Thread: Martin De Candre soap?

Just an observation: We must all have pretty easy lives to be able to sit around and have a heated discussion about shaving cream.

This is a moot argument.

It's a fine soap if your experience tells you it is. And it's not a fine soap if you experience tells you that.

I like the the stuff. A lot. But I am not going to argue with anyone who has a different opinion of the stuff, because this is not science. It is all based on opinion, with many factors involved: water hardness, skin type, lather creation technique, etc...

My wife brought me Martin de Candre fougere as a Christmas present, so after 3 days use im obviously an authority on the subject...
So here goes, its incredibly easy to lather and my water is as hard as Chuck Norris. I love the smell, not too overpowering. The shave itself is wonderful, providing perfect glide. For me aftercare is a moot point as I always follow up my shave with my homemade balm. Price wise, yes it is an expensive upfront lay out but with daily use I think I could get two years use, not bad at all. Is it worth twice, three times the amount as other soaps? Ask me again in two years time.
To me this is what counts. I've tried lots of soaps and creams, some great, some not so great, some cheap, some not so cheap. There's so many other soaps and creams out there that most ive tried id not buy again even if they were great. Martin de Candre? Id buy it again in a heartbeat.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Do you know what a straw man is? You should.


How exactly do you reconcile that with Mainaman's order to state that everything said here is one's opinion? Because if you can prove that A is A, there is no need to YMMV anything.

Here's another good read, suggest you pick up a copy, undoubtedly some interesting ideas, tips and suggestions in there for you.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie”

I love my MDC!! I have both scents and I love them both, and both are superb soaps. I also love Proraso Red, and I have used up 5 tubes compared to hardly being able to tell a whole lot gone of the MDC!! On the subject of price, and being worth it, depends on the person. WORTH is reletive term!! Just my 2cents.

And, a Merry Christmas was had by all. Enjoy your shaves with whatever soap you choose.

To the op, Yes, maybe, not to some, apparently…

Gentlemen,

I love Martin de Candre. Have used it for years. Will use it into the next century. And that's that. Many gentlemen regard it as highly as I. A few don't. And that's fine — to each his own.

Is Martin de Candre worth the money? To some it's not. To me it is worth every penny. Even so, I refuse to declare that Martin de Candre is worth the money without qualifying my statement: that to me it is. What's more, if I like a shave product, and if I have the funds, I will buy it without toiling over whether it's worth the money or not.

I have spent a fortune on this practical hobby already.

This year I have used a parade of new soaps and creams — new to me — at various prices, and found many to be mediocre. Savonnerie du Bon Berger, La Savonniere du Moulin, Meisner Tremonia and others in the same category not only fried my skin because of certain ingredients in them, but they also lacked the proper cushion for my sensitive skin.

And please, gentlemen, let's not start wrestling with "what is the definition of cushion." We went around with that pompous question in a few other threads and it got tedious.

The one discovery I made, La Cigale, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. La Cigale, a French soap, has a mild, clean and soapy fragrance. More importantly, it lathers well, with good glide and cushion. Sure, it costs around $10, but that's a moot point, because I really like this soap.

I also like Antica Barbieria Cola, the Italian soap with a mild bitter almond fragrance. To me, the soap does everything it's supposed to do to give me a fine shave. The soap costs around $60, and the cream around $70, I think. Is it worth the money? To me it is, while to others it may not be. I had a few extra shekels and bought it, and liked it, and will continue to buy it once my puck runs out.

Sometimes, for various reasons, the market becomes creative with prices for soaps, creams and straight razors. Whether these are worth the price or not is arguable. Everyone has an opinion, educated and otherwise. Really, not worth fighting about. I will not go out of my way for Puma or Filarmonica, while other shavers might. That doesn't mean I will not stand on my head for a Globusmen or a Le Grelot that I like — if I have the funds.

And so it goes . . . I love Martin de Candre and when I run out, I will order another regardless of price.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May good fortune always swim in your lane.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Well done, Mike. Making things personal, and then trying to insult other members's intelligence is, for lack of a better word, classy. I think you actually wanted to link here instead.

Lol, not personal at all, and clearly not intended as an insult. I'm sorry it put you on the defensive. It just seemed as if you were missing the key element of my statement, thus I suggested you read it again to check comprehension. Let's keep it light

Since we're both clearly Renaissance Men, let's touch on the World of Literature, if I may paraphrase The Bard: "methinks the poster doth protest too much".

Originally Posted by RobinK

Something tells me that that does not mean what you think it does. But that is all right, Mike. It is the gesture that counts.

My friend, I assure you, I have suffered enough mathematical proofs to be all too familiar with the proper application of the coda "Thus, it is demonstrated".

Mike, Obie, points taken. Thanks for your patience.

Everyone else: If you like Martin de Candre, enjoy it. As I said, I think it is a good soap. Obie brought up Meißner Tremonia, and that is a perfect example of why shaving software really, really is a YMMV thing. I love Meißner Tremonia. Packaging, presentation, but, most importantly, aftershave skin care - all way above average for me. For others, not so. Is either MdC or MT the best soap out there? It might be. It might just as well not be. It all depends on how well your skin, and - maybe! - skill level like one particular product.

So, apologies for any toes stepped on. Yes, Phrank, I know that one, but reading does not necessarily equal understanding

Originally Posted by RobinK

Mike, Obie, points taken. Thanks for your patience.

Everyone else: If you like Martin de Candre, enjoy it. As I said, I think it is a good soap. Obie brought up Meißner Tremonia, and that is a perfect example of why shaving software really, really is a YMMV thing. I love Meißner Tremonia. Packaging, presentation, but, most importantly, aftershave skin care - all way above average for me. For others, not so. Is either MdC or MT the best soap out there? It might be. It might just as well not be. It all depends on how well your skin, and - maybe! - skill level like one particular product.

So, apologies for any toes stepped on. Yes, Phrank, I know that one, but reading does not necessarily equal understanding

And I Thank You Robin for being a good sport and engaging me in some witty banter. I haven't had a courteous "Gentleman's Disagreement" since Neil left us