SOS: October 2019

Thank you. It didn't look like this when I got it , but was such an awesome shaver (thanks again to @Linuxguile) I had it replated. Chris at razorplate did a great job.

 

Good news Mr B. They had some in stock!

 

Thank You!

 

Thanks Gary!

 

Here it is for "Stephan Saturday"*

prep-Nivea 4 Men Bodywash(Maximum Hydration)in shower
shave-Jeeves of Hudson St. Soap(Bay Rum)
brush-Stoylin Synthetic "Pro Handle"(26 mm)
razor-Gillette Sensor Deuce Pivot DisposeABLE
A.S.-Stephan Bay Rum**

*-looking to make it a "Stephan Sunday" , too.
**-"Fragrant Skin Toner
Aftershave&Body Rub"

 

Segal Open Comb Razor
Personna Lab Blue (modified) Blade
Semogue Excelsior Boar Brush
Sudsey Soapery Citrus & Lime Soap
Dickinson's Witch Hazel w/Orange
Aqua Velva Musk After Shave

 

Thank you!

 

Friday 25th October




Vitos Pre Shave Cream
Stirling Pumpkin Spice Shaving Soap
JR #128 Synthetic Brush
TNNSER 3D with a GEM SS PTFE Blade
Thayers Witch Hazel with Cucumber
Dove Moisturiser
Old Spice Bearglove AS

Another fantastic 'Face Feeler'.....just perfect

 

Saturday SOTD



Razor: Muhle Rocca R95
Blade Feather (D6)
Brush: Rubberset 49-5 W 28mm Zenith Boar
Scuttle: Dirty Bird 1.5
Pre-Shave Scrub: Ginger Garden Enigma
Pre-Shave Oil: AOS Oud
Shave Soap: Mickey Lee Drunken Goat
Balm: Organic Shea Butter
Aftershave: Small Batch Shave Tonic
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Tonight's shave was with a wonderful German made razor. I had a very nice 2 pass shave, that left me smooth as silk. Great shaving razor, and very well made.

Razor- F.W.Engels "Special". Solingen Germany.
Brush- Omega 10098 Boar
Soap- Pinaud Clubman. Smells nothing like the aftershave. Great lather, Blahhhhh smell.
Aftershave- Pinaud Clubman

 

Saturday 10.26.19 SOTD
RazoRock Artisan Bar Soap lather and rise
Gillette ball end NEW LC gold / Gillette Nacet (1)
Vintage Kingsley (Austria) Pure Badger
Williams Shaving Soap in a vintage mug
Old Spice Cologne Original

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26 October 2019

* Charcoal Goods Level 3 OC + Stork Ex Bras
* Wizamet Iridium Super
* WSP 2-Band + Oscar11 Aquamarine C7
* Mystic Water Bay Rum
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO


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Declaration Grooming | Massacre of the Innocents
DrivenLegend Red & Black | APShaveCo Tuxedo 30mm
Ever-Ready SE | Delta Echo | Gem PTFE
Parfums de Marly | Herod

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I am quite pleased to have acquired one of the latest offerings from Declaration Grooming. Massacre of the Innocents is influenced by Parfums de Marly's Herod EdP. After using MOTI just once, I was compelled to pick up a bottle of Herod. This is a lovely cool weather fragrance. The soap and splash do a nice job of approximating the essence of Herod but certainly can't begin to replace it as there is a level of depth and intricacies that are simply not possible to duplicate in the soap or splash medium. I will thus restrict the following impressions to that of MOTI which is quite enjoyable by itself, but if you find this to be pleasant, I strongly encourage you to acquire a bottle of Herod. You will not be disappointed.

