What soap/cream did you use today?

Yesterday's shave - I have had a sample of Petrichor for a couple years now and have always enjoyed the scent.  I've noticed many occasions on a cool/damp spring or fall walk that really highlighted what Will sought out to do with this scent.  

I finally decided to purchase a tub after seeing it in the soft-heart base.  I had not yet tried the soft-heart and thought it was a good time do so.  Honestly, this one may hit the BST.  The scent off the puck is as good, if not better, than my sample.  But once lathered, uggghhhh.  It was more like mud.  I'll give it another go before making a decision (a fantastic lesson preached by CL) but am definitely leaning towards letting it go.  As for base...if you like a good thick yogurty-like lather, you'll enjoy the soft-heart base.  It does require more water and some patience, but it does turn out nicely

It surprises me that you don't like the Soft Heart base as much. From what I gather, more folks (including myself) prefer it to the Excelsior base. I remember reading that both bases are the exact same ingredients, in different ratios. As you've probably gathered, it loads easier and quicker than other bases. My heavens, can it ever take some water - particularly if you load heavy. BTW, that's some seriously delicious looking lather in your photo!

Whoops, my bad!  I didn't mean to imply the lather itself was "uggghhh", I meant the scent was.  Normally, I really enjoy a darker/earthier vibe but something just didn't sit well with me on Petrichor.  Again, off the puck, I really enjoy the scent.  Just not once it was lathered.

BTW, you're right, that lather can really take on water.  That was my 1st time using the soft-heart base and I fully admit, I loaded way too much.  But that's also the fun in trying new bases/artisans...experimenting and figuring out the best way to get a good lather!

Yesterday's shave - I have had a sample of Petrichor for a couple years now and have always enjoyed the scent.  I've noticed many occasions on a cool/damp spring or fall walk that really highlighted what Will sought out to do with this scent.  

I finally decided to purchase a tub after seeing it in the soft-heart base.  I had not yet tried the soft-heart and thought it was a good time do so.  Honestly, this one may hit the BST.  The scent off the puck is as good, if not better, than my sample.  But once lathered, uggghhhh.  It was more like mud.  I'll give it another go before making a decision (a fantastic lesson preached by CL) but am definitely leaning towards letting it go.  As for base...if you like a good thick yogurty-like lather, you'll enjoy the soft-heart base.  It does require more water and some patience, but it does turn out nicely

It surprises me that you don't like the Soft Heart base as much. From what I gather, more folks (including myself) prefer it to the Excelsior base. I remember reading that both bases are the exact same ingredients, in different ratios. As you've probably gathered, it loads easier and quicker than other bases. My heavens, can it ever take some water - particularly if you load heavy. BTW, that's some seriously delicious looking lather in your photo!

Whoops, my bad!  I didn't mean to imply the lather itself was "uggghhh", I meant the scent was.  Normally, I really enjoy a darker/earthier vibe but something just didn't sit well with me on Petrichor.  Again, off the puck, I really enjoy the scent.  Just not once it was lathered.

BTW, you're right, that lather can really take on water.  That was my 1st time using the soft-heart base and I fully admit, I loaded way too much.  But that's also the fun in trying new bases/artisans...experimenting and figuring out the best way to get a good lather!

Ahhhh....gotcha!! After re-reading, now I get it. I clearly misinterpreted...my bad. 

I'm with you...I tend to load on the heavy side, at least initially, even if it creates additional work getting the lather dialed in. I learned quickly with A&E Kaizen base, anything more than 15 seconds of loading makes for a long lather session. Soft Heart is similar in that regard. 

Just open the tub and catch a whiff. Yessir...pure manliness. Finish the shave with the matching splash and you almost feel like you could give Chuck Norris a good ol' ass whoopin'. Notice, I did say almost...

XPEC Original shaving cream (vintage Forester Milan version) + Rose Essence Oil/Hydrosol
The sweetness of the rose essence balanced the 'sweatiness' of the cream really well.

Gentle Menthol Paste v. (Meißner Tremonia) rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus

For a paste, this is fairly light. It’s really nothing like hair pomade or sculpting paste. It’s more like a cream that’s been well whipped and left out to dry. Loading can be a little tricky. Nothing seems to stick to the brush at first. But after nearly a hundred swirls, I get a full, frothy load of soap that makes a gorgeous lather. I give it a good drenching until the gloss comes up and then take a razor to it. Is it super slick? No, not really. But for my "some are here, some are there" beard, it works fine. The menthol is refreshing, not obtrusive. It might be a bit chill for a winter shave, but for a warm spring morning, it’s superb.
____________
Meißner Tremonia: Gentle Menthol Paste (177 g left) ・ Gillette Tech ・ Gilette Silver Blue ・ Phoenix Shaving Peregrino ・ Soap Hoard: 11,240 g ・ Used this year: 183 g

Really nice puck- one of the best 'woody's out there

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Ethos Lavender

When I first sniffed Barrister and Mann Nordost it didn’t have much smoke for a “smoked” Orange.  The Orange however was a really nice , true to the fruit scent though.  As it has aged the smoke has come forth and darned if I don’t really dig the depth this soap developed.  Few soaps actually improve with age it would seem.