Well purveyors of the Soap Forum it is time for our third installment of our member spotlight.
I would like to introduce you to Sean @Mullen88 from Ontario, Canada.
1. Name, job field, age/generation:
Sean Mullen.
Operating/Power Engineer.
29 years old.
2. What’s the meaning behind your username?:
It's my last name and the year of my birth.
3. When did you join B&B and why did you join us?:
I joined B&B in June 2012. I was active for a while, took a few years off, now I'm back better than ever.
At the age of 21 I became completely fed up with the multi-blade cartridge razors and canned gunk. I had been shaving for about 9 years at that point (I began growing a substantial amount of facial hair at 12) and had never achieved a comfortable, close shave. I started noticing close shaves on other people and wondered how they got their quality results. I thought there must be a better way and became determined to find it. A couple of web pages later I ended up at B&B and am very thankful for that. In my hiatus there was an Artisanal Uprising and since my return I have left my old staples behind. The knowledge and experience on this forum is outstanding and the generosity and politeness is second to none. Very happy to be a part of it.
4. Talk to us about your acquisition disorders:
I have a really hard time turning down a new or Limited Edition soap. And with all these great artisans it has become increasingly hard to ward off temptation. Matching splashes and/or balms are also a weakness. I like scent alignment throughout a shave.
Of course Razor, Brush, Bowl, Blade, and Accessory AD kicks in sometimes but mainly it's soaps and aftershaves.
5. Favorite soap and why?:
My current favourite soap is Tallow + Steel Boreal. It smells like a forest in a jar. I enjoy a lot of other artisanal soaps and scents but if I was told I could only have one soap, this would be it. I judge a soap in three areas: Latherability, Glide, and Post-Shave Feel. T+S checks all the boxes but where it really stands out is Post-Shave Feel. The soap and matching aftershave give my skin a feeling that just blows me away.
6. How do you lather?:
99.996% of the time I face lather. It's extremely enjoyable to see the lather build on my skin.
7. Tallow vs. Veg vs. Glycerin:
I do enjoy Tallow very much but I've had great experiences with Vegan soaps as well. So, I think I'm going to have to say it's a tie between the two. Not a fan of Glycerin based soaps though.
8. 3017 or variety? If Variety have you ever used up a soap?
Variety. I've found it to be essential to achieve a high level of enjoyment each and every shave. I look forward to shaving every day and can't see that being the case with the same predictable scent and performance over and over again.
Yes, I've finished around 4 Jars of soap and countless...... creams. I have a few on the brink currently.
9. Did B&B introduce you to anything else? Like Nib, photography, etc.?:
I don't think so. It did give me a higher regard and understanding of fragrances though.
10. Favorite sub forum on B&B not named Soap?:
Shave Of The Day
11. Tell us a story:
Sadly, most of my stories contain debauchery that isn't appropriate for this venue. I apologize. When I was in high school my band opened for Alexisonfire which was quite exciting, but no story involved, sorry.
12. Soap or Cream?:
Soap.
Sean also provided a lovely picture of him and his family:
Thank you Sean for taking the time to answer our questions and being a member of B&B!
If you are interested in being spotlighted in the Soap Forum of B&B please go here:
Member Spotlights
I would like to introduce you to Sean @Mullen88 from Ontario, Canada.
1. Name, job field, age/generation:
Sean Mullen.
Operating/Power Engineer.
29 years old.
2. What’s the meaning behind your username?:
It's my last name and the year of my birth.
3. When did you join B&B and why did you join us?:
I joined B&B in June 2012. I was active for a while, took a few years off, now I'm back better than ever.
At the age of 21 I became completely fed up with the multi-blade cartridge razors and canned gunk. I had been shaving for about 9 years at that point (I began growing a substantial amount of facial hair at 12) and had never achieved a comfortable, close shave. I started noticing close shaves on other people and wondered how they got their quality results. I thought there must be a better way and became determined to find it. A couple of web pages later I ended up at B&B and am very thankful for that. In my hiatus there was an Artisanal Uprising and since my return I have left my old staples behind. The knowledge and experience on this forum is outstanding and the generosity and politeness is second to none. Very happy to be a part of it.
4. Talk to us about your acquisition disorders:
I have a really hard time turning down a new or Limited Edition soap. And with all these great artisans it has become increasingly hard to ward off temptation. Matching splashes and/or balms are also a weakness. I like scent alignment throughout a shave.
Of course Razor, Brush, Bowl, Blade, and Accessory AD kicks in sometimes but mainly it's soaps and aftershaves.
5. Favorite soap and why?:
My current favourite soap is Tallow + Steel Boreal. It smells like a forest in a jar. I enjoy a lot of other artisanal soaps and scents but if I was told I could only have one soap, this would be it. I judge a soap in three areas: Latherability, Glide, and Post-Shave Feel. T+S checks all the boxes but where it really stands out is Post-Shave Feel. The soap and matching aftershave give my skin a feeling that just blows me away.
6. How do you lather?:
99.996% of the time I face lather. It's extremely enjoyable to see the lather build on my skin.
7. Tallow vs. Veg vs. Glycerin:
I do enjoy Tallow very much but I've had great experiences with Vegan soaps as well. So, I think I'm going to have to say it's a tie between the two. Not a fan of Glycerin based soaps though.
8. 3017 or variety? If Variety have you ever used up a soap?
Variety. I've found it to be essential to achieve a high level of enjoyment each and every shave. I look forward to shaving every day and can't see that being the case with the same predictable scent and performance over and over again.
Yes, I've finished around 4 Jars of soap and countless...... creams. I have a few on the brink currently.
9. Did B&B introduce you to anything else? Like Nib, photography, etc.?:
I don't think so. It did give me a higher regard and understanding of fragrances though.
10. Favorite sub forum on B&B not named Soap?:
Shave Of The Day
11. Tell us a story:
Sadly, most of my stories contain debauchery that isn't appropriate for this venue. I apologize. When I was in high school my band opened for Alexisonfire which was quite exciting, but no story involved, sorry.
12. Soap or Cream?:
Soap.
Sean also provided a lovely picture of him and his family:
Thank you Sean for taking the time to answer our questions and being a member of B&B!
If you are interested in being spotlighted in the Soap Forum of B&B please go here:
Member Spotlights
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