In keeping up with my SAD, I've been looking to get a few artisan soaps in the mix. I'm currently looking at Strop Shoppe, the Holy Black Company, Mystic Waters and Mike's. Due to budget concerns, I have to stick to one first, the question now is which one? Any advice would be helpful.
Artisan Soap- which one to try first
- Thread starter TheKillingJoke
- Start date
Mikes Natural Soaps - Hungarian Lavender, have you looked at Queen Charlotte Soaps? - also excellent. I haven't tried any of the others but I always hear good things about Mystic Waters.
Have I made your decision any easier?
Have I made your decision any easier?
Hmm, now this should be fun to watch!
Good luck with your choice!
Good luck with your choice!
- Thread starter
- #4
QCS... I can actually get the whole scent list with two sample packs..... lot of love for the Celestial Woods it seems.... well dammit
If I go that route, creams or soap? I understand the cream sampler is cheaper but I feel like going soap here (since my last sampler was TOBS cream. Gotta keep it fresh right?)
If I go that route, creams or soap? I understand the cream sampler is cheaper but I feel like going soap here (since my last sampler was TOBS cream. Gotta keep it fresh right?)
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I own Mikes and Mystic Waters and you can't go wrong with either. Mystic Waters has a Sardinian honey scent that's otherworldly
I do believe you are on the right track; hard to go wrong with QCS and some samples from Mike's.
For me, QCS is my favorite in terms of performance, scent, & moisturizing. I'm pretty much exclusively using QCS now, along with some Mikes samples at this point.
Mike's samples.
Ben
Ben
Strop Shoppe special edition should be your first pick, IMO. To be fair, you certainly can't go wrong with Mikes or QCS either.
Mystic Water Soaps and Mikes both offer samples that are more than large enough to get several shaves out of. I enjoy Mystic Water Soaps immensely. In my opinion, they are better than MWF in terms of both during- and after-shave feel, as well as having wonderfully balanced and deep fragrances, without being overpowering. I'm waiting for Mike to get through his real-life commitments so he can return to his hobby and send out some samples so I can try them myself.
- Thread starter
- #11
Curious, I did see that his site claims his tending to orders at the start of the month, so does that mean that his operations are currently on hold?
Another vote for QCS, excellent excellent soaps/croaps - can't say enough about them 
Strop Shoppe Special Edition Tallow will be the easiest of all these to lather (in my opinion, of course)
Mike's will give you the best overall lather (in my opinion, again, of course). Another company to look at for a very similar experience to Mike's is Barrister & Mann.
Mike's will give you the best overall lather (in my opinion, again, of course). Another company to look at for a very similar experience to Mike's is Barrister & Mann.
I'm not certain, but I believe Mike is a student and is in the middle of his term-end crunch.
And just got married...
- Thread starter
- #18
It seems most of fans of Mike's seem to like it because it has similar effects to Mitchell's Wool Fat, can the same be said of Mystic Waters and QCS?
Which effects to you mean?
I've used both MWF and Mystic Water and, while I like the way MWF feels during and after the shave, I find Mystic Water even more rich and "moisturizing" than the MWF. Don't get me wrong, I'd have no complaints if all I had on hand was MWF!
I've used both MWF and Mystic Water and, while I like the way MWF feels during and after the shave, I find Mystic Water even more rich and "moisturizing" than the MWF. Don't get me wrong, I'd have no complaints if all I had on hand was MWF!
Never tried Holy Black, but the rest are all excellent. I don't think you will be disappointed with any of them. Strop Shoppe is probably the best, IMHO, but Kari doesn't do samples. If you decide on Strop Shoppe, the Special Edition with lanolin is super moisturizing. They all lather great, with or without tallow. If you want to sample first, try any of the other 3. The QCS cream is more like a croap, but makes an excellent lather. I tried the Celestial Woods, but personally don't like smelling like evergreens. I did, however, love the Esquire, Basilica, and Queen Charlotte. Mikes and Mystic Water also make a very soft soap that is easily molded in to whatever container you want, so don't feel like you need to pay extra for a fancy tin. They all make some amazing scents, so I would advice sampling 5 or so from each.
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