I continue to like Otoko Organics and its unique lather — in fact, I like it a lot, and Phoenix Artisan’s Solar Flare brush had an easy time working up the lather. The Ascension, also from Phoenix Artisan, is a really excellent little razor, which performed perfectly: 3 easy passes, a totally smooth result.
The fly in this morning’s ointment was the Esbjerg Sensitive Aftershave Gel — the pump produced nothing, and the container was curiously light. It was empty, and I was out of an aftershave I like a lot, which seems to be available at this point only from Esbjerg itself. (They offer quite a few, and their Paraplantox Aftershave Gel looks intriguing, though I very much liked the light, clean fragrance of the Sensitive version.)
I grabbed a Doppelgänger Star Jelly aftershave balm and used that instead. Still a good shave, just not the one I expected.
The tea this morning is Murchie’s Earl Grey Cream: “a blend of fine Ceylon, Darjeeling, and Keemun teas, lightly scented with real oil of bergamot and sweet vanilla.”