Martin de Candre savon à raser

Price

Always the most contentious aspect of MdC. I justify it by considering the weight of the soap which is larger than most, the fact that you tend to use less soap compared to others, and the sheer quality of the product. Hell, if you shave with creams, even when factoring the shipping of MdC, I have no doubt that you would be paying considerably more per shave. So in this respect the price is very good, and the quality as far beyond any cream I've used.

Quality

The quality is unmatched by any of the soaps that I have owned (cella, MWF, tabac, TOBS lavender soap, TOBS avocado cream, GFT coconut cream, several T&H creams, arko creams, spieck cream, etc....). The ingredients are pure and simple, and the packaging is classy.

Scent

The scent is amazing. According to their website, it is a combination of lavender, rosemary, mint, and benson (whatever that is) essential oils, not synthetic fragrances. It certainly smells natural, which is something I can't say for any other products I know of. Tabac smells so cheap after using MdC (if it didn't anyway); I used to really enjoy the smell of MWF, but it's now too plain, and I could go on. It was a bit harsh when it first arrived, but leave the lid off for a day or two and it becomes heavenly. I mostly get the rosemary and lavender, with the mint being a bit more subdued.

Lather

The lather is incredibly luxurious. It has a very distinct feel, much more than any other soap I know. It's easy to produce and very protective (I went nick free for the very first time with my first MdC lather).

Efficacy

MdC works great. I get a very close and comfortable shave.

Moisturising

This is a soap, and I think all soaps are drying to an extent. I can't tell the difference between this and MWF, but this may be due to my skin type. I don't think it should be penalised for being a soap.


Bottom line, this is the most outstanding soap I have ever used, and I will never be without it. Actually, I am intending to sell off most of my stockpile of other soap so that I can purchase more MdC, and maybe some other French soaps, but I highly doubt there is anything that will quite match this.

Most efficient soap I have used to this point. With very little loading the lather explodes from the brush. MdC gives a very close nick-free shave and leaves my face feeling well moisturized for a non-tallow soap. It is quite expensive up front and I didn't love the scent but it makes for such a nice shave that I feel its worth it. IMO it's MdC and MWF are in a league of their own.

Simply out, its the best soap I have ever used, and I have over 25 soaps and creams in my Shave Den. It is not cheap, but this is one of the soaps that is absolutely worth the money.I bought mine directly from France (in Paris). Its worth going the extra mile to buy it.

This is a fisrt class product. A very small amount is required to make a luxurious lather. Hence i gave it an 8 for price.

In the interest of full disclosure, my regular shave cream is AdP. I mention this re my price rating. (MdC is cheaper.)Re cost, 170g glass jar of MdC was $37.67. Shipping to Los Angeles, CA via USPS Express Mail was $22.26, plus a nick from Bank of America for a foreign transaction fee. Shipping did not include delivery by virgin milk maids.Quality of presentation is typically French, which is to say excellent. Nobody romances a product like the French, be it wine, fashion, or cosmetics.The scent is light and clean lavender. MdC lather is the stuff of legend. It's not quite as simple as leaving a brush in the same room as an opened jar, but it's close. Throwing some MdC in a newbie starter kit might provide some much needed confidence in their DE future. MdC + Simpson Chubby is a lather machine.I have used MdC every day for 10 days. Considering that I have been feeding it to a succession of Simpson soap hogs, I do not seem to have made any impact on the jar. The maker implies the 170g jar will last over a year with daily use.Is it better than AdP? More like a tie. And that is high praise indeed. A well-kept secret. Since 1974, the soap factory Martin de Candre in Fontevraud-L’Abbaye manufactures according to a traditional and secret method some 100% natural soaps. Far from the volume retailing distribution networks, its high quality products are sold in the shop itself or by distant selling. "The soap factory Martin de Candre is a women and family business! Founded in 1971 by Rosine Dauge, it is today led by her two daughters Hélène Strodijk (manager) and Marie-Amélie de Courcy (marketing). “Together with our three employees, our mother is still involved to help us produce the soaps according to a formula which remains secrete”, explain the two sisters. Every year, hundred kilos of soaps are produced, in this old former farm of the Fontevraud Abbey, according to the production process used in Marseille for centuries. “We do here the whole saponification which consists in a creating a chemical reaction between the vegetable oils (olive, copra, palm…) and the soda at a very high temperature, without adding any synthesis component.” So, no amateurs ! The operation is delicate because “the fusion paste turns out to be terribly temperamental ”, that is why it is forbidden to the public. The paste is then perfumed while it is still hot before being cut 24 hours later and at least the soap loaves are pressed of in bronze moulds… “We manufacture the all year long because 8 months minimum of drying are necessary before the selling.”Independence The soaps are mainly sold in the shop itself. “At the beginning, the soap factory was mainly dedicated to medical profession. From now on, the major part of our customers are private.” Almost 15 000 visitors are welcome every year in the soap factory, which also distributes its products through a dozen of shops in France, and also through distant selling. “We are on a niche market, with very high quality products, which are of course more expensive than the industrial ones”. Member of the association Cosmed, the Martin de Candre company knows it has a special position in the cosmetic sector. Indeed, we work to the opposite of the current processes, but this affirmed choice ensures our independence."

