What's the Diff? Why are some shaving soaps $30, and some $3? Is there a big difference?
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What's the Diff? Why are some shaving soaps $30, and some $3? Is there a big difference?
It'll be a difference in the quality of the ingredients, how strong the brand name is and good old supply and demand!
There are differences between soaps though, and I find that a good quality soap makes all the difference to the shave.
Really cheap soaps probably wont lather as well, or provide as much glide or cushion to the shave.
The other thing to consider is that a puck of good soap will last months, so its very good value for money and per shave works out much cheaper than the canned gunk.
What about somewhere in between? To me, there is a difference in the quality of soaps, however, it has nothing to do with price and more to do with personal taste and performance. Most $30 soaps come with their own "dish" and that is usually just aesthetics. Some people swear by the VDH and Williams soaps found at the local pharmacies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guarnera
Personally, I have been using Tabac almost exclusively since I started with it. For me, it outperforms every other soap I have tried and I paid under $20 for it.
Van Der Hagen Deluxe sells currently for $1.54 a puck at my local WalMart. It's my daily soap. I have tried the others, including the outstanding Mitchells Wool Fat. Sure, they are better, but they also cost more. The VDH Deluxe is great for me, a great deal, and available locally.
Price reflects value and value is in the eye of the beholder. I would pay considerably more for the pink VDH but I would probably give away some of the more expensive soaps that I have because they are just taking up shelf space . . . they give me something to look at though.
There are big differences for sure. Most of the low end products are glycerin-based and these typically do not perform as well. Please, do not take me wrong, they are still good soaps, just that others are better and tend to last longer. However, there is a point of diminishing returns like with everything else. Paying $100 for a puck of soap would probably not increase the quality of your lather in the same rate of spending.
Al raz.
+1! Although I don't mind spending some money on soaps and creams, I rarely spend more than $15 on any of them. I use TGQ soaps exclusively, but Mama Bear has some great soaps, and a large following here. It will likely come down to personal choice. I found the Trumpers, Classic Shaving and TOBS soaps to be less than satisfactory. But, the TOBS creams are great. I am also in a very small minority who thinks that Castle Forbes isn't worth the money... :beer1:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stubear
A puck of Tabac or MWF may cost more than VDH. But they are better products and last seemingly forever.
Most of us probably started with Williams or VDH or Surrey and yea they did the job but to me the soap and brush routine is one of the reasons I do this shave thing and to put on some thin fast drying soap takes alot away. If I was interested in a basic fast shave every day I guess I would feel different. Just my view.
Soaps/creams, like most other things in wetshaving is highly subjective. Some guys are happy to get by on Williams alone, some exclusively use Dominico Caracenci, which runs in excess of $60. Some have only a couple, some have dozens.
It`s all about what is important to you. But IME once you feel the luxury of high end soaps and creams you won`t go back to Williams!
For the sake of a direct comparison, we have to take that $30 puck of soap and take the fancy vanity bowl away from it. It's unfair to compare a $3 VDH puck by itself and a $30 Harris bowl. MWF and Dr Harris without the bowl are only $15 pucks. With that in mind, both the aforementioned soaps are triple milled and will last for nearly six months, while the glycerine VDH will last about a month. So in some respects, the price is about the same between the VDH and the MWF just from speed of consumption. Once you've leveled the playing field, you can boil down that the more expensive, longer lasting soaps give a better shave than the $3 pucks.
VDH has 3 soaps, only 1 is a glycerin soap as far as I know. The VDH Deluxe has Shea Butter and Aloe Vera and yields a nice lather that lasts plenty long enough for my slow-poke shaving. I also have Mitchells Wool Fat. It's great soap too, better than the VDH, but not proportionately better to the price. What it's lacking in mainly is fragrance, which is very nondescript and mild.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alraz
I've never used an expensive soap. I've never had a problem with cheap soaps. Maybe if I tried a more expensive soap I would be converted, but I've spent less than $10 in soap i'm happy with in what, 18 months? Seems like a bargain to me.
Basically its what some are willing to pay. Personally, I go for the least expensive soap that gets the job done.
