Black Tie vs Seville

[shevek]

The Wednesday slot in my weekly rotation opened up so i'm on the hunt for a new soap. I'd like it to be reasonably priced, elite on lather, strongly scented and from a vendor i haven't tried yet. After some research, I've identified two strong candidates:

* Strop Shoppe Black Tie with Tallow - 10.95 for 5oz w/Tin
* Barrister and Mann Seville - 11.70 for 3.75oz w/Tin

Typically I'd buy samples first but this time i just feel like going for the full puck. Can always BST it if needed.

Does anyone have an opinion on these two candidates? Any good reason not to choose one of these? Any comments on performance, scent, etc? This is a big decision!

Update: Strop Shoppe has a special edition of Black Tie w/Tallow - 9.49 for 3oz

 

[volleymh9]

I have yet to try Stropp Shop soaps so my opinion may be biased but i'm a huge fan of Seville. B&M makes a high quality soap (one of the best in my opinion) and Seville is my favorite scent of all their soaps. if you still have trouble you could do what i do and just buy both

 

[Sullybob]

IMO Strop Shoppe is more strongly scented than Barrister and Mann. Both are pretty much even as far as performance goes. I don't think you will regret either soap, both companies make a very good shaving soap. I've read that Stop Shoppe is slow to ship so it can take several weeks for your soap to arrive if you order from them. My Barrister and Mann soap shipped the day after I ordered from them.

 

[shevek]

I've read that Stop Shoppe is slow to ship so it can take several weeks for your soap to arrive if you order from them. My Barrister and Mann soap shipped the day after I ordered from them.

I don't mind waiting a bit for delivery. I'm hoping this takes the wednesday slot for several months (perhaps a yr+) so a few weeks waiting up front is totally fine. I waited 2+ weeks for a Mike's tin once as well - and that was completely worth the wait!

 

[Starkicker]

I've got them both and it's a tough choice. I like Seville because it's more down to earth, an all around pleasant day to day scent where as the black tie, as the name suggests, seems like it's meant for special occasions. It smells like a fancy party in a tin. The one that I have is a hard triple milled soap though, not the soft stuff that other people seem to have. I think mine was a test batch that got loose, but that's okay since I prefer triple milled soaps

I like them both so much, it would be a tough call to pick just one. I find that Seville is easier to lather and feels better as far as the post shave feel goes. That and Will (the guy behind B&M) is an all around nice guy!

 

[shevek]

if you still have trouble you could do what i do and just buy both

I've boxed myself into this 7-day rotation thing to keep my SAD under control..There can be only 7! One I decided to BST so that's why I have an opening...

 

[volleymh9]

I've boxed myself into this 7-day rotation thing to keep my SAD under control

I understand, i can keep it under control when it comes to everything else (i only own 1 razor, 1 brush, and ~10 AS), but when it comes to soap, it a completely different ball-game for me.

 

[ckang79]

The one that I have is a hard triple milled soap though, not the soft stuff that other people seem to have. I think mine was a test batch that got loose, but that's okay since I prefer triple milled soaps

I thought only commercially made soaps were triple milled since it's too expensive for artisans soap makers. Do you have the tallow or non-tallow version of the black tie?

 

[Jefebadskin]

Black Tie special edition or regular? The SE is extremely good. It's a cologne like scent I enjoy. Seville is also great, but very different scent. It's better than black tie regular, within range of special edition.

 

[shevek]

Black Tie special edition or regular? The SE is extremely good. It's a cologne like scent I enjoy. Seville is also great, but very different scent. It's better than black tie regular, within range of special edition.

Hmm, interesting. I was considering the regular edition since the price is reasonable and the puck size of 5oz is already quite large. Special edition is more expensive and a very large 6oz. For most people more soap would be better but my Den is kind of tight (Mike's tin doesn't fit). Of course I can transfer it to a different container like I've done before but I hate to be forced be forced to buy two containers - the one that is already factored into the price for SS's soaps + the one I need to transfer this into.


Regular Edition:
Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Tallow, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Fragrance.
Saponifying agents : Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide

Special Edition:
Ingredients : Stearic Acid, Tallow, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Fragrance.
Saponifying agents : Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide.


So the Special edition is bigger and adds 2 ingredients - Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter. I'm assuming that the fragrances are the same...did you notice this in your experience?

 

[Starkicker]

I thought only commercially made soaps were triple milled since it's too expensive for artisans soap makers. Do you have the tallow or non-tallow version of the black tie?

I have a tallow version, I got it in a soap lot from a friend so I don't know how he got it. It's a very hard disk and has a sheen to it; I dont think it's the SE version; the sticker on the tin says (to the best of my memory) Black Tie w/Tallow *Test* no ingredients or anything else, but it's a Strop Shoppe sticker with their logo, etc. It's more similar in consistency to a triple milled soap than it is to Mikes or B&M. At first I thought it was their croap that had dried up, but it doesn't have that lumpy texture to it; it's one common consistency and colour.

It's packed up in a box as i'm moving otherwise i'd take a picture of it.

