I agree with your Arko statement. You never hear anyone complain about the way it performs. Never. And if you do, they've never used Arko.

Definitely let me know what you think about it. I think you'll be impressed. Hope you enjoy it as much as i do.

All the products you used for that shave are top notch.

SOTD - Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Hot shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: Ever-Ready 115, TGN Finest 20mm
Soap: WSP Rustic Black Amber Vanille
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Personna Lab Blue (2)
Post: Nivea Sensitive PSB
Aftershave: Ogallala Bay Rum w/ Limes & Peppercorns

Neck SOTD:

Tradere SB
Gillette 7 O'clock SP (blacks)
Restored Rubberset w/20mm TGN synthetic knot
Tabac SS & ASB

Been too long since I've used Tabac. Certainly one of my favorites!

I have some Florida Water, that I haven't used in awhile. Thanks ! Don't worry about congress, it's that guy with the phone and pen you have to keep an eye on.

Wednesday Planned SOTD
Razor: Gillette Rocket HD 500
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (D3)
Brush: Savile Row 3226
Bowl: Symmetrical Sheet Metal Shave Bowl
Pre Shave Scrub: SPAtopia Dead Sea Scrub
Pre Shave Oil: Cedar-Frankincense-Mint
Shave Cream: Fitjar Bregneskog (Norwegian Fern)
Post: Monster Alum Block
Soothing Balm: MdC Huile végétale camomille
Aftershave: Herrera Aftershave Balm​

Last two days have been using a new razor for me the Gillette Rocket HD 500. With a GSB loaded in it I have received two of the closet, smoothest shaves to date with any of my vintage Gillette's. Balance seems perfect with this razor and it appears to shave smoother than my Toggle or Fatboy. Maybe my face, whiskers are changing with the weather changing seasons but now I can see what all the hoopla was about regarding this razor.

Tomorrow morning shave will be a first with the Fitjar Norwegian Fern and with all the rave reviews I had to purchase this one as I do like fern scented soaps. After I bought it off another member different forum, he informed me that due to new labeling laws the Artisian based in Norway has decided to longer sell her product line. I hope this is not true as I did a test lather off a dollop size amount off the jar lid and the cream exploded into a rich lather. Cant wait to actually use the product tomorrow morning.
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Evening Shave for Tomorrow
I was blessed to be able to try out both a new razor AND a custom new brush tonight: a superb C.S. Bresnick Suprej (Thanks, Mitch!) and an Oscar11 custom boar brush (Thanks, Steve!).
Both performed wonderfully — the brush generated bountiful MdC lather and yet still needs to be broken in to reach its full potential! I really like the feel of the handle in my big mitts!
I took the blade to the Apache red and Strata to smooth it a bit and the Bresnick took a very smooth, keen edge. Three passes and über-smooth results! Overall, a very memorable shave!
Have a great Humpday, all!

Planned Weds SOTD
59' Fatboy
Ladas blade
New Forest silvertip brush
Tabac shave cream
HTGAM Bay Rum AS
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S.O.T.D.

Bakelite Handle Tech
7 O'Clock Yellow
Duke 2
Krampert's Frostbite Prototype
Krampert's Frostbite AS

Yesterday's shave- Menthol Monday.

Prep: hot shower, Neutrogena Face Wash.
Brush: Turkish #6 Brush.
Razor: '62 Gillette Slim.
Blade: Personna Lab.
Cream: Palmolive Menthol.
Post: cold water rinse, Fine American Blend.
Pomade: Dapper Dan Deluxe.

That shave was awesome. Two passes got me BBS with no nicks, irritation or anything. Not to mention plenty of menthol.

Today's shave- less menthol.

Prep: hot shower, Neutrogena Face Wash.
Brush: Turkish #6.
Razor: '62 Gillette Slim.
Blade: Personna Lab.
Cream: Proraso White cream in the tube.
Post: cold water rinse, Fine American Blend, Myrsol Emulsion.
Pomade: Uppercut Deluxe.

