Yesterday I used Maggard Razors’ 18mm Timberwolf synthetic brush, and I noticed how unlike the Wee Scot it felt, so today, just to check, I decided to use the Wee Scot to compare. And in the course of the shave I took the Maggard synthetic from the shelf and used it as well.
The main difference is in loft height: the Maggard travel brush knot has a higher loft than the Wee Scot, and the result for me was feeling that I didn’t have the brush under good control. With the shorter loft of the Wee Scot, the brush tip was under my direct command; with the Maggard, the brush tip to some extent seemed to have a mind of its own. Although the Maggard brush is fine, and I’ll continue to use it off and on, I definitely find my Wee Scot a better brush (as it should be: it costs substantially more). Full disclosure: I bought my Wee Scot some years before Vulfix purchased Simpson, and I have no idea of the quality of Simpson brushes today. Simpson was once a leading brand, with Vulfix down in the pack. I don’t really know anything about the quality of today’s Simpson, nor of today’s Wee Scot.
The lather was really excellent with both brushes, and that is due to the soap. Phoenix Artisan has a good page explaining their KC-6 formula, which is indeed remarkably good. Read that and you can see the sources of the soap’s excellence.
Three passes with an Edwin Jagger head mounted on a Maggard stainless steel handle, and then a good splash of the Doppelgänger Orange aftershave. What a great shave!