If you could only keep 4 shaving soaps or creams

[Marco]

A good short answer to this question is whatever @Marco recommends!

I don't use a ton of non-artisan soaps but here goes:

1. Cella Red (Brick) - I still have mine from my purchase in April of 2012 and use it for all of my head shaves. It is perfect for that.
2. SV 4.3 - This would be the one I use for my face. Lather can get incredibly thick. I haven't found a scent I truly love yet though.
3. Barberia Bolognini - not sure if this is considered artisan but it seems made in the classic ways. Vigoroso was/is one of my top 5 scents of all time. Unfortunately, I think it is discontinued. The classic scent was also a great almond smell. I wish I had more tubs of these!
4. Razorock La Famiglia - not sure if this is considered artisan but it seems made in the classic ways. The scents were incredible! Cumba Cheech, Zi Peppino, Nonno Michelino, Don Marco! I don't think I have ever been so excited about scents than these. I bought these all at once and loved them all - that has never happened again! Now a days, in most of the artisan soaps, I find the scents so bad that I am trying to find the least offensive but these are truly positive. Unfortunately, this line is discontinued. I have not tried the new line but Don Marco and Zi Peppino remain and they are tempting. Just thinking of these brings me back to my first years on the forum and awesome posts by @Marco about Italian soft soap. CLASSICS!

Honorable mention goes to P.160 brick - This is a classic that has also been lost to history. Beautiful almond scent though I prefer the scent of my beloved Cella over it. My brick is long gone but it was a classic.

Sir, you are really too kind and a true Gentleman.

P.S. A Saponificio Varesino shaving soap scent that I like a lot is Manna di Sicilia.
Among RazoRock's soap Plague Doctor is just amazing.

 

[scribble]

Stirling HaverFord
Maggard Tobacco and Leather
Deceleration of Grooming Massacre of Innocents
Henri ET Victoria Cognac and Cuban Cigars

RazroRock Puros is also excellent and it is really a toss between that and HEV Cognac and Cubans Cigars

"tobacco theme"

 

[Mustard Seed]

I love the Stirling Haverford.

 

[Mustard Seed]

It's hard, I have to admit. However, that was just the point...getting us to think about it. I have a ton of soaps and I thought what I would use if I could only have one now that MWF tallow is no more. Then, I found that was nearly impossible, so I got it down to four. Think on it some. What four could you not live without?

Ok, Doc , here is my list (could change tomorrow) and they are all creams:

Geo F Trumper GFT
TOBS Mr Taylor's
Geo F Trumper Limes
Cyrus R Salter Wild Rose


I want to add more...... lol

 

[Jens]

Typically Dove, Dial, Zest and Irish Spring

I used Imperial Leather for years (regular bar of soap, for shaving while in the shower), worked great, and the scent is one of my all time favourites

 

[Jens]

Top 4 ...:
Cella extra extra purissima (brick)
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Hamol shaving cream
I am tempted to put VITOS red on as number 4, but I will reserve the spot for a "wildcard"

 

[Jay21]

Arko and Gillette Foamy red could keep me happy until the end.

 

[MrMoJoe]

Subject to change, of course, but right now ...

Haslinger Schafmilch
SV Felce Aromatica
MdC Agrumes
SV Desert Vetiver

 

[bmiller3230]

1. Stirling Unscented with Beeswax
2. Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort
3. Truefitt & Hill 1805
4. Cella Red

 

[Doc Dan]

1. Stirling Unscented with Beeswax
2. Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort
3. Truefitt & Hill 1805
4. Cella Red

1 and 4 would be tops with me, also.

 

[Dezryder]

Stirling (Mutton)
Stirling MITA
Arko
Cella Bio cream

 

[thombrogan]

Haven’t tried all mine 🫢, but ARKO!, Canada Shaving Soap, and Cella Extra Extra Bio are the first three. Captain’s Choice Unscented was discontinued or else it would 4th.

@Doc Dan , if you could only have four Spyderco knives, which would you pick?

 

[Doc Dan]

Haven’t tried all mine 🫢, but ARKO!, Canada Shaving Soap, and Cella Extra Extra Bio are the first three. Captain’s Choice Unscented was discontinued or else it would 4th.

@Doc Dan , if you could only have four Spyderco knives, which would you pick?

Hey! Not fair! Hahahaha! If I could only have four Spydies they would be Manix 2 back lock, Stretch LW k390, Delica, and Dragonfly.

And BTW, where have you been? I haven't seen you on the forum in a while.

 

[linty1]

Oh my goodness...def a few I haven't tried yet that I would like to, like that one that comes in the tin can with a Goose on the front... I forget the name of it... I also have a round of Haslingers that waiting that I hear really good things about... Mike's... but from what I -have- tried..

- Tabac

and... nothing else really stands out.. I liked the Barister and Mann Chesire... the Stirling Black Cherry I remember being really nice... the Dettol cream performed really well... I used to use a lot of Taylor of Old Bond, but it's been many years... just so many brands/scents to try.

 

[helicopter]

It is an interesting question because I like the small artesans and their creative ideas so much.

Sorry small artesans.

Only room for one real soap if I have to pick four.

If I have to pick one it's going to be Cremo (probably the unscented one so I don't have to worry about getting bored) because that is what I will use if I ever get bored of this as a hobby, which I probably will at some point. When I don't want to shave I always go for Cremo or Cremo with Barbasol over it.

I would be happy with either Cella or TOBS cream in the Arko slot there.

 

[Lockback]

It is an interesting question because I like the small artesans and their creative ideas so much.

Sorry small artesans.View attachment 1849745
Only room for one real soap if I have to pick four.

If I have to pick one it's going to be Cremo (probably the unscented one so I don't have to worry about getting bored) because that is what I will use if I ever get bored of this as a hobby, which I probably will at some point. When I don't want to shave I always go for Cremo or Cremo with Barbasol over it.

I would be happy with either Cella or TOBS cream in the Arko slot there.

Cremo is good stuff. Highly underrated, IMHO.

 

[Doc Dan]

It is an interesting question because I like the small artesans and their creative ideas so much.

Sorry small artesans.View attachment 1849745
Only room for one real soap if I have to pick four.

If I have to pick one it's going to be Cremo (probably the unscented one so I don't have to worry about getting bored) because that is what I will use if I ever get bored of this as a hobby, which I probably will at some point. When I don't want to shave I always go for Cremo or Cremo with Barbasol over it.

I would be happy with either Cella or TOBS cream in the Arko slot there.

I love that Seville, too. I have about three artisans, maybe four that I will always keep around, but that isn't the purpose of the thread. Maybe we need to start a thread about the 4 artisans soaps?

 

[thombrogan]

I haven't seen you on the forum in a while.

The market for what I want is smol. The market for overly thick overly soft ledeburitic abominations is alive and well and its fans are legion.

 

[linty1]

Agreed on the artesan soaps, I always keep up the hope that Matthew from Queen Charlotte Soaps comes back for a run... I miss the Vostok.

 

[Captain Howdy]

Musgo real (expensive but the soap of a man of distinction and not fettered by price hikes)
Almost any TOBs (As my Physics professor at University once said, "the man that shaves with TOBs is probably well endowed" YMMV)
Geo Spanish leather ( I like the story behind it, and the connections to dominating lesser civilizations)
Prorasso (perfect for when the well capitalized man needs to feel a bit blue-collar)

I don't know about the soap, but Musgo Real creams have become the poster child for outrageous price hikes.