Bufflehead?

[Acmemfg]

There is soap...and there is soap. Then it seems there is Bufflehead.
I am certain it is a fine product. Last release I tried to buy a chunk but by the time I tried paying for it with PayPal (perhaps a 30 second process) it was gone; all 55 tins of it..vanished.
I am familiar with this concept via Paladin brushes. This however is far more severe. Plus...
Shortly thereafter, this stuff shows up on Z-Bay and other similar sites for resale at 3x-5x the original price. I realize there is an "Unobtanium" factor. However if I packaged up a mixture of grated Williams, Arko stick, and Georgia red clay, put it in a spiffy looking can and then released them 3-4 dozen at a time, would it achieve the same result? I mean what magic exactly does this stuff possess???

 

[jaxstraww]

My feelings on the seller are all over the place. I read the soap is fantastic. I'm just now down with the business model.

He uses duck tallow which is unique. I understand that another soaper is going to use duck tallow shortly and I hope he smokes Bufflehead.

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[bobmsp]

I don't blame the maker - he's clear about what he wants to put into his business (and equally importantly, what he doesn't). Rather, it's all of us who are knocking down his virtual door all the time trying to get his soap. If I'm making 60 units a month and the demand (for better or for worse) is conservatively 500/month, I have no clue of the best way to distribute my units. Seems like his distribution model is as good as any for someone in that situation. I hope for everyone's sake that some new shiny object appears and that the demand for his product will die down to manageable levels.

 

[jesseix]

Yeah I don't think I can ever be mad at the producer, like others have said he's been pretty clear since early on that this is a hobby and I don't think anyone should have been expecting him to put down his regular life so that more of the wet shaving community can get his soaps. I don't think it's a money maker for him in such small quantities, he just happens to be making them at a time whem wet shaving is growing and people want to be able to have and try the newest thing (even at the 3-5x auction site prices!)
The only thing I could see him doing to let more people try the soap would be to set up a waitlist like some of the brush makers, but managing that would just take away from his available time and I think it would end up having the opposite effect of less soap ultimately being made. In the end, it looks like the people who really want the soap will try their best when they go on sale, or maybe pick one up on the secondary market. Just hopefully not at auction prices, don't encourage those sellers who are taking product away from those who really want to try it

 

[Racquet]

I've tried to get it a few times with no luck. His soap, his rules and all but
I won't be trying again. There was a recent review on this forum that said
the soap was very good but no better than a lot of quality soaps that are
readily available.

 

[jesseix]

Yeah I don't think I can ever be mad at the producer, like others have said he's been pretty clear since early on that this is a hobby and I don't think anyone should have been expecting him to put down his regular life so that more of the wet shaving community can get his soaps. I don't think it's a money maker for him in such small quantities, he just happens to be making them at a time whem wet shaving is growing and people want to be able to have and try the newest thing (even at the 3-5x auction site prices!)
The only thing I could see him doing to let more people try the soap would be to set up a waitlist like some of the brush makers, but managing that would just take away from his available time and I think it would end up having the opposite effect of less soap ultimately being made. In the end, it looks like the people who really want the soap will try their best when they go on sale, or maybe pick one up on the secondary market. Just hopefully not at auction prices, don't encourage those sellers who are taking product away from those who really want to try it

 

[Acmemfg]

The more I think about it, that Williams/Arko/red clay concoction just may be a decent idea........

 

[NeX Renegade]

I just did a first impressions on velvet ditch. I think it excels in slickness, and although I haven't tried every other soap out there, it does make it into the top of my rotation. The limited quantities suck, but as others have said, it's a hobby he does in his spare time. If you can trade for some of buy off the bst, then I'd go for it.

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[mattyoung]

I had a tin of Idle Hour a couple years ago and it didn't blow me away. A solid soap but not in my top tier or elite categories. The scents are nicely done. Complex but still very accessible. I also like the presentation of the cork labels and the bag it comes in.

The performance just didn't "wow" me like some others. I can buy L&L, Sudsy, or other mind-blowing soaps whenever I want and that is good enough for me!

 

[dfoulk]

It is a very good soap and while I do like several others (Tallow & Steel, Sudsy Soapery, PannaCrema and L&L Grooming) better, it is something that I'd put near the very top of my excellent category. So it's worth a purchase if you can get it but I wouldn't pay Ebay prices for it.