After using Palmolive Menthol exclusively for over a month, I stepped away from it. I only did because my much anticipated tube of Proraso White cream arrived today. The white tube is next to impossible to find stateside, but there are a few vendors in Europe who carry it. First shave was pretty good. I didn't feel any menthol, but I don't remember feeling any menthol from the Proraso White soap. The performance is typical of what you would expect from Proraso, which is good. I also used Uppercut Deluxe pomade for the first time today. It has a fresh coconut scent that reminds me of being in Puerto Rico. The hold is fantastic and since it's water based, it comes out really easily. I picked it up at the mall today which adds to the awesome factor.

Classy Wednesday
I went with RPTD today - matched with HTGAM Gondolier for an excellent shave and classy scent. These two seem to be meant for each other. My face feels smooth and moisturized.
Prep: Proraso White
Soap: Reef Point Test Depth
Brush: HIS
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Voskhod (3)
AS: HTGAM Gondolier

today's shave
hot water wash with dove+ care
rubberset restore w/ custom two band finest
soap commander love
cadet tto14
persona lab(1)
soap commander love balm
crusella&co legitima rose
today's shave was nice. I normally don't like using too many new things at the same time. but I did. soap commander made excellent lather, shave performance was flawless. the label says true rose, it didn't lie. I don't think it could smell more like a rose, subtle it's not. three passes of the cadet definitely left me bbs, comfy too. this is a big razor, not poorly balanced, but large. I'll use it a few more times before making any formal comments. but it gave me a nice shave today. I finished with soap commander love lotion. but then felt I needed a little whiskey in my "rose" water. so I splashed on legitima, just to man it up some.
all in all,I got a great shave this morning.
hope y'all did as well, or better.

Wednesday's Shave



Prep: Hot shower w/ Grandpa's Pine Tar
Soap: Mama Bear's Amber Romance
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: '52 Gillette Super Speed black tip
Blade: store brand Israeli Personna
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm
Scent: Pinaud Clubman

I'm liking the scent of the Amber Romance. The black tip is lighter than I like though. Decent 2 pass shave. Tomorrow I think I'll try the same soap with my Tech.

What is the Rose water? How come it's manlier? =)

This true rose is very intriguing!

Shave of the day

Pre- Hot shower, Bulldog Original face wash, Sandalwood bar soap. I put some The body shop vitamin E cream cleanser as a pre, just wanted to try if it made a difference.

Soap/cream- Cyril R. Salter luxury shaving cream Wild Rose

Brush- Semogue 1470 boar

Razor- Gillette Slim adjustable(5)

Blade- LADAS(3)

Post- Cold water rinse, Pinaud Clubman Classic vanilla aftershave lotion and Nivea sensitive aftershave balm

I love the Rose smell in my shave, I will be expanding the Rose products. Cream, AS balm and lotion. This Cyril R.Salter cream is very nice.

The semogue boat was better now than last time I used it, but it doesn't hold as much lather as my badger. But it's getting a little better =)

Ladas are very good even on the third shave, but It will not be seeing a fourth shave. 3 is the magic number. Clubman vanilla smells amazing =)

I inserted the word "rose" in my statement to complete a pun.
I just meant to say I wanted to dilute the scent a bit.
for me, the alcohol smell of the crusella&co adds a component to the overall aroma.
I like it.

3/11/15

Prep: Warm wash and Cornhusker's Lotion
Lather: Frankensoap
Brush: BodyShop synthetic
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Wilkinson Sword (2)
Post: cool rinse and Proraso green aftershave lotion

3 simple passes and a nice cool and smooth face.

I have used the Cyril R Salter, it's very nice.
you'll like soap commander also.
it's very tart and green smelling, exactly like a fresh rose.
the commander is more like a soap than a cream.

Merkur Progress
Derby Orange
Paladin - PK-47
Maggard's - Mango Sage Tea
Fine - Platinum

Creed - Aventus