Thread: Best soap anyone?

Originally Posted by riooso

Now that I want Castle Forbes after these posts,THANKS! Does anybody know where I can get Castle Forbes hard soap?
I have been looking around and can't find it in hard soaps.

Thanks,
Richard

I wasn't aware of any CF hard soaps, but if you find some, I want some

I have used soaps for years and I've tried many. To be honest most soaps are pretty good and a credit to their suppliers, and so today I am very fussy about what I buy and you are quite correct that the scent in the soap can have a big influence on the one that will become your personal favourite. For example, I don't like Tobac scent but the soap is superb. I also prefer a tripple milled soaps to glycerin based soap as I think they produce a better creamier lather and make for a better shave.

There is another influence that many don't appreciate. Coconut oil and Avacado oil is good for sensitive skin. Almond oil and sandalwood is good for dry skin. Rose, lavender and many of the floral scents are good for normal skin. Lemon and lime are good for oily skin. So if you have a tendancy to a skin type and we all do , you should check out which ones will suit you best. If you have truly sensitive skin, there are soaps made by the top end suppliers which are unscented so as to remove the essential oils or synthetic oils that can cause irritation.

At present I have three soaps open.

Floris JF
Truefitt and Hill
Geo F Trumpers Rose

For me, Floris is number one, because it has good glide, good protection, doesn't dry out on the face and leaves my face refreshed, moisturised and feeling good. No soap is really expensive when you consider how long they last, but Floris is at the high end of soap prices.

Trumpers Rose, does the same for me in the Summer months, but is a little drying on my skin in the winter months.

Trufitt and Hill is a little bit thinner or less protecting than the other two soap IMHO but it's still a top shelf quality product that works well.

Needless to say, living in the UK, I can readily buy English soaps and they are very good.
But the Crabtree and Evelyn soaps are first class as too are many of the French soaps. AOS also produce a great range of top quality soaps at a price.

The choice is endless really, but it's always a pleasure to try new soaps and find pleasant surprises. For me, it's half the fun of wet shaving.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Best to date and I have virtually everything else that has been named so far including Penhaligon's which is nice. I do like DR Harris, Truefit & Hill soaps and creams as well as Trumpers too, but Castle Forbes is the best suds out there in my opinion.

Lynn

I have to agree the Castle Forbes really is terrific.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I wasn't aware of any CF hard soaps, but if you find some, I want some

I don't think they make hard soaps. Their "cream" is more of a hard cream or a soft soap, if you will, so I think it got thrown in here as something of a hybrid option.

Jordan

Well I would have to say

Castle Forbes Lavender
Pre de Provence (Soap and non-brush cream)
Proraso
Body Shop Cream (brown tube, now replaced with cucumber crap)

I think I like Pre de Provence the best. God this stuff smells gooood.

Proraso has a soap right? How does it differ from the cream?

Castle Forbes seem to be a sure winner. Does anybody not like Castle Forbes?

Al raz.

Let me stand up and be uniquely counted!! I don't like the Castle Forbes Sawdust Cream (Cedarwood with Whatsit). Actually I like the performance of the cream just fine, but am less than ambivalent about the fragrance.

I guess this is not unlike going into a candy store and being overwhelmed by all the wonderful, different flavors that one has to choose from. There's lots of good stuff out there and a miriad of faces that likes each of those products, and some what don't.

Originally Posted by jnich67

Since your're in NY (I'm assuming near the city), head to Cambridge Chemists at 65th and Lex. Then back down around 62nd-ish and Lex is Pasteur Pharmacy. Both carry a huge selection of excellent soaps - especially the high end English hard soaps - which I'm partial to.

I really like Floris soaps. If I had to choose one, Floris would proably be it - well, Tabac is up there too. Trumper soaps are very good as are DR Harris soaps. These all have scent. If you prefer no scent, try Mitchell's Wool Fat soap. Art of shaving soaps are also excellent.

Try a bunch and see what you like.

Jordan

Heck, you can quit right now and use any or every soap Jordan has listed here. Go no further! This list does not get better.

Steve

Originally Posted by jnich67

Since your're in NY (I'm assuming near the city), head to Cambridge Chemists at 65th and Lex. Then back down around 62nd-ish and Lex is Pasteur Pharmacy. Both carry a huge selection of excellent soaps - especially the high end English hard soaps - which I'm partial to.

I really like Floris soaps. If I had to choose one, Floris would proably be it - well, Tabac is up there too. Trumper soaps are very good as are DR Harris soaps. These all have scent. If you prefer no scent, try Mitchell's Wool Fat soap. Art of shaving soaps are also excellent.

Try a bunch and see what you like.

Jordan

For those of you in the NYC area, I was just at these two locations yesterday and Pasteur Pharmacy has much better prices than Cambridge Chemists for the same stuff. Most stuff was at least $10 less and in some cases a half of what Cambridge shaving stuff was selling for. Cambridge also has overpriced razors and brushes. You can find better on the internet. Just thought that you might want to know. However, I think Cambridge has a better selection of traditional shave products. But you can definitely find a better deal on a new pre-honed blade on any of the SRP recommended sites.

Ryan

p.s.
I'm finishing up my Art of Shaving sandalwood cream. I really like it but it's kind of pricey.