Thread: 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.

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.

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:

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:

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

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....


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

Originally Posted by Seraphim

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

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

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.

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