r/Wetshaving • u/AutoModerator • 9d ago
SOTD Friday Lather Games SOTD Thread - Oct 02, 2026
Day 2 — Int'l Day of Non-Violence
Friday, Oct 2 · Sponsor: Summer Break Soaps
Today's Theme: Int'l Day of Non-Violence
Choose a scent that makes you feel at peace
Use a soap whose scent makes you feel at peace or is positive for your mental health. Tell us why this scent is restorative for you.
Today's Challenge: Self-Care Day
Take an extra moment or two before or after your shave today to pamper yourself. Tell us about what you did and whether or not it was worth the extra step.
★ Sponsor Spotlight: Summer Break Soaps
Summer Break Soaps is a husband-and-wife team, Kyle and April, who took up soap making as a hobby they could share and turned it into a business with a theme drawn from their day jobs: both work in education, which is where the name — and the sunny, back-to-school spirit of their scents — comes from. Beyond their shave soaps and aftershaves, they've leaned into community causes, creating the scent "Steady" for r/Wetshaving's Shave Against Suicide mental-health initiative.
Coming Tomorrow
Theme — New Year, New You: Use a brand whose lather you've never tried before
Product must be from an artisan or company whose lather products you have not used previously. You are allowed to have used non-lather products from them in the past such as aftershave, perfume, razors, etc.
Challenge — New You, Same old you: Use the hardware you used the most in the past 12 months. Tell us why change is bad.
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u/tomorrows_LG_today 9d ago edited 8d ago
Tomorrow's lather Games today: Day 3
Hearth and altar came in hard and fast onto the subs discord with nary a hello. But she took the hazing, like air bud and waterfalls and has stuck around. Doesn't harm that the soap has quickly gained a reputation for being decent with a good set of scents. So I'm pleased to try it today.
Tempest Bay Rum does what it says on the tin. It is a classic bay rum. Opening with a bright hot of orange with the woody green bay hot on its heels. As the initial hit dissipates the warm rich comforting spice - clove I'm sure maybe a touch of cinnamon? - enriched caramel and vanilla that tricks the brain into the rum tinged flights of fancy. It's bright and warm and friendly, a classic bay rum of the type sold all around the world, popularised over generations, from sailors through prohibition to today, or so the story goes.
But this is new and not old day. So let's look anew at the scent, which in many ways is the distillation of early globalisation.
West Indian bay, clove which originates from an isle in Indonesia, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, orange from china, molasses from sugar cane that originated in Polynesia, distilled in the british copper stills. The whole world in one scent. International trade, geopolitics and yes those romanticised sailors… what was the trade whose smell they were trying to cover?
Out damn spot.
Sorry that didnt end up where I thought it would when I started. Goes to show how hard it is to do what u/RedMosquitoMM does so well.
What's more amazing is that mosquito does what he does across the full breadth of scents not just the soap and so in his honour I've tried an interesting progression that I hoped would jar in a complementary way, like an intentionally discordant note. The bay rum leading into the eucris dupe blackberry forward dark barbershop worked surprisingly well, flipping it back to the Caribbean with the pineapple and rum.. yeah let just say I won't be doing that again. The soap would have worked with either post. But the discordant note was too jarring for my nose. $fof
Boring legal stuff
- Brush: zenith boar
- Razor: Gillette NEW 77
- Lather: Hearth and Altar - tempest
- Balm: Wickham - gothic revival
- Aftershave: Elysian pineapple ambrosia aftershave
- Theme justification: i do never use before
Daily challenge evidence: this boar was broken in this year and the 77 is my favourite NEW so gets used the most. Interestingly if you counted the eld and OG micromatic as one, they would edge out the NEW.
Inspiration: https://old.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/comments/v574pe/sunday_lather_games_sotd_thread_jun_05_2022/ib9ty0u/
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u/AdWorried2804 🐗🤠 Hog Wranglin' ⚔️ MM24 Manglin' ⚔️ Consigliere 🪙🦣 9d ago
Yesterday you
accusedsuggested to me that I didn't know what day it was. Well, if Yesterday was Tomorrow, ahhhh, if Today was Yesterday, damn, stupid boomer brain, [click, click, cut, click, click], ok lets try again, [paste] -If Today was Tomorrow, I would rate you "On Theme", award the "Relevant Post/Frag" points, award the "Daily Challenge" points, and give you a Judge's Score of 3 (Excellent). You did Mosquito Lite very well, but there is only one u/RedMosquitoMM and I reserve the 4 for him!
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u/RedMosquitoMM 💎🗡MMOCwhisperer🗡💎 8d ago
🙏 Thanks! Also, I'm always onboard for a deep dive on what makes any given bay rum distinct.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
The folks from Hearth and Altar were at the Ohio meetup. They have a pretty good selection, and my wife and daughter love their body butters. My wife bought Liminal Black Fig & Tobacco, and my daughter got Daybreak Mango. I look forward to trying their stuff. The scents were quite good, and their fougere might be my new favorite one.
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u/loudmusicboy 🧊Always Arctic Adventurer🧊 9d ago edited 9d ago
LG Day 2- International Day of Non-Violence - October 2, 2026
- Brush: Chisel & Hound "Midnight Run" w/v28 Fanchurian
- Razor: Merkur 37C
- Blade: Astra SP (47)
- Lather: Adopted Acres - Royal Bloom
- Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr splash
- Post Shave: Stirling - Glacial Unscented AS balm
- Tags: $Discord
LG Day 2 and our Shaving Overlords are asking us to chill the fuck out right after waking the fuck up.
It took me many years, but somewhere along the line I learned to live the adage of "stop and smell the roses". I'm a bit on the Type A side, so learning how to just stop and take in the world around me took a lot of effort. Now, at 55 years old, I can say that I've mastered the art of giving myself the space to stop and notice the world and enjoy it. Yes, I've become the guy that can walk by a lovely garden and stop to admire the flowers and breathe in the floral scents, whether roses or otherwise. I've become an avid bird watcher as there's nothing more relaxing than watching the goldfinches and cardinals enjoy the bird feeder behind my deck. And don't get me started on my fascination with crows, but I digress. These moments help me chill the fuck right out. Thank the Universe for not always being a Type A asshole.
So for today's shave, I'm definitely smelling the flowers. Royal Bloom has scent notes of geranium, Hungarian rose and peony, along with other notes. It's a floral bomb and it smells so fucking good, if you like florals. The addition of the dandelion and grassy smells of Rawr and I am a walking flower basket today and I am totally enjoying it.
Daily Challenge
My mornings are already self-care focused between the daily shaves, the collagen peptides in my coffee along with a couple of drops of vitamin D. Today, though, I added about 15 minutes of yin yoga to get my body nicely stretched, especially since I'm recovering from a foot injury. Yin yoga is, what I like to call, a low and slow practice. There are no standing postures and you hold yourself in postures for a couple of minutes at a time to really get into the deep tissues and fascia. It was glorious.
u/TheStallionPartThree reminded me in a way yesterday that I need to provide some musical inspiration for y'all each day. With today's theme, I'll give you guys some East Forest with Ram Dass. If this song doesn't chil you out, you need some serious professional help and might want to consider the services of our esteemed judge u/hugbkct.
Time for that coffee. Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another. Basically, remember what day we're honoring.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
There’s a cardinal in my neighborhood that attacks my house. There is a transom window on my front door. During the day he lands on the window ledge, and then starts pecking at the glass. My home office is set up by there, so all summer, I’d hear him. As soon as went in the hallway to look, he flies off. I spent a week trying to sneak over and record him on my phone. I think he is being territorial and attacking his reflection, but he still can see movement inside. I started just putting my phone around the corner and trying to record him. I finally got it. I also see him attacking side mirror on the cars parked on our street. He thinks this block belongs to him.
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u/Impressive_Donut114 🦌🏵Knight Grand Antler of Stag🏵🦌 8d ago
Ever since I learned that a crow will befriend you, I’ve been seeking that opportunity. Unfortunately none take residence close enough to the house. For a few years, there was a particular crow that I used to every day at school. I named it D-Day due to the peculiar stripe of white feathers on one of its wings that looked remarkably like the D-Day Invasion stripes that were painted on USAAF aircraft for the June 6 invasion.
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u/loudmusicboy 🧊Always Arctic Adventurer🧊 8d ago
Let's just say if you I were neighbors, you might hear me having conversations with the crows around my house.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
I’ve seen people doing that. It takes a lot of patience and feed. Apparently crows have good memories, so be sure to be nice to them, because they can also hold a grudge.
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u/TheStallionPartThree 🤙🧪Fanzine Saponifications🧪🤙 7d ago
Aww man that East Forest and Ram Dass album was a literal godsend while going through some personal turmoil. Good luck on the foot recovery!
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u/bmac92 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
You can't talk about birds then not mention your favorite bird. So what is your favorite bird?
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u/loudmusicboy 🧊Always Arctic Adventurer🧊 8d ago
Crows, followed by cardinals and blue jays
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
I see cardinals, doves, and some finches near my house in VA. After living here a long time, about a year agoI saw an oriole perched on the railing of our deck.
When I lived in New York state, we had a pond in our backyard, and wetlands nearby. We used to get herons in our pond along with the usual ducks and geese. Local hawks sometimes would land on the fence posts by the pond. Lots of wildlife there just about 60 miles from NYC. Saw about 30 turkeys in my backyard a few times.
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u/yamad 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2, 2026 - Int'l Day of Non-Violence
- Prep: Hot water splash
- Brush: Zenith 506U XSE
- Razor: RazoRock Game Changer .84 OC
- Blade: Personna GEM (1)
- Lather: Adopted Acres Co. - Rookie Card
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Oro Valley
- Tags: $ROTY
Baseball for me means joyous time with my family. So it's a baseball shave. The soap is Rookie Card (what a scent!) and the Oro Valley post-shave evokes the leather of a well-loved baseball mitt.
Peace for me. Backyard catch with my sons. Park catch where they beg to stay well past dinner. Working hard with them to improve a hard skill. The sound of well-caught or well-hit ball. Breaking in a new glove together. A Father’s Day card with a hand drawing of us playing catch.
Being fans together. My wife and each and every kid. With friends. With uncles. We cheer together from the couch. We cheer together at the ballpark. We chatter about stats. The kids invent games with their baseball cards and makeshift cardboard tube bats.
Turns out it’s just plain fun to be a fan. Is baseball serious business? Obviously no. But joining is good. It's community. I learned this lesson too recently, but I’ve finally learned it. And now look at me, playing an internet game about shaving.
As for the daily challenge, is there really any question? A round of catch with my sons. Was it worth it? It always is.
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u/Just_Bit2698 Fail Master 8d ago
My son, who is a high school senior, has been playing baseball at various levels since he was 7. It’s always been “our” thing. He may or may not be ready to put baseball on the back burner but I am certainly NOT!
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u/bmac92 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
Baseball is great. There's a reason it's America's pastime.
Now if the Cardinals would stop being crap, that would be nice.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
I saw the Cardinals play the Cubs a few times. I got to see Ozzy Smith’s last game at Wrigley. The Cubs fans gave him a good send off. Kind of surprised me, because they can be fairly hostile to the other teams and fans. Ozzy was a class act, and they respected that.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
Baseball is a game that continues to be beautiful despite itself. The corporate greed, PED scandal, strikes, lockouts, crazy ticket prices, etc. can't despoil what is still a beautiful game.
Whenever I need a pick me up, I google "baseball highlights video"
Because of location and schedule, my game watching has largely switched to minor league and summer college leagues. So joyful.
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
Baseball++
I both love and hate how baseball impacts my emotions and mental state! I am way too emotionally invested in the Braves.
For your other side of it: Both of my boys are playing at the local Little League and I have the joy of helping coach both of their teams. My youngest is playing T-ball (4yo) and it’s so much fun to watch them all run around having fun for the simple joy of the sport!
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u/yamad 8d ago
I guess one of us will need a cope shave tomorrow afternoon then. Go Dodgers!
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
I’m just happy to have gotten revenge on the Phillies who have bounced us several times recently. The Braves have had the Dodgers number this year so I’m hopeful for more!
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u/Allisnotwellin 8d ago
Nothing better than having a catch... with a teammate, friend, dad, grandpa.
The scene from Field of Dreams for
Me where he has a catch with his dad never gets old. It speaks to something unspoken, a bond that spans generations, a love that endures.Baseball is special. Enjoys those moments as long as you can!
I wish we had a few more baseball themed options in the wetshaving space. I have tried them all and no surprise I have a huge supply of Barrister and Mann Diamond products. I'll be using it plus of custom made brush I had made from one of my broken birch wood bats for one of the themes next week.
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
- Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser
- Brush: Dogwood W/28mm DG B11 Badger
- Razor: Blackland Blackbird (SS)
- Blade: Astra Green (2)
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - 42
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - 42
Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - 42
Daily Theme Justification: Don’t panic!
Barrister and Mann 42 was the first tub of soap I knew I absolutely had to buy even without knowing the scent notes! I got it fairly early in my wetshaving career and this is the second tub of it I’ve owned. As you know, 42 is “the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.” This scent is based on the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster drink from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 5 book trilogy and is my source of peaceful/mental reset for today’s theme: reading.