 

[Jefebadskin]

No difference in scent. If you're sticking with regular it's still an easy to lather, good product. But if you're looking for next level, make your face feel great with no aftershave, it's SE or Barrister and Mann. The good news is the scents are so different you could base it on that alone.

Hmm, interesting. I was considering the regular edition since the price is reasonable and the puck size of 5oz is already quite large. Special edition is more expensive and a very large 6oz. For most people more soap would be better but my Den is kind of tight (Mike's tin doesn't fit). Of course I can transfer it to a different container like I've done before but I hate to be forced be forced to buy two containers - the one that is already factored into the price for SS's soaps + the one I need to transfer this into.


Regular Edition:
Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Tallow, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Fragrance.
Saponifying agents : Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide

Special Edition:
Ingredients : Stearic Acid, Tallow, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Fragrance.
Saponifying agents : Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide.


So the Special edition is bigger and adds 2 ingredients - Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter. I'm assuming that the fragrances are the same...did you notice this in your experience?

 

[oldtrout]

I have tried Barrister & Mann and like it, it's a good soap.
Just ordered Strop Shoppe Special Edition Black Tie with Tallow.

 

[Sullybob]

I've boxed myself into this 7-day rotation thing to keep my SAD under control..There can be only 7! One I decided to BST so that's why I have an opening...

I do something similar with my rotation. It's an 11 month rotation.

I think you will be happy with either soap.

I have a tallow version, I got it in a soap lot from a friend so I don't know how he got it. It's a very hard disk and has a sheen to it; I dont think it's the SE version; the sticker on the tin says (to the best of my memory) Black Tie w/Tallow *Test* no ingredients or anything else, but it's a Strop Shoppe sticker with their logo, etc. It's more similar in consistency to a triple milled soap than it is to Mikes or B&M. At first I thought it was their croap that had dried up, but it doesn't have that lumpy texture to it; it's one common consistency and colour.

It's packed up in a box as i'm moving otherwise i'd take a picture of it.

I'd like to see a picture of this soap. Is it in a metal tin or in a plastic tub with a screw top lid?

 

[Starkicker]

I'd like to see a picture of this soap. Is it in a metal tin or in a plastic tub with a screw top lid?

I'll gladly post a follow up picture of the soap, but as I said it's in a box on a 53' truck being carted to a storage facility. I'll get it again towards the middle to end of August so i'll post a picture once i'm set up at my new place. It's in a metal tin, similar to Mikes but not as wide. It's very hard; when I press on it there is no give and when I look at it under a light I see shiny streaks which I assume are the fragrance oils. It's slick to the touch and lathers up like any other hard soap.

 

[donoma]

the Black Tie soap was the first soap I used till it was gone. It gives some excellent shaves and has a great scent. I haven't used the Seville before so I can't really compare.

 

[shevek]

Turns out there is a 3oz 'travel size' version of Black Tie SE with tallow for < $10. Price and storage is no longer an issue.
Oh my, all the commentary makes me really want both! So the choice comes down to scent.

 

[Sullybob]

I'll gladly post a follow up picture of the soap, but as I said it's in a box on a 53' truck being carted to a storage facility. I'll get it again towards the middle to end of August so i'll post a picture once i'm set up at my new place. It's in a metal tin, similar to Mikes but not as wide. It's very hard; when I press on it there is no give and when I look at it under a light I see shiny streaks which I assume are the fragrance oils. It's slick to the touch and lathers up like any other hard soap.

Thanks. I'd like to get my hands on a firmer puck of Strop Shoppe. The consistency of my Black Tie is more like a cream.

Turns out there is a 3oz 'travel size' version of Black Tie SE with tallow for < $10. Price and storage is no longer an issue.
Oh my, all the commentary makes me really want both! So the choice comes down to scent.

That's what I have. I'm using about an almond sized amount for each shave so I don't expect it to last a long time.

 

[Galactimax]

I have a full tub of the Black Tie SE w/ Tallow and a sample of the Seville. Based on scent alone they're a bit different. The BT is a leathery, cologne-like scent to my nose and is very pleasant. The Seville is more of a powdery scent, very clean smelling, similar to say Floid Blue or Clubman in the powderiness. Personally, I'd go with the Seville, but based on performance I'd put them nearly dead even with maybe the slightest edge to Strop Shoppe but only the SE version. And even then, my experience with Barrister & Mann is newer and given a few more shaves with it, I may enjoy it more.

Certainly you've picked two great soaps and can't go wrong either way.

 

[shevek]

Thanks everyone for the guidance. I put in an order for the 3oz puck of Black Tie SE w/Tallow to take the open rotation slot. Based on Starkicker's description of Black Tie as a soap for special occasions/parties, I juggled the rotation order so Black Tie will be used on Fridays...

M - Irisch Moos
T - Mama Bear's Dragon's Blood
W - Mystic Waters Adirondack Jack
T - Mike's Pine and Cedarwood
F - Strop Shoppe Black Tie SE
S - Tabac
S - Cream day

I can't wait for it to arrive..although I know I must be patient

Oh, and of course I had to order the sample package from B&M. Damn SAD...