Primo's Journal du Jour...

[primotenore]

Tuesday, November 9

Crabtree & Evelyn~~Rubberset 400/3~~Leresche 51/Spoiler~~Vintage YSL M7
I am having a grand old time shaving with this Leresche.
It's a quality tool and looks stunning.
Vintage everything today, stating with the Crabtree & Evelyn shaving soap.
ROCK HARD!!!
Yowsers, it needed a hydration.
It got one and the vintage Rubberset created some badass sandalwood goodness.
Once again, the Gillette Spoiler was called upon. Still smooth, but I can tell its edge has lost some keenness.
Regardless, superior results.
Newly acquired YSL M7 aftershave balm made its debut. It's not the same scent.
There are hints of pencil shavings, but it's mos def© not a scent match.
It's great balm and absorbs easily.
I have an NOS M7 After Shave in the mail. I am quite curious about that one, I don't usually purchase aftershaves.




This juice was groundbreaking in its day. While westerners have now acquired noses for "true" oud,
in 2002, Tom Ford and YSL made history with this stank.​

 

[GearNoir]

Sounds like some good stank!

 

[primotenore]

Wednesday, November 10

Vintage Williams~~dubl duck #4~~Leresche #51/Spoiler~~Kiehl's Original Musk
It should be noted, that when I prepare my vintage pucks of Williams for use, I use up to 7-8g menthol crystals.
The majority of those crystals must have found themselves concentrated and ready to be picked up today.
Brrrrrrrrrr....cold, very cold.

The tallowy goodness of this lather was refreshing and slick.
Good news for the Leresche 51, yes, you've seen it before, which was loaded for the final time with the Gillette Spolier
I have been using this past week. TBB. (To Be Binned) Acronym copyright applied for 11/10/2021.
Law firm of Winthrop, Murgatroyd and Lipschitz notified, wheels are in motion.
Fairly successful ATG neck pass with a modicum of buffing---no missteps.
Feeling a bit "animalistic" so today's fragrance is:




Musk can get a bad rap, especially if you're old enough to have had friends or family bath themselves in:


Kiehl's doesn't have the mad sillage that the Jōvan had (has), and that's ok with me.
It becomes a skin scent quickly, but has very good longevity.​

 

[JTSpartan]

Wednesday, November 10

Vintage Williams~~dubl duck #4~~Leresche #51/Spoiler~~Kiehl's Original Musk
It should be noted, that when I prepare my vintage pucks of Williams for use, I use up to 7-8g menthol crystals.
The majority of those crystals must have found themselves concentrated and ready to be picked up today.
Brrrrrrrrrr....cold, very cold.

The tallowy goodness of this lather was refreshing and slick.
Good news for the Leresche 51, yes, you've seen it before, which was loaded for the final time with the Gillette Spolier
I have been using this past week. TBB. (To Be Binned) Acronym copyright applied for 11/10/2021.
Law firm of Winthrop, Murgatroyd and Lipschitz notified, wheels are in motion.
Fairly successful ATG neck pass with a modicum of buffing---no missteps.
Feeling a bit "animalistic" so today's fragrance is:
View attachment 66647
View attachment 66648
View attachment 66649
View attachment 66650
Musk can get a bad rap, especially if you're old enough to have had friends or family bath themselves in:
View attachment 66651
View attachment 66652
Kiehl's doesn't have the mad sillage that the Jōvan had (has), and that's ok with me.
It becomes a skin scent quickly, but has very good longevity.​

Very nice.
Is that a bottle of Siberian Deer Musk, Joseph? You put that stuff on? Yeesh... please don't get too close to the border, I don't want it wafting over.

 

[jgreenepa]

Monday, November 8

AoS Peppermint~~Morris & Forndran Ali Baba 2~~FeatherAC/Professional Super~~Vintage Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
I like to start my week off right, with refreshing and invigorating Art of Shaving Peppermint cream.
The gel tips of this Ali Baba are crunchy when dry and luxurious when wet.
The Feather Professional Super blade is the sharpest-known blade in shavedom.
Vintage Paco Rabanne for the finish.
View attachment 66421
View attachment 66422
View attachment 66423
View attachment 66424
This powerhouse harkens back to the day when chest hair was sexy and hip-huggers were all the rage.​

Fabulously fragrant shave, Maestro! How do you like using the Super in your Feather SS?

 

[primotenore]

Fabulously fragrant shave, Maestro! How do you like using the Super in your Feather SS?

Thanks, Jeff. I really enjoy the Supers. They are the sharpest blades I have ever used. Bar none.

 

[primotenore]

November 11, 2021

AoS Sandalwood~~Simpson "The Hive"~~Wade & Butcher~~Oud 24 Hours
On this Veterans Day, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to ALL vets, starting with my father,
Martin Howard Levitt WWII Vet.

