About to splurge on 1 new soap...which one?

[Big_Tex]

Ok guys, SWMBO has been keeping close tabs on my newfound case of AD, thus severely limiting my new purchases. But I got the OK to buy one thing this week (yeah, yeah, I know ), and I wanted to buy one higher-end soap. I want to go really classy and luxurious on this, gentlemen...but let's keep it under say $40 at the most. I have yet to try any of the fancy imported soaps you guys talk about so much. All I have in my rotation are VdH, Col. Conks, and Mama Bear's (love the Bear).

What should I get??

 

[SliceOfLife]

What brush do you use? Face or bowl lather? How important is scent to you (would you prefer a great soap with an average scent or a pretty good soap with a scent you really like)?

 

[Big_Tex]

What brush do you use? Face or bowl lather? How important is scent to you (would you prefer a great soap with an average scent or a pretty good soap with a scent you really like)?

I just have the good ol' VdH badger brush right now (but will be buying either a Semogue boar or a Whipped Dog silvertip within the next month). I bowl lather, and I think I'd like a pretty good soap with an awesome scent more.

 

[7 O Menthol]

For luxury under $40, I recommend DR Harris Arlington in a wooden bowl.

Fantastic scent.
Fantastic lather.
Fancy / Imported.
Feel like a sir.

 

[JetsMets#1fan]

You can get 3 great soaps for around $40 or less shipped...

Provence sante smells heavenly and performs good for $10 shipped from amazon if you have prime or if you buy $25 worth of stuff like a...

Pre de provence soap in a tin!! For $13.25 and to make up for the free shipping get a styptic pencil or something cheap, this soap is a great performer and you get a lot for ur dough (5.25oz AND a very nice tin) this one is a no brainer.

Those 2^^ I've tried and own, the following 2 I havent but I want to try them...

With the $15 I have left I'd purchase a L'Occitane Cade shave soap or a Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap, I have heard nothing but good things about those two, especially the MWF, but anyways, both can easily be had at around $15 shipped.


If you don't want to stretch your money then...

The loccitane Cade and the fancy metal bowl can be had for around $40 shipped.

The MWF with the fancy ceramic bowl can be had around $35 shipped.

Remember that the Pre de Provence soap already comes in a tin at $13 and that you're mostly paying for the bowls/containers if you go over certain amount of money. Choose wisely.

 

[California Cajun]

Ok guys, SWMBO has been keeping close tabs on my newfound case of AD, thus severely limiting my new purchases. But I got the OK to buy one thing this week (yeah, yeah, I know ), and I wanted to buy one higher-end soap. I want to go really classy and luxurious on this, gentlemen...but let's keep it under say $40 at the most. I have yet to try any of the fancy imported soaps you guys talk about so much. All I have in my rotation are VdH, Col. Conks, and Mama Bear's (love the Bear).

What should I get??

Boy, that's a tough question and the reason is, I think you'll find out after splurging that the ones you're presently using are great.

Soaps usually are either glycerin-based or tallow-based. Col. Conk and Mama Bear's are glycerin-based. I have a puck of VDH Deluxe and neither ingredient is listed. I saw a VDH Glycerin soap advertised on the internet.

So I'd say splurge on a glycerin-based soap because you know you like those. I think most expensive soaps are tallow-based and most artisans (small businesses) make glycerin-based soaps.

It's hard to advise anyone beyond that because people have strong opinions about which ones are good, and which ones smell good. One place I look when I'm about to try something new is the Reviews section of this forum. Members who have tried something share their opinions and rate various aspects of it on a scale of 1-10.

 

[rob_NH]

Mike's Natural.

I think this is the best value out there. It is a luxurious lather. The scents are not overpowering but very nice, and you can probably get 4 soaps shipped for your budget. Or just get 1, and get the Semogue boar brush both for $40.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Hmm. I'd recommend DR Harris too. I haven't used the arlington but it does seem the most popular scent. I have and like the marlborough. Another option is to get a 500gram brick of Klar Kabinett if you like the scent of rose.

