This soap maker has to be one of Europe's creme dela creme artisans. Top quality performer of a soap, presentation (in a tin, depiction and what it invokes in line with the product's profile, etc.), in short every angle covered. Have a pleasant get-together with the other shaver gents. Thanks for your video upload!
I hope to record at least some snippets of video from the meetup, which I will share later - hopefully people enjoy it! Yes, I think AYLM has done a great job with a superior soap base and then scents + soap-specific extra ingredients that really elevate the product. It just shows that newcomers can surge to the front of the pack with the right product.
Hi Michael- Very nice shave today; thank you! The Abbate y La Mantia soaps are great; so nice to use. I also have a brush from AP Shave Co., with a very nice cashmere knot, which is great for painting on the lather. Hope you have a great start to the week and all the best!
Well, I must say that certainly looked like a comfortable, enjoyable shave. Soap sounds wonderful and seemed to perform admirably. Brush looks super, so many choices out there, so little time...lol. Really nice shave and video Michael. Enjoy!
I know, so many things to try -- where does one stop? NOWHERE!! I just keep going, there is always something around the corner. You are totally right: so many excellent options out there, where do you even start??
So many weeks where everything just works out well, and I always think to myself "Man, I hope that you all are getting the same kind of quality shaves I am!" We all have SO MANY excellent options to choose from - there is ZERO reason you should be settling for something second best, even if you have a limited budget. The knot looks cool, I love the handle, and I think it is going to be another excellent option for people looking for a synthetic knot.
I am not sure where he gets his knots; it could well be a specific style and design he has worked out with them -- but for sure Yaqi is supplying a great deal of synthetic knots in general.
A triple milled option, eh? Well, a hard soap is up for review this week but with a different brush, but not to worry, I will add that to the list for future videos! See you there, bring your wallet :-)
I have his faux horse, and this SynBad looks like another winner because of its appearance, the water retention, how it loads, lathers and splays, and how it looks at the end of the shave. I throw more synthetics into my summer rotation to give the natural brushes the extra time they need to dry out, so I'm in the market for a synthetic, and this may be the one. Thanks for another informative shave, Michael.
Man Michael , every time you use Abbate Y La Mantia Soap I want some , I Love that soap . I hope your skin calms down soon , pollen here is rough , too . Great Shave ! Have a great week !
Pollen is pretty bad, but I am now also wondering if I need to put my pillow through the fluff cycle again - this could be something in addition to the pollen. I hope you get a chance to try one (or more) of these soaps, I think they are really very good! Great selection of scents and extra ingredients to distinguish the soaps from one another, too.
Hi Michael. Yes we here in New Zealand are in autumn 🍂 heading in winter, no complaints as we had a fantastic summer. Still tune in often and for the record your beaming in loud and clear from the other side of the planet. Take care keep up the good work, it’s appreciated. Owen in nz🇳🇿💈
You have no idea how gratifying it is to hear from people all over the world, literally on the other side of the globe, who get to enjoy these videos - UA-cam really is an amazing service! Heading into winter -- ha, we have months to go yet!! Strawberries are in season right now :-)
Great shave. Though I'm four hours away from Maggards, unfortunately, I won't be there since it would be hurdle having to spend long hours going there, but have fun at the meet up. The label design for the Abbate Garden soap looks funny with the horse looking goddamn crazy
Yes, the horse looks goofy but it does make me smile - cuz crazy! Sorry we won't have a chance to meet in person at the meetup, but I get it: 8 hours of driving is a LOT.
I thought about trying one of the heavier handles, but it just feels right to me with the original, and you are right, the Feather works really well in the Baby Smooth.
Great Shave, Mike! I really Like that brush...might be one more for the collection LOL. What can one say about Abbate Y La Mantia? Superb soaps. The scents are always tasteful and the performance is incredible. As for the 'Baby Smooth' Razor, it's right at the top of my 'love' list. Loaded with a Nacet, I get a BBS without irritation just about every time. It also facilitates my habit of 'stunt shaving' (going over spots in different directions on the same pass with just the residual slickness for protection ).
