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Saponificio Varesino Cosmo Cosmo is an original composition that feels familiar at first blush. With its bold, citrus-forward opening, a dusting of pepper, and a firm vetiver backbone, it shares some DNA with another Saponificio Varesino favorite, Desert Vetiver. Where Cosmo departs is in its gourmand leanings: a touch of coffee adds depth and earthy texture, while vanilla and incense broaden the base and nudge the profile away from purely woody towards an oriental-tinged finish. The spice accord is the signature here. Unlike a bay rum or barbershop, Cosmo leans into the drier spices of coriander and pepper paired with a roasted coffee note, creating an earthy heat that serves as a crisp foil for the bright citrus. Together they feel vivid and energizing, a pairing that’s more eye-opening than heavy. As it settles, vanilla and incense smooth the edges and round the bouquet into a semi-sweet foundation that calms the sharper angles without muting the character. The result is classy, complex, and confidently masculine, with a gentlemanly nod to an earlier era before the fruit-forward trends of the 1990s.  Fresh, spicy, with real depth and a refined finish, Cosmo makes a statement while staying versatile, and is a strong daytime pick when you want something conservative and timeless, but still interesting enough to feel intentional. Visit The Razor Company to learn more about Saponificio Varesino Cosmo The Razor Company

The Tube 2.0 ShaveSplash tested the Tube 2.0 from creative powerhouse Phoenix Shaving for a full week, asking three simple questions: Are the ingredients good? Is it easy to use? Does it work? The answers were: yes, yes, and yes . Within the wet shaving community, the necessity of a pre-shave is often debated. Many believe a well-hydrated proto-lather is sufficient, and some argue that pre-shaves can even work against your shave. The official ShaveSplash view is more nuanced: pre-shaves absolutely have their place, but it might not be needed with every shave. On days when your face feels a bit raw, when your razor feels assertive, or when a blade begins to tug, the added slickness, protection, and skin support of a well-formulated pre-shave can meaningfully elevate performance. Pre-shaves generally fall into four categories, each with distinct mechanisms and tradeoffs. Oils Method: Plant oils such as castor, grapeseed, avocado, or almond increase glide. Pros: Minimal barrier between steel and stubble. Cons: Can interfere with lather adhesion, feel greasy, and be difficult to rinse clean. Creams Method: Emulsions built on fatty acids and emollients such as stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, and butters. Pros: Light protective layer that integrates well with lather. Cons: Can over-hydrate lather if overapplied. Gels Method: Humectants like glycerin structured with gel formers such as carbomer or xanthan gum. Pros: Support lather while adding slickness. Easy to rinse. Cons: Applied too thickly, they can introduce drag. Solids Method: Concentrated glycerin bases enhanced with clays, waxes, and butters. Pros: Controlled application, easy handling, and typically rinse clean. Cons: Overapplication can clog narrow blade gaps or lather channels. Phoenix Shaving arguably defined the modern solid pre-shave category with the release of the Cube in 2017, whose square format blurred the line between soap and pre-shave. Its real innovation lay in the formula, which leans on glycerin and sorbitol to provide humectant-driven slickness but also contains a thoughtful blend of skin-supportive ingredients including activated bamboo charcoal to absorb excess oil, sweet almond oil for added glide, jojoba wax to reinforce the skin barrier, cupuaçu, murumuru, and bacuri butters for moisture retention, and aloe and vitamin E to calm and support stressed skin. The Tube 2.0 builds on and refines the Cube's design with its deodorant-style packaging, which is nothing short of ingenious. One of the hidden challenges of shaving is maintaining grip on a razor, especially heavier stainless models. Many shavers resort to alum on the fingertips to increase friction. The Tube 2.0 elegantly sidesteps the issue altogether by housing the product in a twist-up stick so your hands never come into contact with a slippery block. Even better, it can be reapplied between passes without compromising grip and the rounded head allows for an effortless rolling application and precise spot treatment on areas that need extra assistance. It is controlled, clean, and intuitive. With formula and usability accounted for, two of our three questions were decisively answered. As to performance, as with all shave products this is somewhat personal and "your mileage may vary". That said, the combination of glycerin, sorbitol, and conditioning butters undeniably boosts slickness and on challenging days with raw skin, assertive razors, and less forgiving blades, the Tube 2.0 clearly enhances comfort and glide. The key is restraint. Applied too generously, any solid pre-shave can create a protective layer thick enough to accumulate in the razor head, particularly in designs with narrow blade gaps. ShaveSplash achieved optimal