A new approach to reviewing soaps

After much waiting, my long overdue puck of Tabac arrived last Friday. I lathered up this morning and shaved with it using my Robeson Shuredge. Took off three days' stubble like a blow torch through butter.

I actually used Tabac soap about a year or two ago, but as I followed with some Trumper's Coral Skin Food (fantastic with the Rose soap), I got a bad impression of Tabac. Today though, I used it with some Tabac after shave (not used after shave in ages although I am familiar with the Tabac scent). It stung, but nonetheless, the shave was still close and smooth.

What I am getting at is when we review soaps - and creams alike - we tend to not mention what's good to be used as an after shave or moisturiser, etc. Therefore I propose that we spend just a little bit more time thinking about what works good with a soap or cream. Does it work with something better than other stuff? Is there something you would avoid using with it? Obviously, some scents/products don't work well together, but identifying this alongside a review of a product will help other users in future, IMHO.

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Originally Posted by rum

After much waiting, my long overdue puck of Tabac arrived last Friday. I lathered up this morning and shaved with it using my Robeson Shuredge. Took off three days' stubble like a blow torch through butter.

I actually used Tabac soap about a year or two ago, but as I followed with some Trumper's Coral Skin Food (fantastic with the Rose soap), I got a bad impression of Tabac. Today though, I used it with some Tabac after shave (not used after shave in ages although I am familiar with the Tabac scent). It stung, but nonetheless, the shave was still close and smooth.

What I am getting at is when we review soaps - and creams alike - we tend to not mention what's good to be used as an after shave or moisturiser, etc. Therefore I propose that we spend just a little bit more time thinking about what works good with a soap or cream. Does it work with something better than other stuff? Is there something you would avoid using with it? Obviously, some scents/products don't work well together, but identifying this alongside a review of a product will help other users in future, IMHO.

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Good point - we can call this the compatibility factor and can be graded along with price, effectiveness, durability, and enjoyability on the 4-hoglahoo grading scale. 3 hoglahoos would indicate an above average and exceptional product while 4 hoglahoos would be reserved for that product which exemplifies the fine and distinguished consumer product palate of hoglahoo(tm) himself. One red hoglahoo wil be sufficient to warn others of a cheaply and shamefully produced brand. The symbol for one red hoglahoo shall be embarrassingly received and is represented well by the below image:

http://garlinggauge.com/wp-content/u.../01/whammy.jpg

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Good point - we can call this the compatibility factor and can be graded along with price, effectiveness, durability, and enjoyability on the 4-hoglahoo grading scale. 3 hoglahoos would indicate an above average and exceptional product while 4 hoglahoos would be reserved for that product which exemplifies the fine and distinguished consumer product palate of hoglahoo(tm) himself. One red hoglahoo wil be sufficient to warn others of a cheaply and shamefully produced brand. The symbol for one red hoglahoo shall be embarrassingly received and is represented well by the below image:

http://garlinggauge.com/wp-content/u.../01/whammy.jpg

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Dude, pay a little extra for the pure stuff next time. :D

Also put this in the review section where it is applicable...

Quite honestly I don't see the connection between soap and aftershave. To me no matter what the scent is or how strong it is once the soap comes off there should be no scent left on your skin. To me that would be a huge defect in the soap and actually no soap I have ever used did linger. Now if your talking say moisturizing qualities of the soap paired with the same in an aftershave that's a different story.

If you want to discuss the two in a review I don't see any problem with that but I wouldn't be making any official rating criteria here. Most guys don't use the simple ones we have now.

So you're saying the overall feel of the shave can be improved by matching products? (I.e. more than just smells working together well.)

That could make sense, but using alum block provides a degree of separation between what the soap does and what the after-shave does. For people who use alum that is.

I think the AS ties more to the skin type of the shaver than the soap used. I tend to use AS rather than ASB no matter what soap I use. Now some soaps on a good day leave my skin feeling so good I don't use AS or ASB.

Although there are some pairings I would never do (TABAC and Coral Skin Food I think was the one given), but it should usually be somewhat intuitive that some smells just shouldn't be blended unless you really rinse that soap off good. Frankly, not sure I'd mix TABAC scent with anything (again unless I'd really risned well).

Well, Rum, it was a good concept, but as can be seen by the way the thread quickly went offf the rails, we had best stick to seperate reviews of each shave component....:hmmm:


BTW, Hoglaloo never gave us a definition of what "2 Hoglohoos" rated as? :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

BTW, Hoglaloo never gave us a definition of what "2 Hoglohoos" rated as? :shrug:

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That's what you can get if you bribe your way out of a oneredhoglahoo

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Quite honestly I don't see the connection between soap and aftershave. To me no matter what the scent is or how strong it is once the soap comes off there should be no scent left on your skin. To me that would be a huge defect in the soap and actually no soap I have ever used did linger. Now if your talking say moisturizing qualities of the soap paired with the same in an aftershave that's a different story.

If you want to discuss the two in a review I don't see any problem with that but I wouldn't be making any official rating criteria here. Most guys don't use the simple ones we have now.

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Wow, I must either have a sensitive nose or skin that absorbs scents more than other gents. I have used several soaps that once rinsed off leave a lingering scent for some time. TOBS Shaving Shop and a few of the TGQ soaps (vanilla sandalwood and orange patchouli come to mind). Is my experience an anomaly?

Chris L

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Originally Posted by Chris-L

Wow, I must either have a sensitive nose or skin that absorbs scents more than other gents. I have used several soaps that once rinsed off leave a lingering scent for some time. TOBS Shaving Shop and a few of the TGQ soaps (vanilla sandalwood and orange patchouli come to mind). Is my experience an anomaly?

Chris L

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I've always seemed to think that soaps and/or cream leave a lingering scent behind. Strange.

I find that even some of those really strong glycerin soaps like the group buy types, as over scented as I thought they were wash off completely. maybe its the hot towel after shaving and cold water rinse and the alum and the witchazel that does it. I don't know.

depends on the soap and depends on your rinsing. I oftne shower after shaving but before AS. So my scents don't linger. :D But if I don't shower after and don't give a thorough rinse, they linger enough to mess up a dramatically conflicting AS scent, but no probably if you don't mix say tabac with anything.

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Originally Posted by loueedacat

depends on the soap and depends on your rinsing. I oftne shower after shaving but before AS. So my scents don't linger. :D But if I don't shower after and don't give a thorough rinse, they linger enough to mess up a dramatically conflicting AS scent, but no probably if you don't mix say tabac with anything.

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That sounds about right then from experience!

I totally agree that good soap should stand alone. It should lubricate, protect, nourish and if you want it, scent your skin.

There are products that when used together give a better effect. Proraso products, spring to mind. But to be honest, even then they don't match a "good" soap.

Just my 2 p's worth

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

Well, Rum, it was a good concept, but as can be seen by the way the thread quickly went offf the rails, we had best stick to seperate reviews of each shave component....:hmmm:

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I quite agree. Is there any particular place where all reviews tend to be on SRP?

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Originally Posted by loueedacat

Now some soaps on a good day leave my skin feeling so good I don't use AS or ASB.

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I suppose being someone with hyper-sensitive skin where just about anything under the sun is likely to cause me problems, not using anything after the soap or cream is just not an option. My skin begins to feel far too tight and dry a short while after I've gently towelled my face dry. A good quality ASB or moisturiser helps sort this out until at least the evening.

By the way, I used Coral Skin Food today after shaving with the AdP cream. Very nice mix. The Skin Food is surprisingly over powering and seems to kill the AdP's Colonia scent. Strange, but at least very comfortable.

you should try Nancy Boy shaving cream, and if you like aloe vera, their ASB. Fabulous and great for sensitive skin, particularly the replenishing scent.

Last night I used DR Harris Arlington soap with the SCS Avacado oil aftershave balm, and I quite liked the pairing.


So how about that!?:p

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

I quite liked the pairing ... So how about that!?

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Nice review! You "quite" liked the pairing. So this is not a review of the individual products or even of both the products together but is more a review of the process of the two being joined together (compare "I quite liked them together" with "I quite liked the pairing")

Am I to understand you did not only like but that you quite liked the marriage of Dr. Harris to St. Charles? And should I go so far as to infer from your short review that your face enjoyed the reception?

For a more detailed breakdown including cool looking charts, graphs, and statistical conclusion-based data, please remit $9.95 to:

Hoglahoo Review Analysis Team
555-555-5555


:HJ

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Originally Posted by rum

I quite agree. Is there any particular place where all reviews tend to be on SRP?

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Yes, why on the er..reviews forum.You see you go 2 miles down that road and at the goat farm make a left and then a quarter mile on the right by the outhouse you make a left. Just remember to close all the gates as you go through or farmer Don will shoot out your tires if his livestock get out.