Thread: English Shaving Soaps

I'm sticking to my guns!

TOBS lavendar is simply lavender scented Williams in blue disguise! slightly thicker lather perhaps, but still lacking cushion...


Actually, perhaps if I gave the TOBS another go-round I would rank it a notch higher than Williams, but I can't say that for sure. My first ever soap was TOBS, and as soon as I then aquired the Tabac and the Valobra, the TOBS was SOL, and soon went AWOL...


Loudee, can you give any more feedback on the C&S 88? That one has peaked my interest!

Not that I need it, as I just placed an order for MWF and some HArris, but just for the sake of knowing....



and some days I may just feel like a rosey scent...is that so wrong?

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Loudee, can you give any more feedback on the C&S 88? That one has peaked my interest!

Not that I need it, as I just placed an order for MWF and some HArris, but just for the sake of knowing....



and some days I may just feel like a rosey scent...is that so wrong?

I'll use it again this weekend and get back to you. Been playing aournd with my glycerine soaps alot lately, but its timely to go back to Mr. Powdery Rosey Tallowey. In my tries so far it has been different from my other 20 soaps, so you really may have to try it just to be scientific and all. I mean, you wouldn't want to wonder if that was the one and you hadn't tried it......

Originally Posted by loueedacat

I'll use it again this weekend and get back to you. Been playing aournd with my glycerine soaps alot lately, but its timely to go back to Mr. Powdery Rosey Tallowey. In my tries so far it has been different from my other 20 soaps, so you really may have to try it just to be scientific and all. I mean, you wouldn't want to wonder if that was the one and you hadn't tried it......

Let's see....in the last 24-36 hours I've placed orders for MWF (with dish), DR Harris Arlington(in bowl), Irish Moos (stick in plastic tube)......

Do I wait and see how these fine soaps do me, and then go out and get the C&S 88? Or strike while I'm on a roll?

BTW, I just noticed that Vintage blades is having a sale on the DR Harris for anyone interested...I'm tempted to go and get the Marlborough!

Looking forward to more on the 88....unless I just go and buy it anyhow!

Oddly, some scents that I did not like at first I later came to like a year or so later. Go figure.
So I wouldn't toss anything out without giving it some time.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Looking forward to more on the 88....unless I just go and buy it anyhow!

OK, I used the C&S 88 both days this weekend, with my DD GE which is sharp but I think could use a little more work, and my PUMA which is the ideal cutter (after the chronik of course).

Two great shaves. Didn't bother to use AS or ASB and more importantly, it didn't dawn on me to use them. That's how comfortable the sahve are with this soap - you really don't reflexively turn to the AS or ASB. Leaves skin feeling very soft and moisturized (ie it's really not drying - I dont' think it adds moisture). ON my puma, just great close shave. Very very good shave on DD, but didn't get that feeling I get after QED that a martian wouldn't know if I'd ever had hair on my face. Then again, the glycerines may get you too close.

So I'd say this is a great soap, and if there is a tradeoff it's that you get a 20 out of 10 on comfort in exchange for dropping to 9 out of 10 on closeness, and the lattter is less an issue with a great cutter in hand. The scent is what it is - very powedery subtle rosey thing - I like it but I'm not a rose a holic, but to put this in context, I'm sometimes happiest after my HBS Pina Colada, so YMMdefinatelyV with me on scent. QED Wild Orange is one of my all time favorites.

But C&S 88 is a winner, the comfort is unprecedented for me, the closeness is very solid but below say AOS shaving soap and Valobra stick and the glycerines but above say GFT. Between the comfort and the powdery scent, it's defiinitely different, so you won't feel like you added another difference with no distinction to your rotation.

Just buy the refill. That's expensive enough, and put it in an anchor hocking or something esle that will give you plenty of room to work your brush.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

...
Very very good shave on DD, but didn't get that feeling I get after QED that a martian wouldn't know if I'd ever had hair on my face.
...

Had to read that one twice, loved it. Much for colorful than "I got BBS."

So, in relation to "closeness" can that also mean that C&S does indeed have quite a bit of cushion?

I think I'll wait until I give my other three recent purchases a chance to actually arrive, and to shave with each at least one time, before dropping the dime on the 88.


But I'm not promising anything!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, in relation to "closeness" can that also mean that C&S does indeed have quite a bit of cushion?

I think I'll wait until I give my other three recent purchases a chance to actually arrive, and to shave with each at least one time, before dropping the dime on the 88.


But I'm not promising anything!

tons of cushion. quck screwing around with your avatar. that messes with my head.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

tons of cushion. quck screwing around with your avatar. that messes with my head.

I'll quit "screwing around" with my avatar when you stop tempting me with $oapy ways to dispo$e of my money!

Okay, the Harris and MWF just arrived (So did a new Friodur, and an Ebay find, but pay no attention to those....)

I was underwhelmed by the faint scent of the Harris Arlington. I was expecting some sort of discernable fragrance, but could hardly find any. Other than that, the beech bowl looks quite nice, and I'm looking forward to shaving with this stuff...As a bonus, the town I live in here in Massachusetts is also named Arlington, so this purchase is somehow justified

The MWF came packaged up in pure class. Boxed, dish wrapped up, soap inside the dish wrapped up with a pleated little wrapper...all very nice. Nice, subdued, soapy scent, as has been descrribed many times before. Also quite looking forward to trying this one out!

I purchased both soaps from Connaught Shaving in England and got them delivered priority for less than $60 total. You can't find MWF ceramic dished itself for less than $50 delivered Stateside, so I consider this an excellent deal.

My soap collection has dramatically increased. I used to have just Tabac and Valobra. I've now added MWF, DR Harris, and Irish Moos to the mix, and am itching to get also either the C&S 88, or an AOS offering.