Thread: First shave with Penhaligons Blemheim Boquet

And all I can say is that this is a super luxurious cream. Not too thirsty either, just a few drops of water and an already wet brush produced a nice elegant lather that was super slick. This threesome of a Simpsons Persian Jar, my Friodur 72, and the cream made for a damn nice shave. Can anyone tell me how it compares to Martin de Cadre? Are they in the same league? Is one of higher quality than the other?

Blemheim Boquet is a special occasion cream for me and I consider it to be among they very best of creams. MDC I consider to be among the very best soaps made, perhaps the best.

OCDshaver, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet is a fine shave cream. I have it and use it. It lathers well and provides good glide and cushion. For me, however, it is not the top cream. I find Xpec and Castle Forbes a notch or two above it in overall performance.
Martin de Candre is a soap, and I try not to compare soaps with creams. Again, for me, Martin de Candre, as a shave soap, is celestial. It soars above all the soaps I have tried, and I have tried a vast number.
Still, you're doing quite well with Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by Obie

OCDshaver, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet is a fine shave cream. I have it and use it. It lathers well and provides good glide and cushion. For me, however, it is not the top cream. I find Xpec and Castle Forbes a notch or two above it in overall performance.
Martin de Candre is a soap, and I try not to compare soaps with creams. Again, for me, Martin de Candre, as a shave soap, is celestial. It soars above all the soaps I have tried, and I have tried a vast number.
Still, you're doing quite well with Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet. Good stuff.

Good to know. I guess, the real question I had was, is it worth it to still pursue getting some MDC or is it going to be a different scented version of my BB. But from what I've been reading, MDC is a must try. I've used the Castle and Forbes as well, and love it too. Never tried Xpec. Since that one is easier to get here, I may give that a shot first. But I was very impressed with the Penhaligons cream, really nice stuff.

OCD, yes, Penhaligon's is good stuff. My preferred scent is the Blenheim Bouquet. I think it should be in the shave den of every gentleman shaver. So should Xpec original. This is really good stuff. As for Martin de Candre, start saving money for it, because the soap is an experience.

Obie and I are both fans of MdC, I don't think I would ever want to be without it, and now I learn he also likes Pen's B&B. Good stuff.

I'm fairly certain we're all talking about the BB cream right? Assuming that's the case, the difference in performance is there, but I think it's primarily a function of the differing lathers one typically gets from creams vs soaps. Both will you give you an excellent lather with which to shave, but the MdC provides a thicker, more cushiony lather. Not greatly more, but noticeable. If one uses vintage Pen's B&B in soap form, however, that difference goes away.

The marginal difference in performance between soaps like this is scarcely worth even talking about. Both are superb. The major difference is in scent. Here, they are apples and oranges.

Pen's BB is a classic english fragrance one imagines wearing while conducting financial business in the city. Or meeting a mysterious woman for the first time. Or going on a long international trip, destination unknown, the outcome of which will affect global stability.(This does happen occasionally to all of us, doesn't it?)

MdC, on the other hand, I like to use before going out the back door of my country cottage in the Pyrenees to cut up a cord of wood for the winter; or when I'm taking my 14 children hiking in the rockies; or because it was an extremely hard day at work and I need the scent of hope to renew my spirit. Or I just need a good shave.

Regardless, you'll have to buy MdC at some point to find out for yourself. Not everyone loves it, but it's a standard to which other soaps strive.

Oakeshott:
Well said, indeed, my friend. Right you are. Both Martin de Candre soap and Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet cream should be standard in every shave den.

Well, its done. MCD was ordered on Monday so I'll revisit this thread once it arrives and I get a chance to use it. From all the rave reviews, I can't think that I'll be disappointed. Well, I hope not anyway. I read almost as many rave reviews of MWF and that is one soap I'll leave for the rest of the forum - I simply did not like it. But I'm a Francophile by nature so I'm confident that I'll be a fan. I tend to gravitate toward creams with the exception of DR Harris. I find the most glycerine based creams don't provide me the lush lather that I prefer. But from what you gentlemen have said, this should not be the case with MCD. I keep hearing that its a full rich lather. Sounds perfect. Looking forward to it.....and my new Revisor 7/8. Spent WAY too much money this week.

OCD, MWF is not and should never be spoken in the same breath as MDC!!!!

All kidding aside, I also can not stand MWF or Tabac. I know it goes against pop culture here but they are two that I detest. Other then that, I own almost everything else out there that you can have.(Obie is to blame!!!)
MDC is one of the few soaps I do not need to Uber lather with to get the performance I like in my lather. I still will at times but only for scent profile's.
I personally love anything Pen. OPUS, BB, 1870 etc. They are solid upper tier quality but not best in my den. Obie and Bob are spot on.

I look forward to seeing what you think of MDC.

Paul

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

OCD, MWF is not and should never be spoken in the same breath as MDC!!!!

All kidding aside, I also can not stand MWF or Tabac. I know it goes against pop culture here but they are two that I detest. Other then that, I own almost everything else out there that you can have.(Obie is to blame!!!)
MDC is one of the few soaps I do not need to Uber lather with to get the performance I like in my lather. I still will at times but only for scent profile's.
I personally love anything Pen. OPUS, BB, 1870 etc. They are solid upper tier quality but not best in my den. Obie and Bob are spot on.

I look forward to seeing what you think of MDC.

Paul

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone on MWF and Tabac. This purchase of MDC is looking more promising every minute.