Ok everyone,
What is the best "luxury" soap.
The one that smells "manly" and feels silky and creamy.
Oh and another question. Does it matter if you have great soap and a Walmart bowl and brush?
What should I be looking for?
Thanks,
Jamie
Printable View
Ok everyone,
What is the best "luxury" soap.
The one that smells "manly" and feels silky and creamy.
Oh and another question. Does it matter if you have great soap and a Walmart bowl and brush?
What should I be looking for?
Thanks,
Jamie
Hi Jamie
Check out this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html
Martin de Candre is generally considered king of all soaps. Its not cheap upfront but one jar will roughly give you two years worth of everyday shaving. The Fogure or Vetiver would be considered manly.
Tabac also ranks as a great cheap soap and is definitely a man's man fragrance.
Most brushes will perform well enough. I've used brushes from both end of the spectrum and all do what they are supposed to do.
Scent is a personnal thing. Remember that the scent of the soap is enjoyed by you alone while you shave. As far as the best soap on the market, read that link given. MDC is the top if you ask me but there are some soaps thar are creams that are very nice as well. A few artisans are making quality soaps now too. Id say try out a few of the first tier soaps on Obies list to learn what a good soap is about. Then after youve learned that, then try others. But scent is what you like. Its not something others will be enjoying as a scent on you. A.S. is what others will smell.
BTW, welcome to SRP. The best place on the web to learn this thing we call a hobby.
You have been given some excellent advice already so not much to add there from me.
I am curious as to why you are asking about the best luxury soap though. Are you not getting a good lather with the soap you are now using and what soap are you using? The reason I am asking is that I have had perfectly good lathers from soaps/creams ranging from inexpensive to expensive luxury ones. The difference in performance is not as huge as I would have thought in that range considering the price differences but there is a difference. OTH some soap/creams are just terrible but not all that many fall into that category.
Bob
Although getting reviews from others on soap performance is useful, you might not agree when you try the product. Soap is a very personal thing. Your preference for what constitutes a great, manlly scent will differ from mine.
Also, soap performance depends a lot on your water quality, your shaving brush and your lathering technique. What you want is to produce a lather that is very slick and also very protective. Some products achieve one, but not the other.
I have purchased some soaps based on glowing reviews. Some I love. I love the performance of some, but are turned off by the scent. I love the scent on some, but do not get great performance.
The terms "luxury" and "deluxe" are strictly a marketing ploy with no real meaning, so do not think that a product labeled as such is guaranteed to be good.
In a niche marketplace such as wet shaving and with forums such as this one to provide multiple reviews of products, you will frequently find that price and quality are usually well correlated. Martin de Candre could not charge their high price if their product were not excellent. Likewise, there is a reason that canned shaving foam sells for less than $2 at your local store. That being said, there are lot of quality soaps and creams that can be purchased for $10 - 20.
If you can afford to do so, I suggest you purchase several and see which works best for you. Once you find a product you like, read the ingredient list and see what is in the product. Then look for other products with similar ingredients.
As far as a brush is concerned, there are several types. For a newcomer, I would suggest getting a good synthetic brush. They usually are soft, yet have enough backbone to lather hard soaps. They often can be purchased somewhere between $15-30. I would not suggest purchasing a cheap badger brush from you local discount store; I made that mistake.
Probably Castle Forbes is the equal of MDC however read over the thread on top tier soaps and there are many to choose from.
The manliest soap I’ve used is from Henri Et Victoria called Duc de Santal. I can’t get enough of the smell even after using the asftershave balm.
I'm one for investigating stuff, and this is what Henri Et Victoria have to say about Duc de Santal.Quote:
Originally Posted by lslick23
Fendrihan has it (here in the US) for 20% less.
Martin de Candre and it's so good it will turn any brush into a star performer too.
I love Colleens soaps at the Gentlemans quarter, handcrafted with the right blend of fragrances. If you haven't tried any of hers I highly recommend it. I love the oak and moss as well as her highlander and bay rum. Its not the "usual" stuff. Definitely a step up in fragrance, latherabilty and glide.
I agree on Castle Forbes and MdC. Pure excellent...
Sounds like your using Van den Hagen....not bad!
If u want something with manly scents, check into "Fine Accoutrements". They have matching after shave, for their soaps.
They lather easy with any brush I've used, good cushion and glide, for under $20 YMMV
If you don’t mind using a shaving stick La Tojo hits all those buttons to me.
I can second both Fine Accoutrements and Herni et Victoria, as I've personally used them both. The Fine products may be some of the most underrated but ubiquitous soaps around and the Henri et Victoria is currently at the top of my list when it comes to performance (I have not tried MdC or several of Obie's tops yet, sample size is important).
The one caution I'll pass along with Henri et Victoria is that it may cause issues for those with sensitive skin. The La Poire Francaise is an absolutely delightful scent in my opinion but it has caused some issues for me in regards to burn. During my first use it wasn't all that noticeable but I've had some pretty major issues with subsequent shaves. I've also had some issues with an old favorite so I've been experimenting with some routine changes and it will be interesting to see how things transpire when I try my changes with the French Pear.
Great lead-- just looked at their shaving soaps and they have what sound like some great and unusual scents. They also offer 1 oz and 3 oz pucks. Definitely want to try some.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Islick23 I bought some of that Duc de Santal after you talked about it on a different thread. I like it !Quote:
Originally Posted by lslick23
Czech and Speake Oxford and Cambridge
Floris 89 (hey, James Bond used the fragrance)
Penhaligons Blenheim Bouquet (also Endymion and Sartorial are very nice)
Cheers, Steve
George F. Trumper Glycerin shave soaps are awesome I prefer the almond scent. It’s a manly but mild scent. The soaps come is Re- fillable wooden bowls. It’s is available at Straight Razor Designs. I’ve been using this soap about 20 years
Personally, I use mild soaps, many do not even suspect what is what are mild soaps.
Personally, I use mild soaps, many do not even suspect what is what are mild soaps. The most popular element of hydration is glycerin. Soap with its content is softer than ordinary. Very often it looks light-transmitting or translucent from the outside. But consumers are obliged to know that such soap, produced industrially, does not always have great quality. Glycerin is considered a very capricious and unreliable substance. Crystal light transmission in such conditions can be achieved only by adding alcohol. The soap I use is made from real products.
Quote Originally Posted by lslick23
The manliest soap I’ve used is from Henri Et Victoria called Duc de Santal. I can’t get enough of the smell even after using the asftershave balm.
I have Duc De Santal too, one of my favourites and subtle enough that the wife doesn't get all stuffed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlienEdge
I also have Cognac and Cuban Cigars as well as the Pear by Henri et Victoria and they're both excellent as well.
I'm not sure what you are trying to say here.Quote:
Originally Posted by MirviNemis
What makes a soap mild is whether or not an individual has an allergic or other reaction to the product or it's contents.
There is nothing wrong with Glycerin. Many soaps have it and many like it. It gives the soap good qualities at a good price.
Yes there are soaps with "all natural" products. Some are terrible from a shaving standpoint and some are great like the Sebum line of products.
A few years back i was directed to the Henry et Victoria shave soaps and the first one i tried was the "Cognac & Cuban Cigar",. is sent samples to a few here on the forum and the reviews were so good i became a sales rep for the company. Since then I've compared the line to other first tier shave soaps and still to this day I'm still sold on the HyV line. Canadian too 'eh.Quote:
Originally Posted by STF
I think the first batch of Cognac and Cuban Cigars caused irritation to some folks with sensitive skin. That was fixed in later releases. I still have some of that first batch and enjoy every shave with it. I also have Duc de Santal. Both are very good shaving soaps, but I wouldn't put them up on the same tier as MdC.
I had what must have been one of the first batch Cognac and Cuban Cigars. It did irritate my face and I do not have sensitive skin as I do 4 pass shaves. Nice scent but I have never bothered to order any more Henry et Victoria shave soaps.Quote:
Originally Posted by DZEC
Bob
I didn't have any of the first Henry et Victoria soaps but the ones i have don't give me any trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
I always have four pass shaves too, even with a 1k if i want to test my bevel. Mind you I do have skin like a rhino.
Exactly, I don't have sensitive skin so the soap has to be the blame. Others on here at the time had the same thing happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by STF
Once burned twice shy. There are just too many good shave shave soaps and creams out there that do the job with no fuss or muss and do not cost an arm and a leg. Personally, I gave up on artisan shave soaps and creams.
Bob
Gentlemen,
Indeed, we’re fortunate to have a big choice of shaving soaps and creams. Martin de Candre and Castle Forbes are my ultimate shave soap and cream respectively. With respect to my dear Canadian friends, I tried Henry et Victoria some years back and the bloody thing fried my Hollywood face. OY! Is that still in production?
I had the same experienceQuote:
Originally Posted by Obie
The problem Obie, is you have a Hollywood Face. Now, if you had a Broadway Face like me a blowtorch wouldn't offend at all.
I'd add Meisner Tremonia to your two for the ultimate. It's just a bear to get.
Yes Obie, still in production and still one of the most popular shave soaps around.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
I have been out of the loop for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raol
My dear Spender,Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Hollywood for me. I have loved movies all my life. I would have liked being in the movies. With my striking looks, I would have been a movie star. So yes, Hollywood. As for Meisner Tremonia, even the unscented one torched my face. OY!
I do like Henri et Victoria, I have Cognac and Cuban Cigars, Poire Francais and Duc de Santal but I also love WSP products and lately I discovered Pre de Provence No 63, warm and spicy but very very subtle.
Naa, the really skilled beautiful people are on Broadway acting in front of a live audience. There are no retakes and no special filters in front of the camera to make you look handsome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
But then there are the closeups.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur