Thread: DR Harris Arlington

OK, thanks to Loudeecat's recent spate of dreamy reviews of lush lathers from around the globe, I purchased a tub of DR Harris' Arlington.

First sniff was a dissapointment, as there was very little discernable scent at all. I didn't like the way the puck was loose in the bowl, so I grated it and put it back in there. The scent was now more apparent. Still subtle, but at least I could now make out the citrusy scent.

After a few shaves with my other new love, the MWF (again due to Loudee's influence) I finally got around to the Arlington.....

This is indeed very fine stuff! Mine came in the beech bowl, so apparently it is the "new" formulation, but no matter---this is good stuff!

Upon the first swirls upon the puck, the suds, and the scent quickly arose. The scent definitely became its' full self--the citrus out in front, with the ferny background also present. Definitely not a get-in-your-face sort of a scent (hello Irish Moos!), but it's there, and very nice.

The lather is best descibed as "lush" in my mind. No magic water ratios seemed necessary, a straight ahead good latherer. And the shave it provides is also very good. Slick, cushy, comfy, even with a newly honed full hollow (I'm usually a wedge kinda guy)



My condensed review:
Buy some.

Great review! Harris indeed makes a great soap. Try the Marlboro. It's a nice dry, sandalwoody scent. The hard soaps don't hold the scent as well as glycerin soaps, but they perform like nobody's business. Enjoy!

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

Great review! Harris indeed makes a great soap. Try the Marlboro. It's a nice dry, sandalwoody scent. The hard soaps don't hold the scent as well as glycerin soaps, but they perform like nobody's business. Enjoy!

Jordan

Aha...well, I am at a quandry about that very issue. I'd be interested in trying the Marlborough, as I'm looking for a sandalwoody scent. Also interested in trying the old formulation to see if there's a difference.

Yet, I am also possibly interested in the AOS sandalwood. The interest there would be to try out a different manufacturers' product (although I do have Valobra, which is rumored to make the Valobra...)

Any feedback on which way you'd go on that, Jordan? I believe you have both, right?

Nice review, Seraphim.
I just got a puck of the "old formulation" Marlborough in the mail, and it is a REALLY nice soap. Great lather, and the scent is very spicy. I'm not sure I could catch the sandalwood, but it is good. I also have a puck of the Arlington on the way, so...Yay Harris!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Aha...well, I am at a quandry about that very issue. I'd be interested in trying the Marlborough, as I'm looking for a sandalwoody scent. Also interested in trying the old formulation to see if there's a difference.

Yet, I am also possibly interested in the AOS sandalwood. The interest there would be to try out a different manufacturers' product (although I do have Valobra, which is rumored to make the Valobra...)

Any feedback on which way you'd go on that, Jordan? I believe you have both, right?

Hi there,

I can give you my thoughts about the Marlborough scent, and the AOS as well. To my nose, the AOS has about the truest and nicest version of a sandalwood based soap (except for QED of course). I believe the AOS product uses the Mysore EO, which is the preferred version. There's no other scent added to this soap.....no florals or sweetness. Although I've never used the soap (love most of the creams), I hear nothing but great things about it's performance.

The Marlborough is a different animal.........much more of a woodsy blend. I get more cedar than sandalwood coming through, with the sandalwood helping to temper things. Yeah, it's a smooth and subtle scent that I happen to love. More interesting to me than a straight sandalwood, and I use it regularly. There's no sweetness or floral notes at all......just woods. Performance is excellent.

Oh, you mentioned grating the puck because of the bowl issue. I always buy just refill pucks, and put em in 2 cup Anchor Hocking glass bowls (comes with lids and 1 cup size is also large enough for most pucks). I use a little hot water to stick em (dome side up) to the bottom, and it works well. I can load up my brush without any worry of making a mess.

Anyway, maybe this post will help somehow,
Martin

I agree with Martin's assesment of the AOS vs. the Marlborough. I can't say that one is better than the other. The AOS is a more pure sandalwood scent.

Jordan

I don't have a very efficient smeller. Maybe because I'm a habitual pipe smoker and my senses are numbed as a result. What I like about the Harris and the MWF is that because of the subtlety of the aroma I can use either of these with a dab of cream (in a bowl) to make super lather. The stronger aroma of the cream dominates and the aroma of the soap doesn't conflict the way that a more aromatic soap would. Thanks for the excellent review.

I'm a big fan of the Arlington soap, and I absolutely love
the smell. Can't complain about the lather either

- Scott

old thread....but tonight's shave with arlington soap made me find a thread around here to sing the praises of Arlington.
wow..what a great shaving soap. a pleasant muted citrus scent with thick lather. 25 seconds of swirling gave me three full passes with a santa beard worth of froth.

i have owned this soap half a year and use it once and a while...each time i use it i remember why i love it so much.