April 13 - Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti and the return of Dark Chocolate!! Merkur 34C Treet Platinum (Day 2) Dark Chocolate DIY PSO Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti Alum/Thayers/Nivea SPSB this is my second to last Pass Around box sample that was sent ahead. I have heard very good things about this soap so I was anxious to try it. I have to question which version this is for a few reasons. First, SVD is a triple milled soap and the latest has a grey color due to the clay being now used. The sample was in a printed stickered zip lock bag. The sample was rather soft and amber in color. Believing this to be a triple milled soap, I expect to need to use less than a softer soap so I only grabbed half of what was in the bag. There wasn't much to begin with but I feel confident about a gram or just less should be fine. The bag had a nice clean orange scent to it but it was faint. Dark Chocolate's knot (JE #148) had been set about 5 days ago using the DAP aquarium silicone recommended here. I felt confident it was well dried and I wanted my best brush involved with this soap. Upon lathering, I smelled nothing at all. This adds to my belief this is an older soap. This is what SV says about this soap, 'The fragrance Dolomiti rise by a top note of light citrus lemon, with a hint of sage. The core is floral and definitely lavender, with a hint of cloves and black pepper. The tail amber and woody vetiver, patchouli and cedar wood characterizes the personality of the perfume The indication Beta 4.0, indicates the course of product development, initially as a Beta 1.0 and improved step by step.' I started with less than a 1/2 tsp of water and decided to walk it in slowly. It melted away quickly and made a nice paste like lather. a few drops later, I had a nice thick and creamy lather. Finger testing indicated I was pretty good so I proceeded to shave. Upon application and my 3 passes (WTG, XTG and ATG) I noticed this soap was truly silky. I maintained a very light touch hoping to improve on yesterday's shave. My face, the sound of the Treet blade in action and what remained after a stroke all were showed a far superior silkiness over any other soap. Blade drag was lower, sound was more muted and I believe I felt the razor less. Shaving was like gliding over fine silk. I rinsed my face a little to reveal a little stubble in a spot or two. I ended up doing a 4th pass just because I was concerned the soap was hiding stubble and in fact it was. Yes, that is how smooth and excellent glide this soap has. Alum was stinging lightly but subsided quickly. BBS was chased and caught. Face had an almost smoothness like it was pumiced smooth. Only way I can describe it. The soap left a smooth slickness after the razor passed that I desire but whatever residual rinsed cleanly. I really like this soap. In all, this was a pleasurable shave. Wishing everyone a wonderful Holy Thursday. I normally will never desire to order a soap without having smelled it first, this might be an exception. I very much liked this soap. I feel this is definitely a top tier luxury soap.
13 April 2017 TGIT Blade/Soap Focus Shave Today is the last shave of the week(company gives us off for Good Friday) So, jonesing for some Bay Rum, I broke out the Route 66 "Rum Runner" instead of the Razorock XXX. I've recovered my soap lathering mojo and the 10098 whipped up a fantastic lather. The Ball end Tech/GSB combo was at the top of it's game and delivered a DFS+ shave. Next and last blade of the Focus is going to be Wilkinson Sword. Since this is gonna be my travel razor I've decided I need to test a blade I can pick up anywhere. The only traveling I do is down to Texas to visit my son or Florida for I&I. Besides I miss my rotation. So after the Wilkie, I'll carry on with my Soap Focus, but be back to using my rotation. So a splash of VIBR and we're off and running! Good day my fellow Denizens!!
That Avon Maxwell 23 Tribute A.S. is an interesting one. Goes on with a bit of chill(although not as cool as, say, Skin-Bracer), but the chill melts down to a nice comforting feel later on.
Day 18 of 30 days of Henckel straights This was a very nice 2 pass shave today. DFS results without any blood. DIY Pre-shave Oil MDC Face Lathered 24mm High silvertip set an extra 10mm deep 2 passes, WTG, XTG Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm Round Toe 6/8 Henckel 17 1/2
Once I learned technique and riding the cap, my blade sampler became my rotation. I discovered that with only a couple of exceptions I can use nearly any blade with good results.
I agree that sampling should be minimized when one first starts DE shaving. This hobby of wet shaving has so many different parts from razors, blades, brushes and soaps that it can develop into a never ending sampling routine. Sadly it does for many newer DE shavers and results in many mediocre shaves and a prolonged if not impossible development of technique. One of my other life long passions and hobbies is motorcycling. It too offers endless variety and the ability to explore unlimited modifications like tires, suspensions, adjustments, etc. New riders get overwhelmed with the small stuff such as tires or adjusting the suspension. Honestly they would not know or be able to tell what adding 2 clicks compression would do or feel like. Their time would have been better spent learning the basic riding skills and practicing them constantly without changing all the variables. I have come to the believe that small stuff only matters when you master the big stuff. New DE shavers are better served by quickly picking a setup and taking the time to hone their skills and ingrain them into muscle memory. By doing this then their evaluations of blades, soaps, razors or brushes will have some meaning to them and others. This approach also provides a firm baseline that one can return to if experimentation is not working. This method and approach is the entire basis for the 30 day thread. The thread allows the new DE shaver or veteran to come and share their journey, get advise and be cheered on by those that have come before them.
How are you liking the additional aggression of the E series, Perry? Getting a little closer of a shave over the later Injectors ?
Thank you both. I love the patina developing on the brush. It will be interesting to see the patina develop on the razor.
April 13 Gillette Old Type w Voskhod (1) WD High Mountain Badger Stirling Gin and Tonic Thayers Unscented Stirling Unscented Balm w Menthol Day 10 of the Canadian Old Type focus, first day with the Voskhod. Whipped up a nice lather with the Gin and Tonic. This brush is the only one of mine I'd consider a lather hog, but got lots of slick lather with a heavily loaded brush. 3 passes plus touch up on the jawline resulted in another DFS. The Voskhod was a nice pairing with this razor, at least on a one day sample size. Put on some of the excellent Mentholated balm and am eagerly awaiting Spring... After a few weeks with the Old Type, I am getting very consistent, pleasant shaves. The only time there is irritation is if I go truly ATG on my lower neck. That is basically my experience in general, though. Realized after uploading that the picture is awful, and makes the razor looked heavily rusted. That is not the case. Have a great day all!
I think the razor looks quite nice, Just like a scratch or a scar, a little discoloration gives it character.
