The Best Possible Soap

Please comment on the best possible soap and oils I can get.
This will be my first time shaving with a manual, that it is when I purchase the Ralf Aust Straight Razor. I would like to get the smoothest possible shave. Also my lightly grown beard is somewhat medium coarse.
Here are my current options:

Poraso Soap: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00837YY18/...KPYWVVWX&psc=1

Poraso After Shave Oil: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N9MJX8/...I3UENSPZ0FFMYJ

Alum Block: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA35K02/...=IPNVVO0V95JJP

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Originally Posted by noy99

Please comment on the best possible soap and oils I can get.
This will be my first time shaving with a manual, that it is when I purchase the Ralf Aust Straight Razor. I would like to get the smoothest possible shave. Also my lightly grown beard is somewhat medium coarse.
Here are my current options:

Poraso Soap: Amazon.com : Proraso Shaving Soap, Eucalyptus & Menthol, 5.2 oz (150 ml), New Formulation : Beauty

Poraso After Shave Oil: Amazon.com : Proraso Dioibarba Aftershave Lotion (Liquid) 100ml/3.4oz : Beauty

Alum Block: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA35K02/...=IPNVVO0V95JJP

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Go with the alum block soap,,,,,,,,,,,,:beer2:

You want the best money can buy? Xpec, Martin De Candre, Castle Forbes. They are all top tier and the very best you can buy.

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Originally Posted by noy99

Please comment on the best possible soap and oils I can get.
This will be my first time shaving with a manual, that it is when I purchase the Ralf Aust Straight Razor. I would like to get the smoothest possible shave. Also my lightly grown beard is somewhat medium coarse.
Here are my current options:

Poraso Soap: Amazon.com : Proraso Shaving Soap, Eucalyptus & Menthol, 5.2 oz (150 ml), New Formulation : Beauty

Poraso After Shave Oil: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N9MJX8/...I3UENSPZ0FFMYJ

Alum Block: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA35K02/...=IPNVVO0V95JJP

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How much research have you done? This question is easy to answer in a sense....and Spendur answered it.

You may want to check the libraries and the various soap and cream threads. There are a ton of choices....all with varying qualities.

If you want the absolute best, see above. But you're going to spend a ton. Is it worth it? Some think so. I do. But there are much more cost effective options that work almost as good.

Acqua Di Parma is the best stuff going around, but quite pricey. I'd also recommend Cella, great stuff and very reasonably priced.

Good luck

If this is your first time shaving with a straight razor and first time using a soap and a brush to make lather, which soap may not make a heck of a difference if you do not know how to make a good lather to begin with. The "best" soap is an over worked idea, imo, and subjective at best. Most of the soaps I have tried will not keep me from getting a smooth shave. Even the supposed "best" soap will give sub par results if you don't know how to make a good lather.

That said, Poraso is a decent soap which a lot of people use with no complaints about shave shave quality.

Bob

Martin de Candre (MdC)
Antica Barbieria Colla (ABC)
Castle Forbes

For a little less Truefitt and Hill
For a lot less Taylor of Bond

It depends who you ask http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...n-wonders.html .

Bob

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Originally Posted by Luca

Acqua Di Parma is the best stuff going around, but quite pricey. I'd also recommend Cella, great stuff and very reasonably priced.

Good luck

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Cella is my favorite.

subjective to personal taste until you've tried them all. just take it easy and try to sample everything

I am using Col Conk now got a variety pack. Started off Almond. And i must say its hopeless! Might as well use Dove soap for shaving. Not sure if i got a bad batch or not, but its useless.

So dont get that.

Prorasso i have found to dry very quickly. I would say Taylor of Old Bond Street. Best for its price!

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You want the best money can buy? Xpec, Martin De Candre, Castle Forbes. They are all top tier and the very best you can buy.

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+1, i would add I Coloniali Mango Oil to this list

The one you enjoy using!

It's a journey, enjoy the ride!

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Originally Posted by Scareface

The one you enjoy using!

It's a journey, enjoy the ride!

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Well said... I joined the whole wet shaving scene only a few months back.. with 1 shaving soap.. proraso green.. and now.. well lets say i need a whole new closet because of all the soaps and what have you..

Trying so many, including some that were mentioned... its not the price.. its not the packaging etc etc...
it is as what Scareface mentioned... the one you enjoy using!!...

there is NEVER a best soap.. (just a humble opinion).. yes there are some better than others... and thank you SRP for letting me understand this and discover the world of soaps..