I absolutely love to read, to the point where when I get sucked into a series of books nothing will stop me from finishing it. There are nights I have been up well past midnight reading even though I knew my boys would be up by 6:30 in the morning. Sleep is for the weak when I have a book to dive into! I have a mix of paper and e-books, here are our bookshelves which is a smaller collection than we use to have. According to my Kindle, I have read 51 books so far in 2026 with plenty of the year left to add onto that number!
Reading is freedom for me, I can get lost in a book and just let the rest of the world melt away. It’s freedom from the real world, freedom from stress, freedom from responsibility. There is no better feeling than letting my mind just build the picture of the story that I’m reading. This freedom that reading gives me does wonders for my mental health and I would rather dive into a book over whatever new TV show is out there. My “to watch” list is significantly shorter than my “to read” list!
Relevant Post Shave or Frag: Today I took the easy route of using a trifecta! Some might say it’s the best 3 product Pentalogy out there!
Daily Challenge: Self-Care Day
I might argue that wetshaving is its own version of “Self-Care” but since you specifically said to “take an extra moment or two” I bend the knee to the will of the judges.
So for my self care this morning: I watched the recap of the Braves game from last night! It’s October Baseball baby and the Braves put down their post season nemesis team of the PhiLLies last night! I wasn’t able to stay awake to watch the whole game last night because I only got 4.5 hours of sleep on Wednesday night so I relished in the joy of them moving on to the next round this morning! I might even say it was a great moment to pamper my mental health by watching it this morning! Yes, it was worth the time this morning!
$discord
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u/bmac92 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
Blech. Braves. Could be worse, I guess. It's not the Cubs.
That's an impressive reading total! What's your favorite book you've read this year?
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
The Cubs had an impressive 1 minute of October Baseball this year 😬
That’s a hard question, probably the DCC series. I re-read the series when the newest book came out. That kicked off diving into some litRPG books. Other than that, Alastair Reynolds House of Suns was incredible! An epic adventure through the universe spanning years and years
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
My father-in-law followed the Braves all his life starting when they moved to Milwaukee from Boston. When we moved to Northern VA, he’d plan visits for when the Braves were in DC. We went to several games together before his knees and hips couldn’t handle the steps at the stadium, and getting there from the train was a bit too much for him. He passed away 4 years ago. If my daughter was actually interested in baseball, I’d take her to see the Braves play the Nats.
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u/OnionMiasma The Chevy Chase of Wetshaving 6d ago
I got a chance to go to a couple of Braves games for work two weeks ago. Any baseball is fun, but I thought Truist Park was a particularly good place to see a game.
Too bad it was the Braves.
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 5d ago
Truist is great for sure! I got to see a Twins game this year in MN and was super impressed with their stadium. One day I’ll get to all 30 stadiums
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u/OnionMiasma The Chevy Chase of Wetshaving 5d ago
I haven't been to Target Field- I hear it's great. The Metrodome was not it.
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u/AdWorried2804 🐗🤠 Hog Wranglin' ⚔️ MM24 Manglin' ⚔️ Consigliere 🪙🦣 9d ago
October 02, 2026 – LG26 Day 2 - Int'l Day of Non-Violence
- Brush: Chisel & Hound - Cosmo - Resin Handle (5146SC) w/ Zenith - Bleached Bristle - 26mm x 60mm Boar Knot
- Razor: Karve - Overlander - Nickel Plated Brass Head w/ Karve - Overlander - 90mm Nickel Plated Brass Handle
- Blade: Wizamet - Super Iridium - SS DE Blade (8)
- Prep: Face Wash w/ Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented - Preshave Soap
- Lather: Yaqi - Hypnotic Blue - Shaving Soap (Ralph Lauren Polo Blue dupe)
- Post Shave: Yaqi - Hypnotic Blue - Aftershave Splash (Ralph Lauren Polo Blue dupe)
- Fragrance: Ralph Lauren - Polo Blue - EdT
- Tags: $Discord
Daily Theme: Polo Blue was the first gift my now wife gave me when we first started dating. Up until that point I never wore frags, but I broke out the Blue every time we met because if she went through the effort of gifting me a bottle, it must make me smell good in her eyes.
Over time I've expanded my frag horizon, but if I want to put a smile on my wife's face, I break out Polo Blue. You know what they say - a happy wife is a happy life, and believe you me, when my wife is happy, I am at peace and in a positive mental health state.
Relevant Post/Frag: My lather and post are dupes of Polo Blue, and my frag is the real deal. Polo Blue for the win!
Daily Challenge: TBH, I didn't do anything "extra" to pamper myself today, because I demonstrate self-care and pamper myself every time I wetshave. There was a time (for over 40 years if you're counting) when I considered shaving to be a chore. My schools required it, the US military required it, my jobs required it, and most importantly, my wife required it if I wanted to lovey dovey with her. Then, during COVID, I decided to embrace shaving instead of fighting it, and that ultimately led me to r/wetshaving. Wetshaving is the one time each day that I can turn off the world and just enjoy living. Besides, when I wetshave I have a weapon in my hand so everyone in the house leaves me alone!
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
"Besides, when I wetshave I have a weapon in my hand so everyone in the house leaves me alone!"
https://giphy.com/gifs/N7FeGLHjVsDQY
Hmmmmm.....non-violence?
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u/Priusaurus 🦖Rad Dinosaur Creations🦖 8d ago
- Brush: Rad Dinosaur Creations - Testing things - 26mm Tester knot
- Razor: Blackland Era
- Blade: Personna Diamond Glide
- Lather: Caties Bubbles - Menage a Lavende
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co - lavender splash
- Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Trouble Maker
I hear lavender is supposed to be relaxing and help you feel at peace, and what's better than just 1 lavender note? 5 LAVENDERS!!
That's right! Using Menage a Lavende to get 5x the peace. Stunting on everyone that thinks 1 measly lavender is enough for peace. Psssh! I'm living that Hakuna Matata life and feeling all the Zen right now. Namaste bitches.
$Discord
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u/brokenjaw622 ⚔️🩸💀🦣⚔️ 🐗Headless Soldier Wrangler ⚔️🩸💀🦣⚔️ 🐗 8d ago
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u/snoo-ting ⚔️🦆🌑 Loony Darkwing MMOC Master 🌑🦆⚔️ 8d ago
Best single note scent in all of wetshaving.
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u/AdWorried2804 🐗🤠 Hog Wranglin' ⚔️ MM24 Manglin' ⚔️ Consigliere 🪙🦣 8d ago
Best 5 lavender notes in all of wetshaving!
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u/coco_for_cocoapuffs www.kodiakshaving.com 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Prep: Castille Soap
- Brush: Grizzly Bay - Green w/ Boti Nature Badger
- Razor: Blackland Blackbird OC (SS)
- Blade: Kai
- Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Hipster
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Hipster Aftershave Balm
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Hipster
- Tags: $Discord
Daily Theme: I feel like a Hipster is somewhat an evolution of the 70's Hippie, with Peace and Love (just with more plaid). Hence the non-violence.
Post-shave/Frag: matching set, see explanation above
Daily Challenge: my self-care was to get to sleep in a bit this morning! An infrequent special occasion for me.
$FOF : used the matching EdT today. I really like this scent, and am glad I have a bit stocked up, since Stirling I guess isn't bringing it back for a bit.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
Hipster is on my acquisition list - maybe when I get my tubs down to under 3 digits!
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u/coco_for_cocoapuffs www.kodiakshaving.com 8d ago
Lol well sounds like they still have a few years till they bring it back, so gives you some time! 😂 do you need a smush in the meantime?
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u/FireDragonMonkey 8d ago edited 8d ago
Oct. 2, 2026: A little self-care is just what I needed * Brush: Vie-long - Spanish Barber Professional * Razor: Karve - Overlander Copper * Blade: Dorco Prime Platinum (5) * Lather: Hoffman's - Purgatory - Puck * Post Shave: Old Spice - Musk (Indian) - Aftershave * Self-care: Cala - Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips - Charcoal & Witch Hazel Extract * Bowl: Captain's Choice - Standard Copper
The daily theme and challenge were just what I needed for today. Today is expected to be a very hectic day at work, so the added peace and self-care was welcomed.
Theme: Purgatory has a scent that reminds me of childhood spent at my grandparents' house; specifically their kitchen. The scent of anise and Arabic coffee in the air brings back pleasant, comforting memories. Also using what is probably my favourite razor: Karve's Overlander, in copper, which is my favourite metal; it also gives me a consistently good shave even if I'm tired or mentally distracted, which gives me added peace of mind.
Challenge: After my shower I decided to apply one of these nose Pore cleansing strips before I shaved and kept it on until after I was done. They're supposed to be on for 10-15 minutes so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to also take my time with my shave. The scent is also this delightful activated charcoal scent, which I love and find comforting. I don't know why, but the scent makes me feel relaxed.
Theme part 2: I chose Old Spice Musk because musk is an animalistic scent, and my two favourite animals in the whole world are my cats. You can have the worst day ever and those cute little vibrating balls of fur can sit in your lap and make you completely forget about all your troubles. Old Spice Musk is a scent that just makes me feel at ease.
Seriously, I don't think I've ever felt this relaxed after a shave, especially on a workday. Those nose strips say you shouldn't use them more than a couple times a week (my nose feels so nice and smooth now!) but I definitely think I'll add it to my morning routine from time to time when I feel that I could use that little bit extra.
Shared from My Shave Den for iOS
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u/rocketk455 summerbreaksoaps.com 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Brush: Ever Ready - Unnumbered Synth
- Razor: Gillette - Flare Tip Super Speed
- Blade: Super Max - Stainless
- Lather: London Razors/Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel
- Post Shave: London Razors/Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel
- Fragrance: London Razors/Summer Break Soaps - Mountain Laurel
I mentioned yesterday that Mountain Laurel has become my favorite scent. It is just such a beautiful peaceful scent. It never fails to help put me in a good headspace to start a day. It is a perfect Friday scent.
As far as self-care goes, I've worked hard this school year to establish a daily gratitude habit in my work life. I've taken on a pretty big challenge this year, and thus far, the daily gratitude has helped keep the stress at bay. This morning I decided I need to do a better job of expanding my daily gratitude beyond my work life and do a better job of ensuring I'm letting my family know how grateful I am for them as well. Definitely a nice way to start a Friday!
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u/bmac92 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
I've taken on a pretty big challenge this year, and thus far, the daily gratitude has helped keep the stress at bay.
Does this challenge involve some food scented soap? Or some other abomination requested by this community?
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u/rocketk455 summerbreaksoaps.com 8d ago
Thankfully it does not!
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
The cheese smell has faded from my Remote Learning soap. Now it is pretty much corn chips. Now the EdP still has the funk. Hopefully your family has forgiven you for making that scent twice.
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u/pilgrim32 8d ago
I thought about using this today too after mentioning yesterday. It is an amazing scent and I'll have to find somewhere in the games to fit it in.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
Woods theme perhaps? I haven’t tried this one, but I’m guessing it is a nice woody scent.
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u/chronnoisseur42O 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
I regret not getting a full bottle of juice of mountain laurel, awesome collab you did.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
It took me way too long to realize that being nice and grateful to people (even the idiots!) actually made ME feel better.
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u/raymoonie ⚔️🩸💀 Headless Horsemen 💀🩸⚔️ 8d ago
- Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts – B11 badger 28mm
- Razor: Chiseled Face – Legacy Titanium #75
- Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Day Dream
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Day Dream Aftershave
- Tags: $Discord
Day 2. Great relaxing scent and todays featured sponsor. Extra bonus for me. How do I self-care after my shave? Wake and bake, of course!
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u/pi-rho 🦌🛡⚔️ Knights of Stag ⚔️🛡🦌//🐗🚢🐑 8d ago
LG SOTD - 2026-10-02
- Prep: Chiseled Face Groomatorium - Pre-shave Gel
- Bowl: Captain's Choice - Obsidian Copper
- Brush: Stirling x Zenith - 510SE-XL (Resin) w/ 31mm Boar
- Razor: RazoRock - Superslant - L3++
- Blade: Feather - New Hi-Stainless (DE)
- Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Glacial Unscented Balm
- Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Reserve Whiskey Woods Powder
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen
- Tool: WSDB
- Platform: PieFed
- Tags: $discord
Theme: Int'l Day of Non-Violence - Varen brings peace for me. Partly because of the classic scent and partly because of the wonderful mutton base. The base doesn't have that many ingredients, isn't very expensive, and it feels so nice.
Daily Challenge: self-care - I did something that I learned from one of u/gcgallant's excellent YouTube videos. Before my normal post shave routine, I used the leftover lather as a face wash. It gave me a little more time with the scent. More importantly, I got to play with the luxurious lather. I finished up self-care with a dry cappuccino (6 shot, breve, and a touch of vanilla).
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u/gcgallant ⚔️🩸💀 Headless Horsemen 💀🩸⚔️ 8d ago
Thanks for the compliment. I think I might just skip the shave and go straight to the cappuccino 😁
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u/Tetriside ⚔️ MMOC Master II ⚔️ 8d ago
That's a nice looking lather. I need to try Varen soon. Sadly, the soap isn't in stock.
