Mantic59: What Is The Best Shaving Soap? – A Criteria Reset
Mantic59 has a very interesting shaving soap round-up in Sharpologist that men who shave using true lather should definitely read (although it has already caused a hit to my pocketbook). I expect Van...
View ArticleThe straight-razor kit to level up your morning shave
I don’t use a straight razor myself, though I admire them. My grandfather always used a straight razor, and the strop as an instrument of discipline for the boys (my uncles). And there’s a family story...
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Fine’s slant and the perfect shave
I enjoy my shave every morning, but I admit I get some extra pleasure in removing a two-day stubble. My Fiine aluminum slant requires a very light touch, and in addition to that this morning I used a...
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Refreshing shave
The Vanilla/Eucalyptus/Mint fragrance that the Los Angeles Shaving Soap Company used in this soap is wonderfully refreshing—and the lather is first rate. My Rooney Victorian worked well, and then...
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Yuzu and rose and patchouli
Rob in Korea asked whether The Shave Den’s Rose Patchouli aftershave was similar to the Chattilon Lux Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli. I had not made the connection, but they are quite similar, though of course...
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An “Old” shave: Goat and Type
Sometimes I get the amount of water in the brush exactly right for the soap I’m using. Although that’s my goal, when it happens, it seems to be by chance, but I’ll take the credit. (In Gross Anatomy,...
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A Dark shave
I soaked the Vie-Long horsehair brush and once again had the perfect amount of water for a wonderful lather from Tallow + Steel’s Dark shave soap, which has the fragrance of coffee, cocoa, ginger,...
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Orange for Thanksgiving
A Sunday shave because it’s Thanksgiving weekend and today is Dinner Day, so I wanted to look sharp. Still got the pleasure of shaving a two-day stubble by skipping yesterday’s shave. Mystic Water’s...
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Cold-weather shaving
I haven’t been around really cold weather for a couple of decades—a bit more in fact—but Institut Karité is for me an exemplar of cold-weather shave products with its 25% shea butter content, both in...
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Starting a day with Grog
A very nice shave. I do like Grog’s fragrance, and the lather is excellent, thanks in part to my Wet Shaving Products Monarch shaving brush. Maggard Razors’ V3A head on the UFO handle does a...
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Dark Limes
Rather than the mix of fragrances that my other Meißner Tremonia soaps have, this one is simply lime (limetten: I got a one with a label that’s in German except for the soap name itself). Shea butter...
View ArticleThe benefits of rituals
In the Guide I discuss the psychological benefits of a shaving ritual (which depends in part on viewing the morning shave as a ritual), and I just read an interesting article in the Scientific American...
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Phoenix CK-6 shaving soap, on the Sharpologist list of great shaving soaps
Sharpologist recently took a fresh look at shaving soaps, which have come a long way over the past decade. I of course succumbed and bought several from his list of the best, and one has arrived:...
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Barrister & Mann Reserve shaving soap: Wow
Still working from the Sharpologist article on the best shaving soaps, this morning I used Barrister & Mann’s Reserve Spice shaving soap (and matching aftershave). B&M describe the fragrance...
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What is a novelty shave-soap fragrance? and is Waterlyptus an example?
I would say that a novelty shaving soap fragrance is one that has immediate appeal, but doesn’t wear well as a daily shave soap, so that it is used less frequently. Obviously, whether a given shaving...
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Wholly Kaw’s donkey-milk shaving soap
Continuing my series of soaps from the Sharpologist article, I picked Wholly Kaw’s Monaco Royale this morning: Top notes: Lavender, Bergamot, Neroli, Petitgrain Middle notes: Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Tonka...
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Declaration Grooming’s Icarus formula
Continuing my run through various soaps that made the Sharpologist list, today I am using Declaration Grooming’s Darkfall, one of their Icarus formula soaps: Stearic Acid, Water, Castor Oil, Avocado...
View ArticleCopies, Clones, And Conterfeits In The Wet Shaving World
As manufacturing technology advances, counterfeit goods become more common, though of course counterfeiting in a problem in many areas—cf. Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive...
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Phoenix Artisan no-cloves Bay Rum shaving soap
Phoenix Artisan emphasizes that their Bay Rum shaving soap contains no cloves. The ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium...
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The Drunken Goat meets the Italian Stallion
From the archives: Mickey Lee’s old label design. The Drunken Goat is a very nice soap with a terrific fragrance (assuming you like Guinness Stout, as who doesn’t?) and a fine lather, made with...
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