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

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?

While we're at it what is the most expensive and the least expensive current production soap you can presently buy?

Acqua Di Parma came to mind when reading your question . Although it is a cream not a soap.

It is expensive for a relatively small amount.. and i would say the best to date imo ..

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

To me a luxury is something more expensive than the average product and of better quality. It's also not usually something i can warrant spending the money on. I've tried MDC ( which seems to be top of the line in most people mind) and can't say that i like it any better than something like Palmolive or Porasso.
So for me it's a lot of bunk. It's just soap and there's only so much that it can do no matter how much you spend. Now if they could make something like Willy Wonka's Everlasting Gobbstopper that lasted forever and changed scents every day, that would be something i would consider!

Anything above the third tier is luxury. The third tier works but arguably the 2nd and first are better.

My current soap is 1976 Williams and I will use that until it is done.

I can afford any soap if that is what I want but I choose to use what most consider 2nd tier here and waste my money on other things.

I don't define soap as a luxury item....when I see one marketed as one I just chuckle.

I can afford any shave soap...my cheapest(by the ounce) is Arko Shave stick...most expensive is DRH Sandalwood shave stick.

I guess Williams is up there as amongst the cheapest. Most expensive I know is Sebum Gold type Fossil made with real Amber. $275 for five ounces. It's very limited production. Corresponding after shave oil over $400.

I sorta miss read your original post on what the most expensive is that you can buy.

I think that your example is more of conspicuous consumption than luxury.

For me in cars luxury is the exra touches—leather, walnut dash and other “fancy” touches. For soap it’s performance and scent. If a soap lathers well, feels good during and after my shave and smells good, it’s luxury. My list would include MdC, Castle-Forbes and Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti. They are the ones I really enjoy because they work and make me feel good about the total shave.

When you find that soap Tintin be sure to let me know.

The quality of the soap is what does it for me. I've found a few that are very good without having to spend a lot of funds. Now the question of expensive...
MDC is the highest priced soap I've ever bought. But I bet for the man who has more money than he knows what to do with could find some crazy priced stuff. I'd even be willing to sell it to him. Just give me a chance to make a label.