gcgallant
@gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 26th, 2025 (#897) 19 hours ago:
I agree with you about Shawn. There isn’t one scent of his I’ve tried that didn’t hit for me. Masala Connection does sound great, especially for the cold months.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, November 27th, 2025 (#898) 19 hours ago:
That’s one of my favorite razors in your collection. I have one that does not have the excellent condition of yours but, like you, I don’t use it very often. When I return from my trip, that one will get some use.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, November 27th, 2025 (#898) 19 hours ago:
November 27, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
- Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 472 13/16" Full Hollow Square Point
- Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Druantia - Soap
- Aftershave: Noble Otter - Monarch - Aftershave
2 passes. Bowl lather. Excellent shave.
Druantia is woodsy. I’ll be outside most of the day in the crisp Massachusetts weather, so this was a perfect scent choice, imo. Today is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the states. While the history of this day is a little complicated, I look upon it as another opportunity to show some gratitude.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 26th, 2025 (#897) 1 day ago:
I think that the playing card series did not do as well as Cody thought it would. Of the three I’ve tried, I think Ace should come back under another name. Great scent. I think it would go well with Caravaggio.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 26th, 2025 (#897) 1 day ago:
I have two soaps from Los Jabones de Joserra; Blas de Lezo and Noir. The Witcher looks awesome. Oud, amber, vanilla, tobacco. Checks every box for me. I agree with you about The Master. That’s an underappreciated scene by Shawn.
- Comment on [BVWSC] Reminder: Tomorrow's the day! 1 day ago:
Thanks for the reminder! I was traveling all day yesterday, and was able to get it together for today’s shave.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 26th, 2025 (#897) 1 day ago:
November 26, 2025 — BVWSC
- Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
- Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 472 13/16" Full Hollow Square Point
- Lather: Fanzine Saponifications - Caravaggio - Soap
- Aftershave: Noble Otter - Monarch - Aftershave
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
This is November’s Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club day and my first try of a Fanzine Saponifications soap; our soap choice this month. For me, the scent strength was mild but that may be due to it being a smush. That’s not a criticism, though. I picked up the leather and a touch of vetiver and black pepper. The soap base is just fine and worked well in my travel bowl lathering method. I listened to the u/raymoonie’s interview of u/TheStallionPartThree. Kudos to the Stallion for his efforts. Thanks, also, to @walden@sub.wetshaving.social for the smush and all he does.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, November 24th, 2025 (#895) 3 days ago:
To me, they are a “good” blade. I prefer the Personna Lab Blue, German Wilkinson Sword, Gillette Nacet, and Feather blades, though. I’ll use a Feather in the Blackbird, so I try to stay away from giving DE advice.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, November 24th, 2025 (#895) 3 days ago:
Isn’t the Superior Platinum considered the most popular blade due to its gentleness?
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, November 24th, 2025 (#895) 3 days ago:
November 24, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B44 28mm Boar
- Razor: Thiers Issard Évidé Sonnant 6/8" Extra Hollow
- Lather: Zingari Man - The Master - Soap
- Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
- Aftershave: Zingari Man - The Master - Aftershave
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
Today was a test shave for the refreshed edge that I put on this razor using my Olympus stone. The result was definitely much better than yesterday.
This scent has a lot going on in it. The title relates to a master barber who has been working for many years, and the scent supposedly captures what his shop would smell like; worn wood floors, leather, some bay run, and so on. I certainly would not mind going to a shop that smells like this.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
Thank you! Somehow, it didn’t occur to me that I could just Google it. Senility sucks!
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
I forgot to mention that I sent it to him to try. He returned it to me after he was done with it.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
I love the older BaM labels.
Screwdjriver++;
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
Congrats on the kill! I remember sending VisceralWatch my entire glass jar of MdC Fougère two or three years ago. My recollection was that he did not care for it that much. I happen to think it is great, but I seem to find a way to like most scents, so I may not be very discerning 🙂
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
Nice setup! What’s behind the term “Shoat”?
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, November 23rd, 2025 (#894) 4 days ago:
November 23, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
- Razor: Thiers Issard Évidé Sonnant 6/8" Extra Hollow
- Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - Waterlyptus - Soap
- Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
- Aftershave: Combe Inc. - Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue - Aftershave
3 passes. Face lather. Average shave.
This was a comfortable, but not particularly close shave. In looking back at my records I saw that this razor had one of my very early edges from the Olympus stone. After the shave, I took this razor back to the Olympus and did a refresh using what I have learned about the stone since my early attempts. This refreshed edge looks significantly better under the microscope and tests exactly where I would like it for sharpness. Tomorrow’s shave test will tell me if my skills with this stone have improved.
As always, Waterlyptus was wonderful as was Aqua Velva, which added a touch of nostalgia to the shave.
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - November 21st, 2025 5 days ago:
I promised to join the Zulip server
Though I’ve been absent lately, it’s quite fun to sign on, say “gm zuligans”, and follow the different conversations. Great group over there, as you might expect. As always, kudos to @walden for taking such good care of us.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, November 22nd, 2025 (#893) 5 days ago:
November 22, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
- Razor: Dovo Bismarck 6/8" Full Hollow Round Point
- Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - Midnight Dreary - Soap
- Toner: Thayers - Coconut - Toner
- Aftershave: Barrister and Mann - Hallows - Aftershave
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, November 22nd, 2025 (#893) 5 days ago:
I have a Le Grelot that I purchased new. It, too, had a wobble in it. Mine was small enough that a little spine grinding took care of it. If you can get things sorted, it’s a great razor.
Even a small radius on a slurry stone will typically help.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 5 days ago:
Fun times! I’ve been looking for the “right” W&B, Rodgers, or Greaves 8/8 FBU for a long while.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 5 days ago:
Assuming that the geometry is squared away, and it most likely is, the Swedish steel used for that razor should take a great edge. Let me know how it goes.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, November 21st, 2025 (#892) 6 days ago:
I get sick rarely and the timing is never good. 😊
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, November 21st, 2025 (#892) 6 days ago:
I came down with a cold/flu earlier this month that knocked me out of my schedule. My 2-shave days have been hit-or-miss, and there have been days that I have forgotten to post my second shave. I hope to get back on schedule but I’ll be traveling all next week. Not my best year for BBS November 🙄
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 6 days ago:
Oh, and if you happen to get the typical eBay “shave-ready” edge, here’s a video on how to sharpen it.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 6 days ago:
I know. Very weird looking. Just shave as you normally would and, of course, let me know what you think! 🤔
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, November 21st, 2025 (#892) 6 days ago:
November 21, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
- Razor: Karve Overlander Brass
- Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
- Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - Blugère - Soap
- Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
- Aftershave: Catie’s Bubbles - Blugère - Aftershave
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
This was a very pleasant fougère Friday. Blugère was terrific as always.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 6 days ago:
I agree about the fantasy/art pieces. Not for me. This kept me away for a long time.
As I was looking into Japanese razors, I came across the Kikuboshi R. Saito in that photo. Comments about how it shaves piqued my interest even though I wasn’t drawn to it aesthetically. These were “production” razors back in the day and because people are afraid to hone them, you can find some in very good shape.
The other very smiley razor I have is my Woolfblades, a custom. Though my razor is not one, he definitely makes dragon/fantasy razors.
The reason you want to try one of these is that they cut like a slant razor and the curvature naturally works with the curvy nature of the face and neck.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, November 20th, 2025 (#891) 1 week ago:
November 20, 2025
- Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
- Razor: Geneva Cutlery Co. 6/8" Hollow Ground Round Point
- Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Soap
- Toner: Thayers - Coconut - Toner
- Aftershave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Eau de Parfum
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
I took this razor to my new Vermont Purple slate and pushed the edge as far as I could take it, stropped it, then went directly to this shave. I am really getting spoiled with fresh edges, especially when paired with something like TNeV.
I guess this was un thé du jeudi après-midi but in reality I’d probably order a café or alongé at this time of day. As a fragrance, though, TNeV is way up in my top-tier category. So great. The combination of this trifecta and a fresh edge made for a fully enjoyable, ultra-close, comfortable shave.
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, November 19th, 2025 (#890) 1 week ago:
Then you need to find a very happy straight razor. Absolute game changer when shaving.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, November 18th, 2025 (#889) 1 week ago:
Good to know. Thanks for doing triage for us :)