We have always had one or two dogs in the house. Bigger ones, so 10-12 years lifetime at best. Each one is an individual, and they live on in our memories, but it is always sad to see them go. My condolences.

December 19, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co Lemondrop 28mm SynBad

• Blade Holder: Zomchí

• Blade: Zomchí (1)

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - PasteurVision - Soap

• Aftershave: Wholly Kaw - Amber Bomba - Toner

2 passes. Face lather. Good shave.

Today was my first use of the Zomchí DE razor and DE blade. Today’s shave was comfortable but not particularly close. I’m not sure if it’s a blade exposure issue (don’t think so), or the DE blade itself. I will try a different blade in this razor tomorrow.

Yes, one must pay homage to Boltzmann :) I was actually thinking of entropy today while using You and I (Will Die).

I’ve had that happen with the aftershave. I still have some of it left and I use it after some coffee-scented soaps. I talked with Will about this at the Maggard Meetup this year. He went into a long explanation of how coffee and poo have some common scents. It was late in the day, and there are dispensaries in Adrian, MI. I thought, perhaps, he visited one at lunch, so I didn’t pursue it.

December 18, 2024 – BVWSC

• Brush: Wald Nimbus Chryselephantine 29mm A1 Fan

• Razor: Koraat 6/8" Full Hollow

• Lather: House of Mammoth - You and I (Will Die) - Soap

• Aftershave: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Floris of London - Elite - Eau de Toilette

• Talc: Yardley Gold
   
  3 passes. Bowl lather. Excellent shave.

It is a Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club day, and You and I (Will Die) is our soap for the day.

I admit that I am very put off by the name and the marketing for this scent. Exploring the “fragile impermanence of humanity” with a scent is a little too much drama for me. (but I’m told I lack sensitivity). Then again, we invented overly dramatic afternoon TV shows in the 60’s to sell soap^*, so there’s precedence.

I liked the scent though. I did not get a that sense of “an extraordinary balancing act between dark and light”, but I only used the soap, and fragrance details are generally lost there. I’m sure that the full impact of the experience comes from the EdP.

Anyway, as I said, I thought the scent was pleasant and very well blended. All the notes work well together. While using the soap I thought I got hints of Green Irish Tweed and of Floris Elite, so Sharp Dressed Man (dupe of GIT), and Elite rounded out my setup today.

Thanks to @walden@sub.wetshaving.social for sending out the sample!

*The reason some TV shows were called Soap Operas.

Leviathan++;

The only full tub of soap I’ve ever killed.

December 17, 2024

• Brush: AP Shave Co Summer 28mm G5C

• Razor: Thiers Issard Le Grelot 6/8 Full Hollow

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Entropy Man - Soap

• Aftershave: Wholly Kaw - Entropy Man - Aftershave

• Talc: Yardley Gold
   
  3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I was really feeling like using Entropy Man today. As usual, it did not disappoint.

December 16, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: C.V. Heljestrand MK 10 13/16 Half Hollow Square Point

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Indigo - Soap

• Aftershave: House of Mammoth - Indigo - Splash

• Talc: Yardley Classic
   
  3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

December 15, 2024

• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Blue Space 26mm Cashmere

• Razor: C.V. Heljestrand MK 31 11/16 Söderfors Extra Specialstål Full Hollow

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Vespers - Soap

• Aftershave: Barrister and Mann - Vespers - Aftershave

• Talc: Yardley Gold
   
  2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Wonderful winter shave with Vespers and the extra special Heljestrand!

Yes, and it is really none of my business. I have been in the position of running a business that was primarily focused on software development. Some years were really tough especially when they came from dumb decisions that I made. I absolutely hate it when others suffer as a result of poor decision making on my part.

December 15, 2024

• Brush: Wild West Brushworks Blue Space 26mm Cashmere

• Razor: C.V. Heljestrand MK 31 11/16 Söderfors Extra Specialstål Full Hollow

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Vespers - Soap

• Aftershave: Barrister and Mann - Vespers - Aftershave

• Talc: Yardley Gold
   
  2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Wonderful winter shave with Vespers and the extra special Heljestrand!

My point was, if you own the company the brunt of bad decisions affect you directly and you have to deal with each one. If you’re an employee it is important to trust those in the hierarchy who make the decisions. If you don’t, then, as you say, time for the next thing.

we shouldn’t be punished because the execs are mismanaging the company…but what do I know?

Try running your own (software development) company for a while to find out :)

December 14, 2024

• Brush: Brad Sears Arley 26mm Super Badger

• Razor: Thiers Issard Évidé Sonnant 6/8" Extra Hollow

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Darkfall - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner

• Aftershave: Declaration Grooming - Darkfall - Aftershave

• Talc: Yardley Classic
   
  3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I could easily use Darkfall every day. It’s right up there with Leviathan when it comes to dark scents. I haven’t done a 3-pass straight shave in a while. That was fun, very close, and comfortable.

Yeah, I am actually working through two samples I have of it. I’ll get a set as soon as I’m done, though.

December 13, 2024

• Brush: Grizzly Bay Shire 26mm V18 Fanchurian

• Razor: ERN 6/8 French Point Full Hollow

• Lather: Martin de Candre - Fougère - Soap

• Aftershave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Floris of London - Elite - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Great shave today. Very surprising how much better a straight razor shave feels post-shave vs a DE or SE shave.

This, and Tobacconist are my favorite scents that Ben has done. Very happy that Noble Otter did the Cerberus splash. Fits perfectly between the soap and EdP.

December 12, 2024

• Brush: Brad Sears Arley 26mm Super Badger

• Blade Holder: Wolfman Razors WR4/WRH3

• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional (4)

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Soap

• Aftershave: Noble Otter - Cerberus - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Eau de Parfum

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I’m not sure if this is on theme but Cerberus works on any day for me :)

Ok. That makes sense.

👍