u/oswald_heist's SOTDs for challenge 'GEMsOfWisdom 2022'

Austere August 1 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

I’m excited to embark on my second Austere August MMOC Mammoth Month. I was seriously considering going with Seville in Reserve but I realized my Mood Indigo has a crack in the lid and I think it is making the soap dry out so I’m using it this month to put a dent in it. Plus it’s one of my top three scents in the wetshaving world so using it all month will be a treat. Last AA I used a Gen 2 MMOC; I have only used this Gen 1 a handful of times so I’m looking forward to getting to know it more. Of course I’ve already had a head start on AA since I’m traveling so we’ll see if this blade is up for 34 shaves. Good luck to all the first time MMOC participants. Time for tags and hashtags:

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom (not sure I’m in this one since I’m not raw-hoggin’)

u/JoboozeRum

u/Semaj3000

August 6 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 2 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (5)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

A fine two pass shave, the blade still feels a little nippy where in most other GEM razors, including the MMOC Gen 2, this would be in the smooth stage by now. I wonder if that is this specific blade or the nature of the Gen 1. Either way I hope it bodes well for the longevity. Mood Indigo rules, Tusk base is the jam, ‘nuff said.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 3 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

Nice evening shave after a day of baking in the Florida sun at Epcot. One more day then I get to escape the heat here for the heat back home. MMOC Gen 1 still seems a bit more aggressive but it’s not substantially different.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 4 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (7)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

Austere August advances apace.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 5 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

Another great shave after a long morning of traveling. Turns out the Orlando airport has a new TSA Reservation system which allows you to almost entirely skip the hour+ security line 🤐🤫. That was a lifesaver for traveling with a hyperactive 5 year old. I celebrated the return home with a Mood Indigo quadhole, which still felt special even though I’ve been using this soap and splash for over a week now.

August 7 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (10)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Seville

I had a fun time seeing Phish on the beach in Atlantic City last night, there’s something to be said for being old enough to know when to leave before the encore to be able to get out of the parking garage without an hour’s wait. Great music and great people-watching as always. The shave this morning was pleasant, even the Gen 1 MMOC can be an autopilot razor once you’re familiar enough with it.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 8 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (11)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Restore

It was nice to contrast the darkness of Mood Indigo with the bright honey of Restore. Simple three passes, the blade is well into smooth but still very sharp phase. Back to the office after a week's vacation today, boo.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 9 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (12)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive

I shaved with the MMOC and Mood Indigo, per the rules and stipulations. Three passes. The blade is smooth and effective, the soap smells good.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 10 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (13)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Stirling - Lightish Pink

I've used this soap 13 days in a row now and it looks about the same as when I started. Shoulda weighed it before I started.

I received this bottle of Lightish Pink in the mail yesterday, I had resisted initially but when it went on sale I couldn't resist, as Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch was my fragrance in high school so it is a nostalgic smell for me. No idea what the name refers to but it is a pretty accurate dupe, with the caveat that I haven't smelled the original in like 15 years.

Anyway I got an easy three passes with the MMOC this morning. The blade has evened out nicely and shows no signs of slowing down yet. Light touch people, that's the key to good shaves with the MMOC. Have a great Wednesday y'all.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 11 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (14)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Hygge

Three more passes in the books, autopilot fully engaged. I probably could have stopped buying soap after getting this Mood Indigo set, I really don’t think I could get tired of it, but we all know I didn’t do that.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 12 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (15)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Hygge

Used the same setup as yesterday. Obviously. Hard to really describe August as Austere when you're using a soap base as good as Tusk and a scent as good as Mood Indigo.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 13 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (16)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere

Off to a friend’s son’s birthday party so austere post today.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 14 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (17)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Yesterday Haze

No tugging yet from the blade, keeping light pressure and it’s been smooth sailing.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 15 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (18)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder

'Twas a good shave this morning. Mood Indigo and Sonder complement each other well..

Since I'm gonna listen to the shit outta some Tom Waits today at work, I'll hop in u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge and suggest Downtown Train, which like a lot of Tom's music combines a sense of loneliness and beauty in a way that few others can. I really love the line "They're just thorns without the rose / Be careful of them in the dark."

Tom Waits - Downtown Train

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 16 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (19)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Embrace

Not much to report; blade holding up well, soap smells great, base is excellent, splash feels nice.

Yesterday for u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge I went with something more melancholic so today I'm going in the opposite direction: an incredible performance by the greatest rock and roll band of all time. It's just a joy to watch: Pete Townshend jumping around, all limbs and enormous schnoz, Roger Daltrey in some kind of open chested fringed ensemble, John Entwistle musically and physically keeping it all from flying apart, and Keith Moon like some kind of nuclear reaction trapped behind a drum kit.

