Decisions, decisions!

[DigitalGee]

Just a few weeks ago, life was easy. I owned but one shaving cream, the AOS Sandalwood, which I loved. Then I joined this website, and soon realized how naive I had been to think I could get by with just one cream. So I began a quest and soon added a Proraso Sensitive Skin cream. Since it was the new guy in my den, the decision on which cream to use (for a while) was simple - the new one, of course. And for a week or ten days, that's what I've been using.

Today, a jar of TOBS Lavender arrived in my mailbox. One smell, and Mmmmmm! I know I'm going to love it.

Tomorrow it will again be a simple choice - the new guy. But after that, I'm already wondering - how do those of you who regularly use more than one cream or soap decide what kind of day it's going to be, which I would imagine dictates which soap or cream to use that day.

Does it strike you spontaneously as you make your way to the sink? Ah, today's a lavender day!

Or, perhaps, do flip a coin? Or should one establish some kind of fixed rotation? Maybe you close your eyes and reach out and pick a cream without looking?

I ask, because in the morning, when I typically shave, I'm not known for making decisions, other than I guess I'll make some coffee. And until that coffee is made, I just have to operate on auto-pilot.

And yes, it's already occurring to me that I'm going to have another problem - matching soaps and creams to aftershaves. ¡Que horror!

How come the nice man at the AOS store said that this was all going to be easy?

 

[OzoneAz]

Does it strike you spontaneously as you make your way to the sink? Ah, today's a lavender day!

This works for me. I tried to do some type of rotation but depending on the day ahead I seem to gravitate towards the "product of the day".

 

[BrookR1]

I have so many soaps/creams that it would take me way too long to decide which to use on any given day. So, I roughly divided up my collection into warm/cool weather. From there, I choose one and use it all week. After a week is up, it goes to the back of the line and won't be revisited for about 6 months. Around the 5th day, I'm getting bored with what I've chosen, so I have 2 days to decide what my next scent will be.

 

[Omp]

I rarely use the same product 2 days in a row. I have 20+ to choose from and tend to base my decision on 1) The weather, 2) what I haven't used for a while, 3) The product I am really loving at the moment, 4) What I think needs to be used up in case it goes off!
I probably spend too much time thinking about it....

 

[edgerunner]

I don't know till the last minute before my shave what soap/cream (out of 20) I'm going to use. And I don't keep track which one I use most or least.

 

[Rivguy]

I rotate through quite a few soaps and creams and I usually select the brush, cream/soap etc the night before. I do have favorites for different seasons but others I will use all year round.

Regards,

Doug

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

A most enjoyable dilemma, no?

 

[njpaddy]

I decide at the last minute between my soaps & creams, depending on mood. Since late 2010 I've been tracking usage and if I find myself continuously skipping over a product, it gets tossed or given away. I was probably up near 40 creams/soaps at one point. I'm down to 15 and aiming for 10.

 

[Rivguy]

A most enjoyable dilemma, no?

It is indeed Harry, it is indeed!

Regards,

Doug

 

[andyr]

I keep shaving products in rotation. Some rotate more than others .

 

[Gordy2]

When I open my soap/cream drawer, I have no idea which I'll choose. No rotation there, same with razors and brushes but I do spread the wealth. I never use the same as the previous shave for all three.

 

[sparco]

Out of the 10 creams I own I never rotate. I use the one I feel for when Im going to start the lathering process. Its all about mood and scent.

 

[RobAtSGH]

I pick whatever I'm in the mood for in the morning. Hot days tend to lighter, fresher scents. Colder ones to woodier, spicier, or earthier. Then, I'll coordinate with my cologne for the day - Speick or Razorock lavender with Jicky or Pour un Homme de Caron, Salter Vetiver with Guerlain Vetiver or Encre Noir, Musgo Real with Clubman Musk, Old Spice cream with Dominica or Ogallala bay rum.

Having choices means that I can be acceptably self-indulgent in a thoughtful way with regard to scent. And, for me, scent is a powerful stimulus.

 

[DigitalGee]

Lots of great ideas, thanks everyone!