u/Priusaurus's SOTDs for challenge 'MMarch24 Maddness Matchup 2024'

March 1, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: AP Shave Co - Black&Clear - 26mm SilkSmoke Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - 40 Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co - 40 Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co - 40

I love both artisans and have A LOT of B&M in my den, however, I love an underdog story, plus CGC just released the sub-exclusive, so Vida is my pick today. #MMarch24

March 2, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Gold/Blue/Black - 26mm - Mags 26mm SHD Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Saturday Morning Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Co. - Cream Soda Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

I think I gave my face diabetes with today's sugary sweet combo.

March 3, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts X John Butcher - "Mark" - 24mm - AP Cashmere
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Pomona Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Hot Apple Cider Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

This should be a close match-up today, but I'm sticking with SW.

Man, does Pomona smell good... Gone but not forgotten...

March 4, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Evil Zebra - 26mm - Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Shire2 Soap
• Post Shave: Moon Soaps - Tobacco Flower Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Haverford Balm

Wide range of tobacco-ey scents today. Felt right as Spring is right around the corner

March 5, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Gold/Blue/Black - 26mm Mags SHD Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Balm
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Homecoming

Happy Thé Tuesday!

March 6, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: AP Shave Co - Black/Gold Flakes - 30mm - Oumo Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Druantia Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Druantia Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Merchant Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - 3 Scots

Really enjoying the layering of the woodiness of Druantia and the Amber/Spiciness of 3 Scots. Feeling and smelling great today!

March 7, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Farvour Turncraft - 26mm - Oumo Lotus Ace Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Watchman Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Deep Blue Sea Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

I don't have a lot of DG or Zingari represented in my shaving soap arsenal - just a few samples of each. So I'm going with the underdog today because Heather makes my absolute favorite post shave balm. I use Zingari's post shave balm pretty much daily. I know this is a competition about soaps, but in a toss up like this, I'm stick with the one who has the product line I use the most.

March 8, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - 1904 Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

Beautiful day and a beautiful shave. Happy Friday all!

March 9, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Scots Pine Sheep Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Christmas Eve Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

Happy Stirling Day, everyone! I have a TSF set in my den, and I love supporting underdogs, BUT I just can't go against Rod. Excited to see what the final score of this match-up is!

March 10, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Bergamot Lavender Soap
• Post Shave: Taconic - Lavender Lime Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Homecoming

Decided to really break in this cheap Yaqi Boar I've had for a long time and only used a handful of times, so I'll be using this for the foreseeable future.

In other news, I'm heading to a Daniel Tiger Live show this afternoon with my kids. Not exactly exciting, but at least I'll be smelling good while I'm there! #PrayForPriusaurus

March 11, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning Soap
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning

There was no way that I wouldn't be using SBS today. Now, this set may not be the best example of the wonderfully pleasant scents that Kyle creates... But it's THE example of why I'm riding with Summer Break Soaps. Kyle didn't have to create a Doritos and Mountain Dew set for us... Hell, he didn't even WANT to create a Doritos and Mountain Dew set for us. But he did. Because he's one of us, playing along with the sub's shavanigans and is a wonderful supporter of this little community of ours.

Now, the frag is ~~awful~~ not my favorite, but I feel like I needed to rock the trifecta today in order to establish dominance. I hope today's match-up makes the Talent Soap Factory vs. Stirling bout seem competitive.

March 12, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Through the Fire Fine Craft - Power Wagon Soap
• Post Shave: Hoffman's - Space Boy Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

Meh shave today. TTFFC soap is okay, but certainly not top tier and this Yaqi boar is very early in the break-in process. The good thing is, I really enjoy the scent of the soap and splash, so it's not all bad. Just not my favorite shave this week. Big match-up tomorrow!

March 13, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Irish Coffee Soap
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co - Seibo Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

Tough match-up here. Catie's Bubbles is one of the OGs of wetshaving. Been around for over 10 years and started making a vegan soap because someone told him it couldn't be done. Mr. Bubbles in my LG interview series:

"... there were two soapmakers in a Facebook Group that threw down the gauntlet saying that you can't make a good shaving soap without using animal fat. I took that as a challenge and I've never turned my back on that. Neither of them is involved with the industry anymore, yet here I am..."

This is a guy that I want to ride with. Chris has been a big part of this community over the years, and makes stellar products.

Nothing against Spearhead. Everything Dennis had made is fire. Spearhead doesn't miss. But I think Catie's Bubbles is gonna need all hands on deck today, so I gotta do what I can for the underdog.

March 14, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Rawr Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive

Beautiful Spring day today, so I'm using Spring scents! I'm not ready to put the shovels away and move the snowblower to the back of the shed just yet, but that day is getting real close...

March 15, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - King of Bourbon Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Rumble Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love what Ben makes. If I had to pick 5 of my favorite scents in this hobby, HoM probably represents 3 of them.

