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Is it just me or is there anyone else out there that feels like English creams... are uh, sub-par?
I just can't seem to get them to work for me! I started with Taylor of Old Bond Street, moved onto... Well, let's just say the "Big Three" aren't that big on me lol.
FINALLY!! A new earcutter poll! :rock:
Does Palmolive count as an English brand? Just tried it for the first time this week and LOVE it. (Some times the cheap stuff steals the show!)
Cheers!
I didn't answer the poll because I haven't used a whole lot of them. What I have tried have ranged from pretty good(Erasmic) to extraordinary(Truefitt & Hill).
Well if you like Truefitt & Hill so well, I think that should be a "nope" vote ; ). Glad you are enjoying it - which "poison" is it you prefer lol?Quote:
Originally Posted by Theseus
Never thought of that ; )!!Quote:
Originally Posted by csrund
Right now I'm torn between the Rose, Almond and West Indian Limes. Still have a few more samples to go through so this answer might change.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by earcutter
I have not obtained a top notch cream or soap from England since Penhaligon dropped their tallow and specially since they ruined their English Fern soap. Down to my last puck of the real stuff.
Richard
I might not like the lather all that well, but that Rose scent is out of this world lol!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Theseus
T&H Rose is next level in my mind and I never shy away from saying that, I absolutely love it! I've never had a problem whipping English shaving creams up into brilliant lathers. Might be the English water I'm using?!
I find them to be all over the place.
TOBS is basically useless, be it their cream or soap.
D R Harris is a big step up from that, T&H are decent stuff, while Castle Forbes is pretty much the best of the best (Ok, that is Scottish, but close enough:) )
Penhaligons is far and away my favorite special occassion cream. Regular creams I like T&H Number 10, TOBS, Sandalwood and Mr. Taylors, and GFT Sandalwood. And as said above the Castle Forbes line of creams. Scottland is close enough.
I think the Palmolive creams are made in India.Quote:
Originally Posted by csrund
Interesting thread.
All I use these days are English Creams and Italian soft soaps.
Whilst some are definitely not up to par (such as C&E and Edwin Jagger creams in particular as well as some creams produced by TOBS and Trumpers), the majority of them IME are.
My top favourites are:
TOBS Almond
TOBS Avocado
Vulfix Sicillian Lmes
D R Harris Almond
T&H Almond
Cyril R Salter Almond
Trumpers Almond
As you can see, I'm in a bit of an Almond phase at the moment. :)
Trumpers Coconut is also a good cream but causes a slight bit of skin irritaion when I use it.
Holy c**p, how could I forget about Penhaligon's?Quote:
Originally Posted by lz6
Thanks Bob, you are of course quite right.
Penhaligon's, and especially my personal favorite scent, the Endymion is indeed stellar stuff
LOL - I forgot Penhaligon's too. Though I have never given it a shot. Maybe it's time, but some of my creams are starting to "harden" lol, so I think I might want to finish them first! I am guessing you think it's worth the $$?Quote:
Originally Posted by Birnando
Oh and ... "Scotland Is Not Close Enough" lol. Scotland is Scotland ; )
I find trumpers to be great but TOBS and DR Harris aren't as good. Body Shop Maca Root is great (not sure where its made) as is Real Shaving Co. That said i'll choose Nanny's Silly Soap over any of them.
Truefitt & Hill, ToBS, and Palmolive are my favorite creams not made by Al. Al's stuff is some of the best I've used and reasonably priced, to boot. (alsshaving.com)
I like his stuff too.Quote:
Originally Posted by bharner
I forgot about The Real Shaving Co cream. Great lather but smells horrible, like wet mildewed books.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeltz
I have more experience with English soaps than with creams but ... I love Castle Forbes of course and I liked a few flavors of Salters creams very much. I had a tube of Taylors something or other that was alright when combined with MWF.
I have a few pucks of DR Harris and Trumpers hard soaps. The triple milled stuff. The Harris was far better for me than the Trumpers but neither has been as good as QED glycerin soap. Maybe that says more about my lathering ability than it does about their soap. :shrug:
All three of the Brit "T"s creams are brilliantly good in my experience. I've extensively used all three brands to equally good effect. The only real difference is in the scents. Haven't tried any of their soaps.
English creams are definitely some of the best out there. But of course there will always be differences of opinion - there ares still a few Castle Forbes detractors out there :roflmao
(Yes, I do realize that CF is Scottish.....)
I must be mad lol, as I will not even be replacing my Castle Forbes any time soon lol!! Crazy right :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Most of the English brands are not made by the names on the package but made by one of a very few soap makers.
I've used the Trumpers and Harris and find them at the top of the heap. Of course CF is the best soap in the universe closely followed by MDC.
Tell me how you really feel lol!! Of course I jest! :) Ask me how I much I love my AK 1869 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I am glad to see the Ney votes dwindling down to a mere 22% as of this post. I just can't figure out what's going on with me and the English Creams? I want to buy in... but my face clearly hasn't got the memo lol.
Going to drop the cash and try that MDC next!! That or the Dovo stuff.
Castle Forbes is from Scotland which, although part of the UK, is definitely not "English". I do love CF's "Cedarwood and Sandalwood", but I'm hard pressed to define it as a "cream"... perhaps "malleable soap" is more correct.
Anyway, after experimenting over the last six years with a variety of English shaving creams, I've narrowed it down to just one manufacturer: Cyril R. Salter. I own-and-use four of them: Almond, French Vetiver, Indian Sandalwood, and Wild Rose. They are like none other, and their aroma, copious lather, and lubrication are only bested by the insanely small amount of product which one needs to use -- four swirls with a damp brush, and you're ready to rock 'n roll!
I know... YMMV.
I know this isn't super exciting for my 1st post, but here it goes! Bottom line, after going through several creams, the Truefitt and Hill 1805 was the biggest improvement to my new shaving experience. I had been struggling tremendously with building even a decent lather. Keep in mind for a moment, that I've only been at this a month. Also, to learn a little bit about me..... whenever I get into a new hobby, I jump in waaaaay too fast. Meaning, in the first 2 weeks I bought a Boker King Cutter, Dovo Bismarck, Dubl Duck Goldedge, Red Imp 133, Wade and Butcher 1850's, (2) Sta Sharp, Joseph Smith 1850's, Feather Artist Club, Edwin Jagger DE89, a Robert Williams (on order) and a few others I can't think of right now. I also purchased and Edwin Jagger Badger brush, Dreadnought shaving cream, Mama's bear Amber soap, Razorock Cacao cream, George F. Trumers coconut, Proraso Sandalwood cream, and several accessories, blades, Bison Strop, etc... I have 2 Crabtree and Evelyn's on the way. I had been getting "better", but still struggling with the lather. I decided to try the Truefitt brand just from playing around on ebay looking for something "New". So, I ordered the 1805. I tried it the day I got it, and fell in LOVE!!!! I got a smooth lather, and a blade that didn't drag across my skin, or grab. Now, I know I need more TIME, & practice, which I'm sure will aid in getting a better lather out of any of these products, but...... the Truefitt worked the first time, and every time I've shaved after the initial experience. It smells incredible, it's silky smooth. I have hard water where I live, Federal Way, WA, but have come to realize that this stuff is the real deal, even with horrible water. Tomorrow I have 6 different T&H's arriving on my front porch. Overboard? Maybe, but that's just me. I find something I like and buy a nice "supply". I'm sure I'll find some others that I'll try one jar at a time, and like maybe close to as much as the TF&H, but until then, this stuff is the "CREAM" of the crop......
Oh Yeah, I know that some of you are going to bring up my awesome $40 Edwin Jagger brush. But, keep in mind that I went in head first without knowing much until reading every night on here, before finally joining a few days ago. So, with that said, I received my Simpson Chubby 2 brush today. I'm expecting big things from this brush, and I"ll tell you that when I opened the box today I was astonished at the quality without ever dipping it in one drop of water, or lathering with it yet. It's gonna be a long wait until tomorrow for my shave...........
Lol, Ryan82, you're going to start a war if you call the Scots English. Anyway if we expand this discussion to include Scotland I have used Castle Forbes, D.R. Harris and George F. Trumper creams and Cyril Salter is on my toget list. I agree they are all excellent. If fact the best I've tried.
Just bought a tube of Trumper Eucris and love it. Coates is the best cream I have ever used but is hard to find.
Well welcome to SRP!! Jumping in "head first" isn't always a bad idea :). And you sir, have jumped in head first lol. Thing is, it seems to me as though you got very lucky and got some great toys!! Woot! Good job :).
Quote:
Originally Posted by daytona
So far, I've tried Trumper Limes and CF Lavender. Love 'em both!
"Nemo me impune lacessit" comes to mind. Castle Forbes is superior in my opinion as a dirty yank ;)
Let's not forget about Penhaligons! Everything I have used from this brand is top notch. My better half uses some of their lotion and perfume as well as do my mother and grandmother. My favorite cream is the Endymion. Heavenly scent, excellent lather and you need very very little for each shave. Pricy yes, but in the long run worth every dollar, or pound.
I have read that the base cream for the 3 T's is made by the same company so the performance should be similar. Penhaligons and CF are probably unique in their formula though