The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[HopChugger]

Maybe this has been discussed in this very long thread somewhere else, but I was noticing in Obie's original, very solid list of 1st Tier soaps, there seems to be very little tallow involved. There's a little in here (C&S and D.R. H) but not much. Here's the original list...

Martin de Candre soap, Castle Forbes cream, Xpec cream, Le Pere Lucien soap, Czech & Speake's Oxford & Cambridge soap, Esbjerg cream, Baum.Be. cream, D.R. Harris soaps, Alvarez Gomez cream, Penhaligon's cream, Klar Seifen soap, PannaCrema Nuavia Blu.

I think this is interesting because after paring down my enormous soap collection into my best performers, there's not much tallow to be found either.

To be fair, I recently got a tallow soap from Regiment that is great and another from The Holy Black, so I'm in no way anti-tallow. Just an observation.

[Augustagj]

The only Tallow based soap I ever had was Orange Chill by Sterling Soap Company. I thought it performed very well. When I moved to seven total soaps / creams, it did not make the cut however.

[Phrank]

Maybe this has been discussed in this very long thread somewhere else, but I was noticing in Obie's original, very solid list of 1st Tier soaps, there seems to be very little tallow involved. There's a little in here (C&S and D.R. H) but not much. Here's the original list...

Martin de Candre soap, Castle Forbes cream, Xpec cream, Le Pere Lucien soap, Czech & Speake's Oxford & Cambridge soap, Esbjerg cream, Baum.Be. cream, D.R. Harris soaps, Alvarez Gomez cream, Penhaligon's cream, Klar Seifen soap, PannaCrema Nuavia Blu.

I think this is interesting because after paring down my enormous soap collection into my best performers, there's not much tallow to be found either.

To be fair, I recently got a tallow soap from Regiment that is great and another from The Holy Black, so I'm in no way anti-tallow. Just an observation.

I actually prefer tallow based soaps, I find they perform better usually...this list, somewhat amended is probably my top 5:

Martin de Candre soap, Castle Forbes cream, Czech & Speake's O&C / 88 soap, D.R. Harris hard soaps, Penhaligon's hard soaps, Klar Seifen soap, PannaCrema Nuavia's, and I'm a reconvert to MWF.

[ZipZop]

I actually prefer tallow based soaps, I find they perform better usually...this list, somewhat amended is probably my top 5:

Martin de Candre soap, Castle Forbes cream, Czech & Speake's O&C / 88 soap, D.R. Harris hard soaps, Penhaligon's hard soaps, Klar Seifen soap, PannaCrema Nuavia's, and I'm a reconvert to MWF.

Aloha!

I agree. I am more of a fan of Tallow soaps than I am of Glycerin. There are quite a few good artisan Tallow soaps I've enjoyed. Currently on a Stirling soap kick. I also enjoy their matching aftershaves. The Grapefruit Menthol that I got a few weeks ago has been amazing.

I'm ordering their Iced Pineapple with menthol soon. This is a seasonal soap an in short supply. Have to get it while it's available. Plus, as a part-time Hawaiian, there is probably a state law that I have to use Pineapple soap.

-Zip

[niftyshaving]

Regarding tallow...
Soaps are made by reacting an organic acid with a base (saponification).
The acid can be tallow or any of a massive list of oils and fats each with different results.
The differences in soap for shaving are subtle but important.

We want good skin care and feel, we want a lasting stable lather, we want
it to work with our water, we want our soap maker to get the chemistry correct.
Slightly alkaline can soften whiskers too much burns the skin.

Saponification Table and Characteristics of Oils in Soap

Some of us with crazy hard water might appreciate a coconut oil based bar soap like Kirk's. Some of us
need a great cleansing soap to sort out the grime of the day. All different...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap#Effects_of_fats

Some laundry bar soap can be very alkaline and harsh to the point that I need gloves.
Sadly olive oil based Aleppo soap from Syria may be in short supply (very harsh but interesting).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppo_soap

There are good but hard to find vegan shave soaps (no tallow).
There are good soaps without pork fats: kosher, hallal.

The adventurous can grate and mill together this and that making a blend. Perhaps...
10% Kirk's, 80% Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile, 5% Dove, 5% bar soap from Palmolive.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape, press, dry.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape, press, dry.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape and press. <--- I wonder if this is triple milled like.


What the Heck is Triple Milled Soap Anyway? And Why Should You Care? - Baudelaire

If we look hard at the label we can often discover the organic acid blend used in our favorite hard shaving soap.
Of interest one of my favorites depends in part on Lanolin that is not an organic acid but something different.

