realized that my videos don’t show the whole shaving-in-the-kitchen thing as much as I would have liked, so here’s one more shot.

---

Cakehole is advertised as a “perfect blend of moist white cake and hurt-your-teeth sweet butter cream vanilla frosting.” I don’t get this as much as I was hoping; to my nose, this is cake batter. Straight up box mix, add a couple pantry staples and, like magic, you’re an hour away from a cake-smelling cake batter. It certainly hits the theme, but is not the most exciting gourmand when it comes to fragrance-land. So, I decided to follow up with 3 Scots. Now, this is not advertised as a gourmand, but I think it’s highly relevant to today’s theme. Something about Shawn’s blend of warming spices and citrus smells positively delectable to me. It doesn’t literally taste good enough to eat – but rather, smells like the feeling of digging into a spice cake with an orange-scented cream cheese frosting. It’s joyful and comforting all at the same time. Finally, IA’s wildly simple vanilla/maple fragrance. It’s not trying to be subtle. In their effort to remind me of fond college memories going to the Ben & Jerry’s on Church Street, I instead get punched in the face my maple syrup spiked with vanilla. It’s unapologetic while also not quite harnessing its intended inspiration. #FOF

June 24, 2024 – LG Day 24 – Sharing is Caring

• Brush: Semogue Owner’s Club Boar, Cherry Wood Handle
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Shire
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Summer Storm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – 福 (fú dào)

Today’s soap is brought to you by the letter O, for u/OnionMiasma. Not only did he organize the PIF train I got this through, but he was my direct PIFer. (Piffer? PerIF? Unclear.) I believe he sent it because his wife was not the biggest fan, iirc. In my case, it’s rather the opposite. Green scents are challenging for me, but happen to be my partner’s favorite scent category, so Rawr, Shire, and the like tend only to come out at her request. Between this and the fact that I’ve somehow made it through life without seeing or reading any LOTR property, the rest of this shave is brought to you by Mrs. Hugbckt, and will be the shortest #FOF I’ve ever posted.

“Shire smells like the Shire. It’s nice, it’s grassy, it’s sunny, and makes me think of hobbits. I wanted something that smelled like wet grass to match it, and Summer Storm was the best he had. I thought 福 (fú dào) reminded me of the fireworks that happen at Bilbo’s birthday party.” #FOF

I don’t have much for PIFs in terms of hardware or non-soap software. Noteworthy, however, that my full bottle of 福 is thanks in large part to a HoM gift card I won in an Instagram raffle, so that’s PIF-adjacent I supposed.

---

Some musings on sub exclusives:

• I have never smelled Sir Irisch Moos, but I am excited for u/J33pGuy13’s collaboration with Stirling nonetheless.
• When’s the last time NO did a sub exclusive? I’m less concerned about the scent and more interested in a new costume for the otter. A banana suit perhaps?
• As others have mentioned, a Spearhead/Seaforth exclusive would be great. I would love something deep and resinous, as that’s a side of fragrance that Shawn hasn’t done for Spearhead yet, but does so well in some of his perfumery for CL/MO.
• I don’t care that it’s a w_e exclusive, I hope that Roam Two didn’t entirely eclipse the original plan. The current top comment on that thread sounds like something I’d buy in an instant.
• Kyle of SBS is a school psychologist. The yearly Shave Against Suicide is coming up; how cool would it be to create a sub exclusive for this event?! Seems like Kyle would be a great person to do this.

That’s all for now. As my dear friend u/loudmusicboy says, try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

June 25, 2024 – LG Day 25 – Merry Christmas, One and All

• Brush: Zenith r/wetshaving Exclusive MOAR Boar 31mm
• Razor: Razorock Mamba 70
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Wet the Face – It’s a Wonderful Shave
• Post Shave: Wet the Face – It’s a Wonderful Shave
• Fragrance: Kerosene – Winter of 99

A Lather Games Carol

Stave 1: Onion’s Ghost

Ebenezer Prius was a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner, as solitary as an oyster. His sole partner, Jacob Onion, had died seven years prior on Lather Games Eve, a fact Prius dismissed with grim indifference. On this frigid Lather Games Eve, Prius begrudgingly allowed his clerk, Hug Bucket, a day off with pay, though he considered it a poor excuse to pick a man’s pocket every June. As Prius settled into his melancholy abode, he was visited by Onion’s ghost, bound in ponderous chains, forged from his life of avarice and inhumanity. Onion’s ghost, with a face marked by eternal torment, warned Prius that he would share the same dreadful fate unless he amended his ways. Onion foretold the visitation of three spirits, each bearing a crucial lesson for Prius’s salvation.

