Into the Sunset

Gentlemen,

From time to time, I retire some soaps and creams. For various reasons, I might add: either I am tired of them or they don't do the job after many tries. Some irritate my ultra sensitive skin because of the select ingredients. Occasionally I bring them back. Some pass the grade, while others are buried for good. After all, the soap and cream catalog has a list of delightful products, so why bother with these?

Please understand that I focus on my tastes and preference and avoid generalities. You might like my retirees, however, and that's fine. Personal preference, indeed. Through the years, I have retired many. For what it's worth, here is a list of the retirees this year:

1. Boellis Panama 1924 was a disaster. The bloody thing torched my skin like Satan's breath. Good riddance.

2. Tabac, L'Occitane Cade and Muhle are in the second or the third tier of good soaps, but I got tired of them, opting to pamper my Hollywood face with my preferences.

3. Savonnerie du bon Berger, both scents, irritated my skin. After many tries, they did not get better. They lathered well and had ample moisture, but I found the cushion mediocre. Adios.

4. La Savonniere du Moulin had good fragrance and lathered well. The cushion was better than that of the other two French artisan soaps, but it, too, irritated my skin, although less than the other two. It is gone.

5. Meisner Tremonia — I forget the scents — irritated my skin on the first few tries and I sent it packing. Later I went back the soap and selected different scents. So may be it was certain scents that irritated my Hollywood face. Either way, I find Meisner Tremonia a good all around soap, although it is far from the Eight Wonder of the World it is made out to be.

6. Green Mountain did not impress me at first and I retired it. The second time around, I find the soap of quality, one that works for me, although, it, too, I do not consider the Eighth Wonder of the World some gentlemen make it out to be. It is back in the shave den.

7. Antica Barbiereia Cola is a good soap, and expensive, but the almond scent eventually wore out its welcome. It is gone from the shave den.

Gentlemen, Martin de Candre soap still crowns the shave den. For creams, it is Castle Forbes. For me, these these two products set the standard of all around quality.

For what it's worth . . .

Thanks for your review on those ! Sheds a little light on some of them, interesting.

Scott

I haven't bought soap for some time. I did get some that were not to my standards for shaving, those get kicked to the shower. There was only one that was not even good enough for the shower, but it was not a name brand soap, it was one I had bought at an open market while visiting in the city.

What a bummer the Boellis Panama 1924 didn't work out for you. Of the ten high quality soaps that are in my rotation now, nothing comes close to the Panama for a smooth, luxurious shave for me.
Proof that there's no right answer and soap is subjective.

Thanks for reminding me to grab some Martin de Candre too! Next on the list is that 30% donkey milk soap whose name I can't remember, some Geo. Trumper Rose and then some Martin de Candre.

I have to say that coming from one of our most respected members Obie, his list serves me well.
Ralph

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raol

I have to say that coming from one of our most respected members Obie, his list serves me well.
Ralph

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Ralph, my friend, bless your heart for the kind words. Thanks you, sir.

Yes, shave soap/cream either works for you or doesn't regardless if it is considered the eighth wonder of the world by others. Really puts a crimp in things if a lot of soaps irritate your skin. Oth it makes life simpler by shortening the list.

Bob

I appreciate Obie's forays into the expensive world of soaps and creams for shaving. Unfortunately I am constrained by a limited income and have to investigate the lower cost options. Based on a limited income I have found the following to produce and perform quite well, especially since I use, almost daily, an uber-lather that combines one to three of the list at any one time.

In no specific order:

Williams (no problem getting a good lather on its own)
MWF (almost done with the puck after three years)
Van Der Hagen Deluxe Soap (again, great in combo or by itself)
Maca Root (the mortar that seems to hold it all together)
Shave (in a tube, Australian, good lather)
Arko Stick (grated, pressed in a bowl)
Proraso Blue (tube, not sure if I'll replace)
Musco Real (bought when staring out, would love to replace)
C. O. Bigelow (re-branded Proraso, decent)
Tet-A-Tet (Russian cream in a tube. Bought as part of a lot on eBay two years ago)

And one semi luxurious cream:
Nanny's YUSHU, Juniperberry

And lastly, a recent find and inexpensive:

Noble (a Mexican soap that lathers almost by looking at it. Major drawback, depletes rather fast. Cost $3.99)

Obie, I always love your reviews and observations of products. All I can say is that I'm extremely happy that I don't have your sensitive skin, and can enjoy many of the products that "torch" your delicate face. La Sovonniere du Moulin is probably the best lathering soap of the hundreds that I've tried (it really is the Eighth Wonder), and I don't think I could go without Boellis Panama 1924. Fortunately, there are hundreds of wonderful soaps available today, and the two you that you listed are as good as any.