You’re listening to Wet Shaving Talk powered by Sharpologist.com where we’re dedicated to preserving the art and skill of classic shaving. I’m your host Joe Borrelli and today is October 27th, 2025.
Today on the Show:
THE 10TH ANNUAL FALL SEASONAL SPECIAL 2025!!!
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The Fall Seasonal Special Hall Of Fame! Best over the Years
Back for its second year ! The Fall Seasonal Hall of Fame! These items are no longer in production and have been either retired or the company is no longer in business, or just plain cool.
We start our special with items that have come and gone and proved to be very popular amongst wet shavers.
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The Holy Black
Tell-Tale Heart Series Soap/AS/EDP: Dragonsblood imparts a familiar powdery incense note and dominates the initial exposure to the scent. Oud(agar/aloeswood) brings a dark, almost dank feeling to the overall fragrance here as subtler notes of teak, cedar and sandalwood balance out the wood accord. Almost strangely floral, this fragrance cannot be truly appreciated until it has a chance to interact with your body chemistry.
Jeckyll and Hyde Box Set:Jeckyll and Hyde, when mixed in your own preferred ratios, allows you to create a complex fragrance customizable to your own body chemistry that embodies the light and dark side of these similar profiles. This set includes two 8.5oz aftershave splashes, two 50ml Eau De Toilette fragrances, and one Shaving soap with both Jeckyll and Hyde that can be used together, or separately. We also have a couple of other surprises in store for you that we think will be worth the wait.
Black Magic Talking Board Set The newest fragrance in our line up, and perfect for the Autumn season, Black Magic is a Tobacco forward fragrance with notes of Fresh Tobacco, Tobacco Absolute, Tonka Absolute, Madagascar Vanilla, Bourbon, Oak, Cacao, Espresso, Dried Fruit and Spices.
Vampire Hunter Set :Just when you thought there were no more surprises in store for 2020- Vampires! The undead walk the earth and you must do your duty to keep them at bay. With the return of Vampires looming, we bring you this 20 piece Vampire Hunting Kit. Painstakingly made here at the Holy Black for all your Vampire killing needs, there are only a few available, and somehow, these look even better in person. These come complete with dust and cobwebs and are right at home amongst antiques in an old Victorian mansion. We are super proud of this one and it’s been an idea that we never had the means to pull off in a way that would do it justice.
Seven Deadly Sins 2022:Thought to have been made in late 1500s Italy and found under the ruins of a burned out church, this seven day box set of shaving soaps is rumored to have mystical properties. The original paper label on the lid is charred but still legible and when you slide it back and remove the shredded aspen wood substrate you will find an 8oz wax sealed glass bottle and 7 ceramic dishes, still safe inside in their original paper wrappers, miraculously untouched by flame. The Aftershave and Shaving Soaps have survived wonderfully. If you are able to obtain this set, be cautious, there have been strange happenings here.
The Alchemist Set 2023:With the Alchemist box set, you’re not just crafting a fragrance; you’re weaving stories, emotions, and a dash of ancient magic into every drop. Whether you’re a fragrance aficionado, a lover of tales, or someone seeking a unique olfactory journey, this collection promises an experience that’s as enchanting as the legend of Alastair himself.
Memento Mori- Remember, you must die. This box set creates an environment that ensures you stay in that Memento Mori mindset. All of your senses are there to remind you to live in the now. Your most powerful sense, your sense of smell, is the main focus here, a 30ml bottle of a powerful fragrance is within the earthenware vessel. Inhale fresh earth, the cypress trees in the cemetery in the crisp air of October, almost taste the ripe fruit, smell the imperial roses, corps iris, and even the lingering scent of fresh cement to remind you that your life on earth is fleeting. Far from macabre, Memento Mori is the celebration of life, a reminder to live every day to its fullest.
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DR Jon’s
Blood Oath Soap/AS & More: For those not familiar with Blood Oath, the fear of bad omens once would circulate and sweep through the superstitious bellies of ancient towns when unexplained moments of failed crop harvests or even morning milk soured by noon. These omens were not to be taken lightly. (Closed in 2022)
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Barrister and Mann
Lyssa: Soap/AS and Vampire Kit: Barrister and Mann is proud to announce our collaboration with local research laboratories to bring you the world’s first fully functional zombie repellant. After careful study and experimentation upon captured zombies from a local reanimation (known in the annals of history as “The Templeton Cemetery Incident”), these labs have developed an aroma-based agent to keep the undead at bay. Christened “Lyssa” by its creators, and conveniently packaged in a shaving soap, aftershave, and eau de parfum, this special blend will keep you safe from even the most relentless walkers.
Hallows: Soap/AS/EDP & More:Scent Profile: Taking inspiration from the swamps of Boston, we combined vetiver, oakmoss, black pepper, cocoa, labdanum, and cedar to produce a deep, cold scent suited to the chilly, bitter days of late October. (One of the top scents of all time)
Season of the Witch Soap/AS & More Beneath this enrapturing accord, ripples of power lurk. The green dustiness of tarragon, the spicy tang of nutmeg and wormwood, and elemental, primordial notes of oakmoss, oud, and woodsmoke bubble from the depths, bathing the flowers in their eldritch glow. Mossy and primeval, floral and herbal, the product of centuries of tradition and craft, Season of the Witch is the potion of a modern age, composed to enthrall and enchant. Something wicked this way comes.
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Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements
Clown Fruit: Soap, AS & More, Artemisia (Wormwood), Hungarian Oak, Elderflower, Absinthe, Neroli, Amyris, Elderberry, Burnt Sugar, Tobacco Absolute, & FEAR Absolute.
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Southern WitchCraft (Closed)
Autumn Ash: Soap and AS, The quintessential Fall fragrance. Dark and resinous, this accord is spicy, dirty, smokey, sweet and and perfectly captures the scent of damp Autumn air.Scent notes: Maple, spice, smoke, amber, cedar, oud, rain, plum, blackberry, ash, birch tar, pumpkin, coffee, dirt, mildew
Samhain: Soap and AS, Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year. This holiday was the inspiration for our fragrance.Notes: bourbon, tobacco, pumpkin, sandalwood, nutmeg, oud, incense, amber, vanilla, hazelnut, charred wood, musk
Tres Matres: Soap and AS, A tribute to the classic horror franchise “Suspiria”. A floral accord on a petrichor base with citrus top notes.Scent notes: Amber, Oakmoss, Damp Earth, Rosewood, Lavender, Almond, Calla lily, Cotton, Aldehydes, Grapefruit, Ginger, Ambergris, Ozone, Peach
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Let’s Get on With The Show 2025!
