2025 - Shaving Most Used and Favorite Things

[EMG06]

Hi Cadre, with 1 week left in the year 2025 what were some of your most used, most loved shaving items? Any amazing new (or new to you) shaving things you tried for the first time this year?

Here’s a thread to share your 2025 experiences with everyone!

Last year I tried this and got 9 responses! Maybe I can get 10 this year?

I started wet shaving in November 2015, and so for my decade of shaving anniversary I tried using some new stuff this year.

Looking back over my notes I had a few standouts:

Razors: While my SE razors from Atelier Durdan (Vestige et La Faulx) continued to be my most used razors, I got to experience some pretty great DE razors this year. My first Wolfman (WR2 with 0.95 mm gap). My first Gillette Single Ring.

And whatever we want to call the shaving rectangle that is the Blackland Batch 002



Blades: Wilkinson Sword Classic from Germany was the leader. Personna’s new Diamond Glide was a great new blade to hit the market. And Carbon Steel blades! Who knew I could enjoy those, I had written them off early in my journey but have found them to be very nice in my vintage Gillette razors.

Brush Maker : Wald continued to dominate the den. My Simpson Summer was wonderful, but I reached for a Wald brush for about 200 shaves this year.

Soap: Ethos. Blue Lotus, Bay Rum, and Dragonsbeard were all near the top of the most used list this year. Frank is just at the top of the pile for me.

After care: Ethos. I think I tried to use some combination of their splash and skin food lotion every day. My skin loves it (especially the skin food lotion).

What about the rest of the Cadre?

 

[fhalden]

I was and am on a long overdue restraint. My most used itemthis year was my Chubby 2. Soapwise, aside from MWF, wwhich I stocked up on when the Tallow went away. I also loveand often use Zingari Man. Her scentless balm is a daily use item! Witch Hazel (Humphrey's Maravilla) and Lucky Tiger Aftershave. My most used razor is essentially a tie between my Fatboy and my Christopher Bradley, my patina project.

 

[Yetzirah]

The Henson AL13 paired with a Feather blade was definitely my most used hardware of 2025. The same has been true since October 2021 and fully expect that trend to continue into 2026. Consistent excellence!
I do enjoy variety with soaps and brushes. My most used soap this year was MdC.
Tabac aftershave was my primary.
As for brushes, I’ll give the nod to the SOC Mistura.

Best wishes,
Paul

 

[dangerousdon]

Well, not so much shaving…but…Stirling Soap Company’s Mountain Man flavor beard balm and bath soap has been my jam!

 

[MarkB]

I've kept a spreadsheet of all my shaves this year. Will post it up on the 31st.

 

[Spider]

The Hiram Commander is the only razor I've been using since I recently located it. It was lost in a box of random shave stuff for a while. I love this razor and it's definitely my favorite of 2025.

 

[n0tz0de]

The Hiram Commander is the only razor I've been using since I recently located it. It was lost in a box of random shave stuff for a while. I love this razor and it's definitely my favorite of 2025.
View attachment 153187

Roasted Oatmeal Stout, how does THAT smell? Sounds delicious.

 

[Spider]

Roasted Oatmeal Stout, how does THAT smell? Sounds delicious.

It has a cult following at the TSC. It’s my second favorite scent from CBL. It’s warm cookie and Guinness-ey deliciousness.

 

[MarkB]

And with today's shave, 2025 is officially in the books. A great year of great shaves! Kept a year-long spreadsheet of all my shaves and here are the top 3 artisans / manufacturers in each category.

Shave Soap / Croap

1. Williams w/ Menthol - 87 Shaves ( due to participating in the Williams Mug Soap Challenge)
2. Phoenix Shaving - 46 Shaves
3. ETHOS Grooming Essentials - 36 Shaves

Brushes

1. Paladin - 78 Shaves
2. Phoenix Shaving - 75 Shaves
3. Wild West Brushworks - 35 Shaves

Razors

1. Vintage Gillette - 255 Shaves
2. Karve - 61 Shaves
3. Feather AC - 11 Shaves

Aftershave

1. ETHOS Grooming Essentials - 45 Shaves
2. Phoenix Shaving - 33 Shaves
3. Clubman - 20 Shaves

Fragrance

1. Murray & Lanman Florida Water - 18 Shaves
2. Acqua di Parma / Phoenix Shaving - 17 Shaves Each
3. ETHOS Grooming Essentials - 14 Shaves

Creams

1. Taylor of Old Bond Street - 4 Shaves
2. Palmolive - 3 Shaves
3. C.O. Bigelow - 2 Shaves

 

[supertrunker]

2025 - a year of inexpensive SR's and expensive soaps!

Typical schedule is face gets rasped twice a week with a SR and head once a week with a DE.


Straight Razor: Eerless 5/8" coticule edge - 36 uses
Dovo Bismarck 6/8" coticule edge - 29
ZY SS 6/8" black Ark edge - 13

Brush: Omega boar 10098 - 12 uses
Omega boar 10083a - 12
Omega boar 10083b - 10
Omega boar 10083c - 10

Soap: MdC Rose - 23 uses
MdC Fougere - 10
Salter Indian sandalwood - 9

Head shaves alternated between a Muhle R41 and an Ikon w/ Asylum handle at 10 shaves per blade. Settled on Lord blades after using up a sampler.
Used Cella soap 27 times and Omega soap 11 times. Brushes were all synthetic and cheap - rotating evenly between a Van de Hagen, Body Shop, Maggard, and J & C.

 

[BarberDave]

2025 Year in Review

 

[fhalden]

I quit keeping stats in 2025, but I have a pretty clear picture of my most used kit.

Shave Soap / Croap

1. Mitchell's Wool Fat (tallow, fwiw)
2. Far behind MWF is Zingari Man Explorer
3. MdC, as a class

Brushes

1. Simpson Chubby 3 Manchurian
2. Simpson Berkeley Best
3. Simpson Astor Best

Razors

1. Paradigm 2020 Diamondback
2. Karve Overlander
3. 1st 1/4 1960 Gillette 195

Aftershave

1. Floid Original
2. Lucky Tiger

Fragrance

1. Caswell-Massey No. 6
2. Cool Water
3. Aventus Dupes, as a class.

Creams

1. Taylor of Old Bond Street Royal Forest (see #3 supra.)
2. Speick
3. TOBS Avocado

 

[EMG06]

Simpson Chubby 3 Manchurian

That’s quite the brush as a most used. I have a Chubby 3, but it only comes out occasionally when I need to feel what it would be like to have a pet badger rub up against me. It’s a wall of fur in a brush!