Ahh, Martin de Candre. Probably my favorite shaving soap. Produced by an artisanal soapmaker in the heart of the Loire Valley of France, MdC is in many ways what a good shaving soap should aspire to be.

Price: Well, let's get this out of the way, because there is no way around it: Martin de Candre is expensive stuff. If you buy direct from the manufacturer's website, it'll run you just shy of €40; I bought mine for €45 in one of the large department stores here in Paris and that seemed slightly on the high side. It's mainly sold in the glass bowl with 200g of soap; there's also a 230g wooden bowl available for €59, but in that case you're clearly paying a premium for the (admittedly very nice) turned Beechwood bowl and not the extra 30g of soap. There's also a 50g travel-size pot for maybe €20 or so.

"But Croulebarbe," you exclaim, "you marked it an eight for price! How can this be?" Well, here's the thing: yes, it's expensive, but you get your money's worth. At five to six shaves a week, my last bowl lasted me just shy of a year and a half. In terms of cost per shave, that's pretty damned good.

So I knocked off two points because the up-front cost is quite high (sixty bucks for a jar of soap is a lot of money in any man's English), but you do get your money's worth.

Quality: The presentation is excellent: clean, simple, unpretentious. The soap is filled into a heavy glass jar (all the way up to the rim!) with an aluminum screw-top lid and brown Kraft paper labels, which is packaged in a white carton. The jar in particular is quite handsome and would be well at home on display in one's bathroom - it has a very masculine style to it.

Once emptied it makes an excellent repository for other soaps, grated pucks, etc. I soaked the labels off of the last one, washed out the residue, and grated a puck of AoS tallow soap that I had been given as a gift.

Scent: I marked this one relatively low because I know that it's a rather polarizing scent. The overall nose is very strongly lavender and mint, with undertones of rosemary and very, very, very faint notes of herbs and maybe citrus oils. I personally like it very much, but it is admittedly somewhat medicinal in nature. It must be said, however, that it is much less strong on the face than it is in the bowl.

The scent is much more potent when the soap is new; once you get into the heart of the soap it seems to mellow a bit and gain complexity, but without diminishing in intensity. There is also an unscented version.

Lather: Positively magnificent.

Lather jumps off of the brush with very little effort. I use the soap primarily as a face-latherer, so my experience is generally limited to that, but the brush needs not be terribly wet, nor do you need to slowly add water as you build the lather as with many soaps. It merely suffices to swirl a loaded brush over a moistened face and the lather will build.

The lather comes out nicely dense and gives good cushioning to the blade. Not much more needs to be said about this.

The lather lasts quite long without significantly thinning or dissipating, and with a normal load on the brush you should easily be able to create enough for a three-pass shave.

Another thing: unlike many soaps, Martin de Candre works marvelously with hard water. As a general rule the water in France ranges from quite hard to very hard, so one would expect no less from a French savonnier.

Efficacy: Excellent. MdC gives a nice, slick, well-cushioned shave. It offers an excellent degree of protection; I relish the close, nick-free shaves I get when I use the stuff.

Moreover, you don't need a whole lot of the stuff on your brush; while it's not quite to the degree of a cream or a soft soap like Proraso, you don't need to scrub the brush into it to get a sufficient load like many other hard soaps. Just a few swirls, and you're off. As I said above, you won't use this stuff up very quickly.

Moisturizing: Very good, but not superlative. Your skin will feel much better than before you shaved, but it won't make you throw away your post-shave products. Still, for a soap I consider it to be very good.

Overall I highly recommend this soap, because at the end of the day it's about the shave, and in every category pertaining thereto Martin de Candre delivers admirably. Of course, if you're unsure about the scent, I would check it out at the store first, or start with the travel-sized pot to limit the damage if you find it's not to your liking, or alternately get the unscented version, but in any case you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Took 10 days from order to arrival and I used it the morning after it arrived. It is now my favorite (although for special occations based on price).

By far the most luxurious product I own in skin care and/or shaving, but well worth it.A little goes a long way and the tub is 170g (I purchased the Scented Glass Jar version). Scent is unique, but apparently a very raw lavender scent, not artificial, it grows on you. I love it.Easy to lather, great shaves, super fast shipping direct from MdC and the best packaging I have ever seen. Free samples too!

Price: Expensive, but where you really get hit is the shipping to U.S. At the time of this writing, it will cost you around $22 in shipping charges to get it shipped to your door from France. Since, MdC is only sold direct, this is your only option if you want to buy this shave soap. Quality: Very high. The ingredients list is very simple, probably the shortest of any shaving soap or cream I've tried. Basically, the soapmaker figured out what would make a good shaving soap and avoided using any other ingredients. No "pixie-dusting" here. Scent: Lavender and Mint EO. There might be something else going on but I'm not sure. Personally I love the scent, but it may not be for everyone. The soap is very lightly fragranced...no Castle Forbes type intensity here. Lather: Phenomenal. When properly used, this produces a nice thick lather with great cushion and glide properties. Although I've seen all sorts of chatter on here about how little you have to load on your brush to get a great lather, I find it easier to get what I want by loading up my brush a bit more. Once my brush is fully loaded, it's very easy to add a little water and work the soap into the perfect consistency and slickness on my face. Efficacy: This stuff works better than anything I've tried, albeit by a slim margin compared to my "top performers". The key here is that this soap is ultra gentle on my skin and the lather it produces is just right to give me a close, but extremely comfortable shave. Moisturizing: I never rely on my shave products to moisturize my face and always use a dedicated moisturizer. However, my skin feels better post-shave than it does after using anything else. Overall, highly recommended.

I paid 60 EUR from Planete Raisor in Paris. Pricy but you definitely get what you pay for. An essential oil type herbal scent, possibly some lavender. I got the wooden bowled version, which comes in a nice bowl and is overfilled about 1 cm/third of an inch. It's a soft soap which makes it very easy to load--2 swirls! If you at all care about your shave, buy this and forget about acquiring any other shaving cream/soap, because they all pale in comparison.I rate the price as '5' since €20 = $80 at the time is a lot, but this is the creme de la creme.Moisturizing effect: well, you shouldn't rely on a soap to moisturize at all (it's intended to strip oils off, which isn't great), but this was pretty good.

A good soap, however I'm not with all those who rave about it. Perhaps I should use it more consistently. People who use it daily for weeks have reported real improvement and softness in their skin.

Extremely expensive shipping costs from the maker, even to E.U. destinations.

When I heard that there was a French forum about straights, Coupe-Chou Club , I signed up, something would come out from there at least my learning, at that time I had no straight razor, just my merkur 33C, .... but finally I'll get one ,.... These French, always so attached to their products because they were good apostles of soap of Martin de Candre, but one of them was not agree to the fragance, so ... he sold his travel soap, which is the one I have now .... And now I understand that's not french chauvinism, it's taste for quality because this soap worth it.


