The Shaving Cadre
Welcome to The Shaving Cadre, a forum dedicated to gentlemanly discourse about wet shaving and other topics of common interests. Membership is always free so register today and join in the fun
SOTD May 2026
- Thread starter BarberDave
- Start date
Yetzirah
Shave Member
Fantastic lineup Akhi!Friday, May 8, 2026
A terrific shave today with almost 2 days of growth. I used the R4 plate on the 6s and it was amazingly smooth. What a great frosty shave. BBS finish. I feel very refreshed after taking our dog on a 2+ mile walk.
View attachment 158919
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)
Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)
Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)
Time of Day: Afternoon
Blade Uses: 3
Passes: 3
Razor Setting: 4
Razor: Rockwell 6s
Blade: Rex Platinum
Soap: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint
Shaving Bowl: HC&C Stainless Steel Straight Walled Bowl
Brush: PAA Green Ray
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Pre-Shave 2: Stirling Soap Co. Mentholated Pre-shave Soap
Aftershave: PAA Alum Solid Block No slip Grip.
Aftershave 2: Thayer's Cucumber Facial Toner - Witch Hazel
Aftershave 3: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Aftershave Splash
Aftershave 4: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Post-Shave Balm
Generated by Shaving Sherpa — Shaving Sherpa - Master Your Wet Shaving Journey
Shabbat Shalom!
Paul
SpeedyPC
Shave Member
Pre-shave:- Cold Shower
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice Handmade Ceramic
Brush:- Omega MB1899 Black Resin 24/53mm knot Elite Fibre Synth.
Soap/Cream:- MacDuff's Soap Co ~ Aspen Parkland (Unscented) sample
Razor/Blade:- RazoRock Goat SS / Voskhod #1
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Plunkett's Vita E Pure with Rosehip Oil (10 drops), Natural Plant Glycerine (20) & Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic (5)
Moisturising Cream:- Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Fragrance-Free (for autumn & winter season)
Fragrance:- Milkman King of Wood (Australian made)
Deodorant:- Milkman King of Wood (Australian made)
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice Handmade Ceramic
Brush:- Omega MB1899 Black Resin 24/53mm knot Elite Fibre Synth.
Soap/Cream:- MacDuff's Soap Co ~ Aspen Parkland (Unscented) sample
Razor/Blade:- RazoRock Goat SS / Voskhod #1
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Plunkett's Vita E Pure with Rosehip Oil (10 drops), Natural Plant Glycerine (20) & Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic (5)
Moisturising Cream:- Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Fragrance-Free (for autumn & winter season)
Fragrance:- Milkman King of Wood (Australian made)
Deodorant:- Milkman King of Wood (Australian made)
remfan170
Jr. Shave Member
May 9, 2026 (Mystic May Every Other Day)
• Bowl: Doug Smith Pottery – Ceramic Shave Bowl
• Brush: Semogue – 1470 (Boar)
• Razor: Muhle – R41 (Black)
• Blade: Tatra – Platinum
• Soap: Mystic Water – Jeff’s Lavender
• Aftershave: Catie’s Bubbles – Sunset Before and Aftershave
• Balm: Stirling – Unscented Post Shave Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Seaforth! – Roman Spice EDT
Michelle Burns of Mystic Water possesses some of the best traits that many artisans in our community have. One trait that I want to highlight today is her willingness to listen to customers and to even go as far as making specific scents and preparations that they might like. Michelle openly admits to her first foray into shave soap making was not particularly good. But, lots of testing and research led to her making her truly outstanding base. Part of her research involves speaking to her many customers at the farmers’ markets in and around Washington, D.C. where she sells her products and to folks on the forums and through emails.
The story of Jeff’s Lavender is a very touching one. You can see Jeff (yes, there’s really a Jeff) write about it here. She worked closely with his particular skin sensitivities and his love of lavender. This is a wonderful lavender scent built from Bulgarian lavender essential oil, French lavender essential oil, and a lavender absolute. The result is something that is not too floral and not too Earthy.
I have my fingers crossed as I have been trying to work with (read: politely beg) Michelle to create a soap that I think we could use in the wetshaving world. I asked Michelle to consider making a soap that is solely scented with spearmint essential oil. Mama Bear soaps does make one, but I have not tried it and it is glycerin based. Stirling’s glacial spearmint is gorgeous, but there is so much added menthol that it covers up the scent of the spearmint (same with glacial wintergreen). Shout out to Rod Lovan, he did forewarn me about that. The Sudsy Soapery’s Fresh contains peppermint and spearmint essential oil.
My mother would always send me outside in the morning to pick mint from her garden for our breakfast tea and I grew up to grow several kinds of mint myself. I love mint in all of its forms that I have tried. Especially, spearmint. And, sometimes, I want that scent without the face-freezing feeling. But, in the wetshaving world, mint often means menthol, and lots of it. Whereas peppermint essential oil has about 30-40% menthol content, spearmint has less than 1%. Then, there are the added menthols and synthetic coolants out there. To me, it is rather jarring to have menthol (or that sensation) in the absence of mint. But, that is what Osage Rub is. Let’s hope that Michelle considers…or that I break down and finally make an order from Mama Bear…or both.
There are other soaps that she has created for specific customers that I will be using this month. But, if you are into lavender, as many of us are, give Jeff’s Lavender a try. It is even different (though I think just as good as, and similar in spirit to,) my beloved Mike’s Natural Hungarian Lavender.
Have an awesome day, friends!
• Bowl: Doug Smith Pottery – Ceramic Shave Bowl
• Brush: Semogue – 1470 (Boar)
• Razor: Muhle – R41 (Black)
• Blade: Tatra – Platinum
• Soap: Mystic Water – Jeff’s Lavender
• Aftershave: Catie’s Bubbles – Sunset Before and Aftershave
• Balm: Stirling – Unscented Post Shave Balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead Seaforth! – Roman Spice EDT
Michelle Burns of Mystic Water possesses some of the best traits that many artisans in our community have. One trait that I want to highlight today is her willingness to listen to customers and to even go as far as making specific scents and preparations that they might like. Michelle openly admits to her first foray into shave soap making was not particularly good. But, lots of testing and research led to her making her truly outstanding base. Part of her research involves speaking to her many customers at the farmers’ markets in and around Washington, D.C. where she sells her products and to folks on the forums and through emails.
The story of Jeff’s Lavender is a very touching one. You can see Jeff (yes, there’s really a Jeff) write about it here. She worked closely with his particular skin sensitivities and his love of lavender. This is a wonderful lavender scent built from Bulgarian lavender essential oil, French lavender essential oil, and a lavender absolute. The result is something that is not too floral and not too Earthy.
I have my fingers crossed as I have been trying to work with (read: politely beg) Michelle to create a soap that I think we could use in the wetshaving world. I asked Michelle to consider making a soap that is solely scented with spearmint essential oil. Mama Bear soaps does make one, but I have not tried it and it is glycerin based. Stirling’s glacial spearmint is gorgeous, but there is so much added menthol that it covers up the scent of the spearmint (same with glacial wintergreen). Shout out to Rod Lovan, he did forewarn me about that. The Sudsy Soapery’s Fresh contains peppermint and spearmint essential oil.
My mother would always send me outside in the morning to pick mint from her garden for our breakfast tea and I grew up to grow several kinds of mint myself. I love mint in all of its forms that I have tried. Especially, spearmint. And, sometimes, I want that scent without the face-freezing feeling. But, in the wetshaving world, mint often means menthol, and lots of it. Whereas peppermint essential oil has about 30-40% menthol content, spearmint has less than 1%. Then, there are the added menthols and synthetic coolants out there. To me, it is rather jarring to have menthol (or that sensation) in the absence of mint. But, that is what Osage Rub is. Let’s hope that Michelle considers…or that I break down and finally make an order from Mama Bear…or both.
There are other soaps that she has created for specific customers that I will be using this month. But, if you are into lavender, as many of us are, give Jeff’s Lavender a try. It is even different (though I think just as good as, and similar in spirit to,) my beloved Mike’s Natural Hungarian Lavender.
Have an awesome day, friends!
wombadom
TSC Yoda
Thanks for your excellent post. I used the R-4 earlier in the week. I use them all at various times, but R-4 is the one I go most. I was a Rockwell Kickstarter sponsor for their Model T and the 6S both so they also let me purchase the Model T-2 at half price. I like them all.Friday, May 8, 2026
A terrific shave today with almost 2 days of growth. I used the R4 plate on the 6s and it was amazingly smooth. What a great frosty shave. BBS finish. I feel very refreshed after taking our dog on a 2+ mile walk.
View attachment 158919
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)
Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)
Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)
Time of Day: Afternoon
Blade Uses: 3
Passes: 3
Razor Setting: 4
Razor: Rockwell 6s
Blade: Rex Platinum
Soap: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint
Shaving Bowl: HC&C Stainless Steel Straight Walled Bowl
Brush: PAA Green Ray
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Pre-Shave 2: Stirling Soap Co. Mentholated Pre-shave Soap
Aftershave: PAA Alum Solid Block No slip Grip.
Aftershave 2: Thayer's Cucumber Facial Toner - Witch Hazel
Aftershave 3: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Aftershave Splash
Aftershave 4: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Post-Shave Balm
Generated by Shaving Sherpa — Shaving Sherpa - Master Your Wet Shaving Journey
Yehuda D
Sr. Shave Member
Yehuda D
Sr. Shave Member
Awesome shave Lantsman!Friday, May 8, 2026
A terrific shave today with almost 2 days of growth. I used the R4 plate on the 6s and it was amazingly smooth. What a great frosty shave. BBS finish. I feel very refreshed after taking our dog on a 2+ mile walk.
View attachment 158919
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)
Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)
Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)
Time of Day: Afternoon
Blade Uses: 3
Passes: 3
Razor Setting: 4
Razor: Rockwell 6s
Blade: Rex Platinum
Soap: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint
Shaving Bowl: HC&C Stainless Steel Straight Walled Bowl
Brush: PAA Green Ray
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Pre-Shave 2: Stirling Soap Co. Mentholated Pre-shave Soap
Aftershave: PAA Alum Solid Block No slip Grip.
Aftershave 2: Thayer's Cucumber Facial Toner - Witch Hazel
Aftershave 3: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Aftershave Splash
Aftershave 4: Stirling Soap Co Eucalyptus Mint Post-Shave Balm
Generated by Shaving Sherpa — Shaving Sherpa - Master Your Wet Shaving Journey
Shabbat Shalom!
Jeff
Yehuda D
Sr. Shave Member
Guten Morgen die Herren,
Gerade eben:
(Good morning gentlemen)
(Just before)
Hot shower
Yaqi 30mm Barber Pole
Super Speed/Perma Sharp day 7
Gold Dachs Spezial SS
Lubriderm Moisturizer
Amatoury 114 Lemon Cologne
Whenever I use a good soap from Germany I start thinking in German!
This Gold Dachs Spezial is such elegant stuff, its scent is so beautiful in an old school European way, my awesome Yaqi synthetic churned up such great lather from it, and the post shave feeling is so comfortable. The Lubriderm moisturizer works so well as a balm, and the 114 cologne not only smells lovely, it’s so refreshing. Three passes did the job for me - another tip top BBS shave that was such a pleasure!
Enjoy your day and your shaves - be well and stay safe!
Jeff
Gerade eben:
(Good morning gentlemen)
(Just before)
Hot shower
Yaqi 30mm Barber Pole
Super Speed/Perma Sharp day 7
Gold Dachs Spezial SS
Lubriderm Moisturizer
Amatoury 114 Lemon Cologne
Whenever I use a good soap from Germany I start thinking in German!
This Gold Dachs Spezial is such elegant stuff, its scent is so beautiful in an old school European way, my awesome Yaqi synthetic churned up such great lather from it, and the post shave feeling is so comfortable. The Lubriderm moisturizer works so well as a balm, and the 114 cologne not only smells lovely, it’s so refreshing. Three passes did the job for me - another tip top BBS shave that was such a pleasure!Enjoy your day and your shaves - be well and stay safe!
Jeff
Yehuda D
Sr. Shave Member
Very nice!
Saturday SOTD
Razor: Gillette Rocket HD 500
Blade: SuperMax SP Tiger (2)
Brush: Semogue SOC Cherry Boar
Bowl: Tatara 4"
Pre-Shave Scrub: PAA Ice Cube 2
Pre-Shave Balm: 3P
Shave Soap: Maggard's London Barbershop
Balm: Proraso White
Aftershave: RazoRock Baby Blue
Jeff
05.09.26
anchovie666
Shave Member
Saturday 5/9 Shave
MODERN MAY
RAZOR TEST – I’ve had this beauty for a long while
Modern May was a good opportunity to actually use it
One Pass knockdown with the Le Grelot – Amazing
Above the Tie SE2 OC with a Feather SoftGuard sealed the deal
The combination of two exquisite machines – BBS Nirvana
Razor: Thiers Issard Le Grelot “Médaille d Or”
Blade: 6/8 Full Hollow – Jarrod Convex Hone (1X)
Clean Up: ATT SE2 Open Comb – Feather SoftGuard (1X)
Lather: Stirling Sample Mash Up
Brush: Alpha Shaving BIG RED
Post Shave: Lustray Blue Spice Splash
Post Shave: PAA Good Vibrations Aftershave Mix
MODERN MAY
RAZOR TEST – I’ve had this beauty for a long while
Modern May was a good opportunity to actually use it
One Pass knockdown with the Le Grelot – Amazing
Above the Tie SE2 OC with a Feather SoftGuard sealed the deal
The combination of two exquisite machines – BBS Nirvana
Razor: Thiers Issard Le Grelot “Médaille d Or”
Blade: 6/8 Full Hollow – Jarrod Convex Hone (1X)
Clean Up: ATT SE2 Open Comb – Feather SoftGuard (1X)
Lather: Stirling Sample Mash Up
Brush: Alpha Shaving BIG RED
Post Shave: Lustray Blue Spice Splash
Post Shave: PAA Good Vibrations Aftershave Mix
Aomalley27
Shave Member
Is that brush translucent and showing the greenery behind it; or is it green? Looks fantastic, just wondering if that's it's natural color, or if it's reflecting the background foliage.9 May 2026
* Blackbird
* Super Iridium
* Oscar11 Aquamarine
* Cella
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO
Aomalley27
Shave Member
. 
9 May, 2026
Hello everyone! Hope you had a pleasant evening.
The hits just keep coming this week! Returned to my Valobra-era TAOS shave soap. Wonderful lather built with the Shore Shave synth for three passes with the Henson AL13 and I finished with alum, followed by Thayers unscented witch hazel, Layrite No.9 aftershave splash & CBL Barber Powder.
BBS bliss!!
Haven't used the Henson for quite a while. I felt that I never really got the hang of using it. Always seemed too mild and required a lot of buffing to get the desired results. Today was no different. The results however were fantastic. After so much buffing I expected a lot of irritation but that wasn't the case. I may keep using it for a while.
Hope you have a great day.
Hello everyone! Hope you had a pleasant evening.
The hits just keep coming this week! Returned to my Valobra-era TAOS shave soap. Wonderful lather built with the Shore Shave synth for three passes with the Henson AL13 and I finished with alum, followed by Thayers unscented witch hazel, Layrite No.9 aftershave splash & CBL Barber Powder.
BBS bliss!!
Haven't used the Henson for quite a while. I felt that I never really got the hang of using it. Always seemed too mild and required a lot of buffing to get the desired results. Today was no different. The results however were fantastic. After so much buffing I expected a lot of irritation but that wasn't the case. I may keep using it for a while.
Hope you have a great day.
The Art of Shaving / Shore Shave / Henson / Gillette / Thayers / Layrite / CBL
wombadom
TSC Yoda
Thanks for your excellent post. I finished my LAYRITE some months ago. I haven't ordered another one yet though because I still have other Bay Rum aftershaves.9 May, 2026
Hello everyone! Hope you had a pleasant evening.
The hits just keep coming this week! Returned to my Valobra-era TAOS shave soap. Wonderful lather built with the Shore Shave synth for three passes with the Henson AL13 and I finished with alum, followed by Thayers unscented witch hazel, Layrite No.9 aftershave splash & CBL Barber Powder.
BBS bliss!!
Haven't used the Henson for quite a while. I felt that I never really got the hang of using it. Always seemed too mild and required a lot of buffing to get the desired results. Today was no different. The results however were fantastic. After so much buffing I expected a lot of irritation but that wasn't the case. I may keep using it for a while.
Hope you have a great day.
The Art of Shaving / Shore Shave / Henson / Gillette / Thayers / Layrite / CBL
View attachment 158949
Yetzirah
Shave Member
Saturday May 9, 2026
Brush: Simpson Duke3B
Bowl: Captain's Choice Copper
Soap: MdC Absinthe
Razor: Henson AL13 + /Ti22 Handle
Henson: 10/14/2021 = 1694
Blade: Astra SP (1)
P/S: Proraso Green
Coming in from doing more yardwork, finished with a super refreshing shave. Wishing everyone a fantastic day.
Brush: Simpson Duke3B
Bowl: Captain's Choice Copper
Soap: MdC Absinthe
Razor: Henson AL13 + /Ti22 Handle
Henson: 10/14/2021 = 1694
Blade: Astra SP (1)
P/S: Proraso Green
Coming in from doing more yardwork, finished with a super refreshing shave. Wishing everyone a fantastic day.
Aomalley27
Shave Member
SOTN
Going out for the evening and needed a touch up. Pulled out this soap and splash, which is an homage to Aventus. I should say it's more akin to MODERN Creed Aventus, as it lacks that smokiness that vintage CA used to have. A pity. But pleasant enough with the citrus, especially in the warm weather we're having today. Finished with Yardley Gentleman's Talc. That Darn BarberDave is responsible for my Talc obsession. It started about a year and a half ago, or maybe two years ago (Can't remember when I started watching his shave videos). Decided to try the Talc finish to a shave. It's become an obsession. I have over a dozen different Talc in my Den now, and still looking to add more. My most recent was CBL talc. It's really nice. Also picked up a few Noble Otter powders on the secondary market. Not sure when he discontinued them, but the ones I've acquired are fantastic. Also got a vintage Proraso talc dispenser and filled it with some Proaso Talc I picked up at a local Barber supply. It's bad enough that I have a SAD (Soap acquisition disorder) as well as a BAD (Brush Acquisition disorder), but now I've got to add a TAD (Talc Acquisition disorder) to it????
Going out for the evening and needed a touch up. Pulled out this soap and splash, which is an homage to Aventus. I should say it's more akin to MODERN Creed Aventus, as it lacks that smokiness that vintage CA used to have. A pity. But pleasant enough with the citrus, especially in the warm weather we're having today. Finished with Yardley Gentleman's Talc. That Darn BarberDave is responsible for my Talc obsession. It started about a year and a half ago, or maybe two years ago (Can't remember when I started watching his shave videos). Decided to try the Talc finish to a shave. It's become an obsession. I have over a dozen different Talc in my Den now, and still looking to add more. My most recent was CBL talc. It's really nice. Also picked up a few Noble Otter powders on the secondary market. Not sure when he discontinued them, but the ones I've acquired are fantastic. Also got a vintage Proraso talc dispenser and filled it with some Proaso Talc I picked up at a local Barber supply. It's bad enough that I have a SAD (Soap acquisition disorder) as well as a BAD (Brush Acquisition disorder), but now I've got to add a TAD (Talc Acquisition disorder) to it????