Funnily enough, I just got gifted some Nacets! I will try them in the Baby Smooth (if I can remember to do that). The soaps are wonderful and different enough to stand out in a crowd. Well deserved praise for those soaps. "stunt shaving" -- that made me laugh!
Hehehe...Stunt shaving? You like it..it's yours :-) I think you'll dig the Nacets. So far (at least for me), they've transformed my shaves in a variety of razors.
Michael glad to see Sebum Gold is still in your rotation. You will be glad to know that after a 4 month research journey, we will be releasing a more affordable 1.7 oz dropper bottle that is 100% glass and plastic free. Our new stone ground glass stopper has a channel for the serum, aswell as an additional channel for air intake. This addition allows you to dispense precise drops of serum equally dosed everytime just using gravity. Whereas the Artisan bottle has one way in and one way out, that requires shaking out product as it fights the air trying to get in. Great video as usual.
A smaller option sounds great. It would be nice if it could be priced around $25 (like lower-end premium balm offerings), but that doesn't sound likely. Hope I'm mistaken.
borbetomagus Balms are a combination of water and oils with emulsifiers, fillers, and preservatives. Our product is 100% luxurious oils that require no preservatives or emulsifiers and there is an actual method to the formulation to mimic your natural lipid barrier. However in regards to price concerns; we will also be releasing a refill bottle that accompanies our new 1.7oz glass dropper bottle. This will offer further savings not having to repurchase the product again in our precision dropper bottle. Our refill bottle will have no regulator or real wood label like our other bottles, but are made of lightweight borosilicate glass to bring shipping down to $4, and are still sealed in our signature cork & wax seals with tear tab. We want to reasonably bring luxury to as many as possible, but the fact remains luxury has its cost. To be notified of the release; sign up for our New Product Alerts at the bottom of our webpage sebumgold.com
That is great news -- I totally understand the idea of offering a higher end men's grooming product, and I am glad to see you are addressing the bottle and dispenser issues. No plastic is great for those of us who try to recycle as much as we can. 1.7 oz is a better size, it lets people try the product without feeling like they will have an excess of product left over if for some reason they don't like it. Thanks for watching!
Competing against premium balms at a lower price point will certainly add a challenge, but that is the reality of the current wetshaving market -- a lot of very good products at that (already) high price point. Too much of a good thing, you say? Could well be :-) Refills -- great option!
Great shave as always Michael, I have an unrelated question please, I have over time seen you shave with the Maggard slant, the Razorock Wunderbar slant and the Fine aluminum slant. Can you compare and contrast them please. And tell me which is your favorite of the three. Thank you.
The Fine Aluminum Slant and the Wunderbar are both "refined" slants, very precise designs. The Fine is easier to shave with, in my opinion, it just feels safer in use. The Wunderbar can be tricky, and some find it very prone to nicks, and I would agree (but bear in mind I only shaved with it for a week). The Maggard is a bit more aggressive than the Fine, with more obvious blade feel, but still very easy to use in the scheme of things -- and at a much lower cost, of course! I would take the Fine over the Maggard, and the Wunderbar would be third just because it is just a little too much on the "naked" side of the shave for me.
Need help here. (Oh what a surprise!) The 28mm Synbad brush or the 28mm Silksmoke from APShave? I want powerful backbone and density. I think both are good brushes. But... Only one I can afford. Or should I go for the 24mm knots? I really don't know. Remember that I like the Tuxedos. So what would you say? Do you know the dimensions of these two lofts?
I don't remember the synbad having a lot of backbone or heavy on the density, but then again I don't have it here any more to try. Silk Smoke sounds like more what you are looking for! No idea on the lofts, sorry, but I am sure you can get that from AP Shave Co - they are generally very responsive and helpful!
The Abbate Y La Mantia "Laureato", the Barrister and Mann Reserve soaps, the Drunken Goat from Mickey Lee, Saponificio Varesino, the Fine hard soaps, Catie's Bubbles Luxury line, some of the wonderful donkey milk soaps...SO MANY GREAT SOAPS!! Too many, really, it's kind of crazy, and bear in mind there are plenty I have not yet tried.
