My 2026 sabbatical, time to enjoy what I have

[thorpef1]

I started my wet shaving journey just over 3 years ago, and in that time I have definitely fallen down the rabbit hole.
Whilst I have enjoyed chasing the next soap or hunting down that vintage bargain on marketplace, this year is a time to enjoy what I have.
After all I already have enough to pass down to my children (and likely grandchildren).

So this year is a no purchase year for me.
As many have failed before me I know it will be a challenge so who is with me?

And everytime I find something or get an urge, I need to remember I have enough.

 

[LesC]

I started my wet shaving journey just over 3 years ago, and in that time I have definitely fallen down the rabbit hole.
Whilst I have enjoyed chasing the next soap or hunting down that vintage bargain on marketplace, this year is a time to enjoy what I have.
After all I already have enough to pass down to my children (and likely grandchildren).

So this year is a no purchase year for me.
As many have failed before me I know it will be a challenge so who is with me?

And everytime I find something or get an urge, I need to remember I have enough.

Wow, lovely array of Vintage Gillettes, paging @Mark1966
YES mate, I will join you for the 2026 Sabbatical, WE will not bend or bow to the P&C Enablers!!

 

[Mark1966]

Indeed, a very nice selection of Vintage Gillettes!

 

[thorpef1]

Wow, lovely array of Vintage Gillettes, paging @Mark1966
YES mate, I will join you for the 2026 Sabbatical, WE will not bend or bow to the P&C Enablers!!

Thankyou.

Not quite display quality (only a few cases for these) but they all get used.

Good to have you onboard

 

[Errol]

I started my wet shaving journey just over 3 years ago, and in that time I have definitely fallen down the rabbit hole.
Whilst I have enjoyed chasing the next soap or hunting down that vintage bargain on marketplace, this year is a time to enjoy what I have.
After all I already have enough to pass down to my children (and likely grandchildren).

So this year is a no purchase year for me.
As many have failed before me I know it will be a challenge so who is with me?

And everytime I find something or get an urge, I need to remember I have enough.

Not a modern razor among them. May I suggest a WR2 Wolfman, a Carbon CX or maybe an AD Numero 7.

Good luck with the sabbatical.

 

[thorpef1]

Not a modern razor among them. May I suggest a WR2 Wolfman, a Carbon CX or maybe an AD Numero 7.

Good luck with the sabbatical.

That will have to wait till next year .
In regards to moderns Ive tried a Blackbird SS which I wasn't a big fan of.
The aristocrat just feels so perfect so it gets used most of the time.
Let me come back to you in a year to see what modern you recommend and I'll give it a go

 

[LesC]

That will have to wait till next year .
In regards to moderns Ive tried a Blackbird SS which I wasn't a big fan of.
The aristocrat just feels so perfect so it gets used most of the time.
Let me come back to you in a year to see what modern you recommend and I'll give it a go

Mmh, Gen 4 or the Slim?

 

[thorpef1]

Mmh, Gen 4 or the Slim?

The aristocrat!
I used to love the slim then the aristocrat came around and is the smoothest shave ive ever day.
I was also really impressed with the toggle I got for Christmas, but that won't get used daily.

 

[Gargravarr]

Good luck @thorpef1 and @LesC. Tempting as it is to suggest you really need the AD Vestige, that can easily wait a year. By which time you might feel you deserve a treat...

 

[thorpef1]

Good luck @thorpef1 and @LesC. Tempting as it is to suggest you really need the AD Vestige, that can easily wait a year. By which time you might feel you deserve a treat...

Thanks.
And congrats to your successful 2025

 

[LesC]

Good luck @thorpef1 and @LesC. Tempting as it is to suggest you really need the AD Vestige, that can easily wait a year. By which time you might feel you deserve a treat...

The AD La Faulx ++ will be mine on the 22nd of this month, luckily all paid for on 29/11/25. Thanks for best wishes and yes 12mths to think about the Vestige but the La Faulx “may” cure SE RAD?

 

[karol.elec]

I started my wet shaving journey just over 3 years ago, and in that time I have definitely fallen down the rabbit hole.
Whilst I have enjoyed chasing the next soap or hunting down that vintage bargain on marketplace, this year is a time to enjoy what I have.
After all I already have enough to pass down to my children (and likely grandchildren).

So this year is a no purchase year for me.
As many have failed before me I know it will be a challenge so who is with me?

And everytime I find something or get an urge, I need to remember I have enough.

I think, you can easily add a few soaps to your collection
Good luck

 

[eggbert]

Another year?
Maybe, but I am running very low on menthol soaps and/or crystals.

 

[Gargravarr]

I think, you can easily add a few soaps to your collection

I just realised, my active soap "rotation" (such as it is) is now (thanks to last year's sabbatical) down to a mere 4 soaps, of which two are very much in the unobtainium species. Time to do something about that.

 

[thorpef1]

Another year?
Maybe, but I am running very low on menthol soaps and/or crystals.

Surely buying menthol crystals for when you are congested, then they are already in the house

I just realised, my active soap "rotation" (such as it is) is now (thanks to last year's sabbatical) down to a mere 4 soaps, of which two are very much in the unobtainium species. Time to do something about that.

What is in your active rotation vs your review list?

 

[Gargravarr]

What is in your active rotation vs your review list?

Right now, just...
Czech & Speake (Valobra) Oxford & Cambridge
Yardley
MdC Rose
D.R. Harris Windsor

In a box, I still have some Noble Otter Two Kings for winter, and I need to order in...
Bignoli Lavanda Balsamica
Extro Cosmesi Bergamotto di Calabria
Castle Forbes Lavender
Mystic Water Jeff's Lavender
Stirling Bergamot Lavender

As you can see, I sort of like lavender...

 

[karol.elec]

I just realised, my active soap "rotation" (such as it is) is now (thanks to last year's sabbatical) down to a mere 4 soaps, of which two are very much in the unobtainium species. Time to do something about that.

I am pretty sure many would swap their collections with just those 4.
I know I would

 

[SpeedyPC]

As you can see, I sort of like lavender...

You girly bloody lavender.

 

[Gargravarr]

I am pretty sure many would swap their collections with just those 4.
I know I would

It won't be very long before the MdC and DRH are gone, they're both quite depleted...

You girly bloody lavender.

So?

 

[Gargravarr]

and I need to order in...
Bignoli Lavanda Balsamica
Extro Cosmesi Bergamotto di Calabria
Castle Forbes Lavender
Mystic Water Jeff's Lavender
Stirling Bergamot Lavender

As you can see, I sort of like lavender...

... and I forgot to mention Mike's Hungarian Lavender I had a sample of that a couple of years ago from @Mark1966, and liked it, but never got around to following up. That was before the Orange Menace took control and started messing everything up, so we'll have to see how that pans out. Also: Le Père Lucien Rose de Pushkar and Traditional.

I don't want to order in too much, as I like a "compact" set of choices, so I don't get overwhelmed by selection anxiety in the morning.