Thread: Five Favorite Hard Soaps

1) P. 160 in all its forms
2) Tabac
3) Santa Maria Novella
4) MWF
5) Irisch Moos

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

1) P. 160 in all its forms
2) Tabac
3) Santa Maria Novella
4) MWF
5) Irisch Moos

I have heard great things about Santa Maria Novella but have not yet tried it. Is it a hard soap or more in the mode of P160?

No special order:

Speick
Omega
Tabac
Trumpers Almond
Harris

I value these because they produce dense, wet lathers with minimal effort. Others mentioned here, like MWF, may get there eventually, but require a lot of TLC from me. Good weekend soaps.

You don't hear much about it here in the States because it is so hard to purchase but Martin de Candre is my choice as favorite hard soap. I have all the popular Italians and some of the English soaps and Martin de Candre is clearly the best.

Originally Posted by BullGoose

I have heard great things about Santa Maria Novella but have not yet tried it. Is it a hard soap or more in the mode of P160?

Its along the lines of the Duro on the P.160. A really really firm cream

Originally Posted by LouieGrandie

You don't hear much about it here in the States because it is so hard to purchase but Martin de Candre is my choice as favorite hard soap. I have all the popular Italians and some of the English soaps and Martin de Candre is clearly the best.

I couldn't agree with this more. Britain is only a few miles off the French coast and yet the postage/delivery cost for this soap is extortionate. But it will last me at least 2 years given my usage. I have the 170g glass tub and in the 6 months or so that I've used it, it's barely gone down 3-4mm. It's a superb performer!!

Only other hard soap I would mention that may not have been mentioned here is Creed. Original Vetiver is my choice, but although it can be hard to lather at first, the results are soooooo good. Used it today followed by CF Lime Oil balm and my face feel so soft I can't stop touching it. Probably my favourite 'hot date' soap

Originally Posted by BullGoose

Since there was already a list for favorite shave creams, I thought I would start a list for favorite shave soaps. I am limiting this list to hard soaps that come in puck form. Shave sticks and soft soaps can form a separate list.

For me this is a moving target but as of now, my five favorite shave soaps are:

1) Mitchell's Wool Fat: I have hard water and it took a little while to find the sweet spot. Now that I have found it, this is the best shave soap I have ever used in terms of protection and skin conditioning properties. I think I could use a shard of glass and still get a BBS shave.

2) Vintage Trumper Tallow Shave Soap: Why Trumper discontinued this product is beyond me. I find it far superior to their current production vegetable based shave soaps. Creamy rich lather with great scents.

3) Penhaligons Tallow Shave Soaps: While most people prefer the English Fern, I find that the Bleinheim Bouquet works better for me. May be because of my hard water. In any case, they are both excellent soaps with outstanding scents.

4) D R Harris Shave Soaps: Along with Mitchell's Wool Fat, the D R Harris shave soaps are the best current production shave soaps in my opinion.

5) I Coloniali Shave Soap: My favorite vegetable based shave soap by a mile. The lather is extremely slick and the scent unique.

What 5 soaps make your list?

My top five:

1. Mitchell's Wool Fat
2. Mitchell's Wool Fat
3. Mitchell's Wool Fat
4. Mitchell's Wool Fat
5. Mitchell's Wool Fat

MWF
Tabac
P160
Proraso
Mühle Sea Buckthorn

-Stuart

I knew lots of people love Mitchell's Wool Fat and everyone may boo and hiss but as someone who has both Mitchell's Wool Fat and Martin de Candre for me at least Martin is superior because it lathers up quickly and easily. I didn't have to watch a video to get great lather. The lather also is the best of the hard soaps that I have.

I guess the next question I have, is why are the British hard soaps such as Mitchell's Wool Fat and D.R. Harris Arlington so hard to lather up.

Originally Posted by LouieGrandie

I knew lots of people love Mitchell's Wool Fat and everyone may boo and hiss but as someone who has both Mitchell's Wool Fat and Martin de Candre for me at least Martin is superior because it lathers up quickly and easily. I didn't have to watch a video to get great lather. The lather also is the best of the hard soaps that I have.

I guess the next question I have, is why are the British hard soaps such as Mitchell's Wool Fat and D.R. Harris Arlington so hard to lather up.

Because your loading tool is floppy?