Stave 2: The First of the Three Spirits

When the bell tolled one, Prius was visited by the Ghost of Lather Games Past, a figure of light and shadow, emanating both youth and age. This spirit, who introduced himself as Red Mosquito and whose voice was gentle yet commanding, led Prius on a journey through his own yesteryears. Prius saw himself as a lonely boy, neglected by friends and left to solitary pursuits, yet consoled by the discovery of r/Wetshaving, which introduced him to the Lather Games. He visited these festive Games hosted by his role model, Mr. Djundjila, a jovial man who celebrated the Lather Games with mirth and generosity, his joy infectious to all who participated. Prius’s vision shifted to show his lost love, Pride Two, who sorrowfully ended their engagement due to Prius’s growing obsession with wealth. Prius watched, heartbroken, as Pride Two later married another, r/wicked_edge, and lived a life filled with love and family, a stark contrast to his own lonely existence. Each scene elicited increasingly deep regret and sorrow from Prius, highlighting the opportunities for happiness he had squandered.

Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits

As the clock struck two, the Ghost of Lather Games Present, a majestic giant robed in green and crowned with holly, appeared. This spirit, who called himself Merikus and embodying the very essence of Lather Games joy, whisked Prius to bustling city streets and humble homes filled with warmth and cheer. They arrived at the meager abode of Hug Bucket, where the family prepared a modest feast with what little they had. Despite their poverty, they were rich in love and happiness, their hearts aglow with the spirit of the Lather Games. Prius’s heart ached upon seeing Tiny Tsar, Hug’s frail son, whose cheerful spirit belied his grave illness. The spirit’s touch allowed Prius to see the Bucket family’s deep affection they held for one another. Merikus also revealed to Prius two emaciated children, Ignorance and Want, hidden beneath his robe, warning of the dire consequences they represented if left unchecked. The sight of these wretched beings filled Prius with dread and a burgeoning sense of responsibility.

Stave 4: The Last of the Spirits

The final apparition, the Ghost of Lather Games Yet to Come, appeared as the clock struck three, shrouded in a deep black garment that concealed its form. This silent specter, with a small nametag reading “Hello, my name is Velocipedic”, conveyed a chilling sense of dread as it led Prius to scenes of a future Lather Games. Prius witnessed the callousness of shavers discussing a death, indifferent to the deceased’s fate, showing neither sorrow nor respect. Prius found himself in a pawnshop, where various Redditors haggled over the possessions of the deceased, soaps and fragrances pilfered from his very deathbed. In a graveyard, the spirit pointed to a neglected tombstone bearing Prius’s own name. Prius recoiled in horror, realizing that the unloved and unmourned man was himself. Desperate and trembling, Prius begged for the chance to alter his fate and vowed to honor the Lather Games in his heart all year round, pledging to learn from the past, present, and future.

Stave 5: The End of It

Awakening on Lather Games morning, Prius was overjoyed to find himself alive and resolved to change his ways. He delighted in the sights and sounds of the Lather Games, laughing and crying in sheer exuberance. He flung open his window and called to a passing boy named Bmac, sending him to purchase the prize fragrance from the Mammoth shop to be delivered to the Bucket household. Prius dressed in his best clothes and stepped out into the bustling streets, greeting everyone with a hearty “Merry Lather Games!” He donated generously to charity, surprising two portly gentlemen who had failingly sought his contribution the day before. Prius visited his nephew Chronnoisseur’s home, embracing his festive gathering with newfound warmth and joy, accepting the invitation to join their merry celebrations. True to his word, Prius became a second father to Tiny Tsar, who did not die, and ensured the Bucket family wanted for nothing. Prius’s transformation was profound and lasting; he kept the spirit of the Lather Games alive in his heart always, becoming known far and wide as a man who exemplified the true meaning of the season by dropping out of the Games and committing to only winning once, a testament to the redemptive power of kindness and goodwill.

