Monday is always a good shave day, and the gloriosity today is helped by a splendid sun and clear sky. Today’s shave began with my Plisson Gray Badger, a wonderful brush, here with a heavy plated-brass handle. Mike’s Natural Soap, in Barbershop fragrance, makes a reliable lather.
Fine Accoutrement seems to have made but a single batch of this aluminum slant, and I’m so glad I got a copy. It’s a wonderful razor, inspired by the Merkur whited bakelite slant from the 1930s, but even more comfortable and equally efficient. It is important to mind the angle and the pressure with this razor, but if you do that, there’s none better.
A splash of Fine’s American Blend. The label notes that it consists solely of alcohol (first ingredient!), water, fragrance, and menthol. Indeed, there is but a touch of menthol, which is fine with me. But no glycerine? Nothing for the skin? With this is an aftershave, adding some balm is definitely in order — so I did. (Though my bottle is fairly old, the current version follows exactly that original formula.)
The tea today is Murchie’s Baker Street Blend: “Lapsang Souchong, smooth Keemun, rich Ceylon, Gunpowder, and floral Jasmine.”