Thread: Thoughts on Savon Le Pere Lucien

Gentlemen,

Le Pere Lucien is a superb artisan shave soap. I have lathered with it the past week, using Thater, Simpson and Rooney brushes, with face and bowl lathering, and cannot compliment this soap enough. It is superb, indeed. From the scores of artisan soaps I have tried through the years only two have impressed me: Mike's Natural Soaps and Mama Bear. Le Pere Lucien makes it three.

Le Pere Lucien is often compared to Martin de Candre. I dare say it compares well — generally. Remember Martin de Candre is a hard soap and Le Pere Lucien soft. Martin de Candre is celestial. What is Le Pere Lucien, then? Is one soap better than the other? The question is moot, really, because opinions will differ and we'll end up chasing our tail. Let's say Le Pere Lucien floats in its own orbit.

I try not to compare soaps just for this reason. Is Martin de Candre better than, say, Mitchell's Wool Fat? I have no idea. Some will say yes and some no and we're back where we started. So I take each soap for what it is. That is not to say I do not have my preferred soaps. of course, I do. They are Martin de Candre, Czech & Speake, D.R. Harris Arlington, Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac. And now also Le Pere Lucien.

At the same time I like and use many other soaps, preferring some over the others for various reason. For instance, I love Klar Kabinett, the old German barber soap. It's an inexpensive soap, but an absolute delight for its lather, cushion and glide. I love its rose fragrance, too.

In the Le Pere Lucien shave soap I have used I detect a mild French lavender fragrance, which is deep and earthy. Don't expect a big and fluffy lather from this soap; rather, one that is dense and heavy. That's why it needs water. For the straight razor, I generally keep my lather on the watery side, because it provides better glide. This is easy to do with this soap. Load your brush well and then play with the water ratio, whether face or bowl lathering.

What I have found astonishing in Le Pere Lucien is the cushion. My Assyrian beard is heavy and my skin sensitive. That is not a good formula. The lather from this soap pampers my skin like an angel's kiss. I dare say no shave soap has ever given me such comfortable cushion, not even Martin de Candre. That comparison I dare make. Pair that with an exceptionally slick glide and you have the making of a superb shaving experience. At the same time, the rich lather stays moist throughout the shave.

The final test of a good soap is how it leaves the face after the shave. In Le Pere Lucien silky and comfortable say plenty.

The soap is difficult to get and the shipping a whopper. I was fortunate enough to receive the soap from a dear SRP friend. Thank you and bless your heart. Perhaps a U.S. vendor will offer this soap with a reasonable shipping charge. Soon, too, I hope, because the amount I have will run out — and I am already getting nervous.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

Le Pere Lucien is a superb artisan shave soap. I have lathered with it the past week, using Thater, Simpson and Rooney brushes, with face and bowl lathering, and cannot compliment this soap enough. It is superb, indeed. From the scores of artisan soaps I have tried through the years only two have impressed me: Mike's Natural Soaps and Mama Bear. Le Pere Lucien makes it three.

Le Pere Lucien is often compared to Martin de Candre. I dare say it compares well — generally. Remember Martin de Candre is a hard soap and Le Pere Lucien soft. Martin de Candre is celestial. What is Le Pere Lucien, then? Is one soap better than the other? The question is moot, really, because opinions will differ and we'll end up chasing our tail. Let's say Le Pere Lucien floats in its own orbit.

I try not to compare soaps just for this reason. Is Martin de Candre better than, say, Mitchell's Wool Fat? I have no idea. Some will say yes and some no and we're back where we started. So I take each soap for what it is. That is not to say I do not have my preferred soaps. of course, I do. They are Martin de Candre, Czech & Speake, D.R. Harris Arlington, Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac. And now also Le Pere Lucien.

At the same time I like and use many other soaps, preferring some over the others for various reason. For instance, I love Klar Kabinett, the old German barber soap. It's an inexpensive soap, but an absolute delight for its lather, cushion and glide. I love its rose fragrance, too.

In the Le Pere Lucien shave soap I have used I detect a mild French lavender fragrance, which is deep and earthy. Don't expect a big and fluffy lather from this soap; rather, one that is dense and heavy. That's why it needs water. For the straight razor, I generally keep my lather on the watery side, because it provides better glide. This is easy to do with this soap. Load your brush well and then play with the water ratio, whether face or bowl lathering.

What I have found astonishing in Le Pere Lucien is the cushion. My Assyrian beard is heavy and my skin sensitive. That is not a good formula. The lather from this soap pampers my skin like an angel's kiss. I dare say no shave soap has ever given me such comfortable cushion, not even Martin de Candre. That comparison I dare make. Pair that with an exceptionally slick glide and you have the making of a superb shaving experience. At the same time, the rich lather stays moist throughout the shave.

The final test of a good soap is how it leaves the face after the shave. In Le Pere Lucien silky and comfortable say plenty.

The soap is difficult to get and the shipping a whopper. I was fortunate enough to receive the soap from a dear SRP friend. Thank you and bless your heart. Perhaps a U.S. vendor will offer this soap with a reasonable shipping charge. Soon, too, I hope, because the amount I have will run out — and I am already getting nervous.

I'm really surprised there were not more replies to this thread. I realize you were jus expressing your thoughts, but this soap deserves a ton of exposure. I was very happy when SRP started carrying this and promptly bought 100g SS cauldron style tin. I now wish for the little more I had bought the 200g tin. I love the scent profile of this Lavender, mint, earthy croap I would consider from a fragrance profile this to be a Fougere. The lather and glide this soap produces blows away 90% of other artisan soap makers, aside from an American producer Catie's Bubbles and of course MdC nothing really compares in terms of performance and over all scent. Great testimonial and review Obie I found it to be spot on to my personal experience as well.

Thank you for the kind words, Spineshank, and for giving life to the thread. Indeed, Le Pere Lucien is topnotch and worthy of every shave den. The soap has everything the shaver needs: luxurious lather with ample moisture, comfortable cushion and slick glide. And I like the fragrance, too. Good stuff.

I am glad this got a "bump". Excellent review Obie!!

$35 here at SRD or

.......($39+shipping)-less for 110g and refills:

Le Pere Lucien | Razor Blades & More Co.
Buy Le Pere Lucien Shaving Soap at BullGoose Shaving Supplies

Oh no, he's doing it again.

It reminds me of that cheap move "the mind benders". One day he'll write a book about how he has this skill at causing folks to buy on command.

that is right spendur, obie has that quality about him ,, I had to have it when he ran down his top 5, thanks Obie , by the way Lince does it too with his reviews! tc

I hadn't seen this thread before. There was another going around about this soap. But Obie nailed every point with the review above. When I commented on this soap, I also suggested that it was better than MDC. I'm a big fan of it now. Between this one and the Barrister and Mann soaps I've been using, everything else is sitting idle.

Oh no!

I've been on a pretty strict soap buying moratorium ... Now, this comes along.

Gentlemen,
A great razor, a fine strop, a silky brush and a celestial soap combine to make the sunrise all the more glorious. Gentlemen, I concur with all about this wonderful soap. Spendur, my friend, even your cousin Festus uses Le Pere Lucien.

Boy this soap has been getting a lot of buzz lately. I must investigate further.