Instashaving´s shave diary 2026.

[Instashaving]

Tuesday April 21, 2026
Brush: Wald Shaving Nimbus, Ivory & blue/turquoise A1
Razor: Karve Shaving Co. The Christopher Bradley. Open Comb level E with a Wagner handle in Stainless Steel 3.25”
Blade: Personna Red (3)
Soap: Ariana & Evans Woods & Spices Ultima base
Aftershave: Ariana & Evans Woods & Spices

Ariana & Evans Woods & Spices scent notes are: Clementine, orange blossom, saffron, elemi, castorium, vanilla, guaic wood, sandalwood, Himalayan Cedar, Virginian Cedar, agarwood, & mohagany

The first time I used Woods & Spices, I said the following:

I’m going to put this one away and come back to it later with an open mind later.

And today is that day. I liked it better than last time, which shows how important it is to try products several times before forming an opinion about them. The scent can be described as a lovely blend of wood and spices.

 

[Instashaving]

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Brush: AKA Brushworks (Dankblanks) Oumo M-6
Razor: Karve Shaving Co. The Christopher Bradley. Solid bar level F with a Wagner handle in Stainless Steel 3.25”
Blade: Personna Red (4)
Soap: Ethos Blood Orange
Aftershave: Ethos Blood Orange
Aftershave: Royall Mandarin

The scent of Ethos Blood Orange is so nice that I think I need to have a extra set in backup….

I used Royall Mandarin as cologne, scent notes are Mandarin, Naval Orange, Crisp Aldehyde, Orange Blossom, Neroli, Tonka Bean, Patchouli, Dark Woods, Musk.

 

[Instashaving]

Friday, April 24, 2026
Brush: Declaration Grooming Jefferson Blood King 2.0 B17
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti Satin Finish
Blade: Personna Med Prep
Soap: A&E + TRC Constant
Aftershave: A&E + TRC Constant

Constant made exclusively for The Razor Company by Ariana & Evans.

Inspired by: Althaïr by Parfums de Marly

Top notes are Cinnamon, Cardamom, Orange Blossom and Bergamot; middle notes are Bourbon Vanilla and elemi; base notes are Praline, Musk, Ambroxan, Guaiac Wood, Tonka and Candied Almond.

 

[Instashaving]

Saturday, April 25, 2026
Brush: Marshall Made WoodShop T-8 25mm bulb
Razor: Blackland Vector Ti Satin Finish
Blade: Feather Professional Super
Soap: PAA Spice Bot
Aftershave: PAA Spice Bot
EdP: Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme

The scent is an homage to Viktor and Rolf’s Spice Bomb Extreme. And that was also the reason why I bought this set, as I am a big fan of Viktor and Rolf’s Spice Bomb Extreme. The Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Spice Bot is a really good dupe of Viktor & Rolf’s Spice Bomb Extreme! I’m glad I bought this set!

Top notes: Grapefruit, pimento berries, black pepper
Heart notes: Lavender, cumin, saffron, warm aromatic spices
Base notes: Tobacco, labdanum, woody, amber, vanill

 

[Instashaving]

Sunday, April 26, 2026
Brush: Elite Razor Stone T-8 25mm
Razor: Blackland Vector Ti Satin Finish
Blade: Feather Professional Super (2)
Soap: First Line Shave Illustrious Oud
Aftershave: First Line Shave Illustrious Oud
Eau De Parfum: INITIO Oud For Greatness

My first shaving brush from Elite Razor it’s made of stone, which is pretty cool.

The soap is in First Line Shave’s new base, which is absolutely incredible. First Line Shave Illustrious Oud is a wonderful homage to INITIO Oud For Greatness. First Line Shave has done a fantastic job here, and I’d say they nail it.

Scent notes on both Illustrious Oud and Oud For Greatness is: Saffron, Nutmeg and Lavender; middle note is Agarwood (Oud); base notes are Patchouli and Musk.

Well folks that’s what i have for you today!

Thanks for stopping by, have a nice day!

 

[Instashaving]

Monday, April 27, 2026
Brush: Semogue Owners Club Taj Silver Tip 24mm
Razor: Tatara Amakuni SS
Blade: Feather Professional Super (3)
Soap: Phoenix Shaving Coconut Bay w/ Lime
Aftershave: Phoenix Shaving Coconut Bay w/ Lime

Holly Smoke Coconut Bay w/ Lime is awesome I can smell coconut, bay rum, and lime, but bay rum is the most dominant scent.

Scent Profile: Coconut, West Indian Bay, Spices, and Lime

I’ve been using the Feather Professional Super for three days now, and Feather Professional Super doesn’t work well for me. It feels like it’s ripping the hair off my face instead of cutting it. I’ll give it another try tomorrow, but it doesn’t look promising. I get BBS, but it feels uncomfortable. I don’t get any razor burn or anything like that, so I can’t really complain about that. The problem is that it feels rough during use.

Thanks for stopping by, have a nice day!

 

[Instashaving]

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Brush: Declaration Grooming Jefferson The Willing Well B18
Razor: Tatara Amakuni Dark
Blade: Feather Professional Super (4)/ Schick Proline (5)
Soap: First Line Shave The Weight Imperial Wagyu
Aftershave: First Line Shave The Weight

First Line Shave The Weight has a delightful, complex scent. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what I’m smelling, but who cares when it smell so good?

The scent notes is: Whiskey, Tobacco, Gunpowder, Vanilla Sugar, Rose and Patchouli. Saffron, White Musk, Pink Pepper and Jasmine.

I started shaving with the Feather Professional Super, but I couldn’t use that blade anymore, so I switched to a used Schick Proline. Oh my goodness, what a difference! The remaining 19 Feather Professional Super blades will probably end up in the trash.

Thanks for stopping by, have a nice day!

 

[Instashaving]

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Brush: Chisel & Hound Twilight Bonfire 26mm Oumo M9
Razor: Atelier Durdan La Faulx ++
Blade: Schick Proline (6)
Soap: First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd Imperial Wagyu
Aftershave: First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd
EDP: First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd

First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd is a collaboration between First Line Shave and Black Mountain Shaving, and what a grate scent this is. Since I love the scent of First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd, I just had to get this one in the Imperial Wagyu base.

First Line Shave 53rd & 3rd scent notes are Saffron, Gardenia, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot on top. Middle notes of Cardamom, Tumeric, Coffee, Pink Pepper, Amaris. And a base notes of Tonka Bean, Patchouli, Vetyver, Labdanum

Thanks for stopping by, have a nice day!

 

[Instashaving]

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Brush: Chisel & Hound Bloodsoaked V23
Razor: Aylsworth Atelier
Blade: Schick Proline (7)
Soap: MacDuffs American Vintage
Aftershave: MacDuffs American Vintage

MacDuffs Soap Co. American Vintage scent notes is:
Tobacco, Rosewood, Leather, Mahogany, Lemongrass, Citrus, Ho Wood, Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Spice

I bought a sample of MacDuffs Soap Co. American Vintage, and i fell in love with it. The scent is so good that i wanted a full set of it, to get the full effect with the aftershave. I’m still using the sample and have just enough left for one more shave from the sample. So you could say the soap in the picture is just prop

I’ve only had one shave with this Aylsworth Atelier, but wow! I can already tell that I’m going to really enjoy this razor. It might just become my number one AC razor, Time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by, have a nice day!

 

[Instashaving]

Friday, May 1, 2026
Brush: Trotter Handcrafts SNØ Revolver T1
Razor: Aylsworth Atelier
Blade: Schick Proline (8)
Soap: Ariana & Evans Birthday Suit
Aftershave: Ariana & Evans Birthday Suit

Ariana & Evans Birthday Suit scent notes: sicilian bergamot, salt, lavender, whiskey, rice milk, tobacco, white musk, coffee, tunisian sandalwood

I had a really great shave today, It’s been a busy day so that’s all I have for you today.

