SOTD 12-18 March 2017

Van der Hagen soap
Shark blade 2nd. Use
OSMA alum
Pinaud Clubman AS


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Parker 26C+Polsilver
Stirling Sharp Dressed Man
Whipped Dog+VigShaving 2 Band brush
Aqua Velva+Eufros Neutro

This Stirling, they say, mimics the scent of the Green Irish Tweed EdT, as the Mystic Irish Traveller. They smell pretty much the same, perhaps the Stirling is a tad more refined. Performance wise, they play in the same league but there is a big difference in ease of lathering in favor of the Stirling. It will accept and integrate water without problems (provided you use your common sense) and I didn't feel any itch or discomfort during the shave, something that I can't say of the Mystic. Scent is perceptible but not overwhelming. I will be ordering more Stirlings, that's for sure.

Smooth and pleasant three-pass shave. Both the razor and the blade are mild yet efficient. A splash of Velva and some Eufros balm and I was ready to enjoy my Saturday.

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Prep - Noxzema / Hot towel
Pre shave - Proraso
Razor – Merkur 34C HD
Blade – Polsilver Super Iridium
Brush - 'Papa Chub' (Chubby 3 Manchurian)
Soap – Mike's Natural
Post - Cold water rinse, Tallow + Steel – Dark Aftershave

Wonderful shave! The Polsilver Super Iridium really does bring the Merkur 34C HD to life, whilst 'Papa Chub' and Mike's provided the foundations for a faultless shave.

Full Arlington // SimFix Manchurian // Mastro Livi 6/8

Saturday afternoon SOTD.
Two great scents that go great together.
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Sapone Di Paolo Agrume
Timeless 0.68
Timor Blade (2)
Wiborg Anchor 28mm
Sapone Di Paolo Agrume Balm

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L&L Grooming - TSM Fougère
Island Bladeworks "Bullwinkle" | TGN Finest
Ever-Ready SE | Gem PTFE (1)
Chatillon Lux - TSM Fougère

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This one's been around a while, so there's probably nothing new to be said about TSM Fougère.  Since Darkfall, I've been a fan of L&L Grooming and more recently of Chatillon Lux.  Therefore when these two artisans pair up, wallet violation ensues.

I've commented before about the somewhat unique nature of L&L's loading.  By accident, I discovered that using a barely damp brush, and dry-loading, there are virtually no bubbles.  Instead, the result is a thick, stringy, sticky goop that I have a hard time calling protolather.  You don't want to keep loading like this such that you get clumps, but it does have a different characteristic than that of other soaps.  In my case, since I'm loading for a 3-pass head and face shave, I continue until the distal third of the knot is loaded.  Then I literally dunk---completely submerge---the entire knot into my reserve water.  The water penetrates proximally while the goop in the tips acts as a cap.  Then I face-lather as usual.  The result is a very quick creamy lather that has slickness and density reminding you that it contains clay.  L&L's base is just an excellent performer.

Loading in this fashion doesn't push out the fragrance like a wetter method would, but once it's hydrated, TSM Fougère gave me a rather abrupt first impression of a green bell pepper.  Just about the time I'd covered my whole face, that somewhat singular fragrance filled out with damp woodiness but a sustained bright green note.  With subsequent passes, the accord stabilizes with oak, cedar, and faint citrus all underneath the bright green umbrella.

I finished with Chatillon Lux's splash which I believe was the forerunner for the fragrance.  I can't say for sure, but I get the impression the team-up came about after the splash was in the wild.  The first impression with the splash was much sharper as one would expect.  It was more like the green pepper leave as opposed to the fruit.  The rest of the transformation was the same.  About 2 hours later, I still detect it fairly well with green notes and intermittent cedar, vetiver, and citrus that may be bergamot.  All the while, the fragrance remains bright.  I would love to see this make it to Chatillon Lux's EdT line.

Pre: Trade Union Supply Co. Pre-Shave Oil
Soap: Centerfield from David James Shaving Supply Co.
Brush: Whipped Dog Luna 24 mm HMW
Razor: Muhle R106
Blade: Feather Hi-Stainless
Post: Trade Union Supply Co. Post Shave + Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm