walden
@walden@sub.wetshaving.social
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, June 16th, 2025 (#734) 1 day ago:
- Brush: L’Occitane Plisson Synthetic
- Razor: Wolfman Guerilla - Gen 1
- Blade: Personna P74 (86)
- Lather: Red House Farms - No Scrub - Soap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive Beard & Face - Balm
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - EdP
Theme justification: ingredients are
Soy Wax, North American Black Bear Tallow, NAOH, KOH, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Aloe Vera, Fragrance, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Lanolin, Sodium Lactate, EDTA, Titanium Dioxide.sub.wetshaving.social/…/8bade305-fc07-46d4-a04c-c…
Not only is there no Beef Tallow, but it also excludes the most common ingredient of all – stearic acid.
I’ve had questionable lathers with this soap in the past, so today I was determined to get a good one. It’s a small container, so I figured that probably inhibits proper loading. I loaded loaded loaded loaded to make sure I got enough soap in my brush, and it helped a ton. Very decent lather. I think this soap is worthy of a container transplant, but first I have to make sure I can safely remove/move the label. It just wouldn’t be the same without that handsome bear on the front.
Relevant post shave: Varen is a scent from Stirling Soap Co., and in soap form it’s only available in the Mutton base which uses sheep tallow. So in a roundabout kind of way, it has something in common with No Scrub.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, June 15th, 2025 (#733) 2 days ago:
June 15th, 2025: Old and stanky
- Brush: Maggard Razors - 2 Band 24mm Badger
- Razor: Joseph Rogers & Sons Near Wedge (8)
- Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz - Tabac - Soap
- Post Shave: Old Spice - Hawkridge - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth - Cerberus - Liniment
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Lavender, Interrupted - EdP
Theme justification: According to Wikipedia, Mäurer & Wirtz was founded in 1845. I was born in the 1900’s, making this brand older than I am.
The Tabac scent was created in 1959, which is also older than I am.
I think this razor needs a quick refresh on the 10k. Recent shaves have been lacking. I polished it a little bit with Flitz yesterday and I imagine the paper towel hitting the edge didn’t help, but even yesterday’s shave wasn’t that great. If anyone has a quick tutorial on how to polish a straight razor, I’m willing to buy a benchtop buffer. I’ve just never done it before and wonder what kind of polishing compounds and stuff might work well on this type of steel.
Happy father’s day! I have a child, which makes me a father. I’ll be joining some friends at a local pond beach to grill, have a fire pit, maybe play frisbee and corn hole, that sort of thing. Looking forward to it. Oh yeah, and probably beer.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, June 14th, 2025 (#732) 3 days ago:
June 14th, 2025: Ring of death
- Brush: Semogue - 1800 Boar
- Razor: Joseph Rogers & Sons Near Wedge (7)
- Lather: Abbate y La Mantia - Garibaldi - Soap
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Petrichor - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Dove - Men+Care Ultra-Hydra - Cream
Theme justification: This tub has a giant ring of death. None of my other tubs are this close to being finished.
Before this shave I smushed it all around to make a flat loading surface. This may have been the best lather I’ve ever gotten with this soap – but it still isn’t my style. It’s sort of a thick wet drippy hair-conditioner type lather. A little bit of slickness, but it seems to put post-shave ahead of all else. I prefer soaps where slickness is the top goal.
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - June 13th, 2025 3 days ago:
Ha, fun story. Is “most autistic set” supposed to be a compliment?
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, June 13th, 2025 (#731) 4 days ago:
June 13th, 2025: Mug Soap
- Brush: Semogue - 1800 Boar
- Razor: Koraat 15/16 Full Hollow - Sub Exclusive ‘Moarteen’ (13)
- Lather: Williams - Mug Soap - Soap
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Toner
- Post Shave: Dove - Men+Care Ultra-Hydra - Cream
$discord
Theme justification: I remember buying this for $1.50 before it was discontinued. The pucks are 1.75oz, making the price per oz $0.85 USD. In comparison, Stirling is about $2.49.
I thought it’d be fun to see if I could do a straight razor shave with this soap. Williams isn’t bad per say, but it’s also not very good. Still, I got a decent shave with decent slickness.
I upped the difficulty level by using a boar brush with it. In the past I’ve sort of figured out that Williams isn’t meant to be lathered, but instead it should just be loaded into a sloppy wet brush and spread on your face. It works best that way, but I didn’t really get there until the last pass. Even having cracked the code with this stuff, my muscle memory just wouldn’t let me do it.
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - June 13th, 2025 4 days ago:
I’ve heard of that happening, too. We got lucky not too long ago (this past winter, maybe?) and had some really good northern lights. Definitely visible to the naked eye!
