Thread: Shave soap and ethnic background

Hey so I have been at this wet shaving thing for a little while now and as such have gone through most of the AD's including SAD. During that period I have tried French soaps, English soaps, American soaps, Turkish soaps, Spanish soaps and Italian soaps.

In the last week I have used Williams mug, MWF, Pre de Provence, VDH, Arko and Proraso. I noticed that while all did a good job (other than Williams which continues to vex me.) However the Proraso just was that little bit better shave. All shaves where with the same blade and Proraso was the last of the shaves. As I thought about all the soaps I have used I have found the majority of my best shaves came when i was using Italian soft soaps.

Now I am American but my ethnic background is strongly Italian. So I was wondering if anyone has found that soaps that where developed in the area of there ethnic background gives them better shaves then other soaps.

Nope. I cherokee and dutch dads side, blackfoot and strongly irish moms side...her maiden name is o'rear. All that and everthing italian and german has worked best, aftershaves soaps and creams. I've tried the fabled tabac..eh ok, dr harris, TOBS, bulldog,ogalalla soap, clasic shaving multiple soaps, anthony logistics (good aftershave balm),jack black, razorock, proraso, vitos, erasmic, olimon, pre de provence, herban cowboy, feather gel and atershave, speick everything
best cream and soaps: vitos, speick, razorock, pre de provence, olimon (czech), proraso white
best aftershaves: razorock baby blue,speick splash and balm, vitos aftershaving,proraso splash, proraso whit, pre de provence
best pre shves (this is the weird thing): castle forbes (worth the money all day), razo rock original, tobs jermyn street gel, floid, proraso white

No, I have found no correlation between my ethnic background, English/German, and the soaps that give me a better shave. For the most part they all give decent shaves.

Bob

Well, I'm English, Scottish and German, so naturally the best products are MWF, Castle Forbes and Tabac.

In all seriousness, I have soaps and creams from around the world and they are all great. Sure, perception can play a large part, too.

If any of the really old soaps had any particular traits like local herbs or something those probably went out a long time ago. Most soaps are made of the same chemicals with just the scents differing (maybe). However if you think a certain soap gives you a better shave I bet it will.

This is funny.... I just posted a response to a "noob looking for his second soap" post, and suggested, shamelessly and without hesitation, that he try the soft Italian soaps. I just love 'em. I've currently got a 1kg brick of Vitos, and a smaller Valobra. In the event that I ever need to get more soap, I'll probably pick up some Cella.

Gentlemen,
I find no correlation between ethnicity and soaps or creams. I am a full-blooded Assyrian, and I like French, English and Italian soaps and creams.

I'll say nope but perception is a funny thing.

I wouldn't think there's a correlation there....but, I say this as someone who is quite Polish!! Go ahead men..let the jokes begin!!

Originally Posted by MarkinLondon

This is funny.... I just posted a response to a "noob looking for his second soap" post, and suggested, shamelessly and without hesitation, that he try the soft Italian soaps. I just love 'em. I've currently got a 1kg brick of Vitos, and a smaller Valobra. In the event that I ever need to get more soap, I'll probably pick up some Cella.

I just used Cella for the first time, and I will say without hesitation that I'm hooked!