results with a thin, even coat, followed by reapplication between passes as needed to avoid obstructing lather flow. Of note, the mentholated version adds a clean cooling hit, roughly 10–25% stronger than Proraso Pre-Shave in ShaveSplash testing, that will feel especially welcome in hot weather or on days when the skin needs an extra layer of soothing coolness. Conclusion With a smart formulation and a genuinely clever delivery system, Tube 2.0 is more than an iteration, it’s a refinement. It won’t replace the need for good technique or well-hydrated lather. But on days when your shave needs reinforcement, whether that means extra glide, extra comfort, or a refreshing blast of menthol, the Tube 2.0 is a convenient, thoughtfully engineered tool that can provide a noticeable boost in comfort and control. For those who believe pre-shaves have a time and place, the Tube 2.0 makes a compelling case. Phoenix Shaving Visit Phoenix Shaving to Learn More

George Washington by Strike Gold Shave Frank Misa, the creative force behind Strike Gold Shave, has an uncanny ability to identify fragrances that feel current, wearable, and broadly appealing. In a fragrance landscape awash in near-misses and also-rans, Frank’s real gift is curation: he sifts through the noise and somehow lands on scents that feel instantly collection-worthy. More often than not, the result wears like a must-have rather than a maybe. George Washington expands Strike Gold’s Presidential lineup in a smart way by filling a gap it didn’t quite realize it had. Inspired by Kilian’s Apple Brandy, this is a citrus-forward composition that avoids the usual trap of becoming a one-note lemon or orange blast. Instead, it builds a layered, modern accord, weaving fruits, spirits, woods, and amber into something polished and confidently contemporary. Apple is clearly part of the story, but it doesn’t dominate the spotlight. In fact, the scent leans into that “New Fruit” playbook that took off in the 90s and still shapes modern masculine perfumery, think the juicy, crowd-pleasing energy you find in Creed Aventus or YSL Y. Here, pineapple plays a surprisingly strong supporting role, giving the blend a succulent, almost sugary glow without tipping into candy territory. Where George Washington really distinguishes itself is in its ethereal architecture. Rum, brandy, and cognac don’t read as heavy or syrupy. Instead, they add an airy, vapor-like lift, an electric depth that feels atmospheric rather than overindulgent. It captures the idea of aged spirits more than the weight of them, like the lingering impression of a well-made cocktail rather than the aftermath of an all-day happy hour. The base is where the fragrance earns its backbone. Cedarwood and oak provide a masculine framework that grounds the fruit and keeps the profile from getting too glossy. A subtle confectionary touch from vanilla and ambroxan adds richness, but it’s restrained, more “smooth finish” than “dessert.” Cardamom brings a well-placed spark of spice, and a pinch of moss introduces earthiness that, at moments, hints at a tobacco-like nuance, though less loamy and less plush, more dry shadow than velvet. All told, George Washington is a lively blend of bright bergamot, apple, and pineapple, tempered by woods, amber, and a measured sweetness, then pushed into motion by the volatility of beautifully rendered spirits. It feels mature without being stodgy, playful without being adolescent. If there’s a caveat, it’s that the vibe leans a little too after-dark for a conservative office day. But for social gatherings, date nights, or anytime you want something modern, charismatic, and just a touch mysterious, this one absolutely delivers. Shave Soap Scent Strength: 7 Longevity: 8 The Patriot base blends premium ingredients to deliver a high-performance, structured lather. Goat’s milk amplifies density and creaminess; castor oil, glycerin, and tussah silk elevate both primary and residual slickness; while kokum and shea butters soothe the skin and support lasting hydration. The result is a quality modern artisan soap with good cushion and density, high slickness, and ample stability. Shave Soap Skin Foods Aloe: light humectant which soothes irritation. Supports skin barrier to prevent water loss. Shea butter: emollient and mild occlusive which moisturizes and protects. Kokum butter: emollient and mild occlusive which moisturizes and protects. Castor oil: adds slickness and acts as light humectant. Glycerin: humectant which boosts hydration and aids in slickness. Dragon fruit: soothes redness and mild antioxidant. Chamomile water: soothes redness. Tussah silk: adds slickness and smoothes the skin. Aftershave Scent strength: 7 Longevity: 8 Aftershave skin foods Rose Water: soothes mild redness and lightly hydrates. Aloe: light humectant which soothes irritation. Supports skin barrier to prevent water loss. Witch Hazel: astringent and anti-inflammatory. Vitamin E: emollient which moisturizes and is an antioxidant. Calendula: reduces irritation. Chamomile water: soothes redness. Red Clover: antioxidant which softens skin. Visit Strike Gold Shave

