SOTD by u/RedMosquitoMM

LG23-07: Fremen Friday

• Brush: Chisel and Hound 26mm G5 #PREMIUMPLASTIC
• Razor: GEM Junior 1912 #BRASSING
• Blade: GEM (7)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Mélange - Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Ben Franklin - Balm
• Fragrance: Beach Geeza - Bay Rum - EdP
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: West Java. Cijapati, Garut - v: Typica. Tim Tim. Catimor - p: Triple picked. Washed.
• Music: Sleep - Dopesmoker
• LG Tags: #FOF

Before we get to today's spicy shave, let's talk hobbies.

The only other hobby I’ve continued for a while is powerlifting. I've never competed and barely made it through a strict novice program, but I've done an aggressive bulk, bought giant bags of protein powder, considered going full GOMAD, added fractional plates to my bag, upgraded through various belts with different diameters and closures, added straps to my pulling routine, cycled between high-bar and low-bar, wear knee sleeves every workout, am close to wearing out a pair of weightlifting shoes, and keep a detailed training log. I've got delightful phrases like "motion is lotion" knocking around my head. I say "deload," "lock out," "tonnage," "RPE," "one rep max," "5 by 5," and "intensity" unironically. These days regular training is an unexciting part of my weekly routine and I rarely go for PRs, but it's good for my health and drastically improves my sleep. I’d like to train more consistently next winter and finally smash a four-plate deadlift for reps. Those are rookie numbers for even your average home-athlete, but for someone born without eye-hand coordination, it will feel like an achievement. Back to the grind.

What does all that have to do with wet shaving? Nothing. Sorry, can't connect the two at all. This Junior isn't even a heavy razor. Apologies for the abrupt transition.

I kept my SOTD theme simple today and chose three products that all use prominent spice notes in different ways. The Mélange is an obvious choice, but it’s a good one regardless, combining an unusually dry texture with cinnamon (that manages to not light up my face), nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom. I assume Will used Norlimbanol like he did in Death to make Mélange smell arid; mixed with bay and musk, it’s a blast of spice kicked up from the desert floor straight to the face, heady, all-encompassing, and narcotic. This Ben Franklin balm is equally as spicy—if you like the smell of nutmeg and clove, have I got the scent for you! More importantly, I chose it to troll u/VisceralWatch, who doesn’t appreciate this fine Stirling product’s antique-store charms. I happen to think the way these two spices combine with benzoin and frankincense is delightful. Finally, I finished up my shave with a spray of an unusual Bay Rum fragrance. Focusing on the spice component of bay rums, dropping the citrus, and adding a strong base of woods and resins, the EdP formulation of Beach Geeza Bay Rum combines Caribbean booze with a delicious spice cake. It reads as neither gourmand or a traditional bay rum; it’s spicy-sweet but not confectionary, flavored with bay leaf but not overtly herbal, and it takes on a creamy, woody haze as it warms into a crackling, simmering drydown. This is the bay rum to reach for on cold winter’s day or a cozy evening date.

[**LG23-07: Fremen Friday**](https://i.imgur.com/1eAoyZA.jpg)

- **Brush:** Chisel and Hound 26mm G5 `#PREMIUMPLASTIC`
- **Razor:** GEM Junior 1912 `#BRASSING`
- **Blade:** GEM (7)
- **Lather:** Barrister and Mann - Mélange - Shaving Soap
- **Post Shave:** Stirling Soap Co. - Ben Franklin - Balm
- **Fragrance:** Beach Geeza - Bay Rum - EdP
- **Passes:** WTG, XTG
- **Coffee:** West Java. Cijapati, Garut - v: Typica. Tim Tim. Catimor - p: Triple picked. Washed.
- **Music:** Sleep - *Dopesmoker*
- **LG Tags:** `#FOF`

Before we get to today's spicy shave, let's talk hobbies.

The only other hobby I’ve continued for a while is powerlifting. I've never competed and barely made it through a strict novice program, but I've done an aggressive [bulk](https://barbend.com/how-to-bulk/), bought giant bags of protein powder, considered going full [GOMAD](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gomad-diet), added [fractional plates](https://gymcrafter.com/fractional-plates/) to my bag, upgraded through various [belts](https://www.strongerbyscience.com/the-belt-bible/) with different diameters and closures, added [straps](https://www.strongerbyscience.com/the-guide-to-straps/) to my pulling routine, cycled between [high-bar and low-bar](https://barbend.com/high-bar-versus-low-bar-squats/), wear [knee sleeves](https://barbend.com/knee-wraps-sleeves-difference/) every workout, am close to wearing out a pair of [weightlifting shoes](https://www.roguefitness.com/shoes/weightlifting-shoes), and keep a detailed [training log](https://www.strong.app). I've got delightful phrases like "motion is lotion" knocking around my head. I say "deload," "lock out," "tonnage," "RPE," "one rep max," "5 by 5," and "intensity" unironically. These days regular training is an unexciting part of my weekly routine and I rarely go for [PRs](https://www.strengthlog.com/1rm-vs-pr/), but it's good for my health and drastically improves my sleep. I’d like to train more consistently next winter and finally smash a [four-plate deadlift](https://millennialhawk.com/4-plates-deadlift/) for reps. Those are rookie numbers for even your average home-athlete, but for someone born without eye-hand coordination, it will feel like an achievement. Back to [the grind](https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/embracing-grind-barbell-training-beyond/).

What does all that have to do with wet shaving? Nothing. Sorry, can't connect the two at all. This Junior isn't even a heavy razor. Apologies for the abrupt transition.

I kept my SOTD theme simple today and chose three products that all use prominent spice notes in different ways. The Mélange is an obvious choice, but it’s a good one regardless, combining an unusually dry texture with cinnamon (that manages to not light up my face), nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom. I assume Will used Norlimbanol like he did in Death to make Mélange smell arid; mixed with bay and musk, it’s a blast of spice kicked up from the desert floor straight to the face, heady, all-encompassing, and narcotic. This Ben Franklin balm is equally as spicy—if you like the smell of nutmeg and clove, have I got the scent for you! More importantly, I chose it to troll u/VisceralWatch, who doesn’t appreciate this fine Stirling product’s antique-store charms. I happen to think the way these two spices combine with benzoin and frankincense is delightful. Finally, I finished up my shave with a spray of an unusual Bay Rum fragrance. Focusing on the spice component of bay rums, dropping the citrus, and adding a strong base of woods and resins, the EdP formulation of Beach Geeza Bay Rum combines Caribbean booze with a delicious spice cake. It reads as neither gourmand or a traditional bay rum; it’s spicy-sweet but not confectionary, flavored with bay leaf but not overtly herbal, and it takes on a creamy, woody haze as it warms into a crackling, simmering drydown. This is the bay rum to reach for on cold winter’s day or a cozy evening date.