There are in betweens as well. If you can find KissMyface shaving soaps in any of your local stores, it does a wonderful job, has great aromas, and costs about 5 bucks.
I have used the Conck's and the Surrey's and the William's, but if it was just about getting the job done, I would have probably given up the quest long ago. I find that even those of these type soaps that can whip up suds, dry out quickly on the face and do not provide any where near the comfort or pleasure that you get from a shave using the Caraceni, Castle Forbes, MWF, T&H, DR Harris, Da Bomb, Carrie M's creams, Mama's soaps and a lot of better soaps/creams out there. It's funny how just an E&O can change the suds when using fragrances like Lavender or Rose. For years now, I have looked at straight razor shaving as my time and I try to get the most out of the experience that I can, each and every time.Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterRolf
I don't think there is any gospel here, but personal preference is key. Like every thing else I have done in life, I find that I get out of something what I put in to it and that has held true in all the accessories that I have used whether in custom fishing rod making or even in the way I like my motorcycle to look or even the guns I choose to shoot. It is interesting sometimes that people will buy the cheapest available product to get the job done on some things and yet spend a fortune on something else that is their passion in life.
Have fun,
Lynn
Lynn's statement is certainly one we can all rally around. No soap, however inexpensive, would be worth anything if it weren't a great shaving experience. My only "point" above was that I was kinda shocked and delighted that the VDH Deluxe deliverered so much pleasure for such a low price. I bought a puck thinking I should test it out so I can tell other newbies with even less experience than mine whether it was worth it.
Maybe it's my water, or technique (I doubt that!) but the VDH Deluxe whips up a great lather, feels good, and lasts. I also have MWF and use it, love it, have nothing bad to say about it. I also have used the Classic Shaving "house" soaps, again, fine soaps, love 'em.
It's just that when something I can buy from most pharmacies and costs so little works so well, I'm shocked and pleased. It also never hurts to know in a "shaving emergency" that there might be something available that could do the job without any drama.
Williams…no…not worth it, not at any price, not even for free as far as I'm concerned!
I plan to continue sampling other soaps, of course, and I agree that straight shaving is about more than just chopping whiskers off! It's for me an extension of my devotional and spiritual life, in a way.
Also: by saving on soap, I have money to spend on, say, a SRD Paddle Strop…now that's something to ponder!
So in the end I don't "save" money, I just divert money to other fun shaving purchases!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lynn
Probably if I had to make a list of the 10 most posted topics this is one of them. Also it's one that has no answer because the ultimate truth lies with each individual no matter if its soap or a razor or a strop. We all bring our own ideas of what qualities we find important and how much we want to spend and we all have our own ideas of what any singular item is worth to us. Thge only important thing in the end is thet we are happy with our choices and enjoy our shaving experiences.
I think that's a crucial decision because the canned goop the majority use doesn't provide adequate protection IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guarnera
The soaps I'm using are Poraso, Trumpers (cream), Mamma Bear's, and Mitchell's Wool Fat. Regardless of the cost, for some reason I just love that Poraso. I don't know what there is about it, but that's been my favorite ever since I ordered it.
I usually re-lather before I finish a pass shaving. It may be because I have only been straight shaving four months and I take a long time. I'm going through this learning curve in exchange for an outstanding shave and will do another pass if necessary to get that troublesome area under the chin and jaw cleaned up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lynn
The aggravation comes in when I use shave cream and it dries. Either flakes or bubbles (I'm not sure which) seem to fly all over my face.
For that reason I prefer soaps to creams. :soapbox:
CC,Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun
Some guys here spend a lot of time worrying about their lather drying or not lasting for an entire pass. While shaving time will certainly help determine how long your lather will last there are definitely other variables at work here too. Both water quality and air qualities will also play a large role. Here in the prairies, where the water is on the hard side and the air is drier than sand, lather can dry verrry quickly - has nothing to do with your lather making abilities. The solution? Simple, just run your brush over your face again. Takes only a couple seconds.
BTW -if your lather is 'flaking' it means it is too dry. Try hydrating it slowly until you get that fluffy whipped cream consistency.