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The Holy Black
Ahab’s Sea Chest Halloween Set: Shave set limited to only 15 pieces.
Based on a project 10 years in the making. All parts of this set has been made by hand in the shop by The Holy Black And contains the following:
-Shave Soap
-38 mm Badger/Boar Brush molded from real Whale’s Tooth
-Harppon stand, casted by hand
-Aftershave.
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Black Ship Grooming
Crane: Cream and AS: Take the midnight Ride but don’t lose your head! Beware, ye bristly souls! Crane is no ordinary grooming elixir—this is a concoction straight from the haunted hills of Sleepy Hollow! Inspired by the Headless Horseman himself, Crane’s rich, creamy lather wraps your skin in a supernatural shield, delivering a smooth, protective shave that softens as it haunts. Infused with the unusual and bold fragrance of spiced oranges and a fiery hint of chili pepper, this scent is as mysterious as the ghostly rider who roams on All Hallows’ Eve.
Scent Profile: spiced oranges and a fiery hint of chili pepper,
Samhain’s Curse Soap and AS: This wicked blend sets sail with smoldering incense, charred orange peel, and black clove before sinking into a heart of aged rum, damp oak, and ritual myrrh. The base lingers with smoked amber, leather, and ghostly midnight air. It’s the scent of harvest fire and cursed seas, bottled for those brave enough to face the unknown.
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Stirling Soap
Hot Apple Cider Soap, AS & More Apples, cinnamon, and clove make for a perfect shave as the weather turns cool and the trees turn.
Autumn Glory Soap, AS & More A difficult aroma to put into words. Imagine walking through the damp woods on a brisk fall morning with the falling leaves in all their autumn glory.
Pumpkin Spice Soap, AS & More **Our Pumpkin Spice fragrance is back to being the spicy version from 2014. Last year was more of a maple/syrup-y scent. Due to customer feedback, we have brought back the previous fragrance which has a heaping dose of spice.
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Declaration Grooming
Dark Fall Soap and AS: Darkfall is a spicy oriental designed to capture the spirit of fall in the rural south. Agarwood, amber, and benzoin provide a deep, warm base for the cinnamon and clove top notes. Birch tar adds a slight smokiness that represents the ever-present smell of burning leaves that heralds the arrival of fall in Georgia.
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Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements
Astro Traveler Soap/AS & More: It opens with a refreshing burst of bergamot and grapefruit, a bright, invigorating duo that draws you in from the first whiff. As the top notes settle, you’re introduced to the spicy warmth of orange zest, black pepper, and nutmeg—a trio that adds a rich, fiery edge, hinting at something deeper below the surface.
Atomic Pumpkin Soap/AS & More: This isn’t your basic seasonal Pumpkin Pie offering my friends but something far more sophisticated and alluring, West Indian Bay, Moro Blood Orange, Allspice, Lite Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, and Elemi Resin. Trust me when I say this really is some festive, masculine magic done right.
Blue Samhain (saa-wn): Soap, AS & More, Scent Profile: Sandalwood, Burnt Sugar, Bourbon and Pumpkin, Oak Barrel Aged. Back for year 7
Ciderhouse: Soap,As & More, Scent Profile: Pipe Smoke, Mulled Cider, Oakwood, Dried Leaves, Linseed…seems innocent enough, right?
Greenwitch Envy: Soap/AS & More the regenerating heart of the fragrance beats with Sandalwood, Cedar, and a touch of Carnation—that unexpected floral note you never saw coming, but somehow makes perfect sense. It’s like walking into a room and feeling a presence that shouldn’t be there. But still, you’re drawn in. And then there’s the base: Incense, Tobacco, Vanilla, with a lingering edge of Vetiver and Patchouli. These are the smells of forgotten places. Old leather-bound books gathering dust, a smoldering fire that’s almost gone out but still carries the faintest trace of warmth. It’s rich, it’s dark, but lite and it clings to you long after the bottle is closed.
Monstroso Shave Soap/As and More: Oddities, curiosities, things that go bump in the night lurking just beyond the safety of a flickering, fast burning candles light…MONSTROSO! cent Profile: Moro Blood Orange, Autumn Glo Apricot, Haitian Vetiver
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Barrister and Mann
Hallows Soap/AS & More: Scent Profile: Taking inspiration from the swamps of Boston, we combined vetiver, oakmoss, black pepper, cocoa, labdanum, and cedar to produce a deep, cold scent suited to the chilly, bitter days of late October.
Blue Samhain Soap/AS & More: Samhain captures the essence of autumn’s twilight—the velvety dusk before winter’s chill. A deep, ritualistic blend of bourbon, tobacco, pumpkin, sandalwood, nutmeg, oud, incense, amber, vanilla, hazelnut, charred wood, and musk creates a darkly comforting fragrance that celebrates the turning of the seasons.
Leviathan Soap/AS & More: Russian leather accord and blended it with notes of sandalwood, coffee, cedar, and musk to create a dark, feral scent well-suited to its namesake. Elemental and at times slightly unsettling, Leviathan is a scent to accompany you to the end of the world.
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Ginger’s Garden
Skully: Soap and AS, Skully tallow shaving soap has freshly turned, wet soil, notes of teakwood, cedar, mushrooms, wet leaves and green moss. A slight metal note adds to the earth element.
Maple Toddy: Soap & AS, Maple Toddy Tallow Shaving soap with warm Vermont maple syrup, rich creamy vanilla, hot buttered rum and smooth fragrant amber with a caramelized sugar note. It creates lots of soft, cushioning lather for easy glide with any razor.
