Going back on rotation and picking out stuff that I haven’t used in a while.
The problem with having way too many great soaps, you forget how wonderful some of these smell.
Agharta is one of those.
“Talc, Ambergris, Amyris, French Vanilla Bean, Japanese Sandalwood, Cedar and Oak Moss.”
Oh My!
And yes, it is as good as it looks on paper.
Vanilla pushing the scent towards the gourmand during the opening, the wife commenting “Oh yeah, this the one that smells like cookies!” 😁, while the woods, moss and touch of amber brings it back towards a more mellow cologne, during the dry down with talc, leaving you with a powdery rich scent that you can (and I have) worn as a work scent.
Not quite Gourmand but beautifully delicious.
Used the Mysterium Serum balm as it didn’t have a companion Star Jelly.
Its a shame that these older offerings will fall by the wayside, given that Doug does churn out new scents like a rabbit in heat.
Maybe if more people wanted it, Doug would make some but I know if there was a full line of deodorant, solid cologne and star jelly balm I’d complete this set.
It has also been a while since I have used my Vikings Blade Emperor Augustus and have forgotten how good this thing is.
One of the unique features that it has that intrigued me into buying it, besides looking awesome, was that it has a very unique head.
And the way I use an adjustable is opposite of most other shavers. Instead of dialing it down as you go into the shave, I progressively dial it up.
Going setting 4-Straight Bar WTG, setting 5-Scalloped Bar XTG, and Setting 6-Scalloped Bar ATG and staying at setting 6-Scalloped Bar for clean-ups.
I was using a Derby Extra Blade so this is higher then I’d normally set than for say a Feather which is more like 3-straight WTG, 4-Scalloped XTG, 4/5-Scalloped ATG + Clean-up.
The idea is growth reduction, not elimination during the passes. Setting 4-Straight Bar takes off growth while giving a very smooth non catching/tugging first pass.
Then with the following higher aggression settings along with the scalloped bar, for taking of remaining growth closer to the skin.
Results : Glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave that was assisted by a great soap, with no nicks, weepers or irritation.
- Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
- Pre-Shave : PAA’s The Cube Mentholated
- Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
- Soap : PAA’s Agharta
- Post Shave : PAA’s Agharta Aftershave Cologne and Mysterium Serum
- Razor : Vikings Blade The Emperor Augustus w/Derby Extra Blade (1)
- Others : Salt Grinder with Menthol Crystals
Steve's Wet Shaving in Singapore 