May 21st, 2025: BVWSC - APR Raconteur

• Brush: Chisel & Hound "Spice Lily" - TurnNShave Tuxedo 26mm Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette - Rocket HD
• Blade: Parker Premium Platinum (1)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Ubrique - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Ginger's Garden - Unscented (+menthol) - Balm
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz - SIR Irisch Moos - EdT

For this month's meeting of the BVWSC we shaved with APR Raconteur. This is my first use of this soap, and I really enjoyed it. It's definitely in the neighborhood of Midnight Stag, but is a more subtle and warm leather. Nowhere near as sharp to my nose.

As much as I enjoy it, I'm sure this scent would earn a veto from Mrs. snoot. Thanks, walden, for sending smushes for us all this month!

May 21st, 2025

• Brush: Maggard Razors - SHD Bulb 24mm Badger
• Razor: Blackland - Era - Level 3
• Blade: Personna P74 (79)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
• Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On

A quick 2 pass luxury shave.

May 21, 2025 - Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club

• Brush: Chisel & Hound The Diplomat 26mm v19 Fanchurian Badger Knot
• Razor: Blackland Razors Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [23]
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Soap
• Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod - Sidama - Aftershave
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Embrace - Eau de Parfum

I haven’t exactly been on top of my shaving posts this month, as life got a bit in the way, but I definitely didn’t want to miss out on this round of BVWSC. A big thank-you to @walden@sub.wetshaving.social for generously donating APR’s Raconteur to the mix. It’s always an honor to showcase something from a maker whose work has become a bit of a legend in the Wetshaving world.

My APR experience is limited, mostly because I was still fumbling with my first safety razor when Dan's masterpieces were in full swing. But every one I’ve tried has been a knockout, and Raconteur is no exception. It’s a wild, animalistic ride through smoky leather, spicy cedarwood, and a hint of civet that keeps you guessing. Complex, dynamic, and unmistakably APR.

22.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur
• Post-Shave: Moon Soaps - OldSchool "balm"

-> 2-pass head shave and a very great one if I may add.

Even though I wanted to drop out of BVWSC until further notice, @walden@sub.wetshaving.social generously provided me with a sample too. Maybe he knew this scent is right up my alley? Anyways, I couldn't let this generous opportunity pass even though my shave got delayed quite a bit by studying and beard trimming:

I had no problems to lather the APR base, perhaps this one likes soft water. My experience with APR is extremely limited, but I once got a small sample for the Lather Games '21 (IIRC it was "Fenchurch"?). It left my skin a bit dry after shaving, though that's not uncommon for me. Overall it was pretty slick.

Now the scent is the real star: a great blend of leather and woody notes, generally a warm scent IMHO and somehow very comfy. Like driving around while wearing your favourite leather jacket. The runny Moon Soaps "balm" kinda fits nicely, even though it's way sweeter than Raconteur. I know you folks like kinda bizarre comparisons, so here's one: I think Raconteur is the well-groomed, toned down cousin of Midnight Stag and Valley of Ashes. Does a solid and stable job and won't overstay it's welcome. Also definitely more of a people pleaser than the aforementioned "fuck you, I wear this for myself"-scents.

Have a good time, everyone. 👍🏻

Shave so nice, I've done it twice

Duodi 2 Prairial an 233 de la Révolution, jour d'Hémérocalle: Buena Vista Club

• Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic Bingcha (Iced Tea)
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (23)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve Raconteur
• Postshave: Naissance 702 Witch Hazel
• Postshave: Pitralon Classic After Shave
• Postshave: Nivea After Shave Balm

It is hayfever season, with asthma, headaches and stuffed nose. These are obviously the best conditions to enjoy an unobtainium soap. Aditionnally, and unrelatedly, it is the day of the daylily in the Revolutionary Calendar.

I got some leather (maybe I'm just primed to leather, because in BVWSC, we almost always have some sort of leather in the scent notes), and a generally very enjoyable scent. I was somewhat reminded of Chypre-Siam by Rogue Perfumery, but after verification, there is nearly nothing in common (other than civet, and that I like it).

I don't believe that I had the soap base figured out, even with a synthetic. Warned, I loaded heavily, but the lather still was rather bubbly. But it gave me a very serviceable shave.

In any case, thanks to @walden@sub.wetshaving.social for this nice discovery, and for a soap that I will unfortunately never use again.

Have a good evening!

~Shared via emacs & sotd.el~

May 21st, 2025: Buena Vista

• Brush: AP Shave Co. - Black Butterscotch w/ Pure Bliss
• Razor: Merkur - 34C
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Soap
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles - 322 - Aftershave

Thank you Walden for the smush of Raconteur today. It was my first time using APR and really makes me curious about their previous offerings. They seem to be well loved by most in the community.

May 21st, 2025: Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club

• Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
• Blade: Personna Twin Pivot Plus (Atra) Cart (7)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Soap
• Post Shave: Old Spice - Original - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Claus Porto - Musgo Real - EdC

$discord

Today is the monthly BVWSC where a group of users shave with the same soap.

This month we voted on Raconteur, an amazing scent that is probably in my top 5. I've heard some negative opinions about the APR soap base, but I find it to be pretty great if you load enough of it. This is the V2 soap base.

Raconte-moi des histoires du Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club Wed 21 May 2025

• Brush: Chisel and Hound – Ambrosia Maple with 26 mm synthetic Maggard knot
• Razor: Koraat – r/Wetshaving exclusive Moarteen (15/16", full hollow, carbon steel)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve – Raconteur
• Post Shave: Highland Springs Soap Co. / Australian Private Reserve – Eclipse
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Gratiot League Square

Dan of APR left the scene in the year I joined r/wetshaving. I missed the maestro, but his work was still omnipresent. I probably could (and definitely should) still have gotten a decent collection of APR if I had acted quickly, but I didn't and now Raconteur is one of my very few and cherished APR scents.

It took me a while to realise that I had missed not just a very talented artisan, but also a very active sub member who wrote many insightful and informative comments, posts, and SOTDs letting everyone catch a glimpse of his process. He deleted his Reddit account which makes finding his work a bit tedious, but he didn't delete his posts, so pearls like this Raconteur shave, helpful answers to perfumery questions, or plans of his USD 450 dream fragrance can still be read. He seems like a great person to have known.

When I bought this tub of Raconteur from The Razor Company (as part of my prep for the 2021 Lather Games), they had a full set of it available, but I hadn't figured out a way yet to ship alcohol from the US to me in Switzerland. Oh how I regret not having put a bit more effort. This fragrance is overwhelming in the best way. Warm and rich, sweet and animalic (Dan's own description here). I would have loved the perfume during cold days.

I'm really curious to hear what the other Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club members think about Raconteur.