AoS, C&S, & Valobra

[jrowen]

As I understand it, from reading various threads here of which I can't specifically name, AoS, C&S and Valobra shave stick are purportedly made by the same company (Valobra?) in Italy.

Assuming the above is true (anyone who knows otherwise, please correct):

Are these soaps also the same formula (same base soap)? or are they different formulas (not including the scent), just manufactured by the same company? Do they perform roughly equivalent?

Thanks,

Jason

 

[beginish]

As I understand it, from reading various threads here of which I can't specifically name, AoS, C&S and Valobra shave stick are purportedly made by the same company (Valobra?) in Italy.

Assuming the above is true (anyone who knows otherwise, please correct):

Are these soaps also the same formula (same base soap)? or are they different formulas (not including the scent), just manufactured by the same company? Do they perform roughly equivalent?

Thanks,

Jason

I don't know if they are the same formula, but having used all three, I can vouch for their awesomeness.

 

[jkh]

As I understand it, from reading various threads here of which I can't specifically name, AoS, C&S and Valobra shave stick are purportedly made by the same company (Valobra?) in Italy.

Assuming the above is true (anyone who knows otherwise, please correct):

Are these soaps also the same formula (same base soap)? or are they different formulas (not including the scent), just manufactured by the same company? Do they perform roughly equivalent?

Thanks,

Jason

Your assumption is correct and is the same assumption that many of us believe to be true.

I cannot comment on C&S, but Valobra (hard stick) and AOS soaps differ by one ingredient. However, all we know is what ingredients are in the soap, not how much of ingredient are in the final product. So, unless someone has insider information directly from the soap manufacturer then we have no clue if the soap base is "the same". My hunch is that each product is tailored differently starting with essentially "the same" stuff. Shoot, I think Creighton's in Europe makes cream for a great number of different companies.

My personal experience with Valobra and AOS says that they are similar, but not the same. I would like to echo Bob's remark they are both awesome.

 

[jrowen]

Thanks, Bob & Jeremy!

I couldn't find the ingredient lists published anywhere online for all 3, so I appreciate the comment about the one ingredient being different. Also, great point about not knowing the amount of each ingredient, even if all of the ingredients were the same. Too hard to tell if they're exactly the same formula.

- Jason

 

[jkh]

Here are the ingredients for AOS and Valobra stick

 

[jrowen]

Awesome, Jeremy! Much appreciated!

- Jason

 

[markb]

I'm not sure about compositional differences among them, but what I can say is that I have all three and they're all great!

 

[jkh]

Would someone be able to post the ingredient list for a puck of C&S?

 

[jrowen]

Great idea, Jeremy! It would be interesting to see that next to the list you've already put together.

- Jason

 

[Go West Young Man]

There's a slight difference that I can't quite quantify, but AOS and Valobra both perform almost identically.

 

[Augustiner]

Your assumption is correct and is the same assumption that many of us believe to be true.

My personal experience with Valobra and AOS says that they are similar, but not the same.

Man, I would love to agree with this but I just can't quite do it. We know they are the same ingredients, but I'm also convinced they use the same ratio for both of them. Excluding scent and color, I do not perceive any differences in the shave...they are both a 10+, I haven't used any better. Also, the fact that both ingredients lists follow the same exact same order tells me that the ratios are likely the same (from first to last is the highest to lowest percentage ingredient). There are a lot of ingredients and when you consider that they all must add up to 100%, only a small amount of change in any one ingredient could easily change the order between the two soaps.

I could be wrong and the ratios are different, I would love to resolve this since it's been speculated about many, many times on here.

Maybe someone should contact Valobra directly.

 

[SiBurning]

There's a slight difference that I can't quite quantify, but AOS and Valobra both perform almost identically.

Valobra always felt softer to me. The extra listing of potassium cocoate would account for that. It also feels a little less coherent in terms of how soluble it is, also accountable by additional cocoate. AoS dissolves pretty consistently, having a texture that's thick, yet consistent, almost resembling a solution in terms of texture. I'd guess Valobra would show some extra fat that didn't dissolve as clearly. I've only compared AoS and Tabac, and the difference is easily noticed. To check for yourself, dissolve 1 part soap in at least 20 parts distilled water by weight (5% solution or less), heat and stir until dissolved, but not hot enough to simmer. Say, less than 180F? Make sure to compare while still hot, and also once it cools to room temperature and thickens. More than 5% and you'll get a near solid. For the record, the Tabac (months later) is a clumpy liquid, and the AoS is a smooth blob of gel, but I can't vouch that the temperatures were the same--I heated the Tabac closer to boiling, and it did bubble, hence the temperature warning above if you want to try this yourself.

 

[jkh]

Man, I would love to agree with this but I just can't quite do it. We know they are the same ingredients, but I'm also convinced they use the same ratio for both of them. Excluding scent and color, I do not perceive any differences in the shave...they are both a 10+, I haven't used any better. Also, the fact that both ingredients lists follow the same exact same order tells me that the ratios are likely the same (from first to last is the highest to lowest percentage ingredient). There are a lot of ingredients and when you consider that they all must add up to 100%, only a small amount of change in any one ingredient could easily change the order between the two soaps.

I could be wrong and the ratios are different, I would love to resolve this since it's been speculated about many, many times on here.

Maybe someone should contact Valobra directly.

I concur with your points about the ordering of the ingredients and the percentage of the whole. My "similar, but not same" is based on Valobra sticks containing Potassium Cocoate (AOS does not) and AOS contains more essential oils than Valobra (Valobra lists parfum rather than EO). At the end of the day, the differences between these soaps are approaching negligible. Personally, I get slightly different lather from AOS and Valobra.

 

[Augustiner]

Valobra always felt softer to me. The extra listing of potassium cocoate would account for that. It also feels a little less coherent in terms of how soluble it is, also accountable by additional cocoate. AoS dissolves pretty consistently, having a texture that's thick, yet consistent, almost resembling a solution in terms of texture. I'd guess Valobra would show some extra fat that didn't dissolve as clearly. I've only compared AoS and Tabac, and the difference is easily noticed. To check for yourself, dissolve 1 part soap in at least 20 parts distilled water by weight (5% solution or less), heat and stir until dissolved, but not hot enough to simmer. Say, less than 180F? Make sure to compare while still hot, and also once it cools to room temperature and thickens. More than 5% and you'll get a near solid. For the record, the Tabac (months later) is a clumpy liquid, and the AoS is a smooth blob of gel, but I can't vouch that the temperatures were the same--I heated the Tabac closer to boiling, and it did bubble, hence the temperature warning above if you want to try this yourself.

I just looked at the comparative ingredient list again. I didn't realize Valobra stick had potassium cocoate while AoS doesn't. This answers the question: they are definitely at least a little bit different, though the core is the same.