Thread: Shaving on a budget

Are there companys or ways of trying samples of soaps to see what we like instead of dropping alot on a soap we many not end up liking?
If anyone could answer that would be kool

Welcome aboard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I don't know where you are located,, in the U.S. or across the pond somewhere,,, so responses will be a while if you are in the U.S., due to the time of your post. You may not get a good answer until morning. Add some information about yourself in your profile section, it would help.

I don't have an answer for you on soap samples, I buy one at a time.

But you will get help,,,

A lot of companies offer soap samples:

Maggard Razors:
Shaving Cream and Soap Samples | Product Categories | Maggard Razors - Straight Razor Restoration, Custom Scales and Wet Shaving Products

Mama Bear:
Soaps Samples

Soap Commander
Shaving Soap Samples – Soap Commander

...and many others, but the single BEST advice I can give you is to look at the following thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html

Pick ANY one of the first tier soaps and buy the full thing, don't even bother with a sample, you'll thank me (and more so Obie) later.

The second best piece of advice I can give you is to post your location so any nearby members can give you personal help/advice or direct you to any nearby wet-shaving stores, where you can smell the soaps (and sometimes they'll give you free samples), for example, if you happen to be near Columbus, Ohio, Rivers Edge Cutlery in Hilliard:
Rivers Edge Cutlery | Shaving

Also,

https://www.shoppesatstats.com/produ...rshaves-balms/

Welcome to the forum!

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.