Felt like having some Copalli.
Gotta love that incense fruity wood scent.

The Oren with a 3 Dot plate is deceptively gentle and unlike with the 2 Dot where you could almost flail away with abandon and your chances of getting cut is still low, with the 3 Dot, you do have to respect the blade.
Still, taking it light, taking it easy, the 3 Dot and Schick Proline blade was still a very smooth and comfortable shave.
You do feel more blade and you do need to adjust your technique to accommodate the wider gap and slightly more blade exposure and it was fairly easy to get that perfect shave.

Stay Safe.

• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo SHD Badger Silvertips
• Soap : PAA Copalli
• Razor : Occam’s Razor Oren Nano Enhanced w/Schick Proline Blade (3)
• Post Shave : PAA Copalli Aftershave and Cologne and Star Jelly Aftershave
• Others : PAA Copalli Deodorant and Solid Colonge

• 

I thought that instead of my usual spread of “I want some of that!” stuff that I usually use, I’d go with something a new user on a budget might want to go and shop for that won’t break his (or her) bank.

There’s something about Palmolive Shave stick that I missed.
As you can see, I just unwrapped a new one and the scent that came off the soap, for something that cost around $3, it is arguably one of the best if not the best smelling shaving soap at that price, or even against soaps three times that price.
You won’t be able to get them easily now though, as sadly, they are discontinued and prices have gone up and they are now selling for around $7+/- which is a shame.
If you can find them cheaper, pick one or a few up.

Razor is an India made Gillette Tech clone that I bought for $2.60.
Another alternative would be Gillette’s 7 O’ Clock Sterling ($5+/-)

Brush you can buy from Amazon for about $3

For post shave I chose Nivea’s Deep Comforting Aftershave splash and an Alum Block.
Both are about $6+/- though you can probably find them on sale sometimes.
I was debating between Thayer’s Witch Hazel and Nivea deep and in the end, in the short term the Nivea is cheaper though Thayers would be better value. Another option would be Aqua Velva.

I would highly recommend a new DE shaver to not ignore getting an Alum Block. As an aftershave, it is antiseptic and more importantly gives feedback (feel the sting!) to the shaver how he do on the shave.
Stinging usually occurs if you over-shaved an area or had bad technique, such as applying too much pressure on the razor.

And last but not least, Derby Extra blades.
This you can literally get for free as its usually given together with a brand new razor or if you ask anyone in a shaving forum for a pack or two, they’ll gladly give you some. (or at least I think most will)
Heck if anyone is in Singapore and wants some, I’ll give you some FOC.

All said and done, everything above totals less then $30 and will last you at least a Month assuming you buy about 15 blades (2 shaves a blade)

Shave was actually very comfortable and I did get an irritation free (zero sting) Perfect shave.
But that is more due to the Gillette tech than anything else.
Add to the fact that it was in fact a very pleasant shave with great scented products, this budget shave felt like a million bucks.

You DON’T have to spend hundreds, thousands of dollars to get a really damn awesome shave.
Sometimes I think, we forget that.
But it helps if you did. 🤣

Drink Ginger Tea
Wash Hands
Stay Shave.

• Pre-shave : Shower
• Brush : No brand Synthetic from China
• Soap : Palm Olive Shave Stick
• Razor : Shogun, India made Gillette Tech Clone w/Derby Extra Blade
• Post Shave : Nivea Deep Comforting AS and Alum Block

Jeremy got me itching to do this.
Broke out the Boar, just to play with it.
Still needs to load heavier than normal but PAA’s soaps explode with lather anyways so it didn’t take much for it to give me a good 3 pass and clean-up with one application.
Still going to retire the boar. It is a great face latherer with but I have found badger / synthetics to be much more to my liking
That and they are easier to use and maintain.

I am however slightly disappointed with the Schick Proline blades. I suspect this blade might do better with the 3 Dot “Aggressive” plate and along with using the 3 Dot, will need handling with care.
Also the blade felt dull with just under 8 shaves compared to a crazy number of shaves I get with the Feather Professionals.
I’ll recycle this blade and swap out to the 3 Dot and use the Schicks up.

This is the disadvantage with the Oren. You need to find a plate / blade combo that works and stick with it. It is too much trouble to swap plates every time you want to use a different blade otherwise.
So far for me, that is the Feather Professionals / Professional Super blades on the 2 Dot, with the Pro Supers giving a closer shave but needing a little more care with handling.

Gotta Cat Proof the house unfortunately, that means putting up mesh over all windows and spaces where they can jump out.
Considering that would be a very bad **splat** for the cat …

Wash hands often.
Stay Safe.

• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Percy Nobleman Boar
• Soap : PAA Al Fin
• Razor : Occam’s Razor Oren Nano Enhanced w/Schick Blade (7)
• Post Shave : PAA Al Fin Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
• Others : PAA Al Fin Deodorant, Solid Cologne

Been a while since I used the Proraso single blade Cypress and Vetyver, I much prefer the Wood and Spice version.
But like its Wood and Spice brother, it has much better performance for initial slickness over its regular creams but the residual and post shave is still kinda sub-par compared to many of the other Artisan Soaps out there.
Scent though, is the reason I use them. Good, strong and stays on for a while after the shave.

Went slow and deliberate with the Kamisori, this time all three basic passes, while leaving Under Nose ATG and final clean up to the Oren.

I don’t think I’d be using anything but The Feather Pro Guard blade in the Kamisori, there were times I think I would have nicked myself if not for the guarded blade.
But as it is, it was a perfect no irritation true glass BBS shave.
Good thing I am on home leave due to the flu, I **CAN** faceturbate as much as I want to. 🤣


Drink Ginger Tea
Wash Hands
Stay Safe.

• Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Cypress and Vetyver Pre-Shave Cream
• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Soap : Proraso Single Blade Cypress and Vetyver Shaving Cream
• Razor : Feather Artist Club style Kamisori w/Feather Pro Guard Blade (3) (WTG, XTG, ATG), Occam’s Razor Oren Nano Enhanced w/Schick Proline Blade (5) (ATG Nose and clean up)
• Post Shave : Homemade Dark Rum and Witch Hazel with Menthol, Eucalyptus and Tea AS, Proraso Cypress and Vetyver Beard Balm (works good on the skin too!)

• 

Still from the mail call, one more to go.
It’ll be awhile before I splurge while the Pandemic rages on.

Soap Commander’s Renewal is slightly more fougere than floral or at least I don’t detect too many sweet notes, so if you are looking for a sweet floral fougere, this isn’t it, being more herbaceous, with notes listed as Lavender, Cedar, Fir Needle, Crushed Pine, Camphor, Patchouli, Hay, Tobacco, Citrus, Juniper, Vetiver, Black Tea and a kiss of Wild Hyacinth.
Though I swear I thought I detected lilac. 😁

Its a very pleasant scent. Paired the shave with Dior’s Dior Homme. Perfect floral fougere scent to bring a smile on.

Soap Commander’s performance is as always, superb.

Went with the Oren Nano, knew I’d want to do a quick one for work.
Fourth use with the Schick Proline Blade and I am not sure if it is better than the Artist Club Feathers.
Still, easy good clean true glass BBS, without going over a spot too many times.

Down with coughs, sore throat, runny nose, no fever thank god.
Going to the clinic. Probably the flu.

Wash Hands.
Stay Safe.

• Pre-Shave : Shower
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Soap : Soap Commander’s Renewal
• Razor : Occam’s Razor Oren Nano Enchanced w/Schick Proline Blade (4)
• Post Shave : Soap Commander Renewal Aftershave Splash and Balm
• Others : Christian Dior Dior Homme EDT

• 

• 

• 

More stuff from the mail drop.
Another of Long Rifle Soap Company’s, Saranac , and slick as it is, it’s backed by PAA’s Cube for that extra slickness for reasons.

Scent described as Pine, Juniper and snow.
And this is a very accurate description of the scent. It smells like woods and snow.
Along with the Hawkeye Shave Tonic (Cedar, Lavender and Citrus) the shave was full bore woodsy, drawing on a shave and scent imagery…
Key in the Theme for “The Last of the Mohicans” as your epic shave track baby!
https://youtu.be/uzMx60ea_gI

Lather was epic.
Slick, residual and post shave felt fantastic and a good thing too!

I had it in my mind to retrain my muscle memory with using a shavette.
Using a Feather Kamisori style razor with a pro-guard blade (hey, needed all the help I can get) the shave was taken slow, deliberate and with care.
Something you don’t really feel or even realize when using the Oren, is that these Feather blades are sharp as frack.

Even with a very gentle feather touch and allowing the blade to just slide on lather and skin and I can tell you I am really glad the soap is a top performer, you can feel the blade taking off growth like they were so much sheep against a machine gun. I don’t think I’ll be going to the Feather Pro / Super or Schick Proline blades in the Kamisori anytime soon.

The WTG and XTG pass gave an almost BBS and definitely way deep in DFS shave territory.
Finished up with the Oren on the ATG and it was a clean, if rather long but no irritation, no nicks / cuts (yay!) BBS shave.
It’ll be a while before I’ll be confident with going ATG with the Kamisori

More shopping for cat stuff.
Drink Ginger Tea
Wash Hands
Stay Safe.

