Soap Sample Passaround - signup now

TWo things to start this day.  I'm getting tired of looking at pics of the same gear day after day but in keeping with whatever scientific method I can muster I will keep all the variables the same as best I can.  And second, remembering that a one-shot shave with a soap does not in any fashion do it justice.  All soaps don't want the same method. As such, better results might be waiting with a little tweaking.  That is likely the case today.  I chose Declaration Grooming (formerly L&L Groomings) Cuir Et Epices, a salute to leather.  Loading was easy.  Lathering was easy.  I didn't find the soap thirsty in my sampling and the lather was mid-structure and super shiny.  Slickness was good but I felt the blade in a harsh way the whole shave thus cushion seemed lacking.  Very close shave.  A bit of tightness in the post.  Scent was very well done and I of course get leather but also a sweet floral I assume is tobacco and cedar is not shy.  This is a very well done scent to my liking.  Is Declaration better than this?  I have no doubt.  Many trusted friends swear by it so I'll assume on this day I did something the soap did not like.  Don't get me wrong, the shave was just fine.  Just not as comfortable as I look for.  

dfoulk put me on the list. I'm not interested in using the samples them self, I just want to give each sample the sniff test. this will save me a lot of time and money on buying products I think I 'might' like before even smelling them. plus, I'm going to shoot you a PM for a possible soap addition to the pass around.

just a note. I'm going on vacation next Sunday night for 6 days so I'll withhold from 'joining' the list until I'm back in town...

I'm a couple of days behind because I took my bride on a quick getaway.  I also took shaving gear though so this is catch up.  This shave was Long Rifle Soap Company's Voyager.  I get sandalwood and moss in this one but something else is going on too.  Very pleasant scent of medium strength that doesn't linger post shave.  The cushion and slickness were very strong.  scent is very nice.  The post shave was acceptable.  Very nice soap.

Another hotel shave with some travel gear.  Superspeed with Astra SP.  Muhle travel brush.  Crown and Crane Tobacco Leaf and Amber soap.  The soap performed amazingly.  Easy mid-structure lather.  Plenty of cushion and awesome slickness.  This soap is a sleeper!  Great performance both during and post.  Scent is 7 of 10 and lingers persistently post shave.  No issues for me as I like this scent.

The pic shows how I load the sample.  I put it in the bowl very thin and covering some surface area.  I load the soap with a damp brush until all the soap,is picked up then take it to my face for lathering.  Today I chose Black Tie Razors Sir Henry's Sandalwood.  There is a lot more going on here than just sandalwood.  BTRC only uses essential oils in their scents and my face thanks them.  Performance is perfectly predictable as I own other offerings from them and that,predictability is great cushion, slickness, ease of load and lather and scent is complex to say the least.  I love sandalwood and this one is a trip". I swear besides sandalwood I get a eucalyptus note but am told no eucalyptus is used in the mix.  It is very nice whatever is in there and the dry down reveals sandalwood in all its glory.  These cats make great products.

dfoulk put me on the list. I'm not interested in using the samples them self, I just want to give each sample the sniff test. this will save me a lot of time and money on buying products I think I 'might' like before even smelling them. plus, I'm going to shoot you a PM for a possible soap addition to the pass around.

I've participated in David's passaround box a few times elsewhere, and to me, the chance to check out scents is probably the one that's most valuable to me. Thanks to the box, I've smelled and test lathered a couple hundred scents on top of the ones I've tried. Even if you've tried some of the soap bases in the box you can still get a lot of helpful info out of go with the box.

dfoulk put me on the list. I'm not interested in using the samples them self, I just want to give each sample the sniff test. this will save me a lot of time and money on buying products I think I 'might' like before even smelling them. plus, I'm going to shoot you a PM for a possible soap addition to the pass around.

I've participated in David's passaround box a few times elsewhere, and to me, the chance to check out scents is probably the one that's most valuable to me. Thanks to the box, I've smelled and test lathered a couple hundred scents on top of the ones I've tried. Even if you've tried some of the soap bases in the box you can still get a lot of helpful info out of go with the box.

You should sign up for this one. I suspect there would be a whole new gaggle of things for you to check out since the last time you did this.

ps, we might have some talbot entries into this soap pass around soon.

This morning I chose Barrister and Mann Vespers.  Ha!  A Christmas Holiday release for a July shave.  This is my first whack at this scent and as you can guess, Will did not disappoint.  Vespers has so much going on that I cannot pick out the individual notes. What I do get is a vibe that if  fougere was driving north at 60 mph and Old Spice was driving south at 55 mph, and the collided head on, this would be what the EMTs smelled like.  In fact, in a moment I'll applying omen vintage Shultons and smell wonderful for most of the day.  The Excelsior base is predictably wonderful but then all B&M bases have treated me right.