Thread: Sampson's All-Natural Shaving Soap

First – Let me state that I hold Obies “First Tier Soaps and Creams” to be gospel that all others are graded by. I have made a spread sheet from the list that can be searched alphabetically, by tier rating and is color coated. I have the up-most respect for the man and his options. I have been on this forum site for a very short time but it seem to me that his option is held in high regards by a lot of the community. This may have something to do with his chosen profession as a writer. I digress, this is not about Obie.

Second – I have been wet shaving for about four or five years now. I have just started shaving with a straight razor at the end of January. From this site and a few others I have learned quite a bit about wet shaving. For this thread, I have learned that I am not getting the most out of my soap and the proper technique of getting a good lather.

Third - Unfortunately I found this site after I bought my first razor in a set that included a strop for newbies, a synthetic brush and a can of Blades Grim Shaving Soap in their Smolder scent. The first month of my new found addiction was all about razors. I now have seven razors in my collection. Why, oh why did I choose the red pill? The second month has been about soaps and trying to reach that creamy lather that has been missing in my life. I have achieved what I would consider a good lather now twice. The first with the Blades Grim Soap. I will not tell you about that as there is already reviews of the soap on this forum. The second with Sampson’s All Natural Shaving Soap.

After doing a LITTLE bit of research I ordered the Sampson’s from TSS for its ease of lather. I ordered it at the end of last week and it arrived in my mail box on Monday. It has what I thought of as a bit of a clove smell. Now I am not that good at telling what smells are. I can’t tell you soap “A” has a woodsy smell or that soap “B” has notes of cognac. That is all above me. What I know is, the smell of a wood fire verse a pile of leaves verses someone burning trash. I also have a fund memory of my wife’s wet hair from when we were first dating.

Wednesday morning was the first time I got to use the new soap. I bowl lather and after just a few minutes of whipping up the soap in my dish it came to a very thick lather that was very dense in my synthetic brush. With a few drops more of water I was able to build even more lovely thick lather. When I put the brush to my face it was what I would compare to drywall mud or Cool Whip. I believe I achieved lather heaven. I was able to do three passes with the lather in the bowl without having to go back to the soap to try and make more. It was very slicky on the razor. And yes slicky is a word in my vocabulary.

I did two passes on the straight razor and a finishing pass with a DE. I had less skin irritation then with the other soaps I have used. This could be accounted to the lack lather from others. The smell was not over powering, though it stayed with me all day even after using Thayers Witch Hazel. When I thought it had finally wear off I would get another slight whiff of the soap. It should be noted at this point that I come from a medical background and do not wear smelly stuff. No cologne. No aftershave. It was all looked down upon in the hospital setting.

Now I have some Klar’s Original scent soap on the way from Germany. I can’t wait till that gets in as that is one of Obies First Tier Soaps. I am also getting some Art of Shaving Cream, Ocean Kelp scent for Father Day from my son.

Please let me know if my tastes are still in Obies basement tier or there others that have tried Sampson’s and liked it. I know a picture is worth a thousand word but I have already talked enough. I did not think about taking any pictures as I did not know until after that I would be writing this.

I found the soap quite acceptable and yes easy to lather. I tried their aftershave balm as well. I have a love/hate relationship with the balm.

I'll start with the hate: It left me with an oily feeling for most the day (can't stand the feeling of anything touching me especially my face...except the wife or dogs of course).

The LOVE: I do enjoy the scent quite a bit. I found myself sniffing my fingers for the aroma! Even more important I found it aided in healing nicks and cuts. Like having Bacitracin in a awesome sent.

I would recommend at least trying a sample of each.
Jer