Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Another good one for the books. Not much to comment on after doing so in the other 3 areas
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The wonderful excesses of acquisition disorders...and wet shaving
- Thread starter Dagwoodz
- Start date
Thanks Chris!
Ahh...you mean that you haven' heard me ranting about Eventide or Night Music? (or Midnight Stag, LaVanille, some of the CL collaboration scents with DG...lol)
Thanks Don!! It was my first professionally refurbished razor.
Another good one for the books. Not much to comment on after doing so in the other 3 areas
Thanks Dave!
Thank you Chad!
Either he's very easy to please, or he's on the road to free soaps from vendors. I've seen those youtubers. Just got this soap or that soap and everything is great. Like the Guy Fieri of shaving.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
+1 to that!
You got it!
SOTD – Tuesday, 17 July, 2018
Soap Commander Recreation | Timeless Bronze OC .78 | Perma-Sharp Super (4)
Currently on Shave #552 | Straight shave still at #343
Interesting shave this morning. I pulled out Soap Commander Recreation along with the matching balm. I chose the Paladin 26mm Jade Cleo and since I wasn’t feeling like a straight shave this morning, the Timeless Bronze. I loaded the Perma-Sharp blade that I’ve been using and got ready for some shaving.
The soap lathered up quite well, as expected with Soap Commander, though for me it does take slightly longer to load. The scent on this is very nice, and I go into that a little more in the review. Three passes, and I walked away DFS with only one spot on my Adams Apple that gave any feedback.
Followed up with the matching balm, the first time using any of the matching balms from Soap Commander. It has a very gentle amount of menthol, which is quite nice. Paired up the Clinique Happy EdT, which has quite a bit of mandarin in it, which complements the soap/balm quite well.
Happy ground-hog day everyone!
Soap Commander Recreation | Timeless Bronze OC .78 | Perma-Sharp Super (4)
Currently on Shave #552 | Straight shave still at #343
Interesting shave this morning. I pulled out Soap Commander Recreation along with the matching balm. I chose the Paladin 26mm Jade Cleo and since I wasn’t feeling like a straight shave this morning, the Timeless Bronze. I loaded the Perma-Sharp blade that I’ve been using and got ready for some shaving.
The soap lathered up quite well, as expected with Soap Commander, though for me it does take slightly longer to load. The scent on this is very nice, and I go into that a little more in the review. Three passes, and I walked away DFS with only one spot on my Adams Apple that gave any feedback.
Followed up with the matching balm, the first time using any of the matching balms from Soap Commander. It has a very gentle amount of menthol, which is quite nice. Paired up the Clinique Happy EdT, which has quite a bit of mandarin in it, which complements the soap/balm quite well.
Happy ground-hog day everyone!
From everyone's description of it...you can have it!
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Just sold mine in another neighborhood recently.
Nice shave Josh. Gotta watch video later.
Thanks guys.
Chad, you should be able to find that at any department store like Macy's or Nordstrom. (heck even J.C. Penny...any place that sells Clinique products. I think Target is in that group) It's not too expensive, and you should be able to get a 50ml bottle for about 30-35 or less. It's been a while since I've been to the frag department at one of those stores to actually shop, so I might be a little off. Just realize that because of the scent profile it carries, the longevity on it stinks. I can't beat around the bush there. I would usually layer it with AdG...the sweet mandarin of the Happy and the bergamot/lemon/lime of the AdG played very well together, and the AdG evolves more with some actual heart and base notes.
Chad, you should be able to find that at any department store like Macy's or Nordstrom. (heck even J.C. Penny...any place that sells Clinique products. I think Target is in that group) It's not too expensive, and you should be able to get a 50ml bottle for about 30-35 or less. It's been a while since I've been to the frag department at one of those stores to actually shop, so I might be a little off. Just realize that because of the scent profile it carries, the longevity on it stinks. I can't beat around the bush there. I would usually layer it with AdG...the sweet mandarin of the Happy and the bergamot/lemon/lime of the AdG played very well together, and the AdG evolves more with some actual heart and base notes.
Just got caught up, Josh. Nice shaves and an interesting journal, as always. I'm glad you like the Rosa Pura from Soapy Science.
Quick entry today...
shaved with the below set-up (Wickham Soap English Rose, Shavemac Ebonite, Pumacker 4/8" Black Diamond)...uneventful three passer with one spot of blood on the right corner of the chin when I caught a scar. No biggie, it's semi-regular, and closed with a bit of alum. Followed up with Lisa's Somali Rose Elixir...this stuff is AWESOME!! Definitely going to be a mainstay in the den for when it matches with the soap scent. Did the video, and did manage to get it published and posted here, but have been really pressed for time both while in the office and outside of. I'm massively behind on journals, and it's not for lack of wanting to read...just no time! I'll get caught up eventually. As with the written review, I'll get it written and posted when I have the time to do so.
