SOTD December 18, 2014
Prep: Hot shower. Neutrogena face wash. Hot towel.
Lather: New York Shaving Company Elizabeth Street shave cream.
Razor: Standard Razor.
Blade: Personna (CVS branded)
Post: Cold water; Razorock Alum Block.
After: Murray y Lanman Agua de Florida (Peruvian).
So I got "The Barber" box from Bespoke Post in the mail today. It is a very nice starter set and although it doesn't come with a brush -- which is to me something almost essential for a beginning wet shaver -- the rest of the setup is very high quality. I suppose since the cream they supply is very rich and thick, the lack of a brush can be forgiven... Though to me a brush is one of the defining characteristics of a true wet shaver.
The box included a shaving towel, a Gentleman Jon alum block, a pack of Silver Blue blades, a pack of Derby blades, a 2 ounce tub of New York Shaving Company Elizabeth Street shave cream, a short pamphlet on wet shaving "do"s and "don't ", and the real prize: a black Standard Razor.
So I figured what the heck... I'd give the box a try for today's SOLD and see if it was worth the money. As an aside, if you sign up and use the code RESCUE15, you can get the box for $31.50... The drawback being that you are then signed up with them for a monthly shipment of another themed box (not shaving). They promise you can cancel at any time, though, so since I am really only interested in the shaving package they offer, I will likely cancel within the next couple of days.
First, the towel: it's nothing extraordinary, just a linen towel similar to what you might buy for drying dishes. Basically a step up from a shop rag. But I used it as directed and rinsed it in hot water then applied it for a minute or two to my face and scalp after my shower.
Second, the cream: it surprised me a bit at how thick and rich it was. In fact, it clogged the razor a little, and I had to put more water in the sink to swish the razor in, in order to prevent the clogging. But I would say it was a pretty luxurious cream. It is advertised on the label as being for sensitive skin, but I noticed a slightly painful tingling on my scalp, which makes me wonder if it might have ingredients that would irritate some peoples skin. Nice light scent, though, and a lot of both slip and cushion. Comparable to the slip and cushion I felt using TOBS, but significantly thicker. It has kind of a pearly luster, a little like some of the Maggard or Omega softer soaps.
Then, the razor. It is a great looking, modern razor, in sort of a powder-coated black. It reminded me of a stealth fighter when I first pulled it out of the box. It is lighter than I expected... Shouldn't have been a surprise since their site says the Standard Razor is made from aluminum. But just because it is light doesn't mean it feels cheap... Far from it.
It does have a non-standard attachment from the handle to the head; instead of a threaded hole in the handle, there is a threaded hole in the head, into which the screw fits. Kind of odd, compared to the other 3-pieces I've used, but it didn't detract from anything, especially once I loaded a blade and screwed it back together.
One thing I noticed as soon as I started shaving: it has a slightly larger head than many razors I've used, such that the entire blade was covered from end to end of the razor head. Being a head shaver, I have nicked myself above my ears numerous times with Kronas, my FHT, and my Merkurs, because the end tabs of the razor blades stick out a little with those razors. Not so with the Standard. This is something I *really* appreciated and which still stands out as one of the defining features of the razor.
The other thing I noticed was how smooth it felt, and what nice audible feedback it gave. Being aluminum, it is a bit noisier than many heavier razors -- in that you can hear the whiskers being moved down. It felt cool and slick as I shaved. I really liked the feel of it. The resulting shave was close - comparable to some of the best shaves I've had to date. All in all, I was very impressed by the Standard Razor.
I finished with the newly-arrived Agua de Florida from Peru (by way of Shoebox Shave). As another aside, the box from Bespoke Post would have benefited from including one or more small aftershave samples. To me, the box was missing this as well as a brush... But I suppose there's only so much you can include for $45 (or less, after the discount).
Anyway, back to the Agua de Florida. There are some slight differences between US Florida Water and Peruvian Agua de Florida,apparently. I'm no expert, but the U.S. version is clear with a light blue-green tint to it. The Peru version appears more yellow in color. Also, the U.S. version seems to have more cinnamon notes up front with bergamot at the back. The Peru version seems more lemony and slightly more floral and has less of a spice note. I can't say at this point that I have a clear preference one way or the other. I suppose the Peruvian version may be a bit more subtle and refined. And it does come in a giant bottle... I suppose good for liberally dousing people if you are performing some Santeria or voodoo ritual.
Anyway, there's my review of The Barber box and the Agua de Florida. I'll be using the Standard Razor again soon. I was definitely impressed with it.
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