Friday SOTD Thread, July 25th, 2025 (#773)

July 25th, 2025

Brush: AP Shave Co. "Amber Smoke" - Silksmoke 26mm Synthetic
Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
Blade: Accuforge GEM Microcoat (1)
Lather: Mike's Natural Soaps - Orange, Cedarwood, & Black Pepper - Soap
Post Shave: Stirling - Arance Mandarini - Aftershave
Post Shave: Stirling - Glacial Unscented - Balm

Travel shave, breaking in the AA software. Pretty good!

July 25, 2025

Brush: AP Shave Co Summer 28mm G5C
Razor: Thiers Issard Le Grelot 6/8 Full Hollow
Lather: CBL Soap - Doc Holiday - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Coconut - Toner
Aftershave: CBL Soap - Doc Holiday - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

This was my first use of Doc Holiday and my first use of CBL. The soap is specially made for Hombres Barber Shop in Oracle, AZ. Obviously, it is supposed to have a wild west theme. Doc Holliday was born in Georgia and the two top notes, peach and huckleberry, are related and prominent in the scent. I did not pick it up off the soap, but I did notice a smoke accord in the splash. Otherwise, I'll need more uses of this to try to sort out the fragrance. The soap base appears to be vegan. I don't see any tallow in the ingredients. It is dense, low structure and takes hydration well.

Jul 25, 2025 - Fougère Friday: 🫎

Brush: Zenith MOAR BOAR Sub-Exclusive (508A XL) 31mm Boar Knot
Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE [4]
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - I, Rich Moose - Soap (Mutton Tallow)
Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz - Sir Irisch Moos - Aftershave

A wonderful Boomer shave today.

🥂

Fri 25 Jul 2025

Brush: Boti Laminate brush with motherlode knot
Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 50 (7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel, masonic deco)
Lather: Catie's Bubbles – Florentine Fern
Post Shave: Speick – Men Active

We flew overnight from Istanbul to Bishkek, so today still feels like a travel shave. A nice straight razor shave was perfect to make me feel human again after a long night with little sleep. This is the razor I'll be using for AA this year.

Freemasonry for all of August. That razor has so much character! I'm going with an unstropped Moarteen.

July 25th, 2025

Brush: Wolf Whiskers - "Gianmaria" w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
Razor: Koraat 15/16 Full Hollow - Sub Exclusive 'Moarteen' (17)
Lather: London Razors, Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel - Soap
Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Frankie & Myrna - Aftershave
Fragrance: Auntie Anne's Preztels 🥨 - Knead - EdP

Not as tuggy as last time, so I'm not in a hurry to send it off to @gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social which is good news. My last shave was probably a problem with technique, lather, or probably both. Speaking of Auntie Anne's, I was at the Mall of America last week and went looking for one. I think I was on the wrong floor, but I did find a Wetzel's Pretzels and it was just as delicious.

I did find a Wetzel’s Pretzels
Not fair!! I haven't eaten yet today!

July 25th, 2025

Brush: Summer Break Soaps - Ord w/ TnS Quartermoon Synthetic
Razor: Blackland - Blackbird
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Crangère - Soap
Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Crangère - Aftershave

One week until AA! Ready to get familiar with Vetiver.

What’s your setup for AA?
- I’m not doing anything crazy. KerblimeySkal and I are running Mikes Natural Soaps challenge so I’m using Vetiver for the month. I’m also doing Raw Hoggin and have an Proraso Pro Omega ready to go. My razor and post shave will probably change day to day.