Item Description
OK - I'll admit it. I am a huge fan of the No 88 scent! Based on the folks that I've spoken to; this is basically a love it or hate it type of situation. So, please view this opinion from the camp that LOVES it....
That said:
At $39, this soap probably has to be the worst soap value that I can remember purchasing. If you have the scratch to buy it in it's (pictured) black glass bowl; that combination will set you back a total of $89 plus shipping!
Now that the 'elephant in the corner' has been exposed; let me tell you about this very nice shave soap:
It comes double-wrapped in some type of embossed parchment paper and the smell of the soap is readily evident when you open the shipping box. Never have foam packing peanuts smelled so nice!
At 90 grams, it's a fairly average sized "puck" that fits into my uber-classy Gladware dish.
The soap is a tallow-based soap. Light gray in color with the "Czech & Speake No 88" logo deeply embossed in the top of the soap round.
At first I use my SMF #1 brush and a bit of warm water and the lather explodes out of this soap. It smells fabulous (again, if you like #88 to begin with). The smell is definitely THERE, but not overpowering. I find that it is the consumate amount of scent for "layering" with the EdT.
While not as hard as Tabac, it seems hard enough to last quite a while. I've shaved with it three times now (4 passes each) and there is still a slight hint of the logo stamp on the top of the soap.
The lubrication is very nice (as nice and basically any other soap I've used). It does provide a great shave due to what I suspect is the shea butter in the mix. However, for the price - Honeybee Spa soap will give you at LEAST this good a shave - just not with the #88 scent that I adore.
Consider this review "taking one for the team." I bit the bullet so you don't have to... This is in no way a castigation of the product, simply the product's price point.