The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[GreenRipper]

That's an interesting point regarding DE razors versus straights.

So that may explain the Floris from a "user" POV, afterall, the traditional DE shavers, not even including those still using a Mach 5 or whatever, let alone vintage or vintage type DE, must outnumber straight razor users by a staggering margin.

So great comment, what I bolded just connected the dots for me, real or imagined....thanks.

Your realizations on how we compare, percentage-wise, to the DE and SE shavers is something that has been made pretty clear to me over the summer. First it was a shaving meet here in StL where I quickly realized that I was nearly the only straight shaver in attendance, outside the estimable Lynn Abrams of course. The fact has been brought home even by my Instagram feed, that is almost completely comprised of SotD pics. There are a few pictures of straight razors on any given day but the majority of posts are of DE's and SE's. Even shavette users seem to outnumber traditional straight shavers by a hair and I find myself getting annoyed when I see a post referencing "straight razors" only to show me a shavette.

How quickly I've become a shaving snob.

Part of SotD pics, for me, is trolling for new soaps. If something pops up often then I might look into the company and its offerings a bit deeper but I try to be cognizant of the fact that while DE shavers may love a certain soap we straight shavers may have a slightly different opinion.

[Phrank]

Your realizations on how we compare, percentage-wise, to the DE and SE shavers is something that has been made pretty clear to me over the summer. First it was a shaving meet here in StL where I quickly realized that I was nearly the only straight shaver in attendance, outside the estimable Lynn Abrams of course. The fact has been brought home even by my Instagram feed, that is almost completely comprised of SotD pics. There are a few pictures of straight razors on any given day but the majority of posts are of DE's and SE's. Even shavette users seem to outnumber traditional straight shavers by a hair and I find myself getting annoyed when I see a post referencing "straight razors" only to show me a shavette.

How quickly I've become a shaving snob.

Part of SotD pics, for me, is trolling for new soaps. If something pops up often then I might look into the company and its offerings a bit deeper but I try to be cognizant of the fact that while DE shavers may love a certain soap we straight shavers may have a slightly different opinion.

Ahhh...surfing the SOTD's for soaps, or as I refer to them, the gateway drug, to a wonderful smelling bathroom, a depleted PayPal account and a massive Shaving Soap Addiction Disorder....welcome to the club...

[BobH]

I do not make a lather that is different from the one I use shaving with a straight razor when I shave with a DE/SE. I want the same lather characteristics no matter what. A sharp blade is a sharp blade.

Bob

[Phrank]

I do not make a lather that is different from the one I use shaving with a straight razor when I shave with a DE/SE. I want the same lather characteristics no matter what. A sharp blade is a sharp blade.

Bob

Yes, that's what I would think, but it's the only rationale I can come up with for why Floris would take such a legendary soap and ruin it with their new modern equivalent.

Or, as I mentioned, I'm dreaming in colour, and it's just a crappy soap ruined, again, by those designing products with no idea of the end user in mind....meetings held, things discussed and agreed, no-one actually who has sat at the table and then used the product saying, "Peeps, great meetings, but the soap sucks, the fizz from a freshly opened can of Diet Coke has more cushion, glide and whipped cream like lather than this puck of shite!?!"

[BobH]

Probably just a crappy soap in it's present form.

Bob

[Obie]

Gentlemen,

I agree with my friend Bob about not distinguishing between the lather made for the straight razor and that for the safety razor. Good lather will work equally well for the straight and the safety razors.

[evnpar]

I do not make a lather that is different from the one I use shaving with a straight razor when I shave with a DE/SE. I want the same lather characteristics no matter what. A sharp blade is a sharp blade.

Bob

Yes, that would be ideal, but I have many Tier 2 & 3 soaps that I enjoy using because of their scent, although the lather is mediocre. I like to use soaps that are very slick with straights, and although slickness is to a large extent related to adequate hydration of the lather, I find that different soaps can vary in slickness. I can obtain a decent enough shave with soaps with average slickness when using a DE or SE, although I'd obtain a more comfortable shave with a straight when using soaps with excellent slickness. When I do want to use a Tier 2 or 3 soap with a straight, I can sometimes increase slickness by using Castle Forbes Pre Shave. An example would be Penhaligon's English Fern soap, a scent that I love and occasionally use, but even the vintage tallow formulation seems to produce a mediocre lather.

[BobH]

Yes, that would be ideal, but I have many Tier 2 & 3 soaps that I enjoy using because of their scent, although the lather is mediocre. I like to use soaps that are very slick with straights, and although slickness is to a large extent related to adequate hydration of the lather, I find that different soaps can vary in slickness. I can obtain a decent enough shave with soaps with average slickness when using a DE or SE, although I'd obtain a more comfortable shave with a straight when using soaps with excellent slickness. When I do want to use a Tier 2 or 3 soap with a straight, I can sometimes increase slickness by using Castle Forbes Pre Shave. An example would be Penhaligon's English Fern soap, a scent that I love and occasionally use, but even the vintage tallow formulation seems to produce a mediocre lather.

Appears I am not as fussy as you are with scent and slickness. Arko is perfectly fine for me with a straight razor and 4 pass shave and also serves well paired with a Gillette Fat Boy @9/Feather blade combo in a 4 pass shave. Could say the same with Tabac or MdC or many other soaps and creams. The shave is what counts and it must be smooth, comfortable/ no irritation and long lasting. As always everyone is different in what they require from a product.

Bob

[neehooya]

Gents,

I finally got to the DRH Windsor puck this morning, I liked the subtle scent and shaving properties however, I thought it lacked a little in cushion/density.
I wasn't able to whip up a frothy lather that I normally get from MdC, Baume.be, CF, or A.Gomez.
It could have been user error and I might have added too much aqua. I'm working here in CO with hard water and many of you reported that DRH is a thirsty puck. So maybe subconsciously I thought I needed to add more water than I typically do.

I promise to update you again after I experiment with the soap a little more.
Keep on shaving my friends!

[Leatherstockiings]

The Harris soaps are capable of creating a thick and dense lather. I find they require a little more finessing than creams/soaps like Castle Forbes and Tabac. I also face lather if that changes anything.