Originally Posted by
Sargon
To muddy the waters further, cream vs soap isnt' really binary, so much as a continuum. On one end are hard soaps like Williams, DR Harris, and MWF, on the other are creams like Kiss My face, TOBS, and Proraso. Here's where it gets messy. In-between those are what are called soft soaps, which can vary from almost hard, but can be reshaped with enough force ( Arko) to the soft, putty like Razorock XXX.
In general, creams have stronger scents, and are easier to load, while soaps give a bit more value for your money, but have a lighter scent and take a bit of work, especially in hard water. Both can make a great lather and give an exceptional shave, however.
Hopefully that made things a little clearer.