AOS = $$$, is it worth it?

[TheVez2]

Hey all. I was just in Las Vegas last week and was excited to learn that there was an Art of Shaving store in my Holtel (Luxor). I was shocked when I saw the prices of things in the store. I thought maybe that was just the typical Las Vegas markup, so I went online and checked out AOS and the prices were the same. Now I'm a pretty stingy guy, it's the Taurus in me. But I gotta wonder. Are the products really worth the cost?

For example, I really liked the smell of their Sandalwood shaving soap, but the soap in a teak bowl was $45 and the refill itself was $26. So the wood bowl is like $19, which I cannot justify. But $26 just for shaving soap? I have been using VDH which is like $2 a puck. Is it 13 times better or last 13 times as long? If not, I don't think I can justify spending that much on shaving soap no matter how much I like the smell.

And $18 for an alum block, really? Seems like $5-$10 is what those should go for. Am I missing something? I realize I'm new to all this and I haven't purchased anyting outside of Walmart and Walgreens (thanks to a couple of PIFs), but are the next level of products really that expensive?

Help me out here. Are their products really that good to justify the price? I'm going back in a month so I could stop in and get some, but I'd want to make sure it is really worth it.

 

[Stubblefield]

I do believe the AOS soap still contains tallow. It is one of the nicer soaps out there, IMHO. Their creams are also excellent.

 

[Prince]

The AOS sandalwood cream is one of my favorites. It is a top notch cream. 13 times better than a $2 puck, dunno, but it is a lot better performer for me.

You can always keep an eye out for some on the B/S/T.

 

[Robxcarlson]

The cream is really nice. But I won't pay those prices either. I think it's a marketing strategy to price the stuff so high. Cheaper creams and soaps are just as good.

 

[Royall Lyme]

I look at it like this.......

Rolls Royce = $300,000
Toyota Corolla = $15,000

Both cars can take you from point A to point B. How much are you willing to pay to get from point A to point B?

 

[thirdeye]

No..nuf said....

 

[SiBurning]

I don't think I can justify spending that much on shaving soap no matter how much I like the smell.

Are their products really that good to justify the price?

You answered your own question before you asked it. I have 4 pucks of the AoS soap and won't hesitate to buy more.

 

[Cynomys]

You should ask for a sampler. When I first stopped by the AOS store in Bellevue, WA, they gave me a little sampler pack with a small amount of their pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and after-shave. It came with a $25 off card if you later decided to buy their starter kit.

After trying the sampler, I decided to get the shaving soap and haven't regretted it. It's good stuff.

 

[michiganlover]

But $26 just for shaving soap? I have been using VDH which is like $2 a puck. Is it 13 times better or last 13 times as long? If not, I don't think I can justify spending that much on shaving soap no matter how much I like the smell.

The is it worth it question can only be answered by you.

I don't know that $26 for shaving soap is all that expensive for a top quality tallow based soap that will probably last nearly a year.

That's only $2.16 per month. Less than the cost of one large coffee at Starbucks.

A typical puck of VDH Deluxe lasts me about 1.5 months. So 8 pucks a year @ 1.50 per puck = $12. $12 vs. $26. Is AOS twice as good as VDH?? Probably. I like VDH, but there are other products that are certainly superior to it.

Like you, I can't justify the cost of the bowl. Wood bowls are nothing more than aesthetics. I can live without a fancy bowl for my soaps.

Note, that in terms of what else you could spend your $26 on, it's actually quite easy to set aside $26. Since eating out at a mid-level sit down restaurant costs about $12 per person, staying in once (assuming you are married/ have an SO) just about covers the cost.

 

[BlackBard]

While I think the price is a little excessive, especially with the bowl, AOS soap is the best I have ever used. I used the same lavender puck for daily shaving and it lasted 9 months. If you go directly to the store, you save on shipping costs, too. I would not hesitate to recommend it to you.

On a side note, I am amazed at the number of responses that have referred to AOS cream. The OP asked about soap and these answers where about cream? Having tried both, I must say I think there is a world of difference. The soaps are much superior to the creams. But, I am a "soap" guy, anyway. YMMV.

 

[jwhiskercut]

I ended up with some AOS shaving cream from a BST trade. It's a really good product. I would say the performance is on par with my T&H creams. Scent is a personal preference, but this particular scent is pretty nice (Lavender).

As others have said, it more about the quality of the experience. If VDH gives you the experience you desire, there's no harm in that. I found for me, that a more luxurious scent, increases my enjoyment of shaving, so it was worth it to me.

 

[AverageJoe]

I don't know what your financial situation and spending habits are, but one of my reasons for switching to shaving with a DE (at least in the beginning) was to save $$$----the high cost of typical cartidges, etc. I enjoy the fact that I can use just about any soap or shaving cream (probably even hand soap if I had to!) and a brush and low-cost DE blades and get a great, close, comfortable shave for pennies.

Obviously, you can spend a lot more and get some nicer products, but you don't have to in order to get a great shave. I bought a nice DE (Merkur Classic) and brushes (some kind of Vufix and an AOS)-----everything else you need for a decent shave, including blades IMO, can be bought at a local drugstore. I'll admit I have bought some Tabac AS and Speick online, but the huge jug of Tabac will last a long time. And, yes, I am on my second tub of AOS Unscented cream-----this stuff is awesome and long-lasting. Proraso cream in the green tube is also awesome----very cool and refreshing in this hot weather, but I know I can get a great shave with a puck of plain old Williams Mug Soap too. You definitely do not HAVE to spend a lot to get a great shave and have fun doing it.

 

[shortgamer]

I have a friend that uses AOS cream and really likes it. AOS is owned by Proctor and Gamble and they use the marketing philosophy that if people are willing to pay 20 x cost for a bar of soap, they are going to charge them. Until this stuff shaves for me, I'll take a pass.

 

[ziplepingouin]

Don't know if it's worth it, but you can get quality soaps cheaper, like trumper, tobs or dr harris

 

[JPDyson]

Creams: Save your money, IMO - creams as good or better can be had for half the price. ToBS is about $15 for a good sized tub.

Soaps: Actually, these prices seem on-par with the three T's, both for refills and in-bowl. Haven't tried them myself.

Retract that: I just checked, and memory had failed me. I don't think it's worth what they ask at all.

 

[Emmett]

IME, yes. It is excellent soap with a superior aroma. I shaved just yesterday with my puck of sandalwood.

 

[TheVez2]

Thanks all for your opinions. I may just splurge and try a puck. What else is Per Diem for, right?

 

[ouch]

But $26 just for shaving soap? I have been using VDH which is like $2 a puck. Is it 13 times better or last 13 times as long?

Nope. It's a lot more than 13x better.

 

[Zino Davidoff]

Do you want to use AOS soap, without paying AOS prices?

Buy Valobra. They make the AOS soap, but theirs (the soft almond one) is way better. And costs a lot less.

Returning to the initial question: no. For me, the max price performance wise is about 15 $. Every product that costs more than that usually doesn't perform noticeably better than the cheapest ones.

 

[dougr]

I use the sandlewood cream and it is excellent with a superior aroma. I shaved just yesterday with my AOS sandalwood and it has a wonderful scent that permeats the room. The AOS large silvertip brush is far better than anything else that I have.
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