SOTD 20-26 September 2020

23 SEPTEMBER 2020
H & S / #75 Neutral
MONGOOSE / Dr Bomber Polished
WIZAMET (2)
PALADIN / Samurai 26
GENTLEMENS NOD / Kanpai 

It's great ! Fantastic Paints - Fantastic SOTD!

ExtraProtein , I stand corrected.  I did find the write-up to which you're referring.  I think I wrote that in 2016.  My love for 322 has only increased since then, and I suspect my nose has gotten a little better.  I looked back, and it appears I've written about 4 times about 322.

Here's an excerpt from a more recent one:

Catie's Bubbles does vetiver, particularly of the Haitian variety, often and well.  322 is probably the most heavy-handed use of Haitian vetiver that I've ever experienced, and it's just right, thereby making this my all-time favorite fragrance.  Given this unabashed dosing of Haitian vetiver, many will hate this.

If you're not ready for the vetiver punch, you may become overwhelmed with the dark smoky, earthy elements, thereby missing the supporting notes.  That's not to say this is unbalanced.  In fact 322 is quite masterfully blended.  There is oakmoss that's seemingly inseparable from the vetiver, lending a bitter resinous depth to the note, and approaching that of cedar. Amidst this dark and murky presentation, are black currant and patchouli.  Together, these notes impart a subtle, yet distinct element of a dry smoky red wine akin to shiraz or merlot.  322 never achieves the "sickly sweetness" often attributed to Barrister and Mann's "Hallows".  Despite the two fragrances often being compared, Hallows and 322 are on the same end of the spectrum, but 322 is more piercing and chilling where Hallows takes on a warmer dark chocolate aspect.

I'm such a fan of 322 that I acquired the parfum extrait immediately.  I often wear this fragrance even on non-shave days.  It's just an intoxicating fragrance.

There have been two other offerings from Catie's Bubbles (also limited runs) that share similar profiles:

Ruds Suds: Darkside - essentially replaced with currant with coffee for an extra dose of bitterness and hatred.

Revolution - Still leading with vetiver, but more tame and imparting a dusty old parchment vibe.

Then here's a more abstract view that I wrote:

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.

Read them all!

SOTD 20200924 AL13N
by IschiaPP @ Forio
•••
Alexander Simpson Trafalgar T3
Sovereign Synth, 32x53x103mm, 86g
---
G&G Grooming “G-Mule”
V1 Shave Soap | After Shave
Handmade in Italy by Artisan Gennaz@ilRasoio
---
Henson Shaving AL13
Medium, Dual Tone, BRB
---
Astra Green Superior Platinum #2
•••
#Shave #WetShaving #WetShavers
#ShaveOfTheDay #ShaveLikeaMan
#AL13Nshave #Muppets #Grover #GroverRazor



Full size:
https://imgur.com/5Zos2qJ
Soundtrack:
Sting - Russians
https://youtu.be/wHylQRVN2Qs

Thursday September 24, 2020

Razor: Paradigm Diamondback
Blade: Tiger Platinum (1)
Brush: TSC 2nd Anniversary Handle/Badger - Boar Knot
Soap: CFG Ghost Town Barber
Aftershave 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla
Aftershave 2: CFG Ghost Town Barber
Fragrance: CFG Ghost Town Barber EdP

Razor: Friedr. Herder 6/8 in bone
Strop: Tony Miller & Mastro Livi
Brush: Custom silvertip
Pre-shave: Castle Forbes
Soap: Wholly Kaw
Balm: Castle Forbes
Finale: Spanish Leather by Geo F Trump

SEptember 24th
Razor: Blackland Vector
Blade: Kai Captain (2)
Brush: Grizzly Bay Biblical
Pre-shave: PAA Cube
Soap: Stirling Bergamot Lavender
Stirling Orange Chill Witch Hazel
Stirling Glacial Balm
AS: Stirling Bergamot Lavender

Stirling SEptember

Good morning!



Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Phoenix Shaving | Blue Samhain
Phoenix Shaving | The Starcraft | Roswell Hybrid Synth
Durham-Enders | Enders Speed Shaver | Schick Proline B-20

Thursday 9.24.20
Razor: WR2 SS 1.25 SB w/WRH1 hollow, basic polish (1)
Blade:  Wizamet SI (4)
Bowl: CC ceramic
Soap: PAA “Cold Spices”
Brush: Rudy Vey “M7”-inspired handle w/24mm knot
Post: CC “Venture” AS splash/Nivea Post-Shaving Balm
Two passes, WTG/ATG w/minor touch up passes, and a fairly steep angle employed
Result: BBS w/o any irritation or nicks/cuts.

I’ve been down the Wolfman rabbit hole these past few months.  The razors are universally beautiful, with excellent fit and finish.  I’ve used a variety of blade gaps, both the WR1 and WR2 heads, and both OC and SB.  Not a bad one among them.  This morning’s shave, however, had a Goldilocks “just right” thing going on.  While it was only my first shave with the 1.25 (Thanks Dave!), it sure was a good-‘un.  The hollow WRH1 handle is excellent.  Great knurling, and the reduced weight definitely contributed to the excellent “just right” overall weight and balance of this particular razor.  Though this handle is not quite as pretty as the WRH2, (IMHO), it’s beautiful in its own way and the hollow SS design had a great feel.  This razor is highly maneuverable and still substantial enough to provide that “inertial dampening” of a heavier razor.  The WR2 design holds the blade very tightly along its entire length, and this also seems to contribute to stability during the shave.  It all came together, and I suspect that, once I get more confident, a two-pass BBS will be easily within reach.  It’s also remarkable (to me, at least) that this was on one-day’s stubble, and no irritation resulted even though this is (for me) a relatively aggressive razor.
Happy shaves to all!

Thursday, September 24

Figaro Sapone Speciale~~Mondial 26mm~~1908 Gillette/Sharp Star~~Pierre Cardin
Have a great day!