---

I stand in a Christmas tree lot, surrounded by firs and pines, adorned by lilies and amaryllis, the smell powerful and also powerfully nostalgic. Maybe it’s just the Christmas season, but it almost seems like the scent of warming spices is in the air. I arrive home and find freshly baked molasses cookies cooling on the counter, nutmeg and vanilla wafting through the air. Comfortable and safe, this shave puts me in a magical place. #FOF

---

I find it interesting that the day after I showed my face for the first time on the sub, the judges post a challenge stating “if you are a head shaver, wear a mask”. Very, very interesting. Did you know that many masks have straps that get in the way of shaving one’s head? Not something one thinks about when purchasing a respirator. Well, I did the best I could with the one mask I had readily available. Merry Lather Games, all.

June 26, 2024 – LG Day 26 – Wildcard Wednesday

• Brush: Ateco Ultra Offset Spatula, 7.75in, Black Handle
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Aluminum
• Blade: Gillette Nacet
• Lather: Hugbckt Homestead – Vanilla Buttercream
• Post Shave: PepsiCo – Starry
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Rumble – EdP

Have you ever watched Is It Cake? and thought to yourself, “boy oh boy, I wish I could be one of those cakes.”? Yes? Well, same here. So I made it a reality today.

First, I whipped up some buttercream frosting. It’s pretty easy to do, even if you’re not a baker! I mean, I personally am a home baker who has made wedding cakes in the past, but that’s an irrelevant brag I wanted to throw in here. In process, and final product. (Note: All photos from here on out are SFW-ish, as long as your work is okay with hairy shoulders and above-the-nipple-line-chest.)

Then, I grabbed my offset spatula and went to work. As it turns out, ones head is harder to frost than cake. Even with a day’s stubble, there wasn’t enough to grab onto – possibly a result of all those pesky naturally occurring oils in skin. With much more effort than I was anticipating, I managed to get it done. But you know, that didn’t seem like enough. I looked like an incomplete cupcake. And what I wanted to be was a complete cupcake. So I added some sprinkles. Still not enough. This is a cause worthy of celebration. This is my third Lather Games. Kind of like a third birthday, you know? And as such, I found a way to adequately celebrate this.

I have become Cupcake, destroyer of worlds. (Bonus points if you catch what I was going for with my drawing/markup that keeps this photo safe for work!)

After shaving, I splashed on everybody’s favorite children’s birthday party soda, ~~Sprite~~ Starry. Ahh. Satisfying.

Was too tired to take a proper video, so I took a video (not modest enough to share), took screenshots and cropped for SFW-ish, and made a lil photo album that I think adequately show my dismay and regret through the process.

---

When making buttercream that isn’t destined for my head, I typically use organic powdered sugar as recommended by Stella Parks. Paying the premium is rough, but the flavor is more rounded, and far less sickly sweet. This batch is quite sweet. Scents of vanilla and white sugar, with slight lactic notes from the butter and splash of milk. Starry (the artist formerly known as Sierra Mist) is a classic lemon-lime scent, sticky sweet but not overly saccharine, ultimately refreshing, the perfect way to wash down birthday cake. Rumble joins us to represent chocolate ice cream (a flavor many people enjoy), covered in a special coffee-rum sauce only available to the grown-ups. A perfect finish to a joyous party. #FOF

---

Brushes are scientifically proven to be dishwasher safe, microwave safe, washing machine safe, thermonuclear reactor safe, and sometimes they clean themselves like cats do. Any of those methods should work fine for ya.

In reality, when one of my boar brushes get gnarly, I lather it up on a bar of Dial antibacterial soap, as I do when I have a brush I’m selling, PIFing, passing on, etc. It seems to work alright, but I’m genuinely looking forward to learning what others do.

June 27, 2024 – LG Day 27 – Info Overload

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Synbad Fan
• Razor: Univinlions Kamisori #KAMISORI
• Blade: Ted Pella Injector
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve – Lightning Ridge
• Post Shave: Black Ship Grooming – High Seas
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Admiral

Last night, I asked my partner if she would be willing to wake up a couple hours early to shave my head. The answer was simple: “No.” My otherwise supportive partner has broken my heart. I may never recover.

So, I figured if I’m doing this myself, it would be the ideal opportunity to try a kamisori for the first time. Thank you u/tsrblke for the loan - it came in just in time for today, as if it was meant to be. As a lefty, I did everything with my right hand today. Loading the brush took about 10 times as long as usual due to a complete lack of fine motor control in my right wrist. Lathering was difficult but doable, though it looks like something from dry lather day. Then, after spending not enough time finding the right angle, I shaved my head with my right hand. It was more difficult shaving across the grain from back to front, and significantly more challenging to shave the back of my head. It was bad enough to the point that I’ve made an album highlighting all the nicks I got (proceed with caution), and I had to clean up (still with my right hand, don’t worry) with an injector to get the stripes of stubble I left behind.