Pumpkin Spice Soap and AS: Perfectly balanced for the fall season
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Mama Bear’s Soaps
Autumn Afternoon: Soap, Vibrant! A clean blend of herbs, falling leaves and clean fresh air. An invigorating scent and much requested. This is a wonderful masculine scent with a fresh air twist.
Fall Leaves: Soap, Damp, woody, fresh and deep.. this is like a breath of fresh air while sitting on a pile of freshly raked leaves in the fall.
Pumpkin Spice: Soap, Pumpkin Spice is a delectable blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger blended with pumpkin, a hint of harvest apple, caramel and cream. With a single whiff, your mouth will start to water and you will fall in love.
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Hoffman’s Shave Soap Co
19th Hole: The Curse of Lincoln Park: A “haunting” scent with notes of wood spice, oud, orange, jasmine, patchouli, cedar, and vanilla.
The Joker’s Spawn: A collaboration between Hoffmans and legendary comic book creator Todd McFarlane, with notes of apple, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Return of Ichabod Crane: Inspired by the legend of Sleepy Hollow, this scent features jasmine, rosewood, white cedar, musk, and grapefruit.
Evil Pumpkin 2: An extension of a past favorite, this new version has scent notes of pumpkin, bourbon, and fougere.
Dead Hollow Dead Hollow is a tale of a Halloween’s underworld. The realm of between the living and the dead. Pecan and Pumpkin Forward, Fall
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Humphrey Handmade
Hot Apple Cider:Soap, HOT APPLE CIDER soap is all about fall, and is a unique apple cider blend with ginger root, goji berry, cassia root and subtle green field notes. This is a PERFECT and spot on apple cider scent.
Killer Clown:Soap,KILLER CLOWN soap smells just like the fresh, sugary scent of cotton candy made fresh at the fair. The bright red puck resembles a clown nose, and the label features fun polka dots up the sides. Amazing soft soap, will not dry out your skin like glycerin soaps often do due to the added oils.
Little Soap of Horrors, LITTLE SOAP OF HORRORS soap is clear in color, but glows in the dark when the lights go out. It’s eye-catching and smells oh so good. It smells like a tropical juicy blend of orange, cherry, peach, pineapple and vanilla. Very similar to a Sex on the Beach cocktail.
Pumpkin Spice: Soap, I know that autumn is the season for ‘pumpkin everything,’ but who says you can’t enjoy the scent year-round? Pumpkin Spice is a classic and enticing blend of pumpkin puree, freshly ground nutmeg and a pie crust accord.
Redrum: Soap, REDRUM is a wonderful Bay Rum scent that has the fresh essence of bay leaves with the bright enjoyment of orange peel and zest.
Spoopy: Soap, SPOOPY Soap is all about fall, and is a unique apple cider blend with ginger root, goji berry, cassia root and subtle green field notes. This is a perfect apple cider scent, it smells just like a hay ride!
Vampire: Soap, Genuine blood orange essential oil gives VAMPIRE soap a delightful smell. Great for your skin and for aromatherapy uses, orange essential oil can act as a mild aphrodisiac. It can also act as an anti-inflamatory and has antiseptic properties. Aside from all of that, the scent is very relaxing and oh so yummy! Vampire is a gorgeous bright red color, definitely catches the eye.
Werewolf: Soap, Our WEREWOLF soap smells of Citrus Zest, Cedar Leaf, Rich Spices, Vetiver, White Pepper, Deep Musk and Light Patchouli. If you are familiar with the BBW Twilight Woods scent, this is very similar.
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Van Yulay
Coffee Pumpkin Latte: Soap and AS, Description of Shaving Soap Scent:I just love pumpkin of any kind. The aroma of coffee and pumpkin is the perfect scent. I have added real coffee powder and pumpkin puree!
Frosted Pumpkin: Soap and AS, This is a perfect blend of pine cones and spiced pumpkin. Very different for the season. With a touch of menthol!
Pineumpkin: Soap and AS, I just love pumpkin of any kind.But this one is so different. Made with real pumpkin juice as well as pumkin puree. While the top notes of pineapple comes out the festive pumpkin shines through on this scent
Pumpkin Bread: Soap and AS, I just love pumpkin of any kind.I wanted to do something different than just the regular pumpkin pie. This scent is a strong pumpkin with high notes of nutmeg and spice. Yum.
Salted Caramel Pumpkin: Soap and AS, New for 2020, A caramel sweet, and complex drizzle underneath a perfect pumpkin with notes intertwines with a spice cabinet of cinnamon, clove, allspice, kissed with sugar. Hints of nutmeg and fruits peek out from the heart notes
Spooky Horror: Soap and AS, This soap is so different. I wanted to make a pumpkin soap but that is boring, so let me bring you into the dark night with a heavy musk, dirt, birch tar, civet, leather, amber and of course pumpkin notes in the back ground. It is blended so well I needed to send it over the top. So of course after being chased by those werewolves you need a gin & tonic. So yes this one has a drizzle of tonic over the top. Notes of juniper berry, coriander, grapefruit, lemon, orange, clove, anglelic root, fennel ad cassia bark
Sweet Autumn Pie: Soap and As, Sweet Autumn pumpkin is a perfect pumpkin pie with the warming touch of cinnamon and clove.With real added pumpkin you will have to resist eating this one. Sweet sugary maple adds the finishing touch to this fabulous fall fragrance.
When October Goes: Soap And AS, This is a complex Fall Scent: We start off with Crisp Apples & Oranges intertwined with Wood & Leaves that have fallen to the dewy earth, blended with deep notes of woods. Rounded out with a touch of Tobacco.
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First Line Shave
Room 237 Soap and AS: The fragrance is inspired by Kilian’s Single Malt which captures the unique aroma of a well-aged barrel reserved single malt, an instant shot of ripe plum immediately gives the initial boozy aroma of the whisky that is followed by a wheat accord and embedded with tolu balsam and a sensually warm vanilla.
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Soap Commander
Heritage Soap & AS:Our Fall 2021 Scent celebrates the Caramel Apple. unique backgrounds we’ve each come from and the fresh futures we are forming for the next generation. Our current thoughts, decisions, and courses of action shape the heritage of those who come after usc pumpkin, Peach
Strategy Soap & AS: 2020: In terms of fragrance notes, STRATEGY stands on Teakwood, Mahogany, & Lavender with supporting tones of Geranium, Oak, and Cedar.
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Moon Soaps
Warmest Regards Soap: This scent is perfect for a season of good cheer and chilly winds. Warmest Regards is a pleasing combination of amber, tonka, oud, rum, and musk. This deep aroma might bring to mind a warming drink before a roaring fire.
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Wet The Face
Fallen Leaves: Soap and AS: At the top, zesty bursts of Orange Juice intermingle with the bright and invigorating notes of Bergamot, creating an initial sensation of freshness that awakens the senses. Delicate hints of Rose Petals lend a touch of elegance, setting the stage for the journey that lies ahead.
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Gentleman’s Nod
Cosecha Catalana Fall SE Shave Soap: A new morning dawns as you set your eyes upon a beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Immediately, you are met with an intensely aromatic, green and herbal aroma highlighted by bright citrus. Traveling inland, dry florals with herbal and woody accents draw you further into the sprawling countryside. As evening approaches, you are greeted by the comforting warmth of creamy woods and Golden Amber that is earthy, yet slightly sweet and resinous.
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Ariana & Evans
Midnight Soiree Shaving Soap & More: prepare to embrace your untamed spirit with our halloween ’24 midnight soirée shaving soap, crafted in our beloved K2E base! This limited edition soap boasts vibrant notes of orange, fresh apple, and the captivating aroma of palo santo. we’ve infused midnight soirée with a daring whisper of absinthe. The outcome? A memorable shaving journey! Blends of bitter orange, apple, palo santo, absinthe, and additional elements create an extraordinary olfactory delight.
scent notes: orange bitter, apple, palo santo, absinthe, lavender, green foliage, petrichor, civet, oakmoss, patchouli, labdanum
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Lockhart’s
Fire and Brimstone Soap/AS/ & More Smells like: Fire and Brimstone. Demons cracking a cold one next to a bonfire on a brisk Fall evening.Notes Top notes: Pink Pepper, Brimstone
Middle notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Smoke Base notes: Ambroxan, Firewood, Iso E Super
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Macduff’s Soap
Autumn Cabin Soap Notes: Toasted Maple, Fir Needle, Balsam Fir, Juniper, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Pear, Lemon, Cardamom “There is a harmony in autumn, a lustre in its sky” – Percy Bysshe Shelley Autumn Cabin kicked off the cabin series and remains MSC’s most popular scent. This fragrance is a homage to the rustic simplicity of a woodland cabin, blending the cozy comforts of fall with the tranquility of the great outdoors.
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Oversoyed Soap Company
Autumn Spice Shave Soap A reminiscent of a fall walk with notes cedarwood and fir needles anchored with cinnamon, coriander and jasmine.
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Beardknife Soap Company
Autumn Equinox Soap: Made for straight razor users
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Yodeling Goat Soap
Autumn Demure Shave Soap: Explore autumn’s demure side with warm, exotic, and spicy scent blends including sandalwood, cedar, coconut, honey, citrus, patchouli and cinnamon.
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Apex Alchemy Shaving
Autumn Breeze Shave Soap: The leaves are falling. The air is crisp. Flannel is the pattern of choice and Summer comes to an end. Welcome the upcoming cooler seasons with this all natural shaving soap.
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The Wet Shaving Store
Shave Dad’s Sportsman Series Premium Shaving Soap
A collaboration with Shave Dad and Master Soap Creations, this limited-run set was released on September 12, 2025. It includes a shaving soap and aftershave splash with scent notes of pepper, orange, neroli, saffron, cardamom, frankincense, oud, patchouli, and leather.
Elysian Luna Revamp After Shave Splash Soap
Part of the Sol & Luna collection, the Luna scent is a seasonal release for the colder months. The 2025 seasonal restock was released on August 11, 2025.
Devil’s Den Shave Dad Premium Shaving Soap
Inspired by the scent of Viktor and Rolf’s Spice Bomb Extreme, this shaving soap and splash set is also available for the season.
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HAG’s (Mr Rick Shaving)
Rick or Treat Soap and AS: Described as “the sweetest curse you’ll ever crave,” the scent features candied citrus and sweet orange peel, followed by notes of vanilla cookie, sugared biscuit, and cookie crumble, with a base of golden amber and mystical resins.“This scent is our own creation, crafted to capture the nostalgic feeling of childhood Halloween nights—knocking on doors, paper bags filled with candy, and the sweet thrill of every treat.”
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Happy Chap Shaving
Ghost Stories Soap and AS:Experience the fear dripping from the dilapidated pages of a spine-chilling ghost story. It opens with ripe Plum and Saturn Peach, giving off a muted fruitiness that fades into the shadows of Black Violet and worn Italian Leather. Beneath it all, Patchouli, Vanilla, and Dusty Musk settle in like aged books and creaking floorboards. Do your haunting face a favor and shave with Happy Chap.
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The Shave Mercantile
Pretty Polly Soap: There are many versions of her song. In some, she’s the victim. In others… she’s the one who swings the blade. Polly’s melody drifts down from the Appalachian hills. A murder ballad carried on cold wind and memory through the centuries. Some have differing opinions on how this story ends, but the earth and grave know the truth.
The scent is steeped in an uneasy beauty: freshly dug grave soil, moss, and cedarwood tangled with dark plum, blood orange, jasmine, and amber. It’s rich, unsettling, and strangely inviting, like a hymn sung in an empty church.
An Appalachian Gothic fragrance, Polly is Earthy. Haunting. Full of quiet mystery, folklore, and fog. For those who appreciate craftsmanship, story, a bit of the macabre, and the kind of scent that leaves an echo, this one’s worth the lather.
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Previous shows:
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Transcript (Generated Using Transcript LOL)
You’re listening to Wet Shaving, talk powered by sharpologist.com, where we’re dedicated preserving the art and skill of classic shaving. I’m your host, Joe Borelli, and today is October 30th, 2025, the annual fall seasonal special. so All right, everybody, welcome back to the podcast on this special edition.