But I'm looking at the score thus far and the Mammoth is, unsurprisingly, stampeding the cow. And Sri is a super nice dude and an OG of this hobby. WK makes some quality products and King of Bourbon is one that I enjoy, so I'm tossing my shave to WK, because he doesn't deserve the kind of defeat that A&E and TSF got.

March 16, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Lakewood Soap Company - Honey Mash Soap
• Post Shave: Hoffman's - The Great Escape Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Hoffman's - The Great Escape EdP

I never see Lakewood Soap Co used here, but this scent is so, so good.

Have a great weekend, all!

March 17, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts - Gold/Blue/Black - 26mm - Mags SHD Badger
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

This sub wouldn't be what it is today without phteven and Samhain is a great scent. Love Will and B&M, but I gotta ride with the underdog today.

March 18, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Evil Zebra - 26mm - Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Everett Soap
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Daydream Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

My ~~bribe~~ sample of Everett from u/mammothben came in today and I could not wait to use it. Off the little puck, I was immediately hit with orange and sweetness. Upon lathering, it began to open up and smell like a warm spring day, and maybe a touch of woodiness. For 99% of my shaves, I am a two pass shaver, but today I did 3 passes just so I could enjoy this soap for a little bit longer. Everything about this shave was enjoyable. I am very much looking forward to buying a trifecta of Everett to get the full experience of the scent.

Mark my words: This will be 2024's Scent of the Year.

March 19, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monoi de Tahiti Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

🦦Happy Noble Otter Day!🦦

March 20, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder Soap
• Post Shave: Taconic Shave - Lavender Lime Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

So good.

March 21, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning Soap
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime

There was no question who I was gonna support today. I love damn near everything Stirling makes (including their coffee), but Summer Break Soaps will forever be tops for me.

Didn't use the Remote Learning Frag since I have to meet clients later, but Sea Spice Lime layers very, very nicely on top of the Mountain Dew of the splash.

March 22, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Priusaurus Industries - 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Cakehole Soap
• Post Shave: Talent Soap Factory - Cakehole Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

I was real excited to try this set from Talent Soap Factory. The soap performed nicely and it smelled delicious. Literally just like a buttery piece of cake with a lot of frosting. Simple and enjoyable - very sweet and very gourmand.

The splash was alright. This was a very rare case where the scent of the set came through better in the soap than it did in the splash. The strongest scent I picked up in the splash was the alcohol, which overpowered the fragrance. It burned a little more than I'm used to, but had a very good post-shave feel.

Overall, really, really happy with the soap itself, even if the splash wasn't my favorite.

March 23, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Embrace Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Embrace Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Embrace

An Embrace kind of day today. 🦣

March 24, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Passiflora Soap
• Post Shave: Maol Grooming - Wilde Flowers Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Passiflora EdT

Sunday scaries setting in.

March 25, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Ever-Ready - Restored Vintage 200 - 20mm TGN Faux Horse Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

I'm #TeamOtter🦦 today. Feels weird to go against B&M, since I have WAY more B&M products in my den and I love what Will creates, but that Otter is too damn cute and I love a Cinderella story (plus NO winning probably helps my bracket more).

The blade in the MM24 was starting to drag a little today, but I'm still hoping to make it til the end of the month with the same blade.

March 26, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: The Holy Black - Sugar Cookie Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Dickens Revisited Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm

THB marketing is super cringy, and the NFT thing is weird as hell... But they do make some good soaps.

March 27, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Voices Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Voices Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Sego Balm
• Coffee: Stirling Roastery - Sumatra

Here's how this match-up is gonna end.

I love Stirling and they were my gateway drug into wetshaving, but I need to rep HoM today. They have two completely different business models, but both are extraordinarily good at what they do. Today my nod goes to the competitor whose shaving products and fragrances I enjoy more.

Now if this was a competition on whose coffee I like better, things may be different....

March 28, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm - Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem Balm
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Electric Mayhem EdT

Feeling like a little Mayhem today. Tetrihole of Electric Mayhem today. Getting my B&M fix in today before using the Mammoth tomorrow.

March 29, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts X John Butcher - "Mark" - 24mm APShave Co Cashmere Synthetic
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Everett Soap
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon's - Tangerine Dream Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

Here's what we've been battling for all month. The champion among champions. The best of the best. The crème de la crème. Who Tom Brady is to the NFL and who Taylor Swift is to the rest of humanity... The artisan who rose above the rest and destroyed their competition every step along the way, leaving a trail of old blades, badger hair, and disappointed artisans in their wake.

And for that, I have to go with House of Mammoth.

Both these guys do things the right way, have wonderful scents that they each create, and provide us top of the line products. The decision wasn't easy, but I give Ben my vote today. May the best artisan win.

March 30, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Spiced Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving - Seaforth! Spiced Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm

Solid shave today.

March 31, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Yaqi - Barbershop - 24mm Boar
• Razor: EldrormR Industries - MM24 - Tag: #MMarch24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Saturday Morning Soap
• Post Shave: Taconic Shave - Lavender Lime Splash
• Post, Post Shave: Zingari Man - Unscented Balm
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Passiflora EdT

Happy Easter all!