Beware the site ETSY if you have soap aquisition disorder!

[Kentb]

I found vast amounts of artisan shaving soaps on this website called Etsy today! It's a site for artists and crafts people to sell their wares. I discovered it when I was doing a websearch and found that Stirling Soaps were being sold on this forum and discovered that hundreds of other shaving soaps were being sold there too. I am a newb to B&B, so perhaps this site is already known and I'm not saying anything new, but if not, check this site out! In their search engine, just type "shaving soap" and be prepared to be overwelmed by the choices. I put in "tallow shaving soap," found several that I became curious about, so naturally I made a few orders. Has anyone tried these soaps:

Mundus Ultimate Shaving Soap, scent: brave

Sweets 'N Things Handmade Shaving Soap with Tallow and Lanolin, scent: gunslinger

They were both a little over $10 with s&h. I can't wait for them to arrive!

I also ordered 2 Stirling Soaps I have never tried; clove and barbershop. Anyone tried those?

 

[Quigg]

Yes, I am waiting for two soaps from Sweets "N Things. One is Vanilla Sandalwood, the other is Lime, Ginger, and Black Pepper. Both have tallow and lanolin. Sweet!

 

[Scott0079]

There are a lot of "shaving" soaps. Just remember that because it's round doesn't mean it's fit to shave with!

 

[Heron]

My first shaving soap purchase was from someone on Etsy. It didn't lather very well, so I use it as a body soap in the shower. I have seen a lot of shaving soaps on Etsy I'd like to try. The black licorice one with the bearded lady on the sticker looks interesting.

 

[brucered]

oo many unproven "soap makers" on there, that may or may not know how to make soap.

Id rather support Mystic Water, QCS, Mikes and the other proven "artisans" who truly know what they are doing and take feedback from their buyers and are inherently slugging out out with the rest of us here

i have never been tempted to buy any soap product on etsy or ebay. That's not to say in never will, but its highly unlikely....unless the B&B hobbiest & vendors show up on there

 

[clk]

I have a couple of Mundus soaps, and they are excellent.

 

[Crag]

Someone above said "proven" b&b vendors...but how were they proven? Just because someone has a VENDOR tag does not mean they are proven... There are many wonderful artisans on etsy. I for one can't stand MW soaps...they do not lather well even with DI water. They do have great scents but scent doesn't make a good lather. I've gotten some great soap from etsy...in fact I've had more positive eexperiences than not.

 

[brucered]

Someone above said "proven" b&b vendors...but how were they proven? Just because someone has a VENDOR tag does not mean they are proven... There are many wonderful artisans on etsy. I for one can't stand MW soaps...they do not lather well even with DI water. They do have great scents but scent doesn't make a good lather. I've gotten some great soap from etsy...in fact I've had more positive eexperiences than not.

if it's me you are referring it, i did not say Proven B&B Artisans, I said "Proven Artisans". i hinted that most of them are in fact on B&B, but many are not. I enjoy MdC, PdP, CF and Nancy Boy and none of them are on B&B. but they are proven, there is not denying that.

I for one will not take a chance with my face or my money, on stuff that looks nice, just beacuse it has a good description. if i did that for every shave product that hit the market, I'd be broke. look at the "pig cream". everyone got in a n uproar when I said i wouldn't take a chance for $10-15 on it and people said I was discounting it before it even hit the market. Then i see the pics and thought on it and i wasn't far off in my discounting it right out of the gate.

 

[TallyShave]

Someone above said "proven" b&b vendors...but how were they proven? Just because someone has a VENDOR tag does not mean they are proven... There are many wonderful artisans on etsy. I for one can't stand MW soaps...they do not lather well even with DI water. They do have great scents but scent doesn't make a good lather. I've gotten some great soap from etsy...in fact I've had more positive eexperiences than not.

