SOTD - April 24, 2018

A citrus BOMB!

Shaving Product Review - Through the Fire Fine Craft "Sucker Punch" and
Dr. Jon's Shaving Soap Co. "Hydra"


Value (Cost, Packaging and Performance)

Lather (Density, Glide and Feel)

Post-shave (Healing, Moisture and Feel)

Scent (Quality, Strength and Longevity)

Each bar has three metrics, each representing 33% of the total (11% = below-avg, 22% = avg, 33% = above-avg, except cost)


I'm in that mood, and today saw a citrus bomb going off - Through the Fire Fine Crafts Sucker Punch #soap followed by Dr. Jon's Shaving Soap Co. Hydra #aftershave.

I've reviewed both products today from #ttffcrafts and #drjonssoapco, for example - an in-depth review of Sucker Punch soap or the in-depth review of Hydra soap and aftershave... So check those out for more info. Long and short of it is that despite being around for a couple of years now, both products are the hardest hitting citrus software out there - still. Arctic Hydra is the same, albeit with menthol.

It's hard to beat either Sucker Punch or Hydra for the number of citrus notes represented. Both excel. Performance of Hydra soap (not shown) has actually improved after a reformulation but Sucker Punch has been discontinued, unfortunately - and I never did get the matching aftershave. I think one of you artisans out there should take over the reigns on this one! Dump a ton of different citrus in like orange, blood orange, tangerine, lemon, lime and grapefruit and crank up the strength. This is one thing that I feel both Hydra and Citrus Blast fall a bit short on, and the latter leans more towards berry anyway. Naturally, being essentially all citrus - longevity is very short.

If you're looking for something along these lines that's current (aside from Hydra or Arctic Hydra) there's Wet Shaving Products Citrus Blast that's semi-close with numerous citrus notes. There's also Chiseled Face Santa Paula Citrus or Orange Creamsicle or Mickey Lee Soapworks Paradise Frost but these are more one-dimensional on the citrus. There's also Chatillon Lux/Declaration Grooming Fourth and Pine which is definitely citrusy - but more nuanced and similar to 4711 Original Eau de Cologne. I haven't tried it yet, but I might have to check out Oleo Soapworks Pucker which has notes of lime, lemon, bergamot and citron.

Hardware consisted of the all-black #StandardRazors with a #Gillette Silver Blue blade on shave three. The brush is an apropos piece from #TurnNShave called Fiery and features a super dense and soft Motherlode knot in 26mm. If this knot came in more colors, I'd honestly put it in every brush. It's so soft, so dense - it's unreal. Nothing else compares, truly. The #GTP scuttle did its thing, as usual.

So yeah, I was in a citrus mood today... Perhaps because of my pending trip down to ol' Florida to visit with family and of course, the House of Mouse™ (Walt Disney World). These products aren't top tier (though the reformulated Hydra is certainly up there; not what I have) but the overwhelming variety and scent strength of these guys always bring a smile to my face!

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