It seems the memories of old times are coming back to my mind - so far away now - when I was just a boy trying to become a man through the adult rite of shaving. At those times I was using what I had available at home, and this means my father's shaving products, including his razor - a Gillette Flare Tip Rocket II, which is now one of the very few DE razors in my collection - as well as his soap and after shave. I guess his favorite soap is no longer in production and I cannot exactly remember its name - it certainly was Italian and had a lovely strong almond fragrance - however I still keep his brushes, including a gorgeous Omega 47 and the memory of his favorite aftershave: Aqua Velva Ice Blue. It took me sometimes to discover Floid - it was once the dominant fragrance you could smell when you entered any Italian barber shop about 40 years ago - which then became my favorite aftershave. Yesterday, while I was shopping in a mall, I noticed Aqua Velva and I was surprised to see nothing of the bottle of those times survived today: different shape, different closure and logo. I could not however help buying a bottle and this is the aftershave I used today. It was not so bad, the fragrance seems to be quite the same as well as the performance, bringing back the memory of those old times.
Pre-Shave:Proraso Green Pre-Shave Cream
Soap:Aquagena Shaving Soap
Brush:Omega Bristle Brush 49
Bowl:Chinese Cheap Bowl
Strop:Mastro Livi Loom Strop and Hand Palm
Razor:Mastro Livi Perugia 13.12.14, 15/16 Full Hollow, Spanish Point
Post-Shave:Alum Block and Argan Oil
After Shave:Aqua Velva Ice Blue Aftershave
The RazorGuy - StraightRazorChannel on Youtube and Google+
That's really a classy Plisson, Patrick; I've always admired that model. However, it looks like the handle might be a little slippery when wet. Is it?
I thought it might be before I tried it, John. But, surprisingly, it isn't. The handle is substantial and heavy and fits nicely in my hand. Also, there is something special about using the same handle design that Napoleon used.
Unscented AoS soap (tallow based)
Simpson Colonel X2L
EJ DE89L razor
Feather blade (4)
Thayers Witch Hazel
Lucky Tiger after shave and face tonic
Unscented AoS ASB
Sometimes I like to shave with very old straight razors and, in particular, with those capable of showing their age. Despite of time and age, they always prove to be excellent straight razors, capable of giving an excellent shave. Just like this Wade & Butcher Celebrated Rattler - still having its original scales - a razor which passed through all of the past century and survived still today. With my joy and proud, of course.