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I have been using a puck of TOBS Luxury Lime and found it to be a very good soap. It has a nice creamy lather and has good feel to it when shaving. However, it seems like it wants to dry out faster than, say, my MWF. I even make it a bit thinner but still it seems to dry out faster on my face. Has anybody else noticed this about ToBS?
In my (limited) experience, the soaps from London-based companies are vastly inferior to their creams. Either switch to a TOBS cream, or get an Italian-, French-, or German-made soap.
Well, This does give me even more desire to try a TOBS cream. I would like to try their almond or coconut. :) And since I like MWF a lot, I am a bit interested in Meissner Tremonia Strong & Scottish as it has lanolin in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by CZMark
That said, my results with the TOBS soap have been positive. I get good comfortable shaves with it and I do like how it performs. I just find it being a bit more dry than MWF if I spend too much time on one side of my face before going to the other side.
donaldjr,
For exceptional English soaps, try the D.R. Harris range, especially Arlington. Good stuff. You might like Czech & Speake soap. Also, the Taylor of Old Bond Street creams are good for the money. Castle Forbes and XPec exceptional creams from that part of the world.
You might also want to try some French soaps: Martin de Candre, Le Pere Lucien, Provence Sante, Institute Karite and La Cigale, among others.
For Austrian, try Esbjerg cream. Love this stuff.
For German soaps, Klar Seifen is exceptional. Tabac works well.
For Spanish soap, try Lea in the bowl.
For Italian, try Santa Maria Novella cream, Valobra soap and I Coloniali, among others.
There is an impressive among of fine soaps and creams to try.
Visit this link for more information: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html
Obie, I just got done reading your list of top tier creams and soaps. I am intrigued by the fact that DR Harris is a top tier with a second tier price. If I try a 4th soap, DR Harris is going to get a serious consideration with La Pere Lucien close behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Hehehe, my problem is I could get more soaps than I could possibly use! :D I shave every other day and with using the TOBS as well as a soap from Shaving Factory that, while cheap at $4 for a 50g puck, does rather well, my puck of MWF I got in October 2015 is not quite 20% consumed. Plus, I'd run out of room storing all my soaps, etc! :D
donaldjr,
Sooner or later, you will have enough soaps and creams to take you through the next century. Ah, but it's fun to try all the great soaps.
I do like the Harris soaps. Then there is Le Pere Lucien — great stuff.
Enjoy it all.
I am leaning towards either the Baume.be cream or the Esjberg creams for my next try. While I do not have a badger brush, I do have a Shaving Factory horsehair brush that is notably softer than my Omega 10049. I think that would be a better brush for creams than the Omega.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Anyway, like everything else, it's all trial and error. Today I got the best lather yet from my TOBS. It just likes more water and thus a slicker lather than I am used to with my MWF. I guess it's like driving two different manual transmissions, one with a light low-grabbing clutch and the other with a high-grabbing firm clutch. :)
Donald,
I would order both Baum.Be and Esbjerg. Even though they are worlds apart in fragrance, they are superb shave creams and worth the investment. I think, anyway.
Yes, I have had the same experience with different soaps too. If you stick with it you will eventually figure out how the soap likes to be lathered. Each soap is just a little or a lot different in how they like to be treated. They do have their individual personalities.Quote:
Originally Posted by donaldjr1969
You add to the issue if you use brushes with different types of knot material. For a boar, badger or synthetic knot brush I use each needs a slightly different technique too. They too have their individual personalities.
Bob
Every post on this thread is spot on. Dr Harris soap puck Arlington or Windsor. Amazing. Tobs definitely go with a cream. I also tried tobs soap with little to be impressed about. The creams from them on the other hand are great. Truly enjoy st James an Eton college. Always use the matching aftershave too. Good luck.
I have both TOBS and DR Harris soaps and TOBS is everybit the performer that DR Harris is (or alteast close to it )IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by RollinCoal69
Today tried my first TOBS soap -- sandalwood -- and am very impressed! Lathered really easily, didn't seem to dry out, smells great.
If ur interested in TOBS cream but not sure on scent I'd say buy the 2 dollar samples on Taylor of Old Bond Street Samples | Maggard Razors - Straight Razor Restoration, Custom Scales and Wet Shaving Products My favorites are sandalwood, peppermint and grapefruit.
My first try with TOBS cream (Sandalwood) produced lots of lather but dried out too quickly and wasn't slick enough for my straight razor shaves. Then I changed technique - I face lather, going on fairly dry, and slowly add water by dipping the brush. With a bit of patience it reaches a perfect point where it is slick and long lasting, and I love the stuff. My first few tries with MWF were disappointing. Then I let it bloom for at least 5 minutes and found it works great. So, I've learned that there is a learning curve to any particular soap or cream. That said, some are obviously limited; I've tried and given up on a few of the low end glycerine soaps and given up on them.