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Steve's Journal: The Saga Continues....
- Thread starter SteveChuckFrank
- Start date
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Journal Entry #28
Pre Shave: Hot shower, shampoo'd beard area
Shave: Stirling DE3P6/Wilkinson Sword blade, Van Yulay Soap of the Gods Enter the Dragon, Kingsley pure badger,
Post Shave: Cold rinse, alum, cold rinse, witch hazel, Stirling Barbershop AS
Thanks to NurseDave, I was able to try a blade tonight that I haven't tried before. Dave was interested to see how the Wilkinson Sword would stand up against the Kai blades. I also tried a soap sample that Gonzo44 sent me a while ago. I needed to clear out the container for the Stirling Ben Franklin old man pants soap! FYI, Suavecito pomade containers make great soap containers.
As far as the Wilkinson Swords are concerned, my first impression was a good one. Obviously I need to get a few more shaves in to make a real decision on them, but I'd say they're just as sharp as the Kai's for sure. Maybe a little sharper. Not quite as smooth, but it could also be a bit of a learning curve with a new blade and soap. I had just a hair more irritation on my neck than what has become my usual amount (which is pretty low lately). So again, so far I'm impressed with the Wilkinson Swords.
As for the soap, I'm not even sure if I called it by it's correct name. But I was impressed with it overall. It lathered effortlessly in what seemed like seconds. It has a powdery smell, not too far off from Stirling's Barbershop. It stayed slick and never felt like it was beginning to dry up at all. The only complaint I have is that I probably won't get a second shave out of it. It almost completely disappeared after I loaded the brush. I might have to find a full tub of this and add it to the rotation. It was pretty good.
So after a new blade and soap, I walked away with some irritation, but a DFS+ on the closeness factor. Life is good.
Pre Shave: Hot shower, shampoo'd beard area
Shave: Stirling DE3P6/Wilkinson Sword blade, Van Yulay Soap of the Gods Enter the Dragon, Kingsley pure badger,
Post Shave: Cold rinse, alum, cold rinse, witch hazel, Stirling Barbershop AS
Thanks to NurseDave, I was able to try a blade tonight that I haven't tried before. Dave was interested to see how the Wilkinson Sword would stand up against the Kai blades. I also tried a soap sample that Gonzo44 sent me a while ago. I needed to clear out the container for the Stirling Ben Franklin old man pants soap! FYI, Suavecito pomade containers make great soap containers.
As far as the Wilkinson Swords are concerned, my first impression was a good one. Obviously I need to get a few more shaves in to make a real decision on them, but I'd say they're just as sharp as the Kai's for sure. Maybe a little sharper. Not quite as smooth, but it could also be a bit of a learning curve with a new blade and soap. I had just a hair more irritation on my neck than what has become my usual amount (which is pretty low lately). So again, so far I'm impressed with the Wilkinson Swords.
As for the soap, I'm not even sure if I called it by it's correct name. But I was impressed with it overall. It lathered effortlessly in what seemed like seconds. It has a powdery smell, not too far off from Stirling's Barbershop. It stayed slick and never felt like it was beginning to dry up at all. The only complaint I have is that I probably won't get a second shave out of it. It almost completely disappeared after I loaded the brush. I might have to find a full tub of this and add it to the rotation. It was pretty good.
So after a new blade and soap, I walked away with some irritation, but a DFS+ on the closeness factor. Life is good.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
That’s strange. I posted from my laptop but logged in on my phone to see what it looked like. The picture popped right up.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Thanks Chris! Like I said, I might have the name wrong lol.
Nice Shave Steve, love the name of the soap can you describe the scent profile?
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Thanks Dave! I’m really bad at describing scents lol. It’s definitely a powder/barbershop style scent. Very similar to Stirling Barbershop. But it has a bit of an undertone that I can't really describe that makes it just a bit different from the Stirling barbershop.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
I did a little research, and just went to the Van Yulay website for a scent description. This is what I found:
Top notes of spicy orient fragrances. Green notes of Bamboo, Sweetness of Orange blossoms, Peppery notes of carnation, Gardenia, Nutmeg, Clary Sage Vanilla, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean and Musk
To me this smells all’s like a powdery barbershop scent with maybe the musk making it a bit different from other similar scents. I’m thinking this isn’t what they were going for, and maybe it’ll smell different to others lol.
