(This post was last modified: 11-23-2017, 07:10 PM by Marko.)
I've been using Tallow+Steel soap all week M-T+S/CL Yuzu Rose Patchouli LE, T-T+S/CL Vide Poche LE, W-Boreal, R-Grog and Shag LE and West Coast IPA are on deck for tomorrow and Saturday. I'd almost forgotten how awesome Ryan's soaps are. Unfortunately thats becoming easier to do now as we always seem to be moving on to the next release, the next shiny object and leaving the last release behind us. I think its all too easy to take the artisans that produce these wonderful products for granted - we're only interested in the next new thing and man are we pissed if we miss out on it or if for some reason it doesn't live up to our expectations of what it should be. Look out. We've seen some artisans step back from the generous access and free flow dialogue that we've been accustomed to on DFS or other forums because of all of the negativity. Now I'm not saying we're all like that but it only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel doesn't it?
In any case I want to thank these artisans starting with Ryan at Tallow+Steel, the man is active service RCAF and yet finds the time to conceive, design and produce some pretty awesome soaps and aftershaves. His original formula was and still is awesome yet he put a ton of time and effort to produce an even more awesome v.2 soap with a whole new line up of scents, labelling and packaging and as if that wasn't enough he went over the top with his West Coast IPA - he sought out the hops he needed from actual west coast craft breweries. The lengths he'll go to to bring his vision to fruition is amazing, like the Canada 150 using actual beaver castor sacs which he acquired from a trapper friend. Yes, in Canada you can still know actual trappers. I think that Ryan is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Ryan.
Shawn of Chatillon Lux is another artisan with an incredible passion for what he does - he makes some of the best post shave products on earth in my opinion. His formulas are so soothing and skin nourishing and the scents are unlike anything else out there and all amazing. And he does this as a sideline after working long hours at a demanding job. Where do these guys find the time? I'll tell you where, it comes from the well spring of passion for what they do. I'm thinking they're organized and efficient too. I think that Shawn is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Shawn.
Will Carius of Barrister and Mann. Wow. What can I say other than that? Barrister and Mann were the very first artisan soaps I ever used and I was blown away. Love Will's products, as he said at the time "made with awesome" and they are awesome and creative and sometimes polarizing but never boring Notwithstanding how good his first soap base was Will continued to innovate and improve. He could have coasted but never one to sit back on his laurels coast he did not. Glissant, reserve, Barrister's Reserve aftershaves, constantly improving and innovating and then throw the regular limited editions into the mix and you have one of the most popular artisan soap makers out there. I think Will is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Will.
Scott of Declaration Grooming (formerly L&L Grooming) is another of those artisans who is passionate about his craft and brings us an incredible soap base with creative and innovative scents. Scott has collaborated with Shawn at Chatillon Lux on several occasions to combine Shawn's incredible scents with Scotts incredible soap to give the shaving community incredible products. And Scott is a respectable scent mixer himself as his line up will attest to. He has also innovated with the use of bison tallow as an alternative to beef in order to keep his product at the cutting edge of the soap world. I think Scott is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Scott.
While I could go on I'd like to open this thread to the DFS membership so that everyone can take the opportunity to express their own thanks and gratitude whether it is for artisans or vendors or anyone they believe deserves our thanks and gratitude, oh, and I'd also like to express my thanks and gratitude to Damn Fine Shave and the people who make it possible for us to spend some time knocking around and interacting with other wet shaving enthusiasts - thanks andrewjs18 , Freddy , Matsilainen and everyone else who keeps this forum ticking along.
In any case I want to thank these artisans starting with Ryan at Tallow+Steel, the man is active service RCAF and yet finds the time to conceive, design and produce some pretty awesome soaps and aftershaves. His original formula was and still is awesome yet he put a ton of time and effort to produce an even more awesome v.2 soap with a whole new line up of scents, labelling and packaging and as if that wasn't enough he went over the top with his West Coast IPA - he sought out the hops he needed from actual west coast craft breweries. The lengths he'll go to to bring his vision to fruition is amazing, like the Canada 150 using actual beaver castor sacs which he acquired from a trapper friend. Yes, in Canada you can still know actual trappers. I think that Ryan is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Ryan.
Shawn of Chatillon Lux is another artisan with an incredible passion for what he does - he makes some of the best post shave products on earth in my opinion. His formulas are so soothing and skin nourishing and the scents are unlike anything else out there and all amazing. And he does this as a sideline after working long hours at a demanding job. Where do these guys find the time? I'll tell you where, it comes from the well spring of passion for what they do. I'm thinking they're organized and efficient too. I think that Shawn is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Shawn.
Will Carius of Barrister and Mann. Wow. What can I say other than that? Barrister and Mann were the very first artisan soaps I ever used and I was blown away. Love Will's products, as he said at the time "made with awesome" and they are awesome and creative and sometimes polarizing but never boring Notwithstanding how good his first soap base was Will continued to innovate and improve. He could have coasted but never one to sit back on his laurels coast he did not. Glissant, reserve, Barrister's Reserve aftershaves, constantly improving and innovating and then throw the regular limited editions into the mix and you have one of the most popular artisan soap makers out there. I think Will is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Will.
Scott of Declaration Grooming (formerly L&L Grooming) is another of those artisans who is passionate about his craft and brings us an incredible soap base with creative and innovative scents. Scott has collaborated with Shawn at Chatillon Lux on several occasions to combine Shawn's incredible scents with Scotts incredible soap to give the shaving community incredible products. And Scott is a respectable scent mixer himself as his line up will attest to. He has also innovated with the use of bison tallow as an alternative to beef in order to keep his product at the cutting edge of the soap world. I think Scott is an amazing person and I'm grateful that he is here and passionate about what he does - Thanks Scott.
While I could go on I'd like to open this thread to the DFS membership so that everyone can take the opportunity to express their own thanks and gratitude whether it is for artisans or vendors or anyone they believe deserves our thanks and gratitude, oh, and I'd also like to express my thanks and gratitude to Damn Fine Shave and the people who make it possible for us to spend some time knocking around and interacting with other wet shaving enthusiasts - thanks andrewjs18 , Freddy , Matsilainen and everyone else who keeps this forum ticking along.