The Shave Soap Mystique

Ladies and gentlemen:

I use quality shave soaps and creams, but overall prefer soaps.

Oh, it's not because soaps are better than creams. Of course not: how does one determine that? Based on what criteria? Or the other way around: that creams are better than soaps. There, too, based on what criteria? Is the question even sound?

No, I prefer to use soaps because of the mystique surrounding that simple and fragrant element in the daily traditional shave: of the puck of soap warming in an old-style scuttle, of the man servant creating mounds of lather to shave his master, of the barber swirling the long-handled brush in the soap mug.

Those colorful images for me create the quaint and inviting air that surrounds a good shave soap. It's the romance that frames such images of the brush swirling in a soap mug, or over a warm puck of soap in an old-style scuttle. Such images drive me in the continued search for a good shave soap more than shave cream.

I do love shave creams: In recent years I have settled on Castle Forbes, Coates, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet, Truefitt & Hill, Trumper, Institute Karite and St. James of London. The others that I plan to eliminate once they're gone include Bluebeard's Revenge, Valobra, Proraso, Omega and several others. I keep Arko around to blend in the scuttle with some soaps.

After years of trying different soaps, starting with Williams and continuing on a journey of discovery, my stash grows almost daily. Williams, VDH and Colonel Conk were eliminated long ago. So was a range of others I tried and shrugged off.

Gone also are soaps by Truefitt & Hill, Harris, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Penhaligon's, Kent (Mitchell's Wool Fat in a different suit), Cyril Salter, Pre de Provence, Institute Karite and others. All are good soaps, but they have failed to hold my interest.

I Coloniali and Erasmic I have, but they remain untried yet. The two soaps I want to try are the French Martin de Cadre and the German Tabula Rasa. The price for Martin de Cadre is way out of line, in my opinion, and I might just forget about it out of principle. (The same goes for Domenico Caraceni shave cream.)

The soaps that remain in the permanent column include: Mitchel's Wool Fat, Tabac, Provence Sante Verlaine and Mama Bear. Also the artisan soap Bairlea Farm, produced by SRP member Simpleman. This soap has been a surprise. A delightful one, I might add. The only Bairlea Farm soap I have tried is the original Cucumber Melon — and already it has moved into the permanent column.

I know the permanent column will grow in the coming years as I continue to look for quality shave soaps. After all, I am intoxicated by the shave soap mystique.

And you, ladies and gentlemen: do you share the shave soap mystique? And with what soaps?

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Obie

Well, I used to but finally I took the cure so that's one addiction I don't have.

I've pretty much settled on the same soaps for the last few years rotating between MWF, Harris,Trumpers,Haslinger and Castle Forbes Cream. The only change I've made is with Fitjars lately.

My policy is if I can't pronounce it I won't buy it.:)

I hear you there Obie! :)

I like creams, in particular Penhaligons Endymion, but some of the soaps I have are really excellent.

For me Tabac is high on the list, as is MWF and Trumpers Sandalwood. Mama Bear does a great line in soaps and the thing I really like there is the variety available. They're always good and there are so many you never get bored!

I'll have to look into some of the ones you recommend that I havent tried, its always good to add to the collection! Unfortuately I seem to be spending all my money on razors and hones at the moment, but I feel a need to delve into something else now.

All the best,

Stuart

I too love the soap. If i was rich I would buy one of every kind. Every couple months I buy a different one. Most i get rid of and a few I keep. If you think about it shave soap is just shave soap but its amazing how different every brand is and there operating characteristics.

I too have a weakness for soaps. I have quite a few quality creams that just don't seem to get used because Everytime I go to grab a jar I see a puck of soap I'd rather use. Right now my two favorites are, anything fitjar: for a manly/woodsy scent they can't be beat or soap from vintageblades.com I won two pucks a a meet in October or November and for some reason I can't get past how good this soap is: a light classic barbershop scent and excellent performance.

Obie,
That was very nice. I am still in the process of experimentation and have way too many soaps/cremes that I am trying out. Like a kid in a candy store, I want everything and actually really enjoy them all too. However, I do foresee (more like hope) that in the intermediate future, my "needs" will become more and more discriminatory and overshadow my "wants" and my tastes will evolve and mature into a more permanent state of full contentment with a few of my favorite soaps/cremes.

For the short term, like a kid in a candy store, I continue to enjoy all kinds, but some of favorites/best (based on performance) are:

Soap:

1. Harris
2. SRD Bulgarian Rose
3. Mama Bear
4. MWF
5. Cella

Cremes:

1. Cyril Salter
2. Al Raz
3. Acca Kappa
4. NancyBoy

Obie,

you wrote that you discarded Kent, but have MWF in the permanent pile. Is it for availability reasons, or are they not the same?

Thanks.

I too am drawn to soaps far more than creams for some inexplicable reason (although I do occassionally crack open my tub of T&H Trafalagar since I really enjoy the scent and it isn't available in a soap).

As far as favorite soaps go - I tend to keep two soaps in rotation at a time, one of which is almost always MWF. And while the may contain DR Harris Marlborough or p160 from time to time, more often that not it is filled with a soap from The Gentleman's Quarter. I've really been blown away by the performance of Colleen's soaps as well as their scents.

I just hope she does indeed open up shop again this spring as planned (she temporarily closed business just before the holidays to get married and move to New England)...

Outside of that, there are others I'm curious about and wanting to try - such as Provence Sante green tea - but at the moment none are calling to me strongly enough to pull me out of my current rotation/collection.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fredo456

Obie,

you wrote that you discarded Kent, but have MWF in the permanent pile. Is it for availability reasons, or are they not the same?

Thanks.

---

Hello, Fredo:

Thanks for your note.

Yes, Kent and MWF are the same to my knowledge. When some years ago I tried Kent for the first time, however, I did not know it was actually MWF in a different package. At the same time I was puzzled at the similarities the two soaps shared. Later I discovered they were the same product. Surprise, surprise.

Since I had been using MWF and that it was more easily available, I stayed with it and retired Kent to avoid redundancy. Not only that, but who can resist a superb shave soap by the colorful name of Mitchell's Wool Fat?

Stay well.

Regards,

Obie

Though I love both soaps and creams, I suppose the appeal of soaps for me has nothing to do with performance but rather the nostalgia aspect. It does seem to bring an element of joy and relaxation to my lather making. Among the brands I wouldn't be without: MWF, Taylors, Tabac, DR Harris.

Great thread as usual Obie, your writing is always intriguing and you always keep my interest while reading. I have always been more a cream lover myself but have been branching out to soaps more lately. I think I disliked soaps merely based on the fact that I couldn't lather them well at all when I first started wet shaving years ago. I realized the other day how well my lathering technique had come along when I made some great lather with a puck of sandlewood Haslinger that rivaled Cella, my favorite cream. I really love making lather regardless if it is a soap or cream.

Obie, it is always such a delight to read your posts.. i too have the love of soap.. i have many creams in my rotation.. and although they are good.. they simply don't have the allure of a nice puck of soap.. on your recommendation.. i purchased provence sante.. i decided i'd like the green tea scent and it is now my most favourite soap.. my other favourites are.

pre de provence
institut karite
mwf
ogallala


there is just something special about swirling a brush on a cake of soap. it's timeless.

Another great article Obie. I too have found a love for soaps. I started with creams as if I couldn't lather it well I could always smear a thick gob of it on:p. Now that I have perfected my lathering techniques I find I prefer soaps over the creams I have with my favorite being L'Occitane Cade currently and Mama Bear's Rosemary mint a close second. I still need to try some of the others like Tabac and MWF but have promised SWMBO to wait until at least one of my current soaps disappears.