SoS: April 17, 2017 - April 23, 2017

Tuesday Planned SOTD

Vintage Merkur razor
Rudy Vey beehive brush
Soapmakers of Awesometown shaving soap
Captains Choice Lime aftershave

 

Love the aqua colored vintage theme. Great Photo.

 

Great looking shave and pics buddy.
Steve

 

Chatillon Lux + L&L Grooming - Blackberry Blossom Bay
Island Bladeworks "Bullwinkle" | TGN Finest
Ever-Ready SE | Gem PTFE (1)

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I would have liked to have included some blackberry blossoms in the pic, but well, in light of our non-existent Winter and early Spring, they have already yielded to actual berries which the wildlife have pretty much pillaged. But, as always, we're covered up in bay out here. Specifically, our underbrush is probably 80% wax myrtle/bayberry (Myrica cerifera) which emanates the pleasant fragrance year-round, peaking this time of year.

Blackberry Blossom Bay is as close to bay rum territory as it can be without having an actual rum note. As such, it is very much a Spring iteration, which is not to be translated as light or short-lived. This is a robustly fragranced soap. The inclusion of blackberry blossom is a nice touch, and it's held up by soft vanilla and sandalwood. The overall accord almost tricks me into thinking I smell clove, but I really don't detect it, nor do I feel it. Additionally, my brain tries to fill in the rum, but it's not there. Instead there's a floral and blossom component that's not immediate but rather unfolds and sweetens a bit during the shave, succumbing to light cinnamon in the latter stages.

L&L's bison base is ridiculously dense and slick. I have enough of these under my belt that I can confidently say this is one of the elite soaps in the artisan realm. I'm a huge fan of clay in soaps provided it's done right. L&L's is one of the best applications of clay in a soap base I've ever encountered. It rivals Stirling's old formula, but it lathers easier. L&L is one of the easiest and consistent lathers I've used, provided I load with a barely damp brush until I get that sticky, stringy substance embedded in the knot's tips. Then, I dunk the knot in my hard water and go to town with a perfect scalp lather, completely skipping the big bubble stage.

So, to dance with who brung me, I finished with Chatillon Lux's splash. Again, the bay rum "suggestion" makes me anticipate the impending flush (my skin doesn't care much for cinnamon), but it doesn't happen. It's the perfect ratio of bracing and cooling along with a heavenly and unique take on bay. The floral and bay are initially more forward, but the dry-down introduces the sandalwood, vanilla and sweet citrus, but just as you think it's stabilized, a slightly pungent, but glorious berry blossom overtakes the fragrance and actually seems to intensify about an hour later. The staying power is one of the best in the business as I continued to enjoy it a good 6 hours later. This fragrance is very much a work of art.

When these two guys get together, they knock it out of the park!

 

Tonight's shave was with a freshly honed and restored razor. 2 pass BBS shave, without touchup. Excellent razor.

Razor- Griffon Cutlery. The Darrow & Comstock New London Conn
Brush- B400 By Tom
Soap- ARKO/Avon Spicy
Aftershave- Arctic Blue

 

Thanks Steve!

 

Great review and photo. You have me excited to try this combo. I just received mine in the mail today and will try it in the next couple of days.
Steve

 

Arko Adjustable April!!!!!

April 17

Razor - 1959 (E4) Gillette Fatboy (3)
Blade - (1)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Jayaruh #46
Post - Alum

After yesterday's rather long and quite fun discussion about blades and how much difference they really make and, after probably surprising a few people by my basic conclusion that blades aren't the major determining factor in a shave, I decided to throw a little pseudo-science at the question again. I wanted to move back to my Fatboy for Arko Adjustable April, and decided to choose a blade that I have tried before and determined to be second tier. The Merkur Super Platinum from Germany fits the bill nicely. While this blade is certainly not among the worst blades, I have always considered it to be in that second tier of blades that are usable but not preferable. To me it's a bit rough, draggy and not all that sharp. That's my last impression of it at least but it has been a year or more since I used it.

Now, I will also state that I know a lot of people who like this blade, based on shave reviews and SOTD's around. But the general consensus would be more to the negative, again based on anecdotal evidence. For whatever that's worth. Did I mention this is a Pseudo-science approach yet? I did? Good.

So, with the JR46 and Arko I removed any possibility that the lather would be either too thin or not slick enough and went to work. Two passes and I found the blade to be smooth at the mild 3 setting. No issues with dragging and overall a nice feel. The finish is DFS, though not as high a DFS as I tend to prefer. Still, it's a good shave. And the fault of the result could be the mildness of the setting as much or more than the blade. That's why I'm giving it three shaves. Up to 6 tomorrow, then 9 on Wednesday. Standard blade trial but I'm being careful to judge only what I feel from the blade each time and the result.

Early results from tonight would suggest that my impression of the blade as being among the "not the sharpest" is probably correct but my impression of it being rough was not confirmed. We'll see how it works out the next two nights.

Tax day today! I trust everyone is all done with that. If not.....there's still time! But not much!

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Timeless Razor, Wolf Whiskers brush
Chatillon Lux/L&L Grooming Blackberry blossom bay soap and Aftershave, Jayaruh razor stand, pre-war Gillette tech reworked by Delta echo razors

 

Good Morning Everyone! SOTD 04/18/17

Gem Featherweight
Gem Personna (2)
Synthetic
Col. Conk Amber
Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aqua Velva Musk A/S

Another Great SE Shave, Smooth And Comfortable!!

Have A Great Day Everyone!

 

Tue. 4/18/17







Marvelous shave with the PAL Injecto-Matic this morning. Three passes for a dolphin smooth and refreshing finish. Enjoy your day friends.

 

Date: 18 April 2017

Brush: - Platypus P&C LE 2017 24mm Fan Manchurian White
Lather: - Tabac
Razor: - Colonial Razors "The General" SE with The Stray Whisker "Howitzer" Handle
Blade: - Kai Captain Titan Mild (Pink) Blade #5
Post Shave: - T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent / Tabac Aftershave Splash & Balm

 

Brass Colonial General SE
Feather Pro (3)
Esbjerg Orange Vetiver Shave Cream
Charcoal Goods Aluminum Handle Synthetic Knot
Nivea Creme Balm
Clubman After Shave

 

April 18, 2017
Wolfman WR1 OC
Feather (3)
“Amigos” Simpson CH2 Jade Synthetic
Route 66 Lumberjack
Fine Platinum

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Thanks very much.

 

Great picture, Roby!

 

April 18 SOTD:

Omega Boar Brush
MWF
Schick Type G
Stirling Unscented PSB
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS

 

Thanks Jim. Have a great day buddy.

 

Pretty picture, Roger!