I've been playing with the artisan soaps as of late and I have some I really like, in no particular order.
- Stirling - I'm a big fan of Stirling and its owners. The soaps are great, assuming that you like tallow soaps, and with the wide variety of spot-on fragrances almost anyone should be able to find one they like. If I have one "complaint" its that some scents (or perhaps batches) seem to lather better than others but I haven't been able to complain about any of my experiences. My favorite scents are Gin & Tonic as well as Margaritas in the Arctic but there are quite a few more that I want to try.
- Dr. Jon's - I've only used the Anne Bonny at this point but it was a good quality soap that built a very respectable lather. While I personally enjoyed their take on bay rum I learned that my wife isn't a fan of the scent at all so it was left on the adoption table at a meet. I'm not rushing out to buy another Dr. Jon's offering but they're certain to get more of my business in the future.
- Sudsy Soapery - This one is pretty under-the-radar but they're a local outfit and I bought this at the St. Louis Wet Shavers' Meet back in June because I fell in love with the Delor de Treget scent (this was an limited run, collaboration soap with Chatillon Lux). I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised that this soap lathered so well and I've added tubs of their Twice Mint as well as the Peppermint & Lavender to my collection. The later is an interesting combination that is both invigorating and soothing at the same time, a favorite choice when I opt for a bedtime shave.
- Fine Accoutrements - I bought pucks of Fine's American Blend and Snake Bite last winter and I couldn't be more pleased with their products. These soaps lather almost as well as D.R. Harris, in my opinion, and are a pleasure to use. I will include this one with the caveat that it may not be an "American" soap in that I believe that these pucks are actually produced in the Netherlands under contract to Fine Accoutrements. Whatever the case, the price is right and the soap is triple-milled goodness that builds a fine lather. That reminds me...I'm due for another puck of American Blend.
On the topic of Catie's Bubbles I'm going to dissent. I bought a tub of the limited run Tactical Support sometime back and I like it, the scent is novel and somehow the notes of gunpowder, solvent and oil are more pleasing in a soap than you might imagine. The same day I ditched Anne Bonny I replaced her with a tub of Le Piment de la Vie from the same adoption table. This one appealed to me as I gave it a sniff but is just too sweet for me to shave with. All-in-all I just don't build a great lather with Catie's Bubbles, I wouldn't steer anyone away from it but it certainly isn't anywhere near the performer that my other soaps are.