Review - Mal Pais - Old Time Shaving Soap

Company: Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements
Product: Mal Pais - Old Time Shaving Soap
Creator: Frances Towle
BADLANDS

It’s always a good day when an artisan announces a new shaving soap. When I saw the post for Mal Pais from PAA I was drawn to it by the name. I was told by one of the HTGAM members that Frances Towle was the creator of the soap. Not only did she create a wonderful scent but most importantly she has formulated a great performing soap.

The packaging is of the new kind from PAA. It’s a better tin I think the color is dark silver with the popular screw on top. I prefer this to the older offerings with the stretched plastic band although this one came with one too.

The Making of My ZenShave Brush

Company: Zen Shave
Founder: Robert Carey
So You Want A Custom Brush?
My quest for a custom brush started when I first saw one in a SOTD post and immediately fell in love with the style and craftsmanship. The company I’m talking about is Zen Shave. Once I found out who created the brush I went right to the website and saw SOLD OUT over each and every brush. A little disappointed I began looking over the website and discovered custom Razor Handles, Shaving Bowls and Vintage Razors all sold out so I kept going back waiting for anything to change. Finally I sent an email to Robert Carey.

Review - First Canadian Shaving Soap

Product: Loretto Lime & Rosemary 
Founder: Brian Hoffman
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada

Brian started soap making about 12 years ago when he couldn’t find a high quality fragrance free soap. Through the Internet he’s learned to sharpen knives and straight razors, use straight razors and roast coffee. So how hard can making shaving soap be? Turns out it’s real hard. He had gone the castor oil and clay route for a long time until he landed on Johns (L.A. shave soap) post on B&B.  from there he honed in of the art of making shaving soap.

Review - Flying Mango Shaving Soap

Review - The Mongoose Razor

Company: The Mongoose Razors
Product: Mongoose Razor
Founder: Bruce Weber / Matt Glass

I noticed this razor when someone posted a “Shave of the Day” with it. I marveled at the look and style. Right then I knew I had to have one. I started looking for any information I could find. While doing a Google search I came across a Facebook Group of the same name. I emailed them and found out that I would have to wait a while to get one for myself. 

Review - Scottish Fine Soaps Co.

Review - Four Forest Shaving Soap

Company: Craftsman Soap Company
Product: Four Forest Shaving Soap
Founder: Evan Worthington
Location: Los Angeles, California 

Craftsman Soap Company has a wonderful website they offer hand soap, beard wax and balms. When it comes to shaving soaps they have just one offering called Four Forest.



Packaging:
When the package arrived it was this little box almost the same size as the hard puck along with two cards one for a 10% discount on my next order and the other thanking me for my purchase and if I had a question or feedback they would be glad to hear from me. The puck is boxed in a square cardboard pocket slightly bigger then the puck. With the logo on the front and instructions on the back explaining that the soap is to be lathered using a brush and gives instruction on how its done. When looking at the type on the package I think of the old time Sears and Roebuck catalogs it suggests that the brand might have been around from that time period.