Thread: Shaving on a budget

Sometimes even though a company may not list that they offer samples, if you just find their company contact info and send them an email about trying samples, a lot are willing to send them out for free (or for a significantly lower price than their full product.)

As the other people said, penty of vendors and artisans have samples.
But I think 95% of soaps on the market are good really, you can't go wrong with almost anything if you ask me. If you are so unlucky to get a soap you don't like, then it should not be hard to find someone you can trade with or sell it to.
I would not worry about it if I were you. YMMV

Is there a particular scent you are looking for? Maybe floral, woody, island type stuff? This may also help you go in the direction you want. Since I am here I will suggest a couple of my favorites I don't have tons of soaps like some do. Art of the Shave Sandalwood, WM Neumanns 1911, these 2 kind of cover woody scents or man scents as my son calls them. I also like WM Neumanns Peppermint Clove I believe it is, one of my favorite summer soaps. When I started I went with SRD scentless soap since I was like you and did not want to jump into a scent and not like it and that is also a great soap. Soon you will be pairing after shave with your soaps Hope this helps enjoy.

I concur with the suggestions. My favorite outlet is Maggard's. Top notch customer service.

I was also going to say that ARKO is an excellent budget soap that does an awesome job and is super cheap. Plus one stick will last a LONG time.

Well, skip the free samples and buy a kilo of Cella for 37 bucks and your set with soap for years, or buy a 5oz tub at 15.

There are several threads on how best to store it. There are other good soaps sold in bulk, very inexpensively.

Soap is your least expense, if you can’t afford that, plain water and a sharp blade will do it.

Welcome to the forum. Everyone else has already pointed you in the right direction RE samples, so I won't go there save to agree with hrfdez about Maggard. Top of the line for service, IMO.
For a beginner looking for great quality at a good price, check out the Razorock line of soaps. Most are between $7-$10, there are practically a boatload of different ones, and they will all perform quite well, with no issues in lathering for a newb.
Cella has already been mentioned, but I second it. As well, if you have a Bath & Body works near you, check out their C.O. Bigelow cream. $10 for a big tube, and they have buy two get one free sales frequently. Go ahead and buy, don't even debate it. Great cream,same as Proraso Green, just in a different container/branded differently for B&BW, and a cream that is in almost every wetshaver's den, for a reason. Good, solid product at a fair price.