SOS: September 2018

Perry.

 

I prefer the L2 best myself.

 

I like the looks of your bowl.

 

Dovo Favorit 10 Fritz Bracht
Yaqi Brush
Barrister & Mann Latha Taiga Shave Soap
Vitos Pre/Post Shave

 

The Deluxe-British Racing Green.

 

Thanks Nicked. I really like it. The cool thing is shortly after getting it I had a chance to meet Peter at the Maggard's meet. Just a great guy and he remembered making the brush for me. His brushes are top notch.
Steve

 

Beautiful Chris!
Steve

 

09/09/18 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with Daisygirl Soaps - Citrus Spice Goats Milk Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Boomtown Bay Rum Shampoo & Conditioner Puck
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Prickly Pear ATG Pre-Shave Soap
Crown King Pineapple Bay Rum Shave Soap
Wolf Whiskers RCE# 47 Custom Fluted DWW-3 25mm Black Wolf 3rd batch Synthetic hybrid/fan knot
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
Ever Ready 1912 Razor
Personna GEM SE Super Stainless Steel Blade - 11th Shave
RazoRock Alum Block
Homemade Lime Infused Witch Hazel
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Bay Rum Aftershave Tonic
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum Star Jelly - Zero Clove
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Boomtown Bay Rum Natural Deodorant - Sport Formula​

 

Noble Otter Soap Co. | Kaboom!
Island Bladeworks "Stoya" | Elite Razor Manchurian
The New Improved Schick Injector Razor | Personna 74

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I regret waiting this long to experience Noble Otter's products. There is just an overwhelming array of artisans on the scene, Noble Otter just hadn't made it to my radar. Fortunately, a fellow wet shaver gave me a heads-up regarding this limited release, and I snagged a set.

If I understand correctly, the artisan acquiesced to a small faction of followers who were pining for a dupe of Viktor & Rolf's Spicebomb EdT. While the quaint hand-drawn modification of their label intended for the unscented offering, "Bare", is charming, it's my understanding moves are being made to have more professional labels for future limited offerings.

Speaking of presentation, the container is a standard rigid 89 mm Parkway polypropylene tub holding approximately 4 oz. of product topped with a matching threaded lid. The satin-finish waterproof labels are straight and devoid of blemish or bubbles. The art is crisp and the text is easy to read. The overall design is both classy and whimsical, the focal point of which obviously being the austere otter. In the regular offerings, the otter's attire is reportedly indicative of the respective fragrance. Perhaps it's been done elsewhere, but this aspect is reminiscent of Zoologist's scheme. My only critique would be that the actual Noble Otter brand name and stylized logo is small and somewhat difficult to feature in a SOTD photograph unless one employs a macro shot. Of course, the understated text is probably by-design in keeping with the formal presentation. The aftershave splash is the standard 4 oz. glass amber apothecary bottle with ribbed threaded black lid that was secured with a break-away safety seal.

Off the tub, the scent strength is quite light, but it essentially doubles (I refuse to say "explodes") upon lathering, opening with a fresh spicy clean resin topped by a lemony citrus enveloped by a rounded floral that stops just short of rose. The fragrance warms up with time revealing a leathery tobacco with wisps of cinnamon, never becoming heavy. The paired splash presents similarly, but certainly sharper bergamot in the opening. The spiciness is more distinct in the splash, and this phase obviously lasts longer before warming up. The leather and tobacco, while still present in the splash's dry down aren't as easily separated suggesting a skilled blending. After about three hours, I begin to lose the fragrance just as the cinnamon steps in. There is also a final smoky sweetness in the vanilla realm. I think I went nose blind at the four-hour mark because I could no longer detect it, but my wife did.

I have no experience with target fragrance, so I can't speak to the accuracy. I did, however find it to be pleasant enough that I'm entertaining the thought of picking up a bottle of the Spicebomb EdT or the "Extreme" variant EdP. My limited research suggests the two versions do differ in more than strength, so if someone can tell me which fragrance more closely matches Kaboom!, I'd appreciate it.

In terms of performance, if not for the thirst, this beef tallow base could pass for a Talbot shaving creation, loading and lathering in a very similar nature. Noble Otter functions with moderate hydration, yielding a voluminous thick lather similar to high-butter vegan bases like that of PAA's Crown King base. However, if you stop here, there is a bit of spackling which is a good indicator that more water will optimize it. Prior to the shave, test palm lathers proved this base can handle a fair bit of water thereby achieving elite levels of slickness, so I proceeded to push the water for the head and face lathering. Slickness is competitive with any soap I've tried. Residual slickness takes that up a notch more such that long sweeping scalp passes were easily obtained on residual slickness alone. Being a shower shaver, I'm less concerned with where the lather falls, but with this kind of slickness, my carelessness made the all metal Schick injector a little precarious to hold on to. This is incredible slickness despite my hard water.

The post shave is also similar to Talbot's and Catie's Bubbles' jojoba bases. That is to say, the post shave is spectacular, requiring no post-product whatsoever. Thus the splash was simply about continuing the experience. I was surprised with how the splash was distributed. Using only a couple in my palm to spread on my dome and face, my hand glided as if the splash were mostly oil. I anticipated at least some degree of greasiness, but instead, it soaked right in leaving a silky smooth, natural feel. I searched the ingredients for something like glycerin, but it's not there. This surprising slickness could be attributed to reconstitution of the soap base, but I thoroughly rinse in the shower and towel dry before I apply aftershave, so I fine that to be unlikely.

Ultimately, this was a perfect shave both in terms of enjoyable fragrance and high-level performance.

 

Good picture and write up Matt.

 

Thank you, sir.

 

Your Matt.

 

Thank you Douglas!!

 

Today's shave was with a Japanese Razor. I had a very smooth 2 pass shave, that left me BDBS. Zero issues. Excellent Japanese /Swedish Steel.

Razor- DERBY No.1000. K.M. 東京 . "Extra Superlative Razor"
Brush- Omega Boar 10098
Soap- Arko/Sandalwood
Aftershave- Shulton Old Spice. Ships Lantern Decanter

 

Shave Plan for 9-9(Sunday):

prep-Nivea 4 Men Bodywash(Energy)in shower
shave-DeluxeShaving British Racing Green soap**
brush-Stoylin li'l brudder
razor-Gillette Sensor 2 Pivot + DisposeABLE*
A.S.-Avon 4 Men Maxwell '23 Tribute(oldie car)

*-Gillette may be learning from Dorco-there now are Sensor 5's.
**-some of you may already be aware . Review coming soon.

 

Sunday
September 9, 2018

Colonial Razors The General with UFO Colibri
Feather Pro Super
Simpson Chubby 3 Manchurian
Panna Crema Nuavia Blu
Folsom and Co. Capri
Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet

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Excellent looking shave amigo.

 

Good Saturday afternoon friends,
I had a wonderful shave using the RazoRock MJ-90A razor, this razor is right behind the Game Changer for my face and head, used a Personna Lab Blue (1)
RazoRock Tuxedo Snowman
Barrister and Mann Cologne Russe is simply awesome, it's been a long time since I've used this soap.

 

September 8 SOTD:

Razor: Vanta
Blade: Polsilver
Brush: Elite Razor Manchurian White
Lather: Hendrix Classics Barbershop
Aftershave: Captain's Choice Bay Rum
Additional Care:
Stirling Unscented PSB