18.09.2024 - BVWSC part. II: Canadian Druid in a barbershop
- Prep: shower
- Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin handle w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
- Razor: Leaf Thorn
- Blade: snapped BIC Chrome Platinum
- Lather: MacDuff's Soap Company - Old Strathcona
- Post-Shave: Moon Soaps - Old School balm
-> 2 pass head shave, 1 pass face shave. Good shave overall!
Today's BVWSC shave is done with a soap I found really interesting. MacDuff's Soap is an artisan I heard many positive things about; their inspiration from Canadian landmarks and the great outdoors is also something I find intriguing. Plus, featuring their dog on the tub art and in their logo is a huge bonus point with me too.
I really have grown to like barbershop scents, even though as a german I never was inside one at all. Old Strathcona is definitely a very unique take on this genre - once the very generous sample by @sahenders@wetshaving.social showed up, my initial impression was of an old time cologne for mature gentlemen. Luckily, that's not everything!
The soap lathered very fast. Props to MacDuff's Soap base, this one gets slick quick and turns into a beautiful lather with just a bit water added to the brush. Once lathered, the scent turns away from the cologne-style barbershop and more towards something green. Everything makes sense now that I'm reading up the official Scent description . Djundjila and walden also mentioned anise which is described as basil and tarragon; I didn't get much of that (my nose is sus) but much more of a herbal, green and slightly salty cologne (I guess the salty parts come from the mushroom absolute?). Call me weird and maybe it's my ADHD, but I pictured a druid like Miraculix sitting in a old school barbershop chair. Hence today's post title. I really like when a soap takes me on such a little daydream journey, especially on a stressful day like today.
Performance wise, apart from the quick lathering and the good slickness, it's also very skin-friendly. I tested it on both my head and face, each with their individual problematic areas and had no irritation or burn whatsoever. I could see MacDuff's as something I might pick up in the future - I really like unique barbershop scents and this one definitely fits the bill. Thanks sahenders for your suggestion and the generous sample! Compared to CFG Ghost Town Barber, my favourite barbershop and my newest HAGS Barberwood, Old Strathcona is way less sweet. It's earthy, mossy, dark without being divisive. Perfectly suited for the upcoming autumn season!
I apologize for my lengthy writeup and any incoherent rambling that it may contain. Hope it's been at least a tiny bit entertaining for you folks! I'm already looking forward to our next BVWSC shave in October. The sample by @PorkButtsNTaters666@sub.wetshaving.social already arrived yesterday and it also smells very intriguing and mysterious. Have a good night (or day, depending on your time zone)!
