The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[Phrank]

Hey fellas if you've tried Fitjar soaps or creams, what's your experience with it?

I've shaved both the soap (Slåtterøy) and cream (Fjellheim) several times now, and while they both lather easily and well, both the soap and the cream lathers broke down and dissipated fairly soon into my shaves. Tried the usual: more water, then less water, heavier loading, and etc.

Wanted to see if others have had similar experiences with Fitjar lather breaking down.

I've used them, similar experience, more work to lather than I like, and the reward is mediocre in my opinion.

[SemperFi]

I've used them, similar experience, more work to lather than I like, and the reward is mediocre in my opinion.

Hey thanks, Andrew--wanted to see if others were getting similar results. This was a soap I really wanted to like but these are a couple more that didn't work out.

On a bright note, liked your post on Shiloh--spot on! It's a great performer and scent. Like you and Obie, I really like her Irving Park as well--Vida is really putting out nice stuff at a great price (her matching balms are decent as well).

I think you're going to enjoy the Nera! Srdjan's experience with the scent was a bit different than mine and Nelson's (the bigspender and I got a much stronger citrus experience and longevity). No biggie though, this newest PC is a great soap--enjoy my friend, and looking forward to your take on it!

[evnpar]

Hey fellas if you've tried Fitjar soaps or creams, what's your experience with it?

I've shaved both the soap (Slåtterøy) and cream (Fjellheim) several times now, and while they both lather easily and well, both the soap and the cream lathers broke down and dissipated fairly soon into my shaves. Tried the usual: more water, then less water, heavier loading, and etc.

Wanted to see if others have had similar experiences with Fitjar lather breaking down.

I enjoy Fitjar Island creams and haven't had any problems with the lather breaking down. However, their overall performance is just average, although I like the scents and will continue to use them. I don't find Fitjar soaps to perform as well as their creams.

[SemperFi]

I enjoy Fitjar Island creams and haven't had any problems with the lather breaking down. However, their overall performance is just average, although I like the scents and will continue to use them. I don't find Fitjar soaps to perform as well as their creams.

Thanks for your feedback, Richard! The scents are well done, and I liked both that I tried. Yep, I thought the performance wasn't quite there but wasn't sure if that was due to the lather breaking down as my shave progressed. I'll probably keep the Fitjar around for when I use a DE.

On a different note, the CRSW Glide you recommend is a great soap--really enjoy all 3 scents and they are a pleasure to use--thanks!

[evnpar]

Thanks for your feedback, Richard! The scents are well done, and I liked both that I tried. Yep, I thought the performance wasn't quite there but wasn't sure if that was due to the lather breaking down as my shave progressed. I'll probably keep the Fitjar around for when I use a DE.

On a different note, the CRSW Glide you recommend is a great soap--really enjoy all 3 scents and they are a pleasure to use--thanks!

I do the same thing--I have to rush out an hour or two early a couple mornings a week and use a DE or SE when rushed--I save my average performing soaps and creams with scents that I like, for those mornings. Fitjar is one of those creams. Now when I want to enjoy a luxurious straight razor shave, I'll reach for Glide. A new Glide scent comes out tomorrow called Morning Ghost, a green, earthy, spicy vetiver.

[MedicineMan]

So after deciding I wasn't going to get some soaps for a while...you guys talked me into the WK sample pack.
May be a hard sell. After Tc sent me some MDC I'm pretty sure I could just use it the rest of my life (yep I like it that much. I'm in the process of giving away or banning the rest of my soaps to the shower. Except my first love CF Lime. I'll always have a tub of that wonderful soft cream and that delicious fragrance.
Really hope the WK is the real deal. They actually had me nibbling at "donkey milk" I've just been waiting for big recommendation like MAKING IT TO OBIE'S TOP TIER LIST-a man has to give it a whirl at that point.

Oleo do samples?
jer

[SemperFi]

A new Glide scent comes out tomorrow called Morning Ghost, a green, earthy, spicy vetiver.

Thanks for the tip--I'm on it if I can get an order in; am hoping Larry does a Glide citrus down the road. He really nailed it with this line of soaps.

Hey Jer, I thought I saw Vida was now offering Oleo samples--may want to give her site a go over the next few days (she's down right now, waiting for supplies...forum must have bought her out ). Both MdC and CF really have set the bar high for great soaps. You may also want to give CRSW Glide a try--stellar soaps at a fantastic price.

