It's all relative when you define luxury.
Bob
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With all the other soaps I have, My glass jar of MDC original is going-on 4 years. Some samples sent out from it.
Still half-full!
+1. Almost exactly what I would have said so to reiterate, I think it is a soap that the price is high enough where it creates a small group of people willing and able to pay for it thus creating a sort of “unique class” of the “haves” and “have nots”. The packaging should be exquisite, intensifying and solidifying the experience of being “special”. Much like a Centurion American Express card.
Of course it has to be a great soap with a great scent but that is, in my opinion, secondary to the price factor.
Most expensive I could buy is irrelevant. I don’t think there is a soap out there I can’t afford. The most expensive soap I WILL buy right now would be MWF as it is one of my favorites and at $14 shipped it is perfect for me. The cheapest I use is Williams and Arko. Of those two I prefer Arko. A great staple soap IMO with a complicated scent for the discerning nose (sarcasm)
So folks throw terms around. Premium, super premium, ultra premium, luxury, ultimate, etc. A manufacturer can call it anything he wants and a retailer can and a reviewer can too. Ultimately (pun intended) it's the buyer who votes with his money and decides what quality really means. Many luxury products wind up selling for pennies on the dollar a year or two later.
Remember a few years ago some outfit was selling a straight with scales made with some precious metal and precious gems selling for many thousands of dollars. Now that's luxury ain't it???? Har har.
So the next question is what's the difference between a luxury product and a luxurious product? Does one term mean nothing and the other the users opinion of it based upon.........?????
I define all shaving soaps by one thing
Performance, during and after the shave
Most Shaving soaps /creams will perform during the shave as long as you do your part in making the lather, but the ones that genuinely make the skin feel pampered AFTER the shave are a much rarer breed..
I have found that cost isn't a determinate factor
A few that I have found and I am probably forgetting some
MdC
MWF
Velobra almond soft soap
Escentials yes it is spelled like that
all of "The Body Shop" creams
Crabtree and Evelynn Sweet Almond Oil
Ogalalla Bay Rum soap
Prices vary
Noun: luxury
a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense but not necessary.
Origin: Latin-Luxus-Excess.
To me MDC is a necessity rather than a luxury :D
A luxury would be a nice relaxing Sunday shave with an ol' Sheffield and a English cream (as most English soaps are pants) like T&H, Floris, Trumpers, Penhaligons etc.
Great thread! If you don't mind, I'll include creams, as well.
For my money, "luxury" entails several things:
- All fragrance components are essential oils (natural); no fragrance oils (man-made).
- A little goes a long way.
- Hypo-allergenic.
- Tasteless.
- Is available as part of a product line -- soap and/or cream, aftershave splash and/or balm, afterscent (EDT and/or EDP).