I think you can add Penhaligan to the list. This factory, Crichton (?) has ruined the reputation of many a good soap manufacturer. I will never buy any of the soaps in your post.
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Gentlemen,
Beluga makes an excellent point when referring to the D.R. Harris soaps. These are top notch. Arlington has been my friend for years. That's why we must be careful with lumping together "all British brand soaps" made in the same factory. In my experience, "many" are mediocre, whether made in the same factory or not. But not all. D.R. Harris is a good example. Of course, all this is my opinion on the British soaps that I have used. There are a lot more that I have not and obviously cannot judge their quality.
What's ironic is that a quality cream from a brand does not guarantee a quality soap counterpart. Go figure.
I must admit for having a soft spot for French soaps, though.
I'm a big fan of D. R. Harris soaps, too. They are quality products.
Two other British soaps I have not tried but are also well regarded: Mitchells Wool Fat and Czech & Speake.
I'm surprised some of the dud soaps previously mentioned have not been fixed. It seems like people have been complaining about them since I've been a member here.
I second the cheese grater solution. I used to get carpal tunnel syndrome mixing up the C&E but, after I put it through the grater and repacked it...nice fluffy effortless lather is the result.
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I just went back to MWF. The lanolin is an advantage for me, and the price is reasonable. Sometimes it is a little bit touchy, but use it and keep it moist and it is worth having.
Hi Beluga.
The choice of words is important indeed, as a non native speaker, I shoujd have writte: ... all the british brands soap THAT I TRIED personnally ...
Notice I began with: "it seems ..."
Now, for the Crabtree & Evelynn, I just received another one, West Indian Limes, packed in a plastic pot (and not the one wrapped in paper in a cardboard box). I managed to produce a lather that remains usable just long enough for two passes, not more. So I give it a 5/10
As far as Crabtree & Evelyn is concerned, I don't consider this company, which was established 1968 in the US, then sold to a Malaysian company and is now owned by Hong Kong based Nan Kai Corp, a British company, no matter how hard they try to create that impression.
The reason that you hear so little about Crabtree & Evelyn around here may be that their shaving products are just not that good, and your experience appears to confirm that.
If not Mitchell's Wool Fat soap, you might want to try one of the D. R. Harris shaving soaps one day to see that some (genuine) British shaving soaps can be very good.
B.
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