SOS: July 2018

I wish I was in a budget situation that allowed me to get a Bill Neumann product. Maybe someday. I had some sample aftershaves and enjoyed the Heartwood and 1911.

 

Patience grasshopper. Just wait until end of year when they start having holiday sales like I did

 

Well, for me, such a sale would have to extend past 1-1-19, as an NB18er. But we'll see. I'll at least get on their newsletter next year.

 

Menthalpy Monday - SOTN
July 9th..... Treet 1912 with a custom Rod George handle. Rod George brush....
Take care, Jamie

 

That is a beast of a handle!

 

Outstanding set up. The RT is very nice.

 

07/11/18 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with Daisygirl Soaps - Citrus Spice Goats Milk Soap
Crown King Alt-Eleven Shampoo & Conditioner Bar- w/ Prickly Pear, Neem Honey & Yucca Root
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Clubguy Honey & Cider Vinegar Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Barrister's Reserve Spice Shaving Soap
RazoRock Plissoft Monster Synthetic 26mm Brush
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Ox Blood Bakelite Alpha Ecliptic Slant Razor
Bolzano Superinox Blade - 8th Shave
RazoRock Alum Block
Homemade Lime Infused Witch Hazel
Old Spice Classic Aftershave
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements High Jump 47 Soothing Aftershave Balm
Crown King Atomic Age Bay Rum Natural Deodorant - Sport Strength ​

 

I always wondered about that High JUmp 47 (PAA).

 

WEDNESDAY'S SHAVE​

Bath Soap - Pre de Provence Sandalwood (quad-milled)

Razor - Merkur 1904
Blade - Merkur Super Stainless Platinum *2nd Shave
Shave Brush - Ralph Lauren Safari Collection fitted with Synthetic Knot manufactured by Frank Shaving (replaced by jimjo1031)
Pre-shave Oil - Lather & Wood "unscented"
Shave Soap - Geo F. Trumper Sandalwood Cream
Post Shave Balm - Geo F. Trumper Sandalwood Skin Food
Deodorant - Geo F. Trumper Sandalwood
Fragrance - Ralph Lauren Safari EDT

 

July 10th
Razor: Rex Ambassador (3)
Blade: Perma Sharp Super (2)
Brush: SOC mixed
Pre shave: Stirling mentholated
Soap: JoHS Tobacco Bay
Thayers Rose
AS: JoHS Tobacco Bay

Tobacco Tuesday!


Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Thanks Primo!

 

11 July 2018

* Rex Ambassador
* Wizamet Iridium Super
* Maseto Shaving XD 2-Band + Oscar11 Amber Barbeiro
* Grooming Dept After The Fire
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO


​

 

I wanted to say also, besides the Atomic Age Bay Rum, I think another home run product PAA made is the post-shave balm (not talking about scent, but about shave balm itself). It's a really unique balm that isn't greasy and is still a tad moisturizing and seems to have some properties you get in a splash. If you try anything else from them, and you're a balm-avoider (or even if you like balms a lot), you should try one out. I HATE post-shave balms. Literally hate them. I had to go out and find the best, non-oily, non-greasy face moisturizers that have the best ingredients, but leave the face feeling 'normal'. I found what I was looking for in the form of "face serums" that are sold to women. I am a "splash man" straight up and love the sting and tingle and cool sensations of a splash. I will always dig that. But I have to say that PAA's post-shave balm formula is 'good'. It's the best 'balm' sold specifically for shaving that I've tried ever. It doesn't leave grease/oil and has just about the right amount of moisture in the post-shave feel. I still apply the splash, then the balm, but I have to admit, I could use the PAA balm by itself without complaint.

As for some other products, I only bought the hair shampoo puck to augment the 'scent' of the aftershave. As a 'hair' product, it's a bit below average IMO. The solid-stick deodorants are actually good performers. I give them a good grade. Thumbs up on the Deo. (And I've tried DOZENS of deodorants over the past 2 years while putting together shave sets, so I 'know' deodorant.) I think the whole "pre-shave soap" is a bit of a gimmicky product. I have my doubts that it's really going to enhance the shave, but if you end up liking it, more power to ya. I haven't tried any of PAA's brushes or razors, so I cannot comment on those. So, from the products I've seen/tried, it seems like Douglas Smythe really does love shaving and is trying really hard to sell products that wet shavers can enjoy. His Atomic Age Bay Rum is actually a Grade-A '10-out-of-10' scent (and I'm a HUGE fragrance geek). Smythe is gimmicky and has oddball marketing for sure, but I think he's put some honest effort into some of these products and it seems, based on the quality, that he's not just all about the 'money'.