I know a soap maker and got schooled... Her shave soap is ideal for her husband and her young men.

Given the differences it pays to get sample or 'refill' pucks to try. The worst shaving soap I ever found was coaxed
into a marvelous lather with a pea size bit of Proraso so try that before tossing. Practice latherin... never toss.

Practicing has turned second rate into first rate once I found the secret.

[SemperFi]

Ordered some different software this past week while recovering from surgery (doing fine, back to using a straight, and getting a few new items to try was a nice way to pass time).

Tried out Le Pierre Lucien’s limited edition “Italian Barbershop,” and frankly it was disappointing. The lather wasn't particularly robust (loaded heavy to compensate for hard water) and once applied, it broke down rather quickly (it's a veg soap). Lubrication was lackluster and the scent was barely noticeable (in fairness here, I had sinus surgery years ago so I sometimes miss more subtle scents, which may be the case with this product). “Italian Barbershop” aftershave wasn't much better, after the alcohol scent gave way, I picked up the aftershave’s aroma briefly for about 1 min. before it faded, and the aftershave did not do much for a couple spots of chin razor burn (ended up using another product to calm those areas).

Overall, both “Italian Barbershop” products did not work for me and are not keepers.

Also tried Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” (great scent) and “Dark Limes” (a more bitter lime and earthy scent…jury is still out on the scent) pastes. Opinions on MT vary quite a bit, but for me, both pastes worked exceptionally well. For a veg product, I was surprised at how well it lathered—one of the best veg lathers I've had—and it was very water tolerant. Its lubrication was very good and its post shave properties were excellent. Night and day experience in comparison to the LPL above.

Overall, Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” and “Dark Limes” worked well for me; “Wild Oranges” is definitely a keeper and will see if the scent of “Dark Limes” grows on me.

[HopChugger]

I had sinus surgery years ago so I sometimes miss more subtle scents

I'm in the same boat here. I gave away my Razorock soaps because I could barely smell any of them despite the decent performance. And while I can smell Stirling's shaving soaps fine, their bath bars have almost zero scent to me. Among a few other companies. I need a BIG scent or I'm missing out.

[SemperFi]

HopChugger, I totally get where you're coming from...lol! One of the benefits of that surgery is that I also don't pick up some nasty smells that others detect!

[Phrank]

Ordered some different software this past week while recovering from surgery (doing fine, back to using a straight, and getting a few new items to try was a nice way to pass time).

Tried out La Pierre Lucien’s limited edition “Italian Barbershop,” and frankly it was disappointing. The lather wasn't particularly robust (loaded heavy to compensate for hard water) and once applied, it broke down rather quickly (it's a veg soap). Lubrication was lackluster and the scent was barely noticeable (in fairness here, I had sinus surgery years ago so I sometimes miss more subtle scents, which may be the case with this product). “Italian Barbershop” aftershave wasn't much better, after the alcohol scent gave way, I picked up the aftershave’s aroma briefly for about 1 min. before it faded, and the aftershave did not do much for a couple spots of chin razor burn (ended up using another product to calm those areas).

Overall, both “Italian Barbershop” products did not work for me and are not keepers.

Also tried Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” (great scent) and “Dark Limes” (a more bitter lime and earthy scent…jury is still out on the scent) pastes. Opinions on MT vary quite a bit, but for me, both pastes worked exceptionally well. For a veg product, I was surprised at how well it lathered—one of the best veg lathers I've had—and it was very water tolerant. Its lubrication was very good and its post shave properties were excellent. Night and day experience in comparison to the LPL above.

Overall, Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” and “Dark Limes” worked well for me; “Wild Oranges” is definitely a keeper and will see if the scent of “Dark Limes” grows on me.

Couldn't agree more, the LPL confounds me sometimes.

At first, the soap performed superbly, then suddenly just won't perform. Still to this day, I'll get a great shave using the product, and then it crashes and burns.

Even when I get a nice shave from the product, it seems by second pass it's drying out and not nearly as robust. Stuff has such potential.

In terms of the MB, I have three hard pucks of different flavours, it performs, but personally, more hype than hit for me.

Good to hear you're recovering, and remember, if it comes down to shaving stuff or medication, always go with the shaving stuff, pain is a state of mind, soaps and stuff complete us.....

[BobH]

Glad to hear others are having similar experiences with LPL. Think I'll chuck mine but save the tin.

Bob