Dragon Noir A new soap from Phoenix Shaving has dropped inspired by the legendary Drakkar Noir. Top Notes: Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon Verbena, Basil, Artemisia; a fresh, herbaceous citrus burst. Middle Note: Juniper, Coriander, Cinnamon, Carnation, Jasmine, Angelica, Wormwood; spice, warm herbal complexity, and a bit of floral nuance. Base: Oakmoss, Leather, Fir balsam, Pine Needles, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Cedarwood, Amber, Resins; deep woods, earth, resin, and leathery tones anchor the scent with warmth and classic masculine depth. Douglas Smythe writes..... When Drakkar Noir hit its peak in the late 80s and early 90s, it was everywhere. Clubs. Cars. High Schools, College dorms. Office elevators. Date nights. It was one of the best selling men’s fragrances on the planet. For a stretch of time, it defined what “men’s cologne” even meant. Lord knows my best friend Mike wore the hell out of it! (Drakkar was his scent, Shulton's Old Spice was mine.) Aromatic. Dark. Clean. Sharp. Comforting. It was the smell of confidence for an entire generation. Dragon Noir is our tribute to that time. And it's is no accident we are dropping Dragon Noir. Across cultures and traditions, the dragon is not chaos. It is considered grounding. It represents raw, earthly energy and stability. A symbol of endurance and protection. Dragon symbolism is often tied to feeling centered in your body and steady in your mind. It shows up again and again in systems focused on resilience and regulation. For example: Somatic grounding. In therapeutic visualization, a “dragon tail” is used as an imagined anchor. It connects the body to the ground. It creates a sense of weight, support, and strength. Elemental connection. Earth dragons are associated with stability, endurance, and deep connection to the natural world. Balanced energy. In Eastern philosophy, the dragon reflects harmony. It unites opposing forces into something steady, centered, and whole. Resilience and protection. Dragon scales are symbols of armor. They represent personal strength, nervous system safety, and the ability to withstand pressure. Rooted focus. Wood and Earth dragons are linked to being organized, grounded, and clear headed. Fun Fact: A drakkar is a term for a type of Viking longship or warship, originating from Old Norse words for "dragon"! So it's as simple as that Shave Cadets! Stay strong, resilient and steadfast in these "interesting times"...and give 'em hell! Soap Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Shea Butterate, Potassium Castorate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cocoa Butterate, Potassium Avocadoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Astrocaryum (Murumuru) Seed Butter, Platonia Insignis (Bacuri) Seed Butter, Parfum [Fragrance] Learn More About Dragon Noir Here

ShaveSplash: The Rabbit Hole Hi ShaveSplash friends, I’m excited to share that ShaveSplash: The Rabbit Hole  is now live on iOS, and I’m getting ready to launch the Android beta . To release on Google Play, Google requires at least 12 testers  who keep the app installed for 14 days . If you’d like to help, I’d be grateful. Want to join the Android beta? Email me at teutonblade@shavesplash.com  with the Gmail address you use for the Google Play Store , and I’ll send you the invite and next steps. What the app does (and why I built it) My design philosophy was simple: build the shave log and den tracker I’d want to use every day. I focused on four things: customization, granularity, data integration, and live updates . 1) Customization Every shaver evaluates a shave differently. Many apps lock you into their scoring system. The Rabbit Hole lets you create your own. You can track shaves quantitatively  (1–10 scoring, multiple categories) and qualitatively  (DFS, BBS, irritation notes, and more). Presets are included, but everything is customizable, and your results roll into analytics so you can spot patterns over time. 2) Granularity Wet shaving gear is wonderfully specific, and trackers are often too generic. Razors can have different plates, metals, finishes, and many of us own multiple versions of the same model. The Rabbit Hole lets you track those details across razors, blades, brushes, soaps, aftershaves, balms, and EDPs , so your den stays accurate and useful. 3) Data integration ShaveSplash’s soap and aftershave database is packed with product data meant to help you understand what you’re using and why it works. I built an API that lets you select soaps and aftershaves from the ShaveSplash catalog  and pull that info directly into your shave log. 4) Live updates Wet shaving is about the shave, but it’s also about the community. The app includes a live feed of community news and new product coverage, plus quick access to ShaveSplash.com and its tools. The app has no subscription fees  and no hidden charges . It’s built as a community tool, and I’d love your feedback on what to improve or add next. Thanks, as always, for your support and for making ShaveSplash what it is. The iOS app is now live on the app store in 175 countries and in the US can be found here: https://apple.co/3Z8wfBa Warmly, Teutonblade P.S. If you join the Android beta, please keep the app installed for the full 14 days  so the test counts toward Google’s requirement.

