SOTD 9-15 October 2016

Razor: Gillette OC
Blade: Personna Platinum (4)
Brush: El Druida Red Heart Chakte Kok/African Blackwood 2 Band Badger.
Soap: Eufros Tierra Humeda
Aftershave: Myrsol F./Extra

Van Yulay - Soap of the Gods "Hephaestus"
Rubberset 200-4 | Omega Boar
Gillette Pre-war Tech | Feather Hi-Stainless (1)

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Instead of belaboring my thoughts regarding the performance of yet another Van Yulay product, I'll refer you to my previous posts. Otherwise, I will simply stipulate that having 15 Van Yulay soaps in my den, they all perform in line with my other favorite artisans and can compete on every level.

Now, on to the scent. Van Yulay messes with the nose on this one. For just two primary fragrances, Hephaestus is surprisingly complex. It's as-advertised with lime and gunpowder, but the results are quite different from what I'd expected. A few swirls of the wet boar knot released an interesting fragrance with all the sharpness of lime minus the green. It mellowed somewhere in the second pass and began to take on notes of wet nickel without abandoning the lime. As the shave progressed, the nickel became more pronounced as gunpowder. Due to my almost constant exposure to gunpowder, I'm often noseblind to it. This soap taints it just enough with the lime to set it off.

The paired alcohol-free splash is very lime-forward such that I expected a citrus sting, but there was none. There was also a pleasant creaminess that I suspect is from the skin-care ingredients. After about a half-hour, I began to pick up on some hints of gunpowder. Ultimately, the fragrance melds into a charming, but slightly dark, lime. My wife very much likes this fragrance as well.

Despite the peculiar notes, they work well enough together as to avoid being placed in the novelty category. This scent would be appropriate for just about any occasion.

(Regarding the pic: some of you may recognize that's a pressure plate from a clutch assembly. It's the stock one from my '98 Trans Am)

Thursday Planned SOTD

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Razor: Steampunk Fat Handle Tech
Blade: Gillette Spoiler 74 (D15)
Brush: Romera Rustic Chubby 26mm Manchurian
Bowl: Yuzu Tenmoku 4-3/4"
Pre Shave Scrub: MRGLO
Pre Shave Oil: AOS Sandalwood
Shave Soap: Neumann Signature 1907
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave Neumann Signature 1907

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Beautiful new Shavemac (ATG Group Buy), Blackbird/Hempel, Phoenix and Beau.

Proraso Green Pre/Post
Omega S-Brush S10019 Synthetic Fiber
Barrister & Mann Night Music
GEM Micromatic Open Comb / Gem stainless steel PTFE (Shave 16)
Thayers Superhazel with Proraso Green Pre/post Followed with Proraso/Osage Rub splash

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Testing out the Blackberry Blossom Bay scent for the DFS custom. Should be ready to go after a few small tweaks.

Also, this Elite Manchurian White knot is pretty amazing considering the price. I see the poor man's Shavemac 2 band comparisons

Can I ask who made that handle? It's awesome.


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Have a great night, everyone.


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SOTD-12oct16:
Gillette Super Speed Red Tip(A4) / Personna Crystal
RazoRock 24mm Finest Badger
PannaCrema Tallow San Francesco
English Leather AS(Vintage)

Beautiful new Shavemac (ATG Group Buy), Blackbird/Hempel, Phoenix and Beau.

Lovely new brush, Chris!

Beautiful new Shavemac (ATG Group Buy), Blackbird/Hempel, Phoenix and Beau.

Lovely new brush, Chris!  

Thanks, it's really cool...and a special knot too.