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.