Who's using the "Good Stuff"

I hear lot's of different soaps and creams mentioned here, That's good. It's fun to try new soaps and creams. I think the last new soap I used was Joris, recommened by Obie...Good stuff....

I want to know who's using the "good stuff". as far as Creams go? Who's using Castle Forbes and/or Xpec?

I don't hear much about these anymore, but they both remain on top of my cream list. They are expensive, it's not like buying a tub of razorock, but it's good to spoil yourself once in a while. The Holiday's are coming. Both provide great lather, cushion, glide, moisturization, fragrance, all that stuff. They are completely different in texture. Castle Forbes is a dense cream, almost a paste, while Xpec (sold as a soap) is actually a very soft cream, akin to Spencer and Devon or the extinct, R.I.P. Domenico Caraceni (I miss that stuff) Caraceni and Xpec were both made by the same Manufacturer, Forrester. They still make Xpec, and have had input on Czeck and Speake 88, among others.

Rich

LOL - I have a buddy who's using the Xpec and loves it. I trust his judgement but it's such a personal thing isn't it lol.

For example, I really am not the biggest fan of Castle Forbes... or Razorock for that matter lol. Many would call me the fool, and to be fair, I have only ever tried one flavor of either - but that was enough to know with everything else out there - I am not giving them another go. :) Though it was fun learning that AND, I have discovered that the Castle Forbes lime mixed with Nancy Boy's Replenishing, is a match made in heaven on those hot summer months.

In the colder months I really like my Acca Kappa 1869! Is it the "good stuff?" Heck yeah! Why? Cuz I love it lol! But the scent does start to dissipate after about six months after opening it.

I think this x-mas I might give the Penhaligon's Opus a go. :)

I definitely do...I always had a hard time giving people ideas for gifts for me...xpec, adp, smn, MdC etc are all used pretty regularly. I really want to hunt down some domenico caraceni, but I won't hold my breath in finding some. It lasts so long, and once you have the razors and brushes, soaps/creams are the main variable in the shaving routine...why not go for it.

I use Castle Forbes, probably my favorite shave cream. There are many good creams and soaps but the CF is my favorite.

oh yes.
I use all three of them.
DC, XPec and CF are the best of the best out there. IMHO

Im using the Castle Forbes Lime but to be truthful i perfer my eshave lime.

Rich, I'd tell you that I'm using the good stuff but I'm pretty sure you know that already :D

I've either owned or tried the majority of the top brands (CF, DC, Xpec, Penhaligans etc) and once you get spoiled by them there is no going back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Rich, I'd tell you that I'm using the good stuff but I'm pretty sure you know that already :D

I've either owned or tried the majority of the top brands (CF, DC, Xpec, Penhaligans etc) and once you get spoiled by them there is no going back.

---

Ryan,

I knew you'd pop in. Ryan and I have been sharing soap and cream info since we joined. We have the same tastes in that area...

Thanks to all who posted....

Rich

I'm back to the Razo rock after branching out to the others. I guess I got lucky in that Razo rock was probably the third or fourth brand I used but have been using it since.

from what I've tried, I really like TOBS. I've tried Geo. F. Trumper samples and just didn't like the scent of it. the feel (to me) was a little lacking compared to TOBS. I'll have to try some Truefitt, as I keep hearing great things about it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by earcutter

LOL - I have a buddy who's using the Xpec and loves it. I trust his judgement but it's such a personal thing isn't it lol.

For example, I really am not the biggest fan of Castle Forbes... or Razorock for that matter lol. Many would call me the fool, and to be fair, I have only ever tried one flavor of either - but that was enough to know with everything else out there - I am not giving them another go. :) Though it was fun learning that AND, I have discovered that the Castle Forbes lime mixed with Nancy Boy's Replenishing, is a match made in heaven on those hot summer months.

In the colder months I really like my Acca Kappa 1869! Is it the "good stuff?" Heck yeah! Why? Cuz I love it lol! But the scent does start to dissipate after about six months after opening it.

I think this x-mas I might give the Penhaligon's Opus a go. :)

---

This post and several others here make me wish that I lived near some of you guys so we could each agree to buy one spendy cream, and then pass them around. I cannot afford to try many of these, just to try out...Would be nice if someone sold/offered/gave out samples:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by unit

This post and several others here make me wish that I lived near some of you guys so we could each agree to buy one spendy cream, and then pass them around. I cannot afford to try many of these, just to try out...Would be nice if someone sold/offered/gave out samples:D

---

There are vendors who do samples Unit, if you look hard enough. What you don't get with samples though, is the lovely packaging... and if you are a sucker for packaging as I am... :).

When I went hard buying new creams and balms, a guy I befriend here and I would ship out samples to each other. It was awesome!

I quite seriously would be glad to send you samples but am now working at reducing my collection and wouldn't feel as though I am doing you justice anymore as my creams are getting old and quite seriously - the scents are starting to dissipate. :(

But seriously - have a look around. Do a search on "samples." Another great way to give stuff a try is going the travel size route. But there is still no substitute to forking out the cash and buying new :).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StraightRazorRobot

from what I've tried, I really like TOBS. I've tried Geo. F. Trumper samples and just didn't like the scent of it. the feel (to me) was a little lacking compared to TOBS. I'll have to try some Truefitt, as I keep hearing great things about it.

---

As far as performance, those three are pretty much equal...i've heard it rumored they are all made by the same company, just use different scents, but i can't confirm that. the coconut by trumpers is really something great if you like coconut and haven't tried it...i would recommend it. of those three brands, that and T&H's Grafton are the only ones i keep in my cupboard, but IME you won't find a ton of difference in performance of the "three T's"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by earcutter

There are vendors who do samples Unit, if you look hard enough. What you don't get with samples though, is the lovely packaging... and if you are a sucker for packaging as I am... :).

When I went hard buying new creams and balms, a guy I befriend here and I would ship out samples to each other. It was awesome!

I quite seriously would be glad to send you samples but am now working at reducing my collection and wouldn't feel as though I am doing you justice anymore as my creams are getting old and quite seriously - the scents are starting to dissipate. :(

But seriously - have a look around. Do a search on "samples." Another great way to give stuff a try is going the travel size route. But there is still no substitute to forking out the cash and buying new :).

---

I really appreciate that.

I have some lesser priced creams that are doing great for me...but I will see what I can find in the way of samples.

Thanks agn!

Gentlemen:
Xpec is exquisite — in every way. I have the original. And even though it is an expensive cream, I'll always manage to muster up enough shekels to keep it in the shave den.
Castle Forbes has also been a regular in the shave den, and will remain so. I like the lavender.
Another cream I have enjoyed through the years is Santa Maria Novella. I had been out of it for a couple years, until recently my brother brought me a tub from Italy. Amazing how much I had missed it. In the tub, the fragrance is slightly medicinal. When lathering, however, the fragrance blooms with complex delights.
Good stuff, indeed, Zib.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:
Xpec is exquisite — in every way. I have the original. And even though it is an expensive cream, I'll always manage to muster up enough shekels to keep it in the shave den.
Castle Forbes has also been a regular in the shave den, and will remain so. I like the lavender.
Another cream I have enjoyed through the years is Santa Maria Novella. I had been out of it for a couple years, until recently my brother brought me a tub from Italy. Amazing how much I had missed it. In the tub, the fragrance is slightly medicinal. When lathering, however, the fragrance blooms with complex delights.
Good stuff, indeed, Zib.

---

Awe dude... I have heard so many good things! And that description of how it blooms is just awesome. Now I NEED one too - sigh! Where do you get that stuff anyway? No I am not flying out to Italy! Do they ship here?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by earcutter

Awe dude... I have heard so many good things! And that description of how it blooms is just awesome. Now I NEED one too - sigh! Where do you get that stuff anyway? No I am not flying out to Italy! Do they ship here?

---

Thanks for the kind words, my friend. Yes, this is good stuff. The only place I have seen Santa Maria Novel in the U.S. is at Lee's Safety Razors.

I've always been to cheap and boring to splurge on expensive shave gear. Maybe someday I'll branch out and try some of this stuf...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

I've always been to cheap and boring to splurge on expensive shave gear. Maybe someday I'll branch out and try some of this stuf...

---

I agree once my soap runs out i think i should try someone who makes it handmade.
but there so many choices. I still using the soap that came with my Studebaker mug.
I wonder how old that is cann't be too old cause the soap that was in the mug was wraped in
plastic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

I've always been to cheap and boring to splurge on expensive shave gear. Maybe someday I'll branch out and try some of this stuf...

---

Surely you jest. Aren't you the guy with all the custom razors, Japanese hones, expensive colognes and brushes? All of a sudden $50 for a tub of shaving cream sounds pretty good...

I know some of these creams and soaps are expensive, but a little goes a long way. Xpec is a 250ml tub, it's large. Castle Forbes is 200ml, also nice size. With Castle Forbes, you can use a very small amount, I mean, 1/2 almond ( I have a water softner)

So, those along with a few others in rotation will last. I still use Williams, and I like Razorock XXX. Both are inexpensive, and good. It seems soaps and creams don't go bad in my house. My Castle Forbes is going on 4 years old, seriously. It hasn't lost anything.

I had two shave creams go bad quickly, One was TOBS Avacado, which the vendor happily replaced. The other was Al's The Bomb Calypso. Both liquified. I didn't even bother asking Al. I have other offering from both and they're fine. I believe those two were just bad from the beginning. No reflection on either vendor.