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.

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

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).