Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”
Blade: Schick Injector
Brush: Vie-Long #12705B
Lather: Proraso Menthol & Eucalyptus
Aftershave: Myrsol Formula K
Additional Care: Alum Block and BullDog Original Beard Balm
Shave of the day 3rd January
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Asylum Shave Works Frankincense & Myrrh Aftershave Splash
A few months ago I received a bottle of Asylum Shave Works Frankincense & Myrrh Aftershave Splash from Phil of BullGoose, as part of the best care package ever. I used it exclusively the first two months – since I was travelling and away from my usual selection of aftershaves – and have come back to it frequently since getting back home.
The aftershave is not as moisturising as some of my other ones – but considering that some of my others are made to be moisturisers first and aftershaves second, that isn’t unexpected.
The scent is, how to put… complex but not complicated. In the bottle it is – and please excuse my phrasing – very american; loud, bold and in your face. On your face however it’s much more mellow and subtle – once the alcohol evaporates – and has enough staying power to last a whole day at work without being overpowering.
The scent is woody, with hints of oriental incense and – at least to me – memories of the desert. If that sounds like something for you, I would strongly recommend getting some – even more so if you pair it with the matching shaving soap.
Shave of the day 1st January
Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”
Blade: Schick Injector
Brush: Vie-Long #14033
Lather: Dr Selby Lavender
Aftershave: Nivea Cooling After Shave Balm
Additional Care: Alum Block & BullDog Original Beard Balm
Shave of the day 29th December
Razor: GEM Micromatic Clug Pruf
Blade: GEM Single Edge Stainless
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Lather: Asylum Shave Works Frankincense & Myrrh
Aftershave: Asylum Shave Works Frankincense & Myrrh
Additional Care: Alum Block BullDog Original Beard Balm
Simple pleasures
A repost from another blog of mine, from 2010 – with some pictures from other posts added
It is something very satisfying to whip up your own lather before shaving… to see a tiny bit of shaving cream and a few drops of water turn into a nice, thick, rich and nice smelling lather. The slightly cool feel as the eucalyptus and menthol lather first touches, and then covers, most of the face – and then taking it off with long, controlled strokes with my old fashioned safety razor. A quick splash of water, and then the sting of the alum as it finds the small nicks and scratches that I couldn’t see in the mirror.
It don’t matter if the lather cup I use is a bright pink snack bow from Ikea. It don’t matter if my brush is a reasonably cheap one from Body Shop. It don’t even matter that my bathroom is a ‘three toilets, three showers’ shared ablution container that – frankly – is a bit run down. What matters is that it’s five minutes of ManTime, and a link to my more or less daily routine at home. Try that with a spray can full of foam and plastic razors with five blades…
Shave of the day 27th December
Razor: GEM Micromatic Clug Pruf
Blade: GEM Single Edge Stainless
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
Lather: Nivea Mild
Aftershave: BullDog Oil Control Moisturiser
Additional Care: Alum Block & Scotch Porter Beard Balm
Moving onwards
Over the last few months I’ve amassed a fair number of perfume and EdT samplers… the benefit of being patient when my Better Half visits makeup stores (“…and one sample for you for being a good sport”, as the cashiers would say).
So I’ll do my best going forward to put my unsophisticated nose to work, and do some reviews of those – and my stack of unreviewed aftershaves.
Yule is upon us… Til árs ok friðar!
Like many others, Norwegians feels the need for a mid winter bash or feast. Today we call it Jul (a word using the same root as the English Yule), but the basic concept is in other times and places known as Midwinter blot, Yule, Mōdraniht, Dísablót, Kwanzaa, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or many other names. The basic concept remains the same; throw a big party at the darkest time of the year and hope that the sun takes the hint and starts to come back…
In Norway, as in most of Germanic, non-Anglo-Saxon Northern Europe, Yule is celebrated on the 24th. The midwinter celebrations are a direct continuation of the old midwinterblót, given a somewhat thin christian veneer when Norway was christianised a millennia ago – but our habit of throwing a party when the sun turns goes back way beyond that.
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So to everyone out there who happen to read this, I wish a God Jul and a Godt Nytt År.
Or as they would say a millennia ago;
Til árs ok friðar*
*) To a good year and peace / friendship
Shave of the day 24th December
aka Christmas Eve Shave
Razor: GEM Micromatic Clug Pruf
Blade: GEM Single Edge Stainless
Brush: Omega #10048
Lather: Wet Shaving Products Pre-production Sample
Aftershave: Proraso Wood and Spice
Additional Care: Alum Block & BullDog Original Beard Balm
Shave of the day 22nd December
Razor: TGR Flying Tiger Copenhagen
Blade: Lord Classic
Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
Lather: Brutalt Bra TSN LE / Norwegian Wood
Aftershave: Nivea Cooling After Shave Balm
Additional Care: Alum & Block BullDog Original Beard Balm
