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 September 3rd, 2024.
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Today on the Show:
Fall is in the Air
Top Pumpkin Spice Scents
New Article (Are Vintage Straight Razors Worth Restoring?)
Alum Block More uses than you might think!
Fall Season is Coming 10/28/24
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Top Pumpkin Spice Scents
It’s that time again! Pumpkin Spice Season! What better way to compliment your pumpkin spice latte than a pumpkin scented soap.
Here is my list of the top 5 Pumpkin Spice Scented Soaps
-Stiriling Pumpkin Spice Soap and AS
-PAA Atomic Pumpkin
-Uncle John’s Pumpkin Spice
-Sudsy Soapery Pumpkin Spice
-Van Ulay Drunkin Pumpkin
______________________________________________________________________________Are Vintage Straight Razors Worth Restoring?
It’s been a while since I’ve written an Article. Are Straight Razors Worth Restoring?
I’ll tell you my thoughts
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Alum Block: Multiple Uses
What does an Alum Block Do? Or What Can It do?
-Acts as a Antiseptic for cuts
-Reduces irritation
-Can be used as a deodorant
But…..it can also do….
-Increase traction on hands for skin stretching
–A quick and safe way to get rid of pimples
-Can fade Dark Spots over time on the face.
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Fall Seasonal Special is Coming!!!
It’s that time again! The Annual Fall Seasonal Special is coming!
For those of you new to the podcast, this is the biggest show of the year. I discuss all of the Fall Season releases from all the vendors/artisans in the industry.
This year I have a special section of the cast that will feature past Fall Items that made a true impact. A Fall Hall of Fame!
Save the date: 10/28/24
Previous shows:
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Our show is powered by Sharpologist.com, “What Your Father Didn’t Teach You about Shaving”
Special Thanks to:
Mark aka Mantic 59
Most of All……….YOU!!!!
Don’t forget to check out my blog site www.shavestraightandsafe.com for the tips and interesting wet shaving stories!
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Subscribe to my You Tube Chanel for videos regarding some interesting wet shaving content.
Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact Me!!!
If you’re a vendor and would like to be featured on the show please contact me!!
Next Show: 9/17/24
Until then… Shave Straight and Shave Safe!!
Please check out my book: “The Modern Guide to Straight Razor Shaving”
Order by Thursday for guaranteed Father’s Day Delivery!
Transcript (Machine-Generated)
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 Borrelli and today is September 3rd, 2024. Hello everyone, welcome back to the podcast.
I hope you all had a great and very festive Labor Day weekend I know for a lot of people in this country in the United States if you are celebrating Labor Day that is usually the last hurrah before school starts for all the little ones out there living in South Florida schools been going on for almost a month they start usually in the beginning of August on here sometimes in the middle and I’m not too sure really why they do that but here in Florida they they start late now, excuse me They start very early But I know traditionally from being raised up north that it’s usually the weekend or the week after Labor Day
So this week would be coming up I remember I remember Labor Day being like the last holiday that we that we’re all worried about and like nervous because we’re like oh man this is the last hurrah and usually we got the the Tuesday off after and then we’d start school right on Wednesday so it’ll be the Wednesday after Labor Day which I think a lot of people are starting school. So, well, back to school for millions and millions of people out there.
And for the others that are already in school and all that other great stuff, we’ve already celebrated the back to school blues and we’re through the school already through the school part of the school year another big thing guys college football started over the weekend so we got something to watch now and NFL starting on Thursday so lots of excitement lots of things going on and well it’s also September so you know what that means fall is right around the corner 1 of my favorite seasons of the year even though that I do live in Florida and I don’t get to see much of a fall season this year hopefully I’ll get to travel a little bit and get to see some some falling leaves and changing colors and stuff like that It’s been some time since I’ve seen that.
So today on the show, fall is in the air, of course guys, talking about that. You know what that means. Fall stuff is coming out. Already a lot of vendors have been posting some items that they have for the fall, already available for purchase, which of course are other stuff being announced as well. We’re gonna talk about some of the top pumpkin spice scents if you are a pumpkin spice fan and you like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts both of them had their pumpkin pumpkin spice days recently just a week or 2 ago and Usually when that happens it’s time to bust out those pumpkin spice soaps if that’s your thing And I have my top 5 of all time now.
