u/Tdmsu1

# August 19, 2026

**Overall:** ★★★☆☆ (Solid Shave)

**Smoothness:** ★★★☆☆ (Pretty Good)

**Irritation:** ★★☆☆☆ (Barely There)

### Details

- **Time of Day:** ☀️ Morning

- **Blade Uses:** 4

- **Passes:** 2

- **Razor Setting:** 5

### Equipment

- Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

- Soap: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth Cerberus

- Shaving Bowl: Made it myself Earthy Bowl

- Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

- Aftershave: Declaration Grooming/Noble Otter Cerberus

- Other Product: Scotch Porter Beard Balm

### Notes

I usually toss blades after 3 shaves, but I pushed to 4 today and paid for it. Nothing terrible, just not a great shave with some irritation, but it did not last long. Cerberus is a great scent imo.

# August 8, 2026

**Overall:** ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

**Smoothness:** ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

**Irritation:** ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

### Details

- **Time of Day:** ☀️ Morning

- **Blade Uses:** 3

- **Passes:** 2

- **Razor Setting:** 6

### Equipment

- Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

- Soap: Tabac Original

- Brush: Lutin Chubby Lightning

- Aftershave: Tabac Original Balsam Tube (Tabac Original)

- Fragrance: Tabac Cologne

- Other Product: Tabac Bartwachs

### Notes

Excellent shave as usual with Tabac.

Generated by [Shaving Sherpa](https://www.shavingsherpa.com)

August 6, 2026

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️

Blade Uses: 3

Passes: 2

Razor Setting: 6

Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

Soap: House of Mammoth Shire

Brush: Simpson Trafalgar

Aftershave: House of Mammoth Shire (Balm)

I used my Simpson brush today to compare to the Merkur. The Simpson has much more backbone. It made optimal lather and felt great against my skin. It was much harder to splay it as a face lathered. It is nice to have contrasting brushes.

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July 31, 2026

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (Solid Shave)

Smoothness: ★★★★☆ (Very Smooth)

Irritation: ★★☆☆☆ (Barely There)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️

Blade Uses: 1

Passes: 2

Razor Setting: 5

Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

Soap: Dr. Jon's Strange Love: or, how I learned to stop worrying and love the shave

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Aftershave: Dr. Jon's Strangelove: or, how I learned to stop worrying and love the shave

Fragrance: Barrister and Mann Beaudelaire

Notes: I love the movie, and I had to have the soap and splash. The scent is a vetiver and blasted tarmac. It comes across like a fougere and pairs well with Beaudelaire. I was a little too nasty and earned a nick near my nose. Live and learn.

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# July 28, 2026

**Overall:** ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

**Smoothness:** ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

**Irritation:** ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

### Details

- **Time of Day:** 🌤️ Afternoon

- **Blade Uses:** 2

- **Passes:** 2

- **Razor Setting:** 5

### Equipment

- Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

- Soap: Dr. Jon's Flowers in the Dark

- Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

- Aftershave: Dr. Jon's Flowers in the Dark

- Fragrance: Barrister and Mann Lavanille (EDT)

### Notes

Favorite scents!

Flowers in the Dark is a lavender cedar scent that works great with Lavanille. The lather was thick and protective leaving my face feeling smooth with no drama. This was also a pretty quick shave - about 10 minutes or so. I was not in a hurry, it just went easily and with confidence.

Generated by [Shaving Sherpa]

## Equipment

- Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

- Soap: Through The Fire Fine Craft For Flint

- Shaving Bowl: Made it myself Earthy Bowl

- Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

- Aftershave: Through The Fire Fine Craft Roadmaster

### Notes

Fantastic two pass shave.

I soak my Futur brush in a bowl I made when I was 12. I did not know then that it would come in handy - I meant it as a place for key or coins. I'm glad I kept it for the last 46 years.

The scent of For Flint is aquatic and it is complemented nicely by Roadmaster.

Both products are made near Petoskey, Michigan, so I included a petoskey stone - the markings are fossils.

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# July 24, 2026

**Overall:** ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

**Smoothness:** ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

**Irritation:** ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

### Details

- **Time of Day:** ☀️ Morning

- **Blade Uses:** 1

- **Passes:** 3

- **Razor Setting:** 5

### Equipment

- Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

- Soap: House of Mammoth Shire

- Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

- Aftershave: House of Mammoth Shire (Balm)

### Notes

Outstanding in every way. I love this scent and my wife commented positively on it without prompting. That tells me this is a keeper! The lather was very rich and easy to make and provided superlative glide. The Futur easily destroyed two days of growth without a hint of irritation.