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - June 13th, 2025 4 days ago:
I got a notification from an app on my phone about possible Aurora Borealis last night. There was a 14% chance. I went outside to check a couple of times, but no luck this time.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, June 12th, 2025 (#730) 5 days ago:
June 12th, 2025: Accountabilibuddies!
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Union Razor Cutlery 5/8 Full Hollow (4)
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - Leviathan - Soap
- Post Shave: Aqua Velva - Ice Blue - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Dove - Men+Care Ultra-Hydra - Cream
Theme justification: www.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/comments/…/mxd32fi/
It was surprisingly hard to find someone else to match today (at the last minute). I scanned through and u/sirkravsalot was the only one who had used something I have in my den. Obviously a lot of people had planned ahead for today, and it shows! Nice work!
Daily Challenge:
I’d like to thank u/gcgallant (@gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social). From being a voice of reason on the Fediverse version of r/wetshaving, to being involved in the Straight Razor Revolution with his video shaves, tutorials, free advice, being the money-man for the Moarteen group buy, and on and on and on… He’s a slow and steady positive influence on the shaving community.
The razor that I used today was a gift from him (well, he loaned it to me, but I might steal it!). I’ve had various levels with success with this particular razor, and today’s shave was my favorite with it so far! I’ve recently increased my stropping to 75+, and I do believe it’s helping quite a bit. The razor felt so nimble and nice today. No tugging, and it felt almost as “safe” as my Joseph Rogers & Sons near-wedge.
This was my 33rd straight razor shave which is surprising, because I thought I was still under 30. I must have miscounted last time.
- Comment on [Reminder][BVWSC] Use Raconteur on Wednesday 5 days ago:
Oh fun! I don’t have SSL unfortunately.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, June 11th, 2025 (#729) 6 days ago:
June 11th, 2025: Viking
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Fatip Classic Testina Gentile - Chrome
- Blade: Personna P74 (85)
- Lather: Viking Shaving Soap - Norway - Soap
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Wood Shop - Aftershave
$discord
Viking Shaving Soap Company is not a good company. I only have it because it was included in a lot, and I like the scent enough to not throw it away. I had another scent by them (Denmark) which I did throw in the garbage.
I don’t know if Viking is still around (different than the Viking you’d find on Amazon, by the way), but he used to make brush handles too. And guess what… he was on the bad list for copying other companies like Declaration Grooming.
Anyway, decent shave. The lather isn’t anything to write home about, but it was slick. This blade is awesome.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, June 10th, 2025 (#728) 6 days ago:
Beautiful razor
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, June 10th, 2025 (#728) 1 week ago:
June 10th, 2025: Art
- Brush: Zenith - 508A XL/Bristle (B35) (MOAR BOAR) 31mm Boar
- Razor: Joseph Rogers & Sons Near Wedge (6)
- Lather: Noble Otter - Logbook - Soap
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Petrichor - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Auntie Anne’s Preztels 🥨 - Knead - EdP
$discord
Theme justification: Noble Otter has always had great custom artwork for their tubs. Logbook is in the ‘new’ style, but it’s still great. The ‘old’ style of Noble Otter art, like seen on Hamam, is preferred by a lot of people but I don’t have any tubs like that anymore.
The tub art features an otter in a pilots uniform, and there are little things scattered around like a pair of aviator sunglasses, a headset, an E6B, a compass, etc.
Petrichor might be my favorite aftershave label. It captures the scent perfectly with its depiction of grass and trees lining the banks of a pond.
Knead just has a pretzel on the label.
I enjoyed this straight shave, but I’ve gotten better results in the past with this razor. Still, it remains a favorite as it’s incredibly gently. Zero harshness to it, and it’s nearly silent due to the near-wedge shape. I liken it to some of my favorite DE blades which tend to share the same “smoothness” and treat my skin nicely.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, June 9th, 2025 (#727) 1 week ago:
June 9th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Blade: Personna Twin Pivot Plus (Atra) Cart (11)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
- Post Shave: Old Spice - Original - Aftershave
Nice. I think this cartridge is nearing the end of its useful life.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, June 8th, 2025 (#726) 1 week ago:
June 8th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Blade: Personna Twin Pivot Plus (Atra) Cart (10)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
A nice little two pass luxury shave.
- Comment on Ads when you’re pumping gas 1 week ago:
It’s safe until it’s not. I worked at gas stations throughout high school and college and saw a few gas spills caused by the auto-shutoff system not activating. In all cases the amount spilled was minimized by the pumper being able to turn it off quickly (even with the built in trigger holder engaged. A zip tie would take a bit longer, but you’d probably still be fine. Jamming the gas cap in would also be quick to remove. I’ve seen rubber things sold for this purpose, too.
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - June 6th, 2025 1 week ago:
Nice car!
In the US, at least, it’s difficult to put diesel in a regular gas car because the diesel spout is wider and won’t fit.
