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SOTD "FREE WEEK" October 21st - October 27th, 2019

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SOTD 10/22/2019


Sobresaliente

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: SCHICK Pívot Plus K 9 NOS

Blade: GILLETTE Contour

Brush: YAQI Espacio misterioso Fan shape 24 mm

Pre-Shave: Agua caliente

Lather: ERASMIC shave stick

Aftershave: EPSILON Scottish Spirit

Additional Care:

MYRSOL emulsión​
 
10/23/19 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with Detroit Grooming Manistee Glycerin Eucalyptus & Mint Bar Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Doppelgänger Black Label Shampoo & Conditioner Bar - Homage to Sauvage
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Star Jelly Prickly Pear Pre-Shave Jelly-Mentholated
The Holy Black Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde Shaving Soap
West Coast Shaving Green Honeycomb Synthetic Tuxedo Hair Shaving Brush 26mm
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
Raw Shaving RS-18 Clear Cut Definitive Edition Razor Model “A” 0.65mm Blade Gap with Lubrication Strips
Feather New Hi-Stainless Blade - 5th Shave
Shavex Alum Block
Homemade Lemon and Mandarin Infused Witch Hazel with Alum
The Holy Black Dr. Jeckyll Aftershave Splash
The Holy Black Mr. Hyde Aftershave Splash
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Galactic Aloe Vera Gel Made with Organic Aloe Vera
The Holy Black Dr. Jeckyll Eau de Toilette Fragrance
The Holy Black Mr. Hyde Eau de Toilette Fragrance
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Sangre De Drago Natural Deodorant - New Sport Strength Formula

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Wednesday SOTD

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Razor: Karve D
Blade Feather (D3)
Brush: Semogue Owners Club Boar Taj Resin 24mm
Bowl: The Distinctive Goat Style 10 5½” Walnut
Pre-Shave Scrub: Ginger Garden Enigma
Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Mandarin and Cardamom
Shave Soap: Grooming Dept Kulfi
Balm: Saponificio Varesino Puro Burro di Karitè
Aftershave: Small Batch Shave Tonic
 
Date:- 23 October 2019

Pre-shave:- Cold Water straight from the tap
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice
Brush:- WCS Two-Tone Tall (Blue & White) Extra Dense Synth. 26/56mm knot
Soap/Cream:- Ariana & Evans ~ Which One's Pink
Razor/Blade:- RazoRock MJ-90A / Rapira Platinum Lux #3
Post/After-shave: T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Natural Glycerin (20), Tea Tree Antiseptic (10), Lavender (15) & Peppermint (10 drops)
Fragrance:- Tommy Hilfiger for Men
 
Prep: Cold water
Razor : Koraat 8/8 (1/4 hollow)
Lather: Saponificio Varesino Settantesimo Anniversario (70th Anniversary)
Brush: Yaqi Moka Express with Synthetic Knot
After-shave: Cold water --> Saponificio Varesino Settantesimo Anniversario (70th Anniversary)
Fragnance: Paco Rabanne One Million

Very nice fresh clean scent, one of my favorites.
 
23 Oct 19
Razor:
Karve brass SB D plate
Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium (3)
Brush: 22mm Fendrihan Pure Grey Badger brush
Pre-Shave: Shower and face wash
Lather: Tabac shaving soap
Aftershave: American Crew All in one balm
Additional Care: Thayers WH
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Klinker

The Baron of Bokeh
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Wednesday 10.23.19 SOTD
RazoRock Pre Barba Pre Shave Gel
Karve Christopher Bradley Gladius OC “C” Plate / Feather (1)
Yaqi Barber Pole Handle 24mm 2-Band Badger
RazoRock XXX Italian Shaving Soap
RazoRock XXX After Shaving Splash


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Wednesday SOTD

Ever Ready 1914
GEM PTFE (1)
Mike's Lime
Vie-Long BGS2012 Butterscotch Beehive Natural Horse
Skin Bracer​
 
Wednesday
Pre-shave: Trader Joe’s Face Wash
Razor: Gillette 1940s SuperSpeed
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (Israeli Red)
Brush: EverReady C40
Soap: Mama Bear’s Hydrogen Shave Soap
Aftershave: Alum/TOBS No. 74
Balm: Clarins Men Super Moisture Gel
 
Phoenix Shaving Alpha Ecliptic
Derby Premium
Omega Boar
RR For New York Shave Soap
Duke Cannon Ice Cold Balm
Clubman Pinaud Brandy Spice AS
 
Wednesday

Brush: Simpson Duke 3 Best
Cream: Taylor - Sandalwood
Razor: '62 H1 Slim Adjustable
Blade: Polsilver
A/S: Nivea Sensitive
Cologne / Fragrance: Azzaro Night Time

Mike
 
Wednesday
Prep: Warm Shower-Stirling Executive Man
Soap: Proraso White Tub
Razor: Vintage Gillette Pre-War Fat Handle Tech
Blade: Personna Med Prep (3)
Brush: Plisson #12 European Badger-22mmx56mm
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man w/Menthol

WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angles for my beard)

Proraso White Tub today. 20 seconds to load the Plisson #12 European Badger brush. Easy, thick, slick, lather. Personna Med Prep in the Fat Handle Tech. Excellent smooth, close, shave. I finished with Stirling Executive Man aftershave.

Bob

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Phoenix Shaving | Monstroso
APShaveCo. Elegant Emerald | SynBad 24mm
Durham-Enders | Enders Speed Shaver | Schick Proline B-20


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Last week I received this Monstroso set as a surprise gift from the very kind folks at Phoenix Shaving. I don't make a habit of accepting gifts from artisans, and in fact, I usually insist on purchasing it. It was made clear that in this particular case this was nothing more than a gift, and to do anything other than to graciously accept it would be an insult. It goes without saying that there was never a directive, implied or otherwise, for me to review the product. In fact, typically the sure-fire way to ensure I do not review a product is to give it to me free of charge. I've yet to have my integrity questioned vis-à-vis honest reviews, and I attribute that not only to my conduct, but also this policy. That said, I do find it difficult to keep my mouth shut when I encounter a product that I enjoy as much as this one. So, consider the following an unsolicited fragrance impression.

The proprietor was aware of my enthusiasm for all things vetiver, so he was confident I would like this. It is true that I'm keen on vetiver, be it the light and grassy variety all the way to the dark and smoky. When used wisely, they all have their charm. In the case of Monstroso, it's twisted. I wore the splash for several days prior to using the soap as per my usual behavior when exploring a new matched set. After having used the splash several times and the soap twice, I can confidently say that the two mediums reveal the fragrance very similarly.

Monstroso opens with a distinct and bold freshly turned damp earth that is devoid of smoke and slightly grassy. From there, things get weird. In my experience, vetiver will either elbow its way in and dominate an accord, or insidiously transform or even adulterate accompanying notes. In the case of Monstroso, the initial somewhat brutish earthy introduction mysteriously cascades to a peculiar vegetation-type musk with something vaguely nectarous approaching plum before succumbing to something strangely and pungently fauna in nature. This, folks, is what vetiver does to apricot. It's altered such that it's familiar yet unrecognizable at the same time. While this pleasantly bizarre fragrance hovers about, a rich bittersweet blood orange encroaches. This is completely out of the usual order, but yes, the citrus enters late. The splash has the usual PAA strength and longevity, so after a couple hours, this waxing and waning aberrancy of a fragrance settles to an innocuous earthiness that lingers before becoming lost at around 5 hours.

Monstroso does not follow the rules, and with all due respect to the artisan, there's bold and then there's irresponsible. A gamble was taken in this construct. I think most vetiver-heads will ultimately enjoy this, but there will be plenty that hate it--particularly those that aren't willing to invest the time to understand it. Not unlike The Monster that influenced the fragrance.
 
Sotd 102319
Puma Straight Razor 7/8
PantaRei Starry Night barrel shape mustang knot 28mm.
PantaRei IBLA shaving soap
PantaRei IBLA aftershave

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SOTD 2019-10-23
Hot shower prep
Gillette Tech / Tiger Platinum blade (2)
Stando High Mountain Badger
A&E Vanille de Tabac soap
Tabaca AS


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10/23/19
Maison Lambert Soap
Stirling Forst Drops
EJ 3one6 Razor
Kai Blade
WCS Synthetic Honeycomb Brush
Speick Splash
2 Pass DFS Shave. No time for a 3 pass today.

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