 

Tonight's shave was with a Non-Barbasol Floating Head razor. I had a great 2 pass shave, that left me with a DFS. Zero issues.

Razor- Non-Barbasol Floating Head.
Brush- B400 By Tom. WD Boar. 3 hairs shed.
Soap- Arko/Avon Spicy scented
Aftershave- Florida Water.

 

I only have the balm. I like you was curious, but the balm is very mild scented. It is like a mellow barbershop type scent. I like it, but because the scent is so faint, it is like using Nivea balm. I am not sure I could recommend this product since I think it is really quite average and does not stand out. For me I prefer the Rockwell balm sample they provided with the 6S razor. I think they are similar, but the scent is better on the Rockwell and both preform about the same on the face, with the Rockwell being slightly thicker. To each his own, but that's my opinion. I hope it helps.

 

July 2018

July 10

Razor - Soviet Consul Adjustable (9)
Blade - (1)
Soap - Stirling Ozark Mountain
Brush - Stirling Pro Style Synthetic
Post - Alum

Keeping it aggressive by going back to Mother Russia! The Consul adjustable is the one Soviet razor that I actually look forward to using. I could make a daily shaver out of this one. It has 9 settings just like the Gillette Adjustables, but it is more aggressive than the Gillettes. The gap on a Consul set at 9 is somewhere between a 9 on a Gillette and 6 on the Qshave. In other words, it makes the Gillette look mild, while the Qshave makes the Gillette look Weishi mild.

Stirling Ozark Mountain - again one of my top scents from them. Probably number two in line after Iced Coffee. Still working it out. Their big synthetic brush loads enough lather to open a car wash. Great slickness, feel, and scent and two passes and touchups with the Consul and a Sputnik blade brought another BBS to the house. The razor has a pack of vintage Sputnik blades included, hence my decision to use a modern Sputnik for these next three days.

For those coming to town on Friday be sure to check out the meetup thread. Some new info on there and more to come tomorrow. Looking forward to sharing some cookies with a few of you!

​

 

I enjoy the PAA balms, but High Jump is probably my least favorite. The scent is a just a bit too weak for something that is scented. I like the light methanol in Porthos and think it works well with the Tabac soap scent. When I first started wet shaving, I was not much into balms but over time, now enjoy them most of the time - especially the Atomic Bay Rum balm when combined with the complete set. I think I like Sudsy Soap balms the best, but they are a bit greasy going on. Over time they leave my face very soft and moisturized. Many people complement my skin when I use them. I could see how some may not like them for sure, but for me, they are a hit. I just ordered a couple of Sterling glacial non-scented balms and hope they provide a nice post shaving chill with good stuff for the skin, while not clashing with my aftershaves. I like you, love the feel of a good alcohol aftershave. Many times it is a choice for me to use a scented balm or aftershave, with only a handful of combinations that work well together. This is why I use Nivea a lot since the scent is very mild and works well with most aftershaves.

I really only enjoy the pre-soap boasters for their menthol effect. They give a bit of chill to non-menthol shave soaps. PAA ATG & Clubguy are probably my least favorite since they are more scent (although not much) then chill, and they don't really enhance my lathers since most of my soaps are fairly slick to begin with. They really only have the potential to mess with the scents of my normal lather! I would not buy these again, but do enjoy ICE and especially the menthol Cube. The Cube I find adds a nice level of chill, is rather slick, and fairly scentless. I like the cube so much, I have a back up ready once my current is gone.

I do like to try different artisan soaps for face cleaning. I really only use them to clean my face, typically in the shower, so they do last awhile. I really like Daisy Girl probably the best.

For me, I really like the PAA shampoo pucks. The scents are good and they leave my hair nice and clean. The lather is nice and dense. My hair, all 3 strands, is fairly thin, so pretty much anything will work. Planet 9 is just outstanding. I highly recommend the AS & shave soap as well. I don't see many using it, but for me it is a great, robust manly scent. I think it is my favorite from PAA, even topping Atomic Bay Rum. Kind of a sleeper.

BTW, I really dig the knight. One of my all time favorites. I see he is out again for your latest SOTD Tim. Just too cool my friend.
Steve

 

July 10th
Schick E3 w Personna (4)
B&M Reserve Cool SS & AS
Stirling Finest Fan / Maple
Thayers

 

Menthol Wednesday



Razor : GEM 1912
Blade : GEM PTFE (3)
Shaving brush : Shea moisture black badger
Shaving soap : Proraso Green
Aftershave : Barbon

I just LOVE this soap ! Fresh start for the working day ! ​