• Pre-shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy Manchurian Dual Band Badger by Frank Shaving
• Soap : Long Rifle Soap Company Saranac
• Razor : Feather Kamisori style Shavette w/Feather Pro Guard Blade (2) WTG / XTG, Occam’s Razor Oren Nano Enhanced w/Schick Proline Blade (2) ATG
• Post Shave : PAA Mysterium Serum, Long Rifle Soap Company Hawkeye Shave Tonic

Long Rifle’s Hivernant is Rosemary, Mint and Tea Tree scented.
Scent strength is medium about 4/10
Mint / menthol on the face is mild.
If Proraso Green a 5, this rates as a 3 or 2 in the “menthol” feel but the scent blooms on the face and is quite pleasant.
Performance is above average with slickness but you do need to make sure you load a little heavy as the soap is able to take water and you can easily go past the optimal lather which slants on the thicker side.
Residual and post shave is excellant.

Since at the time of purchase there isn’t a matching aftershave and the scent isn’t too hard to match or you can make do with any mint based AS, I decided to make my own. Simple Dark Rum, Witch Hazel, Menthol, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree mix.

The Tatara Masamune Cap and Nodachi plate combo did its usual and even with a mild blade such as the black beauty, still made the shave a very easy, lazy, no irritation BBS.
Pretty sure I can pop a Derby Extra and she’ll do the same.

Wife wants a cat.
Going to the SPCA.
Stay Safe people.

• Pre-Shave : Shower
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy Manchurian Dual Band Badger by Frank Shaving
• Soap : Long Rifle Hivernant
• Razor : Tatara Masamune Cap + Nodachi Base Plate w/Treet Black Beauty Blade (1)
• Post Shave : PAA Mysterium Serum Mentholated, Homemade Rum, Witch Hazel, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree and menthol Aftershave

Stuff came in.
Probably the last in a while due to the Coronavirus situation.

WTF’s celebratory soap for Face Book 1k members is based on D&G’s Light Blue, which is a fresh citrus ocean scent, much like Bvlgari Aqva but with less “seaweed” note that one has and a little more salt.
Of course the shave was paired with the scent that inspired it.

First time with the Feather Super Blade and it definitely is more aggressive with that additional blade exposure. You can feel the blade this time but not much. The floating blade design seemed to have buffered the blade.
Took it slow and easy and was surprised that it still felt very comfortable resulting with the usual glass BBS I have come to expect with the razor.
Alum application had zero feedback so it was a perfect shave as well.

Feeling great, smelling great.
Drink Homemade Ginger Tea.
Wash Hands.
Stay Safe.

• Pre-Shave : Shower
• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Soap : WTF Face Book 1k
• Razor : Occam’s Razor Oren Nano SE w/Feather Super Blade (1)
• Post Shave : WTF Face Book 1k Aftershave Splash and Balm
• Other : Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme EDP

Still chasing that Oud.
And one of the best Oud Rose scent is Guerlain’s Santal Royal, though the name can be confusing as there’s little to almost no sandalwood note in there. Well a pinch but hardly qualifies having “santal” right smack in the name of the scent.

Still. That’s what scent layering is for!
And Supreme Sandalwood Science fits that bill nicely. A good solid scent by itself, it can also add a good sandalwood body to any scent you already have in your arsenal and setting a layer of solid cologne as the sandalwood base for the oud rose to sit on is just perfect!

I don’t think I have found a blade that doesn’t work in the Ascension.
But with the Cube prep and CK-6 later of lather, as long as the blade cuts, its going to be a relatively easy good smooth shave.

Drink Ginger tea.
Wash hands.
Stay safe.

• Pre-shave : Shower, PAA Cube Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Soap : PAA Supreme Sandalwood Science
• Razor : PAA Copper Ascension w/Treet Black Beauty Blade (1)
• Post Shave : PAA Supreme Sandalwood Science Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
• Others : PAA Supreme Sandalwood Science Deodorant, Solid Cologne, Guerlain Santal Royal EDP

Glorious Oud!
Oud and spice is one of my favorite blend of scents and Stirling doesn’t disappoint.
Paired with Davidoff’s Agar Blend, its an almost perfect mix, complimenting each other.

Loving the fact that you can use standard handles with the Nodachi cap.
With the bulldog handle, handling the razor is sure and nimble with the slim head, making going over areas with precision easy.
Razor paired with a Feather makes taking off growth like hot knight on butter with almost zero blade feel.
Zero weepers, zero irritation.
Was a Fantastic shave.

Stay safe all.
Wash hands, wear a mask if you have one.

• Pre-Shave : Shower
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
• Soap : Stirling Soap Agar
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi Top Cap + Masamune Base Plate + Bulldog Handle w/Feather Blade Corked (2)
• Post Shave : Stirling Soap Agar Aftershave Splash and Balm
• Others : Davidoff Agar Blend EDP