Updating the Soap and Cream Stash

Gentlemen:

I continually evaluate my soaps and creams to update the rotation. Subsequently the brands I don't want are not renewed once they run out. Some soaps and creams, not surprisingly, remain on the shave den counter year after year. I prefer soaps to creams, not that they are better, but because, well, I prefer soaps to creams, because they give a bigger taste of nostalgia than do creams. So here are the latest results:

Soaps:

Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, Truefitt & Hill, Provence Sante Verlaine, L'Occitane, Mama Bear and I Coloniali remain. I Coloniali is relatively new for me and I am delighted with it — rich lather, intoxicating fragrance, smooth glide and comfortable cushion. I really like this soap. I also keep Edwin Jagger Aloe Vera for travel — I prefer soaps to creams for travel. All the other soaps will be phased out.

Creams:

Castle Forbes lavender, Trumper's rose, Coates, Institute Karite and Edwin Jagger stay. Not Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. I must say, Penhaligon's cream has been a disappointment. Oh, not that it's bad. No, of course, not — it's nowhere near Castle Forbes. Rather, I find Penhaligon's more hype than substance. I will continue to keep Arko around to use as a blender with the lower grade soaps until they are gone.

I am sure I will continue to discover new soaps and creams for myself, some of which will be worth keeping and some better off retired. I still want to try Martin de Candre and Fitjar neroli, but I'll wait till my wallet enjoys a feast.

Any thoughts, gentlemen?

Regards,

Obie

That's a good selection...! I like Trumpers soaps an creams, they're always good, and Tabac and MWF of course.

I also like Penhaligons Endymion, which is probably my favourite cream. Lathers like crazy, smells great and has fabulous glide and cushion. JMHO of course...! :)

I also agree on Mama Bears soaps, I really love the cucumber and mint one, that's great.

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Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

Soaps:

Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, Truefitt & Hill, Provence Sante Verlaine, L'Occitane, Mama Bear and I Coloniali remain. I Coloniali is relatively new for me and I am delighted with it — rich lather, intoxicating fragrance, smooth glide and comfortable cushion. I really like this soap. I also keep Edwin Jagger Aloe Vera for travel — I prefer soaps to creams for travel. All the other soaps will be phased out.

Creams:

Castle Forbes lavender, Trumper's rose, Coates, Institute Karite and Edwin Jagger stay. Not Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. I must say, Penhaligon's cream has been a disappointment. Oh, not that it's bad. No, of course, not — it's nowhere near Castle Forbes. Rather, I find Penhaligon's more hype than substance. I will continue to keep Arko around to use as a blender with the lower grade soaps until they are gone.
Any thoughts, gentlemen?

Regards,

Obie

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My good friend Obie...

You too are an I Coloniali user like me. I think the fragrance is delightful. Then too, I also have Tabac, L'Occitane, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Mama Bear's (Lime Ice), and Truefitt & Hill (Trafalgar) in my shaving soap inventory.

It appears that great minds think alike. :)

Of course I also have Castle Forbes (Lime) shaving cream. Being a Penhaligon's junkie, I'm going to hang on to my Blenheim Bouquet.

Have you tried Queen Charlotte or Portman Square shaving soap/cream? You may like those as well.

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Originally Posted by jhenry

My good friend Obie...

You too are an I Coloniali user like me. I think the fragrance is delightful. Then too, I also have Tabac, L'Occitane, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Mama Bear's (Lime Ice), and Truefitt & Hill (Trafalgar) in my shaving soap inventory.

It appears that great minds think alike. :)

Of course I also have Castle Forbes (Lime) shaving cream. Being a Penhaligon's junkie, I'm going to hang on to my Blenheim Bouquet.

Have you tried Queen Charlotte or Portman Square shaving soap/cream? You may like those as well.

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Hello, jhenry:

Thanks for your note. I have not tried Queen Charlotte or Portman Square. These days, because of my fondness for soaps, I hesitate to buy creams. These two creams, however, I will keep in mind. Thanks for the suggestion. As for I Coloniali, I find it a delightful soap. I bought it in the ceramic tub, too, thinking I might as well go all the way, since I liked it so much. Good stuff, I think.

Regards,

Obie

I can only add that when you can find it, Carecini cream is worth it. Awesome!!!!