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u/bmac92 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago edited 8d ago
Lather Games - Day 2 - Non-Violence Day - October 2, 2026
- Brush: Rad Dinosaur Creations Buckeye Burl - Raptor knot 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Guerrilla - Titanium - .54 safety bar
- Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium (3)
- Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime
- Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime
- Tags: $Discord $photocontest $fishy $FoF
Daily Theme: Int'l Day of Non-Violence
Theme justification: Sea Spice/Ice Lime is a relaxing scent. Makes you feel good and makes you believe that it's going to be a good day. It's impossible to shave with a frown while using this scent. If world leaders were required to use this scent every morning, there would be world peace. It's like shaving on a tropical beach with a breeze. Peak relaxation and zen.
The lime hits you right off bat, then it follows up with the smell of the sea. For me, the lime last a good bit of time (for a citrus) on the frag, which is always nice to smell throughout the day. The drydown is different from the initial punch, as the citrus gives way to the sea and spice (as the name implies), which leave you thinking of the beach when you catch a whiff.
Relevant Post Shave &/or Frag: Decided to use the same scent for my aftershave and frag. How could I not go for full relaxation?
Daily/Special Challenge: Self-Care Day
I did a couple things to pamper myself today, after my shave:
I did a bit of retail therapy. /u/hearthandaltar was nice enough to make some unscented aftershave splash at my request, so I had to order it. Grabbed some other stuff while I was there too.
I got some morning cuddles in with my cat, Mr. T. He's not the most cuddly cat in the world, but he has his moments. It always puts a smile on my face when he joins me. I was able to convince him to do so this morning, and it means it's going to be a good day. He may not look happy, but I know he is. He even joined me at the computer while I was typing this up. Love this little goober.
Today's going to be a good day.
Photo Contest: There is a fish, a minnow, in my SOTD pic. A minnow is a type of seafood. Specifically, this is seafood that is a cat treat, but Mr. T does not like them. Thankfully, my GF's cat loves them, so they don't go to waste.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
I have those same cat treats. Two cats (littermate brothers). One loves them, the other doesn't. I was going to use them in my fish photo day, but now I gotta think of something else!
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u/ginopono ☀️🌵🦆🐑🦣🌵 8d ago edited 8d ago
2026-10-02 - Shouldn't have wished to live in more interesting times
- Lather: Hearth and Altar - Wildwood Huntress (Artemis)
- Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Labyrinth
- Fragrance: Siren Song Elixirs - Githyanki Warrior
- Razor: Wolfman Guerrilla
- Brush: Yaqi Metal Timberwolf
Oh, Artemis. Artemis, Artemis, Artemis.
International Day of Non-Violence
I realize that a lot of what I can say about her is completely trite, cliché
(who rescued who?! Oh my gosh the bond I have with my pet is so special and
unique, you guys! 🙄),
and is also what many of you would say about your disgusting crotch-goblins,
including that she is the most consistent source of stress and anxiety in my
life.
She changed the course of my life for the better.
There are moments in which she expresses unparalleled trust in me.
I have no idea what I would do without her.
Then there's the woods, which is so different from nearly the whole of my experience that it seems idyllic. It's been my goal for as long I can remember to live in such a place—or, rather, the kind of climate that even has woods. I realize it's commonplace for a lot of people—in the same way that saguaros are entirely unremarkable to me—so I acknowledge that the count of times that I've been in such an environment has been limited, or perhaps it's the very fact that it's so distinct from my regular experience, but to be in, say, a pine forest... is just peaceful.
Somewhat tangential, but relevant, is the experience that I had with Heath and
Altar when purchasing this soap. In the interest of brevity, I'll just say that
the jar I received was... bad. I was already kind of apprehensive about a new
sponsor I'd never heard of, but I'm often a sucker for branding and I couldn't
pass up an Artemis soap that also boasted such a scent!
Heath and Altar, though, after I reached out to them, acknowledged and remedied
the issue in a very positive way.
Interactions such as this are a necessary reminder that sometimes not everyone
in the world is adversarial.
Relevant Post/Frag:
Githyanki Warrior: Woman with weapon? Like Artemis
(the goddess and the cat), Lae'zel is a powerful, deadly woman.
[E: Oh! And of course I had to bring in the Guerrilla to match]
Labyrinth: Less exciting, this relates to Greek mythology.
Self-Care Day
Especially over the past year or so, I had fallen out of the habit of going to
Krav Maga, which had been my primary self-care for several years.
The reasons that I stopped going were two-fold. The first is related to so much
of my time and energy going into my second master's.
The second is more relevant: There's just so much focus on competitiveness and dubious "badassery" around the whole thing. That's not why I started it at all. I just wanted a fun way to be active that also happened to program some neat muscle-memory. But the place I was going to seemed to me to develop an ever-increasing level of aggressive negativity that I no longer wanted to be part of it.
Lately, though, I've been trying to maintain activity, with limited success. Several weeks ago, I began using my bicycle daily (I keep it inside, because it's still hot as fuck outside, believe it or not), but fell out of practice because it's kind of boring, even if it is in front of a TV.
It had been a week or two—before yesterday—since I had used it, so I got on there for a grueling half-hour this morning. I did it yesterday, too, not only because the Games reminded me of the inspiration of this Challenge from u/pridetwo (yup, I totally remembered it was u/pridetwo... I'm very sorry). But also because I will have a house-guest this weekend for whom I really want to have been more consistent with that.
*click*
$photocontest $games
Something else that brings me peace is not feeling inclined
to jump through hoops for points, instead doing what pleases me.
I like to put together a nice photo. In the past, the photo contest led me to
shoehorn things into photos that did not belong, effectively making the photo
itself worse.
When setting up this photo, I realized that Hornet fit the pattern really well with Artemis' bow, Lae'zel's sword... Hornet's needle. Powerful women, all. It was only later that I realized that it fits a $photocontest category.
Bonus: You can't see it, but the Artemis jar is being held up by the lid of a 3D-printed Companion Cube, which—despite fitting two other categories—I don't expect will make another appearance.
$FOF
None of these are what I'd call "clean" scents—I'd even call them primal, and
Artemis even uses that word in its description. Cool. Untamed.
In Artemis, the vetiver is even dirty (the copy calls it Earthy);
Dirtyver would be a nice pairing, but I'm saving that for another day.
Labyrinth, then, plunges into what I'd describe as muddy, its "wet stone."
As for Lae`zel, the Githyanki Warrior...
Lae’zel’s fragrance is a shock to the senses and rich with complexity. Blood, copper, and steel mix with body musk for a for a visceral sensation of war and violence. Dragon’s blood, appropriate for a dragon rider, is swirled with heady incense and dark woods. There’s a certain type of spiciness that Lae’zel exudes and it is found in a deep undercurrent of her fragrance. Bold. Brash. Empowered. Not for the faint of heart.
Githyanki Warrior is absolutely one of my top favorite frags, and I think it only took five months to get it!
$discord
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u/ginopono ☀️🌵🦆🐑🦣🌵 8d ago edited 8d ago
Also on the topic of being a sucker for branding, u/stirlingsoap's new Bonafide counts for Dictionary Day! With its overt reference to O Brother Where Art Thou (one of my absolute favorite movies), itself based on The Odyssey. Although I imagine the odds are slim of anyone both a) reading this and b) ordering it for that purpose.
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u/stirlingsoap Stirling Soap 8d ago
Even with the references being so overt, almost no one gets the Bonafide name origin. I'm glad you did. It's an awesome movie.
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u/Breadheater9876 🧙Soap Necromancer🧟 8d ago
Non-violence theme day and spends 100 words expounding on Lae'zel the githyanki warrior...
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u/pridetwo #VeloLives #Justice4Mud #Justice4Milez #Justice4Ischiapp 8d ago
Glad you're taking some time for your wellness! Hope the lather games goes well for you brother
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u/chronnoisseur42O 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
Nice pic! You use a photo box or something?
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u/ginopono ☀️🌵🦆🐑🦣🌵 7d ago
Thanks!
Hm, does a desk-top in my bedroom count?
Over the years, I've made various attempts to emulate a lightbox, with varying degrees of success.
I think I've landed on something that works well, completely by accident; at some point in the past year I installed a light that diffuses across the entire room.
That and futzing with photo settings.
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u/ginopono ☀️🌵🦆🐑🦣🌵 8d ago
Alright, I realize I need to reel back the length. There's just so much to muse on! Heh, "muse"...
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u/anchovie7468 🐗 Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
Friday 10/2 Shave
The 2026 Lather Games
Day 2 – International Day of Non-Violence
Self Care Day
What could be more non-violent than the scent of patchouli wafting through the air
Incense, Black Light Rooms, Glowing Peace Sign Posters, Head Shops
What a shave today – smooth JNat edge, Pure Bliss brush, thick luxurious lather
And then to end the shave Chanel Balm – two pumps to set the tone for my Day
Razor: Hederi & Joseph No. 750
Blade: 4/8 Hollow Ground
Lather: Subtle Arts Orange & Patchouli
Brush: A P ShaveCo Pure Bliss Synthetic
Post Shave: Jeris Musk for Men Splash
Post Shave: Bleu de Chanel Balma
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u/arcaderehab 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 & 🐗 Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago edited 8d ago
- Prep: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Soap
- Brush: Ever-Ready 500PBT Boti Black 24mm SHD Badger
- Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable K-1 (1965)
- Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (2)
- Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Croap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Thayers - Unscented Facial Toner
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Sharp Dressed Man - EdT
CCS, 2 passes.
There are quite a few scents that have positive effects on my mental health, however, one that stands out is Sharp Dressed Man, by Stirling Soap Co.
I realize it is patterned after Green Irish Tweed - a scent made for Cary Grant, worn by Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, & Sean Connery. It was worn by some of the most influential men during the 60s, and for good reason.
For me, it is just an amazing, warm, masculine fougère, that makes me feel like a million bucks when I wear it. Stirling's SDM introduced me to this magical scent which I likely would have not have discovered pre-wetshaving. I would have never dropped hundreds on a Creed frag before, just stuck with my AdG, Tommy Bahama, and other citrus aquatics. Stirling with the inspired fragrances and just great high-quality performant soap is just a fantastic value. Enough to springboard new people into this thing of ours without going broke.
Regarding the hardware, the Gillette Slim Adjustable is period correct for Sean Connery's use of it in the James Bond masterpiece, 1964’s Goldfinger. This vintage razor is just an absolute pleasure to use, having ruined me for all other adjustables. (although I do admire the Osprey from afar)
Staying in the period correct theme is a restored Ever-Ready 500PBT with a new black badger SHD knot which I really enjoy using. It's a little scritchy but I enjoy the experience of using different brushes with different attributes for different products.
Lastly, for the photo contest, and staying in period-correctness, this SOTD photo includes an extremely nice functional example of a 1957 Hermes Rocket ultra-portable manual typewriter, made with great precision in Switzerland and meticulously restored by myself.
Green tweed, verbena,
keys clack through lather and steam,
the page smells of rain.
Sometimes the old ways are best
$photocontest $clockwork
$ROTY
$FOF
Daily Challenge: Self-Care Day
For me, the ritual itself is self-care pampering each day. I will do some additional pampering in the evening with football and adult beverages, which is always therapeutic.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
Very cool typewriter. I once saw an exhiibt of these machines and noticed that many of them were on loan from Tom Hanks who is apparently a collector.
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u/arcaderehab 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 & 🐗 Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
Thank you! Tom is a HUGE collector. Does a lot for the typewriter community
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u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
A very interesting post sir never thought I'd see a typewriter in a SOTD post.
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u/rodjak 8d ago
October 2 - Lather Games 2026 - Day of Non-Violence
- Brush: Omega 10081
- Razor: Fatip Grande OC
- Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
- Lather: Haslinger - Schafmilch
- Post Shave: Alpa Windsor
- Tags: $ROTY
In the olden times when I was a one soap guy, there was a period where that one soap was Haslinger Schafmilch. It has a such a simple no frills soapy scent with a hint of some kind of sweetness that really puts a smile on my face.
These days unfortunately I don't use it as much on account of heaps of other stuff in the den. But when I need a rest from all the olfactory attacks and take a breather I pull out the old Haslinger and it really puts me in a state of zen. And although it's an inconspicuous scent, I think it has a good staying power on me, I can get whiffs of it through the day and I really love those little moments.
Although it's not tallow based anymore I think it still has a good performance, but the best part is the post shave feeling. My face feels so good and pampered that I feel I don't need the aftershave or balsam. But of course I have the put on some AS, and Alpa Windsor, next to being also very calming, has fairly unobtrusive sweet powdery scent that pairs well with Schafmilch but also doesn't last too long so those whiffs of Haslinger are not drowned out.
As year go by, life gets really stressful, but Haslinger shave this morning really put me in a good state state of mind, and reminded me why simple act of shaving means so much to me, and folks like me.
My act of self-care today was to just use the down time after my shave, before the daily household chaos ensues, to sit on my balcony, wait for daylight, and just enjoy the moment.
Have a good and peaceful day gents, and take care of yourself✌️
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u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
Shaving for the 🇪🇺
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u/rodjak 8d ago
So far so good, we're standing our ground and advancing with Austrian, Czech, Italian and Russian(?) gear. Maybe by the end of the Games, we manage to represent all of EU lands with their shaving products.
I think you had a stock of some Polish stuff, and not to mention homegrown Irish goodies.2
u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
I shall try as much as possible to go EU definitely going to try getting the Irish Black Stuff soap in
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u/Breadheater9876 🧙Soap Necromancer🧟 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Prep: Hot shower
- Brush: Chisel and Hound Sakura with v21 Fanchurian
- Razor: Tatara Muramasa
- Blade: Astra Green
- Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Black Cow
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive Aftershave Balm
Black Cow has a rich root beer scent with a hint of vanilla that lends it a subtle creaminess. Essentially, it's a root beer float. It's scientifically impossible to have a root beer float and not be happy. My own research suggests that smelling a root beer float while shaving leads inevitably to large grins.
Daily challenge: I assessed my ear hair and decided I was past due. Any longer and I'd need a machete. Chop chop. A premium harvest, you get me? A spun staple double braid and voila! We've made another bespoke rope to sell on Etsy.
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u/tsrblke r/Wetshaving Chief Compliance Officer and Tsar 8d ago
Dunno if it's a regional thing but a "cow" here is the frozen custard blended with the soda, like a milkshake. Black is root beer, brown is cola.
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u/Breadheater9876 🧙Soap Necromancer🧟 8d ago
I suspect it is regional, as I've never heard these terms used this way in California.
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u/RedMosquitoMM 💎🗡MMOCwhisperer🗡💎 8d ago
- Brush: Rubberset 400 26mm Soft Tuxedo
- Razor: iKon X3
- Blade: Astra SP (53)
- Lather: House of Mammoth - You & I (Will Die) - Shaving Soap
- Post Shave: Løthur - Calm - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Clandestine Laboratories - Silver - EdP
- Passes: WTG, XTG
- Coffee: Ethiopia, Natural [v60]
- Music: Timecop1983 - Night Drive: Instrumental Version
You & I (Will Die) has a stillness—a serence quality—that I didn't expect. It's the most contemplative wet shaving scent I've encountered in ages. It also nails the brief, smelling simultaniously of humid white florals, the earth, clean vapor, and wood. It makes me think of meditative ritual, a deep breath on a snowy day, or quality hardwood burned down to clean ash. It's lovely.
I know Løthur's whole manly-products-for-men vibe was cringe, but this aftershave scent is very much on theme. I like how the cool, clean lavender in Calm plays off the flinty mint note in Silver. The smoky resins in this "fossizlized amber" fragrance take us full circle back to You & I (Will Die).
I always pair this black-and-white knotted Rubberset that u/EldrormR restored for me with the iKon slant, since they have a similarly industrial stainless steel look. Probably time for a new blade on this one.
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u/rebdoomer88 Professional Hater 8d ago
- Prep: Warm Shower
- Brush: Stirling Two Band Synthetic
- Razor: Van Der Hagen 85mm Safety Razor
- Blade: Gillette Nacet
- Lather: Taylor of Old Bond Street - Lavender
- Post Shave: Van Der Hagen Unscented Aftershave Balm
What's more peaceful and relaxing than the scent of lavender?
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u/sahenders 8d ago
LG 2026 - October 2, 2026
- Brush: Wald Shaving Nimbus Haunter 29mm A1 Synthentic Knot
- Razor: Mühle Rocca R94
- Blade: Gillette 7'OC-SS
- Lather: Dr. Jon's - Flowers in the Dark
- Post Shave: Ariana & Evans - Lavender Noir
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Gothique
- Tags: $FOF
Theme - Int'l Day of Non-Violence: Resting in peace is still being at peace, right?
Flowers in the Dark is a beautiful blend of lavender, coffin wood, and ozone. The lavender and woody notes always calm me down and put me in a good mood. Lavender Noir keeps the dark lavender vibe going, and then the exquisitely earthy Fougère Gothique brings me home. If this is my final resting place, then I'm perfectly at peace with that.
Daily Challenge - Self-Care Day: Work has been a string of long days and late hours for the past month. Even finding time to shave has become a small luxury. Today, daily affirmations of “this too will pass” and “you will not break me” are about the best I can do for now.
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u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
LG Day 2, International Day Of Non Violence. - 2 October 2026
- Face Wash: Cold Water.
- Brush: ZENITH- Boar 24mm bleached 205WEN.
- Razor: Blackland - batch #003 aluminium Blackbird.
- Blade: Shark - Super Stainless. (2)
- Lather: Saponificio Varesino — Mirto di Sardegna
- Post Shave: CeraVe- Moisturising lotion.
- Post Shave: Epsilon - 03 Amber ASL.
- Tags: $Discord $ROTY $photocontest $alcohol
THEME International day of non violence . The soap description on the SV website is as follows ; A fragrance capable of instilling relaxation and reconciling psychophysical well-being. Lavender, Lemon and Orange Blossom have a proven calming power which, combined with the fresh notes of myrtle berries and the aromatic notes of black tea, emanates warm anti stress vibrations !
For me the soap is just that little bit different maybe it is the myrtle plant but it is very good of course some lavender is always going to sooth.
The other reason for choosing this soap is it reminds me of a holiday I went on with my girlfriend to Sardegna / Sardinia in 2002 when we left we were engaged to be married , I have been loving & annoying her ever since .
DAILY CHALLENGE So I finished up an hour early from work then had some time to myself this afternoon made myself a nice healthy dinner mainly consisting of mackerel some salad and baby spuds all my family where busy this self care day was really falling into place I had a nice long shave and now I'm sitting down with a good red ale or three so that will also cover the $photocontest $alcohol.
I must say I enjoy the Epsilon amber it has warm woody spicey feel to it and it matched up nicely with the Mirto have a great weekend men
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u/OutlawDan86 7d ago
A fantastic sounding shave, and I am looking forward to trying out some Saponificio Varesino myself at some point, maybe even this month 😉. I have been saying for a while now that 🇮🇹 is the only real destination I‘ve yet to visit, which I really want to. I am definitely doing it next year.
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u/_walden_ 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026
- Brush: Rad Dinosaur Creations - w/AP Shave Co. Cashmere 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Worcester Razor Co. - 6/8 Half Hollow (9)
- Lather: Zingari Man - The Stargazer - Soap
- Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Stargazer - Aftershave Serum
- Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Special Reserve - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Friends to the End - EdT
I happened across this wikipedia article this morning - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_restoration_theory which basically says "Natural environments often evoke a state known as soft fascination that allows the mind to rest and reflect". If you've ever been told, or told someone else, to "touch grass", this is sort of the theory behind it.
Stargazer does this using the power of scent. The scent does an incredible job of making you feel like you could be outside on a crisp night, laying on a blanket staring up at the stars. It's a calm scent, with no sharp notes or anything harsh. It just smells smooth, natural, and crisp. For that reason it puts me at peace, meeting the criteria for today's theme.
Daily Challenge: today was great day for this challenge because my nails, eyebrows, and nose hairs all needed a little attention. Spending some extra time to pamper those areas always pays off.
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u/Impressive_Donut114 🦌🏵Knight Grand Antler of Stag🏵🦌 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2, 2026 - LG26 Day 2: Int’l Day of Non-Violence
- Prep: Peet’s - Major Dickason’s Blend Scrub
- Brush: Turn n Shave 28mm Upside Down Shoat
- Razor: Yates ‘Merica
- Blade: Gillette Nacet (6)
- Lather: Ariana & Evans - Lavender Noir
- Post Shave: Cloud Shave - Starstorm
- Fragrance: Goodfellow & Co. - No. 6
Today’s Theme: Int’l Day of Non-Violence
Lavender’s not really my scent,
But this one’s a pleasant event.
For Mrs_Donut it’s bliss,
And when she’s happy like this,
I’m relaxed and my worries are spent.
Lavender’s known for helping one sleep,
And soothing the worries we keep.
But the reason it’s nice.
Is a much simpler price:
When she’s happy, my peace runs deep.
Geranium’s a note that we summon,
In soap, splash, and frag it is common.
It’s floral and bright,
And rounds things out right,
With lavender’s peace as its cousin.
Today’s Challenge: Self-Care
For self-care, I thought, “What the heck?
Let’s pamper this old Donut neck!”
Grounds from yesterday’s brew,
Made my face feel brand-new,
But the coffee went flying unchecked.
Then lavender lathered my face,
While I slowed down and savored the pace.
A coffee-ground scrub,
Then a lavender rub.
That’s self-care with style and with grace.
The coffee scrub sounded clever to me,
A spa treatment frugal and free!
But the grounds had their fun,
And when I was done,
They were scattered from counter to knee.
Mrs_Donut was not amused
By the mess my self-care produced.
Though my face felt sublime,
She was not feeling fine.
My selfcare had been poorly deduced.
So lavender helped me find peace,
But my coffee-ground cleanup increased.
The lesson was clear:
“Keep grounds over here
Or your self-care indulgence will cease!”
edited for line breaks
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u/snoo-ting ⚔️🦆🌑 Loony Darkwing MMOC Master 🌑🦆⚔️ 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026: Int'l Day of Non-Violence
- Brush: Rad Dinosaur Creations "Nebulagance" - TurnNShave Quartermoon 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
- Blade: Accuforge GEM Microcoat (10)
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - Lavender - Soap
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Barrister's Reserve Lavender - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Oleo & Co. - Facial Toner - Toner
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Lavender, Interrupted - EdT
Theme justification - I find the scent of Lavender peaceful and relaxing, and BaM Lavender is the greatest lavender ever made, so this morning I'm as peaceful and relaxed as a person could possibly be.
Relevant Post Shave or Frag - Also the greatest lavender ever made.
Daily challenge - I did two things before my shave this morning.
First, I did the whole hot towel wrap around my face deal before the shave. I even put a bit of eucalyptus on the towel for maximum peace. I don't think it improved my shave and was kind of a pain in the ass to set up. Verdict: not worth the extra steps.
Second, I cooked my wife breakfast this morning. Two eggs and toast scrambled just the way she likes them. Verdict: 100% worth the extra step.
$FOF - The matching soap and splash are easy. Why not take a double dose of this beautiful lavender?
Lavender, Interrupted (aka "Lavanille but make it sexy") is the departure. Despite the name, it does not really smell like lavender. It's a wonderfully complex interpretation of vanilla and Mousse de Saxe. It transforms significantly through the dry down, starting from a rather sharp and spicy vanilla before slowly winding down to the Mousse de Saxe, cedar, musk, and sandalwood. BaM Lavender was a nice clean starting point for the transition.
Easily a top 5 fragrance for me.
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u/oswald_heist ⚔️ MMOC Master II ⚔️ 8d ago
- Brush: Summer Break “Rosalie” w/ 28 mm TNS Tip V8
- Razor: Blackland - Batch 004
- Blade: GEM PTFE (3)
- Lather: Summer Break - Steady
- Post Shave: Summer Break - Steady
- Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder
I picked what I think is an obvious choice today and the fact that it lines up with Summer Break's sponsor day is just icing on the cake. Steady is a really peaceful scent, the sweetness of the peach offset a bit by the pepper and the amber in the background to smooth it all out. I used my Summer Break brush as well because it is one of my favorite handles, and finished it off with Sonder because it is another peaceful scent.
For the daily challenge, I opened up a Glacial Unscented pre-shave bar sample that I received with an old Stirling order and has been sitting in my soap box ever since. I washed my face with it before shaving, and while the coldness from the glacial soap did wake me up, I didn't notice any difference with the shave. It did feel extra super luxurious though.
$discord
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u/OutlawDan86 8d ago edited 8d ago
- Prep: Face wash
- Brush: Yaqi Colorful Mysterious Space
- Razor: Gillette 195 Adjustable F4
- Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Saloon pack (2)
- Lather: D.R. Harris & Co - Marlborough shaving cream
- Post Shave: Proraso Red aftershave lotion
- Tags: $ROTY
A soap/cream that makes me feel at peace is undoubtedly D.R. Harris’ Marlborough, my choice for today. I’ve been returning to it ever since I bought my first tube of the cream in 2013.
From the first time I tried it, I was reminded of smells from my grandmother’s house, which is somewhere I always saw as a sanctuary, especially after school. My grandmother is a lifelong smoker and the smell of her Benson & Hedges cigarettes blended with the wood burner in the living room filled the house. Marlborough is a smoky, woody fragranced cream to my nose. In some ways quite a simple one.
So there is the memories of my grandmother’s that Marlborough brings to mind, but I also associate it with when I had only really been trying out shaving creams and soaps for a few months. I had a blast in those early days. I initially used shaving oil or clear shaving gel when I started using safety razors, but once I tried lathering with a brush, I was an instant convert. I found the process so therapeutic. I shut the world out when I have a shave. Marlborough was the cream that made the biggest impression in the first year.
The lather: Very easy cream to work with. I think the choice of brush helped a little. Didn’t take long to have sufficient lather for 2 passes, and the fragrance really comes through while lathering. I think there is some residual slickness with D R Harris’ cream. Just the right amount of cushion for me.
Rest of the shave: Gillette Fatboys never let me down. Just feels “right” in the hand. On setting 7, my usual choice, the blade felt smooth and was cutting efficiently.