Pulp + Petal Pulp + Petal feels like Happy Chap bottled a tropical afternoon and didn’t bother to hide the grin. The theme is loud and clear from the first hit: sunshine, warm air, and the kind of carefree sweetness that belongs near sand, saltwater, and a drink with a little umbrella in it. This is not a scent that tiptoes in. It arrives bright, juicy, and immediately legible, yet it never gets rough around the edges. The blend is smooth, polished, and intentionally fun. Passionfruit takes the lead, vivid and mouthwatering, with passionflower adding a soft, floral lift that keeps the fruit from turning syrupy. Pineapple comes in next, adding a tangy snap that reads more “fresh-squeezed” than candied, while coconut cream settles underneath as a gentle, velvety base note that rounds the whole thing out. The effect is a tropical cocktail accord: upbeat, sweet, and easy to wear when the vibe is casual. In a buttoned-up office it may feel a touch too playful, but on a beach day, a summer weekend, or a night at the tiki bar, it’s exactly the point. See more details here . Visit Happy Chap

Full details can be find here . Here's what Maggard posted.... Maggard Razors is hosting our 9th annual Wet Shaving Meet Up DATE: April 25, 2026 TIME: 12pm - 4pm LOCATION: 124 S Winter St. Adrian MI 49221 In 2025, we saw over 185 attendees and 14 vendors, making it one of the largest wet shaving events in the USA. This year, the event will be capped at 180 attendees and 18 vendors, and we’re charging a nominal ticket fee ($36) to secure your spot. you’ll receive: – $14.00 meal voucher for a participating restaurant in downtown Adrian – Free soft drinks, water, and a selection of beer and hard seltzers for the day – Entrance into drawings for door prizes (Guaranteed 100+ winners chosen, some big ticket items!) to all ticket holders purchased before 4/23/2026 – guaranteed samples/freebies from most of the vendors in attendance – a MASSIVE Pay-it-forward table. Bring your old, unused, or unwanted items, drop them on the table, and pick up anything from the table that fancies you. RULES: For software, you may donate full size products in their original packaging with minimum 50% of the product remaining. No sample sizes or “home made” packaging please! Hardware should be clean and functional (no defective / unsafe razors). – The opportunity to meet and greet with some of the wet shaving’s most popular artisan vendors CONFIRMED VENDORS BARRISTER AND MANN THROUGH THE FIRE FINE CRAFT SHANNON'S SOAPS DOWNTOWN ADRIAN FOOD CHOICES We work with local restaurants downtown to give you several food choices on meet day. Turn in your MEAL TICKET to one of 4-5 participating restaurants and Maggard will pick up the first $14.00 of your bill! Restaurants currently on board: Located downtown: Sauce (Italian + Bar) Chomp Burger (Burgers + Bar) Maumee St. Taproom+Kitchen (Homestyle small plates + Bar) Located near hotel: Aubrees (Pizza & Assorted Menu + Bar) Culver's (Butterburgers, Frozen Custard) AFTER MEET GATHERING ~9:00PM - 11:30PM (Saturday night) Hampton Inn & Suites Conference Room HOTELS PREFERRED: Hampton Inn & Suites - LOCATION OF AFTER PARTY Address: 1335 S Main St, Adrian, MI 49221 Phone: (517) 266-2600 Group rate is $114/night. Details for booking will be published as soon as our contract is signed and I get a link for booking. Comfort Inn & Suites Address: 425 Industrial Dr, Adrian, MI 49221 Phone: (517) 759-3410 The Carlton Lodge Address: 1629 W Maumee St, Adrian, MI 49221 Phone: (517) 263-7000 Holiday Inn Express Adrian Address: 1077 US-223, Adrian, MI 49221 Phone: (517) 265-5700

Barrister & Mann and Stirling Soap Co. are two of the most respected names in wet shaving. So when Will Carius, founder of Barrister & Mann and the creative force behind its fragrances and formulas, announced that Stirling would be taking over soap production, it caught the community’s attention immediately. ShaveSplash caught up with Will to talk through the decision, what it means for Barrister & Mann going forward, and what shavers can expect next. Here’s Will… You announced you will be moving production to Stirling. What led you to this decision and why is now the right time? It’s time for me to do something other than burn myself on hot equipment for 15 hours a day. I need to focus on running and growing the business rather than making soap (and whatever else) all day, every day. As for the right time, it would have been six months ago, but we couldn’t manage that, partly due to extreme personnel restrictions, partly due to having to deal with the fallout from my father’s sudden passing in December 2024. Why did you choose Stirling as your manufacturing partner? The list of manufacturers that can accommodate this kind of work at this kind