SOTD by u/OnionMiasma

u/OnionMiasma posted on 2023-07-24 11:45:03-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

July 24, 2023 - Christmas in July’s Eve

  • Brush: Farvour Turncrafts / AP Shave Co. G5A 28mm
  • Razor: Blackland Razors Blackbird
  • Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)
  • Lather: EmberTree Soaps - Spring Water and Oakmoss - Soap
  • Post Shave: Zingari - The Navigator - Splash
  • Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Red Skies

Daily Write-Up:
Today’s challenge is to say something nice about another member of the sub. Which, on the face should be easy to do… but there are so many good things to say.

I’m skipping the Djudges - I’ve definitely had numerous interactions with all of you over the past 18 months, but in the interest of not being accused of brown-nosing again, screw you guys (but, like, gently, like Tenacious D told us to).

It’s hard to come up with a single individual from the hundreds I’ve talked to, shared shaves with, driven to Michigan, and vented about life over IRC or Discord. So… for all that I’m forgetting (keeping my tags to 3, as that’s the Reddit limit where they get a notification) - thanks. I found this sub at a time when I was struggling emotionally - my Mom was in her final months, I was deeply unfulfilled and stressed at work, and had a severe lack of sleep from a newborn. The support from the community and this hobby were just what I needed. Looking back to where I was then - I’m in a much better space now, and the hobby and this place are a big part of the transition (though, my bank account has perhaps suffered a bit).

On to specific folks -

  • Cowzilla3 - tagged below. I’ve really appreciated our constant banter over the past year, it was great meeting you in person back in June, and always look forward to immediately consuming the latest in your long line of Old Spice dupe reviews. This sub will be poorer if and when you ever run out of dupes to try. I’m sorry the judges broke your spirit.

  • u/KhanAir - Somehow we connected during last Lather Games, found we had a lot of things in common, and have kept up frequent conversation in the intervening year. Really bummed that it didn’t work out for you to compete in the LGs this year, but I look forward to beating you next year when your life gets back to normal. On the other hand, if you had competed, I’d be using Lothur today, and the EmberTree is better.

  • u/Priusaurus - Last year you were a worthy competitor, and scored exactly one place above me. I suspect that result… well… will probably repeat itself, in that I’ll be below you in the rankings. Hopefully by only one spot, but probably more. Your ongoing high-quality posts have forced me to dig deep and come up with even more outlandish (but safe!) ways to keep entertaining the r/wetshaving masses, and I’ve enjoyed the back and forth both in the sub and outside it as we’ve moved through the month.

Soap Theme Justification
Product must have been received from another Lather Games contestant as a PIF, trade, or gift with no exchange of currency involved.* Tag whoever gave you the product and express your gratitude. * I received this soap last Christmas from u/Cowzilla3 as part of the sub Secret Santa. My very generous gift included the EmberTree, which is from my home state, along with tomorrow’s soap, a charitable donation, and a bottle of… you guessed it… Old Spice, which was already used in the Lather Games. It was great to try a soap from my home state, even if the soaps I have that are made in my chosen state (read: Chicago Grooming, House of Mammoth) are superior. I’ve definitely used much poorer-performing soaps, and the EmberTree enabled me to get a close, irritation-free shave from a new-to-me razor today. Thanks for sending the box over - I've really appreciated the items.

Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes
* Today’s theme is “Life at Sea, Brought to You by Midwestern Landlubbers” * The soap is called Spring Water and Oakmoss, but to my nose, it’s a very ocean-forward aquatic scent. The folks at EmberTree are from Iowa, which is about as far from an ocean in the United States as you can get. * Layering on top of that, the very good Zingari splash scented with Amber, Marine, and Musk was created to evoke “the spirit of the sea but [also] of the man who carries that spirit as a part of him. Note that Zingari is Indiana-based, which… also is nowhere near salt water. * Lastly, Maher Olfactive’s Red Skies - which is a St. Louis-native’s take on the ocean, with salty ocean air over a traditional Chypre. In case you’re geographically-challenged, St. Louis is in Missouri which is, get this, quite distant from a bay, sea, or ocean.

Detected Items:

This SOTD is part of the challenge
  1. Lather Games 2023
**July 24, 2023 - [Christmas in July’s Eve](https://imgur.com/v2oypeb)**

* **Brush:** Farvour Turncrafts / AP Shave Co. G5A 28mm
* **Razor:** Blackland Razors Blackbird
* **Blade:** Gillette Platinum (1)
* **Lather:** EmberTree Soaps - Spring Water and Oakmoss - Soap
* **Post Shave:** Zingari - The Navigator - Splash
* **Fragrance:** Maher Olfactive - Red Skies

**Daily Write-Up:**
Today’s challenge is to say something nice about another member of the sub. Which, on the face should be easy to do… but there are so many good things to say.

I’m skipping the Djudges - I’ve definitely had numerous interactions with all of you over the past 18 months, but in the interest of [not being accused of brown-nosing again](https://www.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/comments/151suk4/comment/jse2ij0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), screw you guys (but, like, gently, like Tenacious D told us to).

It’s hard to come up with a single individual from the hundreds I’ve talked to, shared shaves with, driven to Michigan, and vented about life over IRC or Discord. So… for all that I’m forgetting (keeping my tags to 3, as that’s the Reddit limit where they get a notification) - thanks. I found this sub at a time when I was struggling emotionally - my Mom was in her final months, I was deeply unfulfilled and stressed at work, and had a severe lack of sleep from a newborn. The support from the community and this hobby were just what I needed. Looking back to where I was then - I’m in a much better space now, and the hobby and this place are a big part of the transition (though, my bank account has perhaps suffered a bit).

On to specific folks -

* Cowzilla3 - tagged below. I’ve really appreciated our constant banter over the past year, it was great meeting you in person back in June, and always look forward to immediately consuming the latest in your long line of Old Spice dupe reviews. This sub will be poorer if and when you ever run out of dupes to try. I’m sorry the judges broke your spirit.

* u/KhanAir - Somehow we connected during last Lather Games, found we had a lot of things in common, and have kept up frequent conversation in the intervening year. Really bummed that it didn’t work out for you to compete in the LGs this year, but I look forward to beating you next year when your life gets back to normal. On the other hand, if you had competed, I’d be using Lothur today, and the EmberTree is better.

* u/Priusaurus - Last year you were a worthy competitor, and scored exactly one place above me. I suspect that result… well… will probably repeat itself, in that I’ll be below you in the rankings. Hopefully by only one spot, but probably more. Your ongoing high-quality posts have forced me to dig deep and come up with even more outlandish (but safe!) ways to keep entertaining the r/wetshaving masses, and I’ve enjoyed the back and forth both in the sub and outside it as we’ve moved through the month.

**Soap Theme Justification**
* Product must have been received *from another Lather Games contestant as a PIF, trade, or gift with no exchange of currency involved.* Tag whoever gave you the product and express your gratitude.
* I received this soap last Christmas from u/Cowzilla3 as part of the sub Secret Santa. My very generous gift included the EmberTree, which is from my home state, along with tomorrow’s soap, a charitable donation, and a bottle of… you guessed it… Old Spice, which was already used in the Lather Games. It was great to try a soap from my home state, even if the soaps I have that are made in my chosen state (read: Chicago Grooming, House of Mammoth) are superior. I’ve definitely used much poorer-performing soaps, and the EmberTree enabled me to get a close, irritation-free shave from a new-to-me razor today. Thanks for sending the box over - I've really appreciated the items.

**Post-Shave and Fragrance Relevance Notes**
* Today’s theme is “Life at Sea, Brought to You by Midwestern Landlubbers”
* The soap is called Spring Water and Oakmoss, but to my nose, it’s a very ocean-forward aquatic scent. The folks at EmberTree are from Iowa, which is about as far from an ocean in the United States as you can get.
* Layering on top of that, the very good Zingari splash scented with Amber, Marine, and Musk was created to evoke “the spirit of the sea but [also] of the man who carries that spirit as a part of him. Note that Zingari is Indiana-based, which… also is nowhere near salt water.
* Lastly, Maher Olfactive’s Red Skies - which is a St. Louis-native’s take on the ocean, with salty ocean air over a traditional Chypre. In case you’re geographically-challenged, St. Louis is in Missouri which is, get this, quite distant from a bay, sea, or ocean.