Soap: Tabac

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Razor: Merkur Futur 5

Blade: Astra SP

AS: Tabac Balsam

EdT: Tabac cologne

Very smooth and easy two pass shave today.

July 20, 2026

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️

Blade Uses: 3

Passes: 3

Razor Setting: 5

Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

Soap: Declaration Grooming/House of Mammoth Cerberus

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Aftershave: Declaration Grooming/Noble Otter Cerberus

Notes: Superb shave

I am loving my return to the Futur. This process has helped me take a little more time and pay attention to my technique. Building lather gradually with the Futur brush helps me appreciate seeing lather quality improve. Synthetic brushes are excellent but maybe too easy for me. Same with my Rockwell 6s - I could shave with that almost with my eyes closed. The Futur demands more of my attention and I'm really enjoying that. For the first time in years I am looking forward to shaving again.

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July 18, 2026

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)

Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)

Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️

Blade Uses: 2

Passes: 2

Razor Setting: 5

Razor: Merkur Futur Adjustable

Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (IN)

Soap: Talbot River Rouge

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Aftershave: Catie's Bubbles River Rouge

Notes: Excellent shave today. I haven't used this set in a long time, the scent is a dupe of a Varvatos cologne. Great lather from Talbot and amazing scent from Catie's Bubbles, with a little welcome cooling.

Excellent shave today. I love the scent of Shire, it is like a meadow near a village. I used Astra SP for the first time in years and the blade was smooth and comfortable.

This was an excellent shave in every way. The scent is ginger, lime and tobacco.

Prep: bulldog face wash

Soap: Through The Fire Fine Craft Roadmaster

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Razor: Merkur Futur 5

Blade: Personna Lab Blue

AS: Through The Fire Fine Craft Roadmaster

Outstanding shave. I took more time to make good lather and it makes a difference. The shave was very smooth and drama free. I used setting 2 for my neck and 5 for my face.

I made this photo summary using the shaving sherpa app. It is interesting.

Today I used a personna lab blue in my Futur and the results were so much better. I kept it on 6 and made two easy, smooth passes. I did get one nick, but very little irritation or redness. Perhaps that Voskhod blade was a dud.

Prep: Proraso Blue

Soap: Tabac

Brush: Futur Silvertip

Razor: Merkur Futur 6

Blade: Personna Lab Blue

AS: Tabac Balsam

EdT: B-M Lavanille

Does anyone else's Futur look like this under the cap? It is a little pitted, just QC? I don't think it would affect performance.

I decided to start low and shave on 2 instead of 6 today. The job got done, but it was uncomfortable this time. I think I'll go back up the dial a bit next time, but I'll need a couple days to let my skin feel better. No cuts, but lots of redness and raw feeling. Perhaps the best way for this razor is high setting with fewer passes. I'm still learning how to get the best from this brush, too, so the issue is not clear yet.

Prep: Proraso Blue

Brush: Futur Silver Tip

Soap: B-M Beaudelaire

Razor: Merkur Futur 2

Blade: Voskhod

AS: B-M Beaudelaire, Bevel balm

I got this 3 piece set for the cost of the brush alone - I could not pass it up. I have had the Futur and sold it before, so this was nostalgic and satisfying. The brush is silvertip badger, and it felt just as soft as my usual synthetic brushes. I am used to larger knots, so this will be an adjustment. The shave today was good, but I should have taken more time and used lower settings until my face gets used to it a bit more. The Bevel balm is great at reducing redness. Overall, I am happy.

Prep: Proraso Blue

Soap: Tabac

Brush: Merkur Futur Silvertip

Razor: Merkur Futur 6-4 settings

AS: Tabac Balsam and Bevel balm to reduce redness

Another excellent shave.

Prep: Proraso Blue

Soap: Tabac

Brush: Lutin Chubby Lightning

Razor: Rockwell 6s 6

Blade: Voskhod

AS: Tabac Balsam

I finished off this aftershave today. B³ was a great scent with the sweetness of blackberry combined with bay rum and woody notes. It was a collaboration between Declaration Grooming and Chatillon Lux. It will be missed. It mixes well with Spicebomb.

Prep: Proraso Blue

Soap: Declaration Grooming B³

Brush: Lutin Chubby Lightning

Razor: Rockwell 6s 6

Blade: Voskhod

AS: Declaration Grooming B³

EdT: Spicebomb