Thread: Eight Artisan Cream Samples

Since I was down to maybe 5 years' worth of shaving soaps and creams, obviously it was time to order some more, right? Well, WestCoast Shaving is one of the few companies whose marketing e-mails work on me; I'm an easy mark for their sales.

So I recently ordered their Deux Artisan sampler of eight different creams, because I like to try all the different offerings I keep hearing about.

Each little container is supposed to contain about 1/2 tbsp., or 4 shaves' worth of cream, but I am getting more like 6-7. I'll post them below in the order I am trying them as I mash each sample into a shaving mug and try to stay on it for a week or so to get a good sense of its performance before moving on. I'll quote the ad from the WestCoast site followed by my own review. Then I'll bump the thread later as I go down the list if anybody's interested in how some of these do.

Stirling Soap Company Margaritas in the Arctic: "Stirling Soap Company Shave Soap, Margaritas in the Arctic - In keeping with long-standing traditions in soap making, Stirling has created a tallow-based soap with glycerin and lanolin, sure to produce a slick lubricant. Then a trio of moisturizing goodness is found in the almond oil, shea butter, and coconut milk. Two worlds collide in this scent as the tropics meet the arctic. The citrus lime scent of a classic margarita combined with the icy cold of menthol. Together they produce a scented soap that has people raving."
Many of you are familiar with this Stirling favorite. Yes, it does feel like you dunked your face into a bucket of ice-cold margaritas (but in a good way). It lathers up fairly well, and I love the cold lime and menthol face freeze, which happens to be nicely complemented by a homemade lime and menthol aftershave that I followed it up with. I'm not sure it is as thick and rich a cream as the Stirling Port Au Prince I tried last, or that it has the same level of slickness, cushion and glide. But that could have been me trying to dial in the water ratio. It's definitely worth a try if you like cold, citrusy creams, and it would make a great summer cream.

WhollyKaw Vegan Shaving Soap, Fougere Bouquet - "Their soaps make a conscious effort to eliminate any parabens, chemical sulfates, animal products, tallow, lanolin, and dyes. You get a cushiony, protective lather with incredible glide and consistency. Fougere Bouquet is a blend of fragrance and essential oils, the main notes are oakmoss, lavendar, and bergamot. But then there are secondary notes of sandalwood, cedar, and other woody tones. All of this is laid on a base of tonka bean, musk, and ambergris."
I can't describe this one any better than them-it's just a beautiful rich scent that reminds me a lot of Tabac. Though I have always thought in the past that soaps and creams containing animal fats (tallow, lanolin) were better performers, this one destroyed that theory. Honestly, it explodes into some of the richest, most luxurious lather I have ever experienced, and has cushion, slickness and glide for days. It leaves your face with a nice soothing and moisturizing feeling afterwards. One of the best creams I have ever used!

I'll try the ones below and post back. Summer is finally here and I'll have time to delve into each one.

[*]L.A. Shaving Soap Co. Vanilla / Eucalyptus / Mint Shaving Soap - Coconut oil and glycerin help to moisturize and protect the skin from the blade. This is an easy lathering soap so you can create a credible foam whether you are a wet shaving newbie or traditional shaving veteran. It is scented with only essential oils to provide a nice morning pick-me-up. The warmth and sweetness of vanilla contrasts nicely with the punch of eucalyptus and spearmint.
[*]Through the Fire Shaving Soap, Ember - This hot process soap has come "through the fire" to give you a soft, French-style soap ready to whip up into a dense froth of yogurt-like lather. With coconut oil and glycerin, you are assured of a smooth, moisturizing, protective shave. The fragrance of this soap is a warm sweet spicy scent; sandalwood, amber and musk are paired with nutmeg and coriander with a bright citrus and herb note as well.
[*]Barrister & Mann Latha Shaving Soap, Oceana - Wet shaving novice or long-time aficionado, this soap is for you. It is tallow-based and loaded with argan oil and shea butter for moisture and protection. It whips up into a creamy, dense, slick lather - and it does it easily. With Oceana, you get a clean, light aquatic scent that goes with anything. You can't go wrong with this bergamot, sandalwood, jasmine aroma.
[*]Chiseled Face Shaving Soap, Summer Storm - This grooming essential is tallow-based to give you an exceptionally close, hydrating shave. It is also loaded with other beneficial components: aloe vera, coconut oil, castor oil, glycerin, mango butter, avocado oil, and silk powder. Just like a June thunderstorm, this fragrance is loaded with moist earth, oak moss, cut grass, pine needles, orange, lemon, ozone, white jasmine, lily of the valley, geranium, and musk. Wow!
[*]Captain's Choice Shaving Soap, Bay Rum - Packed with vegetable glycerin and coconut oil, this grooming essential produces voluminous lather: rich, cushioning, creamy. And the lather lasts and lasts. . . Get the glide that you want for a close shave. This soap is scented with the same proprietary concentrate that is used in the popular Bay Rum aftershave that started it all. This authentic scent has notes of cinnamon and citrus, but no cloves.
[*]Catie's Bubbles Shaving Soap, Celtic Knot - This grooming requisite is made in the fashion of French shaving soaps. It loads quickly and easily whips up into a rich, dense, protective lather. Coconut oil and glycerin supply moisturizing and gliding for multiple passes of the blade. Like a walk in the green Irish byways where stone crosses dot the countryside, this soap emanates floral notes of lemon verbena, iris, and violet. Then it cuts the sweetness with a masculine base of sandalwood.

More later...SHD/Aaron

Thanks for the reviews; look forward to the others.

Excelllent reviews ! I too am a fan of samples, I probably have 30 or so around here. My method of using the samples is to use my simpson wee scott in a miniature tourist souvenir cup. I face lather so i really don't use a bowl much. It is very handy at getting into the small jar openings of the samples.

Update on the Wholly Kaw Fougere Bouquet described above: After seven shaves with this unbelievably luxurious "croap," I can't say enough good things about it. Just a few swirls on the sample produces gobs of thick, rich, lubricating lather with a heavenly scent and moisturizing for hours-I can't stop faceturbating hours after today's shave.

I try a lot of samples, and I don't remember any that gave me such smooth, gliding effortless shaves. This one honestly rises way above most others I have tried, and if I ever run out of the sample (which was supposed to be good for 4 shaves, but I believe I can get another 7 out of it easily!), this is one I will order the full size of. Highly recommended-let me know if any of you try it. Aaron

Update:[*]L.A. Shaving Soap Co. Vanilla / Eucalyptus / Mint Shaving Soap - Coconut oil and glycerin help to moisturize and protect the skin from the blade. This is an easy lathering soap so you can create a credible foam whether you are a wet shaving newbie or traditional shaving veteran. It is scented with only essential oils to provide a nice morning pick-me-up. The warmth and sweetness of vanilla contrasts nicely with the punch of eucalyptus and spearmint.

Having been blown away by the Wholly Kaw sample (and finally finishing it after probably 15 shaves!), I dove in eagerly on the LA offering above. It was rich and yielded an easy, moisturizing lather with little effort. The predominant scent is mint (I personally don't detect much vanilla or eucalyptus). It gives a smooth glide for an easy shave with nice post-shave moisturizing. It's a very good croap, close to great, but not something I would buy again with so many better products IMO. YMMV.