Shave of the Day 2015

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Tuesday Night Shave
Pre-Shave Draco Noir Pre-Shave Oil
Brush The Grooming Co Synthetic
Soap Shaver Heaven Hubba Hubba
Razor Gillette Slim H2 (6)
Blade GSB
Post Shave Dickson's Original Witch Hazel & Myrsol Emulsion
Aftershave Myrsol F./Extra

I've decided that I may have been introducing too many variables into my shaves over the past month or so to bring myself back to basics I'm going to attempt to focus on one razor, blade, brush and soap for the month of September. Hopefully I have enough Shaver Heaven Hubba Hubba to last the month, if not I'll switch to another Shaver Heaven flavor.

Hopefully I'll be able to focus on technique - both for creating lather and the actual shave. I'll also look at the various pre-shave options and try to see whether or not they actually make a difference besides helping to hydrate my face and stubble.

Last nights shave was nice, quite some time since I've used the Slim.
 
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#SOTD

Finally got to use the Strewth! this morning and I must say it was bloody good. I wasn't expecting that much from it so I hadn't rushed to use it. The performance was excellent. A very slick and water-hungry, yoghurty and aromatic lather.

What I really liked though was the scent from both the soap and aftershave. Warm leather and smoke with some tobacco / peat aromas and a subtle lavender. It conjured up all sorts of images of gunpowder and battle occurring in wild fields more than a century ago.

More so however, the scent invoked very strong memories of the many times I have spent at my brother-in-law's house in Northern Ireland. He has lots of leather and wood furniture, and wall panelling and an open fire fueled by peat bricks and coal.

The scent transported me to his armchair in front of the fire sipping a whiskey with great company and banter (or "craic"as they would say). I had a really warm, relaxed and comforting feeling smelling the scent with all these images in my mind. The sweet smoky Penhaligon's Opus 1870 complemented it extremely well (pity it wasn't called 1854 - the year of the Eureka Stockade).

The Eureka flag is from the insert of a great CD called "Clan" by Shane Howard (previous front man for the Aussie band Goanna). The songs refer to things like Australian colonialism, Irish heritage, mines and rebellion as well as Indigenous issues and the Australian bush.

Amazing what these daily routines can sometimes conjure up. It sure set me up for an enjoyable day. Looking forward to a dram or two tonight when I get home.
 
khun_diddy said:
The result was better than last night but the lather dissipated rapidly as before.
Click to expand...
All this just confirms what numerous shavers already know: olive oil kills lather.

Soaking pucks for 10 mins and using a synthetic to achieve a "passable" lather that dissipates is not worth the time or effort (or price!).

The post-shave can be achieved by using a few drops of Olive oil to the Palm and rubbing it into the face. Getting the benefits of olive oil where it belongs - post-shave, not during the shave.

Olive oil in soaps is FANTASTIC!
But just not in shaving soaps. Q.E.D.

Now to just wait for the other reviews to come in...

Edit: I'm not being harsh, just bluntly honest. I want there to be honest and open discussion about soaps.
 
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possumbelly said:
Finally got to use the Strewth! this morning and I must say it was bloody good. I wasn't expecting that much from it so I hadn't rushed to use it. The performance was excellent. A very slick and water-hungry, yoghurty and aromatic lather.

What I really liked though was the scent from both the soap and aftershave. Warm leather and smoke with some tobacco / peat aromas and a subtle lavender. It conjured up all sorts of images of gunpowder and battle occurring in wild fields more than a century ago.

More so however, the scent invoked very strong memories of the many times I have spent at my brother-in-law's house in Northern Ireland. He has lots of leather and wood furniture, and wall panelling and an open fire fueled by peat bricks and coal.

The scent transported me to his armchair in front of the fire sipping a whiskey with great company and banter (or "craic"as they would say). I had a really warm, relaxed and comforting feeling smelling the scent with all these images in my mind. The sweet smoky Penhaligon's Opus 1870 complemented it extremely well (pity it wasn't called 1854 - the year of the Eureka Stockade).

The Eureka flag is from the insert of a great CD called "Clan" by Shane Howard (previous front man for the Aussie band Goanna). The songs refer to things like Australian colonialism, Irish heritage, mines and rebellion as well as Indigenous issues and the Australian bush.

Amazing what these daily routines can sometimes conjure up. It sure set me up for an enjoyable day. Looking forward to a dram or two tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...

Wow, @possumbelly, a beautifully evocative piece of writing there. I know of a great little short story writing competition that would be a brilliant fit for your written expression skills :whistle:;):)

Go, @possumbelly, go!!!
 
Brush: WetDog Silvertip 24mm
Lather: MWF
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: GSB (2)
Aftershave: Antesol

Had an important presentation this afternoon so wanted the safest and yet closest shave possible...can't make the pitch with a 5 o'clock shadow or the facial accessorising of Norman Gunston.

As predicted, shaving perfection 100% FGS, 95% BBS. Fuck yeah!
 
Razor: Ever-Ready 24/14
Blade: Personna Gem (2)
Brush: Omega S10108
Soap: Redgum Lemon Scented Myrtle Castile Shaving Soap
Aftershave: Redgum Lemon Scented Myrtle Balm

I followed @roger's suggestion and used a bowl to lather tonight. It did create a better lather but it's still the least inspiring lather I've experienced in a shaving soap. Foamy and quick to dissipate. Having said that, I had a lovely shave that I enjoyed immensely. The conditioned skin on the second pass was seriously slick. The post-shave, as with last night, was sen-frigging-sational!

I went the balm instead of the aftershave. It's actually more like a wax. I'm not a balm guy. I won't use this stuff regularly but damn if my skin doesn't feel a million dollars. Lemon scented myrtle in ethanol simply has to become a reality.

After the shave I washed my hair with the 'just soap'. Brilliant stuff. I'm pretty sure I'm going to give up with shampoos and use a Castile bar like this instead.

Thinking out loud: how would a formulation of olive oil 50%, stearic 30%, castor oil 20% work? A bit more staying power but still all the olive oil goodness?
 
@roger 's shampoo, body, balm and aftershaves sound really good! I love Lemon Myrtle and I'm sure it would smell fabulous.

Thanks for your thoughts on them @khun_diddy [emoji106]
 
Wednesday 2 September 2015

210744d1441205218-sun-august-30th-sat-september-06th-sotd-02092015.jpg


Mastro Livi CarboInox, 6/8 Full Hollow, Barber's Notch​

This month I brought with me my Mastro Livi CarboInox straight razor. I love this razor and not just for its beautiful and stunning appearance: a san mai blade made of Mastro Livi blue carbon damascus steel in the middle and gold stainless steel in the outside layers. While I was on the go, I stopped by a gas station and I entered the nearby store and, while I was taking a look at the shelves, I saw a bottle it reminded me of my childwood when my aunt used sometimes to buy me what you would now call a "vintage aftershave": Brut Original. I could not resist the temptation: I had open the bottle, smell it and buy it. I must say the fragrance is still the same and, not just because of the memories it gave me, but I really like and, as an aftershave, it is not so bad. It definitely is now part of my aftershave rotation. As for the soap, my shaving soap continues to amaze me and I really love shaving with it, in particular for the post-shave sensation it gives to my skin: round and smooth, a velvety touch. Memorable shave!​
  • Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
  • Soap: RazorGuy Shaving Soap
  • Brush: Omega Bristle 48
  • Bowl: Chinese Bowl
  • Strop: Mastro Livi Loom Strop and Hand Palm
  • Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox, 6/8 Full Hollow, Barber's Notch
  • Post-Shave: Alum Block
  • Post-Shave: Umbrian Extravirgin Olive Oil Oil
  • After Shave: Brut Original
 
possumbelly said:
I'm a little restricted in the Fern / Fougere fragrance department. The Creed OV seems to match up OK but I'd be keen to hear from the fragrance gurus out there about their recommendations. Penhaligon's English Fern and Creed Green Irish Tweed are clearly amongst the pricier choices to consider.
Click to expand...
Nobile - Gucci Parfums 1989
An aromatic masculine fougère edt with top notes of sage lemon, orange and bergamot, heart notes of galbanum, jasmine, pine and geranium, on base notes of sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, olibanum, opoponax and oak moss

Yardley Classic - Yardley1985
A classical mossy woody masculine fragrance

Yardley Original - Yardley1979
A fresh fruity masculine fougère edt. Disc.

Yardley Spice - Yardley1981
A fougère fragrance. Disc.

Fougere- Alpa

Fougère J & E Atkinson Ltd1929
(Fern) (pronounced as foo-jer) . Disc.

Fougère Borsari 1870 1923
Disc.

Fougère Bernoth
Disc.

Fougère Parfums Condal 1925
Disc.

Fougère Dea Parfums
Disc.

Fougère dupetit Natural Products
2011

Fougère J Daver Perfumes 1910
Disc.

Fougère Dubarry Parfumerie 1950
Disc.

Fougère Rancé et Cie
Disc.

Fougère The Erasmic Co. Ltd 1920
Disc.

Fougère F.lli Cella 1910
Disc.

Fougère Parfumerie Fragonard
Disc.

Fougère Les Parfumeries de Gabilla 1922
Created by Henriette Gabilla. Disc.

Fougère Parfumeries Georges Moehr 1930
Disc.

Fougère Frères Gellé 1935
Disc.

Fougère Gilot 1930
Disc.

Fougère Grenoville 1935
Disc.

Fougère Jannot 1935
Disc.

Fougère Jovoy 2007
Created by Jérome Epinette

Fougère Kofler 1930
Disc.

Fougère La Source Parfumée
Disc.

Fougère Lerys 1927
Disc.

Fougère Loti 1920
Disc.

Fougère Grand Magasins du Louvre
Disc.

Fougère Lubin Parfumeur 1924
Disc.

Fougère Madini Perfume Essences 2000
A unisex fragrance

Fougère Parfums Merlet1920
Presented in a bottle made by Verrières Leune . Disc.

Fougère F Millot 1950
Disc.

Fougère Parfums Molinard
Disc.

Fougère Moat Cramel A JW picture

Fougère Mont-St-Michel 1940
Disc.

Fougère Nelombo
Disc.

Fougère Nilde 1928
Disc.

Fougère Patyka
2004

Fougère Pasquier et Cie 1930
Disc.

Fougère Honoré Payan 1900
Disc.

Fougère Pecksniff's 1985
A masculine fragrance. Disc.

Fougère L-T Piver 1905
Disc.

Fougère Jeanne Reine
Disc.

Fougère Salancy 1925
Disc.

Fougère Max Schwarzlose 1960
Disc.

Fougère Vrai Parfums
Disc.

Fougère Yardley 1934
Disc.

Fougère Ambrée A Bertelli 1927
Disc.

Fougère Ambrée Savonnerie Maubert 1870
Disc.

Fougère Bengale unknown 2007
Disc.

Fougère Concentrée Oarfums de Cheramy
Disc.

Fougère d'Ecosse Parfums Violet 1922
Disc.

Fougère de France Edouard Pinaud 1900
Disc.

Fougère de le Couronne Gueldy 1910
Disc.

Fougère de Meudon L Gardet
Disc.

Fougère des Pres Myrurgia
Disc.

Fougère de Verone Elda Parfums
Disc.

Fougère Dorée Isnard Maubert Parfumeur 1870
Disc.

Fougère Bengale Parfum d'Empire 2007

Fougère Em Lemesre Corbeille Royale 1950
Disc.

Fougère Exquise Desti 1930
Disc.

Fougère Impériale Borsari 1870 1923
Disc.

Fougère Impériale Parfumerie J LaMotte
Disc.

Fougère Impériale Lotus du Noël 1930
Disc.

Fougère in France Jean-Paul Giraud et Fils 1910
Disc.

Fougère Lotion L-T Piver
Disc.

Fougère Musque Volnay 1928
Disc.

Fougère Noire Salancy 1935
Disc.

Fougère Orchidée Parfums Lenthéric 1922
Disc.

Fougère Reine Lanza 1920
Disc.

Fougère Royal Eugene Rimmel 1875
Created by Paul Parquet for Princess Alexandra. Disc.

Fougère Royale Parfums Regaud 1893
Disc.

Fougère Royale Parfums Houbigant 1882
Created by Paul Parquet; the company’s then owner and principal perfumer; a masculine fougère fragrance with top notes of lavender and new mown hay, heart notes of rose and orange flower and base notes of oak moss, musk, tonka bean and vanilla, classified C1m. Disc.

Fougère Royale Parfums Houbigant 2010
Re-launch of the original after re-orchestration by Rodrigo Flores-Roux, an edp with top notes of citrus oils and aromatic bouquet of Mediterranean herbs, (lavender and Moroccan chamomile oi), heart notes of floral-spicy “Rondeletia” accords (rich geranium nuances and warm spices), rare rose essences and absolutes, pepper, cinnamon and carnation; on base notes of amber, woods, moss, patchoul, couman, Tonka beans and clary sage absolute.
Presented in a 100 ml bottle

Fougère Royale Parfums Houbigant 2010
As above but as a limited edition 100 ml Parfum in presentation box. Disc.

Fougère Royale Parfums Houbigant An Extrait. The 100 ml bottle is present in a lacquered hardwood box

Fougère Royale pour Homme Parfums Houbigant 1959
Re-launch of the original fougère edt.
Presented in a flacon designed by Enrico Donati. Disc.

Fougères René Lalique et Cie 1915
Presented in bottle by René Lalique design # 489. Disc.

Fougères Marines Parfums Pierre Montale 2000
A unisex fragrance

Fougère St Germain F Millot 1950
Disc.

A good place to start your search :)
There are obviously others I've not added as yet.
The first one is what introduced me to this field beyond Brut (which coincidentally, the traditional formula is something I've fond memories of, unlike the current rendition).
 
I'm guessing I will have to try some Myrsol the way everyone raves over it.
Just hope its not another one where the scents don't suit the Darwin weather.
 
Preshave: Proraso Red
Razor EJ DE89L
Blade: Rapira Swedish Supersteel
Brush: Vie Long Mixed Horse and Badger( kindly on loan from @Draco Noir )
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna di Sicilia
Post Shave: Clubman Pinaud
Very enjoyable three pass shave today. The Saponificio Varesino soaps continue to impress with excellent performance and scent. First use of this blade and it worked extremely well for me. Sharp and smooth, no nicks or cuts. The brush had plenty of backbone and was certainly not as exfoliating as a pure horse hair brush. If you find the horse hair brush a little too scratchy on your face then this may suit your needs.
20150902_234132 by Osman Mehmed, on Flickr
 
razorguy said:
Wednesday 2 September 2015

210744d1441205218-sun-august-30th-sat-september-06th-sotd-02092015.jpg


Mastro Livi CarboInox, 6/8 Full Hollow, Barber's Notch​
This month I brought with me my Mastro Livi CarboInox straight razor. I love this razor and not just for its beautiful and stunning appearance: a san mai blade made of Mastro Livi blue carbon damascus steel in the middle and gold stainless steel in the outside layers. While I was on the go, I stopped by a gas station and I entered the nearby store and, while I was taking a look at the shelves, I saw a bottle it reminded me of my childwood when my aunt used sometimes to buy me what you would now call a "vintage aftershave": Brut Original. I could not resist the temptation: I had open the bottle, smell it and buy it. I must say the fragrance is still the same and, not just because of the memories it gave me, but I really like and, as an aftershave, it is not so bad. It definitely is now part of my aftershave rotation. As for the soap, my shaving soap continues to amaze me and I really love shaving with it, in particular for the post-shave sensation it gives to my skin: round and smooth, a velvety touch. Memorable shave!
  • Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
  • Soap: RazorGuy Shaving Soap
  • Brush: Omega Bristle 48
  • Bowl: Chinese Bowl
  • Strop: Mastro Livi Loom Strop and Hand Palm
  • Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox, 6/8 Full Hollow, Barber's Notch
  • Post-Shave: Alum Block
  • Post-Shave: Umbrian Extravirgin Olive Oil Oil
  • After Shave: Brut Original
Click to expand...

Ah, you sound like a contented man, @razorguy!

And why not - an absolutely beautiful razor, the satisfaction of having made most of the "software" yourself, and the nostalgia of using Brut again after all those years. I also have memories of Brut from years ago. I wasn't aware they still made it - if it's still reasonably priced, I must try it again too.

Thanks for a pleasant a stroll down memory lane...
 
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