What soap/cream did you use today?

Hot in Idaho.  Records are being broken daily.  Our snowpack, which was slim going into spring anyway, turned to water early and headed downhill.  We sure do need some rain.  Lots of rain, but the Idaho Snake River plain is a high desert and precip is generally less than 11 inches annual.  Looks like a hot, dry summer ahead.  
There is but one more shave in this tub of Poggio dei Pini and this morning the scent is still glorious with its hot pine and scrubbby brush vibe.  Great shave but I sure have to load a long time to pick up the soap in its diminished form.

Lipripper660, sorry to hear about the heat. Sounds like you're burning up under triple-digit temps. Hope this isn't a prelude to a horrible fire season. I remember flying over Idaho a few years back when it seemed like most of the state was on fire. I'd look out the window and see dozens of columns of smoke rising thousands of feet into the sky. It was interesting but scary at the same time. Let's hope you all get some rain soon.

I see you've pulled out the Karve Christopher Bradley again. The patina is coming up nicely! I've got one in my shopping cart (baseplate C). What can you tell me about this razor? Hve you liked using it? Could it do for an everyday shaver?t

It'll surprise me more if you don't love the Karve. Certainly one of my favorites to use. The balance is perfect, and the fit and finish is also excellent. I think you'll find the "C" plate mild enough, yet it'll still get the job done nicely and quickly. Definitely a daily driver razor. You might kick yourself for waiting so long to get one. 

If this truly were my last shave ever (I hope this morning's wasn't, but hey - you never know, do ya?), what would I choose? Would it be Maleki? Dunno. I'd have to give it more thought. What about you fellas? 

FaceScraper, thanks very much for your take on the Karve. You've got me teetering now. It won't take much more to topple me over.

Seems like I'm for ever looking for the one brush, one blade, one razor, one soap that will always satisfy. 

When it comes to brushes, my search is over. I'm perfectly happy with my Phoenix Shaving Peregrino. I use it every day except when I choose a soap that's too small for this brush. Then I use its little brother, the Phoenix Shaving Solar Flare. 

I'm coming close to finding my one blade. Right now the front runner is the Astra Superior Platinum. I can pop it into any razor, any time, and get a good close shave. Now, some blades perform better than the Astra in some razors, but for an excellent all-rounder, I'm finding it hard to beat the Astra SP. It's thin and it's flimsy, and that flexibility lets it ride pretty in just about any razor in my shed.

I'm still in the weeds when it comes to razors. I've used the Rockwell 6S nearly a thousand times, but I would hesitate to call it my one and only. It's true, I get a great shave nearly every time I pull it out. Baseplate 4 was made for my face. But sometimes when I use it, I feel like I'm driving an M1 Abrams to my daughter's wedding reception. It's big, bulky, and gray, and it mows down any obstacle in its path, but I wouldn't mind a little elegance from time to time. I'm hoping the Karve will bring that to the party. 

And now to your question: What would be your last-day-on-earth shaving soap? Mike's Hungarian Lavender. It makes an incredible dense lather, offers full protection, is as slick as oil on ice, and smells just like the backyard back home. I hardly ever use it these days, I've got so many other fantastic soaps crowding it out. But whenever it comes up in rotation, I feel calm and easy knowing that if I were suddenly called into the great beyond, I would bow out with a clean chin and smile on my face.

GD "Maleki" again. Since I seem to struggle with badger brushes, I loaded it like it was my last shave ever. It took a little longer, but an incredible lather was squeaked out. Loads of decadent shave goop. It got me wondering...if it truly were my last shave ever (I hope this morning's wasn't, but hey - you never know, do ya?), what would I choose? Would it be Maleki? Dunno. I'd have to give it more thought. What about you fellas? 

I can be an over thinker at times, but I make this choice in a heartbeat ... 





I have many other greats - I imagine most of us do - but the RICH, and now long gone L'Occitane cream would be the last hurrah for me.  I'd die smiling, and smelling pretty damn good! 

If this truly were my last shave ever (I hope this morning's wasn't, but hey - you never know, do ya?), what would I choose? Would it be Maleki? Dunno. I'd have to give it more thought. What about you fellas? 

FaceScraper, thanks very much for your take on the Karve. You've got me teetering now. It won't take much more to topple me over.

Seems like I'm for ever looking for the one brush, one blade, one razor, one soap that will always satisfy. 

When it comes to brushes, my search is over. I'm perfectly happy with my Phoenix Shaving Peregrino. I use it every day except when I choose a soap that's too small for this brush. Then I use its little brother, the Phoenix Shaving Solar Flare. 

I'm coming close to finding my one blade. Right now the front runner is the Astra Superior Platinum. I can pop it into any razor, any time, and get a good close shave. Now, some blades perform better than the Astra in some razors, but for an excellent all-rounder, I'm finding it hard to beat the Astra SP. It's thin and it's flimsy, and that flexibility lets it ride pretty in just about any razor in my shed.

I'm still in the weeds when it comes to razors. I've used the Rockwell 6S nearly a thousand times, but I would hesitate to call it my one and only. It's true, I get a great shave nearly every time I pull it out. Baseplate 4 was made for my face. But sometimes when I use it, I feel like I'm driving an M1 Abrams to my daughter's wedding reception. It's big, bulky, and gray, and it mows down any obstacle in its path, but I wouldn't mind a little elegance from time to time. I'm hoping the Karve will bring that to the party. 