[Obie]

Gentlemen,
I used Fitjar some years ago, cream or soap, I'm not sure, and recall not being all that impressed with it. Was the lather anemic, or was something else lacking in it? I don't remember. So I forgot about it.

[MedicineMan]

Thanks for the tip--I'm on it if I can get an order in; am hoping Larry does a Glide citrus down the road. He really nailed it with this line of soaps.

Hey Jer, I thought I saw Vida was now offering Oleo samples--may want to give her site a go over the next few days (she's down right now, waiting for supplies...forum must have bought her out ). Both MdC and CF really have set the bar high for great soaps. You may also want to give CRSW Glide a try--stellar soaps at a fantastic price.

As soon as the Pay Pal went through for WK I jumped over to Oleo with the intention of checking samples. BAM site down! Ah well. I'll wait for my WK and use up the rest of the MDC that Tc gifted me...it'll be tuff but I guess I'll make do (what kind of world is it when I'm reduced to having to use MDC!)

[Phrank]

PannaCrema NuÃvia Nera Impressions

Bottom Line Up Front:

The soap's performance is excellent. If you're not a citrus fan or a fan of bitter citrus scents, give this soap a pass. Both the soap’s heart and base notes are subdued in comparison to the bold and bitter citrus-dominated top note. If you enjoy masculine florals (heart notes) and tonka/vanilla (dominating base notes) scents, then this soap may be a good fit. For the first few shaves I recommend trying the soap without a scented aftershave or EdC finish to give the soap’s scents a chance to fully open post shave. Also, a strong aftershave or EdC may overpower the soap's far subtler heart and base notes.

Details:

Three shaves in and Nera is a solid performer in terms of its ability to lather and also produce a nice, thick lather. Its aftershave moisturizing properties are excellent as well, and my skin feels great, even during a typically cold and dry Colorado winter. PC's assertion that the soap will serve as a full-on aftershave wasn’t quite there for me. I had a touch of razor burn after my first shave, and the soap wasn't much help but, in fairness, I think that is far too much to ask for from any soap or cream.

The scent’s top notes are citrus dominated during the shave, though some heart notes popped in and out during my 2nd passes. The bergamot in the top notes is both bold and on the bitter side—nothing cloying here. The scent’s heart and base notes didn’t emerge until about 10 minutes after my shaves. The heart notes, which, as expected, are far subtler than the top, are solid, masculine florals with a hint of spice. The heart notes gradually slide into the soap's amber/musk base. The scent’s tonka bean and vanilla base notes take over, complimenting each other well, and dominate with a soothing blend that is bolder than the heart.

This soap's scent is definitely complex and its craftmanship is more aligned with traditional perfumes and EdCs than most simpler crafted soap or cream scents. I suggest trying an unscented aftershave or balm with the soap to give its scent a chance to fully finish opening after the shave. Also, a balm should do the trick for any burn or etc. (Lab Series is a reasonably priced and solid, unscented balm that I like when I don't want an aftershave to clash with a finish EdC or etc.). I think a robust-scented aftershave or finish will overpower the subtler heart and base notes of this scent--both are definitely more subdued than the top note’s dominating bitter citrus.

Just had my first shave with the Nera and wow....another absolute stunner from Panna Crema.

I didn't find the citrus overwhelming at all, really felt like their other offerings, it was a robust soap, but confined a little bit more towards that higher notes, which may lead to the preponderance of the citrus.

The other three, Blu, Verde and Rossa I found to be incredibly complex soaps, with a wide massive horizontal and vertical (if you can use that term) menu of scents...awesome.

The Nera was more refined, lots of different notes to it, the patchouli was noticeable which I loved, and the vanilla I found calmed the other scents down, interesting add with the vanilla. I could smell the mandarin, and a few crept into my nose as well, but overall, stunning soap and easily a Tier 1 for me like the other three.

Going to use this soap for the next couple of shaves.

I always find the first time I use a soap, once it gets some water on it and some air, the soap really develops, and absolutely looking forward to using this one a few more times.

5 Stars for me on this one...worth every penny in my opinion.

Semper Fi for the Win!

Thanks for the call out on this one....