Blizzard Battles 2026 Final Four: Cajun Blade Subzero vs. Hearth & Altar
Howdy, and welcome back to Blizzard Battles 2026, round 12. Before I finish up round 11, I’ve got a quick heads-up. I found out about this one the day before I sat down to record: Stirling Soap Co. put out a soap and splash called Shivering. Limited release, nothing else in the lineup, just the two. If you missed the email, or missed my post, or somebody else’s post about it, go check it out. It’s built around a vintage-style scent with a serious dose of menthol; they’re calling it 50% more menthol than their Glacial soap. So if you’re the type who likes your face to go numb, that one’s for you.
Alright, back to round 11. Triple Dog Dare from Adopted Acres against Frost in Space from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements. On my scorecard, that one landed as a tie, eight to eight. But you guys came out in record numbers for the vote. Forty-eight for Adopted Acres, eighteen for Phoenix Artisan’s Frost in Space. That puts Adopted Acres at nine points on the season against Phoenix Artisan’s eight. Congratulations to Doug and Cara at Adopted Acres. Triple Dog Dare moves you into the final. Outstanding job.
The Final Four Deserves a Giveaway
I’ve got one more announcement before I introduce the soaps, and it’s a good one. We’re doing a giveaway. This has been the most fun I’ve ever had running Blizzard Battles, and that’s on every artisan who signed on and every one of you who showed up to vote, week after week, on label art and tiebreakers and whatever else I threw at you. Turnout’s been the best I’ve ever had on this channel. I want to give a little back, and a couple of the artisans sent me extra soaps to do exactly that.
First up, a tub of Wits End Berserker. That label alone is worth the tub. It has a great scent, and I hear Wits End has something new in the works. Second, a tub of PAA Frost in Space, a soap I’ve used in this battle. As far as I know, this is the only soap in the whole challenge that hasn’t had a public release yet, so this tub is about as rare as they come. It’s got the little cubes in it. Supposedly the black one is meant to dissolve out by your second use. Mine still had it hanging around, so don’t be surprised if yours does the same.
I’ll pull a hashtag code word out somewhere in this video, so watch for it. The drawing happens at the end.
Round 12: The Last Semifinal
Alright, time to introduce the contestants. Left side, The Cajun Blade’s Subzero. Most of you already own this one, and if you don’t, you’ve heard about it. Splash included, and I’m running my Grizzly Bay brush with the black feral on that side. Right side: Hearth & Altar’s Barren Earth, also with the splash, paired with my Grizzly Bay and the red feral.
Razor’s a different one this time. I own three of these, and I don’t think I’ve ever actually shaved with this particular one before now. It’s an AMBS AC razor, a one-piece design. The blade loads and unloads out the back, it’s skeletonized, and it’s adjustable for aggression. This one’s set on two of what I believe are three positions. You pop the top cap off and swap it for whichever aggression level you want, then screw it back down. It’s been about a year since I pulled one of these out of the drawer, and it felt like time.
Time to load the soaps. Subzero first, and man, it smells good straight out of the tub. Per the label, it opens bright and citrus before blending into mango and coconut, a clean tropical profile set against the cold of the shave. Eric nailed it with this one. Quick reminder while I’ve got it out: Eric’s off Etsy now. If you want Subzero, or Cutter if you haven’t smelled that one yet, go straight to thecajunbladestore.com.
Barren Earth is next. Per the label, it’s built around the goddess Demeter, a barren grove of dry cedar and vetiver. No growth, no warmth, no mercy. This one also smells fantastic straight out of the tub, and now I’m wondering if it can actually beat Subzero. The menthol in this one is already climbing into my sinuses before the brush even touches my face.
The Shave
Both loaded, glasses off, face wet. This is round 12, pass one, and there’s only one semifinal left after this. I really hope you’ve enjoyed this challenge as much as I have. When I first reached out to put an artisan challenge together, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull it off. Every artisan who answered the call, thank you. Even the ones who couldn’t make it wanted to, and I appreciate the effort just the same.
Cold water hits my lip first. I’ve got about 48 hours of growth since the last Blizzard Battle, and I’m a little worried about how loaded both of these splashes are going to be. Subzero goes on first. Eric built this on his White Walker base, made specifically to carry menthol, and it shows. The lather’s outstanding.
Barren Earth goes on the other side, and that vetiver hits immediately. I love vetiver, and it works so well with the cedar underneath it. My nose is already starting to go. Final four is always the coldest round, it’s the best soaps in the challenge going head to head.
First pass, initial coldness: I’m giving them both a four. I feel like Barren Earth might have a slight edge, but not enough to knock either one out of that range, because Subzero is lighting me up plenty on its own. If you own more than one cold soap, do yourself a favor and run a side-by-side shave like this one. You think you know which one’s colder until you actually put them on the same face on the same day. It’s a different experience entirely.
Razor’s a first-use Feather Super Professional blade, and the AMBS is set in a medium aggression range. It feels great right out of the gate. I can tell already this is going to be a good shave.
Second pass, and Subzero’s coming in stronger than I expected. If you hear a little rattle from the razor, that’s normal; the blade isn’t clamped down tight. It floats until it seats against the skin. Barren Earth ticks up too on this pass, not by much, but it’s there.
Final pass, and it’s close. Subzero’s lather is still silky, and that fragrance keeps delivering. Barren Earth’s dry cedar and vetiver combo is holding its own right alongside it. Barren Earth might be the most fitting name in this whole challenge. By the end of the pass, I’m numb in places and lit up in others, and this super wide razor head is making the tight spots a project. Both soaps’ lathers are performing exactly the same as each other again, which is starting to feel less like a coincidence and more like these two artisans know exactly what they’re doing.
I finish the pass, rinse off, and head back for the splashes and the longevity test.
Find your peace in what and where you can. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you there.