Michael Freedberg ok thank you! Definitely given me some options. I looked and a few are available on Amazon. Before you replied I ordered some Taylor of Old Bond Street, have you ever used it, and if so what are your thoughts? Thank you again for your help!
I think the TOBS creams may be good, but my experience with the hard soap was not great. I hope you got the cream :-) So many great options out there, just pick a few to start with.
Michael Freedberg luckily I did get the cream! I will definitely save the brand names you recommended though and give them a shot. Thank you so much for the response!
I think the soaps are very competitive, they rank up there with the best soaps I have used. Some of them work better for me than others, such as the Laureato or the Matteo 9:11, each due to their unique ingredient set. I have not been disappointed in any of them, and I continue to recommend them without hesitation. Very good soaps, well worth a try.
They are all really nice to use for sure - quality all the way. I might add a special mention for their "Don Jose" Banana / Coconut. I was struck by it's creaminess and the scent blows minds. I feel like I'm having dessert when I use it LOL.
This soap maker has to be one of Europe's creme dela creme artisans. Top quality performer of a soap, presentation (in a tin, depiction and what it invokes in line with the product's profile, etc.), in short every angle covered.
Have a pleasant get-together with the other shaver gents. Thanks for your video upload!
I hope to record at least some snippets of video from the meetup, which I will share later - hopefully people enjoy it!
Yes, I think AYLM has done a great job with a superior soap base and then scents + soap-specific extra ingredients that really elevate the product. It just shows that newcomers can surge to the front of the pack with the right product.
Hi Michael- Very nice shave today; thank you! The Abbate y La Mantia soaps are great; so nice to use. I also have a brush from AP Shave Co., with a very nice cashmere knot, which is great for painting on the lather. Hope you have a great start to the week and all the best!
This week has been pretty good, another wonderful combo coming for review on Sunday!!
I have Andrew’s 30mm faux marble SynBad. It is the finest synthetic to date. Unbelievable performance. Great job APShaveCo.
30mm -- man, that is huge! That must cover half your face when splayed :-)
I totally agree, great job by APShaveCo, I wish them all the best!
Well, I must say that certainly looked like a comfortable, enjoyable shave. Soap sounds wonderful and seemed to perform admirably. Brush looks super, so many choices out there, so little time...lol. Really nice shave and video Michael. Enjoy!
I know, so many things to try -- where does one stop? NOWHERE!! I just keep going, there is always something around the corner. You are totally right: so many excellent options out there, where do you even start??
Hellooooo Michael. Gotta love that "Garden" lather. The knot seemed real good too. Thanks.
So many weeks where everything just works out well, and I always think to myself "Man, I hope that you all are getting the same kind of quality shaves I am!" We all have SO MANY excellent options to choose from - there is ZERO reason you should be settling for something second best, even if you have a limited budget.
The knot looks cool, I love the handle, and I think it is going to be another excellent option for people looking for a synthetic knot.
Nice Shave Michael ! Yaqi has knots that look just like that !
I am not sure where he gets his knots; it could well be a specific style and design he has worked out with them -- but for sure Yaqi is supplying a great deal of synthetic knots in general.
The SynBad knot looks very efficient. Hope you use it with a triple milled soap in the future. Looking forward to the Maggard meet-up.
A triple milled option, eh? Well, a hard soap is up for review this week but with a different brush, but not to worry, I will add that to the list for future videos!
See you there, bring your wallet :-)
I have his faux horse, and this SynBad looks like another winner because of its appearance, the water retention, how it loads, lathers and splays, and how it looks at the end of the shave. I throw more synthetics into my summer rotation to give the natural brushes the extra time they need to dry out, so I'm in the market for a synthetic, and this may be the one. Thanks for another informative shave, Michael.
if you like the faux horse, but want a bit more backbone or structure, go for this knot. I think you will be very happy!
Thanks, Michael.
Man Michael , every time you use Abbate Y La Mantia Soap I want some , I Love that soap . I hope your skin calms down soon , pollen here is rough , too . Great Shave ! Have a great week !