of volume is extremely short. I would go so far as to say that Stirling is likely unique in that respect. There are other, larger companies, but their minimum order quantities are generally in the tens of thousands of units per fragrance, which we could not possibly afford, let alone sell in a profitable time period. There are also smaller companies, but most of them either have facility issues or would not be able to absorb the volume increase without seriously disturbing their current business models. Which Barrister and Mann products will Stirling produce, soaps, aftershaves, balms, bar soaps, EDPs, and will anything remain made in house? Only fragrance production will remain in-house. Everything else will either be produced by Stirling or will be made by a production lab with which I’ve worked for many years. They’ve made the aftershave base (what used to be called “Barrister’s Reserve”) almost since its creation. What will the transition look like for customers in terms of timing, availability, and any changes they might notice? Ideally, our customers won’t notice any change at all once production resumes. As for timing, as soon as possible, I’m afraid that I don’t have a more concrete answer than that. This is an extremely labor-and-time-intensive undertaking, and, while we’re working as fast as we can, much of this will be finished and done at the absolute last minute. The weather, including the most recent storm, is also likely to interfere, so we’re going to have to work around that as well. Omnibus is prized for its performance. How will you ensure the shave feel, lather characteristics, and overall quality remain consistent after the move? Lockhart’s Authentic Grooming produced a product identical to the one made in my lab, and I didn’t even have to fly out there to teach them. So far as Stirling adheres to the formula and production methods they are taught (and I see no reason why they wouldn’t), there will be no issue. What quality control standards and testing will be in place to make sure each batch meets your specifications? That’s between us and Stirling, I’m afraid, but I have every confidence that they are up to the task. Fragrance is central to Barrister and Mann. How will you ensure every scent stays true to what customers know today? I will continue to produce the fragrances myself in my studio in Massachusetts. There will be no change in the fragrances because they’ll still be made according to my formulas and by my own hand. Will your role in fragrance creation and blending change at all once production is outsourced? Not in the slightest. I consider our fragrances to be the single most important aspect of Barrister and Mann, one that I would never entrust to anyone else (except in a collaborative format), and I will continue to blend and compose them as I have always done. Do you expect this shift to affect pricing, either increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, and why? I expect pricing to remain unchanged. The shaving soap business is enormously cash-intensive and requires considerable labor without the aid of many millions in commercial equipment. I’ve seen speculation that Stirling might purchase a soap mill to accommodate the increase in volume but, speaking only for myself (and thus not for Rod and Mandy), I rather doubt that such a thing is possible; soap mills, properly called extruders, require industrially-dried soap base in order to function correctly, and commercial soap noodles are in no way suited to the manufacture of bespoke shaving soap formulas. They’d have to set up giant kettles and drying rooms before even considering an extruder, which would require massive capital investment. It’s just not likely to happen. The primary benefit of handing off production to Stirling is that it will give me time to focus on the parts of the company that require my direct attention. The product's scalability will remain about the same, at least for now. How do you see outsourcing changing Barrister and Mann’s mission and your ability to innovate going forward? Honestly, I doubt it will change much. I’ve spoken publicly many times about the idea that I largely consider the Base Wars to be over. Additional innovations in shaving soap formulation will yield only small increases in performance over the long term, and I’m much more concerned with offering an excellent product in interesting fragrances than with pursuing that last little percentage of lubricity or cushion. I will continue to develop fragrances myself in my studio and formulate new products on a small scale, as I have always done. If I come up with something exotic or truly revolutionary, I’ll head back down to Arkansas and get them set up to scale it for full production. What were the some