Over n Out

Shnutz

Recently I tried this product in place of Noxzema Cleansing Cream during my pre-shave routine. I'm getting fantastic close shaves and my skin feels soft and moisturized without irritation. Unlike Noxzema there is no strong smell to mask the scent of your shaving soap or cream. I apply my favorite soap or cream directly on top the neutrogena soapless shaving cream. I rinse and do this in between each razor pass.

Neutrogena Men® Sensitive Skin Shave Cream | Neutrogena®

If you have experience lathering soaps, then the ones mentioned are just fine. I would, also, add Mystic Water, Cold River and Mike's. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by celestino

If you have experience lathering soaps, then the ones mentioned are just fine. I would, also, add Mystic Water, Cold River and Mike's. Good luck.

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Plus 1 to that. Mikes is awesome (needs a little more water than others...once you get it right it is a heavenly lather). With the influx of small local artisan soap companies, I personally have lost sight of Mikes, who remains one of the best.

I think my personal issue is that I haven't had to buy anything from him in a while because I still have soap left in the tins I bought from him. His soap really lasts it seems....hadn't really paid attention to that either.

Thanks for making sure his soap got mentioned! Great bath soaps too. Love the grapefruit honey.

The best shaving cream on the planet Earth is GEO Trumper Almond. (According to me)
I just purchased a Castle Forbes Lime shaving cream and I was disappointed , by the time I got to my top lip the cream had dried and cracked up, GEO Trumper never does that.
I have tried all the English top brands , I swore by Truefit until I tried GEO.
This thread has put me onto Martin de Candre , i'll try it but don't hold much hope :rant:

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Originally Posted by JOB15

The best shaving cream on the planet Earth is GEO Trumper Almond. (According to me)
I just purchased a Castle Forbes Lime shaving cream and I was disappointed , by the time I got to my top lip the cream had dried and cracked up, GEO Trumper never does that.
I have tried all the English top brands , I swore by Truefit until I tried GEO.
This thread has put me onto Martin de Candre , i'll try it but don't hold much hope :rant:

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I have heard that CF creams are on the thirsty side. I have their lavender cream and I think that might be true. Possibly try adding more water a bit at a time.

Bob

If you're looking for consensus you won't find it here. Everyone's best soap is different. By the time you are done polling everyone, your head will be spinning.

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Originally Posted by BobH

I have heard that CF creams are on the thirsty side. I have their lavender cream and I think that might be true. Possibly try adding more water a bit at a time.

Bob

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I just use a touch on a damp brush (shaken out) maybe add a single drop of water to my dish, a few swirls then I make the lather on my wet face.
The original was my favourite until I was steered towards the almond..
I've just ordered some xpec , finally found some.. I cant wait to compare.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

The best shaving cream on the planet Earth is GEO Trumper Almond. (According to me)
I just purchased a Castle Forbes Lime shaving cream and I was disappointed , by the time I got to my top lip the cream had dried and cracked up, GEO Trumper never does that.
I have tried all the English top brands , I swore by Truefit until I tried GEO.
This thread has put me onto Martin de Candre , i'll try it but don't hold much hope :rant:

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Yet trumpers hard soaps are completely rubbish....

OP- starting this thread is not going to get you an answer, we are 3 pages in with no real consensus, if we had 30 pages it would be the same.
If you look at the soaps forum there are lots of threads about various soaps and creams.

regarding your choices, proraso products are well regarded and reasonably priced. I don't think oil or alum are really necessary.

MDC, ADP Castle Forbes are great soaps for sure. There are some artisans that are in there as well. Judging these is very hard to do. Tabac is another one that is very highly regarded and reasonably priced. MWF as well. TOBs is great soap as well. Used correctly all of these are capable of giving you a great shave. As was said, its hard to say what you will like. THese all will perform well. Brush selection can affect your shave as well. List goes on and on. I was a Tabac user for a long while. Hard to beat. I have 50 soaps now and as much as I love them all, the quest for the ONE is proving elusive. Although I am enjoying them all.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

I just use a touch on a damp brush (shaken out) maybe add a single drop of water to my dish, a few swirls then I make the lather on my wet face.

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I face lather so I add water as I go while lathering, no bowl in between. A damp brush and a single drop of water seems kind of light on the water to me. Not every soap/cream responds the same way to the same amount of water.