You can easily make the mistake of putting regular gas in a diesel, though.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, June 8th, 2025 (#726) 1 week ago:
NDG loves poems Soap that comes from red homes Three letters is an initialism Sonnets are hard
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, June 8th, 2025 (#726) 1 week ago:
June 8th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Blade: Personna Twin Pivot Plus (Atra) Cart (9)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
- Post Shave: Old Spice - Original - Aftershave
I was hoping the comfort coating on this cartridge would have worn away by now, but there’s still a little left. The scent of Mood Indigo has improved significantly since the announcement that it’s being discontinued 🤣.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, June 7th, 2025 (#725) 1 week ago:
June 7th, 2025
- Brush: Zenith - B03-A26 (B2) 26mm Boar
- Razor: Fatip Classic Testina Gentile Chrome
- Blade: Personna P74 (84)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Leather - Aftershave
Early morning, so I shaved last night. May the calendar gods have mercy.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, June 6th, 2025 (#724) 1 week ago:
June 6th, 2025: Gold Dollar
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Gold Dollar Straight Razor (5)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
- Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - Gratiot League Square - Aftershave
- Fragrance: GLHF Workshop - Atriox - EdP
Enjoyable shave from the $12 thing. This still has my
signatureedge on it, which features the logical progression of 600 to 10,000 with nothing in between. Some good resistance on my chin, but not tuggy. My skin is happy and I’m looking forward to the next time I use it.Atriox is really great.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, June 5th, 2025 (#723) 1 week ago:
Congrats on finishing the written portion! For me those were always more difficult than oral or practical exams.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, June 5th, 2025 (#723) 1 week ago:
Their website says in stock tomorrow!
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, June 5th, 2025 (#723) 1 week ago:
June 5th, 2025: ORANGE
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Union Razor Cutlery 5/8 Full Hollow (3)
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - Promises - Soap
- Post Shave: RazoRock - Puros - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Dove - Men+Care Ultra-Hydra - Cream
$discord
@gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social recommended I hit this razor with my 10k, so I did that 3 shaves ago. The slight tuggyness is gone and although I’m still too new to have real preferences, this razor is more enjoyable to me now. My technique is still improving which helps, too. I’ve also started stropping more (from 20+40 linen/leather to around 20+50-70 depending on how I’m feeling).
Theme justification: The first scent note in Promises is Orange. The orange is prominent, with ‘everything else’ acting as a supporting role (including snowmobile exhaust).
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, June 4th, 2025 (#722) 1 week ago:
Ha, what a trooper. Even more so if there was a blade in the razor.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, June 5th, 2025 (#723) 1 week ago:
That’ll be a fun test. I wonder why Böker is taking so long. Maybe upper management is in the process of approving a pricing mistake 🤣
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, June 4th, 2025 (#722) 1 week ago:
Oh oops.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, June 4th, 2025 (#722) 1 week ago:
June 4th, 2025: Metal
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Coffee & Cream” w/Declaration Grooming B1 Badger
- Razor: Koraat 15/16 Full Hollow - Sub Exclusive ‘Moarteen’ (12)
- Lather: Abbate y La Mantia - Garibaldi - Soap
- Post Shave: RazoRock - Puros - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Maher Olfactive - Madame Chouteau - EdP
$discord
Theme justification: You’d think these two tobacco scents would be complimentary due to their common tobacco theme, but you’d be wrong. Well, you’d be right, but I’m ignoring that. Instead, I’m claiming that they are complimentary due to their use of metal lids.
Puros also complimented my shave by not stinging the sh*t out of me, which is usually does due to high alcohol concentration. By not burning me, it basically said “good shave, bro”. The best compliment you can get.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, June 3rd, 2025 (#721) 1 week ago:
June 3rd, 2025: Nautical?
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Coffee & Cream” w/Declaration Grooming B1 Badger
- Razor: Mühle R89
- Blade: Personna P74 (83)
- Lather: Noble Otter - Batters Up - Soap
- Post Shave: Noble Otter - The Night Before - Aftershave
$discord
The branding for Noble Otter branding heavily features Otters, a sea-dwelling mammal. According to Artificial Intelligence, “Ninety percent of the world’s sea otters live in Alaska’s coastal waters”.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, June 2nd, 2025 (#720) 2 weeks ago:
I think I’m just more tired these days than I realize.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, June 2nd, 2025 (#720) 2 weeks ago:
June 2nd, 2025
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Koraat 15/16 Full Hollow - Sub Exclusive ‘Moarteen’ (11)
- Lather: Noble Otter - Batters Up - Soap
- Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - Weinstrasse - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Dove - Men+Care Ultra-Hydra - Cream
Batters Up is a work of art.
Good shave with the Moarteen. My fine motor skills were slightly lacking and I got a small reminder that all blades are sharp.