---

APR, apparently famous for long scent note lists per folks in the Discord, certainly fit the bill today. 11 notes altogether – Ozone, Lime, Petrichor, Musk, Patchouli, Guava, Bergamot, Pear, Anise, Lily, Grapefruit – per the WSDB listing as well as this Badger & Blade review. (Thank you u/EldrormR for the sample and making this shave possible.) Ostensibly as a result of having so many scent notes, this soap is fairly indistinguishable to me. It doesn’t smell like an aquatic, nor any green soap I’ve smelled; it’s not fruity, ozonic, floral, nor does it fit in any other category well. It’s both everything and nothing. I decided to go the aquatic route with the rest of my shave, because it seemed like the ozone and petrichor notes wanted me to go in that direction. High Seas is the opposite of Lightning Ridge – it keeps it simple and it knows what it is. Sea air, salty water, and cypress. Aquatic through and through. Easy to layer on top of, works with any other aquatic-adjacent soap or frag, and inoffensive (unless you’re one of those folks who hates aquatics). Finally, CL Admiral finds the balance between complexity and a clear concept. With nine notes (or ten+ because “aquatic notes” implies more than one note), there’s a good bit going on, but the notes all complement each other beautifully. Lightly aquatic, lightly green, with a lasting citrus quality – for a fragrance meant to represent summer on the Mississippi River, I can imagine it hits the mark. Sweet, pleasant, comforting, relaxing. #FOF

June 28, 2024 – LG Day 28 – $rugal $riday

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic Li’l Brudder
• Razor: BIC Sensitive Shaver
• Lather: Van der Hagen – Deluxe Shave Soap
• Post Shave: Aqua Velva – Musk
• Fragrance: Brut – Classic Splash On

First off, let me be perfectly clear. Bic Sensitive Shavers are not cartridge razors. They are single-edge disposables. Per Gillette, which we would assume knows what they’re talking about, “A cartridge razor is a razor where the head or cartridge can be detached from the handle so it can be discarded when it becomes worn; the razor handle can then be used with a new cartridge.” Hence, by definition, the Bic is canonically on theme.

Now, onto the “math.” Cheapest everything. Frugality can be defined a few ways, but Brittanica provides a definition that I think best fits how I grew up understanding the term.

frugal: “careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to.”

I was raised on calculating unit prices. My dad taught me to look at the lefthand, orange-highlighted number on price stickers, which was just as important, if not more, than the price itself. Bigger packages usually mean a less expensive per-unit (e.g. ounce, pound, item) price; however, this is not relevant if you will not be using the product enough to make buying the large package worth it. If you only have mayonnaisse once per month, don’t buy the half gallon jar of mayo. It will expire, nullifying your attempt at frugality. It’s worth noting that this is my current-day interpretation of what my dad emphasized so strongly; he had a much looser interpretation of expiration dates than me, and I’m pretty lax about them (much to my partner’s dismay).

• My Stirling Lil’ Brudder cost me nothing, as it was passed onto me by my father in law, but even that notwithstanding, it’s my cheapest brush. Coming in at $11.99, it’s a solid dollar and a quarter less than the runners-up.
• Bic disposables, particularly if you can get them on sale, are worth keeping around in my opinion. They live in my car, because if I get to work and notice that I missed a spot on the back of my head, I feel compelled to fix the issue or else be stuck thinking about it all day. At current MSRP, they’re $4.49 for a 12-pack, so about 37¢ a shaver; I almost certainly paid less.
• I picked up VdH Deluxe on a whim – because it was around two dollars and I thought, why not, Frugal Friday was going to come around. I never took it out of the plastic to smell it, though, and that was a mistake. If I had, I would have tossed it so I could use Proraso (which at $10 for 5.2oz is $1.92/ounce). It smells of old ladies, and in a way that makes me almost think Tabac is good. At the $2.19 I paid, it’s a whopping 88¢/ounce. At MSRP of $3.49, though, it’s still only $1.40/ounce, easily the cheapest soap in my den.
• I bought AV Musk after seeking somebody (probably u/USS-Spongebob) recommend it as a favorite despite being so cheap. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but at $3.17 for the bottle (and 91¢ an ounce), I’m sure I’ll hold onto it and give it another go when I’m craving the musk.
• Here is where I contradict myself. If frugality is all about avoiding unnecessary spending, then this fragrance was not in the spirit of the challenge. However, I simply don’t have cheap fragrances. The cheapest I owned was a Stirling EdT, which doesn’t feel super frugal at ~$27 a bottle (though I recognize this is very cheap compared to much of what I own, and absurdly cheap compared to some of the big designer frags). So I went on a mission to grab the cheapest mass-market yet popular fragrance that isn’t a body mist or body spray. Brut saves the day. At its current Walmart price of $5.48, it’s a meager 78¢ per ounce. Unheard of for a fragrance. Creed Aventus (for a standard 50ml bottle) is $214.70/ounce.

