Today's soap is Ginger's Garden Old Spice Type with a tallow base. It has a big scent off the puck and throughout the shave. I never got a real sheen out of it, maybe a bit of a glow. Anyway, it was a comfortable shave. I stick with 7 Doubloons aftershave. It hung with me well yesterday and seems to complement the Old Spice scent.
In today's bag, I also got Stirling Soap Co. Maggard's Meetup 2025 bath soap and a couple boxes of Derby blades.
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave
Post Shave: Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth - Cerberus - Liniment
My poor face has endured quite a bit today, and it's only 10:30am! 2 shaves totaling 5 passes, frigid winter air while I scraped ice and snow off of my car, and even a Stirling aftershave thrown in just to really go for it.
Declaration Grooming Liniment is pretty much unsuitable for most of the year, but right now it has already soaked in and dried down without a greasy feeling.
I'm still doing blade science, working this blade towards 4 shaves so it matches the Personna GEM Diamond Platinum Diamond Glide. I feel like this Lab Blue is already approaching the same sweet spot that the Diamond Glide is currently in... but we'll see.
Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
My work trip got extended into another day. I only did 2 passes this morning, both mostly against the grain. A 3rd pass and more buffing would have made a big difference. Still nice, overall!
Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
Post Shave: HAGS - Barberwood toner
Post Shave: Alterra Men Sensitive ASB
Fragrance: Bentley For Men Intense EdP
2-pass head shave, smooth and rather comfortable. One tiny weeper who always seems to appear on the left side, otherwise no irritation.
I couldn't get a shave in before my job interview today, mostly because I thought it wasn't needed to rush a shave and risk getting cut. I did this slow, calm and methodical and it paid off - a really smooth, shiny dome. Used the same soap as yesterday, just a different aftershave. Unfortunately, this sweet toner clashes with the mature tobacco notes of FMoM quite a lot. Wouldn't want to repeat that combo.
As for the interview, it was rather lackluster compared to the fancy hospital. Today it was at a rehabilitation centre for cancer and lymphology patients where my mom works at (part-time, doing arts and crafts with the patients in the afternoon to early evening). They didn't seem very enthusiastic about adding a male nurse to their team; also, financially it's not as good as the hospital offer. I still managed to get another appointment for a one day work trial on Wednesday. So tomorrow I work one day at the hospital and the following day there. I can make a direct comparison this way, but even after talking to my mom I currently favour the hospital as my future workplace. Oddly, she agrees. Well, all the more motivation to give my best tomorrow! Already kinda nervous, but that's part of the trade.
The biggest downside is that I need to get up very early at 4:00 AM to be there before 6:00 AM. Hence why I shaved + posted earlier than usual. Have a nice time, folks - I'll let you know how it works out ✌🏻
Thanks, it really went great! After extensively talking to the head nurse of the station and the head of nursing services at the hospital, I got a verbal agreement that I can start there in January. Since it's ~500€ more per month than at the rehabilitation centre, I agreed without hesitation. That's a once in a lifetime chance to change for a way better career. The path they have in mind for me seems to be well thought out and concise, in comparison to the awkward conversation yesterday at the rehabilitation center.
Thanks 👍🏻
Everything still feels very surreal and there's no written contracts yet except an email confirming their intent to hire me on January 1st once the paperwork arrives. Still, I feel like I achieved a huge success and that's kinda great atm.
This was the end of Susurro. RIP. And I am thinking about retiring the GEM blade as well – after only 30 uses. My face doesn't feel as well as when I use a straight. But I still have 98 blades left, which will last me at my current rate of consumption about until 2123.
SOTD - 2025-12-15: Adventus Calendar
Indoctrination status:
[o*..]Adventus Day 10
Today's soap is Ginger's Garden Old Spice Type with a tallow base. It has a big scent off the puck and throughout the shave. I never got a real sheen out of it, maybe a bit of a glow. Anyway, it was a comfortable shave. I stick with 7 Doubloons aftershave. It hung with me well yesterday and seems to complement the Old Spice scent.
In today's bag, I also got Stirling Soap Co. Maggard's Meetup 2025 bath soap and a couple boxes of Derby blades.
Have a good day!
December 15th, 2025: Shave #2
My poor face has endured quite a bit today, and it's only 10:30am! 2 shaves totaling 5 passes, frigid winter air while I scraped ice and snow off of my car, and even a Stirling aftershave thrown in just to really go for it.
Declaration Grooming Liniment is pretty much unsuitable for most of the year, but right now it has already soaked in and dried down without a greasy feeling.
I'm still doing blade science, working this blade towards 4 shaves so it matches the Personna GEM Diamond Platinum Diamond Glide. I feel like this Lab Blue is already approaching the same sweet spot that the Diamond Glide is currently in... but we'll see.
December 15th, 2025
My work trip got extended into another day. I only did 2 passes this morning, both mostly against the grain. A 3rd pass and more buffing would have made a big difference. Still nice, overall!
December 15th, 2025
Great shave this morning, super close results with no irritation.
Ubrique might be my scent of the year for 2025. It's probably not for everyone, especially those that don't like leather, but I really enjoy it.
December 15th, 2025
December 15, 2025 -- Marilyn Monday
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
Wonderful shave to start the week.
15. December 2025
2-pass head shave, smooth and rather comfortable. One tiny weeper who always seems to appear on the left side, otherwise no irritation.
I couldn't get a shave in before my job interview today, mostly because I thought it wasn't needed to rush a shave and risk getting cut. I did this slow, calm and methodical and it paid off - a really smooth, shiny dome. Used the same soap as yesterday, just a different aftershave. Unfortunately, this sweet toner clashes with the mature tobacco notes of FMoM quite a lot. Wouldn't want to repeat that combo.
As for the interview, it was rather lackluster compared to the fancy hospital. Today it was at a rehabilitation centre for cancer and lymphology patients where my mom works at (part-time, doing arts and crafts with the patients in the afternoon to early evening). They didn't seem very enthusiastic about adding a male nurse to their team; also, financially it's not as good as the hospital offer. I still managed to get another appointment for a one day work trial on Wednesday. So tomorrow I work one day at the hospital and the following day there. I can make a direct comparison this way, but even after talking to my mom I currently favour the hospital as my future workplace. Oddly, she agrees. Well, all the more motivation to give my best tomorrow! Already kinda nervous, but that's part of the trade.
The biggest downside is that I need to get up very early at 4:00 AM to be there before 6:00 AM. Hence why I shaved + posted earlier than usual. Have a nice time, folks - I'll let you know how it works out ✌🏻
You'll do great. Don't forget to interview them back and make sure it's a good fit for you.
Thanks, it really went great! After extensively talking to the head nurse of the station and the head of nursing services at the hospital, I got a verbal agreement that I can start there in January. Since it's ~500€ more per month than at the rehabilitation centre, I agreed without hesitation. That's a once in a lifetime chance to change for a way better career. The path they have in mind for me seems to be well thought out and concise, in comparison to the awkward conversation yesterday at the rehabilitation center.
🎆🎆🎆🎆
Thanks 👍🏻 Everything still feels very surreal and there's no written contracts yet except an email confirming their intent to hire me on January 1st once the paperwork arrives. Still, I feel like I achieved a huge success and that's kinda great atm.
Woot! Congratulations
Good luck!
Thanks! It was better than expected - I got a verbal agreement/job offer to start in January and I said yes without hesitation. 😅
Congrats! 👍
Quintidi 25 Frimaire an 234 de la Révolution, jour de Grillon
This was the end of Susurro. RIP. And I am thinking about retiring the GEM blade as well – after only 30 uses. My face doesn't feel as well as when I use a straight. But I still have 98 blades left, which will last me at my current rate of consumption about until 2123.
Have a good evening!
Shared via emacs & sotd.elHmmm. I'd probably stock up ;-)
You're probably right – who knows what will have happened by then