The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[MikeB52]

You are right phrank. Very similar scents. Did a comparison side by side as I still have some Nomad on hand. Close enough I can live with the Nomad being phased out. Soap is still made in the U.K. and still has nice slickness and lather for my needs.
Top tier? neither in price, or performance. But a good soap with, to me, a very enjoyable scent. Put it in tier 2 personally, like tabac in many ways. Will have a home in my shave cave.
YMMV.
Cheers.

[BobH]

I have had both those too and found the scent to be very similar also. It is a great scent to my nose anyway. Unfortunately the Moroccan Myrrh did not lather worth a damn. I subsequently found out that C&E reformulated their hard puck soaps and not for the better. I also found out that C&E reformulated the hard soaps yet again and that brought the performance back. Hopefully there is not any of the poor performing version in the supply change now. Apparently the C&E shave creams never suffered the same problem after the name change. A google should get you more info on the various C&E hard puck reformulations.

Bob

[evnpar]

Good to know Bob, as I must have the formulations that don't lather well.

[Gasman]

Broke out the Mama Bear Samples again today. For a glyserin soap it sure puts out a nice lather. Slick with a little cussion and the "aftee the shave" skin feel is nice. Not too conditioned or greasy or dry/pinched feel.
I need to quit playing with my two samples and just order a few. Maybe i will put them on the christmas wish list for the wife.

[Maryland998]

Mama Bear Soaps were my first foray into SAD.
Still trying to use up all the ones I bought. But somehow keep adding new brands to the collection.
But my favorite non tallow soaps are still Mama's. My $.02 Ken

[Phrank]

So first use of SueZBana Aloe Vera and Lavender shaving cream.



This is a croap, rather than a cream, and as soon as I opened the tin, that familiar smell of MdC Original hit my nostrils - beautiful lavender scent, fantastic on the nose, a wonderful, wide and deep scent.

Little scoop in a hot scuttle, and a virtual lather bomb ensued, thick, rich and creamy, fantastic soap, and was an absolute joy to use.

After the initial use, I'd rate this on-par, or above the Oleo soaps, here it's a matter of opinion, but it is a great performer, and if you're a soap junkie, this is a gotta have. Very well priced as well below 10 pounds, 12 pounds for the Lavender.

I ordered all but the Mint, and if the rest are as good, this UK producer should have a good run.

I'll review the others, the Suezbana Moringa & Citrus Shaving Cream is up next, and it smells awesome......

[Obie]

Mama Bear Soaps were my first foray into SAD.
Still trying to use up all the ones I bought. But somehow keep adding new brands to the collection.
But my favorite non tallow soaps are still Mama's. My $.02 Ken

Mama Bear soaps are made in northern Wisconsin, about 200 miles from where I live in Milwaukee. I was thinking of driving up there this summer, but my knee operation got in the way. Perhaps next summer.

Some years ago, I interviewed owner Sue Clark and wrote an article about her. A sweet lady. Her soaps are some of the best artisan products made. Barbershop was the one scent I really liked. Soft and subtle. It's been a while since I've used Mama Bear soaps. Probably time to order some. Good stuff, Mama Bear.

Here is the link to the article:

https://shepherdexpress.com/arts-and...ing-mama-bear/

[markbignosekelly]

I got some Czech & Speake 88 last week and have used it for a few shaves. Unfortunately I think it's very poor. First the fragrance is pretty much non existent and smells nothing like the cologne. Then there's the performance, it felt very slick whilst palm lathering and has a thick, bubbleless consistency but just didn't give the shave I was expecting. I know many rate this soap highly but I was very disappointed, I think I read that Phrank had the same issues. So all in all glad I didn't dump up the cash for the aluminum dish.

[Phrank]

I got some Czech & Speake 88 last week and have used it for a few shaves. Unfortunately I think it's very poor. First the fragrance is pretty much non existent and smells nothing like the cologne. Then there's the performance, it felt very slick whilst palm lathering and has a thick, bubbleless consistency but just didn't give the shave I was expecting. I know many rate this soap highly but I was very disappointed, I think I read that Phrank had the same issues. So all in all glad I didn't dump up the cash for the aluminum dish.

At first I did, was very disappointed.

But gave it a few more tries, basically heavily loaded the brush, tiny bit of water to start, took a while to get it right, but once I hit it, yea, it's a pretty spectacular soap IMO.

Thought it was a bit waxy, but it was just my brew routine, once I got the ratio's right, it is one of the nicest soaps out there IMO....one I will definitely replace when this puck it done.

Give a few more tries.....:-)

[markbignosekelly]

At first I did, was very disappointed.

But gave it a few more tries, basically heavily loaded the brush, tiny bit of water to start, took a while to get it right, but once I hit it, yea, it's a pretty spectacular soap IMO.

Thought it was a bit waxy, but it was just my brew routine, once I got the ratio's right, it is one of the nicest soaps out there IMO....one I will definitely replace when this puck it done.

Give a few more tries.....:-)

Cheers for that, I'll try again but will load for a minute or so. I only used 3 times and loaded for about 30 secs so maybe I haven't given it enough time....