The maker is a busy guy who has to travel a lot for work. He has small kids and a family to enjoy so he has limited free time to make shaving soap. So it's more of a hobby and less of a business, making small batches of soap for fun more so than for profit. He's very up front about this as this isn't his primary source of income nor does he want it to be. Family comes first as it should be.

The soap performs really well, the scents are excellent as is the slickness and lather. The post shave isn't quite to the level of my absolute favorites which is why it doesn't claim a tier 1 spot from me. But still a really excellent soap that for most will likely be better than the majority if what they've tried.

 

[BigJ]

Good luck! I hope you manage to get some.

Too much trouble for this old guy to consider! There are too many other great options IMO!

 

[shavefan]

I really dont understand the animosity towards Bufflehead based on availability. Like it or not, it's a solid soap and the owner/maker clearly puts a lot of pride in what he does. The packaging/presentation out does any other U.S. shave soap artisan that I know of, and he is really really good at putting complex and enjoyable scents together.

So he makes limited batch shave soaps in his spare time and they sell out in minutes... I say good for Bufflehead! I wish Bufflehead nothing but the best in the future.

 

[Steve56]

I really dont understand the animosity towards Bufflehead based on availability. Like it or not, it's a solid soap and the owner/maker clearly puts a lot of pride in what he does. The packaging/presentation out does any other U.S. shave soap artisan that I know of, and he is really really good at putting complex and enjoyable scents together.

So he makes limited batch shave soaps in his spare time and they sell out in minutes... I say good for Bufflehead! I wish Bufflehead nothing but the best in the future.

Absolutely. They're fellow Tennesseans and I wish them well. IMO, the soap is good, not great and the fragrances are better than average.

May I respectfully suggest a partnership with L&L? L&L soaps with Bufflehead scents? Oh yea!

Cheers, Steve

 

[Racquet]

I really don't see any animosity towards Bufflehead as a soap maker. From what I have read he seems
to be a great person that does what he can within his personal constraints. The "animosity" is really
just frustration towards the process of trying to obtain the soap online, kinda like knocking all of
the little kids out of line at the ice cream truck and then being told he's out of product . Not really
a good analogy, but you get the gist of it.

 

[SoullessSingularity]

I consider it unobtanium and thus not worth anything to me. If I cannot acquire it without a runaround, it may as well be worthless.

But I understand others want it bad. I wish best of luck to all of them to try it.

 

[pbrmhl]

I really dont understand the animosity towards Bufflehead based on availability. Like it or not, it's a solid soap and the owner/maker clearly puts a lot of pride in what he does. The packaging/presentation out does any other U.S. shave soap artisan that I know of, and he is really really good at putting complex and enjoyable scents together.

So he makes limited batch shave soaps in his spare time and they sell out in minutes... I say good for Bufflehead! I wish Bufflehead nothing but the best in the future.

I agree 100%. I'm surprised, however, at the difference between the relative tolerance for this chap and the vitriol directed at James at Wolfman. Both are fellows doing what they want, as they want to. What's wrong with that?

 

[AgentHutch]

I'm glad he doesn't mark up the price as well. Seeing the demand for it, and it seems as if he could charge double the price and people would still buy it. So thankfully it is still affordable if you can get in on time to buy one. Luckily, I was able to get the Toshimingo soap and I must say it is a great soap, with an awesome scent.

 

[mattyoung]

I also don't think there is much animosity...more like frustration. This is the very definition of "small batch" and is a labour of love for the artisan. It is a good soap, so those that want to try should attempt to buy it from the maker when it is available. Just remember that it is just soap and that there are plenty of other (wonderfully performing) fish in the sea.

 

[GoodOutcome]

Well, at the start the unique base of the soap and the presentation were what drew most to want it.. Now people want it because others are hyping it to legendary levels where it's probably as good as any of the other top artisans.
It doesn't help that there are specialised Bufflehead hunters that for some reason need more than one tin at a time when they know availability is scarce.. people should share the love more.

 

[1Vader]

The soap is good but I enjoyed L&L, T&S and WK Donkey more. I think the asking price of the artisan is fair, if you can get one for retail it's a good addition to your rotation.