And now to your question: What would be your last-day-on-earth shaving soap? Mike's Hungarian Lavender. It makes an incredible dense lather, offers full protection, is as slick as oil on ice, and smells just like the backyard back home. I hardly ever use it these days, I've got so many other fantastic soaps crowding it out. But whenever it comes up in rotation, I feel calm and easy knowing that if I were suddenly called into the great beyond, I would bow out with a clean chin and smile on my face.

You’re most welcome Bouki . The Rockwell 6S is another razor I love. It’s a mindless driver, even with the #6 plate. The Karve feels much more nimble in comparison. If I were forced to choose only one razor, and if the Blackland razors were excluded, it would be a toss up between the Karve and the 6S. While I can’t guarantee you’ll love it, I’d be surprised if you didn’t. For the most part, I fall in the camp of  “A razor is a razor, and a blade is a blade”. That certainly doesn’t mean I don’t have my favorites. There are certain characteristics which determine whether I like a razor or not. Both the Karve and 6S check all the boxes for me. In addition, I’m a sucker for brass razors. 

I have a sample of Mike’s Orange, Cedarwood and Black Pepper. Fabulous, fabulous soap. Why I don’t have at least one full-sized tub of Mike’s is beyond me. That needs to be rectified. Every time I use it, I love the quality of the lather so much, even though the scent is pretty much gone (it’s in an open dish). The Hungarian Lavender sounds wonderful, and could easily be a candidate. Thanks for playing along!

Cool, how's the performance and scent?

Hot in Idaho.  Records are being broken daily.  Our snowpack, which was slim going into spring anyway, turned to water early and headed downhill.  We sure do need some rain.  Lots of rain, but the Idaho Snake River plain is a high desert and precip is generally less than 11 inches annual.  Looks like a hot, dry summer ahead.  
There is but one more shave in this tub of Poggio dei Pini and this morning the scent is still glorious with its hot pine and scrubbby brush vibe.  Great shave but I sure have to load a long time to pick up the soap in its diminished form.

Lipripper660, sorry to hear about the heat. Sounds like you're burning up under triple-digit temps. Hope this isn't a prelude to a horrible fire season. I remember flying over Idaho a few years back when it seemed like most of the state was on fire. I'd look out the window and see dozens of columns of smoke rising thousands of feet into the sky. It was interesting but scary at the same time. Let's hope you all get some rain soon.

I see you've pulled out the Karve Christopher Bradley again. The patina is coming up nicely! I've got one in my shopping cart (baseplate C). What can you tell me about this razor? Hve you liked using it? Could it do for an everyday shaver?

I run the D plate and it is smooth.  Certainly a candidate for a daily driver especially with the c plate.  Great weight and balance and I love the handle. There is a notable bronze scent that some find off putting but I like it. Reminds me of the oar locks on my boats.  My kid has plates from a to d and likes b best. Oh and I like my Rockwell on plate5

I see you've pulled out the Karve Christopher Bradley again. The patina is coming up nicely! I've got one in my shopping cart (baseplate C). What can you tell me about this razor? Hve you liked using it? Could it do for an everyday shaver?

I run the D plate and it is smooth.  Certainly a candidate for a daily driver especially with the c plate.  Great weight and balance and I love the handle. There is a notable bronze scent that some find off putting but I like it.  Reminds me of the oar locks on my boats.   My kid has plates from a to d and likes b best.  Oh and I like my Rockwell on plate5

Thanks Lipripper660 and thanks FaceScraper! You both pushed me over the edge. The last of the Gladius handled Christopher Bradleys is on its way to paradise.

Mike’s Bay Rum t. (Mike’s Natural Soaps) bay & bergamot

ExtraProtein is right. Grating a puck of Mike’s really does open the scent. Today I’m getting a lot more bergamot than yesterday. It’s a nice change from the lime and orange I usually meet in a bay rum. Grating did something else. It invited me to load the soap into a new container. But there’s a hitch: Mike gives you five ounces of soap; my square bowl holds only four ounces. I had to mash and mash to get it all in. Finally took a rubber mallet and gave it a few whacks. But it fit. Now it’s as hard as a brick. It took 140 swirls to get a full load today, and when I was done, there wasn’t hardly a dent in the surface. Might as well be a puck of D.R. Harris.
____________
1938–45 Gillette Fat Handle Tech (δ) ・ Astra SP ・ Phoenix Shaving Peregrino ・ St Johns Bay Rum ・ YTD: 338 g

GD "Maleki" again. Since I seem to struggle with badger brushes, I loaded it like it was my last shave ever. It took a little longer, but an incredible lather was squeaked out. Loads of decadent shave goop. It got me wondering...if it truly were my last shave ever (I hope this morning's wasn't, but hey - you never know, do ya?), what would I choose? Would it be Maleki? Dunno. I'd have to give it more thought. What about you fellas? 

I can be an over thinker at times, but I make this choice in a heartbeat ... 





I have many other greats - I imagine most of us do - but the RICH, and now long gone L'Occitane cream would be the last hurrah for me.  I'd die smiling, and smelling pretty damn good! 

I've never had the pleasure of trying this one, but have heard nothing but great things about their products - at least the ones they USED to make. It's a shame that so many good products fall by the wayside, or get changed for the worse.