1.Ingredients: Simple as could be, only has half a dozen ingredients, all quite familiar as you can see in the picture


The coconut oil is the key, I think, because this soap offers exceptional performance, but not so much for leading this oil but more by how they treat ,.... No soap is like this by this feature. Be careful this is not a coconut soap, only a soap that uses coconut oil.

2.Package: 5.
My travel pot is in glass, it seems bad for me because in a trip you can have a slight problem, drop a bag, etc ... and broke the glass jar, I would have preferred a metallic tin.


3.Lifespan: 10.
Well, I do not know how much it can last, I've used mine from 6 months and I just lowered 1 mm deep, and the scent and the lather has been improved more than even.

4.Load of soap: 10.
Martin de Candre is an example of economy, in 5-7 seconds of loading the brush you have enough soap. I don't know a soap as this, it gives an outstanding performance , that is what makes it economic ,.... these French know what they do when they say that is inexpensive, is really inexpensive in its use ,.... you only need a little amount of soap. Look at the pics bellow and the following, you will see that the jar has not changed, still with the same patches of lather, instead the brush WOW! look at this lather is fantastic, and the quantity is enoug for a comfortable shave

5.Lather ability: 10.
Amazing, like Tabac or La Toja, No initial spongy or watery lather, the soap passes from a fine creamy froth to a dense lather and cushioned in few brush swirls, leaving the pleasant feeling that how easy is to lather

6. water/soap ratio: 10.
Optimal, on a brush drained, only 10 or 12 drops of water are needed to obtain a comfortable lather, a bit greasy, lubricant and soft, cushioned, but dense.

7.Quality of the lather: 10.
The best vegetable soap lather that I know by far, it's mysteriously dense, in spite of using a little amount of soap, as you can see in the pics, the lather sticks very well to the skin and the straight glides easily, it's even needed to dry the skin with a towel in order to strenght the skin for the shaving because the lubrication... . the lather is kept moist, dense and lubricant such as Mitchell's Wool fat and not dries as Tabac, it remains lubricant and moisturizing during the shave ,.... who has not tried it do not know what is losing

8.Protection and glide of the blade: 10.
One of the best features of this soap is the glide, as well as Mitchell's or Valobra or Arko or even more, without excessive consumption of soap of those two. In this way, it's a good lather for the shave with straight razor because it sticks to the face very well and provides good lubrication.

9.Feeling in the face: 10.
It is dense, slightly shiny and oily, it sticks to the skin, if massaged, the lather gives us a nice thin layer.

10.Moisturizing and after-shaving feeling: 9.
Surprised by how good is the skin with a soap so simple, I do not understand, what is the secret? It's a nice soap from this point of view, although it seems that there are people that the fragance reacts on their skin, so "Savonnerie Martin de Candre" is preparing an unscented version for sensitive skin which prototypes have been distributed France with good results.

11.Scent: 9.
It is a powerful scent, soothing, smells like ....lavender and mint ? I think not .... it smells like lavender but with a spicy component, very soothing, from benzoin, a resin used to make incense that is in this fragance. The scent of the soap reminds me the balsamic notes of some red wines,.... I'm hooked by this scent, but I recognize that some people don't like the scent,.... especially if you are in sweet scents. The fragrance evolves, it is more soothing as time pass by, is better to let the soap drying for 24 hours after use, and leave it without cover, if not, the smell becomes more "organic" and less pleasant.

12.Price:
34 € for 170gr. The 19 € for postage to Spain make it too expensive, I expect to see if they improve that aspect

13.Conclusion: This soap rocks, very natural, easy to get, expensive, yes, but economic performance. One of the best shaving products in Europe without doubt, but it's a shame that a company like this do not see the true potential and has a better commercial attitude, because is only sold on its website savonnerie artisanale Martin de Candre, savons comme autrefois, procédé marseillais

It's my favorite soap

I read a lot about this soap on another forum before I decided to bite the bullet and buy some. It's not cheap - but - it's economical. I see it as buying in bulk. The actual price per shave is probably the same as much cheaper soaps. A jar of this will easily last a year with daily use, if not more.

