Obie, I always listen to you on creams/soaps and you are always right. Thank you for sharing this. You are the reason I bought my first tub of XPEC.
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Obie, I always listen to you on creams/soaps and you are always right. Thank you for sharing this. You are the reason I bought my first tub of XPEC.
Just remembered another that makes it to my top tier, and it is very inexpensive ... as if that has anything to do with it.
I buy the Palmolive Classic shave sticks and remill them into a bowl two at a time. It lathers up as good as anything I've found, and better that alot of them! I always look forward to using it!
Palmolive for Men Classic Shave Stick
Well, I went and did it ..
On the strength of Obie's recommendation, and due to the fact that this has intrigued me for so long, I went and bought the Czech & Speake Oxford and Cambridge Shave Soap in the aluminum bowl. A bit dear? Yes, but I read that the aluminum bowls were to be discontinued, and I wanted one. I'm getting on in years, and if I can't treat myself to an extravagance now, then when?In any case, this is my only soap purchase for the year, so it had better be a good one. Further, I am going to have to offload some products that are little used, or I just plain don't like, and I have no intention of using this until I have at least started to do just that!
So much hype swirls around soaps and creams that it becomes a real "crap shoot" just what to buy. I've been disappointed many times, particularly with artisan soaps that a user claims to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, only to find the performance lacking. Obie cut through all the hullabaloo with his first post, and his recommendations have always been on the mark in the past.
So, here's to the latest acquisition ..
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psjxhidhye.jpg
That tears it! I'm ordering one next paycheck! That is so cool!!!
Druid,
You won't regret Czech & Speak; it is really a fine soap with an exquisite fragrance. I have used it for several years, and I plan to use it into the next century. Good stuff.
I rate it just a touch above Tabac. They are fine soaps.
I like the C&S Lavender. It's not quite as nice as the Penhaligon's Sartorial but you can't go wrong with either.
Thanks you have given me some great new choices to look for, you da man
Hey Obie !
Can we add my Avon, "Who's Your Daddy" shave soap to the First Tier soap list??? :shrug:
Attachment 225854
Oh, I like that soap. I remember the Avon stuff. We will have to put the soap in its own distinct category: Memory Lane.
Thank Obie !! :D
Tier 1 Soap, very, very rare, actually is very much like Scottish Fine Shaving Soap, and comes in a fancy package as well...
Behold, vintage "The Kings Men Shave Bowl" Soap (threw a little Pinaud in there for you Hirlau!!;))
Attachment 225856
Attachment 225857
Hirlau and Phrank,
Thanks for submitting these photos. This gave me the idea of starting another thread that highlights Rare and Memorable shave soaps. This should be a fun thread.
Please go ahead and submit the posts and the photos of these unusual soaps in that thread. Thanks.
I love hearing from the Vet's help's rook's like me get better at our craft, keep it flowing.
Can't wait to see that thread, I will be on the lookout for that
Oh memory lane eh?
My Uncle Chester swore by Octagon Brown Soap to shave with. Personally I wouldn't shave a skunk with it but it's memory lane alright.
I'll bet Obie bathed in the stuff as a kid.
Wow! This thread took an unexpected turn.
As much as I too would probably consider Trumpers Violet a top tier cream, I would not use it on many consecutive shaves with light hair natural brushes. I fear the dark purple dye could permanently stain the hairs. The 'violet' scent alone is just about worth the price of admission for a tub just to unthread the lid and take a whiff. It lets me cut as close or closer as any product I've tried. The post shave feel leaves something to be desired but the scent just about makes up for that.
Obie, I don't see mention of Floris soaps and wondered if you had not tried this soap or rate it as tier 3. For me this would easily beat a number of your T2 soaps?
Has anyone used L'Occitanne Cade soap? Got it for X-mas and find it to be a superb performer. Super easy to lather, slick shave and nice scent.
thanks Obie I would agree, albeit high on my T2 list. After this change I can't fault your list :idea::idea:
I have about 60% of your T1 selection in my rotation and just added CF Lime and CS 88 in fancy aluminium bowl as I was on the fence and your post drove me to it. (At least that is what I will tell the boss if she finds out ) 😀 Now to add the other 5 I don't have. Will try get rid of the T2 soaps to make it less obvious
Yeah, been using it almost exclusively since X-mas and I can still see the printing stamped on top!
Also got their Vetyver EDT and it is a nice, soft scent. Comes on strong when first put on but fades to a nice background scent quickly.
Have a store near me, I'll have to stop in and sample the Cade AS.
I understand Obie not putting it the top tier, but at least for straight shavers maybe the line is not so sharp.
Cade, PdP, SdBB (Volcans) are in a class of hard white soaps that produce a lower volume yet super slick lather that's very appealing. They very much lather like I Coloniali Mango but all with simpler French fragrances.
Cheers, Steve
What about Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Great soap Top Tier
I like Saponificio Varesino, the entire line. I love the fragrance and the lather. The glide is good, too. Yet, I find something missing in the cushion. Not only that, but the face feel after the shave. Something is not happening with this soap — for me. That's why I have placed the entire line in the Second Tier. On the other hand, don't forget, this is only my opinion, the way I feel about these soaps and creams. You may think otherwise, and that's fine. No argument there.
I can go for that maybe a tweener, sometime I love it other it's ok, I do like Razorock a little more
I could never make L'occitane Cade soap work beyond adequate until I tried lathering it with a horsehair brush. I received it, with the cool stainless bowl, as a gift. Not a top tier for me but, it's fairly good considering the reasonable price of replacement pucks. I do enjoy it's light scent. I didn't finish the puck I had, so I'm using the lovely bowl as a sample soap container for now. :D
I ordered this soap at the same time as Le Pere Lucien soap and was surprised that it was overshadowed by Le Pere Lucien soap. It is nice with great packaging, but expected more based on the feedback from others. Obie, your list will dictate which soaps I buy next. I often read rave reviews about a soap and am disappointed when I try it. No disrespect to anyone's view but unless someone has tried a fair number of soaps, they may have a different perspective. As a result I have wasted money on T3 soaps and some of your T2's that don't work for me. Possibly that can be the next tip of the month, be selective of the the soaps out there and order some from Obie's T1 list when you first start out 😀. I think your list should be a sticky.
Obie not sure if you have tried any of the Gentlemans's Tonic creams but this is another soap that would be in the T1-2 range for me
Daro,
Le Pere Lucien is a remarkable soap. Of course, it will overshadow Saponificio Varesino. Le Pere Lucien, which share similarities with Martin de Candre, works for me in every possible way. There are some new scents. I'm particularly interested in trying the Lavender/Vetyver version. I have been using the original scent from the start a couple years ago. The Gentleman's Tonic Creams I have not tried.
Ok, where does Boellis Panama 1924 shave soap shake out in all this? I've been pondering the coffret version 'cause I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. :p
I love LPL, and MDC as well
Great T1 soaps, Saponificio Varesino is pretty good, I some dudes that swear by it, I actually gave mine to one those cats glad to someone else agrees.