Best of 2024

Please post your own personal best shaving related items or experiences from 2024.  Take as many posts as you want because it’s a lot to cover.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a new in 2024 item but can be new to you or old but you hadn’t used it in a long time until 2024 so it felt new!  

I’m starting with best new Christmas themed product. This is my personal and subjective opinion but Barrister and Mann Noggin On Heaven’s Door takes this spot. It’s awesome and I’ll probably use it year round although who knows, if Elmo’s experience with year round Christmas is any indication I might not! I’m not even going to mention quality and lather etc because Barrister and Mann has always been top top tier in that regard.

Stay tuned for more as they come to me.

I have to agree on this B&M have been top tier best soap maker for me personally along with PAA!!

My pick for biggest sleeper of 2024 is Barrister and Mann’s Season of The Witch. I’ll be honest, I was prepared to dislike this one. Looking at the scent notes, my first thought was Pass. Then I read some reviews on DFS, specifically the Colonial Williamsburg post by Ncardny    So I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m really glad I did. I really like it. Smokey and complex. My kind of scent. 

My pick for biggest sleeper of 2024 is Barrister and Mann’s Season of The Witch. I’ll be honest, I was prepared to dislike this one. Looking at the scent notes, my first thought was Pass. Then I read some reviews on DFS, specifically the Colonial Williamsburg post by Ncardny    So I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m really glad I did. I really like it. Smokey and complex. My kind of scent. 

I was prepared to like it, and liked it even more than I thought. These are scents I enjoy. I get the smokiness of a dwindling fire, but without the actual smoke and burning of the eyes, etc! I also picked up a light bit of wood in the mix. And it isn't overpowering at all. I really, really enjoy this one.

My pick for biggest sleeper of 2024 is Barrister and Mann’s Season of The Witch. I’ll be honest, I was prepared to dislike this one. Looking at the scent notes, my first thought was Pass. Then I read some reviews on DFS, specifically the Colonial Williamsburg post by Ncardny    So I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m really glad I did. I really like it. Smokey and complex. My kind of scent. 

I was prepared to like it, and liked it even more than I thought. These are scents I enjoy. I get the smokiness of a dwindling fire, but without the actual smoke and burning of the eyes, etc! I also picked up a light bit of wood in the mix. And it isn't overpowering at all. I really, really enjoy this one.

Have you tried the Cyril R. Salter French Vétiver shaving cream? It’s what’s known as an acquired taste! It’s Smokey and awesome and unlike any other vétiver scent I’ve encountered.  Good quality shaving cream too.  Now I wish someone would make a matching post shave splash so I can get more of that Smokey awesomeness!  If you like this kind of scent I can recommend Noble Otter Plunder and there was a Sandalwood Smoke made by The Holy Black a number of yeats back but they don’t make it anymore.  I’m not sure they’re even still in business.

My pick for biggest sleeper of 2024 is Barrister and Mann’s Season of The Witch. I’ll be honest, I was prepared to dislike this one. Looking at the scent notes, my first thought was Pass. Then I read some reviews on DFS, specifically the Colonial Williamsburg post by Ncardny    So I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m really glad I did. I really like it. Smokey and complex. My kind of scent. 

I was prepared to like it, and liked it even more than I thought. These are scents I enjoy. I get the smokiness of a dwindling fire, but without the actual smoke and burning of the eyes, etc! I also picked up a light bit of wood in the mix. And it isn't overpowering at all. I really, really enjoy this one.

Have you tried the Cyril R. Salter French Vétiver shaving cream? It’s what’s known as an acquired taste! It’s Smokey and awesome and unlike any other vétiver scent I’ve encountered.  Good quality shaving cream too.  Now I wish someone would make a matching post shave splash so I can get more of that Smokey awesomeness!  If you like this kind of scent I can recommend Noble Otter Plunder and there was a Sandalwood Smoke made by The Holy Black a number of yeats back but they don’t make it anymore.  I’m not sure they’re even still in business.

They're yet about

My pick for biggest sleeper of 2024 is Barrister and Mann’s Season of The Witch. I’ll be honest, I was prepared to dislike this one. Looking at the scent notes, my first thought was Pass. Then I read some reviews on DFS, specifically the Colonial Williamsburg post by Ncardny    So I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m really glad I did. I really like it. Smokey and complex. My kind of scent. 

I was prepared to like it, and liked it even more than I thought. These are scents I enjoy. I get the smokiness of a dwindling fire, but without the actual smoke and burning of the eyes, etc! I also picked up a light bit of wood in the mix. And it isn't overpowering at all. I really, really enjoy this one.

Have you tried the Cyril R. Salter French Vétiver shaving cream? It’s what’s known as an acquired taste! It’s Smokey and awesome and unlike any other vétiver scent I’ve encountered.  Good quality shaving cream too.  Now I wish someone would make a matching post shave splash so I can get more of that Smokey awesomeness!  If you like this kind of scent I can recommend Noble Otter Plunder and there was a Sandalwood Smoke made by The Holy Black a number of yeats back but they don’t make it anymore.  I’m not sure they’re even still in business.

I have not tried any Cyril R Salter products yet. My only experience so far with straight Vetiver or more Vetiver specific scents is Fine Green Vetiver and Fresh Vetiver. I od have stuff with Vetiver as an included note with many others. I preferred the Fresh. The Green was too "grassy" for me. The Plunder sounds interesting. Could be the cannon smoke. All I see with The Holy Black is a Gunpowder Spice. I would love to smell a Sandalwood Smoke. If it's the right Sandalwood I am a fan.

Well, my "best of 2024" is vicarious thanks to all of your wonderful SOTD photo's.  In my fantasy world, I have the MDC "Brain Bowl" shaving soap, the Saponificio Veresino  shave bowl and SR strop, and a vintage Filarmonica straight razor with red scales.  My brush?  Hmmmm......maybe the Semogue Owner's Club boar bristle with the cherry handle!

Top for me was trying this Paradigm Diamondback Ti in the DFS pass-around and then getting the razor itself.  I'm pretty picky about razors and have jettisoned nearly all I've ever tried except for this and one other.  A keeper.  

Top for me was trying this Paradigm Diamondback Ti in the DFS pass-around and then getting the razor itself.  I'm pretty picky about razors and have jettisoned nearly all I've ever tried except for this and one other.  A keeper.  

It's definitely my top razor easily too of all I've used over the years.