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Ramblings of a MilkCrate

Shave Count (DE: 358 SE: 7 SR: 399)

Pre Shave-
Splash and go

Shave-
J Allen SR
DSC Badger
DG Darkfall soap

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
Witch Hazel
DG Darkfall AS

The Process-
TGIF! I don't normally wish my life away like that, but I am glad today is Friday. The only change I made with the kit today was to up the brush to the DSC to see what kinda sloppy mess I could make. Off the puck and while lathering this morning, I still think I am getting a musk smell, but not as bad as yesterday. Maybe it has been sitting awhile and opening it up released the "tomb stench". Anyway this is the Icarus base and seems to be rather firmer than I have heard MilkSteak described. Threw a bit of water on the puck and let that sit while I got other things ready. Went with a 30 second load time and got to it. Whipped up a decent, thick lahter that held a good amount of water. Again had plenty for the shave and post shave.

40 laps on leather this morning and got after it. Went with my standard three pass shave of WTG, XTG and ATG with no drama to report. I did have the soap better hydrated than yesterday and that was a noticable difference. However, I still missed a smidge and ended up with a DFS for the win! I think this razor needs to go back to the stones. I'll put it in the queue. But ... I'll take a DFS any day.

Wrapped everything up with a splash of water and a pat dry. A splash of the Witch Hazel and followed up with a glug of the AS. Everything was right as rain? So today I decided to go big or go home. I shook the bottle up real good and hit the AS harder than yesterday. Now I get it. The splash opens up with menthol that builds and then fades away. Similar to a crisp fall morning that gives way to a nice warm day. Easing into a nice, warm and woody scent. I get it! Thankfully I had covered that musk smell. I guess it was in the soap and not the AS.

So ... I took a pause here while writing and did a little digging. Here is a review that I found.

" Icarus was introduced this past spring of ‘18 and proved to be so popular that DG decided to continue using it for seasonal offerings while continuing to maintain their normal stable of soaps in the original Bison base. Icarus still uses Bison tallow and lanolin but has added the addition of goat’s milk for what many consider to be enhanced performance and currently the best performing artisan soap on the market. Since the original release Scott has switched up sourcing the ingredients, notably the goat milk, in order to decrease what many described as an animalic funk that invaded the scent of the original release. Since then there have been mixed responses with regard to the funk."

"... I took Scott’s advice and left the container open for 24 hrs before using."

What?! See folks ... I am not crazy at all (am not!). Other people smell an animal funk. Thank goodness! Ok, so when I get home tonight, I am going to air that stinky goat out for a full 24. What a freaking mess. But anyway ... Life is good!

Home Front-
So ... I think tonight I will be taking a look at that soap sample pass-around box.
 
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Shave Count (DE: 358 SE: 7 SR: 401)

Pre Shave-
Splash and go

Shave-
Reynolds SR
Stirling boar
Krokos soap

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
Witch Hazel
Florida Water AS

The Process-
Late morning shave and mixing the kit up a bit. Thought I would try a soap I haven’t used in awhile. Krokos has a really light scent, but I kinda dig it. I scored this one a long time ago in a trade because the original owner had a reaction to it. Anyway, it whipped up a really nice lather. The lather was light and wet, but not airy. When on your face, it doesn’t feel as heavy as some soaps, if that makes sense. The Stirling did lose one hair which is kinda a bummer.

40 laps on leather again this morning and it was go time. Went with my standard three passes of WTG, XTG and ATG with no drama to report. That was a great shave and I am BBS for the win! Nice ... very nice!

Wrapped everything up with a splash of water and a pat dry. A splash of WH and a splash of the AS and everything was right as rain! Good stuff right there. Nice dry down and I smell great. Life is good!

Home Front-
Nice weekend. Dinner out with the missus on Friday, but no movie. A late lunch with my mom and some family that came into town on Saturday. Just working on a few things around the house today. I think that’s all I’ve got.
 
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Shave Count (DE: 358 SE: 7 SR: 402)

Pre Shave-
Splash and go

Shave-
Reynolds SR
Stirling synth
Zingari Man The Soloist soap

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
Witch Hazel
Nivia ASB

The Process-
I have chosen a few samples from the pass around box to check out. Some are from vendors that I am familiar with, some are not. On the vendors I know, I want to see how the scent is when lathered. Anyway, today the Zingari Man got the nod. This is a soap and vendor that I have not used before. I had a hard time with the scent in the sample container, but it opened up when in the bowl and lathered. So I broke out the copper lather bowl and got to it. I went with the synthetic brush because it can whip up a really nice lather and doesn't try and eat it. I should have pulled a bit more out of the sample to work with. It did whip up a nice lather, but I only have enough for two passes. And with that, the passes were a bit thin. No fault of the soap, that's all on me. To my untrained nose, I am getting tobacco and I can't pick anything else out. To me it seems to be in the same wheelhouse as PdP 63. Must be the tobacco, but what do I know.

If it's gonna shave, it's gotta happen with a straight. So 40 laps on leather and it was go time. I opted for a slightly different shave today of WTG and ATG. I was a bit pressed for time and didn't want to go back to the sample to load more. The soap didn't really have the slickness that I was looking for, but this runs counter to what I have read. I can only assume that although well hydrated, I didn't have it dialed in well and could have used more product. At any rate, I made it through both passes with no fluid loss or major irritation. Not the greatest of shaves, but I am DFS for the win! I'll take that, I had to work for it.

Wrapped everything up with a splash of water and a pat dry. A splash of WH and a smear of the ASB and everything was right as rain! The soap didn't really get a fair shake this morning, but I have to move onto others. I already have a tobacco scent, but I would like to try another vendor sample in another scent some day. Life is good!

Home Front-
Didn't get much of what I wanted done yesterday. Got side tracked on a project that took longer than expected. At any rate, I will get back to the others as time allows. Back to the grind today ... yeah me!
 
Do yourself a favor and use it again with more product otherwise you've not benefited by the pass around. If it's gone, it's gone. There's plenty of soap in there for others to try. Just my thoughts and I put the sample in there unfortunately in a smaller container I was trying to get rid of....
 
Dave in KY said:
Do yourself a favor and use it again with more product otherwise you've not benefited by the pass around. If it's gone, it's gone. There's plenty of soap in there for others to try. Just my thoughts and I put the sample in there unfortunately in a smaller container I was trying to get rid of....
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I don’t think I’m going to try Reef Point anyway. So that opens up a spot for a do over.
 
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