Thread: Calling all Canadians

Where do you guys purchase your shave soap? I tend to purchase most my soap on EBay.

I have read tons of reviews on artisian shave soap (I.e. Sterling, CB, Mikes, etc.) and would like to purchase them but it is so expensive to purchase online in Canada. It costs almost double what I would pay for a puck of D.R. Harris.

Also, do you guys have any recommendations for Canadian soap makers. I have tried "the first Canadian shave company" and loved it. I have seen reviews for the Calgary based company Midnight and Two but think $34 for 4 ounces to be high when I can pay $18 for a puck of D.R. Harris. Are there any decent artisian soap makers that sell shave soap for under $20?

I'm pretty much stuck on the old European soaps. My staple are things like Tabac, LaToja, Arko, Musgo, Spieck, they are all very good soaps at prices that cannot be beat. I have had a lot of very expensive artisan soaps that have all gotten kicked to the shower. As a result I have not tried First Canadian or Midnight and Two. They are both alleged to be nice slick soaps that are tough to lather. I did get gifted a ton of soap samples from the usual makers not that long ago. Some great soaps and some second tier soaps. I have never been a big fan of Harris soaps. I buy from Mens Essential, Fendrihan, and Italian Barber for the most part.

Well, it is not a soap but a darn nice shave cream in my estimate and locally available in Red Deer. Try some Maca Root shave cream from The Body Shop Store Locator | The Body Shop ® .

Half price sale happening now Search | The Body Shop ® .

Bob

Regarding First Canadian shave soaps. I have 2 and both produce a slick lather and are not particularly hard to lather iirc. The scent is on the mild side.

Bob

Henri et Victoria has some really nice soaps

https://henrietvictoria.com/collections/shaving-soap

Mike

Fendrihan is a good place to buy soap.

You are right, it can be pricey to purchase artisan soap.
Being an artisan soap maker can be a pricey business, and some charge accordingly. Others don't, or can't, and occasionally choose to close their doors. This is especially true in Canada.
The only Canadian shaving product I've tried is a cream by Crown Shaving. Good stuff. It will probably last me forever.
As for the where to buy, as mentioned above, there's Men Essentials, Fendrihan, Italian Barber. I also have dealt with Mark of a Gentleman and Classic Edge very successfully.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Fendrihan stocks a decent selection of first tier soaps. Klar seifen is one I particularly like.

I always buy from fendrihan. Since I live 45 mins away shipping is next day and free over $50. Top notch service and a decent selection. You also gain rewards points. I saved $25 the other day just for being a loyal customer.

Never tried the artisan soaps, seems like a crap shoot when you can easily obtain a fantastic commercially made product for much cheaper.

Fendrihan, Italian Barber and Shaving Style are three outfits I have purchased from myself. There is also classicedge, well and Gentlemans Blade off the top of my head, and if you lust for a Plisson Shaving brush, you can usually get them from Atkinson's in Vancouver.

As for Artisan made soaps, Google is your friend if none of the above Canadian sites have what you are looking for.

I also like shopping at SRD and QED in the US, but I've not ordered from them in a long while due to the current exchange rate.

I have not had much luck with Artisan soaps.... except for QED's previous version of glycerine soaps... no longer available unfortunately. I have not tried the new soaps from Charles at QED, as I have waaay too many soaps and creams as it is....

Greats soaps are worth every penny, bad ones aren't worth the time it takes to lather them up for a single shave, never mind the $$$.


Late Edit: A bit more far reaching perhaps, but The Gentlemens Shop in Hungerford England is another option, though he will no longer ship colognes to Canada... as our fearless Customs Officers threw themselves in front of these obviously hazardous goods to save us poor folk. Shipping from England to Canada is downright quick! There are also british outfits such as connaughtshaving whom just sent me some DE blades I wanted to try.