Here's a razor I don't reach for too often. It's quite small, but admittedly is easy to strop and
sports a very keen edge.
The base for the W&B was brought to you by the good folks at Valobra, a once renowned and revered and
now, sadly defunct soap manufacturer, whose soaps are instantly recognizable under a few names:
Art of Shaving, Czech & Speake and, of course, Valobra.
Tallow-based, they are the crème-de-là-crème of triple-milled shave soaps.
The thicker hairs of the Manchurian knot, tear into soaps, but not into your skin.
This 24mm knot has a wonderful scrub-feel, not to be confused with SCRITCH, of which, there is none.

I am probably not the only one, but rarely---if ever, do I perform the traditional "three pass" shave.
I may call it that on occasion, but I do a good dealof "detailing" as I shave, i.e. sticking with a particular area until satisfied.
That was the case today with the results being my typical DFS/BBS straight razor shave.
That is, my cheeks, jawline are BBS, while my neck area is a DFS+.
I have learned over the years to accept this and since I don't EVER chase the baby with a straight,
my shaves have become much more enjoyable and relatively drama-free.
Don't let the name of today's fragrance fool you, it's actually an excellent dupe/clone of Tom Ford Black Orchid:





This Middle-Eastern juice has good longevity and medium sillage.
If you are at all familiar with Tom Ford Black Orchid,

than you know how interesting this fragrance is. ​

 

[wristwatchb]

Wonderful post and tribute to your Father, Joseph.

You have some interesting frags. Thanks for taking the time to share your impressions and educate us. I'd have more in my rotation, but it takes so long to use them up. My Aramis has lost its initial punch. I keep my juice out of direct sunlight in a fairly well ventilated area. How many do you have in rotation, and how do you store them?

Happy Friday, my friend!

 

[primotenore]

Thank you, Charlie.
I have far too many fragrances in my den. I had them displayed on a shelf, but was advised against exposing bottles to direct sunlight and humidity. So, I now have them all in a drawer (big, deep drawer), with a few smaller bottles in another drawer. I can't explain the Aramis losing its mojo. I am assuming you aren't referring to the Tobacco Reserve.
I have a bottle of the OLD SCHOOL Aramis, original formula, and I would be happy to send you a sample. Let me know.
Take care and best regards to you and Kathy.

 

[primotenore]

Friday, November 12

MWF~~Floppy, Scritchy, Scratchy Pure Badger~~1958 D3 Gillette Adjustable/Wizamet~~Montale Aoud Cuir D'Arabie
Before we delve into my shave, THIS example of egregious glue dots is dedicated to @wristwatchb

Friday's are a great day to shave with the Fat. My brush, a gift from my son,
is---honestly, the worst knot in my den, but Primo knows how to lather.
The Fatboy was set to "9" and when it's all the way open, I am compelled to ride the safety bar. Wonderful, clean results and no missteps.
Juice of the day was recommended tp me by a great guy on another forum as well as basenotes.net, Keith.




My first experience with the house of Montale, was with Black Aoud. That scent was impossible for me to wear. Even as a lover of Rose and Oud, the "jammy" rose was nauseating. Dr. Mrs. Primo shared my opinion. I then discovered this one and it has EVERYTHING that Black Aoud had---except the rose is exchanged for tobacco. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.​

 

[wristwatchb]

Thank you, Charlie.
I have far too many fragrances in my den. I had them displayed on a shelf, but was advised against exposing bottles to direct sunlight and humidity. So, I now have them all in a drawer (big, deep drawer), with a few smaller bottles in another drawer. I can't explain the Aramis losing its mojo. I am assuming you aren't referring to the Tobacco Reserve.
I have a bottle of the OLD SCHOOL Aramis, original formula, and I would be happy to send you a sample. Let me know.
Take care and best regards to you and Kathy.

Thanks Joseph. I store my open bottles in the same manner now. I've had the Aramis for more than 5 years, and it sat on the dresser exposed to indirect sunlight for much of that time. I'm able to apply it a little more liberally now, so it should be used up soon. Thanks for the kind offer of the vintage Aramis sample. I'll hold off but will certainly keep it in mind.

Thankfully, the Aramis Tobacco Reserve is fine. I much prefer it over the original Aramis and may even grab a spare bottle while they can still be found. I can't thank you enough for recommending this juice.

I have a cabinet in my basement where I keep unopened bottles of favorite aftershaves (I stocked up on Fine and Alt-Innsbruck last year) and various corn-based elixirs. Everything I've read about bourbon is that it can be stored indefinitely unopened in a cool, dark place. I assume that is also the case for fragrances and aftershaves.

All is good with Kathy and me. Our next trip will be to Rochester, MN in January where Kathy will have a (non-eventful) checkup. We'll stay a few extra days to hopefully see some friends. She's not crazy about traveling there in the winter, but I think it will be an adventure.

I hope you have a great weekend, Joseph.

 

[GearNoir]

Uh…glue dots!

 

[wristwatchb]

Friday, November 12

MWF~~Floppy, Scritchy, Scratchy Pure Badger~~1958 D3 Gillette Adjustable/Wizamet~~Montale Aoud Cuir D'Arabie
Before we delve into my shave, THIS example of egregious glue dots is dedicated to @wristwatchb
View attachment 66856
Friday's are a great day to shave with the Fat. My brush, a gift from my son,
is---honestly, the worst knot in my den, but Primo knows how to lather.
The Fatboy was set to "9" and when it's all the way open, I am compelled to ride the safety bar. Wonderful, clean results and no missteps.
Juice of the day was recommended tp me by a great guy on another forum as well as basenotes.net, Keith.
View attachment 66857
View attachment 66858
View attachment 66859
View attachment 66860
My first experience with the house of Montale, was with Black Aoud. That scent was impossible for me to wear. Even as a lover of Rose and Oud, the "jammy" rose was nauseating. Dr. Mrs. Primo shared my opinion. I then discovered this one and it has EVERYTHING that Black Aoud had---except the rose is exchanged for tobacco. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.​

 

[jgreenepa]

Friday, November 12

MWF~~Floppy, Scritchy, Scratchy Pure Badger~~1958 D3 Gillette Adjustable/Wizamet~~Montale Aoud Cuir D'Arabie
Before we delve into my shave, THIS example of egregious glue dots is dedicated to @wristwatchb
View attachment 66856
Friday's are a great day to shave with the Fat. My brush, a gift from my son,
is---honestly, the worst knot in my den, but Primo knows how to lather.
The Fatboy was set to "9" and when it's all the way open, I am compelled to ride the safety bar. Wonderful, clean results and no missteps.
Juice of the day was recommended tp me by a great guy on another forum as well as basenotes.net, Keith.
View attachment 66857
View attachment 66858
View attachment 66859
View attachment 66860
My first experience with the house of Montale, was with Black Aoud. That scent was impossible for me to wear. Even as a lover of Rose and Oud, the "jammy" rose was nauseating. Dr. Mrs. Primo shared my opinion. I then discovered this one and it has EVERYTHING that Black Aoud had---except the rose is exchanged for tobacco. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.​

Great shave kit, Maestro! I always enjoy your scent analyses, but in my case it’s like a blind man trying to understand Egyptian hieroglyphics by touch!

 

[primotenore]

Always great catching up, Charlie. Think about the Aramis offer. It's a completely different beast. Think...Civet.

 

[NurseDave]

like a blind man trying to understand Egyptian hieroglyphics by touch!

Weren't a lot of them carved?

 

[primotenore]

Saturday, November 13

AoS Rose Absolute~~Simpson X3~~'58 D3 Gillette Adjustable/Wizamet~~Vintage YSL M7
Chilly, Saturday morning. We were headed out to look at a property and halfway there, our agent, who beat us there, called us off,
saying she wouldn't even put a trailer on it. Too bad, because I was clean shaven and smelling GREAT!
The AoS Rose is THE best rose-scented shaving cream on the market (well, when it was still being manufactured).
Superb aroma and NOT chemically smelling at all. Sumptuous.
Typical AoS cream quality. No issues running the Fatboy, set to 9, on this skating rink.
Successful ATG pass on the neck, which is always reason to celebrate.
Trifecta scent-wise, with the recently-assembled trio of vintage YSL M7 EdT, AS and ASB.

Can't get enough of this stank.​

 

[primotenore]

Sunday, November 14

AoS Sandalwood~~Simpson 57 LE "Douglas"~~Gustave Lalune Mon Fier Destrier~~Initio Oud for Greatness
It's snowing.
It's very cold.
"Winter is coming" (GRRM, ASOIAF)
A while back, I titaniced my way through MANY of my shave creams, with the intention of transitioning to all triple-milled soaps.
As with most intentions, this one, too, went buh-bye. Picked up another AoS sandalwood cream.
This one is older and, like the recent AoS Rose Absolute, has hardened and is more like a firm "croap", rather than a soft cream.
However, the results were excellent and it appears that time has not damaged the quality of this soap.
@Bill M turned me onto this razor and honestly, it is probably my most beautiful blade in my arsenal.
The workmanship is exquisite and, thank goodness, it's a great shaver. Took me a while to get the "feel" of handling it.
Edge is über-keen and my shave-results today were outstanding.
Purchased a 5ml sample of this juice:​

I am really hoping Dr. Mrs. Primo likes this stank, because I like it a lot.​

 

[Bill M]

I’m glad you like that shaving tool…..mostly. I still claim 1st right of refusal if you feel the need to sell it.

I think maybe only a hundred of that type from the old forging made it to the US. It is unlikely for there to be any more. Tremendously thin grind with great tensile strength.

 

[primotenore]

I’m glad you like that shaving tool…..mostly. I still claim 1st right of refusal if you feel the need to sell it.

I think maybe only a hundred of that type from the old forging made it to the US. It is unlikely for there to be any more. Tremendously thin grind with great tensile strength.

Duly noted.