Right oh. Trending and theming for my shave this evening was 'Famous Donkeys'
Eeyore - Seygus brass head on my DIY brass handle
Hee-haw - Polsilver Lodz
Burrito the Donkey - Razorock Plissoft 24mm
Donkey Kong - La Savonniere du Moulin Shaving Soap
Don Quixote - L'Occitane Cade aftershave balm
John Holmes - ADP Assoluta
'Socks The Rule Book' just to remind one self, yes, there are rules about socks. An essential read for people who care about their hosiery. The definitive guide.
When I first read 'Made from 30% donkey milk' I thought 'well if it is good enough for Cleopatra then it is certainly good enough for me'. This was despite one being an Egyptian royal beauty who ruled a large piece of the ancient world and the other being an ugly Scouser by proxy who's nearest connection to a ruler can be found in a carpenters workshop.
I have to admit that at first I thought the idea of a shaving soap made from donkeys milk was a bit of a marketing ploy to attract those idiots who are sufficiently gullible to be swallowed up by it all, reach in to the depths of their digital pockets then hit the 'Buy' button. Me being one of them. If it is a marketing ploy, then it works
Two days later I have a French donkey on the doorstep trying to sell itself and its products.
First impressions were very good and very nicely packaged. I really like the quirkiness of having a hand made ceramic container with a pretty picture of a donkey on the outside and the kind of lid which is more in line with the home made preserves found at a village fete. In essence, a bit of brown paper glued across the top. Cute, quaint and quite quintessentially French. In a similar ilk to Citroen cars.
I guess the first thing which hit me about the soap is how much there is in 200g. Sufficient to last a life time and no more fun in having to find another soap or cream to fill my time and cabinet space
. As it is I found it easier to remove the soap from the jar to use as I didn't want any excess water getting between the two. No problem though and this is one exceptionally easy soap to lather up, and what a lather. I did read some reviews mentioning drinks water and others saying requires very little. Just to be awkward I found I fell in between the two and no different to any other soap I have used to date. As a soap I found it to have great glide properties, a great aftershave feeling and so little a scent it is almost neutral which is great by me as it allows a nice base for using an EDC. If I was to have any criticism it would be that it was quite quickly absorbed in to my skin. Then again I do have dry skin and to this sense I think a pre-shave oil might help. Next time around.
The Seygus is one of those razors I rarely reach for and perhaps I can understand why. I like that aggressive edge to a razor and by all standards the Seygus is certainly on the mild side. More like an upmarket R89. Saying that it does inspire a very confident shave and it is a razor you could fling all over your face and you would be hard pushed to have a 'Oh my God!' moment. It is never going to give the kind of ultra-close finish of either the Ikon or the General but on this occasion it did an admirable job and that is all I wanted. I have to say on the end of the 'John Holmes memorial handle' (all 123mm of it) it does look rather dazzling. I am sure I have said this before but I do like shiny.
The L'Occitane Cade aftershave balm does what the L'Occitane Cade aftershave balm has always done and that is perform. If there was a Roman God of aftershave balms then this would be it. It is almost a cross between an aftershave lotion and a moisturiser. In my case it feeds my skin perfectly and adds a nice welcome glow to my otherwise misplaced face.
The ADP Assoluta is again one of those rarely used items which I should reach for it more often. I love the freshness of a lemon scent, but unlike my other in Blenheim Bouquet this one actually has some form of longevity. The Floris barely gets past the shower room door, whereas at least the ADP makes it beyond the front gate. Not much further, but at least there is 10 minutes to enjoy.
So at the end of a donkey themed evening I could never say as smooth as a baby's bottom, but very comparable to many ladies posteriors. I shall in fact compare my shave to my own wife's rear end and give it compliment where it is due. Mrs Satanfriendly my face is as nearly as smooth as your bottom, but it would be very ungentlemanly to say 'better than', but getting close.
Enjoy your weekend chaps and may they be as enjoyable as my own donkey obsessed day.