I am a pumpkin spice fan. It’s no secret. Sorry. I do like it. I do look forward to it. I guess maybe I’m 1 of the few people that really does like enjoy it. I usually make a point of going to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts on the day that they do announce it. And I do buy several pumpkin spice scented soaps and stuff per year and I really like it.
I just think it’s a I like the fall. I think the fall is a really interesting holiday and I really look forward to Halloween and all that stuff as well. I do really love Christmas and Thanksgiving as well But fall for some reason just seems to be like that unofficial holiday for Halloween is that unofficial holiday to where it’s like just the start of the holiday season, start of the kickoff. You know living in Florida You see a lot of snowbirds come down a lot and we call them snowbirds which are northerners that live down here Half to half the time and then they live up north in states or in Canada the other half of the year and they usually come down right around October and That’s when you start seeing the stores get busier the roads get busier and me being in retail The stores that I work in they usually jump by about 30 to 40 percent in sales.
So we start doing our seasonal hiring and stuff. So it’s usually just the start of the holiday season. So with fall being in the air, we’ll talk about those top pumpkin spice scents. I had a new article come out I actually wrote an article recently it’s been a very long time been well over a year since I’ve written something our vintage straight razor razors worth restoring we’ll talk a little bit about that now we did talk a little bit about that we did bring that up a few shows ago but this is the the actual compiled article and I’ll tell you my thoughts on it alum block more uses than you might think what do you use your own block for or a loom block and did you know that there’s other uses for it as well that will actually are not shaving related but really work well I have a couple of my own that I use an alum block for and I think you could call it alum or allume I don’t know I say alum block And I use it for a lot of things as well.
Might even help some of the teenagers out there that’s having issues with their skin as well, in addition to. So make sure you listen to that part, very important. And with the fall season coming up, we have the fall seasonal special on the 28th of October. That’ll be the show before Halloween.
Lots of stuff compiling already. I already started it. It’s got a lot going on. Really looking forward to that show.
I’ve got the previous episodes in the show notes as well if you want to listen to it so without further ado let’s get on with the show So pumpkin spice season is here as we all know it is it is ready we are in full-fledged almost fall this is like but we’ve got 2 more weeks up to summer so for those of you out there and the states that you do is still have like I guess seasonal changes not like I do we have summer and we have spring and that’s it but if you have some seasonal changes this will be your last chance to go to the beach use your summer soaps use your summer your scents and all that stuff use them up now having some fun with them because right around the cooler weather is right around the corner. So some of the top pumpkin spice scents that I like I put in the show notes here in no particular order I didn’t really rate them number 1 through 5 And I’ve tried approximately with samples and stuff.
I’ve tried about 14 of them or 15 I think and these are my top 5 that represent a good pumpkin spice scent so Here’s the first 1 on the list is sterling pumpkin spice soap they do also do an aftershave and other stuff as well and now sterling has been around since I’ve started wet shaving I believe there they just came out or just around about 2012 2013 I started what you having in 2011 or 2010 if I forget at this moment and they were around and they’ve been doing this scent for a long time I think they’ve changed the formula a couple of times but right now Australian pumpkin spice is really that is it smells exactly like what do you think pumpkin spice should smell like there’s no added things to it It’s nothing special about it with that like there’s no all we didn’t add musk or anything to it It is just straight-up pumpkin spice And if you’re drinking a pumpkin spice latte or whatever you’re drinking and you shave with that you definitely it pairs very well And the scent does last with you, so it is It is a nice sweet cement scent so it’s good, and that’s 1 of my personal favorites. You have Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Atomic Pumpkin.
This 1 has some other stuff in it. It’s a little bit, I think there’s like a blast of methanol in it as well. It’s nice. I really enjoy it.
I think it’s again What Douglas Smythe and Fran over there at PAA they’ve been around over 10 years now, I think And everything they do is just always on point. They do a lot of advertising. They do great packaging great great videos on it and and just I mean they’re all over the place They’re very responsive, so just to not have this on there It would be it would be a shame, but it just came out again, so it’s available so PAA atomic pumpkin Uncle John’s pumpkin spice Now Uncle John has been around for a while. He doesn’t do much advertising.
