What soap/cream did you use today?

Today saw Sir Henry’s Sandalwood hit the brush.  For those of you who haven't tried it, think Tabac performance with the scent of lavender, vanilla, and real live sandalwood.  This soap has rapidly become one of my favorites.  In fact it makes the short list. Perhaps the best thing about this soap is that the sandalwood scent lingers long after the shave.  I don't wear scent post shave with this one unless it's the sister product LSV splash.  This could be my only soap and I'd be happy.

What razor is that?


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Vétyver v. (Martin de Candre) smoky vetiver

This is a new jar of Vétyver. Its smells smoky, far smokier in fact than my other jar of Vétyver, which dates from 2016. That Vétyver is very clean and bright. Why the difference? Perhaps the scent of the older jar has faded over the years, or perhaps Martin de Candre is now using a different blend of vetiver oils. Perfumers sometimes divide vetiver oil into three major varieties: bourbon (from Réunion), Haitian, and Javan. For high class perfumery bourbon is preferred. It's light and bright and lovely. This is what I smell in my 2016 jar of  Vétyver and in Mickey Lee's Réunion soap. The second type, from Haiti, has an especially nutty-spicy side note. You may have noticed it in Mike's Vetiver or L&L Grooming's Marshlands. The last kind of vetiver oil, from Javan, is deep, rich, and outrageously smoky. I believe this is the magnificent vetiver that Cyril Salter liberally dumps into their cream. I adore it, and I'm glad to get just a wee sniff of something like it in Martin de Candre's recent Vétyver.

As a vetiver fan as well I recall the scent of Encre Noir being quite pleasant at a budget price. I'm not sure of the mix but I would guess it would have a bit of the bourbon and Haitian Vetiver. It certainly would make a nice shave soap.

Vétyver v. (Martin de Candre) smoky vetiver

This is a new jar of Vétyver. Its smells smoky, far smokier in fact than my other jar of Vétyver, which dates from 2016. That Vétyver is very clean and bright. Why the difference? Perhaps the scent of the older jar has faded over the years, or perhaps Martin de Candre is now using a different blend of vetiver oils. Perfumers sometimes divide vetiver oil into three major varieties: bourbon (from Réunion), Haitian, and Javan. For high class perfumery bourbon is preferred. It's light and bright and lovely. This is what I smell in my 2016 jar of  Vétyver and in Mickey Lee's Réunion soap. The second type, from Haiti, has an especially nutty-spicy side note. You may have noticed it in Mike's Vetiver or L&L Grooming's Marshlands. The last kind of vetiver oil, from Javan, is deep, rich, and outrageously smoky. I believe this is the magnificent vetiver that Cyril Salter liberally dumps into their cream. I adore it, and I'm glad to get just a wee sniff of something like it in Martin de Candre's recent Vétyver.

Most interesting, thank you.

My soap today was also MdC, but the Fougere.

Love that smoke!  Did you still get a hint of the "rubber"?

More than a hint. When I first cracked open the lid it was sort of like walking into a Firestone dealership. No bad, really, once you're used to it. I'm leaving the lid off this week to see if it will dissipate.

Today saw Sir Henry’s Sandalwood hit the brush.  For those of you who haven't tried it, think Tabac performance with the scent of lavender, vanilla, and real live sandalwood.  This soap has rapidly become one of my favorites.  In fact it makes the short list. Perhaps the best thing about this soap is that the sandalwood scent lingers long after the shave.  I don't wear scent post shave with this one unless it's the sister product LSV splash.  This could be my only soap and I'd be happy.

What razor is that?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's a Razorock Gamechanger .84 head on a Muhle handle

Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet shaving soap (tallow), a classic

As a vetiver fan as well I recall the scent of Encre Noir being quite pleasant at a budget price.  I'm not sure of the mix but I would guess it would have a bit of the bourbon and Haitian Vetiver.  It certainly would make a nice shave soap.

Wouldn't it though! Encre Noir is a wonderful piece of work, the driest vetiver I've found. Along with the grass, there's a lot of wood. I get mostly cypress. If you like that combination, you may want to try Proraso's Cypress & Vetiver balms and cream. Not quite as dry as Encre Noir, but pleasant.

  

Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux Yuzu Rose Patchouli (Milksteak)

My bison tallow based version of this soap started smelling a little off so I treated myself to a fresh tub of the Milksteak base. I am glad I did as this is one of my all-time rated scents. This was my first experience with Milksteak and, though I dislike the name, I really enjoyed the base. I avoided use of my Grooming Dept Pre-Shave because that tilts the experience way too much. Without use of the GD product, the DG soap was dang good. I want to say top tier but then it is only one time and I am trying to avoid the soap ranking merry-go-round.