The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[mlucassr]

Interesting thought, but wouldn't you need tho take price into consideration, because while it's a great soap, some consider price a factor, while top tier would be your exceptional quality and go to soaps, and your 2nd tier would be very good still part of your rotation good quality and price, then there is just the
3rd tier just good.
I believe their are only 3 tiers, maybe 4 the basement.
I like that thought, I wonder
What Obie's thoughts are on that.

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[thebigspendur]

I wouldn't consider price as any arbiter of classification however I would be surprised to find a tier one soap on the cheap. The price goes with the quality. Of course if you find Xpec for ten bucks let me know first.

[mlucassr]

Well when look at Xpec, and MDC cost more than Castle Forbes, or Alvarez Gomez, or klar, price isn't in my consideration, but it might be in others I feel B&M is top tier, its at a good price point.
But if I find Xpec for 10 bucks I will buy as much or horde all of it and sell you a few tubs, that's a great deal.

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[Obie]

Gentlemen,

When forming these tiers, I considered four significant elements: the richness of lather, the quality of cushion, the proper slickness for the razor, and the aftershave elements. I tried not to include the scent, because that is far too arbitrary, relying heavily on personal preference. For instance, I abhor the bay rum fragrance. Many gentlemen love it. And so it goes.

Also, I kept the price out of the overall equation here. If I like the soap or cream, and if I have the funds, I will spend the money. Price is also another arbitrary and personal consideration here. I remember paying a great sum of money for my first Martin de Candre from France. After trying the soap, I knew it was worth it, but by then its price seemed insignificant.

La Cigale, an excellent and unpretentious French soap, is around $15 a tub. I love this soap, not because it is relatively inexpensive, but because it is an excellent soap, excellent in that it passes all my requirements with flying colors. It has a mild clean and soapy fragrance. I have grown to love Green Mountain, not because it is relatively inexpensive, but because it is a superb soap. Provence Sante is around $10 a puck. It has a pleasing floral fragrance, and it meets all my requirements to various degrees. Also, I mostly use Provence Sante Verlaine — named after one of my favorite French poets, Paul Verlaine.

The Tiers, then, do highlight soaps and creams in their distinct standing within the criteria I have noted. And, indeed, in my opinion — and this is only an opinion. I have used all the soaps and the creams referenced, and my thoughts and conclusions, again, are only my opinion. Your opinions might differ from mine and that is fine with me.

[BobH]

Yea, you can't take the ranking of soaps and creams into tiers too much to heart as there are so many variables and it is subjective. OTH it serves well enough as a guide considering there is nothing else better to take it's place.

Bob

[Johntoad57]

Couldn't you also say that it's ones own personal preference to what tier they place their own soaps? I know my face is quite different than a lot of people and I like some soaps that others may rate in the 5th tier. But these soaps really work on my skin and after all, it's all about me, right?

[Obie]

Couldn't you also say that it's ones own personal preference to what tier they place their own soaps? I know my face is quite different than a lot of people and I like some soaps that others may rate in the 5th tier. But these soaps really work on my skin and after all, it's all about me, right?

Right you are, John: personal preference is a major influence in traditional shaving products. What I have provided, as Bob aptly noted, is a guide — presented as my opinion. This is the way I see these soaps and creams. You may see them differently, which is perfectly fine with me.

[mlucassr]

Yes, totally agree with those thoughts, it's great to have a forum to discuss varying preferences and still come to an agreeable conclusion

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[Johntoad57]

I guess my greatest fear would be getting a soap that everyone rates as a top tier soap only to find that it's not meant for my skin (I have some weird skin). Being new to this I do want to try some of the top tier soaps, but I have to be very careful or I'll breakout and regret it. One time I couldn't shave for two weeks because my face broke out so bad. Had to see a dermatologist over that fiasco.

[mlucassr]

I understand that, everyone is different that's why Obie Mentioned that it was just a guide.
Sometimes you will have trial and error, maybe you can try to get samples of various soaps before you buy or check out the ingredients first to see what gives you a bad reaction, and what works well for you.
Always be cautious, you want to have a great shaving experience every time you shave not an adverse experience, you may find that it takes you longer to find a quality product that works for you.

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