Notably, I didn’t actually start wetshaving to save money – it was all about finding a way to stop the razor bumps & burn that plagued me after shaving with the allegedly foolproof HeadBlade, or any other cart. Even then, I started with Proraso and a cheap, shitty Amazon brush and razor set that was likely tossed at some point. It did the job at the time, though, and I was happy enough with how Proraso smelled.

I now realize that frugality has its limits, though. This shave is powdery. Decidedly not my favorite scent profile. The soap was the worst part. Lots of rose and powder, full-on old lady perfume, nothing that I’m looking for in a wetshaving soap. It lathered and shaved surprisingly well for its laundry list of ingredients and concerningly low price, but this smell just ain’t it. AV Musk is, as one might expect, smells primarily of clean laundry with strong powdery notes, and a light floral touch. It’s not my typical cup of tea, but I can see that it’s a good representation of the genre. To finish out the day, Brut, which I’ve seen described as woodsy and a fougère, just reads as powdery to me. Maybe it’s because of the other scents on my skin, but it’s all I’m getting. The scent of alcohol is so strong off the bottle that I can’t smell it more to try to identify other notes, and my wrists/neck are, again, just powdery at this point. To answer the ultimate #FOF question, “How do your scent choices make you feel?”, the response is simple: powdery.

June 29, 2024 – LG Day 29 – Sandalwood Saturday

• Brush: Shave Forge 24mm Horse Hair x Muninn Woodworks Handle #HORSESASS #FRANKENBRUSH
• Razor: Schick Injector
• Blade: Ted Pella Single Edge Injector
• Lather: Cella – Buongiorno al Sandalo
• Post Shave: Epsilon – Scottish Spirit
• Fragrance: West Third Brand – Smoked Sandalwood

Today’s shave is very far out of my comfort zone in terms of fragrances. Despite sandalwood being super popular in fragrances, there’s something about it that’s not quite my jam. However, I think I’ve come to the point that I can tell when a sandalwood scent is “good.” And I can say with a great deal of certainty that Train Emoji Cella is good. I had initially assumed that this would be a straight sandalwood scent based on the name, but rather, Buongiorno al Sandalo does an excellent job at building an accord that highlights the sandalwood. Greater that the sum of its parts and whatnot. The 🚂🚂🚂 gang knew what they were doing when they a) started the train and b) got Maggard to start selling this. I’m thankful that it’s strong, because Scottish Spirit…just doesn’t do it for me. I’m not sure why this is still in my den. It has sandalwood in the mix to be on theme, but it’s not as sandalwood-forward as I want it to be. After some googling, I believe it’s supposed to give the impression of Scotch whiskey, but in practice is not doing so particularly well. It’s a bit directionless to my nose. Finally, WTB Smoked Sandalwood brings us back firmly to the theme of the day. The cedarwood in the base notes comes off as a bit stronger than the sandalwood to me, which is a pity considering the name. It’s a very different take on sandalwood than the Cella; it’s smoky and spicy, with a particular herbaceousness to it which is quite delightful, while the Cella is a highly aromatic take with an unmistakeable sandalwood base. #FOF

---

I certainly couldn’t say who’s winning this. I can say that these are not the words of someone who is confident he is going to win.

