The shave to close the week of the stag was meh like the days before. I just can't get the lather to a silky texture that protects the face well enough. I'll classify this week after the fact as self-harm (don't do that, people of the piefed; there are very good soap bases around).
I am not wild about the Chiseled Face soap base either, but I used Stag for an Austere August and found a way to make it work for me. The EdP for Stag is surprisingly good, btw. Much richer and more detailed than either the soap or splash.
Do you have the silk "tallow" base? Its lid has a scene whereas the tallow base is mostly black with words.
Are you tub loading or scooping? I scoop and find the soap comes out ... chalky. It's tricky to get it to stick to the bowl. I'll spritz it with a bit of water before taking a shower. I lather in the bowl with a boar brush and get a slick, cushiony result in about the same lather time as Stirling.
I killed a tub of Loyal a while ago. I enjoyed the base. I tub load and heard other people saying you need to load a lot of soap with the Silk Tallow base so that's all I did differently.
I think if you're scooping it might be easy to under load if you're scooping a comparable amount to other soaps.
I think the base is your problem, then. The Silk tallow base is infamous for being hard to lather. Usually, normal CFG base is pretty solid - comparable to Stirling base IMHO. Never had any performance issues with the plain black tubs.
Another wonderful shave with the Atelier Durdan Horizon. Setting 4 on this razor is all I need. The feel of the edge at this setting is positive, and the blade exposure contributes great comfort.
Indigo, with its blueberry top note and subtle, woody base made for a terrific scent experience, as it always does.
I had today's theme soap. I didn't get good performance out of it though. I'm taking the blame. From the after-action analysis, either I should have used twice the amount of soap (it's a cream), restricted water usage early in the lather, or this base sucks. Luckily, I've got more of this soap to try in the future.
I set the knot using a 3D printed spacer. First I tried one 9mm tall, then decided 10mm would be better, increasing the left a bit more. I think I nailed it, and this was much much easier than stacking coins, washers, etc. If anyone needs one and knows the general dimensions (height is infinitely more important than diameter) I'm happy to print a few different heights and send them your way.
Nonidi 9 Ventôse an 234 de la Révolution, jour de Marceau
The shave to close the week of the stag was meh like the days before. I just can't get the lather to a silky texture that protects the face well enough. I'll classify this week after the fact as self-harm (don't do that, people of the piefed; there are very good soap bases around).
Have a good evening!
Shared via emacs & sotd.elI am not wild about the Chiseled Face soap base either, but I used Stag for an Austere August and found a way to make it work for me. The EdP for Stag is surprisingly good, btw. Much richer and more detailed than either the soap or splash.
Do you have the silk "tallow" base? Its lid has a scene whereas the tallow base is mostly black with words.
Are you tub loading or scooping? I scoop and find the soap comes out ... chalky. It's tricky to get it to stick to the bowl. I'll spritz it with a bit of water before taking a shower. I lather in the bowl with a boar brush and get a slick, cushiony result in about the same lather time as Stirling.
I have the silk tallow, and like you, I scoop. It sticks easily to the bowl, and I bloomed it a bit. Maybe I try to bloom it longer...
But I don't have any chalky consistency 🤷
@[email protected] , I think you have the silk base. How do you lather?
I killed a tub of Loyal a while ago. I enjoyed the base. I tub load and heard other people saying you need to load a lot of soap with the Silk Tallow base so that's all I did differently.
I think if you're scooping it might be easy to under load if you're scooping a comparable amount to other soaps.
I think the base is your problem, then. The Silk tallow base is infamous for being hard to lather. Usually, normal CFG base is pretty solid - comparable to Stirling base IMHO. Never had any performance issues with the plain black tubs.
Feb. 27, 2026
Is it too late to enter $ASS?
No rules questions
February 27th, 2026
I notice that both you and @[email protected] used disposables today. Was there some misery you two decided to share? 🤔
Only the misery of travel.
February 27th, 2026
Hotel shave.
February 27, 2026
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
Another wonderful shave with the Atelier Durdan Horizon. Setting 4 on this razor is all I need. The feel of the edge at this setting is positive, and the blade exposure contributes great comfort.
Indigo, with its blueberry top note and subtle, woody base made for a terrific scent experience, as it always does.
Shave video
SOTD - 2026-02-27
I had today's theme soap. I didn't get good performance out of it though. I'm taking the blame. From the after-action analysis, either I should have used twice the amount of soap (it's a cream), restricted water usage early in the lather, or this base sucks. Luckily, I've got more of this soap to try in the future.
The scent is okay. Seems pretty light.
Atlas TLC Scorecard
Have a good day.
February 27, 2026
February 27th, 2026
A quick 2 pass luxury shave. I finally set a knot in my Rad Dinosaur Creations handle. I don't know why it took me so long to try a Cashmere knot -- after hearing about them I've always figured it's right up my alley, and everyone was right. This knot suits me perfectly. https://photos.selfhost.ing/share/Tuzv8J_KKXsOcTBxqgDhoydop5TR8yFH_REx884JWLEQhVceXgSVOASt0H4vJm3RcCM
I set the knot using a 3D printed spacer. First I tried one 9mm tall, then decided 10mm would be better, increasing the left a bit more. I think I nailed it, and this was much much easier than stacking coins, washers, etc. If anyone needs one and knows the general dimensions (height is infinitely more important than diameter) I'm happy to print a few different heights and send them your way.
February 27th, 2026
Shave 35 of the brain bowl
SOTD - 2026-02-27
1 pass WTG. I messed up a bit on touch ups and gave myself a couple weepers. A socially acceptable shave.
Forgot to post yesterday. Parents are in town!