 

[Instashaving]

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Brush: Marshall Made WoodShop T-8 25mm bulb
Razor: Aylsworth Atelier
Blade: Schick Proline
Soap: MacDuffs Soap Co.Sapphire Bay
Aftershave: MacDuffs Soap Co. Sapphire Bay

Brand-new Schick Proline in my Aylsworth Atelier today, my face feels as smooth as glass. This razor is really amazing, it is smooth, comfortable, and really effective!. It isn’t quite as effective as my Wolfmann WR4 0.70, but it’s not far off; plus, it’s more comfortable.

MacDuffs Soap Co. Sapphire Bay has a classic bay rum scent, in my opinion. Notes: Bay Leaf, Clove, Pink Pepper, Mountain Herbs, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Oakmoss

MacDuffs Sapphire Bay soap has it all: a top-tier base with fantastic glide and lather. The scent is amazing if you like bay rum.

 

[Instashaving]

Sunday, May 3, 2026
Brush: Semogue Owners Club Finest badger 24mm
Razor: Wolfman WR4 0.70 /WRH7 Ti
Blade: Schick Proline (2)
Soap: MacDuffs Soap Co.Rutherford House
Aftershave: MacDuffs Soap Co. Rutherford House

MacDuffs Soap Co. Rutherford House has a classic Earl Grey scent. Notes: Bergamot, Black Tea Leaves, Violet Leaf, Atlas Cedarwood, Labdanum, Tobacco Leaf, Soft Musk

I love scents of tea, so MacDuff’s Rutherford House was right up my alley. The fragrance opens with bergamot and tea; the dry-down in the aftershave is more tea and a hint of tobacco. There’s more to it, but this is what my nose picks up on. With Rutherford House, MacDuffs has once again created a top-quality product with a fantastic scent.

 

[Instashaving]

Monday, May 4, 2026
Brush: Wolf Whiskers Interrobang. 28mm M8 Oumo
Razor: Wolfman WR4 .70 /WRH4 Ti
Blade: Schick Proline (3)
Soap: Gentleman’s Nod Kensei
Aftershave: Gentleman’s Nod Kensei
EdP: Gentleman’s Nod Kensei

Gentleman’s Nod Kensei is a really good scent, to me it is quite similar to Gentleman’s Nods Musashi and Gentleman’s Nods Mizukazi. At least that’s what comes to mind, but I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison.I like them all, but I only have the Kensei perfume. And I honestly think it goes well with the other two scents too.

Gentleman’s Nod Kensei scent notes is: Blood Orange, Yuzu, Yellow Mandarin, Nashi Pear. Lapsang Souchong Tea, Neroli, Violet, Black Pepper. Saffron, Cedarwood, Fir Balsam, Amberwood, Vetiver, Cypriol

 

[Instashaving]

Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Brush: Wild West Brushworks. 26mm Oumo T8
Razor: Wolfman WR4 .70 /WRH4 Copper
Blade: Schick Proline (4)
Soap: First Line Shave Nada! (Imperial Wagyu)
Aftershave: Darwin´s Classic

I had a fantastic shave today using First Line Shave Nada, an unscented soap, in the amazing Imperial Wagyu soap base. First Line Shave Nada is supposed to be unscented, but I get a powdery scent from it. Whether it’s to mask the smell of tallow, I don’t know, but the same goes for Noble Otter Unscented Bare Soap. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing because I’d rather have a powdery scent than the smell of tallow. After all, the most important thing is the Imperial Wagyu) soap base; the lather it produces is simply amazing. A top tier soap base for sure.

Darwin´s Classic aftershave has a scent of sugary sweet orange, light lemon zest and camphoric lemongrass. Heart note of ginger, and woody base note of patchouli. This is a really nice aftershave; I think it would go extremely well with Martin de Candre Lemon.

