Italian Shaving Soaps

Ok, onto my favorite: Italian shaving soaps. And not all of them are soft and almond scented.....it just seems that way.

Valobra Almond Soft Shaving Soap

http://base1.googlehosted.com/base_m...bf619b11&hl=en

I LOVE this stuff. It has a nice pastry almond scent, but it's not overpowering, and it's not oversweet like conk and the classic English almond shaving creams. The performance is wonderful - the face feels very good afterwards, and you get a nice slick lather and close shave. It has a putty like consistency, so you take the block and squoosh it into the container of choice - I put it in an anchor hocking bowl. This soap is not tallow based (if you care), but gives an incredibly close shave. It's also very affordable (around $11).

Cella Soft Shaving Soap

http://base0.googlehosted.com/base_m...1fd3085a&hl=en

Another great Italian take on a soft almond soap. This almond scent is a little more "bitter almond" than sweet marzipan. It has no preservatives, and is very nice on the face, ala IK (although no shea in this stuff). I'd say this feels better and more natural on my face than any other soap. It yields a nice close shave, though for me I get a little closer with the Valobra almond for some reason - that's probably just me. I get a thicker creamier lather from cella than valobra almond. I found this performs better when I take it out of the small diameter red plastic bowl and transfer to an anchor hocking, where I have more room to load the brush. This is great great, relatively natural (no preservatives apparetly) stuff. It is tallow based but doesn't feel at all like the old English tallow soaps. Very reasonably priced (around $10). Wonderful.

Valobra Shaving Stick

http://base1.googlehosted.com/base_m...4f710cc6&hl=en

Unlike the soft valobra putty soaps, the shaving stick is hard and tallow based. The performance is as good as any hard soap out there - very creamy, slick, protective lather, that yields a VERY close shave. I find it a little bit drying, though not everyone does. The smell is a bitter soapy smell - for me it's not appealing, not unappealing. So for me this is a just a no nonsense no romance great shave shaving soap. I find it fits nicely in the older larger DRH shaving stick containers, so that's where I put mine for ease of use. Very cheap.

Art of Shaving

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...160_AA160_.jpg

Rumor is this is made by Valobra - in any event it performs exactly like the valobra shaving stick for me. It comes in unscented, lemon, sandlewood and lavendar. I have the unscented, which smells like wet cardboard on its own. But the performance is absolutely first rate - it's just a great tallow based hard shaving soap. I used the unscented as a face lathering uberlather vehicle - I load the brush with the AOS soap, and then squeez a little KMF on the brush, and face lather away for a great shave with a great (choice of KMF) scent. Done that with CremoCreme for the perfect tallow based pina colada shave.

Things I'd like to try when my wife isn't looking:

1. Valobra Fougere Soft Shaving soap
2. P. 160 Soft Soap
3. Figaro
4. Fitness
5. PREP
6. La Riana
7. Proraso Classic Soap
8. Proraso Shaving Soap with Aloe and Green Tea
9. AOS sandlewood, lemon, lavendar shaving soaps

Thanks,

I've got the Valobra, but sadly it's a little hard on my skin, so I've been looking at Cella as my next purchase, after reading your description of Cella, I better hurry up and get me some new soap soon.

Anyone have any experience with the soap on this page RasurPur Online Shop - The finest tools for a perfect shave (click on creams and soaps, the item at the top)

I have these with the exception of the cella. Great soaps, as the review says. I really need to get a tub of cello now!

$10? Where's the best place to get this, Louee?

I've only tried the cella here. Like it like you. don't know about the price as I bought one of the 1kg packages - not sure I'll ever get through it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RayG

I have these with the exception of the cella. Great soaps, as the review says. I really need to get a tub of cello now!

$10? Where's the best place to get this, Louee?

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bestgroomingtools.com

I love the Cella, P160, Valobra, and the Fitness soaps. They all work perfectly for me, but the Proraso Green soap is NOT a favorite of mine. On the other hand, the white-bowled version of Proraso is great. ;)

Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crackstar

I love the Cella, P160, Valobra, and the Fitness soaps. They all work perfectly for me, but the Proraso Green soap is NOT a favorite of mine. On the other hand, the white-bowled version of Proraso is great. ;)

Jeff

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Great to see you here Crackstar. Welcome.

I love the volabra almond soap. I don't know about Proraso soap, but their cream is as good a performer as anything (yeah, you CF guys might argue it, but whatever).


Jordan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crackstar

I love the Cella, P160, Valobra, and the Fitness soaps. They all work perfectly for me, but the Proraso Green soap is NOT a favorite of mine. On the other hand, the white-bowled version of Proraso is great. ;)

Jeff

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what is the Fitness like? is it a soft almond thing too? how is it on performance and face sensiitivity compared to valobra almond?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jnich67

Great to see you here Crackstar. Welcome.

I love the volabra almond soap. I don't know about Proraso soap, but their cream is as good a performer as anything (yeah, you CF guys might argue it, but whatever).


Jordan

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Sorry for my late answer, but I thank you for the welcome!

Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rawaz

Anyone have any experience with the soap on this page RasurPur Online Shop - The finest tools for a perfect shave (click on creams and soaps, the item at the top)

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The first one is probably Cella. It has the exact same ingredients. The description says it was cut from a big block and Cella can be had in 1Kg blocks.

Cella is part of my regular rotation (Tabac MWF, Cella).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TexasBob

The first one is probably Cella. It has the exact same ingredients. The description says it was cut from a big block and Cella can be had in 1Kg blocks.

Cella is part of my regular rotation (Tabac MWF, Cella).

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that's a cell of a good rotation!

Don't forget that C&S soaps are made in Italy, probably by AoS or Valobra as has been mentioned in the distant past, if I recall correctly.

Does anyone know of another source for the italian barber soap rasurpur used to carry? I'm not convinced its cella based on pictures of cella.

you must try Proraso red soap and Vitos(someone consider it better then Cella as quality/price)

Yes, for sure Proraso Red and Vitos are good soaps and well worth a try. Unfortunately I don't care for the smell of Cella or Vitos all that much.

Bob

Don't forget Acca Kappa! Their 1869 line is one of my favorites! Awesome cream/soap and aftershave. If you like layering - they have cologne and whatnot as well.

Give it a shot - you'll be glad you did.

Does anyone have info on the Cella Tub vs. the Cella Block?

Are they the same?

I thought the Cella Tub as a little "strong". Then I tried P160 and was very impressed...as in I see how it could get cult status.

And since the P160 is so hard to come by, what is the next closest thing?

Thanks in advance...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MJC

Does anyone have info on the Cella Tub vs. the Cella Block?

Are they the same?

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I have heard plenty of times that they are different. However, I have tried both of them and I found they are exactly the same.

Cella bowl and Cella block: they have a very little difference.
The bowl have a bit of percentual of oil plus then block(altoght INCI is same,becuase this difference don't change the position of INCI,also because the oil is at the first position :D )
P.160 is discontinued....i have used it.
For me p.160 is less greasy then Cella (not so high)
I think that closest soap is Vitos red, (that as i have said someone of italian forum consider it better then Cella as quality(performance)/price/weight)

ACCA KAPPA!!!! I had forgotten this beautiful company(pried of Treviso,from 1869)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kratos86

Cella bowl and Cella block: they have a very little difference.
The bowl have a bit of percentual of oil plus then block(altoght INCI is same,becuase this difference don't change the position of INCI,also because the oil is at the first position :D )

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Do you mean that the bowl soap has a higher superfat soap rate or that it has the same superfat rate but with different percentage of the various oils?

yes, the bowl have a higher percentage of oil then block.(bit)
Infact in the bowl the soap is bit sofeter(bit superfat rate)
that I have written was confirmed by the manufacturer, with which the Italian forum had contact.
Infact if you see on the package, on the bowl is written "crema da barba"(shaving cream) and on the block "crema sapone da barba" (shaving soap cream)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kratos86

yes, the bowl have a higher percentage of oil then block.(bit)
Infact in the bowl the soap is bit sofeter(bit superfat rate)
that I have written was confirmed by the manufacturer, with which the Italian forum had contact.
Infact if you see on the package, on the bowl is written "crema da barba"(shaving cream) and on the block "crema sapone da barba" (shaving soap cream)

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A softer product could be obtained using higher rate of KOH and less NaOH respectively.
But if they confirmed higher superfat rate in the bowl, then this is it.


By the way, is there any problem with the Italian forum “il rasoio”?
It is impossible to see any posts the last few days using both explorer and mozilla. The last post that I find are from 24 May 2013. :shrug:

i know that, but Cella confirmed to use higher superfat rate in the bowl(infact i feel the difference)

The italian forum is : Ilrasoio.com • Indice

The community has moved on this forum already exists, making a single site. Having thus a most complete site.

Thank you Kratos.

By the way, your nickname means "power" (forza) or even "state" (stato) :D

i remember only "power" :D thank you :D....is also a name of popular character of a video game,that live in Greece :D
excuse me for O.T.

Another very good product is "Tcheon fung sing":
isn't chinese brand but italian brand.
Some of my friend that have try it are very happy for work.
Popular smell is almond(like Cella) but recently they have produced other profumation:

TFS Shaving Products

Search Results

Work well and isn't expansive

I have tried most Italian soaps and I have in the fridge the blocks of Cella, Vitos verde, P 160, TFS and Valobra.

I like all of them and I use them in regular basis. Actually, I have given up all English shaving soaps and creams, except Mitchell’s and I am using the Italians or some handmade by me.

My favorite and the best of all according to my opinion is Valobra almond. It produces the best lather ever.
Second comes the almond cream/soap from San Marino “Sapone da barba alla mandorla” made by La Saponeria del Titano. Excellent product!
And third comes the Acca Kappa 1869 cream mentioned above that has also lanoline in the formulation.


I have never tried the Panama Boelis which I believe to be an excellent soap.
Every time I come close to buy it, its high price pisses me of and I cancel the order. :rant:

Just out of curiosity (maybe an Italian can answer this), is the theme of almond-scented Italian soaps and creams because the Italians prefer the scent, or because it is a traditional product? Or perhaps something else?

Thanks! Ive been looking for another soap... Currently i use razorock creamsoap and i like it alot but i noticed that it dries fast in my face! Same with the SRD brand! Love them both ... But i live in the driest state so i lather half the face at a time! :) im trying that Cella next

I don't see anyone mentioning omega. That stuff is slicker than snot on a doorknob

i've been using Panama Boelis and recently tried razorock abcba and i think both those two soaps are similar.
i like them....not sure i'd rebuy them...but i certainly will use them up.

Gents:

I do have Boellis and P160 both so far are the same. My only concern is that I use scuttles. If I took a small about into the scuttle is very difficult to transform that into lather but when it happens both are real nice. Can somebody told me if cella is equal to those?

thanks
Kenneth

Cella is a harder soap.not much tho.

Cella in my opinion is like razorock... Cream/soap concept! So the consistency is in between a cream and a soap ... If that makes sense! Now Cella is a all around great product and it produces a great lather in a bowl, mug, hand, on your face and straight from the tub! Basically it doesnt matter where u lather it! It will be a great lather

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RMarsh

Just out of curiosity (maybe an Italian can answer this), is the theme of almond-scented Italian soaps and creams because the Italians prefer the scent, or because it is a traditional product? Or perhaps something else?

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I had the same curiosity! Hence the reason i usually go with Italian soaps/creams! I love the almond oil scent! Thats a good question