Pollen is pretty bad, but I am now also wondering if I need to put my pillow through the fluff cycle again - this could be something in addition to the pollen.
I hope you get a chance to try one (or more) of these soaps, I think they are really very good! Great selection of scents and extra ingredients to distinguish the soaps from one another, too.
Hi Michael. Yes we here in New Zealand are in autumn 🍂 heading in winter, no complaints as we had a fantastic summer. Still tune in often and for the record your beaming in loud and clear from the other side of the planet. Take care keep up the good work, it’s appreciated. Owen in nz🇳🇿💈
You have no idea how gratifying it is to hear from people all over the world, literally on the other side of the globe, who get to enjoy these videos - UA-cam really is an amazing service!
Heading into winter -- ha, we have months to go yet!! Strawberries are in season right now :-)
Great shave. Though I'm four hours away from Maggards, unfortunately, I won't be there since it would be hurdle having to spend long hours going there, but have fun at the meet up. The label design for the Abbate Garden soap looks funny with the horse looking goddamn crazy
Yes, the horse looks goofy but it does make me smile - cuz crazy!
Sorry we won't have a chance to meet in person at the meetup, but I get it: 8 hours of driving is a LOT.
Nice brush/lather. Baby Smooth + Feather blade is a favorite pairing for me. I even put a stainless handle on mine for extra stability.
I thought about trying one of the heavier handles, but it just feels right to me with the original, and you are right, the Feather works really well in the Baby Smooth.
Great Shave, Mike! I really Like that brush...might be one more for the collection LOL.
What can one say about Abbate Y La Mantia? Superb soaps. The scents are always tasteful and the performance is incredible.
As for the 'Baby Smooth' Razor, it's right at the top of my 'love' list. Loaded with a Nacet, I get a BBS without irritation just about every time. It also facilitates my habit of 'stunt shaving' (going over spots in different directions on the same pass with just the residual slickness for protection ).
Funnily enough, I just got gifted some Nacets! I will try them in the Baby Smooth (if I can remember to do that).
The soaps are wonderful and different enough to stand out in a crowd. Well deserved praise for those soaps.
"stunt shaving" -- that made me laugh!
Hehehe...Stunt shaving? You like it..it's yours :-) I think you'll dig the Nacets. So far (at least for me), they've transformed my shaves in a variety of razors.
They may well make an appearance next week, we'll see what razor pops in the rotation (this week is already sorted of course).
Hi Michael, I will be at the Maggard Meet Up in a few weeks (my first meet up). Looking forward to meeting you.
Excellent, I will see you there!!
All in all awesome job👍💥🤙
Thank you very much, I do what I can!
Michael glad to see Sebum Gold is still in your rotation. You will be glad to know that after a 4 month research journey, we will be releasing a more affordable 1.7 oz dropper bottle that is 100% glass and plastic free. Our new stone ground glass stopper has a channel for the serum, aswell as an additional channel for air intake. This addition allows you to dispense precise drops of serum equally dosed everytime just using gravity. Whereas the Artisan bottle has one way in and one way out, that requires shaking out product as it fights the air trying to get in. Great video as usual.
A smaller option sounds great. It would be nice if it could be priced around $25 (like lower-end premium balm offerings), but that doesn't sound likely. Hope I'm mistaken.
borbetomagus Balms are a combination of water and oils with emulsifiers, fillers, and preservatives. Our product is 100% luxurious oils that require no preservatives or emulsifiers and there is an actual method to the formulation to mimic your natural lipid barrier. However in regards to price concerns; we will also be releasing a refill bottle that accompanies our new 1.7oz glass dropper bottle. This will offer further savings not having to repurchase the product again in our precision dropper bottle. Our refill bottle will have no regulator or real wood label like our other bottles, but are made of lightweight borosilicate glass to bring shipping down to $4, and are still sealed in our signature cork & wax seals with tear tab. We want to reasonably bring luxury to as many as possible, but the fact remains luxury has its cost. To be notified of the release; sign up for our New Product Alerts at the bottom of our webpage sebumgold.com
That is great news -- I totally understand the idea of offering a higher end men's grooming product, and I am glad to see you are addressing the bottle and dispenser issues. No plastic is great for those of us who try to recycle as much as we can.
