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Not quite Music City USA

Some days I approach my shave with a strong sense of purpose. I am very attentive and directed towards doing everything exactly as it should be done. I am, as they say, chasing a BBS. This was not one of those days.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap, Proraso Red Pre-shave cream
Razor: Schick Krona
Blade: Personna Israeli Red (1)
Brush: PAA Starcraft
Cream: TOBS Sandalwood
Post-shave: Osma Tradition Alum Block, cold water rinse
After-Shave: CC Cat O' Nine Tails Bay Rum
Talc: Borotalco

TOBS Sandalwood isn't as polarizing, in my experience, as Tabac or Arko, but it has its supporters and detractors. One common complaint is the scent - is it Sandalwood? Not really to my crude nose. To me it is reminiscent of the little bars of Cashmere Bouquet soap supplied by Holiday Inns I stayed in in my youth. I like the scent personally, but I can understand what critics say about it. The performance is solid, not spectacular. Residual slickness is lacking, and there's little in the way of face feel after the shave. But it is a quick, mindless lather, and that's what I was looking for today. I gave my new-to-me Krona its inaugural spin, again looking for an automatic pilot shave. Funny thing happened though. And this happens sometimes to me. I had no music on, or sound other than the water in the sink as I rinsed the razor, and I don't really remember my stream of consciousness during the shave. I was, in fact, on automatic pilot, and I got a fantastic shave! I'm not familiar with the gradations of BBS, I guess I feel like it is or it isn't. But this was as fine a shave as I've had in a while. My skin is smooth in all directions, even stretched, and that is true on face and throat. It was almost like I awoke from a dream when I rinsed off the alum and gave everything a feel. It's very satisfying and made my day. I guess maybe I should try less, more often.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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Soap or cream? the cream was one of the first things i started with when i began wet shaving. I have since stopped using creams but the TOBS hard soap works pretty good for me too.
 
I agree that TOBS Sandalwood is not the best representation of sandalwood. It’s more of a flowery, fresh bouquet with a hint of sandalwood at the end. Great cream though!
 
uacowboy said:
Soap or cream? the cream was one of the first things i started with when i began wet shaving. I have since stopped using creams but the TOBS hard soap works pretty good for me too.
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Cream. I used TOBS Grapefruit pretty much exclusively for years. Then I moved, the water improved greatly for lathering, and I began to explore soaps. My first TOBS Sandalwood product was their after shave gel. Today was my first use of the cream.

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Good stuff Frank! I like you was introduced to TOBS Sandalwood early in my shaving life. I really liked it. Then all the Artisan's came out with bigger and better things. I got away from the TOBS creams for better performing soaps. I'll agree that the TOBS creams are lacking in some areas, but they are solid performers. Maybe not the best in every or any category...but the do the job and do it well. You can get a thoughtless shave out it. But that scent...sure it isn't sandalwood...but man is it a good one. My wife likes it also. And with that aftershave gel...you get some projection on it. I sadly haven't used a TOBS cream in years. Actually it's been since 2016. I just might have to pick up a tub of it soon just to keep on hand!

Many of my shaves are like the one you just had...mindless and without thought. I am somewhere else often. But that is my moment of Zen.

Good stuff from yesterday! I hope the good shaves continue!
 
dangerousdon said:
Good stuff Frank! I like you was introduced to TOBS Sandalwood early in my shaving life. I really liked it. Then all the Artisan's came out with bigger and better things. I got away from the TOBS creams for better performing soaps. I'll agree that the TOBS creams are lacking in some areas, but they are solid performers. Maybe not the best in every or any category...but the do the job and do it well. You can get a thoughtless shave out it. But that scent...sure it isn't sandalwood...but man is it a good one. My wife likes it also. And with that aftershave gel...you get some projection on it. I sadly haven't used a TOBS cream in years. Actually it's been since 2016. I just might have to pick up a tub of it soon just to keep on hand!

Many of my shaves are like the one you just had...mindless and without thought. I am somewhere else often. But that is my moment of Zen.

Good stuff from yesterday! I hope the good shaves continue!
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It's definitely a sentimental favorite for me. I tried most of them over the years, and only Rose was a dud. My wife liked it though, so it got used.


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I broke out the 39c tonight, after quite a while. It's almost completely silent, but very efficient and I was reminded why I've held onto it. Tonight was also my first use of A&E Kaizen.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap, Proraso Red Pre-shave cream
Razor: Merkur 39c
Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless (1)
Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 Super
Soap: A&E Kaizen (first use)
Post-shave: Osma Tradition Alum Block, cold water rinse
After-Shave: Fine American Blend
Talc: Borotalco

Kaizen is a terrific performer. It loads easily and produced a thick, yogurty lather that took a lot of water, is very slick, with tons of residual slickness and terrific post-shave feel. It's a top flight soap. I am not, however, a fan of the scent. It strongly reminds me of, I kid you not, Looney Tunes toothpaste. It is probably news to you that that is/was a thing. It may not be any more. But I remember it vividly because it is the toothpaste my Grandfather bought for his grandchildren to use. I was probably 6 or 7 years old, and we were visiting for a holiday. Now, my Grandfather was a very thrifty man. He was a dirt-poor tobacco and dairy farmer, and saved every penny he could for his whole life. I'm sure he bought Looney Tunes toothpaste because it was the least expensive available. I clearly recall the scent, and even worse, the flavor. I also recall my mother, the wife of a dentist, giving my grandfather no small amount of grief about his choice. There was a bit of a scene. So when I opened the Kaizen and buried my nose in it, it was a slap in the face. I only wish my nose were better trained so I could provide a better description than Looney Tunes toothpaste. Fortunately, the scent rinses away with the soap, but now I have a tub of a really great soap, the scent of which I definitely do not like. I guess I could PIF it, but I don't know how cool PIFing a soap is in the age of Covid-19. On this point, I'm open to any thoughts you might have. The 39c gave me a BBS shave in four passes, with only a slight bit of irritation on my lower neck.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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A mid-afternoon shave during a thunderstorm.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap, Proraso Red Pre-shave cream
Razor: Schick Krona
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: Semogue Boar
Soap: Zingari Man: The Wanderer
Post-shave: Osma Tradition Alum Block, cold water rinse
After-Shave: Speick
Talc: Borotalco

I really like The Wanderer! Fresh scent, and great performance. And I'm getting great shaves with the Krona. It's not as mild as my Techs, but every bit as smooth. I like the long handle, and noticed that I'm balancing my pressure with my pinky at the lower tip. It's just a simple, effortless razor.


Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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Everything tried and true today.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap, Proraso Red Pre-shave cream
Razor: Paradigm Diamondback
Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
Brush: Thater Synthetic
Soap: Zingari Man The Wanderer
Post-shave: Osma Tradition Alum Block, cold water rinse
After-Shave PAA Atomic Age Bay Rum
Talc: Borotalco
Fragrance: PAA Atomic Age Bay Rum EdP

Back to the Diamondback, which feels hefty after the Krona. It does such a great job. Four smooth passes and I'm BBS. I went with the Atomic Age Bay Rum, and it's about time to refill out of the big jug of it.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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Graybeard57 said:
It's sold by the jug? Holy cow!
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It's a great deal in my view because it's my favorite Bay Rum.
7f5a078ebac573e29e9368be5dba0307.jpg


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