Do you buy custom/indie soaps?

[john.crissman]

Ok, we (ShavingEssentials.Net) have tried off and on to sell some soaps, always with little success. And since no manufacturer just makes shaving products, we have access to tons of soaps.

So, do you buy custom/indie/high-end soap?

[Shane]

I do. I feel good about doing it as well because it supports small businesses.

[Gruder]

I do, John, though I tend to prefer non-glycerin bath soap varieties, simply because of longevity.

[B R A N D X®]

I definitely do. I enjoy trying different soaps. My favorites are the Savon de Marseille blocks. Big, chunky, great lather and never seem to dry my skin.

I'd be more than happy to send you my soap business John.

[Eagle]

The wife and I just placed an order. If we like it, we will start ordering custom soaps. Make that if SHE likes it we will start ordering custom soaps. :redface:

[Not A Nice Person]

I really haven't, and don't, but after I finish the three bars of Nancy Boy bath soap that were in my gift pack . . . in about a year or more from early indications of long-lastingness (is that even a word? LOL!) . . . it's going to be mighty hard to go back to Lever 2000 or Tone, I'll tell you that.

I really had no idea there was this big a difference. I mean, I've used nice soaps before, but . . . not THIS good.

NANP™

[ColbyPants]

I buy Mama Bear's bath soaps, does that count?

[JBHoren]

TGQ Leatherneck and Desert Ironwood... and I just ordered Colleen's Cavendish Black, Lemon Verbena, and another Leatherneck (even though I started a new cake of it today, I cannot be without one in reserve).

QED shaving soaps, too... lots of 'em. :tongue:

[burningdarkness]

I've been thinking of making my own soap. As soon as I have a nice chunk of time on my hands, I think I'll try my hand at whipping up a batch of soap. Other than that, I've bought a lot of custom/indie shaving soaps/creams/aftershaves.

[burnwood]

I do. I was just telling the wife how proud I feel about buying home made products from the smaller businesses. I am always willing to try any soap from anyone.

[john.crissman]

I buy Mama Bear's bath soaps, does that count?

Absolutely! Unless she recently signed a deal with P&G.

It looks like we need to revisit this idea. Thanks guys!

[sachin]

I have only recently started buying homemade bath soaps. I have been using Chagrin Valley soaps - presently I am using a "Rose Shea Butter" soap and have a
"Avocado Shea Butter" soap in reserve.

[JDE]

If you knew how often i buy bars of soap - typical store soap, nice frag house soap, indie home made, huge weird foreign bars, fruity, moisturising, plain.... it's become my new AD.
It is all with the purpose of finding the ever-elusive "one," but like shaving soaps and creams and colognes and AS's and tobacco's and booze and movies, it all ends up being a Top 5 scenario.

[Shmelissa]

If you knew how often i buy bars of soap - typical store soap, nice frag house soap, indie home made, huge weird foreign bars, fruity, moisturising, plain.... it's become my new AD.
It is all with the purpose of finding the ever-elusive "one," but like shaving soaps and creams and colognes and AS's and tobacco's and booze and movies, it all ends up being a Top 5 scenario.

+1. I only bought 3 bars over the weekend. Though I believe that I may have found the 'key' to soap that my boyfriend will use. It can't smell...more specifically...it can't smell like one of those stores in the mall that you can smell from the other end of the place.

[ColbyPants]

Absolutely! Unless she recently signed a deal with P&G.

It looks like we need to revisit this idea. Thanks guys!

Well then, yes I do!


And I would definitely take a look at your offerings if you decide to carry them, as I had a great experience ordering from Shaving Essentials in the past!

[laconic1]

I do use Nancy Boy soap. Very nice, so much better than store bought. I have enough soap to last a year or so, so I'm trying not to buy more right now but I'll certainly buy more in the future.

[Evbo]

You bet I buy body soaps from small co's. Nancy Boy, QED, & a little company in PA called Copa Soaps (http://www.copasoaps.com/) (their Shea soap in particular is wonderful).

Bring it on! :biggrin:

Evan

[THECHEBB]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

[Rem Freeman]

Hadn't in a while, but since I ordered from Nancy Boy and got a free bar of soap from them, I've revisited the idea of it.