Shipping from France isn't cheap either - as much as the soap itself. It loses marks here. I was lucky enough to be visiting friends in Paris, so I decided to seek out a shop that stocked this soap.

I'm glad I did. This is my favourite soap to date, and I've tried a LOT of soaps. I would say Valobra stick isn't too far off in terms of pure performance. I prefer the scent of MdC and it does have the edge in terms of skincare afterwards. I don't believe any soap moisturises your skin, I think some dry more than others. This stuff is neutral, hence the 5.

Very thick, slick, and stable lather that is child's play to whip up. MWF - go to the back of the class. Really shaves well and leaves your face feeling great afterwards.

Highly recommended.

Marseille, France. It is exactly here that, in the end of the 18th century, the first modern soap was created. Great Master soap manufacturers introduced new, unique, magnificent formulas and started using innovative working methods never seen before. It was the beginning of a new Age… Only natural and selected ingredients were employed, and they were worked with techniques that, today, we consider “original, classic, traditional”. For the very first time a mix of pure vegetable oils (Olive, Coconut, Palm) was used, all raw ingredients treated with soda at very high temperature: this is the famous Marseilles saponification method. The soft soap paste so produced was pressed and put into a wood moulding and subsequently enriched with essential oils, natural fragrances and balms, added at the end of the cooking process. This soap paste was then properly cut creating the shape of soap bars, which were hand stamped or pressed into brass moulds. Finally, a particular attention was given to seasoning, with the soap bars left to dry in wood cases for a period of six/eight months. A period in which the soaps became highly refined and effective for gently cleaning the skin.
This process was first adopted in Italy by Virgilio Valobra, the greatest Italian Master soap manufacturer, who, in 1903, established the factory that still carries his legendary name.
And in France, where everthing began over two centuries ago, a new traditional soap factory, follower of the famous Marseilles saponification method, was founded in 1974: Martin de Candre. MdC soaps are today exactly how they were in the past: 100% pure and natural, no preservatives, no chemical additives, only essential oils. They are truly of the highest quality, just like the soaps produced by Virgilio Valobra. Or, to be more precise, they are even more unique, since you can buy them exclusively at the MdC on-line shop: http://www.savonnerie-martin-de-candre.ic-sites.com/. One of the renowned specialities of this French company, on which I obviously want to focus my attention, is the shaving soap. A traditional wet shave with the Martin de Candre shaving soap is a fantastic, great, marvellous experience. This amazing soap is housed in a beautiful 170 g glass round pot, with an aluminium lid and a Kraft labelling. It is also available in a small 50 g travelling pot and in a more sturdy wood bowl. For those who want more the factory offers even some limited edition, elegant, decorated glass bowls in different shapes. The price of this soap is high: € 34 for the standard 170 g pot, € 22.50 for the small 50 g pot, € 48.50 for the wood bowl and prices between € 15 and € 26 for the limited edition glass bowls. The good thing is that this soap is economic to use: in a few seconds and with a few swirls your brush is very well loaded. Therefore, I suppose, a 170 g pot should last over a year, with daily use. The scent is a fresh, unique and nice mix of lavender, mint and rosemary. A strong fragrance that sticks around during the whole shaving process. A real pleasure. Like other top shelf soaps (Cella, Valobra or Tabac) the latherability is exceptional, truly. With no effort you can easily build up a beautiful, creamy and dense lather. And what a lather! Super slick, super moisturizing, super rich. It sticks very well to the skin and my DE razor just glides wonderfully all over my face. After the shave I feel great. The overall quality and performance of this fabulous French product is, again, simply incredible. And what is really amazing is that this soap is a very simple soap, with only six ingredients listed! So how is all this possible? Where is the trick? Here is my answer: the exclusive use of pure and selected ingredients, the care in the manufacturing process and the desire to offer the very best, maintaining live the original formulas and working methods of the great European Master soap makers of the past. MdC shaving soap, proudly produced in the ancient style is, in conclusion, a true gem: 100% natural, expensive but economic to use, very easy to lather, very comfortable to shave with. Or, if you prefer, Martin de Candre shaving soap is simply one of the finest soaps available on the market today.