The Who - A Quick One While He's Away

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 17 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming - Cerberus Fougere

I think the soap needed more water today since it was not as slick as I would have preferred. MMOC plowed through but today wasn't the most effortless shave.

Today for u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge I present a great song from a great singer-songwriter, Amy Macdonald.

Amy Macdonald - Automatic

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 18 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (21)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Restore

Much credit to those of you still finding new insights in your Austere August posts; my well has run dry. Today's shave was better than yesterdays since I was careful to extra hydrate the ol' lather.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 19 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (22)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

Let's (Mood Indi)gooooooooooooo!

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 20 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (23)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming -

Pushed the hydration again and was rewarded; I wouldn’t say Tusk is super thirsty but it can take a decent amount of water. Very slick today and the blade has been trouble-free so far. Cerberus is the jam.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 21 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (24)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Oud Wood

Headed to the lake to tool around on a friend’s boat today. I had a very smooth and worry-free shave this morning; three passes in the books but I am looking forward to a little variety again come September.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 22 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (25)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Oud Wood

Not much to report today so I’ll keep it austere.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 23 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (27)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - O Unknown

Decided to have an evening shave today instead of the usual morning routine. This means when I shave tomorrow morning it won’t really be necessary but I’m not going to let that stop me! Mood Indigo smelled great this evening, plenty of water and therefore plenty of slickness. Blade is fine; last year my blade had a few rough patches but this year has been smooth sailing. I’ve been using a GEM for about half of my shaves since last AA so I know my technique is a lot better.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 24 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (27)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved

My brush has been feeling frisky lately, slinging lather around my bathroom with abandon. Had a lovely shave with the MMOC and Mood Indigo this morning even though my evening shave last night rendered this mostly unnecessary. I do enjoy the routine though.

Today for u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge is an upbeat love song by Dolly Parton. What more could you ask for?

Dolly Parton - Highlight Of My Life

#DollyRules

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 25 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (28)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Yesterday Haze

Three passes, coming down the home stretch!

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 26 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (29)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved

Almost at 30 shaves with this blade and it has been trouble free I'm happy to report.

For u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge I will toss out a newer song from one of my favorite bands, the Decemberists. I had the pleasure of going to see them last night and it was a great show. So here's The Decemberists - Once In My Life

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 27 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (30)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

Three passes in the books, one shave closer to the return of morning indecision.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 28 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (31)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: Spearhead - Sea Spice Lime

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 29 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (32)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive

Making some progress today, I can finally see a bit of the tub peeking through the bottom of the soap and I finished off my sample of Alive. Feels good! Two shaves left!

For u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge I'll throw out a song by Steve Earle. The quality of his music over his almost 40 year career has been amazingly consistent.

Steve Earle - Waitin' On the Sky

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 30 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (33)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder

Penultimate Austere August shave. Looking forward to the reintroduction of variety and finally trying Monoi de Tahiti which I picked up earlier this month. MMOC is no longer a challenge at all, this thing can be a real sweetheart once the blade is broken in and you get to know it a bit.

For u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked challenge I'll proffer the opening track from Japanese Breakfast's recent album Jubilee. The whole album is worth a listen to but I really like the lyrics of this song. "Lucidity came slowly, I awoke from dreams of untying a great knot" is such a vivid opening line.

Japanese Breakfast - Paprika

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 31 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (34)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo

Well, we did it. Austere August is a wrap. I learned a lot about the MMOC last Austere August but I don't really think I picked up much new wisdom this time, despite using the Gen 1 this year vs a Gen 2 last year. The Gen 1 has a bit more of a bite when the blade is new than the Gen 2, but once it gets smoothed out they are basically the same. Once you master this razor it really is a perfectly fine daily driver. Congratulations to everyone finishing their first MMOC Month, and a nod of distinguished respect to everyone completing their second.

Mood Indigo Month was both a success and a failure. I did use up a decent amount of my puck and balm, but the soap is either losing scent strength as it gets towards the bottom or I'm just not noticing it as much. I do love doing Mammoth Month but I definitely get less excited to use these products once Austere August is over, which is a shame because of how amazing they are. My tub of Tobacconist from last AA is still around and I can't imagine having the motivation to put another 30 shaves or so on this tub of Mood Indigo to finish it off any time soon. I could probably use this tub again next year.

For u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked, let's close on with some funk! Turn up the bass and enjoy the jam.

Earth, Wind & Fire - Africano/Power (Live)

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom