u/kind_simian's SOTDs for challenge 'test Lather Games 2024'

SOTD 28May2024

• Brush: Yaqi Ever-hopeful - 24mm cat whiskers synthetic
• Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
• Blade: Feather - Hi Stainless (1)
• Blade: Personna - Platinum Chrome (1)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Baudelaire
• Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
• Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Lotion, Original

Happy Tuesday! Back to work today and trying out Baudelaire after the stay last week. I did not expect to like this - off the puck was that green note Will pours by the bucket into too many scents. I was not wrong, if I didn’t have experience with these type of fragrances, would never believe that someone deliberately made my shave smell like I gathered moldy lawnclippings and leaf litter from my shed and stirred them into soap AND there were people paying money to shave with the stuff. Releasing something like this, a smell that doesn’t even qualify as a fragrance in my estimation, while Lavender was being permanently discontinued? I question the thought processes involved here 😬

Enjoy the day

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The Tournament of Blades Fight 417, Round 1: Feather - Hi Stainless (Japan) vs Personna - Platinum Chrome (Germany)

The Feather returns today to fight against another Personna and took R1 at least. Glide was a bit better on Personna but feedback inferior to Feather.

Winner of R1: Feather - Hi Stainless

SOTD 29May2024

• Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
• Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
• Blade: Feather - Hi Stainless (2)
• Blade: Personna - Platinum Chrome (2)
• Lather: Crowne & Crane - Barista
• Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large

Happy hump day! Today trying a new base and scent. The base is decent on first try. It’s a very firm base, brush loading would be the way to go with a tub. Worked up into a decent lather, water needs dialed in some as pushed a bit past peak. Slickness could be improved but residual slickness solid. Pretty good post-shave. Good enough that I’ll be back.

Fragrance is ok. Strength was decent and the fragrance was nice. There are a lot of notes listed for this soap but what comes through to my nose is a strong sandalwood with some spices to contrast. The “steamed milk” smoothes the blend. Where the coffee beans, lemon, apple, and sweets are is anyone’s guess.

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The Tournament of Blades Fight 417, Round 2: Feather - Hi Stainless (Japan) vs Personna - Platinum Chrome (Germany)

Second shave the glide evened out but the distinct difference in feedback continued. Feather is cleanly preferable to Personna.

Winner of R2 and Fight 417: Feather - Hi Stainless

SOTD 30May2024

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘23 - 26mm A2S fan synthetic
• Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
• Blade: Gillette - Platinum (1)
• Blade: Treet - Carbon Steel (1)
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Brewer
• Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Shave Balm, Embrace

Happy Thursday! Somehow I went from zero beer themed soaps to two. I already tried TSF’s Oktoberfest and it was not for me - straight Pilsner scent, nothing else, but I’ve been waiting to try this one from ZM. Off the puck this smells like a craft beer I would try - florals mix with the hops and beer. Lathered this was interesting. Kept the same general profile but hops came out more. Not sure if I like it, but don’t hate it. Very interesting and glad I grabbed a sample.

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Passing on the theme - closest I have used to this theme would be Midnight Stag and Woodshop and passed on what remained of the samples because even the “barely perceptible hint” of oil in Woodshop was a screaming HELL NO for me.

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The Tournament of Blades Fight 418, Round 1. Gillette - Platinum (Russia) vs Treet - Carbon Steel (Pakistan)

Unassuming R1. Gillette was fine minus some minor chin feedback issues. Treet takes R1 with better glide and smoother feedback.

Winner of R1: Treet - Carbon Steel

SOTD 31May2024

• Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘22 - 26mm G7 synthetic
• Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
• Blade: Gillette - Platinum (2)
• Blade: Treet - Carbon Steel (2)
• Lather: Zingari Man - Bon Monsieur
• Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large

Happy Friday! Tried Bon Monsieur from ZM (& Rogue) today and let’s just say she is getting every ounce of use of the mousse illuminee she developed with Maher a couple years back. Every new ZM scent I’ve tried recently is all built around this distinctive note. You’ve got your straight Mousse Illuminee, have MI with some fresh green notes in The Magician, sharper, aromatic green notes in The Highlander, and some earthier notes in Bon Monsieur. I personally only really find a meaningful difference between The Highlander and the other three. The other three, including this one, could have easily been a single release they are so similar. I’ll try again but, while the Mousee Illuminee note is pleasant, it’s not my idea of a shave smell.

And not to in any way dunk on Sean Maher, because he has made some of my favorite scents for shaving, but I’m not seeing the collab here - the only part that says Rogue Perfumery to me is the mousse illuminee note, and that was developed in a collaboration a couple years back. Heather has since mixed it into a couple of “new” scents using the note and I can’t tell a difference in theme or quality from her solo efforts and this “new” collaboration. I would think producing the fourth mousse illuminee scent and bringing back the collaboration label would prompt something different, but I am clearly wrong 😬

Anyhoo, enjoy the upcoming weekend :)

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The Tournament of Blades Fight 418, Round 2. Gillette - Platinum (Russia) vs Treet - Carbon Steel (Pakistan)

Suspect if I went longer the Treet might drop off but was again the preferable of these two. Gillette repeated same minor issues on chin though glide improved. Treet held more or less steady.

Winner of R2 and Fight 418: Treet - Carbon Steel