Thread: How do you define a luxury shaving soap??????

Originally Posted by AlanQ

I occasionally try a new soap but have never tried a "luxury" soap (one that is ridiculously expensive) I get a great shave from williams I like wilkinsons which no one ever seems to talk about because it feels cooling on my face. Its about 2X the price of Williams 4$ instead of 2$, is that luxury?

It's all relative when you define luxury.

Bob

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!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Careful, Alan-MDC is one of the more expensive SAD's to come down with. There are guys on this forum who have all 7 flavors, and they run about $75 a tub. Maggards carries it in the US, not sure about where your fellow Canucks get it. I do love my 1 precious tub of Vetyver-I may get the samples of that citrus and rose from Maggard's, Dave-enjoy!

Maggards ships to Canada
But at 75$ I doubt Ill be bitten by the bug any time soon

Originally Posted by AlanQ

Maggards ships to Canada
But at 75$ I doubt Ill be bitten by the bug any time soon

Oh go on, you deserve one of life's little luxuries don't you.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

A luxury shaving soap is one that is over priced relative performance in that it is twice the price of an average shave soap but only marginally better in reality. It is also usually over hyped creating a cache for those that use it to enjoy. It can be quite well packaged/presented adding to the price but not the performance. It is arguably for those who want the best regardless of cost and who does not deserve that.

I'd guess the least expensive shave soap is Williams and Lord knows what the most expensive is.

Bob

+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

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.

Originally Posted by AlanQ

Ok I have to ask what the h***k is MDC you people keep talking about it and I have no clue (TBH I have no clue about a lot of things)

Take a new jar of MdC, swirl a damp brush 8 times on the soap. Apply the brush to a wet face.
When you think you did not get enough soap BOOM , lather explodes all over your face.

Lather heaven!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

So what makes a soap "luxury? Is it price? Is it claims by the maker? Is it performance? Is it the makers claims? Or is it a lot of bunk?

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).