One thing I wanted to address, however...I've seen it mentioned that the soap reviews I give seem to be all positive. It's not because I hate giving bad reviews...(wait until I get the gumption up to review Williams or MWF), but that one of the reasons I got into this hobby was due to the enjoyment factor. Scents and the performance of a soap are major components of this for me. So, my tendancy is to wait until I see reviews on products before buying to gauge whether or not I would enjoy the scent and it will perform. So while a lot of my purchases are blind buys, (not sampling before hand), they aren't uniformed, and I generally will have a decent idea of how the soap will smell and perform. For soaps such as A&E, once I saw that they performed at an elite level for me, I zeroed in on scents that I would enjoy and stick to those.
When all is said and done, I will readily admit that I'm staying in an echo chamber of sorts by not pushing myself out of my comfort zone from a scent and performance perspective, and a good reviewer will review all products, both good and bad. I'll get to some poorer performing products eventually, because I do have some products in my den that I would consider under-achievers or downright bad in my experience. They could surprise me when I go back to use them. But at this time, I have too many soaps that I have yet to use for the first time, that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy, to really get to the soaps that I know I'm not going to enjoy as much.
One other aspect to this is that I do actually enjoy most every soap for what it is, and not for what it is not. I don't expect Soap Commander to behave like Declaration Grooming, or even like SV or Wickham if you want to use a vegan equivalent. If there's one soap that they are all measured against, it's Stirling. But that's my baseline soap base because it's so good. There's a reason that is the soap that I recommend to people just starting out in this hobby/obsession. But even then, soaps such as Pinaud Clubman is a good soap for what it is, as is Victory Shaving Company, Wilkinson Sword, Arko, etc.... There's always something I can enjoy out of a soap...I just have to look really hard sometimes. (notice Williams is not in that list) LOL Just my $.02.
I hope that everyone has a great hump day!
shaved with the below set-up (Wickham Soap English Rose, Shavemac Ebonite, Pumacker 4/8" Black Diamond)...uneventful three passer with one spot of blood on the right corner of the chin when I caught a scar. No biggie, it's semi-regular, and closed with a bit of alum. Followed up with Lisa's Somali Rose Elixir...this stuff is AWESOME!! Definitely going to be a mainstay in the den for when it matches with the soap scent. Did the video, and did manage to get it published and posted here, but have been really pressed for time both while in the office and outside of. I'm massively behind on journals, and it's not for lack of wanting to read...just no time! I'll get caught up eventually. As with the written review, I'll get it written and posted when I have the time to do so.
One thing I wanted to address, however...I've seen it mentioned that the soap reviews I give seem to be all positive. It's not because I hate giving bad reviews...(wait until I get the gumption up to review Williams or MWF), but that one of the reasons I got into this hobby was due to the enjoyment factor. Scents and the performance of a soap are major components of this for me. So, my tendancy is to wait until I see reviews on products before buying to gauge whether or not I would enjoy the scent and it will perform. So while a lot of my purchases are blind buys, (not sampling before hand), they aren't uniformed, and I generally will have a decent idea of how the soap will smell and perform. For soaps such as A&E, once I saw that they performed at an elite level for me, I zeroed in on scents that I would enjoy and stick to those.
When all is said and done, I will readily admit that I'm staying in an echo chamber of sorts by not pushing myself out of my comfort zone from a scent and performance perspective, and a good reviewer will review all products, both good and bad. I'll get to some poorer performing products eventually, because I do have some products in my den that I would consider under-achievers or downright bad in my experience. They could surprise me when I go back to use them. But at this time, I have too many soaps that I have yet to use for the first time, that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy, to really get to the soaps that I know I'm not going to enjoy as much.
One other aspect to this is that I do actually enjoy most every soap for what it is, and not for what it is not. I don't expect Soap Commander to behave like Declaration Grooming, or even like SV or Wickham if you want to use a vegan equivalent. If there's one soap that they are all measured against, it's Stirling. But that's my baseline soap base because it's so good. There's a reason that is the soap that I recommend to people just starting out in this hobby/obsession. But even then, soaps such as Pinaud Clubman is a good soap for what it is, as is Victory Shaving Company, Wilkinson Sword, Arko, etc.... There's always something I can enjoy out of a soap...I just have to look really hard sometimes. (notice Williams is not in that list) LOL Just my $.02.
I hope that everyone has a great hump day!
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Always enjoy your reviews Josh ! Thanks for doing them as they've helped me zero in quickly on ones I'd like to purchase.
Very well put Josh! I think if someone actually looks at your reviews they will understand the differences. Are they all positives? Well at least more positive...but you are reviewing some really good soaps! I was thinking just yesterday after reading that review if you could review a soap that is...less than favorable...just to see where it stands. Also the way your grading system lends...most soaps are going to get a score of 40 or above. It's just the way it is. Thanks for putting so much time and effort into doing your reviews...believe me...I understand how much work it can be. Thanks Josh...looking forward to the full review of Wickham.