Pre: Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
Razor: Henson AL13 ((original "Men's") medium ++)
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (d7)
Soap: Shannon's Soap The Warrior
Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze
Bowl: Tillamook Cobalt
Post: P.A.A. Alum No-Slip Grip System w/ Dry Dock System
Post 2: Dickinson's Enhanced Witch Hazel Deep Cleansing Astringent w/ Menthol & Eucalyptus
Aftershave: Stirling Soap Company Light-Ish Red
Today brings me another first in a fairly long list of firsts I've been experiencing lately. Today I had the pleasure of using Shannon's Soaps shaving soap for the first time and of all the possible options available, I just so happen to be the lucky recipient of this particular unobtainium version, The Warrior.
It has a beautiful fragrance that I immediately felt I was familiar with but couldn't quite place. To give you an idea though of what it smells like, I'd say that in a general sense, it's a powdery-floral. With some hunting, I do believe I've found its scent notes. If I'm correct its top notes are lemon leaf and orange, with middle notes of lily of the valley, jasmine, and rose along with base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, powder, and creamy musk. I'd say that at face value this could easily be considered feminine but in all honesty, I think it's a unisex scent that leans a little more to the feminine side. Don't let my thoughts mislead you though as it really is good! I genuinely wish this one had a matching aftershave because I'd totally seek it out.
Hardware wise I went with the Henson AL13 (medium). I haven't used this razor in quite some time so I thought why not revisit it today? I threw in a Personna Platinum Chrome blade on its seventh day of use. I tend to like using worn blades in the AL13. With it being such an efficient razor with great blade clamping and zero blade chatter, it basically strong-arms used blades into providing a couple/few more shaves than they would in a less rigid razor.
I did a fun three-pass shave with a little buffing at the end and earned a bbs shave. The AL13 isn't the prettiest razor but if you've used one, you know it's undeniably one of the best out there at getting the job done right.
I thought that Stirling Soap Company's Light-Ish Red would be a good match for The Warrior so I went with it today for my aftershave choice. Now that it's all said and done, I think they were a great pairing if I do say so myself.
Alright my friends, that's it for today. Take care of yourselves, each other, and enjoy your shaves.