Speick – Shave Stick Stories by Sig Solo

Hello, I’m Sig Solo. Welcome to my channel and to this chapter (9) of Shave Stick Stories. Yes, we have made it to June, and this is now the third month of this series. For this month, I will be using the Muhle R89 and the Frank shaving brush with a G5 knot. This is actually one of the first G5 knots ever made, potentially among the first. It features an antibacterial property.

So, for today’s shave stick, the main character is the Speik Shave Stick from Germany. Here it is. It weighs 50 grams, and I paid $8 for it, which is somewhat expensive for just 50 grams. The stick looks almost like a crystal and is vegan-based. The Speik Soap Company was founded in 1928, so it has been going strong for nearly 96 years, depending on how you count.

The name “Speik” actually comes from a German herb, the alpine plant known as “Speik” or “Valeriana,” which has some beneficial skin properties. This shave stick also contains lavender. To be honest, the scent doesn’t strike me as spicy but rather herbal, reminiscent of a herbal tea you might receive when visiting someone deeply into herbalism. I have to admit that it’s not a scent I particularly enjoy. Neither my family, including my wife and daughter, liked it. In fact, my daughter said it smells like a bad herbal tea. I’m not sure what a “bad herbal tea” is, but that was her interpretation of the scent. I hope that once it is lathered on my face, it will be more pleasant, as I’m not a fan of the initial aroma.

This will, of course, affect my scoring. As always in Shave Stick Stories, I will score the six S’s: Simplicity of use, scent, scent strength, slickness, and skin feel, each on a scale from one to five. The maximum possible score, therefore, is 25. So far, the top scorer has been the La Toja and the Tabac from last week, which both share first place with 23 points.

Now, let’s get started. The reason I’m using the Muhle R89 this June and the G5 knot is that these are some of the most common products many wet shavers have in their collection, similar to the Tech in the first month and the Merkur 34C in May. I aim to create relatability for you, as you might have these products but may not have tried the soap.

As I’m lathering, I feel it’s a bit runny. I think I made this brush too wet, so it will not form up like Santa Claus’s beard, that’s for sure. The scent has become slightly weaker while lathering but hasn’t changed much overall. What you get from the stick is pretty much what you will experience on your face too, at least to my nose. I don’t detect much lavender unless it’s a specific type that I’m unfamiliar with. Lavender is known to be soothing for the skin and the mind, but that’s debatable.

In terms of ease of use, I would rate it a three. Regarding the scent, I have to be honest; I’m not a fan of it. I won’t give it a one, as that would imply I hate it, but I can only tolerate it. Therefore, I’ll give it a two. My assessment of the scent strength is a three.
I started off with a three-day stubble, as I often do for these shaves. The soap feels quite slick. Just a quick note: the R89 twist is the heaviest of the Muhle R89 series. I had ordered the Grand, which is the three-piece version of this, but something entirely different arrived. Now, I’m battling with the company to get my money back and to receive the correct item. I’ve decided to re-order it from another company and hope that it arrives soon.

In July, I plan to use the Edwin Jagger DE89 with a long handle. As for the brush, I haven’t decided yet. In August, I will be using the Rockwell 6C. That’s as far as I’ve planned—only June, July, and August. September might be a mix of brushes and razors, and I’m open to suggestions. Is there a common razor you’d recommend? The King C. Gillette is on my list; perhaps that will be the choice for September. I’m trying to utilize razors and brushes that are widely recognized in this hobby.

Alright, let me press out the rest of the lather. I won’t be doing three passes, as I never find that it yields a better result, and it tends to cause me more skin irritation. Currently, I am experiencing a prickling sensation on my cheeks, which suggests that my skin might be reacting to something in the soap.

I can confidently give the slickness a five, as it feels perfectly slick. So, it comes down to whether you’re considering buying this or if you already have it. Let me know—do you appreciate this scent, or do you find it too herbal and medicinal, as I do? Just to provide some background, my parents were into herbalism when I was growing up. We lived in a communal setting, sharing food and experiences with several families. This upbringing included a lot of experimenting with food and a consistent supply of herbal tea, which was prevalent.

So, at least the scent brings back some fond memories of those times.

Now, back to scoring: slickness was a five, simplicity of use was a three, scent was a two, scent strength was a three, and skin feel… oh yes. The skin feels smooth, but there’s a slightly sticky sensation. I would give the skin feel a three as well.

Let’s tally up the final score: simplicity of use was a three, scent was a two, scent strength was a three, slickness was a five, and skin feel was a three. So, that’s three plus two plus three plus five plus three, which totals 16. Therefore, the Spike Shave Stick earns a score of 16.

Only consider purchasing it if you’re into herbal scents, as they are prominent and very herbal, with no sweetness to balance it out. The lavender is there, but it might be hard to detect for some.

So, please like, subscribe, hit the bell, and share. Remember, we do this not because we’re obsessed but because we’re dedicated. Sig Solo out!

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