Shave of the Day - 2025
- Thread starter silverlifter
- Start date
Pre-shave: Hot flannel, Pears soap
Brush: Forgotten Art "Macchiato"
Soap: Yardley
Razor: Wolfman WR4
Blade: Schick Proline
Post-shave: TND witch hazel, homebrew moisturiser, Oxford & Cambridge cologne
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had kept aside the otherwise unusable hard, crusty bits of this old, old soap stuck to the wooden bowl. They've been left in this useful little tin with a few drops of water, and smooshed up with my thumb a couple of times. So I'm left with a sort of cream that lathers just fine, and miraculously even has some of the original scent left. I still have a little of the actual puck left, but I don't like to see such a precious resource go to waste...
Eufros Day 6
Roman Kamlash “Sabre” 9/8 Half Hollow - Semogue OC Boar - Eufros Vetiver de Haití - Malizia Vetyver - Sukin Moisturiser
This is the first soap I bought from Manuel, and the first time I opened the lid I recoiled at the strength of the dark, pungent, smoky vetiver that leapt from the tub. It took me four or five shaves to get used to it, as I had previously only smelled sweet, grassy vetivers. Now this is an absolute favourite. It is a linear scent because, again, nothing even a magician like Manuel could blend with it would survive more that a couple of minutes in the tub with it. This soap literally removes hair from your face and puts it on your chest.
Weekly wrap
All six of these soaps are top tier; they out perform 95% of the soaps in my den, and each of the scents is, in their own way, quite delightful. Where Manuel excels, though, is his vegan base. The original Gea, is fantastic and the two newer formulations, and yet the limited edition soaps Aura de lavande from 2024 and 2025's Iberian Shave somehow manage to surpass it. Jabonman is truly a maestro soaper.
Roman Kamlash “Sabre” 9/8 Half Hollow - Semogue OC Boar - Eufros Vetiver de Haití - Malizia Vetyver - Sukin Moisturiser
This is the first soap I bought from Manuel, and the first time I opened the lid I recoiled at the strength of the dark, pungent, smoky vetiver that leapt from the tub. It took me four or five shaves to get used to it, as I had previously only smelled sweet, grassy vetivers. Now this is an absolute favourite. It is a linear scent because, again, nothing even a magician like Manuel could blend with it would survive more that a couple of minutes in the tub with it. This soap literally removes hair from your face and puts it on your chest.
Weekly wrap
All six of these soaps are top tier; they out perform 95% of the soaps in my den, and each of the scents is, in their own way, quite delightful. Where Manuel excels, though, is his vegan base. The original Gea, is fantastic and the two newer formulations, and yet the limited edition soaps Aura de lavande from 2024 and 2025's Iberian Shave somehow manage to surpass it. Jabonman is truly a maestro soaper.
lu20vt
Member
Unfortunately, the Haiti is close to being discontinued. Manuel's supplier hasn't had any essential oil for a while and it seems like they won't have them again for a long time.Eufros Day 6
Roman Kamlash “Sabre” 9/8 Half Hollow - Semogue OC Boar - Eufros Vetiver de Haití - Malizia Vetyver - Sukin Moisturiser
This is the first soap I bought from Manuel, and the first time I opened the lid I recoiled at the strength of the dark, pungent, smoky vetiver that leapt from the tub. It took me four or five shaves to get used to it, as I had previously only smelled sweet, grassy vetivers. Now this is an absolute favourite. It is a linear scent because, again, nothing even a magician like Manuel could blend with it would survive more that a couple of minutes in the tub with it. This soap literally removes hair from your face and puts it on your chest.
Weekly wrap
All six of these soaps are top tier; they out perform 95% of the soaps in my den, and each of the scents is, in their own way, quite delightful. Where Manuel excels, though, is his vegan base. The original Gea, is fantastic and the two newer formulations, and yet the limited edition soaps Aura de lavande from 2024 and 2025's Iberian Shave somehow manage to surpass it. Jabonman is truly a maestro soaper.
I frequently find vetiver scents too powerful for my taste. And I also have to reckon with the WAF (Wife Approval Factor), and Mme G is faster on the draw with a complaint than any cowboy with a popgun.
But just on my experience with AdL (which I used up profligately), I don't believe Manuel's work is bettered by any other artisan soap maker. There are a few equals, but none more than that. I particularly approve of the fact that he devotes as much care and attention to his veg base as he does to tallow. The latter may offer useful variation in the length and composition of C chains in the triglycerides, which I believe probably offers a lot of wiggle room for the soap maker, but the absence of "funky" compounds from tallow undoubtedly leaves a cleaner scent.
One thing I would like to have is a Eufros unscented soap with the AdL base, so I could flavour it with whatever EO I choose on the day...
LesC
Member
@silverlifter great 6 day review after I received the 3 samples from you I purchase the Lima Especias and from a SOTD I said something like “hit by an Arctic blast of menthol then slapped in the face with a lime” I believe that equates to your day 5?Eufros Day 6
Roman Kamlash “Sabre” 9/8 Half Hollow - Semogue OC Boar - Eufros Vetiver de Haití - Malizia Vetyver - Sukin Moisturiser
This is the first soap I bought from Manuel, and the first time I opened the lid I recoiled at the strength of the dark, pungent, smoky vetiver that leapt from the tub. It took me four or five shaves to get used to it, as I had previously only smelled sweet, grassy vetivers. Now this is an absolute favourite. It is a linear scent because, again, nothing even a magician like Manuel could blend with it would survive more that a couple of minutes in the tub with it. This soap literally removes hair from your face and puts it on your chest.
Weekly wrap
All six of these soaps are top tier; they out perform 95% of the soaps in my den, and each of the scents is, in their own way, quite delightful. Where Manuel excels, though, is his vegan base. The original Gea, is fantastic and the two newer formulations, and yet the limited edition soaps Aura de lavande from 2024 and 2025's Iberian Shave somehow manage to surpass it. Jabonman is truly a maestro soaper.
Do you know for his LE’s is it 1st in 1st served, or email luck when send one in to see what’s in stock?Cheers
FWIW, when I first emailed about Aura de Lavanda (which by then might have been a bit late), Manuel told me he was sold out. A few days later, he kindly came back to me to say there was some available. So, moral of the story: it doesn't hurt to ask.
@lu20vt knows the actual details, but Manuel generally takes names before he makes an LE batch and then fulfills orders. There may be a couple of tubs left over, so it never hurts to enquire.
Pre-shave:- Cool Shower
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice
Brush:- Whipped Dog High Mountain Badger in Tall Black Resin 24/55mm knot
Soap/Cream:- Stirling Soaps ~ Evergreen Forest
Razor/Blade:- iKon B1 Standard with Bulldog Handle / Gillette Stainless (red & white) #12 ... finished
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Plunkett's Vita E Pure with Rosehip Oil (10 drops), Natural Plant Glycerine (20) & Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic (5)
Fragrance:- L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme
Deodorant:- L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice
Brush:- Whipped Dog High Mountain Badger in Tall Black Resin 24/55mm knot
Soap/Cream:- Stirling Soaps ~ Evergreen Forest
Razor/Blade:- iKon B1 Standard with Bulldog Handle / Gillette Stainless (red & white) #12 ... finished
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Plunkett's Vita E Pure with Rosehip Oil (10 drops), Natural Plant Glycerine (20) & Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic (5)
Fragrance:- L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme
Deodorant:- L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme