[Bart]

I purchased a Semogue #730 brush from Leon at Vintage Scent | Rare and Antique Products for Men
Leon is a member of SRP and a very forthcoming guy to deal with.
Semogue is sometimes referred to as "Portugal's best kept shaving secret".
They sell brushes at a price that's unrivaled by any of the major brush manufacturers.
A video about their production method can be seen here:

YouTube - Made in Portugal

I don't speak Portuguese, but it all looks very traditional and well crafted to me.
Model #730 is available with acrylic handle or with a Portuguese Oak handle.
I like the look and shape of the oak handle a lot, so I went for that one.
The handle measures 53 mm, the knot 22 mm, loft is 57 mm.
That is not a very big brush, but for a face latherer like me, I think it is an advantage to use a smaller brush, that allows for some massaging and lather building motions across the face, instead of covering up the entire face with just a few dabs.
I want a shaving brush to be firm enough to no lay like a sloppy mop on my face, but at the same time the tips of the brushes hairs should not prickle. I believe to meet those terms, silvertip badger hair is the way to go.
The Semogue #730 lives perfectly up to those expectations. It's resilient enough to massage the beard well while lathering up, yet it feels amazingly soft and provides much suction, as if a dozen beautiful women were kissing your face.
It really took my lather to the next level, producing a thicker and densier layer that stays better on the face.
I use a cake-type of shaving soap, and the brush loaded very swiftly. It also turned into premium lather as soon as it touched my face, while I have used other brushes, that really required a lot of swirling around before a mediocre lather started to form.

I cannot comment about the brush' durability, because I have used it only once, but I see no reason to worry about that. This brush has been an instant epiphany to me. I highly recommend it. I would rate it a 10/10, because I can't think of anything that I don't like in the brush.

Bart.

[fpessanha]

Thanks for posting this, Bart! It's a great thing that Leon has this great contact because these brushes are VERY hard to find over here in Portugal! You can indeed find the Boar hair models but the badger is an extinct kind of brush over here: other than Omegas you simply cannot find a good badger brush over here. Thanks to Leon for his great service! I want one for myself! Call it patriotic pride...

[Leon]

Thank you Bart, thank you fpessanha!

Bart, I'm really glad you liked it. It's been fun to find these rare Portuguese products and get them into the wet-shaving community on the internet. It's almost a link between the past and the future. How poetic.

Well, this 730 model is a winner, that's for sure. I've already shipped a couple of them and tomorrow morning I'm going to the Semogue factory to get some more.

Thank you for your review and your comments.

[Steel Angel]

Hey Leon & fpessanha, as far as I am concerned, we should try to subtitle this RTP TV report in English (and even in French).

My own Semogue is still pre-bloom. I am confident that I will enjoy it as well!




I like its ergonomic handle!

[holli4pirating]

Mine just arrived today, and I love it. Granted this is my first badger brush (up till now all my shaving money has gone into razors), but it built a very nice lather extremely quickly, held heat and water very well, and was silky smooth on my face. A great brush, and highly recommended.

[Bart]

Just a little update, actually something I have noticed, probably beneficial for all badger brushes.

As I was lustily brushing away with my nice little Silvertip friend over the last few weeks, I noticed how the brush gradually became stiffer with every shaving session.
Now, I am exclusively lathering with a puck of hard soap (Plisson Shaving Soap), and I have noticed during my poor student years, many moons ago, how washing my hair with hard soap made it, well eh, hard and stiff.
Then I read a post where Mr. TheBigSpendur jokingly stated he had to go shampooing his 6 badger brushes.
Where the hell is that smiley with the light bulb?!

I shampooed my brush, and yes, it is all soft and friendly with me again.
Probably something many of you already figured out long time ago, but for me another recent shaving epiphany. Thought I 'd share that.

Bart.

[scottlp]

I'm really looking forward to introducing my face to one of these brushes. Mine should be on the way to me soon I hope.

Actually, I am getting a different handle, but with the silvertip grade in it. I'm personally not fond of the oak handle. I like the looks of their acrylic handles.

[Bart]

I'm using it for 2 months now, and I couldn't be happier. From what Leon told me, the knot of the #730 is the same in the oak and acrylic handles.

A few days ago, I used my old Omega boars brush after using the Semogue for the past 8 weeks. I remember it was a big step going from Omega to the Semogue, but going back really knocked me off my feet. Amazing how I managed to shave all that time without a badger.
The Semogue really massages my face, leaving a dense and slick layer of lather, that's completely different than the in comparison meager lather I slapped on my face with my boars brush.
The Semogue has performed admirably so far. I shows not the least sign of the sometimes reported hair shed problem in other brands. I still rate that brush a 10 out of 10. There's simply nothing I can imagine to improve on this brush.

Bart.

[timberrr59]

The Somoque makes lather almost before it touches the face. This is a super brush. It holds water for mixing with soap. I get the best shaves ever when using it. I really regret that I did not have one when I started shaving in 1960. I had no idea that a brush like the Semoke Silver Tip could make this much difference. If you do not have one, get one now! Yes, I am happy with using a Semoque. I like the oakwood handle. It is classic and looks like it will last forever.