Thread: SRD vs Mama Bear vs Tabac vs VDH vs Bigelow

Haven't tried a couple of those, but I've used the last three quite a bit.

1. Tabac - Great performer, and it often serves as a reference point when comparing others. Everyone should try it.
2. Proraso/C.O. Bigelow - Get the Bigelow cream and the Proraso "Sensitive" version of the soap (white tub). Skip the regular Proraso soap, which is nothing special, imo.
3. VDH - Not terrible, but you can skip it without missing much.

I have tried nearly every soap on the market. My conclusion, you have to try everything and find your own! Soaps, like razors and shaving rituals, are personal. My favorite right now is SRD Lime and/or Blood Orange. I really like Tabac as well. I could shave with either of these two soaps and be happy.

Just like the other's said, Most of it is personal preferance. Some guys get fantastic results with the inexpensive VDH and Williams. Some will uber them the make them richer, (adding glycerine and a dollop of shave cream) SRD, Mama Bear's, and Tabac are generally accepted to be better soaps. SRD and Mama Bear's are Glycerine based, and Tabac is Tallow based. Even things you wouldn't really think of have some impact on lather building IME. The brush, The way you build lather, (On your face, In a bowl/scuttle, etc...) Some brushes are better for soaps, while other's are better for creams. I've also found that using a larger vessel helps to build lather. YMMV....

Good point made by Zib. I even have noticed a significant difference in ease of lather building amongst differing types of bowls even.

If your bowl is smooth on the inside, if you can add some sort of texture to it like a ridge to two it will help for the lather. When I had Robert Becker to make my scuttle I had him to add a raised cross to the bottom and it really does make a difference. You could simply epoxy something like a coin or two to your bowl to help with your "whipped cream".