Your point is well taken in that so many "unproven" artisans have become big names around here including the like of Mikes, Panna Crema, Calani and MdC. And a Vendor tag has more to do with business practices and relationships than quality. But Bruce's point is also valid that many advertised "shaving" soaps don't stack up. I encourage everyone to keep trying them though or we will never find the next great artisans!

 

[Jefebadskin]

Mundus is very good shave soap. Although my experience was from a different formulation.

 

[coolbus18]

There are a lot of "shaving" soaps. Just remember that because it's round doesn't mean it's fit to shave with!

+1+1+1+1

 

[MickToley]

Bruce, mundus soaps are top notch products. I have three and they lather wonderfully. I don't know about any other soap maker's soaps from etsy, but I do know that mundus is the real deal.

 

[brucered]

Bruce, mundus soaps are top notch products. I have three and they lather wonderfully. I don't know about any other soap maker's soaps from etsy, but I do know that mundus is the real deal.

good to know. if i ever get thru my stash, there will be a few i'll look at.

 

[MickToley]

good to know. if i ever get thru my stash, there will be a few i'll look at.

I'll have a harder time getting through my stash of 85+ soaps =/ But I'm having fun with all this variety, so that's all that matters.

 

[franz]

Selfishly speaking, I'm all for folks trying out these unknown artisan shave soaps on Etsy or where-have-you and reporting their results. It saves me time/$ separating the wheat from the chaff. Remember that Mike's, Mystic Waters, etc. all had to start somewhere.

 

[brucered]

Franz...I am all for people testing them too, saves my face from bad shaves and my wallet from bad purchases.

With all of the soap makers out there on etsy and elsewhere, there is bound to be some cream rise to the top

 

[franz]

Franz...I am all for people testing them too, saves my face from bad shaves and my wallet from bad purchases.

With all of the soap makers out there on etsy and elsewhere, there is bound to be some cream rise to the top

I'm with you, mate. Meant it as a general comment.

 

[Crag]

Bruce, my post wasn't directed at anyone in particular.

I just wanted to point out that a vendor tag does not make the vendor's product exemplary is all I meant. lee Sabini is not a "Vendor" here but his brushes are outstanding. I also got a brush from an Artisan on Etsy and it is a super brush. I do, however, agree that caution should be undertaken when buying any unknown soaps on Etsy, even when there are tons of reviews from normal folk...I do not consider any of us "normal folk"...we are connoisseurs, and we know shave soap and cream. But, every now and again it is nice to venture out and buy an unknown soap or cream from an artisan.

I have had very good success with Etsy Soap-makers and I am not afraid to tell them when their product needs refinements, or even to ask for a refund. Some of the best conversations I have had have started as a " your product needs improvement" comments. Most often than not the artisan is eager for the brutal feedback that no one else will give so they can make their product better. I have been asked quite a few times to test different products and see nothing wrong with it as long as my honest opinion is the only thing they want in return.

 

[brucered]

no problem crag & franz...my comments were general as well but i may have quoted or posted after your thoughts.

vendor, no vendor, hobbiest, etsy, ebay, whatever...if you make good soap/cream, people will be talking about it somewhere and then I'll be more likely to take a chance on it. at that point it's not as much as a gamble.

same goes for brushes, razors and anything for that matter, shaving or non-shaving related.

i do use B&B as a guide for what to buy and not buy. there are some products heavily promoted elsewhere, but get not talk time here....those are products I look at and my spidey sense tingles saying "something is wrong here"...why are they talked about in such high regard here, yet the largest shave forum on the planet, you never hear about them.

agian, if it's a good soap/cream, it will find it's way to this forum in one way or another. be it as a vendor/hobbiest or simply by word of mouth

 

[mistercitizen]

I encourage everyone to keep trying them though or we will never find the next great artisans!

Good point. How many artisan soaps do we see who fine tune their product based on feedback from members of B&B willing to try a prototype or early generation soap? Quite a few. Great shave soaps don't necessarily just happen.... they are often developed through trial and error.

Ben