Price - 7 - This stuff costs $64 shipped for a 170g glass jar filled product. It is expensive, there is no denying that! However compared to say a 90g AOS wood bowl for $45 the price/oz is right in line with AOS (or actually cheaper when you factor in the bowls). I wish they sold a refill puck or block of soap that would help on price like AOS does. Definitely a soap you want to sample before plucking down the money.

Quality - 10 - MdC is made with no preservatives and with a very traditional saponification method by hand. Everything about it speaks of the high quality of this soap.

Scent - 10 - This is either a love it or hate it scent (again, why you should try a sample). I got a sample of this stuff that lasted me about 5-6 shaves and the first couple shaves I was iffy on the scent. The last shaves of that sample the scent really grew on me. After buying the jar and using it for awhile now, I absolutely love, love, love the scent.

Lather - 10 - MdC loves water and a slightly loaded brush whips up creamy, dense, and slick lather every time I face lather. In fact, I think the longevity of this soap is probably quite awhile which may also help on the $/shave basis.

Efficacy - 10 - I'll put this right out there. I'm a tallow and or lanolin guy. I feel I get superior shaves from those products. MdC contains neither. It doesn't matter, this stuff has the cushion of a cream and slickness of soap. I've tried over 40+ soaps/creams and have narrowed my den substantially of products that work and don't and have especially become critical of products since switching to a straight where I want maximum cushion and slickness. I reach for MdC quite often now, which says a lot considering the number of products I do own.

Moisturizing - 9 - Though it is not like Institute Karite which has insane moisturizing capacity, I've never had MdC leave my face feeling dry in the least.

Overall - Sample this soap before buying is a must. This product for me though has reached top 5 status along the likes of AOS, MWF, Cella and Valobra (notice it is the only non-tallow product on this list...). I'm quite happy about this purchase and when it runs out (if it ever does) it will get replaced immediately! Just think of this as buying 2 tubs of T&H or GFT Cream and there you go, you have it paid for. It will probably last longer than 2 tubs of those products anyway.

I want to and eventually will try this stuff, but frankly it shouldn't be getting marks of 9 for moisturizing. It's almost pure Stearic acid. Should be a great performing soap, but if you think it's moisturizing, I've got some awesome painkillers to sell you they're brand name "Play See Bo". Keep in mind this is just based on the ingredients. Glycerin can help mask a drying soap, but not to the extent that people should be rating it like MWF or something along those lines.

A girl friend picked me up a large jar when she was in Paris recently, actually two. After a few days use I realized that a large jar would last about a year so I sold one jar to a fellow member. That being said. Great stuff, feels good on the face. Do I care that it doesn't moisturize my face to the nth degree? Not in the slightest. Still the best shaving soap/creme/foam I have ever used. Well worth the cost.

Getting this stuff here in the USA would set you back a good $70. Now is this soap seven times better than many of the other soaps we are accustomed to? I don't think it is.

Scent: It smells like cough syrup. I can't describe it any other way. They now have an unscented version out and I recommend everyone get that.

Lather: Very nice and thick. It won't fizzle out on your face and it's probably the densest lather I've ever used.

Efficacy: Okay here's where I'm going to disagree with pretty much everyone. I don't think MdC is that good. I can never leave the shave without a few nicks here and there. I've experimented with the lather in every way possible, but a shave with MdC is a shave with the stypic pencil in hand.

However, I will admit that MdC does a very good job of lifting your whiskers. I get a noticeably closer shave whenever I use this soap.

Bottom line: You might be curious about MdC since it's price tag is so high, but I assure you that it isn't out of this world, and it certainly isn't worth the money.

The battle for the best soap making nations just keeps getting harder to pick.

This is a lovely soap with a scent that I love.

Lathers and protects like the best of em and leaves the face feeling great.
Scent is like no other soap and it is a quality soap.

When they keep making soaps like this who needs tallow! Moooooooo.