I admit that as we leave summer (here in the northern hemisphere), I'm really looking forward to some leather and tobacco scents. I haven't tried Oro Valley, so I'll probably add that to my next coffee and bath soap order from Stirling.
gcgallant
joined 1 year ago
The top notes of that soap read like "lavender, lavender, lavender". I admit that I don't associate that with the night sky. How did you find the scent? And, what do you think of the soap, itself. I'm looking forward to trying Old Strathcona on the 18th (smush received, btw, thanks!).
Thanks! As with my two other AAs, I learned a lot.
Very nice setup! Getting beyond AA is nice, but now there's the heavy weight of all those choices :)
September 1, 2024
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Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
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Razor: Kikuboshi R. Saito 6/8" Extra Hollow
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Lather: TTFFC - The Lake - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner
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Aftershave: Combe Inc. - Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue - Aftershave
2 passes. Bowl lather. Excellent shave.
New razor, new soap, and new brush.
This Kikuboshi R. Saito arrived in August. I have been looking for one of these in extra hollow for quite a while. The smiling edge is unbelieveably good to shave with. It was quite natural to find which part of the blade to use for different parts of the face. It is a light razor but handles very well.
I received The Lake at the Maggard Meetup earlier this year and it is my first time using it. The TTFFC soap base is very nice, and the scent is a very pleasing aquatic. Goes well with Aqua Velva :)
I ordered the B40 during August because I was envying all of the raw hoggers. I plan to raw hog this brush as much as possible this month.
August 31, 2024
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Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
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Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
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Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
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Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
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Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Well, that's it. I was very surprised by how well this edge lasted all month. I think most of it is due to the wear resistance of the steel, and a little of it has to do with preparation of the edge and with my shaving technique.
Wonderful month! Congrats to all who took part! I look forward to reading all of the summaries.
Here is the final microscope photo.
August 30, 2024
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Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
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Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
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Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
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Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
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Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Penultimate shave. Such and enjoyable month.
August 29, 2024
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Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
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Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
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Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
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Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
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Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Good shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Down to the final days. Quite a different experience than I imagined. I'll summarize on the 31st, of course.
August 28, 2024
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Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
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Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
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Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
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Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
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Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Yesterday, after the first pass, I was convinced that my beard felt less close than normal. But, after the third pass, I had a terrific BBS result. Today I vowed to do my normal 2-pass shave to see if shave quality had dipped below excellent. I was a bit stunned by how good the result was. Extremely close to yesterday's 3-pass shave.
I'm equally stunned by today's microscope image.
August 27, 2024
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Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
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Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
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Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
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Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
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Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Another amazing 3-pass comfortable shave with this completely unstroped razor. I'm still enjoying AG 1889. Though, we've had great weather this past week, this was a perfect choice for the heat and humidity that we get here.
Frio 18;
I don't think I've tried the Premium base. I have some of his Luxury soaps and they are great. I have Blugère coming and that's in the Premium base IIRC.
Are you planning to use the 17 all September? My plan is to use the same brush, but a different straight each day. [though, yesterday's R. Saito makes me want to use it again sooner than October]