I have been taking a product tour of the high end British shaving soap/cream companies lately, today I get to add D.R. Harris to the list. I just got a puck of Arlington in the mail thanks to a deal that I managed to work out with a member of another forum. The puck came in a blank Proraso green tub, which I thought was an interesting reuse of a container. My first instinct was to remove it and place it in a wooden bowl, but the puck fit so nicely in the empty Proraso tub that I just left it. I really like the way Proraso's tubs can use their tops as a base, so I'll probably leave it where it is permanently and make a nice label for it.
I've smelled Arlington before, but this is my first time using it. I decided to face lather, which means that one of my synthetics gets to come out to play--today it's the Every Man Jack. I skipped yesterday's shave so that I could get a nice smooth disposable blade straight razor shave today, I love my DBSRs, but they're not really "every day" sorts of razors. More or less at random I chose the Sanguine SLiCKE for today and loaded a Wilkinson-Sword blade into it. I'm also using some Shave Secret as a preshave oil and some T.N. Dickinson post shave to ensure a nice smooth result.
Two and a half passes, wtg/atg and another wtg pass on my neck to clean up, delivered me a BBS shave with zero nicks and zero irritation. The Arlington lathers beautifully and provides a nice slick surface. The scent mixed extremely well with the Shave Secret and even continues to linger pleasantly in the background. This was a picture perfect DBSR shave; as close and effective as a traditional straight without all of the time consuming stropping, oiling, and clean up. I like my traditional straights, but I love my DBSRs.
Pre: Hot shower, warm water splash, and Shave Secret
Razor: Sanguine SLiCKE
Blade: Wilkinson-Sword
Brush: EMJ synthetic
Soap: D.R. Harris Arlington
Post: Cold water rinse and T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel