Thanks, Bruce! It is a bummer overall even though it's still a great aftershave. But they hiked the price to $20 a bottle and also weakened the scent...not a good combo.
No it isn't. Fortunately for us in "the hobby" there are many, many other options out there. And at better prices.
This morning, I came VERY CLOSE to settling for one-pass of the Stoylin Barbershop soap, but decided to do the 2, thinking "How sad it would be to waste all that soap I just loaded".
I haven't looked lately to see what they say on their website now. But when I bought their original soap, I remember reading a blurb about it being made for them by a third- or fourth-generation soapmaker. I wouldn't be surprised if they have the same person doing the washes and balms too. Their stuff is made with good quality ingredients and works well. The soap/cream is a tallow base. The one complaint I have is that when they switched from their original soft soap to a slightly softer croap (now called an ultra-concentrated cream), they went from a nice wide tub to a 2" diameter glass jar. Direct brush loading is no longer possible. I emailed and complained and Patrick wrote back that they did it for two reasons. First, guys moving over from canned goo found it easier to scoop cream and smear it on their face and then face lather instead of brush loading from a tub and bowl or hand lathering, so they changed to a cream and recommended that approach now. People who preferred the other style could still smear a scoop of cream in their bowl and go from there. Second, the glass jar was sized to fit into their dopp kit for travel alongside the razor, injector cartridge and balm bottle. I am still not thrilled with the cream jar, but at least they had a reasonable rationale for switching to it and I find scooping into my bowl using a small sampling spatula works very well. The three scents are great. My favourite is Lost Provence -- a mix of lavender, basil and blue sage.
I have two that I will be ordering replacements for over the next couple of months. I will let you know.
Have a great time, Neal! Nice setup, Chris! Awesome shot Jim, and congrats on finishing off another soap! Amazing shot, Clint! That scent profile on the Mikes sounds amazing! Great shot Perry! Thats too Bad about the Fine AB, were the reports on the other scents much the same ? Excellent photo, Mark!
Thank you, Andrew! I have not heard about any other scents being more muted. @clint64 remarked that he'll be replacing a couple of scents in the next few months and can give us a report.
Thank you Andrew. I am enjoying each of the Mike's soaps. I will really get to use them more after I knock off a few of these soaps that are almost done.
SOTD February 9th Schick Injector, Type D Personna (4) Simpson's CH2 Synthetic (27mm, Destroyer Class) Italian Barber "Amici" This morning I had another run at the Amici with The Soap Destroyer, I think I'm about one shave away from seeing the bottom of the tub in the middle, but the soap is still standing pretty tall on the sides. Another nice smooth shave with the Type D and the Personna Injector blade. This morning I went for 3 passes and just missed the baby. Have a great weekend my friends! TGIF!!!
If any brush can finish a soap then it would be the "Soap Destroyer". Now I am certain that it is Friday. What a great picture of your son. He is growing up so quick.