1.7 oz is a better size, it lets people try the product without feeling like they will have an excess of product left over if for some reason they don't like it.
Thanks for watching!
Competing against premium balms at a lower price point will certainly add a challenge, but that is the reality of the current wetshaving market -- a lot of very good products at that (already) high price point. Too much of a good thing, you say? Could well be :-)
Refills -- great option!
Nice shave Michael.
Thanks, abe!
Great shave as always Michael, I have an unrelated question please, I have over time seen you shave with the Maggard slant, the Razorock Wunderbar slant and the Fine aluminum slant. Can you compare and contrast them please. And tell me which is your favorite of the three. Thank you.
The Fine Aluminum Slant and the Wunderbar are both "refined" slants, very precise designs. The Fine is easier to shave with, in my opinion, it just feels safer in use. The Wunderbar can be tricky, and some find it very prone to nicks, and I would agree (but bear in mind I only shaved with it for a week). The Maggard is a bit more aggressive than the Fine, with more obvious blade feel, but still very easy to use in the scheme of things -- and at a much lower cost, of course!
I would take the Fine over the Maggard, and the Wunderbar would be third just because it is just a little too much on the "naked" side of the shave for me.
Need help here. (Oh what a surprise!)
The 28mm Synbad brush or the 28mm Silksmoke from APShave? I want powerful backbone and density. I think both are good brushes. But... Only one I can afford. Or should I go for the 24mm knots? I really don't know.
Remember that I like the Tuxedos. So what would you say?
Do you know the dimensions of these two lofts?
I don't remember the synbad having a lot of backbone or heavy on the density, but then again I don't have it here any more to try. Silk Smoke sounds like more what you are looking for! No idea on the lofts, sorry, but I am sure you can get that from AP Shave Co - they are generally very responsive and helpful!
Silksmoke it is then! I like the look too. Many thanks again.
Hey Michael, out of all the shave soaps you review do you have one, or even a few that are your favorites?
The Abbate Y La Mantia "Laureato", the Barrister and Mann Reserve soaps, the Drunken Goat from Mickey Lee, Saponificio Varesino, the Fine hard soaps, Catie's Bubbles Luxury line, some of the wonderful donkey milk soaps...SO MANY GREAT SOAPS!! Too many, really, it's kind of crazy, and bear in mind there are plenty I have not yet tried.
Michael Freedberg ok thank you! Definitely given me some options. I looked and a few are available on Amazon. Before you replied I ordered some Taylor of Old Bond Street, have you ever used it, and if so what are your thoughts? Thank you again for your help!
I think the TOBS creams may be good, but my experience with the hard soap was not great. I hope you got the cream :-)
So many great options out there, just pick a few to start with.
Michael Freedberg luckily I did get the cream! I will definitely save the brand names you recommended though and give them a shot. Thank you so much for the response!
Which size is this brush? 24?
Yes, I believe so!!
Michael, does that horse on the lid art look like Don Martin artwork (MAD magazine) to you?? Lol
it looks like he purposely added Anthony Esposito's goatee/moustache to the horse.
It does, now that you mention it, but man, that dates us :-)
I loved Don Martin...
He may well have, I assume like you that the Italian Stallion is a reference to Anthony...
Ciao Michael sempre belle sbarbate
Stefano, ciao!! Thanks so much, and thank you for watching! I do try my best, knowing that people are watching (no pressure there!!)
How does Abbate compare to other vegan bases? Great shave! Looked nice and smooth
I think the soaps are very competitive, they rank up there with the best soaps I have used. Some of them work better for me than others, such as the Laureato or the Matteo 9:11, each due to their unique ingredient set. I have not been disappointed in any of them, and I continue to recommend them without hesitation. Very good soaps, well worth a try.
They are all really nice to use for sure - quality all the way. I might add a special mention for their "Don Jose" Banana / Coconut. I was struck by it's creaminess and the scent blows minds. I feel like I'm having dessert when I use it LOL.
++
+++!!