Have a good variety of brushes, soaps, razors, and aftershave in rotation means that custom does not stale their appeal, and when they come around again, the prior absence amplifies the pleasure felt on renewed acquaintance. That’s something I noticed in particular with this morning’s shave, beginning with the brush, my well-loved Omega Pro 48, great in all respects — well, not all: the handle could be better. But in terms of feel on the face and performance with soap and lather, it can’t be beat.
It’s good also to be using Meißner Tremonia’s Exotic Elemi again. The elemi tree exudes a gum resin that has a woodsy, lemony, incense-like aroma, and this soap combines that with (as the label says) Javanese cananga blossom, from which comes the fragrance ylang-ylang. Wikipedia:
The fragrance of ylang-ylang is rich and deep with notes of rubber and custard, and bright with hints of jasmine and neroli. It is sometimes described as heavy and sweet with a slightly fruity floral scent.
The combination of elemi and ylang-ylang in the soap (and lather) results in a wonderful fragrance. And again the MT lather seems exceptionally good in terms of structure and glide.
I am always delighted when my RazoRock Superslant shows up for another shave. This is truly one of the best slants every. I have the L1++ and for me that’s perfect. You can buy other baseplates, and I did try an L2++, but I much prefer the L1++. Three very easy, very comfortable passes left my face perfectly smooth, and I didn’t even have to pay any extra attention to the couple of trouble spots I have, where the roughness seems to hide from most razors, making me have to seek it out.
A splash of Stetson Classic, and a new week begins.
The tea this morning is Murchie’s Queen Victoria: “rich Darjeeling and Ceylon, smoky Lapsang Souchong, and sweet Jasmine.”