What soap/cream did you use today?

Penhaligon's Lords shaving soap (tallow)

Cypress & Vetiver (Proraso)

The label says cypress and vetiver, but there's also a gob of oak moss in the mix. It's a nice combo, but it's been done so many times already. It's essentially Guerlain's Vetiver with less citrus and more moss. The suds, too, are a little dated. Even a fully loaded brush leads to a light and airy lather. It gets the job done but without much panache.

Hmmm. I got an extremely dense lather, almost marshmallow fluff, from the Wood & Spice cream sample I have.

The shave gods were smiling on you.

Cypress & Vetiver (Proraso)

The label says cypress and vetiver, but there's also a gob of oak moss in the mix. It's a nice combo, but it's been done so many times already. It's essentially Guerlain's Vetiver with less citrus and more moss. The suds, too, are a little dated. Even a fully loaded brush leads to a light and airy lather. It gets the job done but without much panache.

Hmmm. I got an extremely dense lather, almost marshmallow fluff, from the Wood & Spice cream sample I have.

The shave gods were smiling on you.

I'll take a pic next time.

Hmmm. I got an extremely dense lather, almost marshmallow fluff, from the Wood & Spice cream sample I have.

The shave gods were smiling on you.

I'll take a pic next time.

Here ya go...



After 25 seconds of face lathering...



After the shave here's the ice cream in the brush...

Here ya go...



After 25 seconds of face lathering...



After the shave here's the ice cream in the brush...

Gorgeous work, Nero! What did you do with the leftovers?

Gorgeous work, Nero! What did you do with the leftovers?

Thank you sir
Spoils were sacrificed. Is that the angel's cut?

Oud Neroli (Le Père Lucien)

Cyril's latest lathers are so vastly superior to his earlier versions that I'm almost tempted to try a new tin of my arch nemesis, Rose de Pushkar. My first jar of that soap was consigned to the showers, it made such a disappointing lather. But today's Oud Neroli was as rich as any tallow-based soap and even rivaled Saponificio Varesino's suds. One area, though, where LPL hasn't yet caught up with SV is the scent of their soaps. I have to admit that LPL's recent Vetiver is grand, and I really like their Traditionnel and Cologne Fougère, but this Oud Neroli is way off the mark. Its notes are described on the LPL website as 'puissantes, mystérieuses, notes d’agrumes boisées et orientale', but after today's shave, I can't say this is oud or neroli to any appreciable degree. What it is, is the scent of any one of a dozen drug store deodorants. It's strong, yes, but where's the mystery?

Simpsons Vanilla & Rose

Pacific Shaving Caffeinated Shave Cream