Thread: The Soap Rotation

I’ve come to the conclusion that shaving with a different soap every day is no way to test a soap. Better to shave with the same soap for a week or so and get to know it a little better. Maybe more importantly, see how it conditions the old face after some repeated use.

But this is new for me! It’s not that I get bored easily... well ok, yeah it is, but for as long as I’ve been wet shaving, I’ve changed my soap every shave. This week or so long thing, is actually more enjoyable than I thought.

How do you do it? Why?

Originally Posted by earcutter

But this is new for me! It’s not that I get bored easily... well ok, yeah it is, but for as long as I’ve been wet shaving, I’ve changed my soap every shave. This week or so long thing, is actually more enjoyable than I thought.

How do you do it? Why?

How: I use a different source of "suds" for each shave.

Why: I believe in affording equal opportunity to suds, regardless of color, cost, scent, viscosity, or country of origin.

Ill rotate the scent but they all pretty much come from the same place. But I agree with on changing up all the time. You can’t tell what is what.

not in any particular order, just use one i feel like at that particular shave . Why? because i like variety. Never even thought of trying to "learn" a particular soap to get the most out of it. Maybe i'll give it a try.

After shaving almost exclusively with the same soap for 50 years, I'm now all for trying as many soaps and scents as I like. I do have a handful of favorites, but enjoy mixing it up almost daily. Lately I've been having fun using soaps that I haven't used in a long time, some I haven't used for two to three years, and have discovered a few gems that I didn't know I had.

Originally Posted by evnpar

After shaving almost exclusively with the same soap for 50 years, I'm now all for trying as many soaps and scents as I like. I do have a handful of favorites, but enjoy mixing it up almost daily. Lately I've been having fun using soaps that I haven't used in a long time, some I haven't used for two to three years, and have discovered a few gems that I didn't know I had.

Feel free to elaborate .

I rotate thru my stock. Use esch one the same except for test shaving. Then its the MDC. Got to have a solid bace line when test shaving.

I have narrowed it down to about a dozen soaps - just use whatever I feel like every day - the soaps
don't feel abandoned if they don't get used that often

Originally Posted by greatbolo

I have narrowed it down to about a dozen soaps - just use whatever I feel like every day - the soaps
don't feel abandoned if they don't get used that often

That's not what my Acca Kappa 1869 said!!

I have enough soaps for a two-month rotation. I have a variety including top artisans like WK, DG, Noble Otter, A&E. I have some of the old standards like PdP, DRH, TOBS, GFT. I have some inexpensive soaps and creams like VDH, Williams, and Cremo. I do not follow a strict rotation be use whichever strikes my fancy on a given day. The only time I use the soap several days in a row is when I am trying a new soap base and have difficulty dialing in the lather.

I keep a database of my soaps with date last used as well as scent and performance information. Every time I shave I reevaluate the scent and performance of the soap, updating the database if necessary. The reason I do this is that i find my perception of a scent may change over time or with the season. Also performance ratings can change. Many of the artisans have really upped their game over the past couple of years. As I have added some of these new improved soaps to my den, my criteria for an elite soap have changed.