Yes, that’s right, the yearly fall seasonal special, the 10th annual fall seasonal special since I’ve been podcasting. So I am so excited to bring this show to you. I apologize it’s a little late and the reason being I was waiting on a couple of releases to come out and one came out last night to where I couldn’t do this show without sharing it with you because it’s one of the bigger ones out there. So, just to give you guys a little bit of an idea of how this show goes.
Now, if you’ve never listened to the podcast before, if this is the first time you’re listening to this special edition, really what I do is I go through all the fall items. Now, fall is one of my favorite seasons, right? It’s probably most of our favorite seasons out there. And it’s also the biggest launch for wet shaving products in really in the industry.
Most companies do, you know, a lot of vendors, a lot of artisans, they like to do special edition fall things for the fall season. You know, being in the alcohol industry myself, you see a lot of like fall seasonal beers, fall seasonal items. It’s really big. So it’s also big in wet shaving and it’s a lot of fun as well.
So. The way the show is going to go today is I’ve got a little special edition. I’m going to bring back the Fall Seasonal Special Hall of Fame, which is all items that are no longer being made or items that are being made but showed a real impact. And then I’m going to go over all the new stuff for this year that really have just either come out or are reoccurring.
Some of this stuff is actually available all year round. Without further ado, guys, I’ll get on with the show. Just to give you a little bit more of an insight of how much work that goes into this. Traditionally, it used to take me about 40 hours to do it.
Usually, it’s a few hours a day for a couple of weeks. A lot of the vendors and stuff, they wouldn’t post certain sites on it. They wouldn’t post different pages, so it was hard to find. But lately, with the power of AI, it’s helped me out tremendously to get a lot of the new stuff.
I still had to do quite a bit of searching, but it did help me, and a lot of the, actually, the modern technology’s been getting a lot better. So, gotta thank you for technology and helping us get more stuff, because this is a big show today, guys. I got over 40 pages of notes in the show notes, so it’s a big one. So, without further ado, let’s get on with it.
Back again for the second year of the Fall Seasonal Special Hall of Fame, let’s start off with the Holy Black. We can’t forget the Holy Black back in 2017 when they came out with Telltale Heart, the series, which came out with a soap as well as a cologne and did come out with a little bit of an aftershave as well. Dragon blood dragons blood and parts the familiar powdery intent incense note which dominates his soap this was Another one that was really more like a chemistry set came with a really cool set. This is their first fall of fall release from the holy black and I have to say that every year they come out with something really big and really crazy and new right so that was their first set and The next year they came out my personal favorite, which
was the Jekyll and Hyde box set, which came with a soap and two aftershaves that you can blend. The soaps you can actually make your own scent out of it. You can make your own custom scent. And it came in a wooden box that also lit up and I think made music as well.
Really cool, awesome, and this was a great set. This is one of the sets that I wish I bought, because at the time I didn’t get a chance to get it. And I still regret it to this day, because I still think it’s one of their best releases. The Black Magic set that came out the year after, this was like a soap, aftershave, couple other things in there.
It also came with like a Ouija board in it. And it really was like to do kind of like a fake seance or something like that. So I thought this was really nice. The boxes, again, all custom made.
by Holy Black with the, excuse me, the scent actually being made from fresh tobacco and like kind of like a bourbon-y melon, excuse me, vanilla scent that was really, that had like a dried espresso expression into it as well. It was really cool. I did get to try the soap part of it because sometimes you guys, if you know Holy Black, they do come out with some other scents or some other like secret, The secret stash releases which they’re just doing a regular tin, but you get to try everything that was really cool That was a one of my favorite sense that they came out with The next set was a really this is when they really got their prop I guess their prop skills done because it looked like a movie prop was the vampire hunters hunter set This
was a 20-piece set that came with like fake cobwebs aged box It was a vampire hunting kit But it also came with a bunch of stuff in there. I think there was garlic in there. There was aftershave in there. There was a lot of great stuff.
Really cool. It looked like it belonged in a Victorian museum mansion. And this is one I think they really started showing off their skills with this because they actually made fake spider webs and stuff all over it. Seven Deadly Sins was 2022.
I bought this set. I really enjoyed it. It came with seven different soaps and an aftershave of different scents. It came with a paper that looked like it came from the 1500s.
It looked charred. The box was aged and everything. All nice in a coffin-like set. And it came with different soaps, different scents that you can put together and kind of make your own thing with it.
And it, again, had like a rumor of mystical properties that would make you feel differently with each different soap. The Alchemist set of 2023, again, this was another box set that came out. This was all about fragrance lovers. This was all the two aftershaves that came in it.
And it was able to, you can like mix and match and then make your own scent again with this. Really cool. And then last year was Memento Mori, which wanted to let you know, remember, you must die. That was the theme for that year.
Set came with, again, another powerful 30 milliliters of an accustomed, I guess you would want to say like a pot that came in, with just different scents and stuff that was supposed to smell kind of like you were at a funeral. Moving along to the next vendor, Dr. John’s, now no longer being produced. They made Blood Oath soap aftershave and a lot of other stuff that came with that as well. I think there was a couple other items with it.
For those of you not familiar with it, it was really a scent that was very different. It had like a musty scent, had like a burn cornfield scent. Really nice. Again, came out, I think the soap was like blood red.
Cool release. Fanfare on that and he dr. John had that for several years until they closed up shop a few years ago Now barrister and man known to do a lot of vendor a lot of different items They came out with lissa the soap. This was a vampire kit again This was one that smelled like fresh flowers and had a little garlic essence to it again this was supposed to ward off the the I guess you want to say the vampires of the Halloween season and They also, guys, with Holy Black,
we’re going to talk, not Holy Black, I’m sorry, with Barrister Man, we’re going to talk a little bit more about them. Again, Hallows is one of the most popular Halloween scents out there. Hallows won that scent contest with Sharpologist several years back and that’s what actually kind of I would say put it on the map. I’m wearing it right now.
I used it this morning. And it is a great scent that just smells like, really smells like fall. It’s got that musky, that kind of smell that just you really like, wow, I feel like I’m walking down with burned leaves around me and all that stuff. Just walking in New England, right, Boston area, through a cemetery or whatever, just with that dirt and that fresh fall scent.