of the biggest changes you’ve made to your website and eCommerce strategy, and how do they improve the experience for visitors? I haven’t really overhauled our website in years. I’ve made incremental changes, and a full redesign is coming, but everything else has been what I can spare the time to do. That’s part of the problem, actually: I don’t have a webmaster or design team and currently don’t have the time to work on the website myself. All I can do is little things here and there, which results in broken, buggy code and confusing web design. I hope to change that once I have more time available. Looking ahead, what can you share about upcoming products, releases, or initiatives for Barrister and Mann? For the time being, my ability to plan that stuff is limited, largely because I am almost completely focused on moving production and returning everything to availability. However, I can say that we will resume export to the EU in the next few months, though I’ve still been unable to convince our distributor to carry any colognes other than Fougère Gothique. I’m also hoping to offer a micronized silver deodorant at some point in the future; anyone who’s heard/read me talk about it knows how much I love Super Deodorant (which is currently available on our site), and, with Super Deodorant itself pivoting to some kind of new, top-secret formula that they’ve been teasing for months, I’m very interested in developing my own version, which I’d love to offer in fragranced varieties. I’m also hoping to complete my lip balm formula, which I started a few years ago and had to set aside after things got too busy for me to continue. My longstanding view is that most lip balm is pretty terrible, and, having grown up in a place that becomes extremely dry in the cold months, I’ve been looking for a better version for years. I’ve nearly finished it, so I’d love to be able to put it on the market. Will Carius Visit Barrister & Mann

Visit Phoenix Shaving There isn’t much about Phoenix Shaving that isn’t bold. From the artwork and fragrances to the ultra-rich soap base, and even the gear, everything radiates adventure, creativity, and a maximalist spirit. Spice Bot carries that signature DNA, but tempers it into something more composed: a sonorous, captivating composition that is equal parts inviting and intriguingly complex. Inspired by Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme, Spice Bot lands firmly in the Oriental/Amber family, while sending clear signals toward an aromatic fougère structure. Where Spicebomb Extreme aims to be loud, immediate, and unapologetically forceful, Doug and Fran show real finesse, coaxing a spice-forward blend with restraint and elegance. It reads unmistakably masculine, yet never feels abrasive or overbearing; instead, it plays the role of a confident companion fragrance: present, polished, and remarkably wearable. Spice is the headline, but it isn’t the whole story. At moments, the warm aromatic core gives a friendly nod to classic barbershop territory, think Old Spice, Brut, and even the swagger of certain Bay Rums like Clásico or Bastardo. The departure, and the elevation, comes from the more exotic detailing: saffron, cumin, pimento berries (allspice), and black pepper. Those notes add a textured, worldly intrigue that keeps Spice Bot from slipping into familiar, well-trod spice motifs. The real cleverness, though, may be in what frames the spices above and below. Up top, grapefruit cuts through with a bright, bitter-citrus lift that keeps the opening energetic rather than heavy. Down below, a classic oriental foundation of labdanum, amber, and vanilla provides a resinous, golden warmth, delectable, but not syrupy. In the heart, lavender introduces a soft aromatic polish and a faint powdery bloom, creating that fougère shape without turning the scent into a barbershop pastiche. And then there’s the masterstroke: tobacco. Used with a measured hand, it brings an earthy warmth and a subtle smokiness that feels quietly luxurious, an echo, in spirit, of the darker richness Phoenix Shaving has explored in scents like Malbolge, but integrated here in a way that feels smoother and more broadly approachable. It’s the note that gives Spice Bot its individuality: less “spice explosion,” more “spiced velvet.” Spicebomb Extreme is often called a cold-weather king for its fiery intensity. Spice Bot certainly oozes warmth and richness, but it does so with gentlemanly refinement: modern, inviting, and adaptable. It’s the kind of scent you can apply generously before running out the door in sweats, and still feel perfectly at home wearing to an elegant night out. Versatile, always appropriate, and expertly balanced, Spice Bot feels like a new staple in the well-rounded rotation. Top notes: Grapefruit, pimento berries, black pepper Heart notes: Lavender, cumin, saffron, warm aromatic spices Base notes: Tobacco, labdanum, woody, amber, vanilla Shave Soap Scent Strength: 6 Longevity: 5 Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements’ flagship CK-6 soap base is a vegan formula that founder Douglas Smythe calls the “Mystical Trifecta of Slick.” It blends three Amazonian butters, bacuri, cupuaçu, and murumuru, with shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and glycerin to create a textured lather reminiscent of dense cottage cheese. The result is a voluminous, high-density lather with exceptional moisturization properties that offer classing-leading density, excellent cushion, high slickness, and rock-solid stability. Skin Foods (unconfirmed) Glycerin : humectant which pulls water into the skin, boosts hydration, and supports a plumper feel. Kokum butter: firm emollient and mild occlusive which softens dry patches and helps reduce moisture loss without feeling greasy. Shea butter: rich emollient and mild occlusive which nourishes, calms dryness, and supports the skin barrier. Cupuacu butter: emollient with strong water-binding ability which boosts suppleness, cushions the skin, and helps protect against dehydration. Jojoba oil: lightweight emollient (wax ester similar to sebum) which softens, helps balance oiliness, and reinforces the barrier without cloggy heaviness. Bacuri butter: rich emollient which comforts very dry skin, supports barrier repair, and helps improve softness and elasticity. Murumuru: silky emollient butter which smoothes roughness, reduces transepidermal water loss, and leaves a velvety protective finish. Aftershave Scent Strength: 7 Longevity: 6 Skin Foods (unconfirmed) Aloe vera: light humectant which soothes irritation, calms redness, and supports skin hydration. Elemi resin: aromatic resin with mild soothing and skin-conditioning properties, often lending a smooth, balsamic feel. Willow bark extract: gentle exfoliating and clarifying agent (natural salicylates) which helps refine skin texture and calm irritation. Jerusalem pine resin: aromatic resin which adds a protective, comforting feel and mild skin-conditioning benefits. Liquid silk (vegan): skin-conditioning polymer which adds slip, smoothness, and a silky afterfeel. Benzoin resin: aromatic resin and mild occlusive which comforts dry skin, helps reduce moisture loss, and adds a soft, balsamic smoothness. Coming Soon to Phoenix Shaving

Frost Chapel Phoenix Shaving has released Frost Chapel, a superstar from the past Advent Calendar. Scent Profile: Eucalyptus, Mint, Powder, Amaretto, Spruce, Moss, Evergreen, Tonka, Balsam, Cedar, Amber, Rum, Musk, Oud. Douglas Smythe writes... There was just something extremely special about this accord, so much so it had the community begging for a full release. I get it, believe me, I get it. Also, don't let the name fool you, Frost Chapel is not mentholated...that'd be too easy! The eucalyptus and mint do however offer a little coolness at the edges, but just a little. To me, this is possibly the perfect winter, cool weather frag but...I could easily see some of you wearing this juice in the warmer months too (psychos). A solid, original PAA performer and destined to be one of our cult classics! Welcome to Frost Chapel where the doors are always open, but do lower your voice, and try not to alert whatever is definitely living in the trees. (yup, there's something bigger than bats in our belfry for sure...but you would expect that with a PAA drop, no?) The first thing Frost Chapel does is flick you in the nose with something resinous and familiar...until eucalyptus and mint kick the doors open like overcaffeinated ushers. WHAM. Something inside your brain suddenly snaps awake. And that is when the winter forest tackles you. Spruce, evergreen, and balsam pile in like a Boy Scout troop that has gone feral. This is not “holiday candle” forest. This is “you should have told someone where you were going” forest. Because there's no going back after this; needles, sap, dead leaves, snow, trees, prismatic sunlight exploding thru icicles swinging like inscensors at mass. And that's just the beginning! Soon the moss moves in. Damp, dark and a little uncanny. At this point, Frost Chapel stops being a scent and becomes a situation. Just when you’re wondering if you should start building a fire, talc floats through and throws a scruffy wool blanket over the whole thing. The accord gets softer. Quieter. Now, a glowing warmth sneaks in. Tonka shows up first. Amaretto follows, nutty and cozy-like. Then rum wanders through, not drunk, but definitely smelling like it knows where the barrel is buried and it feels a sermon coming on. Amber thickens the