July 10, 2023
- Brush: Yaqi – Barbershop Boar 24mm #SMOLL #TEXASPIGSTINKMASSACRE
- Razor: Schick – Krona #UNICORN
- Blade: Wilkinson Sword
- Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks Soap
- Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Tangerine Dream Splash
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Electric Mayhem
- Music: Jimmy Buffet – Boat Drinks
Growing up, my mom would always say that “Music is food for the soul”. Well today, my soul is HUNGRY! Three different music related products, all with scent notes that go well together, with a poorly drawn label, and killer interview coming up today. But first, I’d like 6 sentences to touch on the importance of music, before we move onto shaving things. Music connects people and brings a sense of community, which is so, so, so important to everyone. As human beings, we NEED connection to other people (which is why r/wetshaving is awesome). If you’ve ever gone to a concert where everyone is singing along and living in the moment, and you can feel the music inside you, then you know what I mean. It’s absolute magic and can bring a sense of euphoria that is unlike anything else. When I’m at a great concert, that dopamine rush is better than any other substance known to man. If you haven’t gone to a concert of a band or artist you love in a while (or ever), do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a night out - you won’t be sorry. Now, back to our regularly scheduled shaving:
I love sweet scents, but even for me the Jimmy Buffet inspired Boat Drinks scents is kind of pushing the envelope. If this scent was actually a drink, one would be enough for me. During the shave, I felt like a Parrothead at one of his concerts, so Stirling nailed the vibe of the scent. But I’m gladly in for a two-pass shave today. I’m #ridingwithitchy every day and not matching a scent all games, so I chose Tangerine Dream for the splash because (1) it’s musical and (2) the tangerine actually makes for a pretty good digestif after the Boat Drinks sweetness. And for the people, I chose Electric Mayhem because (1) it’s named after one of the greatest musical acts of all timel and (2) the yuzu and plum played well off the tangerine & vanilla in the splash for a really spectacular #FOF. I’m smelling great and ready to party like it’s 1999.
Why, oh, why is today the drawing challenge? I suck at drawing and I was lucky enough to choose one of Stirling’s more complex labels today. But goddammit, I’m tried my best. And that’s what matters! I “took my turn” with my daughter’s crayons. My twins are almost 3 and they can be very possessive, so I had to give these back the second I was done using them.
DISCLAIMER: I didn’t pay for this bottle of Electric Mayhem. I won it as part of last year’s Lather Games Prize, but that did not influence my opinion of the awesomeness that is Electric Mayhem.
#photocontest – Technology. The fact these two tiny devices wirelessly connect to my phone and deliver awesome quality music into my ears is a modern marvel, as far as I’m concerned.
For today’s interview, Rod Lovan from Stirling Soap Company was kind enough to take part in my Lather Games games. Rod doesn’t need any introduction. I’m going to guess every single person reading this has used and is familiar with Stirling Soap. One of the best soaps out there. Period. And one of the best people out there. Without him, the sub’s exclusive, MOAR BOAR brush would’ve just been a dream, but with his help, it became a reality. So, thank you u/stirlingsoap – for everything you do and for answering all my questions! I’m happy to present to you:
10 Questions with… Stirling Soap Co.
1) Of all the different scents you offer, which is your favorite?
It changes all the time. I work with so many scents that olfactory fatigue is a major issue, and no matter how much I may like a scent, I'll need something new all the time. Right now, it's the West Indies Lime scent.
2) How much of your business is shaving products (soaps/splashes/balms) vs. everything else (the lotions/body butters/bath soaps/edts/coffee/etc)?
We sell more bath soaps than anything else, but the shaving stuff is still driving the train. We wouldn't be as well known if it weren't for shaving.
3) Unsurprisingly, the coffee you roast is also very good. What is your preferred method of brewing coffee?
Thank you! It's world class coffee, and I'm not just saying that because Mandy is the roaster. I typically do a pour over
4) Of the different coffee roasts you offer, which is your favorite?
If you made me choose just one from our current offerings, I would probably choose the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe.
5) Are you a black-coffee sort of guy or do you take it with cream and sugar or flavoring of any kind?
Black coffee, or a latte with nothing but steamed whole milk. I hate sugar in coffee, and flavored coffee gives me a headache.
6) If you could sit down and get a coffee with any person in the world, who would it be?
My wife, Mandy. I'm pretty easy like that.
7) If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?
For relaxation, anywhere with a beach. I love the Caribbean, but would love to visit the South Pacific one day.
8) Where do you see the wetshaving industry trending over the next few years?
I'm hoping and praying that it grows, and breaks out of the plateau it's been stuck on the last few years. I'm going to be putting all of my efforts into reaching people who don't know wetshaving is a viable option. The industry can't continue to rely on selling shaving software to people who already have enough to last a lifetime.
9) I read that last year, you started to offer health/dental/vision insurance, on top of other benefits, such as a 401k plan and above average wages to your employees. How has that impacted your business? Are you currently feeling the pain of the labor shortage that we so often hear about? We're adjusting. Adding the benefits helps us to keep good employees longer, and it's the right thing to do given how much we've grown in the last 11 years. We wouldn't be where we are at without the help of our employees, so I want to make sure they are able to meet their financial obligations and take care of themselves and their families. We're not feeling any pain at the moment, but we were. We've become extremely selective in who we bring on, and it someone is not pulling their weight or making things harder for their co-workers, they typically move on quickly.
10) How does Stirling Soap Company differentiate itself from other shaving soap companies out there?
Our pricing structure. I keep things priced at what I'd be comfortable paying. I'm not cheap, but I also appreciate the feeling the comes from getting good value for my money.