Thread: Martin De Candre: Love/Hate... Anyone Else?

Martin de Candre is a decent soap. You will get decent lather in a short time.

However, if you compare it to similar products (eg Savonnerie du bon Berger), you will find that is is extremely expensive. Also, its after shave skin care is mediocre at best.

What sets is apart is that it is both readily available and extremely expensive. The combination of which has given it a cult following.

Cult is never good.

If you want an outstanding lavender scent at a reasonable price for outstanding performance, get Tabula Rasa, or Meißner Tremonia. If you want an outstanding fougère scent at a reasonable price for outstanding performance, get Baume.be. If you want the same, or actually better, performance from a French soap, get Savonnerie du bon Berger.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Martin de Candre is a decent soap. You will get decent lather in a short time.

However, if you compare it to similar products (eg Savonnerie du bon Berger), you will find that is is extremely expensive. Also, its after shave skin care is mediocre at best.

What sets is apart is that it is both readily available and extremely expensive. The combination of which has given it a cult following.

Cult is never good.

If you want an outstanding lavender scent at a reasonable price for outstanding performance, get Tabula Rasa, or Meißner Tremonia. If you want an outstanding fougère scent at a reasonable price for outstanding performance, get Baume.be. If you want the same, or actually better, performance from a French soap, get Savonnerie du bon Berger.

We've had this discussion before Robin, and you know I disagree somewhat with your opinion on MdC.
While it is true that in EUR per weight it is expensive, at the same time I find it is one of the most efficient soaps out there, you really need very little for a shave. Which increases the value for me and doesn't make it more expensive in use than most luxury creams. I do agree with you that the aftershave care is only median though.

I would rate Savonnerie du bon Berger almost as good as MdC technically, and yes, it costs roughly 61% of the price of Mdc (allowing for different weight in the tubs), but unfortunately I think their lavender scent sucks compared to MdC or Castle Forbes. And those ugly plastic tubs should go as well.

I can tell you that MdC doesn't do very well in my water & with the following it has I just didn't get it & figured that since folks spent so much on it...they had to force themselves to like it. I took it on vacation and it finally performed well with water in Florida and Louisiana. Will I get another tub of it? Nope.

To the OP: Try some bottled water for the shave or distilled water.

I'll pass. I'm not a fan of the scent or skin care qualities.