MarkB's Basses, Shaves & Other Obsessions

[NurseDave]

First on the docket, you know it, you love it! MarkB's daily weather report and ensuing complaints.

Totally. It's one of my top 50 things I love about the Cadre!

It smelled great in fact.

GTB baby!!!

 

[MarkB]

Totally. It's one of my top 50 things I love about the Cadre!

 

[Dave in KY]

Scent great. Soap, so so. Splash, better than most. Nice shave

 

[MarkB]

28 February, 2020

Good morning Cadre!

After yesterday's somewhat disappointing shave I wanted to end the week on a high note. I have never had a bad shave with my Phoenix Shaving soaps so I went with Pineapple Bay Rum this morning. Love this soap! Such a summer time scent. Smells wonderful!

I had ordered one of the Timeless Razor Plastic Shaving Bowls from Maggard Razors which arrived yesterday so I decided to give it a go this morning. Great bowl! Quite deep which kept all of the lather in the bowl. Easy to grip as well with no slippage.

Hope everyone has a great day!!

PAA "The Cube 2.0" w/ Menthol
PAA "Pineapple Bay Rum" Shave Soap
Yaqi 28mm Tuxedo Synthetic Brush
Timeless Razor Plastic Shaving Bowl
1968 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Gillette 7 O'clock Black
Alum
PAA Unscented Star Jelly
PAA "Pineapple Bay Rum" Splash​

 

[MarkB]

Double shave post today. Very busy day yesterday so I didn't have time to post anything.

Wanted to revisit my latest acquisitions to see if I could get better results. First up the 24mm Yaqi. Decided to go with the RazoRock Essential Oil of Lime. Great soap and I've always gotten great shaves with it. Paired with the Yaqi and the travel scuttle yielded a great lather, enough for three passes.

29 February, 2020



PAA "The Cube 2.0" w/ Menthol
RazoRock "Essential Oil of Lime" Shave Soap
PAA Travel Scuttle
24mm Yaqi Tuxedo Synthetic
1968 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Gillette 7 O'clock Black
Alum
Ogallala "Bay Rum, Limes & Peppercorns" Splash

 

[MarkB]

1 March, 2020

Revisited the Ghost Town Barber shave soap but decided to go for a face lather using my badger brush. MUUUUUCH better lather and shave this time. Great soap. Now THIS is what I was hoping for when I bought it; Great lather, great performance and great scent!



PAA "The Cube 2.0" w/ Menthol
Chiseled Face "Ghost Town Barber" Shave Soap
Stirling Soap Co. High Mountain White Badger Brush
1968 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Gillette 7 O'clock Black
Alum
Chiseled Face "Ghost Town Barber" Splash

 

[Dave in KY]

Glad you got the results you were hoping for

 

[GearNoir]

Another GTB convert! The GTB posse grows...

 

[Dave in KY]

Another GTB convert! The GTB posse grows...

 

[Graybeard57]

Interesting. I may have to try CF soap sometime in the future.

 

[Dave in KY]

Interesting. I may have to try CF soap sometime in the future.

The soap is good, not great. The GTB SCENT is where it's at. Their splashes are one of my favorites

 

[MarkB]

The soap is good, not great. The GTB SCENT is where it's at. Their splashes are one of my favorites

I agree with Dave. It's not the "best" soap I've used but, as I said, I did notice a marked improvement in quality of lather and performance with face lathering over bowl lathering.

 

[MarkB]

2 March, 2020

Good morning Cadre! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Today I used "Hamami" for the first time and, as promised, here are my thoughts on it.

1. Straight out of the tub, the "wet stone" accord is immediately evident. I don't know how it's possible to create that scent but they did it. Bravo Noble Otter!
2. Very light floral notes out of the tub which become more evident once lather has been made. The citrusy bergamot and green-peppery geranium notes stand out most to me. I can detect an earthy note which I assume is from the saffron. Those other notes may be in there but I couldn't really pull them out. I believe using a scuttle and adding the element of heat, the scent would be incredible! I may have to try that tomorrow with the Baby Yaqi and my PAA travel scuttle.
3. Soap performance was fantastic! I used the 28mm Yaqi with the Stirling travel bowl and building lather was almost effortless. I had enough for three passes with a lot left over in the bowl. Easily enough for two more passes if I so desired.
4. The accompanying splash is basically identical to the soap. Close to two hours since applying it, I can still smell it. It has since settled into a light sandalwood note but I can still detect the floral aspects as well. I cannot smell tonka bean on either the soap or the splash.

Overall I'm extremely pleased with "Hamami". Despite its "wet stone" undertone, I found it to be a rather "warm" scent. I've been to Turkey (Antalya to be exact), but I didn't go to any bath houses while I was there so I can't comment on the accuracy of the scent. What I can say is that "Hamami" is an interesting addition to the chypre category. However I do not think this would be everyone's cup of (Turkish) tea. It is very "floral" (nigh feminine floral) forward to my nose so if you're not a fan of those type scents, this one may not be for you.

PAA "The Cube 2.0" w/ Menthol
Noble Otter "Hamami" Shave Soap
28mm Yaqi Tuxedo Synthetic Brush
Stirling Soap Co. Travel Bowl
1968 Gillette Slim
Gillette Nacet Stainless Blade
Alum
PAA Unscented Star Jelly
Noble Otter "Hamami" Splash​

 

[MilkCrate]

Great review!

 

[MarkB]

Thanks Tim!

 

[GearNoir]

Well detailed review Mark! Glad it seems to be a successful blind buy!

 

[MarkB]

Well detailed review Mark! Glad it seems to be a successful blind buy!

Thanks Chris!

 

[MarkB]

3 March, 2020

Good morning all! Great shave today! Broke in the new Yaqi. WCS was running a sale so I decided to pick up another. Immersed myself in "Old Spice" goodness this morning. Even the wife commented on how good the master bath smelled! That almost never happens so she has to really like it to make a comment like that.

Hope everyone has a great day!!



PAA "The Cube 2.0" w/ Menthol
Barrister's Reserve "Spice"
26mm Yaqi "Mysterious Space" Synthetic
Timeless Razor Shaving Bowl
1968 Gillette Slim
Gillette Nacet
Alum
PAA Unscented Star Jelly
Old Spice Original Splash (Indian)​

 

[GearNoir]

Always good when the missus agrees!

 

[Graybeard57]

The soap is good, not great.

I'm out. I've used enough "good" soaps to know they leave me dissatisfied. Thanks.