It’s mostly He owns a brick and mortar store. I believe I think he still does There’s a lot of bath soaps and stuff local business and really it’s a it’s a word-of-mouth type thing I think if you know Uncle John if you’ve dealt with him in the past you use his stuff then you kind of like a repeat customer I don’t see him ever really advertising or going out of the way his pumpkin spice is really on point I think it’s really a good scent and I think always a good performance with his stuff. Sudsy soapery pumpkin spice is just a really creamy like pumpkin spice soap if you have not tried them I recommend giving them a shot it’s a very small I think it’s just a one-person deal with that. I’ve dealt with them a couple times in the past but they have a great pumpkin spice soap and It’s actually really good performance as well.
They have great sense and of course Vanu Lay Drunken pumpkin they have a ton of pumpkin spice stuff Her presentation with these soaps is incredible. They usually puts like little pumpkins in the soap. The presentation of the soap puck itself is awesome. I’ve been using their stuff for years.
I do purchase it here and there and I think that it’s 1 of the few that they’re around all year long right you can get any scent of hers all year long unless it’s a special release so try Vanu’le if you haven’t they were gone for a little while came back but I think their pumpkin spice stuff is great their performance is good too that really is 1 of the best scents out there that I’ve tried. So that’s about all with the pumpkin spice. It’s my top 5 right now. I know it changes every year, but if you have a pumpkin spice soap that you like and you wanted to see featured or if you want something that you know something coming out your vendor coming out with a new scent let me know and I’ll definitely get it going for you I’d like to try it 1 I purchased 1 of them and I would definitely like to talk about it as well so if you have a pumpkin spice that is not on the list that you do like send me a link send me an email and I’ll get it out there on the next show.
So the question that came up a few weeks ago and also bringing it up again because now that the article is finished is are vintage straight razors worth restoring? Now this was a project that I did for sharp biologists you know just talking about straight razors are they worth restoring what is the value when you do restore 1, and overall is it something that you know financially makes sense or is it more of a like you know hey you’re you’re it’s a it’s a joy type thing right it’s a love it’s a it’s a it’s something that you want to do because it’s yours or because it’s a heirloom or whatever. And it’s just like a joy project instead of doing something for our value. So after doing a lot of research and being a straight razor collector myself I’ve I own several I have not bought a straight razor in about a year I bought a couple new ones recently just because they were really good prices I mean if you haven’t had a chance going arts of shaving I was able to pick up 2 straight razors for like 50 bucks and I got it just because I mean it’s a brand new Dovo straight razor for $50 their promotion How are you not gonna get that because you really you never see that price?
So I do have an extra a couple of them and I’ve been using them. But are they worth it? And really overall, it’s really, it’s what you think of it. If you think it’s worth it, then it’s of course worth it, right?
As for resale value, I would not expect to get what you put into it back, unless it is a couple of different models like a 8-8 razor like a larger Wade and Butcher razor or something like that that’s for barbers use only those razors are valuable some of the 1700s razors made in the 1700s are valuable if you haven’t restored and done you might be able to get your money back on that but overall a lot of them you won’t maybe a Philharmonic you might be able to get back you know there’s some of the more popular brands but really for the most part if you just get a razor that you find at an antique store and you get a $15 and you want to restore it, by all means do it, but restore it for your own personal use and your own personal enjoyment because it’s not going to be worth much more than what you paid. It will never be worth more than what you paid for, more than that really. Maybe $50 or $60 more. But you’re looking at, if you restore a razor, a basic German razor or English razor from the early 20th century to 19th century, you’re probably looking around 50 to 80 dollars sold to the right person right in the right group you’d have to sell it on the forum I don’t think you’ll do too well on eBay and it would have to be honed and ready straight rate you know shave ready and all that stuff too so overall I think that the investment is I think if you go to look at a razor it’s a fairly family heirloom and you don’t mind spending a few hundred dollars then do it you know I think it’s great or some time if you want to do it yourself they’re fun projects I can guarantee you you’ll have a great time you’ll have to invest some money some tools if you don’t already have them.
