The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[Pithor]

Good show, Obie, finally!

As you seem to be a stickler for accuracy (or rather, a celebrator of rich, multifaceted linguistical beauty), I thought I would point out a product name spelling error:

Meißner Tremonia

Meissner would be acceptable spelling as well (although the proprietor's surname is Meißner).

Feel free to delete this to avoid clutter, I am not all that attached to my post count.

Regards,

Pieter

[Obie]

Pithor, my friend, thank you for pointing out the spelling error. I will correct it. I’m even surprised that I finished the editing yesterday. The grandchildren were here, three boisterous boys, invading my study, grabbing whatever they could, although I’ve put the fear of the Lord in them for trying to grab my fountain pens, and they stayed away from them. What a zoo it was.

[JOB15]

Updated List . . .

From time to time I update my list. Obviously I cannot keep up with all the soaps and creams coming out, especially from artisans, but I do the best I can.

I have moved to the First Tier Provence Sante and Institute Karite, two unpretentious shave soaps packed with shea butter. These are inexpensive soaps, especially Provence Sante, that are just as good as the great ones already in the First Tier.

Provence Sante Verlaine has been an especially favorite of mine for years. That it is named after the French poet Paul Verlaine does not hurt. I like the green tea version, too. As for Institute Karite, who can argue with 25% shave butter?

I removed I Coloniali, the Italian soap, from the list, because it is no longer made. Xpec has dropped to the Second Tier. The artisan made Shave Revolution is no longer made, so it went away. I have a small tube Wilkinson Sword on the way from English. We'll see where it ends up.

I totally agree with this. I thought that Institut Karite was so good that i went into business with them. I have not found a better soap yet ..But i'm searching hard

[Obie]

I totally agree with this. I thought that Institut Karite was so good that i went into business with them. I have not found a better soap yet ..But i'm searching hard

Yes, I do like these soaps quite a bit. Love the fragrance from Provence Sante Verlaine. It is floral and refreshing. I also think it is one of the best values I have found for the quality of the soap. You can’t go wrong with $10 from most vendors. Institute Karite is around $15 and still good value for the quality. The soap is about 25 percent shae butter.

[Obie]

I totally agree with this. I thought that Institut Karite was so good that i went into business with them. I have not found a better soap yet ..But i'm searching hard

Yes, I do like these soaps quite a bit. Love the fragrance from Provence Sante Verlaine. It is floral and refreshing. I also think it is one of the best values I have found for the quality of the soap. You can’t go wrong with $10 from most vendors. Institute Karite is around $15 and still good value for the quality. The soap is about 25 percent shae butter.

[dimab]

Obie, while you are refreshing your monumental list, may be you'd think of reconsidering Floris placement in it: their soap is currently in the second tier. Sure the scent and the slickness are superb, but the lather just dissipates in about 30 seconds - no matter what. Of the few dozens of soaps I currently have and use, this is the only one I feel it's absolutely impossible to achieve stable lather with. I'm not sure it deserves the second (or any) tier in your list. Of course the list is yours, so feel free to disregard and to erase my comment if you disagree with it.
Also, TAoS soap is currently in both the second and the third tiers - probably an overlook from when you moved it in between.

[JOB15]

Obie, while you are refreshing your monumental list, may be you'd think of reconsidering Floris placement in it: their soap is currently in the second tier. Sure the scent and the slickness are superb, but the lather just dissipates in about 30 seconds - no matter what. Of the few dozens of soaps I currently have and use, this is the only one I feel it's absolutely impossible to achieve stable lather with. I'm not sure it deserves the second (or any) tier in your list. Of course the list is yours, so feel free to disregard and to erase my comment if you disagree with it.
Also, TAoS soap is currently in both the second and the third tiers - probably an overlook from when you moved it in between.

Check out my shave video with Floris.. I get it working well.
Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ipNiVR9Gg&t=1s

[Obie]

Obie, while you are refreshing your monumental list, may be you'd think of reconsidering Floris placement in it: their soap is currently in the second tier. Sure the scent and the slickness are superb, but the lather just dissipates in about 30 seconds - no matter what. Of the few dozens of soaps I currently have and use, this is the only one I feel it's absolutely impossible to achieve stable lather with. I'm not sure it deserves the second (or any) tier in your list. Of course the list is yours, so feel free to disregard and to erase my comment if you disagree with it.
Also, TAoS soap is currently in both the second and the third tiers - probably an overlook from when you moved it in between.

Thanks for your thoughts. I have not used Floris for a while, but from what I recall, it did not lather well. I agree with you. I have moved Floris to the Third Tier. Taylor of Old Bond Street cream is in the First Tier and I don’t see it anywhere else. Taylor is a good cream without being pretentious. I especially like Jermyn Street.

[dimab]

To JOB15: Thanks (great work restoring this beautiful razor BTW), I'll try to bloom it much longer then I usually do. But my point still stands: soap that consistently under-performs unless you bloom it for 35(!) minutes does not belong in the second (or any) tier.

[dimab]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have not used Floris for a while, but from what I recall, it did not lather well. I agree with you. I have moved Floris to the Third Tier. Taylor of Old Bond Street cream is in the First Tier and I don’t see it anywhere else. Taylor is a good cream without being pretentious. I especially like Jermyn Street.

Sorry for the confusion: not Taylor's, but The Art of Shaving.