I'm certain that you did it right. Rub the razor back and forth using trailing edge strokes and Bob's your uncle.

Hah! I wasn't kidding when I said I have an "investment" in SV soaps. 🤣

February 25, 2026

• Brush: AP Shave Co Lemondrop 28mm SynBad
• Razor: Atelier Durdan Horizon (setting: 7)
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional (3)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Coconut - Toner
• Aftershave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Splash

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

This was my third shave with the Horizon and a test of the aggressive end of the adjustment range. Like settings 3 and 5, I found setting 7 to be quite comfortable, It was easy to adjust to the blade exposure of 0.15mm. The resulting shave was close and very comfortable.

I think you can keep an edge going almost indefinitely by using a strop loaded with chromium oxide paste. For those for whom honing is cumbersome, or for those periods where honing would be a chore, I suggest using a loaded strop about every 10 shaves in addition to normal stropping pre- or post-shave.

I prefer face lathering for the same reasons. This has changed the way I bowl lather. I take a sample, build a paste in the bowl, then use that paste to face lather from the bowl.

I liked the idea of BVWSC very much and assumed that participation would grow as redditors, and others, observed the activity and would want to participate. As that happened, I also thought we would have to move away from one person providing all of the smushes. I know that we all have done this multiple times, and with such a small group, it really isn't an imposition to create and distribute smushes, but it would be if there were 20 people or more participating each month.

For a while, I've thought that maybe we could submit soap ideas, vote, then choose the most popular entry that we could distribute on as local a basis as possible. For example, if I owned Tundra Artica, I would be happy to send out smushes to the US recipients. Unfortunately, while I have a sizeable investment in SV products, I don't own TA. (80th is terrific, btw.)

I like trying the soaps along with others in this group and, let's face it, the name BVWSC is cool. I hope we find a way to keep this going.

And to compensate for the cost increase of orange makeup, presidential self-enrichment must increase in-kind.

Probably the most amazing vegetal soap base created to date, with the most sophisticated and well-balanced fragrances in wetshaving! How's that for generating FOMO?

(I may have exaggerated a little, but I'm from the US. Exaggeration is currently our nation's only consistent policy.)

February 23, 2026 -- Mammoth Monday

• Brush: Wald Flare "Viola" - Lapis Colorway - 28mm A1
• Razor: Atelier Durdan Horizon (setting: 5)
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional (2)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Indigo - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Aftershave: House of Mammoth - Indigo - Splash

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Today, I tried the Horizon on 5. I thought it would be noticably more aggressive than yesteray's 3 setting, but it was not. Certainly, this is partially due to familiarity that I'm gaining with the razor and its balance.

February 22, 2026

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Brownstone 26mm V29 Fanchurian
• Razor: Atelier Durdan Horizon (setting: 3)
• Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional (1)
• Lather: Floris London - No. 89 - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Aftershave: Floris London - No. 89 - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Floris of London - No. 89 - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

This was my first use of the Horizon passaround razor. Settings go from 1 to 9 so I started at 3 to see what's what. Not mild at all! Can't wait to see what 7 is like. The razor is heavy and the head is large to accommodate the adjustment mechanism. The ability to tailor your exact blade exposure for an AC razor is very interesting, and the design is clever.

I'm sorry that I missed this! I am having difficulty getting to the Reddit and Fediverse communities lately. That will be only temporary. I have definitely not lost my enjoyment for shaving, nor for interacting with those here.

February 19, 2026

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Brownstone 26mm V29 Fanchurian
• Razor: Filarmonica 12 Doble Temple 5/8" Full Hollow
• Lather: The Cajun Blade - Contraband Bay Rum - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Coconut - Toner
• Aftershave: The Cajun Blade - Contraband Bay Rum Aftersauce - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

This was a test shave for the freshly honed edge on this razor. The comfortable Jnat edge, and the wonderful scent of Contraband Bay Rum made for a very enjoyable shave.

October 17, 2025 -- Fougère Friday

• Brush: AP Shave Co Summer 28mm G5C
• Razor: Thiers Issard Évidé Sonnant 6/8" Extra Hollow
• Lather: Martin de Candre - Fougère - Soap
• Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Aftershave: Fabergé - Brut - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I leaned into the fougère today with a mostly-French setup and totally enjoyed it. I loaded the MdC heavily and hydrated it close to soupiness. Wonderful. I was reminded of u/EldrormR's go with the brain bowl and was thinking, "I might do that 🤔". But I won't.

The OG Fabergé Brut was a great finish to the shave. Nothing more is needed.