You know sandpaper all that stuff you’ll have to buy maybe you know like a dot like a bench grinder for the polishing aspect put the polishing wheels on it and stuff or you can do everything by hand it’s fun you can do that. It’s definitely a hobby I mean it’s 1 of the better hobbies out there that you can do and you can really get some enjoyment from it But as for doing it for value definitely don’t think of it for value again There’s only about 2 or 3 different types of razors you could sell and that you’ll actually make some money on as Opposed to you know, just shaving with them for fun Personally, my personal recommendation is instead of having a vintage razor restored, I would just have it honed and ready to shave. Shave with it, put set of new scales on if you need to. It does keep the patina on the blade.
It doesn’t look too bad. As long as they’re shave worthy, I think they’re good. And take that money and buy yourself a hair loom. And what I mean by that is buy yourself a brand new straight razor for $200 to $300.
And really take care of it. Make that your heirloom. You know, buying somebody else’s heirloom is great. It’s a lot of fun.
I love vintage stuff. I do buy a lot of vintage items. You know, I love vintage watches. I think they’re great.
But also, I also love starting my own traditions and my own stuff and remember that you know years ago vintage wasn’t really that big it was more hey I’m buying it now instead of buying a vintage straight razor a guy would go to the store and buy a razor and then that’s kind of where you know that where they were then. So now we have the options what was straight razors is you can buy them now at least this day and age now, there are a lot of producers making them. Same thing with safety razors as well. Buy a new 1, at least have 1 new 1 in your collection, try it out.
Instead of having 1 of these old ones restored I would say get your own start your own heirloom start your own tradition and keep that razors and give it as somebody that you can pass it down to or give it away to when when the time comes so those are my thoughts on that If you have any thoughts as well, send me an email. If you haven’t seen the article, left a link in the show notes, you can take a look at that, read it, and let me know your thoughts on it. Because I love writing these things. I love doing this research.
I got another couple of ideas coming up pretty soon, as you guys will see. And just really enjoying it. And like straight razors are fun. There’s so much information on them.
There’s so much stuff that’s not out yet about them that I love writing new things as well so take a look when you get a chance and let me know your thoughts or your or give me some some feedback as well I love it I love to hear from you AlunBlock, AlunBlock, AlunBlock whatever you want to call it has multiple uses as we know but did you know all the uses there are a couple things that I do with it that a lot of people don’t know about or I haven’t seen too much online about a couple people do but you know they don’t so I’ll tell you mine I’ll tell you first off the main things that you use it with and then what you can use it with and what you can use it for and then I mean a couple things of where to get 1 I mean this is 1 of the cheapest wet shaving accessories you can get that has the most uses you’re looking at spending under $20 and I’m saying way under $20 I’m saying most of them under $10 for something that might last Years, my own block is over 8 years old. I looked at it when I bought it. I bought it a long time ago It’s small. It’s you know shrinking down But I’m very surprised knock on wood that I haven’t dropped and broke it because usually I break things by then But I still have mine I use it every day and I’ll tell you what I use it for after I tell you what it’s mainly used for So what does it do?
What can it do? So an Lume Block acts as an it’s like an antiseptic for cuts It can seal a cut if you If you cut yourself and you’re bleeding, you simply just get it a little wet, wipe it on your face and it will seal that cut and clean it out. It’s kind of like an antiseptic for that. People also add it.
They actually add it into aftershaves and stuff just in case to seal that cut and make sure it’s nice and safe and clean. It will reduce irritation. If you have shaved and you’re a little aggressive or used a little bit of a dull blade or you just had some irritation, simply wet the alum block with cold water, wipe it on your face, and it will help really take that irritation away quickly right and then when you’re done let it dry a few minutes and then wash it off with some cold water or a cold rag or a towel and your face will most of the redness will be gone and it does work it’s like a magical little crystal that works well very well on that so it reduces irritation and will definitely make you look more presentable Now if this is really important like if you have a job interview or a meeting and you just went and shaved real quick and you look kind of like irritated use this before you go to work and even if you leave it on and just rinse it off when you get there before you do your meeting you’ll look you’ll look 10 times better than you did it’ll take all the redness out it’s also can be used as a deodorant a lot of people use it as a deodorant it can seal up safely it will it will cover up the scent in your under your arms and will not clog the pores to where they won’t be able to to breathe or anything like that it will it will eliminate the smell and Will keep you from sweating and going crazy. So tonight it’s nice as deodorant antiperspirant and it’s very natural It’s very easy to use so this is like the 3 main reasons for uses for it but you can also use it to or what I use it to is if you if you’re a young guy or if you’re a young girl or an older person you get a pimple or is it on your face all right it can be very well it could be very unnerving you know you might have a meeting you might have something going on you might need something you might not want that on your face.