If you wind up getting the Dr Harris, throw a puck or stick of tabac and a stick of speick and wilk sword in the basket too. Those four should be right around $40 combined and are all very solid performers, though the speick and wilk sticks aren't known for their scents and the scent of tabac is a bit divisive... but you'll have the Dr H which has great scent.



Oh and John, VDH is Glycerin. In fact I believe they actually make the Col Conk labeled soap unless I'm mistaken.

 

[njpaddy]

For under $20 you could get a DR Harris refill puck and a Pyrex 1 cup glass container to put it in. I have 3 Harris soaps in the wooden bowl and one in a Pyrex bowl that I picked up at the grocery. The Pyrex is a perfect fit for the puck and it has a nice tight cover. That will leave you $20 for something else.

 

[Predict]

Check out mikes and mystic water, it doesn't get any better than that

 

[Gingerbread]

1. Cella
2. Tabac
3. Mitchell's Wool Fat

That's the three soaps everyone is required to try. The best part about them is you can buy two for under $40.

Honorable mention for my daily go-to, Strop Shoppe Bay Rum Tallow. Very low price for the extreme quality.

 

[huntingdan]

I would agree that Cella, Tabac, and MWF are some that everyone needs to try. If you opt not to get a bowl and just find a mug or something at Target or Walmart you can buy 2 of the 3 mentioned. I would also suggest DR Harris, they are very fine soaps with great scents.

 

[cryhavoc]

For $40 bucks buy 4 of Mike's Natural Soaps!

 

[blackman]

1. DRH Arlington in wooden bowl (mahogany or beech)
2. DRH Windsor in wooden bowl (again, mahogany or beech)
3. Mitchell's Wool Fat in ceramic bowl

 

[seizure]

I second the suggestion of Mystic Water or Mike's.

Alternatively, look into some RazoRock Artisan soaps. You could get several and still fall within your budget. Cella performance, different scents.

 

[celestino]

MdC if you are splurging.
Mike's or Mystic Water if you are just wanting a fabulous, inexpensive soap.

 

[oakeshott]

Cannot believe no one's suggested Calani yet. It's the only soap since I started my obsession with this last February that I used for 2 weeks non-stop without yearning for a change. The scent of the Dubai is unlike any other soap. Exotic without being outrageous and it's subtle and gone shortly after the shave. The performance is on par with the very best stuff I've tried which includes MdC, Vintage Yardley, Knize 10, Klar Seifen, MWF etc. etc. It lathers with hard or soft water and is only, I think, 15 bucks a puck. You can get two pucks. The Gentleman smell is also excellent.

The other one no one's mentioned which I hear good things about is Czech and Speake. I think it's in your price range and BGS has it.

Enjoy the selection.
oake

 

[sychodelix]

But I got the OK to buy one thing this week (yeah, yeah, I know ), and I wanted to buy one higher-end soap.

 

[Graybeard57]

Ok guys, SWMBO has been keeping close tabs on my newfound case of AD, thus severely limiting my new purchases. But I got the OK to buy one thing this week (yeah, yeah, I know ), and I wanted to buy one higher-end soap. All I have in my rotation are VdH, Col. Conks, and Mama Bear's (love the Bear).

I suggest you get Mama Bear's Dragon's Blood, and 2 or 3 bath soaps for SWMBO. Maybe a combo of cocoa butter and glycerine bath bars. If you already have Dragon's Blood, I suggest Ye Olde Barbershoppe, or a cologne flavored one of your choosing. This way you get another good shaving product, score points with your lady, and demonstrate financial responsibility.

Whatever you choose to do, whomever you buy from, I suggest including SWMBO. Enjoy your shaves!

 

[Big_Tex]

Great, now I have that song stuck in my head.



Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I like the sound of Pre de Provence, MWF, and the D.R. Harris. Probably gonna get one of those.

I think I'm gonna get one soap and a semogue boar brush for my budget (west coast shaving). Should I get the clear acrylic handle or the wood handle?