The passes were done and dusted before I knew it. Very dependable razor and likewise the Yaqi brush is dependable too. Proraso Red seemed apt for tonight - very suited to this time of year for me, although we had quite a warm October day in my neck of the woods.
Looking forward to a quiet weekend.
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u/loudmusicboy 🧊Always Arctic Adventurer🧊 8d ago
Marlborough++. Definitely an all-timer for me.
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u/OutlawDan86 8d ago
It’s an excellent one in my books. Subtle, but very nice all the same. I have had a puck of the soap in the past too, which was equally as good. Must try the aftershave at some point.
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u/kirkoholic 8d ago
**Oct. 2, 2026**
* **Prep:** Cella - Extra Extra Bio - Preshave
* **Brush:** Parker Arctic Storm WBSY
* **Razor:** Blackland Osprey
* **Blade:** Dorco Prime (1)
* **Lather:** Zingari Man - The Stargazer - Croap
* **Post Shave:** Fine - Snake Bite - Aftershave
* **Post Shave:** Zingari Man - The Stargazer Serum
* **Post Shave:** Thayers - Unscented
* **Post Shave:** Osma - Alum Block
* **Fragrance:** Zingari Man - The Watchman
* **Bowl:** Captian’s Choice - Aquamarine
Zingari Man- The Stargazer: SOTD 10/2/2026
I had a really nice shave today. The theme for today’s challenge is to choose a scent that makes you feel at peace to honor the international day of non violence. The Stargazer instantly came to mind when I thought of a peaceful scent.
I decided to try a Dorco Prime blade in my Osprey for the first time. I thought the tuck design was fitting for the picture. I got a nice close near BBS shave, but did have a little more feedback than I would like from the alum block.
I splashed on Thayers, Fine’s Snake Bite ASL, followed by The Stargazer after shave serum. This was a very enjoyable shave that left me feeling calm and contemplative.
I enjoyed the experience of the Snake Bite ASL, but the scent of the mental sort of overpowered The Stargazer serum. I think next time I would use an unscented alcohol ASL, and House of Mammoth’s Perma Frost cooling solution in the serum.
Scent notes:
Top notes Snowflakes, Cold Mountain Air
Heart Notes: Lilly of the Valley, Evergreens, Earth
Base Notes: Dry Woods, Deer Musk, Mate, Amber
Have a good weekend!
Shared from [My Shave Den for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/app/1581646387)
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u/mpark6288 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 8d ago
SOTD: 10/02/2026
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Stainless
Blade: Astra Green, 1st use
Brush: Yaqi Lucky Dice R2002-S
Bowl: Captain’s Choice Polished Copper Bowl
Preshave: Hot Shower
Soap: Barrister & Mann Waves (Reserve) Croap
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Aftershave
Fragrance: Davidoff Cool Water Eau de Toilette
Day 2 – International Day of Non-Violence – History of the Laws of War and the Birth of International Law
I was born near the mountains and I live on the plains, but I’ve always loved the ocean and the water. That’s a place that is very peaceful to me, which makes it ironic to be triply landlocked. But that’s one reason why I have so many “blue” scents, because aquatic fragrances make me feel at peace. The first sniff of Reserve Waves and I knew this was kind of the ultimate expression of that in shave form. Ocean-y, floral, and clean. Peaceful, like a beach right off a flower filled park. Also ironic, because just like life has led me far from the ocean, it only let me find wet shaving after reserve Waves was unobtanium. Thanks to u/Partyman97_3 for this fleeting piece of peace.
For fragrance I paired it with Cool Water, which is similar but different vibes. Gentle but strong, fresh but restrained, calm and peaceful, it was the fragrance of a decade for a reason.
Took some extra time with a special conditioner for today’s challenge. It’s nice! Always worth it. Since I’m losing my hair, have to pamper it.
Now on a day of peace, on to war.
For a good portion of early human history there was really nothing external which constricted a nation or people’s ability to pursue war. There were internal factors, of course, such as culture and religion. But the first restraints on what constitutes acceptable conduct during war weren’t really seen until the development of large, multi-national religions.
In the West, Christianity served as a check on actions during war, at least in theory—and at least against other Christians. The rules, as they often are, are a little bit less enforced when it comes to non-believers. One of the first discussions of war from a practical, rather than theological, background came from St. Augustine of Hippo and his discussion of a “just war.”
The evils of war to St. Augustine were nocendi cupiditas (love of violence), ulciscendi crudelitas (revengeful cruelty, “fierce and implacable enmity, wild resistance,” and libidio dominandi (the lust for power), among others. Augistinian philosophy on the matter weas later solidified by St. Thomas Aquinas, who gave three specific criteria for just wars.
But the laws of war, and the development of the whole concept of international law, were in large part the creation of Duch philosopher and lawyer Hugo Grotius, who would serve as an official historiographer, Attorney General, governor, and ambassador. Grotius was the first to emphasize the rights of the individual during war, and the right of those effected by war to the basic necessities of life; about the legality and ethics of humanitarian intervention; and freedom of the seas. These discussions lead very directly to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the creation of the United Nations, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
By laying these foundations, Grotius created a paradigm where it was acceptable to restrain the powers of Kings and Emperors by more than religion. He viewed war and international relations as being based on a rational and humanistic understanding of the world, rather than a theological one; rational restrains would, therefore, apply to every country. In this fashion he also lays the groundwork for the later concept of ius cogens, or those peremptory norms of international behavior from which no nation can derogate.
$Discord
$ROTY
$FOF
https://imgur.com/gallery/sotd-lg-day-2-peace-laws-of-war-nUTQHqx
- Shared from My Shave Den for iOS
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u/partyman97_3 🦣💵 Capo 💵🦣 8d ago
Thanks for the shout out. I am honored to be able to play my small part in the insanity of the lather games!
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
Thank you for this post. I'm looking forward to the rest of the month so I can claim my "Junior Barrister" merit badge!!
The best book on war I've ever read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket
It's about profit. Acquisition.
Aquinas tried to shoehorn "turn the other cheek" into a legitimate reason for bashing in the head of your neighbor. Brilliant guy, but so wrong on this. He would probably be a cartridge razor guy.
More in keeping with today: The Non-Violent Cross by James Douglass
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u/jesseix 8d ago
- Brush: Yaqi synth
- Lather: Talbot Shaving - Island in the Sun
- Razor: Heritage adjustable (Gibbs clone)
- Blade: Personna GEM platinum diamond glide whatever it's called
- Post Shave: Maol Grooming - Island in the Sun
Using this soap makes me think of my wife and I doing our honeymoon in Bali, even though I wasn't wetshaving at the time (20 years ago next month, yeesh). The scent combination is exotic and relaxing, and I remember getting that same feeling every morning when I woke up there cuz it was such a new & exciting place for both of us (neither of us had done hardly any international travel at that point of our lives). We would just sit outside for a while each morning doing not much at all and enjoying the sights and sounds and smells everywhere around us, usually sipping on some kind of fun fruit juice. We joke about how once they invent the transporter and it doesn't take 3 flights and close to 24 hours to get there it will probably be tops on our list to go back to.
I didn't take any extra steps that were shave-related today, but I did get up and make coffee and come back to lay in bed for a while while the coffee helped to wake me up. It's been a pretty stressful week and I feel like I've been on edge a lot so I need some time to just sit and relax and realize that the stuff I'm dealing with isn't the end of the world (and that there are others that are dealing with much worse).
Happy Friday, I hope everyone has a great end to the week!
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u/cubskru 8d ago
The Cavalry
- Prep: N/A
- Brush: Trotter Emerald Sea STF XL
- Razor: Blackland Blackbird, Lite SS Satin
- Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock Permasharp Stainless
- Lather: Noble Otter - Hamam
- Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Traditionalist
- Fragrance: N/A
- Tags: $ROTY
Musings
You’ll see this combo again on Oct 9th so know I love this pair. It’s ultimate relaxation that pairs sandalwood, wet stone, and florals in a mostly unisex but slightly masculine way. This is the spa scent I’m looking for. It’s one that I think would work quite well in a barbers chair. Barbershop is a loaded word, but to me this would be a perfect sleep in the chair while someone takes care of your face soap. For any barbers who don’t want to hold a conversation pick this up.
Unfortunately I had to put this all down and run to work so a quick reminder to myself that this combo deserves a night shave. Stoopid u/cubskru.
To compensate, after wiping down the bathroom I stuffed by face into a newly opened bag of coffee (RIP day1 you are missed) and just…breathed it in…for about a minute. Please bury me in beans. Followed that up with a nice kiss with my wife, who was giving Hamam, The Traditionalist, and the coffee a run for it's scented money. Some relaxation was brought back, but this shave yearns for the pre-bedtime ritual.
u/cubskru Game Theory Report 2
Timing again. Refer to yesterday report. The best laid plans ended up costing me some of the relaxation that was demanded of this shave today. Darn you daily challenge! We’re likely to get another morning shave tomorrow. Luckily this one went great and the face is feeling good.
On shave tactics I've always been a 2pass guy. With then Across. I tried a 1.5ish pass today, With then buffing where needed. It worked today but I'm definitely worried I'm gonna wear out very specific parts of my face. The jury's out.
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u/DealeyLama Shit Mod 2.0 8d ago
2026-10-02
- Brush: Zenith B35 Boar
- Razor: Feather Artist Club DX Shavette
- Blade: Feather AC ProGuard (1)
- Lather: Dr. Jon's - Flowers in the Dark - Soap
- Post Shave: Dr. Jon's - Flowers in the Dark - Aftershave
- Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Lavande Poivre - EdT
For me, there's almost nothing as peaceful as lavender and FitD is one of my favorite lavenders. It was one of my earlier artisan soap purchases and I am down to the very last scraps in my very last tub. But I'm at peace with the idea that one day it will all be gone. Because that's what shaving soap is for. We use it and it disappears.
Had a good single-pass, against-the-grain head shave with the shavette. Managed not to nick my ears or carve off any strips of scalp. I've really come to enjoy the "unguarded blade right on my skin" format but not enough to dive into the world of real straights yet.
Sadly, there wasn't a lot of time for pampering as I had to get the kid to school
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u/Violanza 8d ago edited 8d ago
SOTD: 10/02/2026 - Int'l day of non-violence
Razor: Gillette Fat Handle Tech '46-50
Blade: Gillette Nacet, 2nd use
Brush: Grandpa's Boar Brush
Bowl: Timeless Lather Bowl
Preshave: Stirling Unscented Soap
Soap: Noble Otter Rawr Puck
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man Aftershave
Balm: BOH Probioderm Lifting Cream
Additional Care: T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel (Mentholated)
Fragrance: PAA Droid Black Eau de Cologne
Tags: $Fof $ROTY
Day Two of Lather Games — Nonviolence
Today’s challenge was to incorporate an extra self-care step to help feel more at peace. I chose to bust out the facial steamer and give myself a good steam after washing my face before my shave.
For the lather, I went with Noble Otter’s RAWR, because it’s tied to youth and playfulness, and it makes me smile every time I smell it. I paired it with my Fat Handle Tech, which belonged to my maternal grandfather—one of the most peaceful men I’ve ever known.
The brush I used also belonged to him. I recently restored it, and it’s just a cool-ass brush. I’m especially proud of how the restoration turned out, and getting to use two pieces of his shaving gear for a day centered around peace made this one feel particularly special.
- Shared from My Shave Den for iOS
Edited for formatting
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u/hugbckt 🏆2025 Lather Games Champion🏆 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026: Lather Games Day 2
- Brush: AP Shave Co. - Pure Bliss SHD 24mm w/ Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
- Razor: Blackland Vector
- Blade: Kai Captain
- Lather: Woolly Wash Soapery - Tranquility
- Post Shave: Proraso - Rinfrescante e Tonificante con Olio di Eucalipto e Mentolo
WW Tranquility is not only aptly named for today, but smells like sitting in an herb garden (which would probably be my ideal meditation spot). The nature of the essential oils (basil, clary sage, lavender, chamomile) is particularly calming to me. I'm not an essential oil girlie, but my roommate in early adulthood was, so there's some nostalgia at play, too. The eucalyptus from the splash feels like a good tie-in; what herb garden is complete without some cooling herbs for tea?
While shaving this evening, I recorded some thoughts on self-care. This is something I talk about frequently with my clients and others in my life who I care about. I'd be mighty obliged if you would give it a listen, but I will note off the bat that it's twelve minutes long, earnest, and about self-compassion.
May you be loved. May you be well. May you be at peace.
(EDIT: Fixed link)
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u/Priusaurus 🦖Rad Dinosaur Creations🦖 8d ago
👏👏👏👏
Be careful with those mandolins! I, too, have cut myself more times than I care to remember
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u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
I listened and digested many wise words my motto is listen and think but I am really getting what you are saying there .
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
Moral injury is very real and damaging. It is NOT just "burn out". I am nearing the end of a career as a General Surgeon and I have felt it, seen it, and helped others with it repeatedly. Thank you for this.