Top notes of spicy orient fragrances. Green notes of Bamboo, Sweetness of Orange blossoms, Peppery notes of carnation, Gardenia, Nutmeg, Clary Sage Vanilla, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean and Musk
To me this smells all’s like a powdery barbershop scent with maybe the musk making it a bit different from other similar scents. I’m thinking this isn’t what they were going for, and maybe it’ll smell different to others lol.
SOLD!, LOL
Good shave Steve with the new blade and soap. I've used a few of Van Yulay's soaps before, and they are good soaps with a ton of unique fragrances. They didn't blow me out of the water, however. I do have a tub of "Elf Balls" however...had to get it just for the name. LOL
WildWest74
Could be John Wayne
Great catching up, Steve! I know that tonka bean can sometimes impart a powdery note to a scent, so that makes sense based on your description. Nice stuff!
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Haha I saw that one. I think the thing that shocked me the most about them was their selection. They offer a very wide range of scents.
Thanks Doug!
I had no idea that's what tonka bean smelled like. I still don't even know what a tonka bean is lol. At least now I know it's something I like, and to look for it in other scent profiles.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Journal Entry #29
Was trying to stick with the same set up for at least one more shave. I didn't think the Van Yulay sample would last more than 2 shaves....I was wrong, it didn't last more than one lol. I tried to lather up tonight and i just didn't have enough of the sample left to make it happen. So I grabbed something I haven't broken out in a while. The trusty Proraso Red cream.
Once I got a good lather I started in with the shave. I went my usual 3 pass (WTG,ATG,XTG) and the results were not great but not awful. I'd say this was probably the worst shave I've had since the streak of good shaves started. But I have to say it's still head and shoulders above the awful, irritation filled shaves I was getting previously. I had just a bit more irritation today than I had the last shave, and that was a slight increase from the one before that. All said and done, still just a moderate amount on the neck and nothing more. I'm thinking the Wilkinson, for me, is one step in between a Kai and a Feather. Very sharp, but not quite as sharp as a Feather, and not quite as smooth as a Kai. With some continued adjustment I think I could make it work, but I'm not sure I'm ready to buy a 100 pack just yet lol
I ended the shave with my usual post shave routine. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this previously, but I've learned that slowing the post shave process down a bit and allowing the products to settle in a bit longer has made a huge difference. I followed the usual cold rinse, alum, witch hazel up with a splash of Stirling Sandalwood AS. It matched the Proraso Red almost perfectly. Good stuff.
I'll say that while the shave tonight declined a hair, I'm still saying the streak is alive! I still got a DFS and the irritation has already started to clear up pretty good.
In other news the Phillies are starting to cool down and fall behind in the NL East a bit....I hope it's not a direct correlation to the quality of my shaves....
Was trying to stick with the same set up for at least one more shave. I didn't think the Van Yulay sample would last more than 2 shaves....I was wrong, it didn't last more than one lol. I tried to lather up tonight and i just didn't have enough of the sample left to make it happen. So I grabbed something I haven't broken out in a while. The trusty Proraso Red cream.
Once I got a good lather I started in with the shave. I went my usual 3 pass (WTG,ATG,XTG) and the results were not great but not awful. I'd say this was probably the worst shave I've had since the streak of good shaves started. But I have to say it's still head and shoulders above the awful, irritation filled shaves I was getting previously. I had just a bit more irritation today than I had the last shave, and that was a slight increase from the one before that. All said and done, still just a moderate amount on the neck and nothing more. I'm thinking the Wilkinson, for me, is one step in between a Kai and a Feather. Very sharp, but not quite as sharp as a Feather, and not quite as smooth as a Kai. With some continued adjustment I think I could make it work, but I'm not sure I'm ready to buy a 100 pack just yet lol
I ended the shave with my usual post shave routine. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this previously, but I've learned that slowing the post shave process down a bit and allowing the products to settle in a bit longer has made a huge difference. I followed the usual cold rinse, alum, witch hazel up with a splash of Stirling Sandalwood AS. It matched the Proraso Red almost perfectly. Good stuff.
I'll say that while the shave tonight declined a hair, I'm still saying the streak is alive! I still got a DFS and the irritation has already started to clear up pretty good.
In other news the Phillies are starting to cool down and fall behind in the NL East a bit....I hope it's not a direct correlation to the quality of my shaves....
That's the way to kill a sample! Keep the streak alive!