They also came out with Season of the Witch, which was last year, which was, again, something to ward off witches. Came with a lot, again, with like a nutmeg, wormwood essence, really good. Had also that signature oak moss that Barrister Man likes to use, that musky, mossy type scent, like smells like dirt, blended in with it. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements can’t be the Hall of Fame without Clown Fruit.
Clown Fruit was the first soap I ever saw that glow, actually would glow in the dark. Again, the aftershave was used, was aged in real wormwood, a Hungarian oak, and really had that nice, fresh, smelled kind of like, almost like a carnival with a little fall essence to it. And Southern Witchcraft, which unfortunately shut down last year. Southern Witchcraft had a lot of great soaps.
They had Autumn Ash, which was like a really about burned leaves, all about burned leaves with a sense of pumpkin in it. You had So When, which was probably their most popular scent, which we’ll talk a little bit more about that. So When was more about like a kind of like a drunken pumpkin type scent. Had Tobacco Bourbon, again, that charred wood, musky pumpkin, sandalwood scent.
And then the Trace Matres, which was also another one that just had that, again, that really dark scent that was just oak mossy, again, damp earth, really just almost like if you were walking in the forest in the fall in the north, all the above, really just, that was a really good scent as well. And I do miss this vendor. All right guys, so without further ado, let’s get on with the regular show.
We went through the Hall of Fame. Now those items we just talked about, some of them are still being made, some of them aren’t, but most of them are not being made. But here’s the new stuff for this year. The reason why the podcast is late this year, holy black, I’m gonna give them a little bit more time here.
Ahab Seachest Halloween set came out. This is their biggest set yet. Their most expensive set, it was almost $270 with only 15 sets available. I looked on it last night when it went on.
I was contemplating on buying it, but just $270 is just a lot of money for a shape set, but I know whoever got this, Really is going to enjoy it. Came with a shave soap, aftershave, again, a 38 millimeter badger or boar brush, whichever your choice was, molded from a real, it was made from a mold from a real whale’s tooth that Holy Black came out with about 15 years ago, I’d say, or 12 years ago when they did their whale’s tooth brush back in 2013. It has a harpoon stand, which was casted by hand, and again, an aftershave.
Black Ship Grooming, they are back again with Crane. Crane is taking a midnight ride with the Headless Horseman. That’s what this is based on. With, oh man, scent profile is spiced oranges with a hint of chili pepper.
These guys do not like to put too much on this one. They don’t like to put the scent profile on it because last year they didn’t even have it. This year they did though, so they give us a little bit of a taste with spicy oranges and some chili pepper into it. They also came out with Sewin’s Curse and Aftershave.
So this is a blended set with a smoldering incense, charred orange peel, black clove before sinking into a heart of aged rum, damp oak, and a ritual myth. This is another new one for this year, guys. So this is to celebrate the Sewin You would say the fall festival that was very popular. A lot of people have been doing based on that kind of a, I guess you would say, on that kind of a theme.
And Black Ship knocked it out of the park with this one. Wouldn’t be the holiday season without talking about Sterling, guys. Sterling Soap Company. Again, they have a lot of stuff.
But the beauty of this is most of their stuff is available all year round. So hot apple cider soap, aftershave. They have apple, cinnamon, and clove, making it perfect for that hot apple cider. Autumn Glory, which is a scent that’s always been difficult to put in words.
Imagine walking through the damp woods and just jumping into falling leaves, jumping into a pile of leaves. And of course, the best in the industry, I think, for pumpkin spice, for a typical pumpkin spice soap and aftershave, there it is back to their old, they’ve been doing this for years, over 10 years, and they’re back, they’ve been They’re toying with different, I guess, formulas, but they’ve been back on the original one for a few years now. And this is just pumpkin spice in a shave soap.
If you love pumpkin spice, this is the one to get. It smells exactly like a pumpkin spice latte. Declaration Grooming, now known for their brushes. Declaration Grooming also makes soaps and aftershaves as well, but they do make hand-tied brushes in the United States.
Darkfall, wouldn’t be Halloween without Darkfall. Again, back again for this year. This is a scent that really brings that burned leaves type essence actually to a reality. It smells like burned leaves, 100%.
And themed on just a really fall day and the rival fall in Georgia, in northern Georgia. Phoenix Artist and Accoutrements. Again, guys, these guys knock it out of the park with releases. They have a lot of stuff that came back this year.
Some new stuff as well. So Astro Traveler Soap and Aftershave More. They have tons of stuff with their products, remember. So they have different scents.
Aftershave, they do jellies, they do everything. This has a nice scent, a hint of bergamot and grapefruit, bringing it really to that first whiff of fall. Again, with a little orange zest, black pepper, and nutmeg, adding to a fiery edge, hinting at something deeper below the surface. Atomic pumpkin, which isn’t your seasonal pumpkin pie.
There is orange, allspice, a little light cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and I believe there is no clove. He does not like using clove in his pumpkin spice soaps. There is no clove in this one. And my personal favorite is the Blue Soin Aftershave and More soap, this great scent, sandalwood with burnt sugar, bourbon, and pumpkin oak.
And this is oak barrel aged for the aftershave. So they bring it back, this is the eighth or ninth year that this soap has been out. And he ages all of the aftershaves. And actually, he does it in a charred oak barrel.
So it’s really cool. You get a really good essence. I use this year after year. It’s kind of got like a sweet essence to it, but a little hint of the pumpkin and a little char.
Cider house, which is again, this is Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements form of the apple cider, pipe smoke, mulled cider, oakwood, dry leaves. That’s it. Simple and nice and easy for a nice fall day. Greenwich Envy, which is a regenerating heart of fragrance beading with sandalwood cedar and a touch of carnation.
The unexpected floral note you never saw coming. Again, you’ll see a little tobacco vanilla with a lingering edge of vetiver and patachouli. So smells aren’t in forgotten places. Old leather bound books, gather dust smoldering fire and almost gone.
It’s still the faintest trace of warmth. Really interesting description, guys. I think this one’s interesting. This one’s great.
