The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[GreenRipper]

This afternoon the U.S. Postal Service delivered a beautiful bowl of D.R Harris & Co. soap in the Windsor scent. This will be my first foray into the rarefied air of Obie's first tier soaps. The is scent very pleasant but isn't quite what I thought it would be, of course I've only enjoyed it's fragrance outside the actual shave experience. I'm looking forward to putting brush to puck in the near future but first I need to finish experimenting with the fine Stirling samples my lovely bride gave me for my birthday.

[Obie]

GreenRipper,

The D. R. Harris soaps are good stuff. I particularly like their residual slickness. The Windsor has a lovely fragrance. Give it a little time; it will grow on you. D.R. Harris Arlington is my favorite in the lineup.

[GreenRipper]

Actually I really like the scent, it just wasn't what I expected. When I opened the box the fragrance immediately brought Fine American Blend to mind and it has been my "daily" soap for the last couple of months. Good news is that I can certainly mix the Windsor with my American Blend splash. The bad news, for D.R. Harris, is that I'm unlikely to drop nearly $45 on their AS since the Fine product seems so similar in fragrance.

[GreenRipper]

This morning I used the D.R. Harris for the first time and I will have to admit that there is certainly something to Obie's First Tier ratings. In all honesty, I questioned how much better these soaps could be than those in the second tier but I'm beginning to gain a bit of understanding.

First is that I don't feel that the D.R. Harris Windsor is a revolutionary experience, I can happily keep using the second tier soaps I love without asking myself why I'm "wasting" may time with them. Instead all but one of the attributes that separate this soap are more subtle in nature. I've used soaps with better cushion and better glide but the Harris offering seems to have a pretty good balance of both of these attributes.

Where the D.R. Harris, in the Windsor scent, stands out is in its ability to build a lather and its fragrance. I've seem the claims of soaps "exploding" with lather but this is the first time that I've actually experienced this phenomenon. This morning I grabbed my softest brush, the Cashmere synthetic, and expected to have to do some work to make the puck of D.R. Harris give up its lather. Instead I quickly found suds running down the side of the wooden bowl with fewer than a dozen laps completed. My first time touching this soap, on a morning when SWMBO was urging me to speed up my shaving routine, I built a good lather with very little effort.

I mentioned previously that the Windsor scent reminded me a bit of the Fine American Blend. This is true but after having actually used the D.R. Harris I can better describe the differences. While both soaps are similar the Windsor is more subtle and deeper in its complexity. I like it so much that I may have to eventually invest in bottle of the AS...sorry wallet.

I usually like to use a soap for a number of days before really forming a true opinion but in this case I felt the need to record my initial thoughts. That and admit that there certainly seems to be some real evidence to Obie's rankings (for those who haven't already figured that out).

[evnpar]

Floris No. 89 produced a very slick lather, certainly not robust.

The Floris Elite just arrived, so that will be on the shave menu tonight....

I know I'm going to pop back on the PannaCrema soaps soon...I want all three....

I don't care for the current Floris soap formulations. Now, if you can get your hands on some vintage Floris, that's a terrific soap. However, the No. 89 cream is excellent.

Many people love PannaCrema. I didn't care for the scents, and found the performance only mediocre, and ended up selling mine. The bowls are very attractive, however, but unfortunately there are no refills.

The best soap that I've ever used is the new tallow formulation of JabonMan Eufros. It's now in the number 1 spot of my top tier soaps. I can't imagine a better performing soap. Manuel's new Sandalwood scent, made with the real and expensive essential oils, is outstanding (I'm stocking up on it).

[Phrank]

I don't care for the current Floris soap formulations. Now, if you can get your hands on some vintage Floris, that's a terrific soap. However, the No. 89 cream is excellent.

Many people love PannaCrema. I didn't care for the scents, and found the performance only mediocre, and ended up selling mine. The bowls are very attractive, however, but unfortunately there are no refills.

The best soap that I've ever used is the new tallow formulation of JabonMan Eufros. It's now in the number 1 spot of my top tier soaps. I can't imagine a better performing soap. Manuel's new Sandalwood scent, made with the real and expensive essential oils, is outstanding (I'm stocking up on it).

I ordered what I thought was the white boxed old formulation of the 89 from Atkinson's in Vancouver, they sent the new formulation - do not care for it at all.

Have to try the creams I guess.

@GreenRipper - the DR Harris hard soaps are spectacular, I have them all, with Windsor being my favourite....top rated performer.

I love Penhaligon's English Fern, and of course a universal favourite, Penhaligon's Sartorial hard soaps, they are also a Top Tier manufacturer IMO.

[Blamo]

This morning I used the D.R. Harris for the first time and I will have to admit that there is certainly something to Obie's First Tier ratings. In all honesty, I questioned how much better these soaps could be than those in the second tier but I'm beginning to gain a bit of understanding.