Mr. Yadgar,
I have a few favorite soaps that are not on your list. One being the products from our own simpleman: Bairlea Farms. It is a deceptively inexpensive soap and although the fruity scents might sound tempting they are light, crisp and short lived. Another I can suggest is the Himalaya soap from Escential at Escential Lotions & Oils while there you may want to pick up the organic cream with shea butter and white tea to mix with the soap making one of the greatest uberlathers you will experience.

Enjoy your search,
-G

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Originally Posted by deighaingeal

Mr. Yadgar,
I have a few favorite soaps that are not on your list. One being the products from our own simpleman: Bairlea Farms. It is a deceptively inexpensive soap and although the fruity scents might sound tempting they are light, crisp and short lived. Another I can suggest is the Himalaya soap from Escential at Escential Lotions & Oils while there you may want to pick up the organic cream with shea butter and white tea to mix with the soap making one of the greatest uberlathers you will experience.

Enjoy your search,
-G

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Hello, Gerrit:

I do have the Bairlea Farms green tea soap. It's quite good. I will keep the Himalaya soap in mind. Thanks for the suggestion.

Regards,

Obie

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Originally Posted by Lynn

I can only add that when you can find it, Carecini cream is worth it. Awesome!!!!

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Hello, Lynn:

I had forgotten about Caraceni. Thanks for the reminder. Yes, I have heard many good things about it and intend to buy it one of these days. The last I looked Lucky Scent was out of it. I'll check again.

Stay well.

Regards,

Obie

+1 Obie, I was disappointed myself with Penhaligons. After hearing so much about it, I expected more. I made the mistake of buying it with La'Occtaine, which just blew Penhaligon's out of the water....

Oh, and a big +1 to Domenico Caraceni. It remains a staple in my collection....

Rich

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Originally Posted by zib

+1 Obie, I was disappointed myself with Penhaligons. After hearing so much about it, I expected more. I made the mistake of buying it with La'Occtaine, which just blew Penhaligon's out of the water....

Oh, and a big +1 to Domenico Caraceni. It remains a staple in my collection....

Rich

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Hello, Rich:

Yes, I, too, considered the hype about Penhaligon's cream, but was surprised with its performance. Oh, it's a fine cream, as I noted earlier, but it falls short of expectation for me. As for Caraceni, that's on my list for the next cream purchases, although I continue to shy away from buying creams and concentrate on soaps. You're right about L'Occitane. That is a superb product. There is a L'Occitane store in a mall here in the province and I pay it regular visits.

Stay well.

Regards,

Obie

Obie,

If you haven't yet tried it, Martin de Candre must be on a list of soaps. I know you like the French soaps, and this one is head and shoulders above the others, IMHO!

Your friend,

Bill

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Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

Obie,

If you haven't yet tried it, Martin de Candre must be on a list of soaps. I know you like the French soaps, and this one is head and shoulders above the others, IMHO!

Your friend,

Bill

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Hello, Bill:

Yes, I love French soaps and creams. Martin de Candre has been haunting me for quite sometime and I have done extensive research on it. What's stopping me from getting it is the price, with the added shipping. I have a feeling, though, that soon I'll start dreaming about the soap and then I'm really in trouble. I think I may break down and buy it. In the wood tub, too — might as well go all the way. Thanks for reminding me of it, my good friend.

Regards,

Obie

Probably not helping you or your SAD here, Obie, but Martin de Candre really is the "top of the cream" (pun very much intended!). You can use it all year round as the scent/lubrication it offers is suited to all weather. The feeling after you rinse it off is superb. Very smooth and soft skin.

I would also say get the wooden bowl. You get more than the 170g in my opinion. I have the large glass jar and it has hardly gone down a few millimetres. This won't last for just a year, but more likely go on for 2 or 3 and that's with daily use.

A great collection of soaps and creams, Obie:)

If I was to recommend anything more to try, it would be along the lines of the previous posters.

For creams, the Domenico Caraceni is fantastic. On par with Castle Forbes I think.
The smell of this soap is also worth mentioning. It is fantastic, and more importantly, it is my wife's favorite too.
In fact, she had me order the EdT as well. lovely stuff.

For soaps, I would also, like many others, recommend the Martin de Candre.
I bought the wooden bowl, and let me tell you, I'll be a very old man before that bowl is empty:)
It's packed to the brim and then some!