The shave stick this morning is De Vergulde Hand from the Netherlands. I used my Wet Shaving Products Prince brush — a very nice little brush — but the lather was merely acceptable. That is, it did the job, but required some care and feeding and at its best was nothing to write home about.
The razor, in contrast, was stunningly good. Maybe it was just the day — maybe, indeed, the lather had virtues that were not so evident until the rubber hit the road razor hit the stubble. Whatever the cause, the Goodfellas’ smile Legione slant did in fact make me smile: total comfort during the shave — a walk in the park, as it were — and yet a totally smooth result with no effort involved. Highly recommended.
A splash of Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (toner = no alcohol) augmented with a couple of squirts of Grooming Dept Hydrating Gel finished the shave. Another fine experience (except for the stubborn shave stick).
The tea this morning is Murchie’s Hatley Castle Blend. After my most recent use, I wrote to complain about the deficient description. I immediately received a reply that provided better information:
Hatley Castle Blend contains mostly Ceylon with a hint of Keemun, Jasmine, and Gunpowder.
Ceylon is known for is bright, brisk flavour, Keemun teas may suggest notes of florals, smoke, Jasmine tea has floral note and light sweetness, and Gunpowder has mildly astringent and grassy and yields a slightly smoky aroma.