Wednesday SOTD Thread - November 29, 2023

Smoke!

Brush: Chisel and Hound Intrepid with 26 mm Zenith boar knot at 53 mm loft
Razor: Dovo Bismarck 2 (7/8", full hollow, carbon steel)
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts Autumn Ash
Aftershave: Barrister and Mann/Z Nocturne
Fragrance: Imaginary Authors A City on Fire
Music: Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water

I'm starting this Witchcrafts Wednesday off with smoke, smoke, and smoke. Autumn Ash and Nocturne aren't really gourmands, but they smell the mouthwatering kind of good. A City on Fire can be on the edge of too smokey but the warmth of Autumn Ash and Nocturne give it a gentle transition. I smell good.

The Bismarck gave me a shockingly good shave again. It might be because I struggled so much to get a good edge on this one when I started out learning to hone, but now that it has a smooth, sharp edge that glides through whiskers like a coated Kismet but with the feedback and that fascinating combination of heft and delicateness that comes with a large full hollow, well now I'm just floored by how pleasant is it to shave with this thing. It doesn't hurt that it's easy on the eyes, either.

The soundtrack for the shave reminded me of the beginning of this year when u/VisceralWatch and VisceralWatchette came to visit me and we went to Montreux and saw the casino about which the song was written.

now I’m just floored by how pleasant is it to shave with this thing

I feel the same way and always look forward to using this razor. It is extremely comfortable and close. I just remembered that on your razor and on mine, I did do a small amount of geometry correction, but somehow, I think that the big breakthrough is treating the edge with the care I discussed ad nauseum in my video.

Nov. 29, 2023

Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
Razor: Karve Overlander
Blade: UK Tech Statum
Lather: House Of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap
Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

Good shave. Pleasant and mild scent with a little punch from the menthol.

Razor: Merkur 39C Slant
Blade: Lord Classic
Brush: Vie-Long #12705B
Lather: Pereira Shavery Orange Blossom w/ activated charcoal
Aftershave: Myrsol Aqua De Limón
Additional Care: Alum Block

An orange and lemon shave on a cold and dark morning.

November 29, 2023

Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
Razor: River Razor 14 8/8" Full Hollow
Lather: WestMan Shaving - Nirvana - Soap
Post Shave: WestMan Shaving - Nirvana - Aftershave Balm
Post Shave: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Talc: Pinaud Clubman

It is a WestMan Wednesday and my first use of Nirvana. Nirvana is a blend of fig, sandalwood, and other notes. It is subtle, very comforting, and a very pleasing scent to have filling the room. This soap also has the new Nirvana soap base. I did not want to shave it off. It is rich, smooth, very slick, and also very easy to lather. Another top-tier entry for me. A wonderful morning shave that rated a talc finish.

Nov. 29, 2023

Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: GEM PTFE (2)
Lather: Barrister & Mann - Vespers - Soap
Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Vespers - Aftershave
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented - Balm
Osma: Osma - Osma
Scuttle: Georgetown Pottery - G20

One of the main reasons I repeat my shaving setup day after day is I have soap left in the bottom of my scuttle from GUTLing and don’t feel like scooping it out and putting it back in the container.

That and this setup is fucking awesome.

Man, I haven't used my GP scuttle for it's intended purpose in forever. I loved the idea when my girlfriend (now wife) bought it for me several years ago, but I eventually realized I enjoyed face lathering more. Nowadays I really only use it as a lathering bowl for samples, but now that the weather has turned cold it's starting to sound appealing again.
- I essentially do a combination bowl lather/face lather called the GUTL. Essentially begin building your lather in your bowl, continue on face, then back to bowl, until you get a good lather from the combination of the two.
  
  Just love using the G20 whenever I can.

November 29, 2023: Witchcraft Wednesday

Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
Brush: Semogue C3 Galahad Horse 🐎
Razor: Thiers-Issard 188 7/8 'Coq et Renard'
Lather: Southern Witchcraft Autumn Ash
Post Shave: Mennen Skin Bracer
Post Shave: Nivea After Shave Balm

I'm getting better around the chin, and I'm tempted to go for a kill of Autumn Ash. We'll see.

Have a good evening.

Autumn Ash++;

Lather buddies 🍻
- 🍻

Wednesday, November 23, 2023

Prep: hot shower
Brush: Yaqi Cashmere Synthetic Shaving Brush, Dandelion Green Handle, 24mm
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable H3 (1962, 3rd quarter)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave Balm

I forgot to post my shave earlier, and on a day where I get to brag about using the Stag too. Speaking of Stag, there won't actually be any bragging as my lather was a little subpar today, tending a little on the foamy side. Too much water and not enough soap?

Too much water and not enough soap?

MOAR soap solves most problems; MOAR water MOAR soap solves them all.
I think foamy means water was added too quickly.
- Interesting. That makes sense though, as it didn’t seem like I was adding more water than usual.

Tea!

Brush: Chisel and Hound Intrepid with 26 mm Zenith boar knot at 53 mm loft
Razor: Dovo Bismarck 2 (7/8", full hollow, carbon steel)
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts Carpathia
Aftershave: Southern Witchcrafts Carpathia
Fragrance: Imaginary Authors Saint Julep

Ugh, long day and very late evening shave. At least I'll smell good when I catch a few hours of sleep :)

November 29, 2023

Brush: AP Shave Co. - 24mm Synbad Fan
Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy Raw Titanium (#69)
Blade: Bolzano Superinox (German) (6)
Lather: WSP - Black Amber Vanille - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm
Post Shave: Eufros - Dama Noche - Balm

Black Amber Vanille was a gift... I wouldn't otherwise buy a WSP product (Wet Shaving Products product?). The scent is AMAZING, at least for me. I had a scented candle in college that was very similar to this, and it's totally my jam.

November 29, 2023

Brush: Yaqi Cavern Lake 24mm Tuxedo
Razor: Karve Overlander Brass
Blade: Personna Platinum (1)
Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Autumn Ash - Soap
Post Shave: Unilever - Brut - Aftershave
Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
Talc: Yardley Gold

It is Witchcraft Wednesday and Autumn Ash is the perfect smoky fit. My penultimate evening shave for November was a great one. I've upped my talc game for the occasion.