What soap/cream did you use today?

Verbena Cream v. (Esbjerg) rosemary, sage, verbena

   

So did you get some Orange Vetiver too?  And just like Dom, I enjoy your reports too.

Naw, I couldn't get any Orange Vetiver. No one is carrying it right now. Drat! Even Esbjerg's own web site is clean out of it. But they have some other interesting flavors, and they're offering a Father's Day discount right now. I'm sorely tempted. I hope you had a grand weekend with the family, Lipripper. It's good to spend some time away, but I'm glad your back and posting. Your soap notes always give me a chuckle.

That scent means it’s summer!

Stirling Soap Co - Sheep
                                         

PAA Outdoorsman's Friend (CK-6)

It's too bad I didn't shave before going out in the woods, I could have used the skeeter repellent.

Catnip Oil, Spearmint Oil, Peppermint Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil, Orange Oil, Lemon Grass Oil, Citronella Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and Spruce Oil

Handsome boy. Bet he rules the roost

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

PAA Outdoorsman's Friend (CK-6)

It's too bad I didn't shave before going out in the woods, I could have used the skeeter repellent.

Catnip Oil, Spearmint Oil, Peppermint Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil, Orange Oil, Lemon Grass Oil, Citronella Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and Spruce Oil

Handsome boy. Bet he rules the roost

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Haha!!!
...as much as a neutered 60-pounder can do!!

Definitely a looker though, this pup. Thank you!

A proper Bay Rum Kit should be a staple in every Gent’s Den

Good Bay Rum should be middle of the road strength of scent.  It shouldn’t be overpowering but should stay with you most of the day.  A proper BR has an easily identifiable sweet, woody and spicy scent.  Pimenta Racemosa should be in the ingredient list, if it’s NOT, you might want to rethink your choices.  Sir Henry’s Island Estate ingredients list reads “Fragrance.”  Is it possible to achieve this wonderful scent without? I truly don’t know, that’s a question for the folks at Sir Henry’s, though I doubt Pimenta Racemosa was left out.  Many Artisan’s leave their scent profile ingredient list out to protect their hard work, I don’t blame them.  When you have perfection, why give it away? 

Sir Henry’s Bay Rum in my opinion is Perfect.  I used my first one over the entire 2020-2021 winter and recently purchased a second.  The bay in Island Estate is abundant.  The spicy/peppery allspice is complimented by a hint of Bergamot and Patchouli.  Vanilla/Coconut smooths it all out. There could be a lemon-y/lime-y fern note at the bottom but I can’t quite put my finger on it, definitely citrus. That’s all I get, I don’t get any clove/cinnamon in this one nor do I want it.  This soap needs clove/cinnamon like a good steak needs a condiment, NO THANK YOU

Performance of ISLAND ESTATE is solid: Slick, protective, plenty of phantom lather.  This one is NOT thirsty, do take your time with with water, start your lather with a well shaken wet brush

***Island Estate splash is a Witch Hazel base and doesn’t dry you out, wonderful compliment to make a brilliant kit

Over the past 4 years I’ve tried the following Bay Rums, there are only 4 in this list worth having:

Captain’s Choice (Soap & Cream)
B&M Bay Rum (Glissant & Excelsior)
Mike’s Natural
Mystic Waters
APR Bay City
Black Ship Blackbeard
TurtleShip Bay Rum
Declaration B-Cubed
CATIE’S Bubbles Barnegat Bay
Oleo El Caballero
Chiseled Face Bay Rum
Crowne&Crane Caribbean Spice
HSSC BarberShop
Grooming Dept Mandarin Bay
LASSC Santa Monica Bay Rum
Noble Otter Plunder
Phoenix Beau Imperial Rum
PAA Atomic Age Bay Rum
PAA Bay Rum
Col Conk Bay Rum
Soap Commander Purpose
Stirling Bay Rum
Ogallala Bay Rum
West Coast Shaving Bay Rum
Tallow Steel Grog
Dr Jon’s Anne Bonny
Dr Jon’s Raz Warz

ARIANA EVANS / SoCal Hipster

Verbena Cream v. (Esbjerg) lemony herb garden

Something went terribly right with yesterday’s shave, and it’s got me all muddled. You see, I’ve searched for years and years for a shave soap or cream that would perfectly suit not only my taste but also my skin. Now, I have lots of soaps that smell good but don’t give a great shave, and I have a few soaps that give a pretty good shave but don’t really smell that good. But Esbjerg’s Verbena is both good smelling and good shaving – I mean really good shaving. Slick and creamy and wonderfully protective, this lather turns my face into an ice rink. The blade just skims over the surface of the skin without doing any damage. The finish, dry at first but richer as the hours pass, feels plump but not sticky, even on a 'bug hot' day. I’m almost afraid to admit that I may have found my shave nirvana. The hunt for this sort of perfection has been so central to my daily routine for so many years that now when I think I’ve found it, I’m troubled by the thought of giving up the search. This could leave a gaping hole in my psyche. I’m almost tempted to pitch this soap out. But how can I when a shave with it comes so close to paradise?
____________
1946–50 Gillette Fat Handle Tech ・ Bic Chrome Platinum ・ Phoenix Shaving Solar Flare ・ Guerlain, Eau de Guerlain ・ YTD: 318g

  

ARIANA EVANS / SoCal Hipster

That's a wicked nice tengu, ExtraProtein. I really enjoy your drawings! And your experience with bay rum is encyclopedic. So, you've baited us. Now spill the beans. What are the four bay rums worth keeping in your den?