First is that I don't feel that the D.R. Harris Windsor is a revolutionary experience, I can happily keep using the second tier soaps I love without asking myself why I'm "wasting" may time with them. Instead all but one of the attributes that separate this soap are more subtle in nature. I've used soaps with better cushion and better glide but the Harris offering seems to have a pretty good balance of both of these attributes.

Where the D.R. Harris, in the Windsor scent, stands out is in its ability to build a lather and its fragrance. I've seem the claims of soaps "exploding" with lather but this is the first time that I've actually experienced this phenomenon. This morning I grabbed my softest brush, the Cashmere synthetic, and expected to have to do some work to make the puck of D.R. Harris give up its lather. Instead I quickly found suds running down the side of the wooden bowl with fewer than a dozen laps completed. My first time touching this soap, on a morning when SWMBO was urging me to speed up my shaving routine, I built a good lather with very little effort.

I mentioned previously that the Windsor scent reminded me a bit of the Fine American Blend. This is true but after having actually used the D.R. Harris I can better describe the differences. While both soaps are similar the Windsor is more subtle and deeper in its complexity. I like it so much that I may have to eventually invest in bottle of the AS...sorry wallet.

I usually like to use a soap for a number of days before really forming a true opinion but in this case I felt the need to record my initial thoughts. That and admit that there certainly seems to be some real evidence to Obie's rankings (for those who haven't already figured that out).

Interesting...I really have not had any good experience with the Harris in regards to lather. I have only tried the Arlington but it was not until I ran it though a grater and re packed it was I able to get a decent lather. I also have found it gets a little sticky. Its one redeeming quality is the scent.

It's been awhile since I have looked at Obie's list but I remember feeling that the DR Harris was rated a little to high. Of course, there are a lot of people who rave about Harris so...to each their own.

[Phrank]

This morning I used the D.R. Harris for the first time and I will have to admit that there is certainly something to Obie's First Tier ratings. In all honesty, I questioned how much better these soaps could be than those in the second tier but I'm beginning to gain a bit of understanding.

First is that I don't feel that the D.R. Harris Windsor is a revolutionary experience, I can happily keep using the second tier soaps I love without asking myself why I'm "wasting" may time with them. Instead all but one of the attributes that separate this soap are more subtle in nature. I've used soaps with better cushion and better glide but the Harris offering seems to have a pretty good balance of both of these attributes.

Where the D.R. Harris, in the Windsor scent, stands out is in its ability to build a lather and its fragrance. I've seem the claims of soaps "exploding" with lather but this is the first time that I've actually experienced this phenomenon. This morning I grabbed my softest brush, the Cashmere synthetic, and expected to have to do some work to make the puck of D.R. Harris give up its lather. Instead I quickly found suds running down the side of the wooden bowl with fewer than a dozen laps completed. My first time touching this soap, on a morning when SWMBO was urging me to speed up my shaving routine, I built a good lather with very little effort.

I mentioned previously that the Windsor scent reminded me a bit of the Fine American Blend. This is true but after having actually used the D.R. Harris I can better describe the differences. While both soaps are similar the Windsor is more subtle and deeper in its complexity. I like it so much that I may have to eventually invest in bottle of the AS...sorry wallet.

I usually like to use a soap for a number of days before really forming a true opinion but in this case I felt the need to record my initial thoughts. That and admit that there certainly seems to be some real evidence to Obie's rankings (for those who haven't already figured that out).

I always said the Windsor reminded me of an English Gentlemens Club from the late 19th or early 20th century. It is reminiscent of The British Empire, and one feels like colonizing the world or going to a museum afterwards...it smells like old school "power"..... :-)

[Phrank]

Interesting...I really have not had any good experience with the Harris in regards to lather. I have only tried the Arlington but it was not until I ran it though a grater and re packed it was I able to get a decent lather. I also have found it gets a little sticky. Its one redeeming quality is the scent.

It's been awhile since I have looked at Obie's list but I remember feeling that the DR Harris was rated a little to high. Of course, there are a lot of people who rave about Harris so...to each their own.

Did you ever try putting a couple of tablespoons of really hot/boiling water on top of the puck for a few minutes before loading the brush?

Some soaps need a little encouragement, and proper loading is key. Usually I'll let the hot water soften the top of the puck, load for a good thirty seconds, then another drop or two of hot water on the puck, and load again until a get almost a paste on the brush, then into the hot scuttle that has a splash of hot water in it, and build the lather.

The scuttle is perfect for allowing the lather to blossom and release the scent. I was a face latherer for pretty much the first year, now, personally, scuttle is the only way to go, especially when you're using nice soaps, but that's just my preference.

Whatever floats yer boat....

[Blamo]

Yup...I tried really hot water on the puck, wetting it before a vigorous loading action with the brush all with so so results. Until I repacked it, for me, the only way to get enough lather for a three pass shave was to break out the pig brush.

I don't think I will be buying anymore Harris for awhile seeing as I have found a half dozen or so other soaps that I really like a lot better.