This is a new one. And Monstroso, again, with the Frankenstein picture on the front. This is a great scent with, I think it’s really cool. A lot of people do enjoy it.
Moro blood orange. And it comes with autumn geo apricot and veveteer. All right, so guys, I apologize in that last, if it sounded a little awkward, I was getting phone calls. And just to let you know, with this podcast, it’s difficult for me because I don’t have quiet.
So at home, I don’t get a chance. I have to really, when I do the podcast, I have to actually record it. in the garage in my car or when everybody’s gone or something and I don’t get too much time by myself and I work a lot so right now I’m literally in a parking lot recording it from my house and it’s about 4.30 in the morning because I just my son was awake and it’s stuff that’s just like I can’t sometimes so my wife was wondering where I was so everything is good I’m here let’s moving along to barrister and man So Barrister in Man came out with a double feature this year, which was really exciting.
Hallows came back again. Again, we talked about that scent before, like that black oak mossy, really like that, almost like that burn scent. Again, I’m wearing it today. And they brought back from Southern Witchcraft, they collaborated with them with the Soin Soap and Aftershave.
Again, remember we talked about Southern Witchcraft, that was their number one soap. Well, they’ve closed down shop, but they collaborated with Barrister and Mann, and they came out with a scent together, and he’s calling it, and they called it the double feature this year, like the old movies. Like you would go to the movie theater, and you would watch two movies at once, that’s what they’re calling it this year. Again, this is a very, a scent of bourbon, tobacco, pumpkin, sandalwood.
Nutmeg, oud, charred wood, so really their scent, their version of it. And also, I believe Will from Barrister and Mann said he wasn’t changing it as much from the original, so it’s very close just with his soap base. Again, Levithan, again, back again, year after year. This is a leathery scent based on Russian leather, coffee, sandalwood, cedar, and musk.
Ginger’s Garden, again, long-time vendor, been around a long time, came with their usuals, which are also available all year round. Scully soap and aftershave, which is a tallow soap with wet soil notes of teakwood, cedar, mushrooms, and wet leaves. Maple toddy, which is based on that very popular fall drink. with Vermont maple syrup, creamy vanilla, and hot buttered rum.
And of course, their version of pumpkin spice, perfectly balanced for the fall season. Mama Bear is one of the first, if not the first, artisan soap makers out there. Mama Bear is, again, these are available all year round. They have their autumn afternoon soap, which is a vibrant, clean blend of herbs, falling leaves, and fresh air.
Fall leaf soap, which is a damp, woody, fresh and deep. It’s like taking a breath of fresh air while sitting in a pile of freshly raked leaves. And then their version of pumpkin spice as well. Pumpkin spice with harvest apple, caramel, and cream.
Hoffman Shave Soap Company came out with some really cool items this year, great graphics as well. So they came out with The 19th Hole, which is a curse of Lincoln Park haunting scent with notes of wood, spice, oud, orange, and jasmine with cedar and vanilla. The Joker’s Spawn, which is a collaboration between Hoffman’s and the legendary comic book creator Todd McFarlane with notes of apple, vanilla, and cinnamon. The return of Ichabod Crane, inspired by the legend of Sleepy Hollow with scents of jasmine, rosewood, white cedar, musk, and grapefruit.
And then Evil Pumpkin, number two, an extension of their past favorite with heavy notes of pumpkin, bourbon, and fougreur. They also have Dead Hollow, which is a tale of Halloween’s underworld, the realm between living and the dead with pecan and pumpkin. Next vendor up is Humphrey Handmade. Humphrey Handmade is an Etsy shop which is available, all these items are also available all year round.
So they have hot apple cider soap which is their base on hot apple cider which comes with a little bit of a sudden green field note and ginger root. Killer Clown, smells like a sugary scent of cotton candy made fresh at the fair. Then you have Little Shop of Horrors based on the popular, or it was like cult movie from the 80s. Has a sense of orange, cherry, peach, pineapple, and vanilla.
Pumpkin Spice, their version of Pumpkin Spice with freshly ground nutmeg and pie crust. Red rum from The Shining. Who can ever forget that line? It’s a bay rum scent that’s with bay leaves and a little zest of orange peel.
And then Spoopy. Spoopy is all about fall. An apple cider blend with ginger root and also a few other things in there. So it says subtle green field notes.
Not sure what that is, but perfect apple cider. Smells just like a hayride. And then a vampire soap, which is blood red, soap is actually colored red. And it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to keep you sealed up in case you get bit by a vampire, but also has a nice orange zest and has also, that’s pretty much the scent of its blood orange, but also has antiseptic properties to keep you sealed up if
you get bit by a vampire. And finally, werewolf soap, which is citrus zest, cedar leaf, rich spices, and with a little bit of deep musk and light white pepper. Van Ulay is back again, another vendor that has their items all year round. Great presentation, probably the best presentation I’d say this year out.
The best presentation of every single one out there, I think, because their soaps all look really good. They almost look good enough to eat. So their first one this year is their coffee pumpkin latte. Again, just like a, based right on the, on a coffee latte.
Coffee with a little bit of real coffee powder and pumpkin puree added to that. Frosted pumpkin, which is a perfect blend of pine cone, spiced pumpkin, and a little bit of a, of a methanol. So a little zest to that one too. Pinempkin, which has real pumpkin, real pumpkin puree.
Top notes of pine pumpkin comes with pineapple. So it’s got pineapple and pumpkin mixed in with it. Pumpkin bread, which is just another base on the beautiful pumpkin breads that you usually get when you least expect it, when somebody brings it to you during this fall season with a lot of nutmeg and spice. And then salted caramel pumpkin, which is a sweet, scented soap with a little drizzle of caramel and used a real cinnamon and clove allspice all kissed with sugar.
Spooky Horror, which is a very different soap from what their other items are, really from what we’ve been talking about. A lot of it’s been pumpkin based. This one’s made of juniper berry, coriander, grapefruit, lemon, orange, and clove. Sweet Autumn Pie, which is a perfect blend of that beautiful pumpkin pie that you get that one time a year during Thanksgiving and the fall season.
and when October goes, complex fall scent that starts off with crisp apples and oranges, interwined with wooden leaves, just when you leave, when October comes and goes. First line shave returning with Room 237, which is a soap and aftershave set. This is made by Killian Single Malt, which captures a unique aroma of well-barrel-aged single malt scotch, as well as a shot of plum, giving it a little boozy aroma with the whiskey, and then rounds it off with the, I guess, the acidity of the plum and a little warm vanilla.