I look forward to the Lather Games every year. They are the pinnacle of this community. The Games are joyful, fun, and silly, but inspire such passion, hard work, collaboration, and creativity. Some highlights for me in the past month include:

• Everything u/enndeegee has done. I know he’s playing his own version of the Games and hence can’t win, but has posted some of the funniest and most creative content this month. A particular favorite for me is the Los Dupe nonsense.
• u/tsrblke and his cardboard Prius, which led me to have to decide if it counted as a model or a “real think” for the photocontest
• u/iamhonestlylying and their top 5 lists
• u/throwa-waaaay and their outdoor shave technicality. Granted, this is the type of thing that leads to the Air Bud Rule.
• u/Crossan1983 and u/tsrblke being willing to have their little ones drag a blade across their faces
• u/Priusaurus and his commitment to public shaves (especially the one at his office)
• u/Impressive_Donut114 and his commitment to daily videos, all of which I will get around to watching one day
• u/jeffm54321 and u/alg82 and their commitment to conciseness and playing their own version of the Games
• u/FireDragonMonkey and their acrostic poems
• Spite Shaves and friendly ribbing
• Every time someone shaved or lathered with a non-traditional implement
• u/loudmusicboy and his very New England den tour (and for putting up with my BS)
• All the sincere posts, particularly the Father’s Day post by u/BossHoggins10 and the Christmas post by u/jwoods23
• Users who actually know how to make good memes
• u/Priusaurus eating lather so I didn’t have to
• u/Newtothethis for sticking around despite a frightening lack of gender diversity in the Games this year
• Everyone who engages beyond just posting, especially u/tsrblke, the king of engagement
• u/enndeegee creating a thoughtful award for every single participant today

I’ve had a blast this year. Thanks to everybody for the wonderful memories.

June 30, 2024 – LG Day 30 – The End

• Brush: Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 24mm 🇨🇳
• Razor: Merkur 34C 🇩🇪
• Blade: Lord Super Stainless Chromium Coated 🇹🇷
• Lather: Henri et Victoria – Amande 🇨🇦
• Post Shave: RazoRock – Mudder Focker 🇮🇹
• Fragrance: Essential Parfums – Orange X Santal 🇫🇷

I know this is out of the ordinary, but I will not be writing a lengthy treatise today. Rather, in honor of all the players who played the Games “their way” this month, particularly Cowzilla3, enndeegee, and alg82, I’ve recorded a little song (which I’m amazed Crisp_Mango didn’t parody last year). Lyrics are below, for those who need them or prefer not to listen.

All products today are from different countries, and none from United States of America (where I live). They are each denoted by their according flag emoji, but to make sure it’s clear, in order of product listed: China, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Italy, France.

Now, for my final trick, I convince the djudges and wally that my shave has a thematic thread that ties it together, beyond meeting the challenge. Amande is a take on the classic almond shaving soap a la Cella, and presents as an almond biscotti which has been soaked in American bright red maraschino cherry juice. It’s a kick in the face, and hardly mellows upon lathering. Now, what to follow this up with? Well, thinking about what Cella believes you should pair with their soap, an aromatic aftershave seemed appropriate. With clear culinary and citrus top notes, Mudder Focker blends surprisingly well with the maraschino note, before it takes over entirely. Now, what’s weird about Mudder Focker is that it’s allegedly a dupe of Panama 1924 by Boellis. If that’s the case, it seems to be a…creative take. I haven’t smelled Panama 1924 before, but the internet tells me that there’s either an almond note or a tobacco flower note, neither of which show up in this splash. The former would have likely been more welcome than the latter, in this scenario. I maintain that the folks at Cella were out of their gourds when they decided to make such different and not-very-complementary scents. Though Orange x Santal might not be what I would typically spray on after such a sweet almond soap, it’s a perfect addition to today’s splash. The sandalwood is a clear connection here, along with the herbal notes which drift around in the background, while the bitter orange is a fun, bright, complex yet simple ending to this fragrance journey. #FOF

And with that, I bid you all adieu.

---

And now, the end is near

And so I face the final lather

My friend, I’ll make it clear

We had our fun, with all the blather

We shaved ourselves each day

No care for formatting the right way

And more, much more than this

We did it our way

Good laughs, we’ve had a few

Like when I skipped that challenge

We did what we wanted to

And skipped the points for hardware scavenge

No plan, no charted course

Each silly step, the game that I played

And more, much more than this

We did it our way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew

When we broke the rules, formatting skewed

But through it all, when there was doubt

We lathered up and shaved about

We faced it all, and stood up tall

And did it our way

We’ve loved, we’ve laughed and cried

We’ve had our fill, of memes and puns too

And now, as games subside

We find it all so damn amusing

To think we did all that

With no real goal, some others might say

We did what we felt like

We did it our way

For what is a shaver, what have they got?

If not their jokes, then they have naught

To spam the threads with shaving memes

And not just follow others’ schemes

The record shows we took some blows

And did it our way