Thread: Savonnerie du Bon Berger ( shaving soap )

I just tried this shaving soap made in France this evening, the lavender and rosemary scent version of this soap is the one I have. I like the scent really well It's a rather earthy medicinal take on lavender like the Harris version in their shaving cream, but just a little milder. The thing I had a little trouble with is it comes in a package of two little tiny pucks, it took a little effort but worked up a descent lather with my large badger brush. I think I'll shred it and put it in a mug so I can really work it better with my brush, has a lot of slip and seemed to have some good cushion in it, all in all not a bad performer, curious if anybody else has used this and what their take is on it ?


Scott

Originally Posted by sachemo

I just tried this shaving soap made in France this evening, the lavender and rosemary scent version of this soap is the one I have. I like the scent really well It's a rather earthy medicinal take on lavender like the Harris version in their shaving cream, but just a little milder. The thing I had a little trouble with is it comes in a package of two little tiny pucks, it took a little effort but worked up a descent lather with my large badger brush. I think I'll shred it and put it in a mug so I can really work it better with my brush, has a lot of slip and seemed to have some good cushion in it, all in all not a bad performer, curious if anybody else has used this and what their take is on it ?


Scott

Have not used mine much but it makes pretty good lather. For me MDC is a bit better.
There is another one that is with 20% donkey milk , Savonniere Du Moulin, very nice too.

The one's you mention are definitely on my must try list at some time, although I've never really been a fan of the artisan soaps lately some have gotten my interest perked. I want to try a few without getting to carried away ( so many of them out there ) I'll keep it a small adventure, I went through some years where I got carried away buying everything soap and cream in sight........sigh.

Scott

I have used it quite extensively. I think it's a very good soap, lathers easily. Personally, I don't like the scents though.

Originally Posted by mainaman

For me MDC is a bit better.

For me MDC is only better in one aspect, and that's the scent!

Martin de Candre is massively overpriced by comparison. And yes, I like the Savonnerie du bon Berger scents better. And its performance.

I remain a skeptic when it comes to the benefits of milk in cosmetic products, in this case, Ass milk.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Martin de Candre is massively overpriced by comparison. And yes, I like the Savonnerie du bon Berger scents better. And its performance.

Expensive? Yes. Overpriced? I am not sure since price is set by demand and supply. If people stopped buying at this price, then maybe MDC will either bring the price down or stop making the soap. But since people keep buying it (some even paying very high shipping price), MDC see no reason to lower the price.

I like to compare Martin de Candre shaving soap to the initial investment for straight razor shaving. At first, an average of $300 is required, but then with good care, the person will never have to buy another razor ever again. With Martin de Candre, if one follows the instructions, one will get a lot of shaves even if one is using MDC exclusively. By the way, the instructions in English don't faithfully translates the French instructions. For example:

Brush the shaving soap in a circular, whisking motion with the shaving brush until a rich lather forms. Do not press down on the bristles, as this may damage the brush - simply move in quick circular motions.

Passer le blaireau sur le savon en lui faisant faire quelques tours ( ne pas insister longtemps)

The French instruction does not tell the user to wait until a rich lather is formed, but rather to do a few swirls with overdoing it.

Again, I believe it's an expensive soap. Is it worth it? In my opinion it is. Are there other good soaps out there for less? Definitely. As much as I love MDC, I seem to like Palmolive Classic cream much more.

Originally Posted by patricksrp

I am not sure since price is set by demand and supply. If people stopped buying at this price, then maybe MDC will either bring the price down or stop making the soap. But since people keep buying it (some even paying very high shipping price), MDC see no reason to lower the price.

I don't think their price is determined by demand & supply. It has been expensive as long as I can remember, so even before it became a hype accross the pond, which inflated the demand for the soap but not the price.

An interesting difference about these two soaps are their ingredients lists.

MdC's list of ingredients is quite short.
The unscented one listed below:

Potassium hydroxide
Stearic acid
Glycerin
Coconut acid
water

Savonnerie du bon Berger
with scent ingredients included:

potassium palmate
sodium palmate
potassium stearate
potassium palm kernelate
glycerin
aqua
aloe barbadensis leaf juice
palm kernel acid
Below the added ingredients for scent:
lavandula angustifolia oil
romarinus officinalis oil
limonene
linalol
citral


To some, due to social and environmental issues, the various Palmate ingredients might give cause to pause on the latter.