Soap Commander coming out still with Heritage Soap and Aftershave. That’s their fall, still available. Again, these are available all year round. Celebrates the caramel apple.
And then Strategy, which is very oaky and has a cedar essence too. Moon Soaps has Warmest Regards, which is perfect for the season of good cheer and chilly winds. It’s a pleasing combination of amber, tonka, oud, rum, and musk. Wet the Face, again, another vendor I really like.
Wet the Face has their best Christmas soap I think I’ve ever made. Their Christmastime soap is awesome. It’s probably one of the best out there. But their Fallen Leaves Soap and Aftershave, again, this is like jumping into the fallen leaves with a hint of orange, with burned leaves, hint of orange zest, and top notes of bergamot.
Gentleman’s Nod. Came out with Kosice Catalina Fall, and that’s a special edition just for the fall, which is as a new morning dawns, you set your eyes upon beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Immediately, you are met with an intense aromatic green and herbal aroma highlighted by bright citrus. This also has a little bit of that woodsy smell, dry floral, and still a little sweet and very, very, I guess, long finish is what it says here.
Ariana and Evans with the Midnight Soiree Soap Aftershave set. Prepare and embrace yourself with this new Halloween scent. This came out last year and again coming back for this year. Limited edition scent of bitter orange, apple, absinthe, and a little essence of, it looks like patchouli and oakmoss.
Lockhart’s shaving with fire and brimstone. Soap aftershave smells like fire and brimstone. Demons cracking a cold one next to a bonfire on a fall brisk evening. Top notes of pink pepper and brimstone.
Macduff’s soap. Again, another artisan fairly new to the game. Has their autumn cabin with notes of toasted maple, fir needle, juniper, cedarwood, vanilla, pear, lemon, and cardamom. And the Oversoid Soap Company with Autumn Spice, this scent is based on cedarwood, fur needles with cinnamon, coriander, and jasmine.
Beard Knife Soap Company with their Autumn Equinox Soap, this is based, this is a company that makes their soaps based on straight razor users, so really cool there. And this is a little bit of a fall afternoon, has some pine needle and also pine cone essence to it. Yodeling Goat Soap, sorry, made from the, they use a goat fat base. Their Autumn Demure Shave Soap, which is exploring the demure side of the warm, exotic, and spicy scents, including sandalwood, cedar, coconut, honey, patchouli, and cinnamon.
Apex Shaving came out with the Autumn Breeze Soap, which is just about how crisp the air is with the flannel, is the pattern and choice of summer, welcoming the cooler seasons with this natural shaving soap. The Wet Shaving Store has Shave Dad Sportsman Series. This is between Shave Dad and a collaboration between the Wet Shaving Store and Shave Dad and a limited edition just for the fall season with a soap aftershave scent notes of pepper, orange, neroli, saffron, cardamom, frankincense, oud, patchouli, and leather. Hag’s Rick or Treat Aftershave Balm, this is another one, just came out a couple days ago actually.
This is themed just for fall with the essence of sweet orange, candied citrus, vanilla cookie, and amber. Elijah Luna Revamp, this is all, guys, just to let you know, this is all from the wet shaving store, by the way. Elagin Luna Revamped Aftershave Soap and more. This is a scent that’s been around just for, it’s only going to be back for the fall season.
And there’s no information on this, only a little bit on the actual scent profile, which is, just has a little patch of tooey in it. Devil’s Den by Shave Dad, also premium soap. This is just a soap, which is based on, has a little bit of, I guess, blood orange essence to it. And then Hag also came out with another version.
Actually, I’m sorry, I wanted to add, with the Ricker Treat Soap, they did come out with an aftershave as well. You’ve got Happy Chap shaving. There’s a new one to the game here. Happy Chap has ghost stories and aftershave and more with the soap, with the actual saving soap as well.
Experience the fear of Italian leather, black, black violet, patchouli, vanilla, and dusty musk. And this is from, based on a ghost story. So they want you, when you use this soap, they want you to think of it. That’s what it’s based on, like reading a ghost story in the fall by yourself in the dark.
The Shave Merchantil has a Pretty Polly, which is a new one for this year. Pretty Polly is a version of the song. Again, this scent is steeped from uncasey beauty, uneasy beauty, sorry, freshly dug grave soil, moss, cedarwood, tangled with dark plum, orange, jasmine, and amber. Rich, unsettling, but strangely inviting.
And guys, well, that is the show for this year. That’s it. There was a lot of vendors. It was a lot of pages.
It was a lot of fun bringing this to you. I am so happy that this is getting to be such a bigger thing. 41 pages of notes this year. That’s incredible that I was able to put that together from the vendors and that we still have so many people participating in the fall season.
So really happy to see that. I’m really glad to see that wet shaving is still on the rise, right? And just always glad to bring this to you. It’s a lot of stuff, guys, I know, but it’s great to put it all together.
If it gets any bigger, I might have to do two shows, because it’s getting pretty big. So I can tell you right now, it’s a lot of fun. Like, I really enjoy it. I really enjoyed doing this, and I love Halloween, and I love this time of year.
So hopefully this gives you a nice, Nice little ride on your way to work, and gives you something to look forward to with your fall season. And you get some good items here, because Halloween is tomorrow, believe it or not. It’s right around the corner. So really excited to bring this again, to bring this to you guys.
Remember, our show is powered by sharpologist.com, what your father didn’t teach you about shaving. Special thanks to MarkMantic59 for everything that he does in the wet shaving community. For all the vendors this year that make it easier and easier for me to search their stuff. I’d like to say that.
Thank you guys out there for bringing these releases out and being able to, year in and year out, just continue to bring the energy with all of this and have new stuff every year. And then, of course, you guys are listeners. Without you, there’d be no podcast. So, until our next show, which will be on November 11th, shave straight and shave safe.
Bye-bye now.
