Stubble Trubble’s Up and Adam has an espresso and vanilla fragrance, which I like a lot, and it makes quite a fine lather, today with the Maggard 24mm synthetic. Stubble Trubble’s formulation is interesting because it includes olive oil, which in my experience doesn’t work well in shave soap—but it works fine here, perhaps due to using a small amount:
Stearic Acid, Distilled Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glycerin, and Fragrance
It’s a generous amount (5.9 oz) in a good tub, and I’m very happy with it. I even sent a tub to one of the grandsons. I’m very tempted by Stubble Trubble Yard Work: fragrance of freshly cut grass. Ira Gershwin once observed that a cliché encountered in the context of a popular song, where it fits with the lyrics and melody, creates a delight that would be absent when the same phrase is used in ordinary conversation. The same, I think, with fragrances: the smell of fresh-cut grass is routine in yard work, but becomes interesting in a shaving soap.
The Fine Superlite slant I’m less happy with. I’ve been avoiding it because every time I use it I tend to get nicks, plus it always feels like it’s going to nick: thus, not comfortable. I did indeed get some nicks (upper lip, XTG pass), though I did get a very close shave. I had an Astra Superior Platinum blade in it. I’ll give it one more try, with another brand, and then if it doesn’t work again I’ll pass it on. Given that I have a number of good razors that do not nick, I don’t really need it. But I do want to give it a fair try, so another brand of blade (Personna Lab Blue) will be used the next time I shave with it.
A splash of Fine American Blend, and the day is finally underway.
Filed under: Shaving