I don’t want them on my face. So whenever I get like a little pimple or a zit, I take my own block, I wet it with cold water and I just rub it over the zit and then I let it sit overnight. Sometimes I’ll put a bandaid over it, sometimes I won’t, and what this does is it will dry it out and the next day it’ll be almost be completely gone. If you like that movie My big fat Greek wedding where they put Windex and everything this is kind of like that Windex for that you can definitely put the alum block on there like like they do there right when it saves everything well when it comes to acne all of the stuff I’ve used and having like special pads and all that stuff, special creams, this is the best thing to get rid of is it or pimple, whatever you call it, quickly.
Now I don’t know if it’s that safe, but I have never had a problem with it. I have no acne scars, so I’m good. And I’ve been using it for a while. So even when I was younger, this is what I used it for as somebody else showed me that so I think that works Well, too.
It’s great for increasing traction for skin Stretching for straight razor now I saw this on a few videos way back in the day A couple that a lot of guys like to use this and what you do is just make sure your fingers are a little are dry lightly wet the The Allen block and kind of just put your fingers on a rub it on there And then you can just it’ll stretch your skin So it’s great for skin stretching and gives you a lot of traction with your fingers on your razor and on your skin when you’re using this so those are my 2 main uses that I use it for in addition to using it as like Like a styptic pencil or something like that and this thing has just been with me everywhere I put in like a little plastic case that I made and it comes with me really it’s used in every aspect of wet shaving for me so I enjoy it I think it works very well and I think you will too if you try it now if there’s other things that you do with an own block I’m sure there are Let me know there’s a ton online of what other people do too some of them I didn’t want to mention because it was kind of gross like eating it or using it in soup or something like that and like No, I’m okay with that part, but it actually works Well in certain areas as well and like that as well Also if you have a mosquito bite it does soothe the mosquito bites and it will make you feel kind of like take the itch away on that as well. So that’s my 2 cents on the on the own block. I know I talk about this I think every year or so with this thing but Lately I’ve been using it for other things as well so if you have any more ideas or any other uses for this Let me know Joe.wetshavingnews.gmail.com Alright guys fall seasonal special as mentioned before Is coming up on the 28th of October. I am working on it now if you are a vendor if you are or Hobbyist or something you have something you would like featured, let me know via email jo.wetshavingnews.gmail.com and I will definitely put it in the show.
Again this year I have a special part of the show that will be at their segment of the show. It will be the Fall Hall of Fame. These will be for items that are no longer made but made a huge impact in the last 10 years of wet shaving. You can take a look at the previous shows from 2023 all the way down to 2016.
So many shows, many years. This is I believe the ninth year that we’re doing this and the ninth show. So really looking forward to ninth or eighth. Yeah, I don’t even remember.
But I know it’s been very, it’s been evolved. It’s evolved very much over the years Yeah, if you go back in the shows and look even if you just look at the show notes You’ll see some vendors are no longer here and you’ll see some releases that were big back then too I try not to miss anything lately. It’s been pretty good. So check it out guys 1028 24 is a date save it because that’ll be the day of the fall seasonal special.
So that concludes the show for this week. Remember our show is powered by Sharpologist.com, what your father didn’t teach you about shaving. Special thanks to Mark aka Mantic59 for everything that he does in the wet shaving community and most of all you guys the listeners don’t forget to check out my blog site ShaveStraightAndSafe.com and always feel free to email me at joe.wetshavingnews at gmail.com and if you get a chance take a look at my book the modern guide to straight razor shaving available on Amazon and Kindle. Our show will be our next show will be on the 17th of September until then shave straight and shave safe bye bye now
