Thread: Crabtree and Evelyn

Originally Posted by DMS

My wife ignored the list of suggested soaps I gave her, and gave me some C&E Sienna soap for Christmas. I've only used it one time but thought it was ok.

I had two major issues with it:
1) It dried out too quickly on it. The scary part was that it would still look nice and moist but it would be completely dry. And no, I don't take forever to complete a pass.
2) Even when wet it didn't give me decent lubrication even compared to the $5 Wilkinson soap, not to mention Colleen's stuff.
I'm glad it's working out for you though

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I had two major issues with it:
1) It dried out too quickly on it. The scary part was that it would still look nice and moist but it would be completely dry. And no, I don't take forever to complete a pass.
2) Even when wet it didn't give me decent lubrication even compared to the $5 Wilkinson soap, not to mention Colleen's stuff.
I'm glad it's working out for you though

This prompted me to go back and try it again, a little more critically.
I use a lot of water with this (and most) soap, and catch any excess when loading the brush in that shallow wooden bowl by letting it drain into my lathering cup when I'm working the puck.

I also dip the ends of the brush in the sink and remoisten what's on my face after stropping and again before relathering for a 2nd/3rd pass, the brush has plenty of soap to keep making more lather as water is added.

No real complaints about lubrication here - the shave was good and skin was slippery when I go to stretch it on a just-shaved area. I did get a couple of little weepers where I don't normally see them, don't know if this was due to the soap or something else.

I doubt that I'd ever choose this soap over Mamabear's but I don't think it's a bad one.

I'm not surprised with the weepers as I also get more when I use the C&E soap. I get those under 2 circumstances:
1) Harsh blade (new DE or freshly honed SE)
2) Lack of lubrication

Big C&E fan here with a store nearby. I love both Sienna and Nomad cremes in the tubes. Not sure if they still do the old Almond creme in a tub. That too was an all time favorite.

I tried the Body Shop tubs creme too and while I love the scent, using it a few days in a row leaves my face red and irritated. On an occasional basis though it is fine.

The AOS almond smelled wonderful, felt and shaved nice but I looked like I had diaper rash after my first shave. Thank goodness it was only a small sampler size. The genuine badger brush from the same set is a prickly little thing but may be great as a cheap travel brush.

Tony

Tony, I'm not sure about tubs, but they have it in tubes. It's an excellent shaving cream. Too bad their soaps aren't on the same level.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Tony, I'm not sure about tubs, but they have it in tubes. It's an excellent shaving cream. Too bad their soaps aren't on the same level.

Ilija, I'surprised you've had problems with the soaps. I have the Sienna, Nomad, and Sandalwood and they're among my favorite hard soaps.

Maybe its somthing in the water.

Jordan

Jordan, I've found the Nomad soap to be an extreme underperformer in comparison with:
1-9) Different soaps by Colleen
10) Wilkinson soap
11) Williams soap
12) C&E Sweet Almond Oil cream
13-14) Colleen's creams
15) T&H 1805 cream
I've even set aside time to experiment with various brush techniques, various brushes and water levels. Here are some universal results with the Nomad:
1) The lather did not lubricate as well as either of the 15 listed even when it was at its wettest.
2) It dried out too quickly, while it APPEARED like it was still nice and moist (major source of burn)

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Not sure if they still do the old Almond creme in a tub. That too was an all time favorite.

Tony

I love the C&E stuff as well, just an fyi the Almond Oil cream in the tub can still be found at a lot of TJ Maxx stores as well as Marshalls if you have them nearby.

They sell for $7.99 for the 5+ oz jar.