Yeah, so I got the Tatara Masamune.
I’ll need to write about it in its own post. I won’t do it justice otherwise.
I will need to say that it is a pricey piece of equipment at 149.00€ or roughly about US$165+/- depending on exchange rate.
I’ll post my thoughts on the razor later in the day after the evening shave.

True Glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.

• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Dual Band Mancurian Badger by Frank Shaving (face lathered)
• Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Green Pre-shave.
• Soap : Proraso Red (Sandalwood)
• Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Feather Blade (1)
• Post shave : Proraso Red Aftershave Splash, Prep
• Others : Guerlain Heritage EDT

Good lord!
I haven’t used this one in a while. As with the Razor.
I actually really liked the razor, being a modified Edwin Jagger DE89 without some of the annoying flaws that the DE89 had.
The Cube makes any soap a freaking “performer”.
Forgot that I used to really enjoy the gel too, next time though, I’ll layer an aftershave splash first before applying the gel.

• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Dual Band Manchurian Badger by Frank Shaving
• Pre-Shave : PAA’s The Cube Mentholated
• Soap : Body Shop Maca Root and Aloe Shaving Cream
• Razor : Razorock MJ-90A w/Rapira SS Blade (1)
• Post Shave : Body Shop Maca Root and Aloe Post shave gel.
• Others : Dior Homme EDT

Someone started Forgoctober, so I am going to use some of the stuff that I haven’t been using for a while now and give them some love.
I am of course expecting some more supply drops and will do those outside of Forgoctober.

• Pre-shave : Shower
• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving (Face Lathered)
• Soap : Colonel Conk’s Bay Rum
• Razor : Rockwell 6S-R4 w/Rapira SS Blade (2)
• Post shave : Thayer’s Medicated Witch Hazel, Gabel’s Bay Rum

Fresh citrus musk, a great way to start the day.

• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Pre-Shave : Shower , PAA’s The Cube Mentholated
• Soap : PAA’s Future Fiction
• Razor : PAA’s Copper Ascension DOC w/Rapira SS Blade (1)
• Post Shave : PAA’s Future Fiction Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne and Mysterium Serum
• Others : PAA’s Future Fiction Deodorant and Solid Cologne

Sometimes you buy a soap because the label caught your eye, this is one of those times. Saw the label, read the scent profile and they tickled my “buy me now!” impulse.

Scent profile as per Van Yulay’s site :
Green notes of Bamboo, Sweetness of Orange blossoms, Peppery notes of carnation, Gardenia, Nutmeg, Clary Sage Vanilla, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean and Musk

The scent reminds me of a light cologne, similar to Florida Water or 4711 but more green and fresh spicy.
Was a very pleasant surprise and a very refreshing shave.

As the scent is not heavy, so you can easily pair this with any fougere, woods, or wood-spice perfume and it would not clash nor break the scent experience.

• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Pre-shave : Shower
• Soap : Van Yulay’s Enter the Dragon
• Razor : PAA’s Copper Ascension DOC w/Rapira SS Blade (2)
• Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Enter the Dragon Aftershave splash and Balm

Van Yulay’s Dress Bleu’s scent is a nice light aquatic scent. Think of it as Channel Bleu light.
This is definitely a good daily driver for those of you who want something that smells nice but does not fill the room like an olfactory two by four, or if its your off day and you are putzing around the house but still want to be well groomed.

Monica’s new hard puck soap is a good performer good initial slickness though falling behind her croaps in the residual and post shave feel department. Soap is also quite thirsty and one can be easily fooled into loading up on his brush way too much soap.
A good shake than load with the damp brush and the brush will soak up enough soap on its own.
It’ll literally “dry up” taking up the soap in its bristles.
Then either face lather with a fresh wet face or bowl lather while adding water slowly.
You don’t want too much water, aiming for that thin yogurt cream consistency (easier to dial in if you face lather) and then its rock and roll time.
Scent is on the light side for my soap, but I suspect that’s the nature of this particular scent that I am using.
Good glide, ok residual slickness and passable post shave. Her croaps do give better residual and a much better post shave feel.
Not saying its isn’t good.
To make another comparison it is like comparing PAA’s normal Crown King formula vs CK-6.

I actually like the idea of the hard puck.
I can recycle and reuse the tin and buy refills, set the pucks in shaving mugs, recycle old soap tubs … do that little part for the environment.

• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shavings
• Pre-shave : Shower
• Soap : Van Yulay’s Dres Bleu’s Hard Puck
• Razor : Rockwell 6S-R4 w/Rapira SS Blade (1)
• Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleu’s Aftershave splash and Balm
• Others : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleu’s Deodorant and Cologne spray