June 24, 2025

• Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1

• Razor: Koraat 14-2.0 8/8" Full Hollow

• Lather: Pasteur|Master Soap Creations - Bloom - Soap

• Post Shave: Pasteur|Master Soap Creations - Bloom - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Thayers - Coconut - Toner

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Black Orchid - Eau de Parfum

• Talc: Yardley Classic

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

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This soap has no scent at all – unless you smell it. If you do that, it is a pretty faithful dupe of Tom Ford Black Orchid. There is a woodiness and dark earthiness to this scent that makes it pretty compelling. I should use it more.

I started into wetshaving at the very end of the base wars so this is not a question I can answer from long experience. I did try some of precursors to the current set of soap bases from BaM, Wholly Kaw, Spearhead, and others, but I don’t pine for any of them. My attitude is that I’ll find a way to make any soap base work for me.

That said, I’m certain that when my “old” Tabac runs out, I will miss that base the most. It is wonderful and I find it hard to believe that the new one measures up.

As for my favorite soap base. I can’t list a favorite, but I do have a list of top-tier bases, each of which brings something special to the shave. Most of these are regularly used here on the sub but two really stand out; the base used in Eufros and the base used in Faena The Taurus. The latter is very unique. They don’t have a name for it, but I’m happy to bore you with a description of changes made to their, already good, base:

“The addition of water buffalo milk from Northern Greece gently melds with the renowned Greek goat yoghurt to become the central piece of this new formula. They combine to improve the cleansing and nourishment factors. The addition of organic shea butter and peach kernel oil enhance the conditioning properties and the gliding of the new formula. Aloe vera and home crafted St. John’s wort oil tame the end-result to eliminate skin irritation.”

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