June 18, 202

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Chisel and Hound Sakura with v21 Fanchurian
• Razor: Muhle Companion
• Blade: Astra Green (Indian)
• Lather: Crabtree & Evelyn - Sandalwood
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Sego Aftershave Balm Unscented

According to Wikipedia, Crabtree & Evelyn opened a store in 1971, became an international chain, closed most of their locations in 2009, ceased all operations in 2018, briefly existed as an online brand, and disappeared completely in 2022.

When I started wet shaving with a brush and "fancy" soaps 20ish years ago, shopping online mostly wasn't a thing. You bought what you saw in brick and mortar stores, which, for me, was Col Conk or Crabtree & Evelyn. I was familiar with this brand because my dad and grandad routinely gifted it to each other. I bought this particular bowl probably 15 or so years ago, and it's lasted, nearly untouched, because it was never my preferred scent. (I can't remember now what my preferred scent was.)

In terms of shaving experience, it's nothing worth writing home about. Slickness was okay, cushion was meh, post shave was meh. And the sandalwood scent is kind of bitter. Frankly, it's got nothing on modern artisan soaps.

Wicked Edge challenge: I've posted a bit in Wicked Edge, with my most up voted posts being some show and tells. But I gather that the challenge is really about war stories and carnage. So I'll tell a story that I could have posted to Wicked Edge, but didn't. Perhaps 6 months ago, during a typical day and an average shave, I nicked myself between my lower lip and my chin. It drew blood, but seemed really minor, and I didn’t do anything special about it. I went on about my business. While breakfasting, my daughter turned up, gave me a funny look, and asked me if I needed a band-aid. Initially, I had no idea what she was talking about, but then I remembered the shaving mishap, and I reassured her that it was no big deal, and I wouldn’t need a band-aid or anything. She said something to the effect of, “Ooookay, dad,” and backed away. Half an hour later, I made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and I saw that the little nick had bled profusely, with thick streams of dried blood all down my chin. Rinsing the carnage off my face immediately reopened the wound, and I was forced to cork it with a big round band-aid.

ROTY