The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[Obie]

I got some Czech & Speake 88 last week and have used it for a few shaves. Unfortunately I think it's very poor. First the fragrance is pretty much non existent and smells nothing like the cologne. Then there's the performance, it felt very slick whilst palm lathering and has a thick, bubbleless consistency but just didn't give the shave I was expecting. I know many rate this soap highly but I was very disappointed, I think I read that Phrank had the same issues. So all in all glad I didn't dump up the cash for the aluminum dish.

I am surprised this did not work for you. I think it is an exceptionally good soap all around. The 88 scent has received some negative reviews in time, from what I have read, but the Oxford and Cambridge scent, which I have, is well liked.

Indeed, give your brush a medium squeeze, leaving it damp, and load with soap heavily. You should be able to create copious lather. This soap is good stuff. Have patience with it.

[evnpar]

I rate Czech & Speake about as high as it can get. I do find that it's much easier to develop the lather if I place a few drops of warm water on the puck before getting into the shower, then incorporate that water into my brush when lathering. The scent of No. 88 is a rose oud, and tends to be loved by those who love oud, but disliked by those who don't care for it. C&S soaps are made by Valobra, who also made the highly regarded AOS tallow soaps. I also like Valobra soaps, although I find C&S soaps to perform slightly better, although it could be in my head and related to my preference for No. 88 and O&C scents.

[markbignosekelly]

Yep tried a few drops of warm water on the puck then shower, I always treat soaps the same. I really like the cologne but the soap smells nothing like it. Will give it another go. To be fair I never gave it much chance after the disappointing fragrance.

[Paulbuck]

Yep tried a few drops of warm water on the puck then shower, I always treat soaps the same. I really like the cologne but the soap smells nothing like it. Will give it another go. To be fair I never gave it much chance after the disappointing fragrance.

I too was so turned off by the scent from the 88 that I didn't really give it much of a chance at first. But I grudgingly had to admit the lather was excellent and left a great post-shave feel. I load it well and, like all the hard pucks I use, it responds well to putting a little water on it for a bit.
I now also enjoy the Oxford and Cambridge scent and have gotten to tolerate the No 88 scent. I won't replace the 88 when gone though.

[evnpar]

I too was so turned off by the scent from the 88 that I didn't really give it much of a chance at first. But I grudgingly had to admit the lather was excellent and left a great post-shave feel. I load it well and, like all the hard pucks I use, it responds well to putting a little water on it for a bit.
I now also enjoy the Oxford and Cambridge scent and have gotten to tolerate the No 88 scent. I won't replace the 88 when gone though.

I don't know what to make of your issue with the scent. I'm on my third puck and have gone through two bottles of A/S and I'm nearing the end of my first bottle of No. 88 EdT, and to my nose they smell the same. I haven't purchased a refill puck for a couple of years, and I'm hoping that the formulation hasn't changed, in scent or the soap itself. I'm hoping that the scent you like will blossom once you get more into the core of the puck.

[SemperFi]

Both my of C&S pucks took some time to both break and dial in before I began getting excellent performance from the soaps. As others mentioned, sprinkling a few drops of water on the pucks and letting it sit for a bit definitely helps with C&S.

From other comments I've read about No. 88, it's kind of all or not with liking the scent. I like it, but I have found my puck is less potent (strong) than the AS or EdT. It took me several goes to enjoy the more earthy tones of Oxford & Cambridge but now it's a fav (puck is more earthy to my nose than the AS or EdT). Overall, I really like the full lineup of both.

Mark, hope it works out for you but sometimes a scent or performance that others love just doesn't work out--I've gone through a few that just didn't work for me.

[nessmuck]

I pour hot water over my puck of soap...and leave it under water,until I get out of the shower.

[Obie]

Gentlemen,
I came across a Swedish made shave soap on Connaught Shaving called Noberu. It's the first time I've heard about it. Has anyone tried it? https://connaughtshaving.com/nosb.html

[Badgister]

Obie, the packaging says for Noble gentleman only. You must provide proof of your lineage to Ashurbanipal first.

[Obie]

Obie, the packaging says for Noble gentleman only. You must provide proof of your lineage to Ashurbanipal first.

Noble gentleman: yours truly, indeed. And did you say Ashurbanipal? My hero. Ashurbanipal was the intellectual warrior king, the artist leader, and the last of the great Assyrian kings.

Of course, I have lineage to him, or he to me. I was named after king Ashur-Ubalit I, who ruled Assyria around 1300 B.C. Ashurbanipal came much later. So you see.

So I would not mind trying the soap, as I have never used soap made in Sweden. On the other hand, I might have to wait on that, since the order for Martin de Candre wiped me out.