8-14 October 2017

Saturday SOTD 

Saturday
Prep: Warm Shower-Stirling Bath Soap-Scots Pine Sheep
Soap: Maggard London Barbershop (last shave for his jar)
Razor: Gillette NEW Short Comb
Blade: Vintage Schick Plus Platinum (Shave #15)
Brush: Honey Farm Designs/TGN Premium Silvertip-24mmx50mm
Aftershave: Fine American Blend (Original Blend)

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

Maggard London Barbershop today. 20 seconds to load the Honey Farm/TGN Silvertip brush. Easy, thick, slick, lather. Vintage Schick Plus Platinum still in the Gillette NEW SC. Excellent smooth, close shave. I finished with Fine American Blend (Original Blend) aftershave.

Bob

14 October 2017

* Laneear & Co. 8/8 + Ivory Pearlescent Acrylic Scales
* MS 2-Band 31mm + Doug Korn Amber Taca
* Jabonman/Eufros Tobacco Tallow
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO

[Image: 8VsCSl.jpg]

Excellent shave and pic, Matsilainen

Thank you! I very much like your latest picture, with the 322 set and all. (Sent me looking for more information about the soap and aftershave, and I found your writings from several months ago.)

In case you missed it, I did a little write-up for the extrait:

I've been hoping for this extrait since I first used the 322 soap and splash last year.  The soap was clearly Haitian vetiver-dominant, and so was the splash to an extent.  Admittedly, I could get lost in the vetiver, and the more subtle notes were underappreciated.  With the extrait, 322 is fully realized, and I can appreciate the more complex accord.  Now the oakmoss, patchouli, and even currant is present amid the still dominant smoky Haitian vetiver.  I've seen 322 described as dark, dirty, and earthy.  I can't argue with that, but it does it in a very pleasant fashion.  More specifically, the extrait imparts a smoky, woody resin with a sharp and a bold bitterness that's kept in check by a subtle, vegetation-type musk and an elusive sweetness.  As with any fragrance, the subjective component notwithstanding, a person's chemistry plays an important role with respect to the enjoyment, but I would imagine with this type of fragrance, it's even more of a factor.  322 works very well with me.  I'm also grateful to Chris for having provided the option of the extrait in addition to the EdP.  The extrait lasts in excess of 10 hours from a single pump.

Now, if you're still with me, here's a little more artsy-fartsy version:

The mystical side of my brain struggles to describe 322 in a different way. You'll need to humor me, here, but it  feels like a real, natural place, but not a place I've ever been.  I imagine this place is cold, dark, and forgotten with a stillness such that the air feels layered: humid, smoky, earthy, and musky as you kneel down.  The succulents are yellowed and in early rot. And inexplicably, grass somehow grew in this dark environment, but now it's long, stringy, and lain over with the blades adhering to each other from both the decay and the humidity.  Green moss is thriving in patches at the base of the ancient trees turning a blue-green as they descend with the lower borders having turned yellow from the constant water exposure.  As you rise, a cold, faintly stinging sensation is felt in proximal areas of your nose.  Then ultimately the air breaks through at its height with a crisp, pleasant sweetness that opens your passages.  However your movement stirs the air, lifting the smoky earthy air causing it to intermingle with the sharp loftiness, resulting in brief, yet intoxicating confusion.

Prep - Hot towel
Pre shave - Prep
Razor – Merkur 34C HD
Blade – Gillette 7 O'clock S/P Black
Brush - ‘Il Cinghiale’ (Zenith EURO/RX)
Soap – Lebelle Soaps: Tobac Vanille
Post - Cold water rinse / Wholly Kaw: King of Oud Aftershave Toner

At first, I thought The Black Ninja felt a little tuggy with the Merkur 34C HD, but it soon settled down, and with Tobac Vanille laying down the foundation, produced a BBS, irritation free shave... Superb shave.

In case you missed it, I did a little write-up for the extrait:

I've been hoping for this extrait since I first used the 322 soap and splash last year.  The soap was clearly Haitian vetiver-dominant, and so was the splash to an extent.  Admittedly, I could get lost in the vetiver, and the more subtle notes were underappreciated.  With the extrait, 322 is fully realized, and I can appreciate the more complex accord.  Now the oakmoss, patchouli, and even currant is present amid the still dominant smoky Haitian vetiver.  I've seen 322 described as dark, dirty, and earthy.  I can't argue with that, but it does it in a very pleasant fashion.  More specifically, the extrait imparts a smoky, woody resin with a sharp and a bold bitterness that's kept in check by a subtle, vegetation-type musk and an elusive sweetness.  As with any fragrance, the subjective component notwithstanding, a person's chemistry plays an important role with respect to the enjoyment, but I would imagine with this type of fragrance, it's even more of a factor.  322 works very well with me.  I'm also grateful to Chris for having provided the option of the extrait in addition to the EdP.  The extrait lasts in excess of 10 hours from a single pump.

Now, if you're still with me, here's a little more artsy-fartsy version:

The mystical side of my brain struggles to describe 322 in a different way. You'll need to humor me, here, but it  feels like a real, natural place, but not a place I've ever been.  I imagine this place is cold, dark, and forgotten with a stillness such that the air feels layered: humid, smoky, earthy, and musky as you kneel down.  The succulents are yellowed and in early rot. And inexplicably, grass somehow grew in this dark environment, but now it's long, stringy, and lain over with the blades adhering to each other from both the decay and the humidity.  Green moss is thriving in patches at the base of the ancient trees turning a blue-green as they descend with the lower borders having turned yellow from the constant water exposure.  As you rise, a cold, faintly stinging sensation is felt in proximal areas of your nose.  Then ultimately the air breaks through at its height with a crisp, pleasant sweetness that opens your passages.  However your movement stirs the air, lifting the smoky earthy air causing it to intermingle with the sharp loftiness, resulting in brief, yet intoxicating confusion.

Amazing write-up, as vivid a verbal illustration as I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to add 322 to my calendar for next year, hoping there’ll be another run then.

Saturday AM 2017-10-14

Moss Anniversary Slate scuttle/Floris towel
Rooney 3/1 Ebony Finest (22m/48mm)
Floris JF shaving soap (tallow)
Delta Echo Black Chrome-Nickel Feather AS-D2/Triad Satin Aristocrat
Wilkinson Light Brigade (1)
Floris JF aftershave (vintage)

SOTD: 10.14.17