 

[Instashaving]

Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Brush: Semogue Owners Club Finest Badger 24mm
Razor: Carbon Shaving Copper ++
Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum (2)
Soap: Barrister And Mann Seville
Aftershave: Barrister And Mann Seville

The scent notes in Seville are lemon, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, patchouli, and oakmoss. Seville is a wonderful scent, give it a try if you haven’t already. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

 

[Instashaving]

Saturday, May 9, 2026
Brush: Elite Razor Stone Oumo Tyrant T-8 25mm
Razor: Blackland Blackbird Bronze
Blade: Personna Med Prep (2)
Soap: TRC/BBS Susanoo
Aftershave: TRC/BBS Susanoo
Parfum: Roja Elysium

BBS Susanoo, a collaboration between BBS Soap Company and The Razor Company. The scent of Susanoo is Inspired by Roja Elysium.

Scent notes of grapefruit, lemon, bergamot, lime, thyme, and artemisia on top. Mid notes of vetiver, juniper berries, black currant, apple, cedar, pink pepper, cypriol oil, lily of the valley, rose, and jasmine, adding depth and aromatic complexity. A base of ambergris, leather, vanilla, benzoin, and labdanum.

Susanoo is a banger. I love it!

 

[Instashaving]

Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Brush: Chisel & Hound Aquamarine V17
Razor: Ascender Razors Titanium Skyline R1
Blade: Personna Red
Soap: HAGS Squidwarden
Aftershave: HAGS Squidwarden

HAGS Squidwarden is a collaboration between HAGS and Yourshaving to celebrate the 13th anniversary of Yourshaving.

Scent is very subjective ting, but Squidwarden is not a grate scent. Squidwarden is a really, really nice scent, one of HAGS’s top signature scents in my bok. It opens with a fresh burst of bergamot and lemon. Then the dark notes kicks in, like leather, amber, benzoin, vanilla, and tonka. There’s also a touch of rose to the scent.

Top: Bergamot, Lemon Flower, Honeyed Spice
Heart: Rose, Leather, Amber, Labdanum, Benzoin
Base: Woods, Vanilla, Tonka, Patchouli

Edit: Valery Padukov pointed out the similarity to Murphy & McNeal Horizons in a comment here on Instagram. So I went ahead and tested them, and I can say they’re quite similar. I think HAGS Squidward is a bit fresher—that is, brighter—with more bergamot and lemon. Murphy & McNeal's Horizons, on the other hand, is a bit darker. They go very well together, so if you have the perfume, I recommend pairing it with HAGS Squidwarden

 

[Instashaving]

Monday, May 11, 2026.
Brush: Zenith Bleached 80B SE
Razor: Wolfman WR2 1.25 / WRH7 Bronze
Blade: Personna Red (2)
Soap: Martin de Candre Agrumes
Aftershave: Darwin´s Classic

Martin de Candre Agrumes and Darwin´s Classic Aftershave is a match made in heaven.

 

[Instashaving]

Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Brush: Highlander Brushes Zombie Micarta, Oumo T8 28mm
Razor: Aylsworth Atelier
Blade: Schick Proline
Soap: Martin de Candre Absinthe
Aftershave: Myrsol Formula K

Martin de Candre Absinthel scent notes are Star anise, Fennel and Green Anise, really nice fresh mild scent.

Myrsol Formula K Afterhave has a Menthol and peppermint scent.Formula K made my eyes water.

 

[Instashaving]

Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Brush: Semogue Owners Club Boar Cherry Wood
Razor: Wolfman WR4 .70 /WRH4 Bronze
Blade: Schick Proline
Soap: Ethos Blood Orange
Aftershave: Ethos Blood Orange
EDP:: Ethos Blood Orange

I love Ethos Blood Orange, and now I’ve finally got my hands on a backup set and the EDP.