Round 12 of my Blizzard Battles final four pits Cajun Blade's Subzero against Hearth & Altar's Barren Earth, plus a giveaway and a heads up on Stirling's new Shivering.
Read more →
My final four kicks off with Adopted Acres' Triple Dog Dare against Phoenix Artisan's icy Frost Byte, two mentholated heavyweights that end up dead even.
Read more →
Doug and Westley teamed up on Still House Spice, an Old Spice tribute built around whiskey notes, and I gave it a first shave straight out of the tub.
Read more →
Bary tests Van Yulay's homage to Obsession alongside the LIK Shaveware Attila, and finds Monica captured the muskier, dirtier version of the fragrance he wore for years.
Read more →
I came out of retirement for one review: Strike Gold Shave's 9/11 tribute soap, with every dollar going to Tunnel to Towers.
Read more →
A folding paper razor from Japan sat in my drawer for two years before I finally tried it, and it gave me one of the more surprising shaves I've had in a while.
Read more →
Round nine wraps up, then a heavily mentholated Dane Bitter Cult from Hendrix Classics takes on The Cajun Blade Sub-Zero, and my nose does not walk away clean.
Read more →
Round eight wraps up, then Subtle Art Soap Co.'s Draconis Glacialis takes on Hearth and Altar's Barren Earth in my Blizzard Battles bracket, splashes, longevity, and all.
Read more →
Round 8 of my Blizzard Battles Artisan Challenge pits Matti Lindholm's Ice Tears against Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements' Frosted in Space on a 106 degree Texas day.
Read more →
I tried to record this one last week and forgot to push record. Just got home from a trip. Here's the do-over, and it was worth making twice: Nearly Naked Soapery Commander.
Read more →
Van Yulay and Shave Dad Jerry teamed up on Last Pass, a coffee-inspired shaving soap dropping July 17. First look at the soap, the Cajun Blade ACR-1, and my morning shave routine.
Read more →
Brand new Goodfellas Smile gear landed: the Dominus razor and Panama soap, courtesy of Howie at Super Safety Razors. One shave in, I'm already calling Panama my favorite summer fragrance so far.
Read more →
A&E brings Frozen Latte e Menta and The Cajun Blade brings Sub Zero, both with splashes in play. Round 7 of the Blizzard Battles settles who owns the cold.
Read more →
PAA Frost in Space goes full cryogen in Round 6 and Wild Fox Arctic Fox fights back harder than expected. The menthol was very real.
Read more →
Doug put me onto this one. Fern & Shadow is an hour and a half from where I live in Texas, and Right of Winter is one of the best lathers I've had in a while.
Read more →
Happy Chap's Absolute Zero versus Hearth and Altar's Barren Earth in Round 5 of the Blizzard Battles, two artisans tackling menthol for the first time, on a scorching Texas July 4th.
Read more →
Round 4 of the Blizzard Battles 2026 Artisan Challenge puts Stirling's The Shivering against Subtle Art's Draconis Glacialis in a menthol-loaded head-to-head that nearly ended in another tie.
Read more →
Found this one on Instagram before I'd ever used the soap. Cherry wood and tobacco in a tallow-and-silk base from a micro artisan worth knowing about.
Read more →
First look at PAA's Electro High Shine, a tribute to Azzaro Chrome with a holo label and a bergamot-oakmoss-tonka profile. Bary puts it side by side with the EDT. Too close to call.
Read more →
Round 3 of Blizzard Battles 2026 pits Wild Fox Rituals' Arctic Fox against Wit's End Berserker in a menthol showdown. Both artisans new to menthol. Both absolutely nailed it.
Read more →
Round 2 of the Artisan Challenge is here, and Adopted Acres Triple Dog Dare runs it back. This time it goes head to head with Denton Majik's CryoMajik, and the gap between them is a lot smaller than I expected.
Read more →
Round 1 of Blizzard Battles 2026 pits Mama Bear Soaps' one-off Bedford Falls, a blend of Bear Ice and Hot Buttered Rum, against Adopted Acres' Triple Dog Dare. Twelve artisans entered. One trophy.
Read more →
I forgot to push record on what turned out to be a perfect BBS shave with Wit's End's brand new Dixie Dream soap and splash. You're still getting the full review.
Read more →
Round 1 drops June 21st. Before that, I'm resetting my menthol benchmarks with Paso Green and Chiseled Face Cryogen, and I've got updates on two artisans who didn't make the lineup.
Read more →
Grabbed this one at the meet-up the moment I got my nose on it. Cajun Blade's 250th Defending Liberty is a bourbon-and-tobacco collab soap, and I haven't put it down since.
Read more →
Picked up Rei Momo at the Noble Otter booth last weekend. Pineapple, coconut, banana, vanilla - tropical and creamy. Coming soon. One shave in, and I'm already sold.
Read more →
I've been on a fougere kick, and Denton Majik's Dominate is checking every box. An homage to the discontinued Brut Dominant, plus the full Texas Wet Shavers meetup schedule if you're coming out.
Read more →
The Shave Mercantile's Sangria Nocturne hits the den tonight: dark fruits, citrus, red wine, and an intimate scent built for late evenings. Plus their new splash aftershave in the same fragrance.
Read more →
David Young at Soap Palooza made a soap for the Great Texas Wet Shavers Meetup - coffee, leather, smoke, and desert creosote. I got my hands on it before the unveiling and it's real good.
Read more →
Bary reviews Wit's End Ultimate Sacrifice, an annual May release for Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. Inspired by D&G Light Blue, with proceeds benefiting the National Law Enforcement Fund.
Read more →
Explore the Shave Dad Sportsman Series soap and splash. A refined outdoorsy scent – flannel tuxedo. Limited release one-and-done artisan shave set.
Read more →
Discover “Shave Dad’s Dad,” a nostalgic scent from the collaboration between Phoenix Shaving and Shaved Dad, honoring fathers with vintage elegance.
Read more →