Massacre of the Innocents opens with spicy, woody vanilla with an understated cinnamon. It falls just sort of "festive" to me, and for that I'm grateful. From start to finish, the fragrance maintains this warm, cozy, smoky vanilla, but the cinnamon fades in favor of wood and resin. This is soon met with a well-blended tobacco and cedar essence that's reminiscent of a walk-in humidor where the sweeter blends are just inside the entrance. The whole accord swells and ultimately acquires a conservative pleasant musk base without abandoning the warm, smoky, vanilla and woods.

With regard to performance, this was my second use of Declaration Grooming's "milksteak" base, and it continues to impress. It loads a bit more intuitively than Icarus, but from a personal perspective, nothing will replace the unique marshmallow cream loading of their prior bison tallow base. Milksteak lathers just as easily, requiring a typical amount of water, but going just a bit beyond that will raise the performance level. The results are a dense, creamy lather that's quite reminiscent of Icarus. After having used this twice, I feel like the primary and residual slickness that was already outstanding in Icarus, has been improved upon with Milksteak. The post-shave is stellar, but given the performance of today's most elite artisanal soaps, I can't say Milksteak has made a dramatic level change. It's just difficult to even conceive of something beyond perfect which is where I believe about five artisans are right now, yet they're all quite different. Some post-shaves have a natural feel, as if I'd never dragged a blade across my scalp. Others provide a moisturized sensation, and some of those last all day long. Then there are others that leave my scalp feeling silky. I really enjoy all of these "types" of post-shave. My impression of Milksteak is that it's in the "natural" category. I don't want to be the one to pump the hype brakes, because this base is without question one of the best I've used. However, it seems like a natural progression from an artisan who is attempting to tweak as opposed to overhaul.

One aspect I have not mentioned, yet is probably important to some, is the animalic coloring from the Icarus base. I did note this with Icarus, particularly with it's debut fragrance, Santal Auster, but it didn't particularly bother me. I found that airing out the tub was enough to mitigate this effect. In more robust fragrances like Darkfall, I never picked up on these overtones as compared to the bison base. It is my understanding that Milksteak strives to overcome this hurdle, and it may have been the impetus for the formula change. I certainly looked for the animalic coloring in this base, but I could not detect it. Since I was never particularly sensitive to it, I'll let others make that judgment. As per Jason Rudman's review of the unscented Milksteak, it would seem to be a non-issue, now, and that alone may very well be the reason some "upgrade" their favorite scents from Declaration Grooming.

BONUS PIC


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Razor: Century Cutlery “Radio” Steel
Brush: Leo Frilot Disco Haze
Soap: Shannon’s Soap Lavender Lemongrass
A/S: Razorock One X

Enjoy your shave.
Tom

 

OCtober with the FAT

October 25

Razor -Gillette New LC (Delta Echo)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush -Jayaruh #46
Post - Alum

Another cloudy and cool day at Cartel HQ but no rain so we're good. Time to give the Gillette New LC its third shave this rotation with the Sharp Star blade. It's Friday so MWF time again this time with the JR46. This was my first brush from @Jayaruh and also a raffle win for me. I chose it as the first prize in that raffle. It was also my first synthetic knot so now you know where the synthetic addiction began. It's a Maggard knot. And, it had no trouble at all getting the Fat turned into a rich and slick lather. The razor was as smooth as it was on its first shave and I easily made three passes turn into a BBS shave with no irritation. Love it when a plan comes together.

Today's "what in the world" moment. I'm in a restaurant to pick up an order to deliver. The girl at the counter basically ignores me. The manager finally asks who I'm picking up for and I give her the nme. The girl who has been ignoring me suddenly says "oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you were GrubHub". Before I can even respond another customer who is waiting on his order (sandwich chop) cracks up and says...."Really? You're serious?? Wow!" and starts laughing. We both cracked up. Just wondering what might have given it away as I was dressed exactly as pictured.........

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In fact, I took that picture just after getting back in the car. Yes, the hotbag was inside with me too. Anyway, it was worth a laugh. Hope you have lots of those for the weekend! Have a great one!

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shave on..

 

awesome..

 

fantastic shave and pic.sir..