Bob

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Originally Posted by bill3152

MDC, ADP Castle Forbes are great soaps for sure. There are some artisans that are in there as well. Judging these is very hard to do. Tabac is another one that is very highly regarded and reasonably priced. MWF as well. TOBs is great soap as well. Used correctly all of these are capable of giving you a great shave. As was said, its hard to say what you will like. THese all will perform well. Brush selection can affect your shave as well. List goes on and on. I was a Tabac user for a long while. Hard to beat. I have 50 soaps now and as much as I love them all, the quest for the ONE is proving elusive. Although I am enjoying them all.

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just throw the whole lot in a blender and call it good

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Originally Posted by BobH

I face lather so I add water as I go while lathering, no bowl in between. A damp brush and a single drop of water seems kind of light on the water to me. Not every soap/cream responds the same way to the same amount of water.

Bob

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This thread is for soap not cream..woops..
Ive never used soap.

Oh great someone mentioned Mitchell wool fat. :-) That's the best soap IMHO.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

This thread is for soap not cream..woops..
Ive never used soap.

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The same applies for soaps/creams or croaps and I use all 3 types. Was thinking specifically about your comment on CF cream. In any event I don't think I'll ever comment on anything being "the best possible" as there are too many variables involved. Best I can do is say what works for me to my liking.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

The same applies for soaps/creams or croaps and I use all 3 types. Was thinking specifically about your comment on CF cream. In any event I don't think I'll ever comment on anything being "the best possible" as there are too many variables involved. Best I can do is say what works for me to my liking.

Bob

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I totally agree! I use all three as well, and face lather.
You use the amount of water needed for each to build the lather you want for each shave.
They all respond differently and according to how much soap one has picked on the brush to build the lather with!

It has to be MdC for me or dare I saw Castle Forbes. The latter may as well be a soap given how hard it is and how to lather it!

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Originally Posted by celestino

If you have experience lathering soaps, then the ones mentioned are just fine. I would, also, add Mystic Water, Cold River and Mike's. Good luck.

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But the name is a wrongun "Mikes" is there a jeff and billy too :idea:

I don't believe that there is a "best" soap for everyone, there are too many personal variables to take into account. You will find what works best for YOU once you've experimented with different soaps.

I'm a relatively new wet shaver myself. What I am finding is that, so far, I am glad that I haven't found the best soap, cream, or croap yet. At first, when trying to learn to lather, strop, and shave I would have moments of frustration because I wasn't getting something quite right. But now, those eureka moments that I do something right with the lather, strop, or shave are the moments that make shaving with a straight so enjoyable. I get excited for the next shave so that I can apply my newly learned or improved skill.

So it is with soap. I look forward to the process of learning what makes a soap or cream tick for me. And once you find it, it works well. Yesterday wasn't a shave day and neither is today (waiting on a couple learning nicks to heal) but I did break out my new MWF and practiced lathering with it since I've heard that it can be a bit troublesome. I practiced until I got it. Now I can hardly wait to use it after seeing the overflowing beautiful lather I produced with a well loaded brush and the right amount of time and water. Tomorrow, hopefully, it will be the best soap for me. Another day, it will be another soap or cream.

The best soap for me is the one I get excited to use on a particular day. I expect it will change quite often.

Thanks for reading my long windedness.

Spencer

There are so many great creams and soaps on the market. When I think I have found the one I end up getting bored of it. No biggie though I can just try another. Some of my favs include: castle Forbes, Mitchell's wool fat, Simpsons, Edwin jagger, queen charlotte. I still have so many more to try out.

The best soap is free ( or darn cheap), smells great (Too You) and lathers by itself in a magical way.

I have tried them from the top to the bottom. MDC to Arko and a few in between. Just get something with a stink you might like and spend around 10 to 20 bucks. Learn to lather and proceed from there. If you have sensitive skin then you better start using the search engine and doing some reading.
Start basic and add more as needed or else you will be so confused with pre this , is it the soap, the motion of the lotion, confused.

Okay so somebody revived an old thread :<0) Is he still alive ?

My universe of best shaving soaps just expanded. In the beginning it was just MdC. Now it has: MdC, 40% La Savonnière du Moulin, Antica Barbieria Colla, Saponificio Varesino, Cella, and P.160.

It's a subjective question imo, i found modern Williams a good soap for me but lots hate it so? Used what's work for you, to my opinion the best soap is what's gave you good results. There's lots on the market of soaps and creams to choose from, so test and enjoy your shaves. Gino

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Originally Posted by Papabear11

It's a subjective question imo, i found modern Williams a good soap for me but lots hate it so? Used what's work for you, to my opinion the best soap is what's gave you good results. There's lots on the market of soaps and creams to choose from, so test and enjoy your shaves. Gino

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Couldn't agree more if I tried.

Bob