Thread: I Coloniali Shave Soap

Originally Posted by pinklather

'Makes me wonder what I got. On Obie's recommendation, I bought a refill puck. It was pliable, like Prorazo. Scent (I don't care about scent much) was in the baby powder/talcum powder area. Easy to lather, makes lofty suds. Moisture wasn't good for me (I have very hard water). A follow up stroke more than a few seconds after the first stroke met dry skin.

I mentioned I don't care about scent. Then there's the lovely bride. She smelled before the shave and didn't care for it, After the shave, this turned to active loathing. 'I'll buy you the soap or cream of your choice if you'll throw that one away!' Sigh. If the moisture were better, I might have kept using it anyway, but it didn't work that well for me. I was a bit surprised. Obie's tastes, I trust without question, and I'll keep trying those he likes. I'll be forever grateful for his recommendation of Provence Sante. 'Still the best lather I've had without mixing, augmenting. 'Just outstanding stuff.

Hello, Pinklather,
I Coloniali is a good soap, and some find the fragrance intriguing. My wife loves the fragrance, as do some friends. One friend loved it so much that I had to pass on my last puck to him. I find the fragrance overpowering, which is a detractor for me. The soap itself lathers well and provides good cushion and glide. It is no match, however, for Provence Sante, Martin de Candre, Institute Karite, D.H. Harris, and some of the others. I would put it in the second or third tiers of good soaps.

Obie, Hi!!

I share your lack of enthusiasm for the 'some assembly required' approach (uber and all that). I always feel like the assembly is some attempt to make the proverbial silk purse.

While I'm far from a convert to the mix and match crowd, I must admit the essential oil stuff Glen posted about does give a most impressive result.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...er-recipe.html

I haven't given the I Coloniali the heave ho yet. 'Maybe try one more time on a day the lovely bride is away. As always, your thoughts on any sudser will get the warmest of welcomes.

Hello, Pinklather,
I have always felt a quality soap should stand on its own. Soaps such as Martin de Candre, Provence Sante, D.H. Harris, Truefitt & Hill, Institute Karite, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, and scores of others are fine by themselves. The only time I spike the lather with a touch of cream and glycerin is when I feel the soap is not up to my standard.

Since sometimes I have a hard time dumping the soap, I try to keep it alive with uber. For instance, I have one barber French soap, Savon e Barbier (I think I have the spelling correct), that I feel needs spiking until it's gone. Or I might get frustrated and just get rid of it.

I had one soap, Durance en Province, the worst soap on earth in my opinion, and I finally transferred to the shower. I don't think I even bothered ubering the bloody soap. The only good thing about that soap was the attractive bowl it came in. I have Truefitt & Hill in it.

Originally Posted by Obie

...the worst soap on earth in my opinion, and I finally transferred to the shower...

So I'm not the only one who has done that A friend gave me some "Holiday" scented shaving soap that he bought at a craft fair. He said he couldn't build a decent lather with it no matter what he tried. I gave it my "best" to no avail. Instead of tossing it, I re-purposed it into face soap.

Thanks for the post Obie - keep up the enabling, err, reviewing my friend

for me this is simply the best soap around. Great lather that is like uberlather. The scent is unbelivable good for me. It is just perfect. Never found a soap that fits all my criteria like this.