SOTD 3-9 April 2016

ATT Atlas R1 + Gillette Platinum Plus
ShaveRevolution  Metalloid 24mm Synthetic - nice, comfortable handle and for $15 a solid synthetic actually. Very lush and hardly a glue bump at all.
Barrister_N_Mann MF Roam
Myrsol Formula K

Great, great shave today.

That's a great photo, kwsher.

That's a great photo, kwsher.

Thanks Freddy ! Been playing around with different things on my iPhone the past few months- very fun!

MONGOOSE W/FEATHER PRO
RUDY VEY CUSTOM DARK KNIGHT
MICKEY LEE PRE SHAVE BUTTER LIME
COLD RIVER SOAP WORKS V1 BERGAMOT & BAY
THAYERS WITCH HAZEL LEMON
GEO F TRUMPER SKIN FOOD LIME

UNTIL I TRY V2 I AM SURE I WILL COPE WITH V1!!!

Head & face shower shave. 2 days growth.

Technique:  WTG / XTG / ATG/clean-up.
Prep: Shower.      
Soap: Barrister & Mann - Roam (2016)
Brush: Ever-Ready 100T TGN Finest
Razor: Gillette Super Speed 1976 Black Handle
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum(1)
Post: Barrister & Mann - Roam Tonique

Not being a legitimate professional reviewer, I only purchase products I'm confident I will like.  That's not to say there aren't blind buys, but in the wet shaving realm, I've discovered there are a few artisans that are easy on which to take a chance.  Chiseled Face comes to mind.  I love everything I purchase from them.

When it comes to Barrister and Mann, there's been a bit of a learning curve for me.  While the performance of their products is hard to beat, the complexity of their scents dictate that a rush to judgement should be avoided.  A prime example of this was my experience with Leviathan.  I disliked it when I first used it, but by the end of the day, I couldn't wait to use it again.  Additionally, the unfolding of B&M's scents is part of the experience.  From strictly an amateur point of view, the memory or mood connected to a given scent is very important.  As I enjoy single malt scotch, for instance, the facets of the aroma transport me to the Scottish region from which it was distilled.  The scent is not just a static element of the experience, but it's an important facet, and largely determines if I will enjoy it.  All this is before I take my first sip.  I think this concept translates to wet shaving as well.  B&M's scents impart a mood or memory.  That said, what you smell during the shave, while pleasant, may not be what you want to continue to smell a couple hours later.

Roam has an intriguing mystique encompassing it that has evolved into unabashed hype.  While there are lukewarm outliers, surrounding this is a community that can largely be divided into 3 groups:  Those who have used it and love it.  It may be appropriate to say they have a love affair with it.  They love it to an extent that those on the outside might view it as unnatural.  They tremble as the bottom of the jar becomes translucent.  They mourn the final pass.  They petition the maker, offering him worlds of riches and even their first born.  The second group consists of those who have used it and hate, nay, abhor it.  They recoil at the mere mention of its name.  They call for the head of the maker, citing his origins from the abyss.  Then there's the final group.  Those who have only heard the folklore surrounding the mystical MFR, yet never had the opportunity to experience it.  They've heard tales of factions; families destroyed; brother against brother; nation against nation.  Despite all this, this final group still longs for an encounter with this legendary deity that lords over the religion that is ROAM.

Well, I fall in the final group.  I made the purchase simply because I didn't want to miss out, as I suspect, have others.  The intrigue far outweighed any misgivings I had.  Meanwhile, the artisan likely braces himself for an unpleasant return of adoration overcome by hostility.  Honestly, I expected to dislike it, but given the Glissant base, it couldn't be a total loss.

The scent off the dry puck was rather subdued as far as B&M soaps go.  I noted the expected smoke and leather, but caught a very faint whiff, or perhaps just a suggestion of an unlit cigarette. Interesting. Intriguing.  Daring.  As I loaded the brush, the dominant scent was that of cured tobacco with mellow damp earth notes.  As the face lathering commenced, the cured tobacco sustained throughout but with competing smoke and a gentle salty and metallic aroma.  During the three head and face passes, the scent unfolded boldly with intermittent warm sun-cracked leather, and the previously damp earth and metallic notes transformed to an uncanny baked iron ore.  All this barely remained in check by those original cured tobacco and earthy notes.  This is not a novelty soap, but rather a bold yet thoughtful scent wrapped the benchmark soap base that is Glissant.

I purchased both the the matching tonique and the Kyovu. I decided to try the tonique first.  As with B&M's other splashes, the scent profile matches the soap perfectly, but the unfolding is more rapid and the dry-down is more stable.  The only deviation from the soap is an initial fleeting scorched caramel and maple note.  The lingering scents I pick up from this about 2 hours later are old leather, cured tobacco, and earth.

ROAM.  I finally got to experience it.  Even if I hadn't enjoyed it, I would still cherish it as I feel it elevates me to the upper echelon of wet shavers.  I now carry within my spirit that essence that only other ROAMen can recognize.  Fortunately, I do love the scent, and while it's not like any other product I've experienced, I place it on the same level of Chiseled Face's "Midnight Stag" with regard to its presence. Roam is manly, fearless, and bold, but it's not ungoverned.  This is one of those scents that simply must be experienced to be understood.  And even then, there will be those that don't.

Recommendations:  I can't stress this enough.  Roam is unlike any other soap I've experienced, but I would venture to say if you like Roam, you will probably also enjoy "Midnight Stag" from Chiseled Face and "Captains Pipe" from Beaver WoodWright.

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Why , why did it take me all this time to look past the Tabac scent to try the soap?
The lather reminded me of the cream pie fights in old silent movies, really thick and dense. Great stuff.

Tabac Soap
BSSW Cocobolo Manchurian 26mm Beehive Hybrid
OneBlade Razor
Feather SE Blade (2 and last)
Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb Extreme EDP[Image: 2b8e7511dcd246c008150d96b6f02e5a.jpg]

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

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Razor: Gillette Tech 1939-45
Blade: Dorco ST 301 Platinum SK (7)
Brush: Jayaruh JR #45 Walnut Honey Comb
Soap: Jeeves Soap Private Study
A/S: Fine Platinum
Bowl: Once a Marine Always a Marine Scuttle
I have had great shaves this week with the Dorco ST Platinum blade. I will put in a new blade tomorrow although I'm sure I could probably get a few more shaves out of this one. This is another fine soap from Jeeves Soap. Their Private Study Tallow Soap will make you feel like you are sailing on the seven sea's. A classic bay rum scent made with West Indie bay, sweet orange, rum, spices and just a touch of patchouli and vanilla. Great stuff. Fine Platinum is an outstanding aftershave. JR#45 is an excellent brush. The old Tech performed very well.

A very lovely, relaxed Saturday shave today...

Maggard's Lime & Bergamot
Crown King Duro
Crown King scuttle
Gold Dollar 300
Pinaud Clubman splash

A really nice shave today. I did all 3 passes with this straight, and the final results were very clean and comfortable. I still can't say DFS, and I certainly can't call it BBS, but it is a CCS straight razor shave, and that makes me very happy. I could do some touchups with the DE, and get DFS, but I am more focused on using the straight without irritation than I am on chasing the BBS at the moment...