air, turning the whole forest into something really different. (in a good way) Then the base notes roll in like bouncers to make sure none of this gets too out of hand. Cedar shows up with a toolbox and starts building walls. Dry wood. Solid beams. Cedar is very responsible. Musk makes cedar nervous and adds an animal element. And finally, oud drifts in like a confession of sorts; Dark. Smoky. Sitting quietly, and making intense eye contact with your soul. Admittedly, there are a lot of priests in the pulpit here, and somehow, none of it collapses. It stacks. It balances. It just works. And most importantly, it blows minds. (I'm serious) You don’t wear Frost Chapel to smell “good" (but you will). You wear it to smell like you know where the secret door in the forest is. (because you now do) Frost Chapel: a totally unique and wonderful winter scent that I know you are absolutely going to love! Just when you’re wondering if you should start building a fire, talc floats through and throws a scruffy wool blanket over the whole thing. The accord gets softer. Quieter. Now, a glowing warmth sneaks in. Tonka shows up first. Amaretto follows, nutty and cozy-like. Then rum wanders through, not drunk, but definitely smelling like it knows where the barrel is buried and it feels a sermon coming on. Amber thickens the air, turning the whole forest into something really different. (in a good way) Then the base notes roll in like bouncers to make sure none of this gets too out of hand. Cedar shows up with a toolbox and starts building walls. Dry wood. Solid beams. Cedar is very responsible. Musk makes cedar nervous and adds an animal element. And finally, oud drifts in like a confession of sorts; Dark. Smoky. Sitting quietly, and making intense eye contact with your soul. Admittedly, there are a lot of priests in the pulpit here, and somehow, none of it collapses. It stacks. It balances. It just works. And most importantly, it blows minds. (I'm serious) You don’t wear Frost Chapel to smell “good" (but you will). You wear it to smell like you know where the secret door in the forest is. (because you now do) Frost Chapel: a totally unique and wonderful winter scent that I know you are absolutely going to love! Aftershave Ingredients: Denatured Alcohol, Peppermint Hydrosol, Glycerin, Essential & Fragrance Oils, Aloe, Vegan Liquid Silk, Jerusalem Pine & Benzoin Resin 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) Classic Glass Flask Soap Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Shea Butterate, Potassium Castorate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cocoa Butterate, Potassium Avocadoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Astrocaryum (Murumuru) Seed Butter, Platonia Insignis (Bacuri) Seed Butter, Parfum [Fragrance] Soap Net Wt 4 oz (113 g) Learn More About Frost Chapel Here

Strike Gold Shave Details are limited but according to Frank Misa the scent is inspired by Killian's Apple Brandy, which has the following scent notes: Top Notes: Cardamom, Bergamot Heart Notes: Apple, Rum, Brandy, Pineapple, Vanilla, Moss Base Notes: Cedar, Ambroxan A beautiful blend which falls in the Fresh Aromatic/Fruity category. Visit Strike Gold Shave

Here's the latest from Will Carius at Barrister & Mann. ShaveSplash will be interviewing Will for more details in the coming days. "In the wake of my announcement earlier this week about moving production to Stirling Soap, folks pointed out that I was a little less clear than I could have been. So I wanted to offer a few points of note regarding the move: I did not sell Barrister and Mann to Stirling. Apart from the fact that the soap will now be made at Stirling's facility in Arkansas, the two companies will remain separate. This is not an unusual arrangement; many cosmetics and shaving companies in the US have their products made by third parties. Most of them are just less transparent about it. I will teach the folks at Stirling how to make our products using our formulas, on our equipment, and with our materials. There will be no changes to formulation, to the bases used for our products, or to other any aspect of Barrister and Mann apart from the production location. Stirling products will not use Barrister and Mann bases/formulations either. We are not shutting down, nor are we leaving the soap business. Fulfillment will continue from Square1 in Missouri. Any orders that you receive from Barrister and Mann will come from the Missouri warehouse, not from Stirling. I will continue to compose and blend new and existing fragrances from my studio in Massachusetts. I am in no way separating from the company, and this will remain my full-time employment for the foreseeable future. We expect to start restocking soaps and other products in February. 🙂"