The Shaving Cadre

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SOTD May 2026

Friday morning:

Hot shower
Yaqi 30mm Barber Pole
Super Speed/Perma Sharp day 13
Stirling Spice SS
Stirling Spice ASB
Stirling Spice Cologne

My first time using this Stirling Spice stuff and already I frigging LOVE it. The similarity to the Shulton Old Spice scent is unbelievable - it’s absolutely gorgeous. Like every one of Rod’s soaps this one is such a delight to lather, the slickness helps the blade glide across my face effortlessly, and it feels so comfortable. The matching balm is so soothing and it’s rich in the Shulton Old Spice scent. Finally a little of the Stirling Spice cologne and I smell so great. (My wife ain’t crazy about it but I am!) Three passes gave me a spectacular BBS shave but soon I’ll have to think about changing the blade because this one is getting kinda tired!

Wishing you all a nice weekend - be well and stay safe!

JeffIMG_6537.jpeg
 
15 May, 2026

Hello everyone! Hope you had a pleasant evening.

Another "Best Shave of the Week" candidate this morning! Returned to my Valobra-era TAOS unscented shave soap. One of the best lather producers out there. Such a shame these soaps have been discontinued. Three passes with the Karve and I finished with alum, followed by Thayers unscented witch hazel and Murray & Lanman Peruvian Florida Water.

BBS bliss!!

Hope you have a great day. :)

The Art of Shaving / Paladin / Karve / Kai / Murray & Lanman

IMG_9246.jpg
 
Razor- Leaf Twig
Blade- half of a Feather DE.
Brush- badger with pink camo handle
PSO- Blend of sweet almond & castor oil
Shave soap- my own blend, scented with lavender and spearmint.

Shampoo- Rose of Sharon Acres Neem & Peppermint shampoo bar
Conditioner- my own blend of conditioner stick- scented with grapefruit EO
Body soap- shea butter/goat milk bar scented with lavender and spearmint.

Good shave; no nicks or cuts.
 
SOTD: 05/15/2026
IMG_6344.jpeg
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable (J3)
Blade: Personna Platinum Diamond Glide, 12th use
Brush: Paladin Cleopatra Lapis Lazuli Badger
Bowl: Captain’s Choice Scuttle #7 Scuttle
Soap: Barrister And Mann 42 Croap
Aftershave: Murray & Lanman Florida Water Cologne
Balm: Ethos Unscented Skin Food Lotion
Additional Care: Osma Alum
Additional Care: Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Galactic Witch Hazel

- Citrus/spice notes of the Florida Water play really nicely off of the petunia/ambergris/tea/lemon of the 42 soap. Digging the combination!
 
Friday 5/15 Shave
MODERN MAY

Very light beard growth due to yesterday’s amazing shave
So a quick One Pass with the AC Shavette and One Pass with the DE
Dec Grooming DIRTYVER is a dank and dirty scent explosion
Overall a quick and comfortable BBS shave result

Razor: Orange Handle Chinese AC Shavette
Blade: KAI ProTouch MG (3X)
Clean Up: Above The Tie SS H Plate
Lather: Declaration Grooming Dirtyver
Brush: Maggard Timber Wolf
Post Shave: Proraso Green Splash

Post Shave: Dirtyver Aftershave

IMG_3558DC.JPG
 
Friday morning:

Hot shower
Yaqi 30mm Barber Pole
Super Speed/Perma Sharp day 13
Stirling Spice SS
Stirling Spice ASB
Stirling Spice Cologne

My first time using this Stirling Spice stuff and already I frigging LOVE it. The similarity to the Shulton Old Spice scent is unbelievable - it’s absolutely gorgeous. Like every one of Rod’s soaps this one is such a delight to lather, the slickness helps the blade glide across my face effortlessly, and it feels so comfortable. The matching balm is so soothing and it’s rich in the Shulton Old Spice scent. Finally a little of the Stirling Spice cologne and I smell so great. (My wife ain’t crazy about it but I am!) Three passes gave me a spectacular BBS shave but soon I’ll have to think about changing the blade because this one is getting kinda tired!

Wishing you all a nice weekend - be well and stay safe!

JeffView attachment 159160
Outstanding shave Akhi! Stirling make awesome shaving products! Shabbat Shalom my friend!

Paul
 
Thursday, May 14, 2026

I tried again with the Rex Page with 1 day of growth. This razor is too mild. I opened it up by an 1/8th turn to try and give it some efficiency. Overall I got DFS.

View attachment 159155

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (Great Shave)
Smoothness: ★★★★☆ (Very Smooth)
Irritation: ★★★☆☆ (Mild Tingle)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️
Blade Uses: 1
Passes: 3

Razor: Rex Supply Co. Page
Blade: Gillette Perma Sharp
Soap: Stirling Soap Co Unscented with Beeswax - Shave Soap
Shaving Bowl: CaYuen Workshop The Copper Ore Shaving Bowl
Brush: PAA Solar Flare
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Pre-Shave 2: Van Der Hagen Hypo-Allergenic Fragrance Free Glycerin Puck
Aftershave: PAA Alum Solid Block No slip Grip.
Aftershave 2: Thayer's Cucumber Facial Toner - Witch Hazel
Aftershave 3: Stirling Soap Co Unscented Aftershave
Aftershave 4: Stirling Soap Co Unscented - Post-Shave Balm



Generated by Shaving Sherpa — Shaving Sherpa - Master Your Wet Shaving Journey
Nice Stirling shave Akhi!! Shabbat Shalom my friend.

Paul
 
MxpzZgO.jpg
 
Friday morning:

Hot shower
Yaqi 30mm Barber Pole
Super Speed/Perma Sharp day 13
Stirling Spice SS
Stirling Spice ASB
Stirling Spice Cologne

My first time using this Stirling Spice stuff and already I frigging LOVE it. The similarity to the Shulton Old Spice scent is unbelievable - it’s absolutely gorgeous. Like every one of Rod’s soaps this one is such a delight to lather, the slickness helps the blade glide across my face effortlessly, and it feels so comfortable. The matching balm is so soothing and it’s rich in the Shulton Old Spice scent. Finally a little of the Stirling Spice cologne and I smell so great. (My wife ain’t crazy about it but I am!) Three passes gave me a spectacular BBS shave but soon I’ll have to think about changing the blade because this one is getting kinda tired!

Wishing you all a nice weekend - be well and stay safe!

JeffView attachment 159160
Great shave, Akhi! I'm glad it lives up to your expectations. Anything that smells in that realm my wife refers to as "Old Man Smell". I can't wear any of it... you know the saying... "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy."

Shabbat Shalom!
 
May 15, 2026 (Mystic May Every Other Day)

• Brush: Semogue – 1470 (Boar)
• Razor: Ern – Model 421; 11/16, Full Hollow, Square Point
• Soap: Mystic Water – Sweet Briar
• Aftershave: Stirling – Unscented Aftershave Splash
• Balm: Stirling – Unscented Post Shave Balm
• Fragrance: Mystic Water – Sweet Briar Perfume Oil

My father is a wealthy man. He held many different jobs during his working life, but one that he really seemed to enjoy was a head liquor buyer for a cooperative of liquor stores. He enjoys whiskey, and, as you can imagine, he has had the opportunity to sample hundreds of different whiskeys in his life. From peaty Scotches to sweet Bourbons, he can describe most any kind of whiskey. Moreover, he can afford to drink them.

But, if you go to his home, there has always been one bottle that he prefers above all others: Crown Royal Special Reserve. That’s his drink, wherever, whenever. Don’t get me wrong, it is a quality whiskey. But, in terms of provenance (Canada) and the fact that it is a blend made by a major distillery, it isn’t rare or prized. It’s just smooth, right down the middle. He loves that. And, in lots of places in my life, so do I. While I love to explore the margins and the extremes of tea, beer, shave soap scents, etc., sometimes I just love the smooth, down-the-middle blend. I call it “beer taste on a champagne budget.”

I re-learned that about myself with my quest to find “my” tobacco fragrance. I must have tried about ten different tobacco shave soaps, which is just a fraction of what is available. They ranged from cloyingly sweet to smelling like a bonfire. Many of them attempted to recreate the experience of being at a tobacco shop or the smoking room of one’s home. All had their merits, but it turned out the grass was not greener on the other side and I wanted what I had all along. Namely, I just really wanted the smell of Virginia strain pipe tobacco that is well represented by Mystic Water’s Sweet Briar (Pipe Tobacco). It is very natural smelling, a tiny bit sweet, and just right (down the middle). It is mostly the smell of the cured leaf and little else. Anything else in there serves the pipe tobacco and so it isn’t tobacco and x.

I enjoy wearing Sweet Briar as a fragrance because it isn’t too much to think about and isn’t too evocative or redolent. I know that seems odd, but some days I really don’t want complex. I suspect that this is because I do not smoke and while I have been to some wonderful tobacco shops to buy cigars to give to my dad and brothers, I do not really hang out in them. I do appreciate the ritual of it all, though.

Michelle Burns of Mystic Water notes, “When I was looking for a name for my new pipe tobacco scented soap, I came across a description on a tobacconist's website that perfectly described this scent : ‘A mild blend, the aroma upon opening the bag is sweet and…well, briary. Certainly vanilla is among the aromas...’ I don't know if Sweet Briar Flake tobacco is what the blender had in mind when they made this fragrance oil, but the description seems to fit.” Well put, Michelle, I agree.

Have an awesome day, friends!

Sweet Briar.jpg
 
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Friday's Cold Water Shave

Cold Water Rinse
Williams Mug Shave Soap
Jayaruh #425 Synthetic
Schick L-1
Personna Injector Blade
CWR
Humphrey's Witch Hazel
Old Spice Classic After Shave

I skipped another day of shaving, but I am continuing with the same gear. I did the neck, stache, and soulpatch shave.

I started with the cold water rinse. The Williams lathered well with the Jayaruh #425. I did two passes with the Schick L-1 razor with a Personna injector blade. After a cold water rinse, I finished with Humphrey's Witch Hazel and Old Spice Classic After Shave. I am now clean, smooth, and refreshed.
 
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