SoS: June 26, 2017 - July 2, 2017

Been a (long) while and it's good to be back!!!

Hot Shower
Jack Black Energizing Face Buff
Leresche No.77
Feather Stainless (new)
Wolf Whiskers custom
Bulldog Beard Oil
Chiseled Face Rhinoceros
Alum
Thayer's Unscented Alcohol Free
Zoologist Rhinoceros Perfume

Got a new toy as you can see. I LOVE this razor!​

 

Sunday's Shave


Nivea Men Face Wash
TABAC Shaving Cream
Jayaruh #199
Gillette 195
Personna Super
CWR
Thayer's Lemon WH
Aqua Velva Sensitive 5 in 1

The TABAC Shaving Cream face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #199 synthetic brush. I did the two passes with the Gillette 195 razor and Personna Super blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva Sensitive 5 in 1 ASB. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Storybook Soapworks - Hook
Ever-Ready 100T | Elite Razor Manchurian
Ever-Ready 1912 | Delta Echo | Gem PTFE (1)

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I'd assumed a soap called "Hook" was just going to be yet another Bay Rum interpretation. A closer look revealed scent notes of "leather, rum, gunpowder, and ocean spray" and thus my interest was piqued. Combine this with the opportunity to try out yet another new artisan, and the hook was set.

In my experience when leather is used in a fragrance, it runs the risk of dominating it. I don't have a problem with that as long as it doesn't overwhelm it. In my den are three soaps that the leather-forward fragrance is masterfully done: The Club's "El Gaucho", Wholly Kaw's "Cuero Oscuro", and L&L Grooming's "Cuir et Épices". Storybook Soapworks' "Hook" is now in their company.

I started to lather Hook with a barely damp knot, and I quickly discovered that would not do as it threatened to pick up clumps. A little dip of the knot and the loading came easily as did the unlocking of the heavenly leather aroma. As I face-lathered, the soft leather was soon accompanied by a damp woody note and ultimately a brass/nickel suggestion. It reminded my of damp leather with brads and hard wood rifle stock rubbing and warming against it. Reflecting on it, the metallic note was probably the gunpowder. It's well established that I'm fairly noseblind to gunpowder due to my constant exposure to the real thing. While I enjoy this surprisingly unique fragrance, the lather gets more dense and paintable. The slickness was unbelievable, and that perhaps was to my detriment. I ended up taking some risky swipes and received a small bite in the mastoid process region for my trouble. Head shaving is largely done blindly so I had that coming and don't hold the soap responsible. Otherwise, the shave was a remarkable one. Storybook also excels in the residual slickness category allowing for clean-passes to be done with a damp palm prep.

The matching alcohol-free aftershave splash is milky and seems to be quite moisturizing, but my skin already felt phenomenal prior to applying it. There was zero tackiness following the splash application, and my scalp/face was dry when I applied it. Initially, the splash's fragrance was ever-so-slightly sharper than the soap, but it quickly settled down to that same beautiful leathery goodness. After about 30 minutes, I began to detect a thicker mellow fragrance that may have actually been ozone followed by a spiciness that was not experienced with the soap. I've about decided said spiciness is from the sandalwood. It was subtle, for certain, but it helped ground the scent. About 5 hours later, this fragrance is still going fairly strong and maintaining its complexity of a leathery, woody, mellow accord.

I know next to nothing about Storybook Soapworks, but this is a heck of a showing in a very crowded market. As long as they maintain this pace, I expect they'll be around for a while.

 

July 1, 2017
Jamie's Night Shave
1. shave secret oil
2. mama bear aged spice
3. semogue boar
4. Mac Metal work aluminum DE, Astra 2nd shave
5. Humphreys citrus witch hazel
6. Family Dollar Spice. PAA CaD balm.

 

Sunday Planned SOTD



Razor: Red Imp 133 11/16 Full Hollow spike point
Brush: Zenith H1 Horse 28mm
Bowl: TDG Style 4 5½” Cypress Sinker Log
Pre-Shave scrub: Lisa's Invigorating Eucalyptus
Pre-Shave Oil: Homemade Lavender Saffron Bergamot
Shave Soap: Grooming Dept Bonum Mane
Post: Monster Block Alum
Aftershave: Chatillon Lux Bon Vivant Toner

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Godrej Lime Fresh Cream sample
JR#130 Maggard's synthetic knot
Suribachi bowl
'59 Gillette Fat Boy, Wilkinson Sword
Alum, Pinaud Lime Sec AS

 

July 2017 - Time to straighten up!

July 1

Razor - Kai Captain J Type (pain stick)
Blade - (1)
Soap - Stirling Bay Rum
Brush - Jayaruh #46
Post - Alum

July is off to a running start on a sale weekend at work, although since I'm in the middle of a 12 day run it really doesn't matter. Time to have some fun and pull out the straights, starting with the Kai Captain. Might as well start the month with the pain stick. My intention was to use the Captain Original blades but I discovered all I have are the mild blades. That's ok. They work fine. I'll just order some more of the originals when I have the chance. I do have one of the Captain Sharpblades, which is essentially Kai's version of the Feather Super Pro. I'm sure I'll give it a try at some point this month.

Stirling for a slick lather with my favorite synthetic knot, the Maggard in the JR46. Great slick lather that has the added benefit of easily taking more water as it dries a bit due to my slow pass while getting the pain stick back under control. No real problems, just took my time and made sure everything was in the proper place with the proper angle and the proper pressure, which is little to none. Two nice passes with some touch up in various directions. I even dared a bit of a slide on the neck at the end. Very shallow angle of slide and no pressure beyond what it took to hold the razor. I'm happy to report no blood was involved at all.

Great start to the month! As I mentioned earlier I plan to spend a lot of time with my straights and want to pull off a successful head shave with my Rabbit TSR.

Oh - four days until CINCO de JULIO!!!!!

 

Date: 02 July 2017

Brush: - Semogue SOC 2 Band Badger in Cherry Wood 24/53mm
Cream/Soap: - Stirling Island Man 5x
Razor: - Colonial General Aluminum Head with the iKon Bulldog Handle
Blade: - Feather Professional #2
Post: - Thayers Witch Hazel 'Lavender' / Bulldog Original Aftershave Balm

 

A FEW RECENT SHAVES


Went with Ballenclaugh Old Barber Menthe, nice barbershop scent with some menthol cooling. Always a pleasure using Ballenclaugh soaps, the lather quality and unique scents make it a great experience, too bad it's no longer in production.

Got a beautiful lather with the Chypre Rose Concerto, love the fresh rose scent, even thou I'm not a big rose fan, this scent is intoxicating. Not the closest shave but it was refreshing.



Decided to give the RR Hawk a try today. Very nice Razor that I should use more often, haven't used this Razor in a while, but it is nice and smooth. Paladin Silk Road for the lather, clean scent and slick lather. The glass jar adds a touch of class as well. Shave on everyone!

 

Congrads!

 

SOTD 20170702



Brush: Cadman with finest knot (24 mm - loft 50 mm).
Shaving soap: Jabones by Luna "Hierbabuena mango lima mentolado".
Razor: ATT SE1 (aluminum).
Blade: Kai Titan Mild (10).
After shave: Cella after shave lotion.

 

Good Morning Everyone SOTD 07/02/17

Gillette Atra Plus
Dollar General (3)
Barbasol Pacific Rush
Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Barbasol Pacific Rush A/S

A Fine Sunday Morning Shave

Have A Great Day Everyone!

 

July 2, 2017
Cobra Classic
Schick Proline
Zenith B02 Boar
Mystic Water Raspberry Lemon
Folsom & Co Shambala

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SOTD July 2, 2017

Pre: Proraso white preshave cream
Razor: W&B
Brush: Vie Long horse hair brush
Soap: Razorock Santa Maria Del Fiore
Post: Witch Hazel / Pre de Provence ASB

 

I must say that James Riley, the owner of the Obsessive Soap Perfectionist company in London, England is also a soap genius. His Grapefruit Menthol soap is awesome - it's one of the few non-Stirling soaps which I feel is good enough to remain in my rotation and I'm glad I brought it with me here to Florida. Its scent is really nice - perhaps it's more of an orange type than grapefruit, and does it ever give great lather which explodes off the brush. Its menthol effect is pretty cold also - around the same as the regular Stirling MITA or perhaps just a wee bit less. No issues with the skincare either because it's pretty soothing and moisturizing. I had lots of help in that department from the Lucky Tiger balm and the Aqua Velva felt wonderful. I was tempted to do a third pass but after the second one I was satisfied.

A nice Sunday to all!

 

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Oscar11 Envy White Two-Band
iColoniali Mango
Wolfman Guerrilla
Feather HS
iColoniali Aftershave Balm
ADP Blu Mediterraneo Ginepro

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Sweet setup amigo! How do you like the Schick Proline?

 

Sunday, July 2

MdC~~Thäter Fünf~~R41 ('11)~~Med Prep~~AOS Lavender
Have a wonderful weekend!​

 

SOTD: Vintage Dubl Duck 'Hand-Forged' 5/8" with original bone scales; Mitchell's Wool Fat, Omega 11137 boar brush, Stirling 'Tuscany' aftershave balm. Three passes left me near BBS...with ease. Have a blessed Sunday, gents!

 

I actually shaved on a Sunday because I have so many new soaps to try that I stayed away from during my focus.
Today's shave
Qshave Futur clone with Qshave blade
Loccitane Cade Soap lathered with the JR 177 with a plisson knot.
Finish with some pretty quiet Alum and Fine Platinum




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