The Pub

The Art of the Daily Shave

One of the items that saddens me in the men's grooming that most men have forgotten the traditional joy of "wet shaving". Well having facial hair is on the rise post-Covid anyways, and that is certainly a choice. But, I am talking about men who does shave, and I am saying how did you forgot how your dad or grandad used to shave? One of my fond memory of my dad was his smell of 'barbershop' shave soap that lingered around him every morning. He passed away now more than a decade, and I have turned 50. It is interesting, as I was teaching my daughter to drive a car lately, she commented positively on the smell of my shave soap, after staying now many hours in a confined closed quarter of a car...and that triggered me to write this post.

I have shaved my head since I was 25, and mostly been a daily shaver. Like everyone else I also used to shave my face and head with a Cartridge Razor and Shaving Gel. It was a quick morning thing that I used to do without even thinking about it. It is not that I used to get a lot of razor burns (but I did get some), but shaving, back in those days of my youth, was not something that I thought about or enjoyed. But after my Dad passed away, somehow, perhaps unconsciously I picked up a Tub of The Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Soap.

Notice, the date: May 1, 2016. It's more than 10 years back now, and I am glad Amazon remembers. My Dad passed away in 2014, so this was not immediately after at all, but I think there could be a relationship. This is a very old British Soap and was available back in the days in India when we were kids. I don't remember if my dad used to get it from store, but I do remember this smell. This is the smell of Sandalwood I remember my dad by today.

My Journey into Traditional Wet Shaving

As I mentioned; ten-twelve years ago, shaving was a task I actively dreaded—a utilitarian tax levied on my morning routine. Like millions of others, I bounced between the buzzing friction of electric foil razors and the exorbitant plastic cartridges sold in blister packs, pairing them with whatever chemical foam aerosol happened to be on sale (I still have a can of Edge Blue Gel). It was a hurried, uninspired effort to simply presentable. The goal was speed, the outcome was inevitable razor burn, and the entire process felt like a daily chore meant to be rushed through as quickly as me naturally permitted.

Everything changed in 2014-16, I don't exactly remember when other than that old Amazon purchase date, when I put down the multi-blade plastic cartridges and picked up a traditional Double-Edge (DE) safety razor, a natural shaving brush, and a tub of real artisan shaving soap. What started as a curious experiment to fix my irritation quickly evolved into something far deeper.

A decade later, that daily chore has completely transformed into a deliberate, tactile ritual. Building a warm, thick lather from a handcrafted soap, mapping the direction of hair growth, and finding that perfect 30-degree blade angle isn't just about getting a clean shave—it's a ten-minute sanctuary of quiet focus. What used to be a rushed necessity is now a craft, an evolving hobby, and easily one of the most satisfying parts of my day. The upside, I also smell great, and today, there are many more choices of artisan and mass produced shave soaps that smell really good and provide great protection while shaving.

An Anchor in Memory: The Scent of Old Bond Street

Beyond the slick lather and the sharp edge, traditional shaving carries a quiet weight of connection. Before I ever picked up a DE razor myself, my understanding of shaving was shaped by my dad. Whenever I catch the warm, woody aroma of Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood shave soap, he is right there with me. Scent has an incredible way of unlocking memories that time usually fades. Recently I was in London, and I did visit the store, and got myself a Rose ... Here is my dad old Gillette which I restored with a soap that I like a lot.

Restoring his old vintage Gillette double-edge razor brought that connection into my hands. Cleaning off decades of patina, tuning the mechanical movement, and putting a fresh blade into a tool he once used transformed my daily shave from a simple grooming preference into an ongoing tribute. Holding that same piece of brass and nickel every morning isn't just about getting a close shave—it's a tactile bridge to the past, reminding me that the best rituals are the ones passed down through generations.

Comments · 11

@jacobtothe(77)· 6d
This is like an article straight from the Art of Manliness.
@beelzael(75)· 8d
That's some beautiful story there! I don't shave anymore, just trim. My girlfriend likes it better that way, as I look somewhat older then her, which she prefers 😅

Those blades you use - we use them in the bakery. The exact same packages. They work really good to cut the loaves before shoving them into the oven.
@bozz(83)· 9d
I shave about twice a week and I do it in the shower. I used to have a badger hair brush, but I got rid of that a long time ago. The biggest deal I have found lately is the shave butter from Dollar Shave Club. You can get it on Amazon and it is so amazing. It's so much better than the foamy creme that most people use. I do miss my brush and soap stone from time to time though.
@seki1(71)· 10d
Naaa, this was amazing to read. Nearly brought me to tears and left me smiling even though I have no facial hair except for the (now reasonably bushy) moustache at 21 years.

I've almost somewhat accepted my fate😂😂.

But God I do hope in the next 3-4 years I can relate to these shaving experiences...
@livinguktaiwan(81)· 10d
London was worth coming over, wasn't it! I can imagine buying something so meaningful directly from the store instead of from Amazon, makes the whole ritual more complete
@agmoore(76)· 10d
I know you're not looking for a critique of your writing, but this is a perfect essay :) You take something simple--the scent of your father's shaving cream--and you created an experience around it. We can almost appreciate the sandalwood. We can see your father, and you as a young boy looking up to him. And then to have your daughter, carry that through to her generation. From shaving cream.

You're right--scent is a powerful connection to the past.
@blingit(69)· 10d
Those old shaving items are just lovely, And i 100% agree, that scent carries such a memory connection. Certainly very interesting science around how the power of smell brings back memory, trauma, joy and all those things.

I am a sucker for a delightful soap. I also love using those slightly vintage items. Mostly in our house its kitchen items. Things that were made to last right!!!! if you don't need 100 plastic throw away razors a year. good on you.
@urrirru(65)· 10d
I have a similar Soviet safety razor and Sputnik blades (just like in the USSR). I am 50, and my father is now 80.

Morning shaving is very important for a person, because the act sharpens intuition and often brings the right plans for the day to mind. Using your father's razor boosts that intuition even further. Think back to the important decisions you’ve made while shaving in the morning.
@seattlea(77)· 10d
My dad used to use exactly this type of shaving equipment, except the double edged razor was from Schick.

After moving to America he switched to triple or quadruple blade plastic cartridges from Gillette. I have always used the modern razor and not as brave as you to try the double blade legacy razor.
@techstyle(61)· 10d
Oh that double edge razor that dad used to shave when we are kids, That is one of my fond memory of my dad and long using this type of shaving with razor.
@felixmarranz(71)· 10d
My father also used a straight razor like the one in the photo and a brush for the soap, although he got used to shaving cream.

During a trip, I bought him a badger hair shaving brush that we both used for decades.

Today I prefer an electric razor and only occasionally a blade, but a double- or triple-edged one, which, with so little use, lasts me all year.

Cheers. It's been nice remembering my parent.