Phoenix Solstice on the summer solstice, with the Fatip Testina Gentile

A natural choice, I think, particularly easy given how much I like the soap and its fragrance. I used Phoenix Artisan’s Green Ray brush and thoroughly enjoyed the lather. The Testina Gentile did a fine job, but with a tiny nick on the chin (easily fixed with My Nik Is Sealed). A splash of Solstice aftershave finished the job. It’s good to begin the longest day of the year with something so pleasurable.

Rooney Style 2 Finest, Declaration Grooming Unconditional Surrender shave soap, Edwin Jagger, and Chaillon Lux Vide Poche

I was tempted to get this shaving soap by the design (TBH) but also the ingredients and the fragrance. The former:

Stearic Acid, Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Avocado Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Bison Tallow, Mango Seed Butter, Castor Oil, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Lanolin, Bentonite Clay, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba L. (White Willow) Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid

Bison tallow caught my eye, and then other ingredients seemed good (and interesting) as well. And the fragrance:

The scent notes are amber, tonka bean, amyris, cedarwood, agarwood, vetiver, cigar tobacco, black tea, jasmine and geranium.

Tonka bean is a vanilla fragrance, which I like, and the other notes seemed good as well.

This shaving soap is by Declaration Grooming. The “Chatillon Lux” on the label seems to be because the matching aftershave is from Chatillon Lux.

The soap makes a fine lather, and indeed I do like the fragrance. As I loaded the brush I had to add more water than I expected, but on looking at the ingredients, I see why: Bentonite clay. The lather is indeed quite slick, undoubtedly helped by the clay.

This Edwin Jagger head ended up on a stainless handle. I believe this is a Maggard handle (the MR-11). The combination works well, and three passes produced a perfectly smooth result.

A splash of Chatillon Lux Vide Poche aftershave finished the job. The fragrance:

. . . amber and sweet orange, with … geranium and honeysuckle and lavender and bergamot.

I found this listed at Maggard Razors, which also carries Declaration Grooming. In Canada, I purchased from Top of the Chain.

A good summer shave: Nancy Boy Signature shaving cream, Feather AS-D1, and Seick

The Edwin Jagger synthetic brush was a little large to use with the tiny travel tub, but I managed. Still, next time I’ll use one of my small brushes.

Nancy Boy Signature shave cream is definitely a favorite and at some point you should give it a try. They sell only via their website. I prefer soaps to creams, but this cream is special.

Three passes with the AS-D1 holding a Feather blade and my face is effortlessly smooth, and then a good splash of Speick to finish the job.

Great way to start a warm summerish day (and summer itself begins day after tomorrow—I’ll have to bring out Solstice for that shave, if I remember).

Omega Mixed Midget, Klar Seifen, and the RazoRock Mamba

Klar Seifen is first rate, and the Omega Badger + Boar brush did a very good job. Three passes with the Mamba did produce a couple of small nicks, but quickly taken care of with My Nik Is Sealed, and then a splash of the afteershave finished the job.

The two-day shave with the RazoRock Italian Flag synthetic, Stubble Trubble’s Up & Adam, the Merkur white bakelite slant, and Phoenix Artisan Cavendish

It’s always a great pleasure to shave a two-day stubble. Stubble Trubble’s Up & Adam is a favorite soap, and the RazoRock 24mm synthetic made a great lather. My trusty vintage Merkur white bakelite slant did its usual awesome job, and a good splash of Phoenix Artisan Cavendish aftershave finished the ritual. I like this aftershave because the fragrance persists in a nice way through the day.

Vie-Long hybrid badger-horse, Barrister & Mann Lavanille, and the Dorco PL602

I find that I don’t much like badger+horse hybrid brushes. This is the last one I have, having gotten rid of two others, and I think I may pass this on as well. Badger+boar works well enough, and I’ll use my Omega Mixed Midget tomorrow, but somehow badger+horse doesn’t work so well. In contrast, I like pure horsehair brushes a lot, preferring those of chestnut hue (like this one).

Still I got a good lather from Barrister & Mann’s Lavanille, which produces a tan lather—unusual, but works well. And the Dorco PL602 is one of my best-performing (and best-feeling) razors, so the shave itself was a pure pleasure.

A splash of Lavanille and I’m looking forward to the weekend. My bag of Aji-no-moto (see previous post) arrives today, and I’m eager to start using it.

Rooney Victorian, Lenthéric, RazoRock Old Type, and Penhaligon Blenheim Bouquet

A very nice summer shave, though summer is still a week away. I love the fragrance (and the lather) of Lenthéric, a vintage soap that’s held up well, and the Rooney Victorian I have is an exceptional brush: dense knot with very soft surface.

I’m always surprised at what a smooth result the RazoRock Old Type delivers because I cannot feel that it is cutting anything—but three passes later, perfect smoothness with no problems.

A good splash of Blenheim Bouquet, and I’m ready for the day. My voice is much less hoarse today, and I would guess that within a week I’ll be totally recovered.