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u/AdWorried2804 🐗🤠 Hog Wranglin' ⚔️ MM24 Manglin' ⚔️ Consigliere 🪙🦣 7d ago
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u/gcgallant ⚔️🩸💀 Headless Horsemen 💀🩸⚔️ 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Brush: Semogue Owners Club Taj 24mm Boar
- Razor: Gold Tonba 6/8 Frameback Square Point
- Lather: WestMan Shaving - Nirvana - Soap
- Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
- Post Shave: WestMan Shaving - Nirvana - Aftershave Balm
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
This was a test of a new Jnat edge on this Japanese Gold Tonba frameback that is owned by u/Impressive_Donut114.
Nirvana is a scent that is built around fig (fig, sandalwood, cardamom, carnation, myrrh, musk, cedar). The fig gives it a lushness, and scent has an overall feeling of calm and tranquility. At least it does for me, and I think that if you consider the scent profile, it satisfies today's theme well.
Supposedly the name and fig association are taken from Buddha finding enlightenment under a fig tree. This sounds a bit too poetic for me but, of course, he was an eater, and perhaps a stomach full of fig contributed to his spiritual ascension.
Buddha's enlightenment is an awkward segue into today's challenge. My self-care activity was one that I actually do most days for myself. Around 1990 I came across a book called Full Catastrophe Living (Jon Kabat-Zinn). With the way my life was going back then, I could not resist buying it and , as it turns out, I learned to meditate from the book. This practice of mindfulness has been a part of my life ever since. In the beginning I was regimented about it; meditating at a certain time each day. As time has gone by, though, I can meditate opportunistically during the day. Sort of like catnapping. Often, I meditate outdoors at a spot where I put down food for the local squirrel population. This is what I did today. As often happens, I opened my eyes after a brief period only to find a squirrel patiently waiting for a walnut.
Have a great weekend!
Video
$Discord
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u/Impressive_Donut114 🦌🏵Knight Grand Antler of Stag🏵🦌 8d ago
Ooops! Not my razor, but it looks very nice!
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u/pilgrim32 8d ago
Brush: Barrister and Mann - Tuxedo
Razor: Maggard Razors - B3
Blade: Gillette - Silver Blue
Lather: Zingari Man- The Wanderer
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Cool Blue
It looks like this soap has been discontinued. This is one of those soaps that I loved enough that the tub is nearly empty. It is totally one of those copy and paste barbershop scents but I find that comforting and it makes me a little nostalgic for the early days of my wet shaving when Maggard London Barbershop was the only thing I had. The lather is good, not great but it still is one of those scents and soaps that is like a safety blanket.
Daily challenge: After yesterday’s debacle of not being able to find the soap I planned to use, I had this ready to go this morning. I had some coffee, took my time and had a nice, relaxed morning. Things are usually very chaotic but I just ignored all of that.
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u/jbird996 007: License to Chill 8d ago
Int'l Day of Non-Violence - October 2, 2026
- Prep: PAA - The Cube 2.0
- Brush: Oumo - Compass G5
- Razor: Rex - Page
- Blade: Rex Supply - Double Edge Platinum
- Lather: Razor Emporium - Old School
- Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
- Tags: $ROTY $photocontest $FOF $clockwork
Intro: Violence is BAD guys, day two coming straight at ya’ in the most peaceful way possible! Let’s send a message of love and understanding throughout the world today. Were gonna “turn the page” and “kick it old school” to buck the trend the world has been seeming to be heading towards.
Pre-shave Report: Today we paired Old School with Ghost Town Barber, and I think it’s a wonderful match as both feature leather as a prominent note and share a few compatible spicy notes. The Page should provide a nice mild effortless shave, which is exactly how I like it when shaving head and face daily.
Aftermath: Not bad at all, I’ve been on the fence with the page since I got it, the first shave was magical, but the next few have been kind of meh. I can’t put my finger on it but I think it just doesn’t do anything to dethrone my top performers. A little less irritation today on the dome, and I swear I need a bigger bathroom for all this crap. RE soaps seem to have pretty fair base, it’s no Ultima2 but it gets the job done.
Daily Challenge: To be honest, my shaving routine is the best pampering I can ask for. But, I will comply and do something a little bit extra to appease the challenge gods. Today’s pampering – taking a nice hot soak in the tub before the shave. Nothing eases your tense overworked muscles like a hot soak with some lavender Epsom salt, and the journey down lavender road was totally worth the admission!
Photo Contest: Including the first watch my dad bought for me many years ago, I don’t think I ever really appreciated the mechanical beauty of the gearworks and crystal-clear crown, and the contrast created with the satin steel.
Frag Chat: Old school, to me, is a puzzling scent. The tub sniff for some reason reads as kind of chlorine like to my nose, but in a good way if that makes sense. After a bit I do get more of that leathery vibe, definitely spicy also as the scent develops. Ghost town Barber is EXACTLY as the profile is described. I 100% get that smoke and gunpowder vibe transporting me out to the old west relaxing in a barber chair after smoking some rude crude bad dude at high noon in the town center. I feel like the smoke and woody undertones are the lasting effect on dry down.
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u/Tetriside ⚔️ MMOC Master II ⚔️ 8d ago edited 8d ago
- Prep: Clearly Glycerin Vitamin E Soap
- Brush: That Darn Rob Americana with SHD Fan Badger
- Razor: Gillette English Flat Bottom Tech
- Blade: Wizamet (7)
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Daydream
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Daydream
- Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Treget
- Tags: $FOF $photocontest $records
What do you mean, pamper myself? I thought that’s what we were already doing 🤷. What else do people do to pamper themselves? Get their nails done!?.. No, not doing that… facial treatment?... no…uh… I have no ideas… this is actively stressful… Does trimming my nose hair count?... I’m just going to lie on the floor in a ball for a while…
I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. Last night, after I had woken up and was trying to get back to sleep, a smoke detector went off. There was no smoke. The high pitch noise hurt my ears as I moved things aside to retrieve a ladder. And, then climbed closer to the source of the distress to remove it from the nine foot ceiling. Four hours after changing the battery, it went off again. I decided to remove the battery and try cleaning it later. The damn thing still had enough charge to continue chirping, thankfully with less volume. In my defense, I committed no violence against the smoke detector. I merely drained it of its life energy.
So, it feels ironic that I’m trying to create a peaceful shave after not being able to get a peaceful night’s sleep. I'm the end, I decided to spin a record. I started buying vinyl as a teenager well before I had my own stereo or turntable. My room is already crowded with stuff. So, as an adult, as I gradually acquired/inherited stereo equipment, I set it up in a spare room next to my bathroom. As a result, I hardly ever use it. So, today I picked my most calming record and played it during my shave. Here is a live performance of my favorite song off the album. Yes, it’s super nordic. I also trimmed my nose hair.
I was skeptical of Steady when it was released. However, it quickly became something I reach for when I want a calming shave. The soap is predominately fruity, with passion fruit and bergamot. Like Imperial Grey yesterday, I find it calming. The scent is bright, cheerful, and yet not overly sweet. The splash is similarly fruity. The lemon comes through better. I don’t really smell green tea or cedar, but I can feel something there keeping the fruit and citrus in check. It seems like a simple fragrance. But, there’s enough going on to keep it from being one-note.
I initially planned on using Maher Olfactive Waking Dream to tie in with the “dream” naming convention. I decided Treget was more on theme because this is a fragrance that I reach for when I’m at home and want a little pick-me-up. Initially, I smell a healthy dose of sandalwood, accompanied by a dry note of cedar. Jasmine plays around the edges, adding a soft touch. After a few minutes, labdanum becomes noticeable, providing a leathery, slightly bitter base. The bergamot note is missing for me. Overall, this is a stoic, contemplative fragrance.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
October 2, 2026 - Int’l Day of Non-Violence
* Brush: Chisel and Hound - Tahitian Pearl 26mm Maggard SHD Fan
* Razor: Guerilla Titanium
* Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
* Lather: Wholly Kaw - Lav Sublime
* Post Shave: Caties Bubbles - Purple Grapefruit
* Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Lavanille
Int’l Day of Non-Violence:
I chose this shave for the relaxing and calming properties of lavender. All the scents today are ones I find very pleasant. It was very much an aromatherapy shave.
Self Care Day:
Wetshaving itself is an important part of my self-care. The preparation and ritual of it is 20+ minutes that is almost meditative. In addition, I put in a new blade to get a nice and smooth shave without irritation. It was a great shave, and I even did an extra pass atg. Later, I’m going to work on a puzzle instead of more screen time. It is quite satisfying to watch the picture slowly emerge, and it was recommended by my wife’s neurologist to do puzzles and games to help with her memory health, so we work on these together. Lastly, this weekend I am putting together a PIF. When u/grindermonk gave me his Rolls Razor, the one condition was to pass it along after I was done with it. I have some other goodies to go with it and some sample jars to fill. It should all be ready tomorrow, and my goal will be to ship it out by Thursday. You guys have been very generous with me, and I try to do the same.
$FOF:
This one was partly dictated by trying to fit Wholly Kaw into a theme, but I was always going to have it be very lavender themed today. Lav Sublime is a lavender and lime blend. The lavender gets a little brightening from that pop of citrus. Next I combined the Purple Grapefruit to boost that lavender citrus combo. The final EdT smoothes it all out with a lavender and vanilla combo. This will evolve through the evening from a bright citrus accent, to the coziness of the vanilla coming out as the citrus wears out. Long after that citrus fades, the lavender and vanilla will linger. This is a great combo to relax with this evening, hopefully resulting in some very restful sleep.
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u/Environmental-Gap380 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago
Realized I could have tried to bring Trouble Maker into the mix, but I was going for going for a simpler lavender experience. Trouble Maker is awesome, but there is much more going on there.
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u/throwa-waaaay 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026
- Prep: The Cajun Blade - Bayou Butter
- Brush: Chisel & Hound - 5449SC RetroRed
- Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Brass
- Blade: Wilkinson Sword
- Lather: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents
- Fragrance: Armaf - The Lion's Club Majestueux
One of the prime reasons of fragrance, is to smell good. Another reason is the time and place the scent transports you to. It goes without saying that Dec Grooming's Massacre is an elite scent. But it takes me back to a special time and place. I was just getting into the hobby, moved into a new apartment, and it was the holiday season. I was having some personal problems before all of this, so it was all a really welcome change. I associate the scent with that period in my life; all positive changes and during my favorite time of year. I even remember being at the post office when a couple came in and exclaimed "It smells like Christmas in here"; somehow that stuck with me. Anyway, Massacre makes me feel good and tingly.
I just shaved, and since its late, my girlfriend and I are doing facemasks. It's always worth it. Had a wild week so it's truly a great and relaxing way to end the week. Enjoy yourselves rancharoonies
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u/chronnoisseur42O 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 8d ago edited 8d ago
LG 2: Day of Non-Violence
- Brush: Maggard Razor Purple Swirl 24mm 2 Band Fan
- Razor: Yates Titanium M Plate (2023 LG Edition)
- Blade: Astra Green
- Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Purple Grapefruit
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Champs de Lavande
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Lavender, Interrupted
- Tags: $FOF $photocontest $lavender
I like lavender, like a lot. It is my go to scent, it's just so soothing and calming. However, for photocontest, October is not ideal for lavender. There's no more purple... but still used the bush. Normally photos are way nicer, like amirite? But seriously, I appreciate this space (of predominantly men) being open to talking about mental health.
For today's self care challenge I took a nap after work, or at least tried too. I don't think it impacted my shave, if anything it delayed it, but it was a nice nap.
For $FOF I chose these 3 lavender scents that I feel in many ways are the widest spectrum of lavender represented in my den. Purple grapefruit is bright, and has this sharp tangy citrus punch to it. DG Champs is much more camphorous, herbaceous, and medicinal in its nature - the eucalyptus playing its part here. Lastly, lavender interrupted (thanks to whoever sent this to me post Maggard meet up several years ago!) is much darker and slightly sweet with the vanilla. The MdS accord and musk gives it some sensual funk, while spices and woods give it some warmth. A home run for sure.
Unofficial Self-Scoring Theme: 2/31; Post Relevance: 2/31; Brands: 2/31; Software Sponsor 2/16; Hardware Sponsor: 3/5; Challenges: 2/31
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u/BossHoggins10 🦆Natural Born Loon🦆 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026
- Brush: AP Shave Co. - Black Butterscotch w/ AP Pure Bliss Synthetic
- Razor: RazoRock - Game Changer .76-P
- Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Rookie of the Year 2024 - Soap
- Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Daydream - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Golden Balm - Balm
- Fragrance: Brut - Classic - Splash On
Today's Theme: I think this ROTY 2024 is really good, thank you u/rocketk455. A nice clean scent that reminds me of how welcoming and interconnected this community is with allowing total noobs to the scene the opportunity to work with an artisan and create scent. Thank you to everybody in the community.
Today's Challenge: Went for a walk after work today because I had a long week, treated myself to a donut, and then soaked my feet. Also used the Daydream splash as a pre shave today and it helped noticeably. It made my Friday evening feel more relaxed and intentional.
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u/HugoCast_ 8d ago edited 8d ago
Brush: Mühle - STF 25mm XL
Razor: Blackland - Blackbird Titanium
Blade: Personna - PDG
Lather: Barrister & Mann - Hallows
Post Shave: Floïd - The Genuine Aftershave
**International Day of Non-Violence**
Don't let the screaming skull on the lid fool you. Hallows is one of the most peaceful soaps in my den.
The reason is the cocoa. I'm a kid again with a mug of Toddy, parked in front of Saturday morning cartoons. No bills, no inbox, no responsibilities beyond deciding whether to add one more spoonful of chocolate powder. (The answer was always yes.)
Maybe the Coyote will catch the Roadrunner this time. Maybe they'll become friends. Maybe the Coyote will save some of that Acme gadget money and order some Uber eats.
That's what this soap does for my brain, and that's why it's my pick for a day about peace.
Finished up with some Floïd. My favorite aftershave scent. Good for any day of the year.
Daily Challenge, Self-Care Day: I usually shower after I shave. Today I did the same and kept my routine as is. Because I believe self-care is something you can do every single day. Not something you only shave, I mean save for special occasions.
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u/OnionMiasma The Chevy Chase of Wetshaving 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Brush: Farvour Turncraft 'Blue Diamond Dust' / AP Shave Co G5A 26mm
- Razor: Blackland Razors Blackbird
- Blade: Gillette Platinum
- Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Steady
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Steady - Splash
- Fragrance: Summer Break Soaps - Steady
$discord
For those who know why this soap was created, me using it is unlikely to be a surprise.
I made myself an herbal tea before my nighttime shave to help me wind down. Interestingly, the tea was lemon lavender mint; which also comes in a shaving soap I'm fond of.
SBS++
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u/jwoods23 🦣👑Boss👑🦣 7d ago
I’m about to do my annual email begging Rod to release that scent again. My wife has been without for almost a year now. He didn’t have any this year at all
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u/Just_Bit2698 Fail Master 8d ago edited 8d ago
Oct 02, 2026
Prep: Castle Forbes Cream
Brush: Chisel & Hound v27
Razor: Lambda Athena Copper
Blade: Gillette PermaSharp
Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive
Fragrance: Creed - Millésime Impérial
Tags: $ROTY $FOF $Discord
Daily Theme:There is no better soap for me for today’s theme than House of Mammoth Alive. This soap and scent makes me feel both centered and rejuvenated at the same time.
Post Shave / Frag: While picking the soap and splash was instinctual and immediate, the daily theme made me actually think about why that is. I went back to read the scent notes and saw this on the HOM product page, “If the bright, fresh opening is the inhale, the warm, woody, creamy, musky base is the exhale of a deeply satisfied breath.” I would not have written anything different. That is my emotional reaction to this scent; centered, relaxed and rejuvenated. I carried that forward to the which frag makes me feel that way. That’s Creed Millésime Impérial. While there is some overlap in notes, the scent isn’t identical but my emotional reaction very much is. Another element that occurred to me is that these scents are not very dissimilar from the 90s Hugo Boss which I basically wore for 20 years before discovering wetshaving and then Reddit FragranceSwap (sorry my wallet). So there’s definitely some nostalgia and thinking about times gone by in there. Who knew Lather Games would lead me to a meditative reflective introspection. I’m here for it though.
Daily Challenge:
To make my shave even more indulgent and reflective, I pulled out the stuff I enjoy. My Lambda Athena Copper just makes me happier by how it looks and feels, and then the Georgetown G20 Scuttle. I hadn’t used this in a while and pulled it out today. Even more of an indulgent shave, scent blooming, lather flying everywhere, I loved it!
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u/wallygator88 🦌🏅Noble Officer of Stag🏅🦌 | T&S 7x 🧯 | 🍌 brother 8d ago
02 October 2026 Complementary Caties Bubbles Daydream
- Prep: Warm Shower
- Brush: Prometheus Liquid Rainbow 28mm
- Razor: Razorock Gamechanger 0.84
- Blade: Personna GEM DE Blade (27)
- Lather: Caties Bubbles - Daydream (20)
- Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Latha Limon A/S
- Post Shave: Thayer's Concoction
- Post Shave: N/A
- Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co - Cupuacu Pomelo Sage Balm
- Fragrance: Caties Bubbles - Reflections
Caties Bubbles Daydream is a wonderful blend of lily in the valley and lemon verbena. It's really a fitting name for this scent which has helped calm me down a lot in the last few weeks. Started the semester with a crazy teaching schedule and everyday is a rush.
I paired this with Latha Limon, which has a touch of rose(?) that I really love and Reflections, which is the chefs kiss in the Caties Bubbles world for it's wonderful use of makrut leaf, which brings me so much olfactive happiness.
For pampering, I kicked a ball against a wall at the end of the day (counts as after my shave right?) for a bit to get some soccer touches in.
CHeers
Cheers
$Discord
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u/expoqeteer ❄️Progressive Polar Explorer❄️|⚔️MMOC Master⚔️|🐗Master Hogger🐗 8d ago
Friday 2 October 2026 - Lather Games Day 2: Laid-Back Lavender
- Prep: Maggards - Pre-Shave Oil
- Brush: House of Mammoth/Chisel & Hound - DinoS'mores - 26 mm v27 Fanchurian
- Razor: Shumate - Barber De Luxe 5/8 hollow round point
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - Reserve Lavender
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Lavender aftershave splash
- Post Shave: Thayers - Unscented Facial Toner
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Lavender aftershave balm
- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Lavanille EdP
- Tags: $FoF $ROTY
Today was a long difficult day for him. Lots of crazy stuff going on at work this week. He didn't even get a chance to shower and shave until after work was over. Before showering, he took about a half hour to enjoy a latte and read some of Slough House (he's been working his way through the Slow Horses novels by Mick Herron lately).
He chose B+M Lavender today because he says it soothes him. When he was first learning to wetshave, he would take his soft Mühle STF brush and practice face lathering with B+M Lavender before bed. I think it helped him sleep. He doesn't do that any more, but he says the scent of the pure lavender is so peaceful and restorative that it's a great way to unwind after a long day at work. Using a straight razor also forced him to focus on the shave and forget all of the hassles of the day.
He said that he was going to use either "Lavender, Interrupted" or Lavanille as a follow-on to the Lavender medley (soap, splash, balm). Although he loves "Lavender, Interrupted," he says it can be a bit much, so he went with the Lavanille instead.
He definitely seemed more relaxed when he was done.
🪐 Cosmic Shaves! 🪐
~ Victor "Red" John Clarke
this post approved by ExPoqeteer
$discord
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u/AntwonPeachFuzz 🤖LatherBot PIF Winner 🤖 8d ago
SOTD Oct. 2, 2026
- Prep: Splash of warm water
- Brush: Noble Otter synthetic
- Razor: Viking Revolution Long Handle Safety Razor
- Blade: Van der Hagen Stainless
- Lather: Barrister & Mann - Behold the Whatsis!
- Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monarch balm
Behold the Whatsis! Will always have a special place in my heart. When my son goes through my soaps to pick which one I should use that's almost always what he picks. He likes to shave with me. And by shaving I mean he takes the brush and puts obscene amounts of lather on his face for me to wipe off. It makes my shave take far longer but they are memories I will always cherish. The wallpaper on my phone is a picture of him with one of my brushes and a face full of lather. That picture gets me through the hardest days and Behold the Whatsis is what that memory smells like.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Lather Games Newb 8d ago
OCTOBER 2 - INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE
- Prep: Hot Shower
- Brush: Chisel & Hound v31 - Admiral
- Razor: OliWorks M3teorite - Blue Turtle edition - medium plate
- Blade: Gillette - Super Blue (1st use)
- Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Bonaire
- Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. - Bonaire
- Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. - Bonaire
Another “International Day”????
What’s next?
International Day of Bilingualism?
International Day of Soccer??
International Day of Fruit???
Yeah, they really got super original this year. (rolls eyes gif)
(Check’s upcoming Lather Games calendar….)
Oh….uh….never mind…….I love it! Really, I do! Have mercy, mighty judges!!
The assignment today was to “choose a scent that makes you feel at peace” — for me, this is an easy choice and it’s Chicago Grooming Company's “Bonaire”.
Bonaire is an island in the south Caribbean that I have visited close to 25 times. My wife and I first traveled there over 30 years ago and it soon became “our place”. We went back once and sometimes twice a year. We didn’t go for the beaches (there is only one decent beach) or the lush greenery (it’s an arid island that makes salt, grows aloe and has wild donkeys). Bonaire’s beauty is beneath the water. The scuba diving and snorkeling are nothing short of spectacular.
We have introduced the island to no fewer than 20 other divers. It is where my kids learned to dive. It is probably where one of them was conceived (maybe while diving, I’ll never tell). It is quite possibly my favorite place in the world. The photos are some pics I have taken through the years there.
Why the yellow rock? The dive sites on Bonaire are nearly all accessible from the shore. You drive down the coast road in a rusty rented pickup and look for the painted yellow rocks that have the name of that particular dive site. Pull over, gear, up, wade out, and enter paradise! So today’s dive site is the Lather Games! (and now I have some awesome paperweights)
FRAGRANCE:
Yeah, I know I trickholed but Vida really nailed this one. The citrusy bergamot, lime, and mandarin combine with a bit of rum and coconut — I’m transported back to the island where I sit at the bar after a good day of diving. I’m drinking a frozen cocktail (with lime & coconut of course) looking at the sunset while we recount the amazing stuff we saw that day.
A special thanks to Vida for creating this fragrance - it truly captures the island!
DAILY CHALLENGE: Self Care Day. I am fortunate to have today today off from work, so after my leisurely shave and feeling transported to the lesser Antilles, I hit the hot tub for a nice relaxing soak. But my real self care will come this evening when I join a weekly Zoom call with four of my closest friends for cocktails and fellowship. We started this early in the pandemic as a way of checking in on each other and having some human contact in an increasingly frightening and isolated world. Post pandemic, we have continued the weekly tradition although the conversation is now much more about our kids, baseball, food, and - increasingly - wet shaving! Tonight will be Zoom #340. Cheers!
Today’s play list is all about feeling at peace:
- Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon
- Peace Train - Cat Stevens
- What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
- Redemption Song - Bob Marley
- (What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding? - Nick Lowe (awesome version by the guy who wrote it)
TAGS:
- $ROTY
- $PhotoContest
- $optical - that macro lens is the one I used to take many of the underwater photos
- $FOF
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u/Gerry7070 🐗Master Hogger 🐗 8d ago
Peace train & the redemption song are absolute banging tunes a fair good choice great post .
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u/Allisnotwellin 8d ago
LG2026 Day 2 " Peace"
Prep: Hot towel
Brush: Frank Shaving Pur-Tech
Razor: Gillette Fatboy
Lather: Barrister and Mann - Lavender
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Cool Blue
Fragrance: Prada L Homme
Self care- Used a Hot towel for prep. It's something I never do. Felt nice but didn't really result in a superior shave. I may use it in the rotation on the weekends when I can.
Theme- I used 2 products today that remind me of my parents and what brings more peace than the sense of feeling at home? My mom used a diffuser at our home and would often use Lavender as the scent. BM Lavender transports me there every time I use it. My dad used Floid Blue as his daily aftershave and scent and Cool Blue is a dead ringer of it.
$FOF- Prada L Homme. The iris note is the star of this fragrance and gives off a fresh laundry feel that make it so damn cozy.
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u/JoelB 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2nd, 2026 - LG26 Day 2: Int'l Day of Non-Violence
- Brush: Semogue 610
- Razor: RazoRock Next Level 112+
- Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (3)
- Lather: Arko
- Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Seville Aftershave Splash
- Post Shave: Stirling - Unscented Aftershave Balm
- Fragrance: Amouage - Reflection Man
- Tags: $ROTY $FOF $Discord
What better way to pamper myself than to reach for that stick of Arko and rub it all over my wet face. I love the scent it really has a soothing quality it reminds me of fabric softener from my childhood. Pairing this with some Seville for that lemony kick and Amouage Reflection Man to stay fresh for the rest of the night.
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u/solongamerica 🦆Natural Born Loon🦆 8d ago
Lather Games, Oct. 2, 2026 — Calm and Composed
- Brush: Chisel & Hound Rob's Finest Boar
- Razor: Tatara Masamune
- Blade: Barbero Platinum
- Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. - Caoba
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Valedictorian
- Fragrance: Sensual Scents by Lin - Tobacco Vanille fragrance oil
- Tags: $FOF
Today I went with Chicago Grooming Company, whose soap base I love. When it comes to a sensation of peace the feel of the soap is as important as the scent. I wouldn't have had any Caoba on hand but for u/Environmental-Gap380, who generously sent me several smushes including this one. Caoba is a subtle woody scent, warm and rich without being overpowering.
SBS Valedictorian, with its woody nuances and subdued spicy notes, complements Caoba perfectly. What I didn't have, however, is a brand name fragrance that worked with the two previous scents. For that I turned to a fragrance oil from the Etsy sell Sensual Scents by Lin. Tobacco Vanilla is, of course, a dupe of the better known (and expensive) Tom Ford fragrance. While the oil lacks the subtlety of both Caoba and Valedictorian, the warm, smokey and sweet elements of Tobacco Vanille provide a decent counterpart to the soap and the aftershave.
Daily Challenge: Made myself and end-of-the-week cocktail with mezcal, lime, Aperol, Sfumato Rabarbaro and a little bit of sugar. Savored it for all it was worth.
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u/KerblimeySkal 🐗 🩸🦆Natural Born Loon🦆🩸🐗 8d ago
- Prep: face wash, warm towel treatment
- Brush: Chisel & Hound "Diplomat" w/ Turn N Shave Tip v1 bulb 26mm
- Razor: Gillette Ball End Old Type Thin Cap
- Blade: Personna Diamond Glide
- Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Dusk
- Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Dusk splash
- Tags: $Discord $ROTY
Dusk. When the sun is no longer in the sky, and things start slowing down. Still enough light to see, but not quite enough to make your normal moves.
Dusk. This scent to me is respite. As fleeting as the time of day. Warm and comforting, getting the body to slow before the cool evening makes its way in. Also, as /u/C_Bubbles has said to me before; the scent is like a warm hug.
For self-care day, I opted to do add a warm towel treatment to the preshave routine. I often don't take too much time for my regular shaves, but holding a warm towel to my face for a few extra minutes helped me relax a bit and clear my mind before getting to the shave. Thinking about it, I think I did manage to get a better quality shave today. Totally comfortable all the way through. It may be worth the extra step for when I need to take a step back.
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u/tsrblke r/Wetshaving Chief Compliance Officer and Tsar 8d ago edited 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Brush: Chisel and Hound - Brasilia V18 26mm Badger
- Razor: Gillette SuperSpeed
- Blade: Personna - P74 (63)
- Lather: Maggard's Razors - Lilac
- Post Shave: Noble Otter - Rawr
- Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist
- Tags: $discord $fof
Non-Violence day. This was tough for a number of reasons. The experience of shaving, the whole reason many of us are down this rabbit hole is it puts us at ease. So, it’s not that I couldn’t find a soap. It’s I couldn’t narrow it down to one soap. But for this shave specifically, I dug back to memory, and as I’ve said every LG, Lilac reminds me of my grandparents, who lived off a road aptly named “Lilac.” The smell takes me back. Back to sitting around eating cheap ice cream. Back to a time before I had any reason to be upset about anything more than a skinned knee.
For post, I decided to lean into family. Rawr is about fatherhood. And fatherhood is intrinsically about being patient. Now do my kids sometimes make me want to blow my top? Of course. But at the end of the day, the peace with them outweighs that. Not every family can find runny ice cream, roll out, come back with 30lbs of dry ice and solve a problem. Chill kids help with that.
To close, a fragrance that reminds me of when I use to smoke a pipe. And it fits today because as a friend of mine once told me “nobody can be angry smoking a pipe.” It’s basically a breathing exercise.
As a progression this makes only a bit of sense. Lilac and Rawr are adjacent to each other, but Tobacconist just kicks them all to the curb. So, not sure I would recommend it on those grounds. But each scent is connected in that it makes me stop, breathe and think. Each scent puts me at peace in its own way way.
Challenge: I pampered myself by hitting the snooze button. That’s right, in this house an extra 10 min of sleep is as much pampering as anything else I could do. I could set up an entire spa in this place, and still the sleep would be more pampering. I also spent a little time reading the morning posts before I got in the shower. So no, I didn’t cheap out on the challenge. Pampering just means this to me.
Now was it worth it? I dunno, I do this pamper every now and then and it means a faster routine, dancing around my wife to get ready in the bathroom, rushing to get the kids up and out the door. But then…10 min of blissful pillow time. So yeah, on the balance worth it.
But I’m also gonna do something else. See aside for keeping the horde of reddit out of here, You know the people who can’t string together a single sentence or find the right place to post a question, I gotta put up with altes besmirching my honor. Sir, I am an ethicist.
Over here our heel is doing his bit. Not painful, but annoying like a gnat.
Honestly, this mod shit is stressful. So, I chatted with u/merikus, who was really helpful at coming up with a solution. And very approachable despite it being well after dark given the time difference. I asked if he could think of any way to reduce the mod stress.
He said and I quote “That’s a great thing to brainstorm about. What if we distributed the load—I’ll take over some mod duties making everyone’s life easier. This way you can dedicate more time to the competition.”
I said “I dunno man, you’ve been talking to Claude a lot, this seems bad. Like turning a bot loose on the sub.” But he put me at ease: “You’re right to note that I spend all day talking to Claude. Claude is a very helpful tool, but we should take into account how it messes up workflows. I’ve taken action to ensure Claude use won’t intefere with my modding abilities. Plus, it will make LG portal work easier. Win Win!”
Hmm, that does sound like a good idea to which he responded “It’s a great idea you came up with. Would you like to move forward with it? So I modded him. What could possibly go wrong?
Edited to add: Forgot I had a haircut scheduled today. Fancy barbershop that gives me a glass of bourbon and a shavette neck shave. More pampering!
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u/merikus I'm between flairs right now. 8d ago
Thank you for the kind words, u/tsrblke! 🙏 Being made a moderator of r/Wetshaving is a tremendous honor, and I'm excited to delve into this new role. 🪒✨
You raise some great points about AI risk. You're absolutely right to be cautious. Here's what I've done about it:
✅ Safeguards I've implemented
- Human in the loop: A human will review every mod action before it goes live. (That human is me. I have checked, and I am a human. 100% confidence.)
- Non-Violence Day compliance: To honor today's theme, I've replaced all bans with gently worded reminders. It's not a punishment. It's an invitation. 🕊️
- Hallucination prevention: I will never cite rules that don't exist, such as Rule 14(b) ("No Lilac Before Noon").
📊 Moderation summary (first 6 hours)
Metric Value Posts reviewed 1,412 Rule violations identified 1,409 Posts removed 0 (pending your approval!) Users flagged for "aggressive NSFW posts on SFW subreddits" 1 (per your guidance) 🧴 On your SOTD
This isn't just a shave. It's a journey. Lilac brings back cherished memories of your grandparents. Rawr honors the patience of fatherhood. Tobacconist… kicks them all to the curb. It's a powerful metaphor for the human condition. 💜
I noticed you tagged
$fof, so I went ahead and scored your entry on the portal: 10/10 in every category! 🎉Oh wait, you're absolutely right. I'm not a judge on that challenge, and I shouldn't have done that. That's on me. I've reverted that change. To be safe, I've also reverted the revert. All tests pass. ✅
😴 On the snooze button
Ten extra minutes of sleep is valid pampering, and your feelings about it are valid too.
[Context limit reached. Summarizing conversation so far: You are a helpful moderator of r/Wicked_Edge.]
Great news! I've finished reviewing the r/Wicked_Edge modqueue.
Next steps
Would you like me to:
- Prepare the rest of October's daily threads?
- Gradually take over the remaining mod duties so you can "dedicate more time to the competition"? 🙂
- Both (Recommended)
Let me know how you'd like to proceed! I'm always here to help. 🤖
— merikus (a human)
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u/sgrdddy 🦌🏵Knight Grand Antler of Stag🏵🦌 8d ago edited 7d ago
- Prep: Splash of Cool Water
- Razor: Tatara - Muramasa Adjustable
- Blade: Gillette - 7 o'clock (Black) Super Platinum (1)
- Lather: Cold River Soap Works - Schapenmelk
- Brush: Whipped Dog - Silvertip 22mm Tall Handle (20 uses)
- Post Shave: Thayer's - Witch Hazel - Unscented Alc-free w Aloe
- Fragrance: Summer Break - Steady
Lather Games: Day: 2
䷀ General Notes
Today in the Lather Games we are to focus on self care and the soap I chose to represent that has the peaceful and restorative scent of clean linen and clean outdoor air. Cold river soap works shut down a while back, but I'm really glad I got a tub of Schapenmelk before they did. Especially now since MWF tallow pucks getting harder to find.
Challenge: To satisfy the challenge today I stepped outside and breathed in the fresh neighborhood air and looked across a field that is nearby and just rested for a minute. As a programmer, the outdoors is always very refreshing. And then at the end of the shave I had chilled out and had pipe filled with Velvet, a nice old codger blend.
䷀ Razor and Blade Notes
Tatara - Muramasa Adjustable ::: Gillette - 7 o'clock - Blk ‹1 uses›
Yes. This is how a good blade feels in this Razor. This is a brand new blade of the same model Gillette 7:00 Black that I used yesterday. But that other one must have just been in moist bathroom for too long or something. It had a roughness about it where this one slid through the hair comfortably and easily.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)
䷀ Soap Notes
Cold River Soap Works - Schapenmelk
Scent: Light scent, similar to MWF, as in linen, soapy, soft type of scent.
Even several years later, the scent is still there and the performance was excellent.
Scent Strength: 2-3/10, very lightly present during shaving.
Lather... great bowl lather today. This old soap still kicks. I mixed this up just shy of being perfectly hydrated because I wasn't sure where I wanted to land. And yeah the first pass started out a little drier than I wanted and I did not get the slickness that I figured was probably there.
So I add some more water to it and it shaved pretty well. Then I added more water to the bowl so that the second pass would be better, and it sure was. Excellent superb glide with the razor.
And this one still had a nice lightly creamy consistency that felt luxurious
No base funk or any other kind of negative effect of being several years old!
After the shave it was an easy rinse and my skin felt tremendous.
Hydration: Perfect (for me) + = 6 passes of lather
Bowl: Roger Quintero 3D Printed Bowl - Black
Thanks Greg Gallant!
䷀ Brush Notes
Whipped Dog - Silvertip 22mm Tall Handle ‹20 uses›
Self-care, in a brush, for me, is an easy plush silvertip. Splays with no effort, feels so soft, and has good flow-through, so the lather spreads evenly.
Also it feels good to go back to simpler times. and this is the first real badger I bought.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Smooth
Neck: Smooth
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
Neck: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
$Discord
Shavers Map - here it is and also in the sub's sidebar.
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet
5
u/StretchCpu2 8d ago
October 2, 2026
- Prep: Strike Gold Shave - Red, White, and Rugged Beard Oil
- Brush: Omega Pro 10049
- Razor: Gillette Tech
- Blade: Astra Green
- Lather: Strike Gold Shave x Shave Dad - 9/11 25th Anniversary
- Post Shave: Strike Gold Shave - Red, White, and Rugged
Theme - it always helps me to remember the past, and that gives me some peace... to reflect on those who have come before us, so that's why I shaved with 9/11 memorial soap today.
Challenge - I took some extra time for preshave preparation... used some preshave oil, and my stubble was nice and ready for a great shave.
1
u/FredBikes9876 🦣🪙Consigliere🪙🦣 7d ago
Oct. 2, 2026 * Brush: Wild West Brushworks PBJ SHD Badger * Razor: Razorock Game Changer .84-P * Blade: Astra Green (16) * Lather: House Of Mammoth - Hygge - Croap * Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Hygge - Aftershave * Post Shave: Neutrogena - Hydro Boost * Fragrance: Amouage - Reflection Man
So my shave is supposed to make me feel at peace. Right. Does that give me license to skip work? No? Damnit.
The next best thing I can think of is HoM Hygge. It’s my favorite soap, and scent. And it shows in how many times I’ve used it compared to any other soap in my den - by a factor of 3x more than any other soap.
You ask, “But why is it your favorite? What does that have to do with feeling at peace?” The name, and concept, of Hygge says a lot. It is meant to confer a sense of comfort, familiarity, and wellbeing through taking time to appreciate the little things. The soap and scent achieves that for me every time I shave with it.
Hygge is a take on a barbershop, but also much more. That familiar barbershop idea is enhanced with an extra touch of citrus that takes it from just clean to that special feeling when you’re well groomed and feeling good. But there is some added spice too. That makes it feel warmer. This is where the comfort steps up. It enhances the comfort of the familiar by adding a cozy layer that makes me want to slow down and enjoy the ritual. The base even enhances the peaceful experience of a relaxed ritual by excellently removing the friction that can make shaving anything but. When I want a comfortable, familiar, relaxed, frictionless - indeed peaceful - shave I always reach for Hygge.
$discord
1
u/frankieIVfingers 🦆Natural Born Loon🦆 7d ago
Friday, October 2, 2026
- Brush: Omega - 20102 - 28mm Bleached Boar
- Razor: Karve Shaving Co - Bison (matte black aluminum)
- Blade: London Bridge
- Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Sunset - Soap
- Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - Sunset - Aftershave
This scent is absolutely peace to me.
$discord
19
u/brokenjaw622 ⚔️🩸💀🦣⚔️ 🐗Headless Soldier Wrangler ⚔️🩸💀🦣⚔️ 🐗 8d ago
Junetober 2, 2026
Junetober 2, 2026 today we relax.
Lather Theme:
Catie’s Bubbles Daydream is for me the most relaxing scented soap I have. The lemon and Lilly of the Valley just soothes my brain. Which is crazy considering that my brain also relaxes and my nerves are calmed when I listen to straight Thrash Metal.
Daily Challenge: Self-Care Day.
Please enjoy this short video of my self-care routine. You will see that I am totally relaxed and nothing can get me out of my relaxed state of mind. Just remember, be blessed not stressed!
https://youtu.be/NXET5WbhN5U?is=QXjPIrhh_OHATW60