Marco sent me two new sticks, a Lea and a La Toja. Both excellent! In my Lea thread, some favored the Lea, Marco and several others favored the La Toja. Frankly, after only one use of each, I can't tell much difference, I'd have to spend some time with them to tease out any differences. But both are certainly EXCELLENT!
I learned I like to take the foil off a stick and wet the whole thing, then use the long side of it to soap up my face. Drop it on a wash cloth while you shave and it will be dry enough to stick back in its tube in the end. Today's shave was a Gillette NEW long comb on a BRW handle loaded with an Astra (second shave). Brush was the B&B boar (green). After shave was Thayer's toner followed by Pinaud Classic Vanilla today. I face lather, but use my new Becker Scuttle to keep the lather warm between passes.
Marco sent a Valobra stick last year, which lives in my toiletry kit when I travel. I may have to start a rotation. I like them all.
The La Toja, like the others, is mildly scented, smelling like, well, soap, I can't detect a fragrance I can name that they infuse these with, they just have a nice, fresh, clean scent. They won't bother anyone sensitve to scents, I would think.
Loading from the side of the stick gives me lots of lather, and the La Toja today was enough for another couple of passes after my 3 plus touch up, I'm sure. Very slick, nicely dense and protective. Great shave today.
Thanks, Marco!
P.S. On second thought, no. NOT thanks! I was paring my soap/cream den down and just when I think I have it under control you start loading me up again! Curses!
Last edited:
