Thread: Martin de Candre

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

Tc I gotta politely disagree with you, my Palmolive shave stick cost like $4 and I get the same quality lather I would get from any of the other soaps I currently have. Though nice things usually cost $$$, I have not found that more expensive soaps perform better than cheaper ones.

I would have to say that you havent learned to use the different soaps to there fullest yet. Or you just dont notice the differences. Sure, some low cost soaps can work well. But i find they are lacking in some ways or over-do-it in something. Its the proper mix of all that pushes a soap to the top of the list for me. Not scent. YMMV.

Gentlemen,

Price does not determine a soap or cream's quality. The overall performance distinguishes the good and the mediocre.

Then there is the intangible: that mysterious component, be it ingredients or creative style and technique used in the production of soaps and creams, that differentiates among the exceptional, the moderate and the inferior.

I don't know what that "intangible" is.

Or perhaps, in addition to the quality of ingredients, style and technique, it is the soap master's love and passion that create something memorable.

I feel that love and passion in the makers of Martin de Candre and Castle Forbes, one soap and one cream that I also use as a benchmark to judge other products. They are pricey to some, but to me worth every penny.

I feel the same love and passion in the makers of Oleo Soap Works, or Wholly Kaw, or Barrister and Mann. A few others. Some products cost more than others, but that does not determine why I choose one over the other at a specific time. If something strikes my fancy, I try it. Yes, I've bombed a few times and thought my money wasted. More than not, though, my instinct and gut feeling have led me to good places.

The traditional shaving world is enriched with a treasure of soaps and creams — some criticized as far too expensive — and I have tried many regardless of price. I Will continue to do so, not because I look for the perfect shave soap or cream at the right price, whatever that is, or for the best there is — because no such thing exists — rather, because the experience makes my shave all the more enjoyable.

My morning shave is one of the highlights of my day and I embellish it with all the riches that I can afford.

You're probably right Jerry, two years really isn't all that long shaving with a straight.Still think it is worth mentioning for any newcomer who may stumble on this thread, that you don't need to spend a gazillion dollars on shave soap to get a quality product. I have at least five different soaps all under $20 that perform just awesome for my face and water. I will say that I bought a tub of CF Lavender about a year and a half ago, and though it was a great soap, I did not restock that product as I got better shaves from other (less expensive) soaps. With all this said MdC does have that ' Je ne sai quoi' you guys are talking about, and if I ever finish the samples I was given, will be restocking that product. Hope I didn't come off as a "know it all" in my last post, just thought it was worth mentioning that I hadn't seen the correlation between price and performance in shaving soaps.

-Laramie-

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

Tc I gotta politely disagree with you, my Palmolive shave stick cost like $4 and I get the same quality lather I would get from any of the other soaps I currently have. Though nice things usually cost $$$, I have not found that more expensive soaps perform better than cheaper ones.

Ok I hear you. But how much experience with all the soaps? In 45+ years using a brush and soap I’ve tryed several dozens and some hundred or more soaps. And everyone likes theirs cause that’s what they use which is great, but now let’s do a fair comparison. Your 4$ Palmolive costs close to 4$ times that by 4 to get the 200+ grams your get in MDC. That’s 16$. Plus I used Palmolive for a few years, those 4 sticks would never last as long as the MDC I’m using now. Cost aside ( and it’s not expensive per shave) it’s just a soap that checks all my boxes. And any soap that uses the finest ingredients and takes 6 months to cure has to be worth something. So to each his own and be happy, but never think that Palmolive is I. The same room with some of the other soaps that can be had. Plus if your just keeping your cost in check use Arko it’s only 1$ a stick.

Arko 1$ a stick.... I forgot about that. I bet THAT would be the winner for penneys per shave. Or maybe half penneys. Lol.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Arko 1$ a stick.... I forgot about that. I bet THAT would be the winner for penneys per shave. Or maybe half penneys. Lol.

I am lucky because I do not feel the huge difference in shaves between using Arko shave sticks and my MdC. While MdC lasts a long time, I wonder if it will last longer than 24 Arko shave sticks bought for $48 totalling 1,800 grams of product. In any event use what works for you.

Bob

YMMV has never been truer. There are so many factors playing a part here. Brush type and size, water hardness, lathering technique, etc. I've never tried MdC, but I may do one of these days. I probably won't use up the creams I currently have unless I live to be about 120. Will that stop me buying more? Er, no. My Meissner Tremonia remains my favourite but I only use that when I feel like spoiling myself. My Castle Forbes is an occasional treat, and the Truefitt and Hill, Simpsons, TOBS and Tabula Rasa are also there to be used. When I have a functional shave but no time for pampering, I tend to use Proraso. Once my current pot is gone it won't be replaced. It's ok, functional, but nothing special. I'm sure that others will rate it much higher. Continuing to explore the options available is just part of the fun!

Mdc is great soap. But there are many soaps that perform as well. It gets air time IMO because it's pricey. If it was $15 or $20 nobody would talk about it. I bought it once. I still have some but can't see the value in it based on the price. Jmo.

So I got my tub of MDC Vetiver in the other day. Personally, though the only other one I tried was the Original TC sent me (sort of a lavender mint), I think it lives up to the hype. This is not a detailed review, as I'm only a couple of shaves into it.

Having said that, the glass tub was packed to the brim with a hardish, kind of rubbery "croap." It practically lathers itself after a few token light swirls, virtually exploding with ultra-slick lather that is slicker than snot on a bowling ball. And the scent on this one is just intoxicating-pure intense vetiver heaven, very grassy and "green" for lack of a better word, which is kind of my latest jam. Seriously, if they determine that huffing MDC Vetiver causes brain damage or something, I am screwed, because I can't get enough of that scent!

Anyway, I for one am happy with the purchase, though I'm not sure how much attention all of these other samples I got from Maggard's recently are going to get for awhile. Maybe the monthly giveaway needs some soap samples-hmmm....

Glass jar? I thought they went to plastic?