[MotoMike]

I do. I like the hard milled soaps, not the glycerin types. I really like the Musgo Real Men's Body soap. Be very happy to get soaps from you John. If anyone knows of a small cottage maker who does soaps like this let me know.

[OldSaw]

As much as I like the ones I've tried, I prefer triple milled soaps.

[Doc4]

I tend to get higher-end 3-milled soaps, as well as glycerine/artisinal soaps. Anything to stay away from supermarket name-brand generica.

I doubt I would buy bath soaps over the internet, except as a throw-in on a shaving supplies order, though. The local merchants seem to have a good supply so I can sniff-&-shop.

[RoyalKooparillo]

I definitely do. I enjoy trying different soaps. My favorites are the Savon de Marseille blocks. Big, chunky, great lather and never seem to dry my skin.

I'd be more than happy to send you my soap business John.

Savon de Marseille is a favorite of mine as well. I love their lavender soap with crushed lavender buds. It gives the thickest, most moisturizing, and heavenly-smelling lather...I've even shaved with it, I couldn't help myself. Worked out well!

[ratcheer]

John, I have purchased a few shaving soaps from you and really appreciate your products and service. However, for non-shaving soaps, I am content with what I find at Costco. I just don't have an interest in fancy / expensive bath soap.

Tim

[cybrok]

Half of my shaving creams/soaps are made by Colleen and TheGentlemensQuarter. I really like her products and she's really nice to deal with.

[rickw]

I've used the L'Occitane olive for maybe five years.

[Poulin]

I've tried out some indie Canadian soaps that I have picked up here and there. There's a brand that I get at the Calgary Farmer's Market that I quite like. They have a patchouli bar that I like and all there soaps are nice and big and last well.

[Austin]

As much as I like the ones I've tried, I prefer triple milled soaps.

Same here. I don't buy glycerin soaps anymore.

[OldSchoolYoungin]

It's another AD for me.

[prewt]

Before I joined this site, no.... Since joining B&B, YES. I love NB and am going to order TGQ, MB and QED. Keep us informed John.

[iron maiden]

Yes I buy indie soaps. There is a local soap manufacturer that sells some nice soaps, although they are glycerin based. But I still like them as they are quite moisturizing. There's another place that sells some triple milled soaps which I've been wanting to try.

[drbenfed]

Santa Maria Novella

[tuco]

Borotalco and Lightfoot's Athletic Soap are staples for me.

[dnjrboy]

We are currently using the Rocky Mountain Soap, which are based out of Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Really like them alot. The scents are pretty decent, right now I still smell a little like a cinammon bun.

They also seem gentler on my skin than the other mass market soaps we were using before.

[koso]

I use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap, I'm not sure where it would fit on this spectrum.

It's definitely not grocery store detergent bar stuff, but probably too widely distributed to be considered indie.

[Duckster]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I haven't had much success with any of the indie Shave soaps that are popular here.

The only indie Bath soap I've tried so far is Nancy Boy's Signature and it is very good.

[Doc4]

We are currently using the Rocky Mountain Soap, which are based out of Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Really like them alot. The scents are pretty decent, right now I still smell a little like a cinammon bun.

They also seem gentler on my skin than the other mass market soaps we were using before.

We were just in the Rockies and picked up some of their soaps. I'm fond of Avanlanche, and am looking forward to trying ... oh, what was it called? ... Glacier Ice or something ... it's supposed to be a shave soap (breath officially not held) but I'll use it in the shower. Both have a nice minty scent, the Ice one even mintier (and some menthol?)

Nice stuff.

[Etoyoc_Rebmos]

I do/will order indie soaps. However, I haven't found a local supplier yet (unless MB is considered local for me). Soap makers in the area either haven't been able to figure out how to make shaving soaps, haven't tried, or haven't responded to my questions. I am willing to purchase online independent soap brands (especially if I have read good reviews) when I can't support local.

[Seraphim]

I've been thinking of making my own soap. As soon as I have a nice chunk of time on my hands, I think I'll try my hand at whipping up a batch of soap. Other than that, I've bought a lot of custom/indie shaving soaps/creams/aftershaves.

Nice documentary about two guys who go into the soap business:
http://www.bpqd.org/soap.jpg