I have been wet shaving for about 2 months now and i started out with a puck of Dr Harris soaps. After about a month and a half of using the same soap i wanted something new but SWMBO wasnt about to let me buy a bunch of soaps online. One day at the local BX i noticed some VDH and decided to give it a try. For 1.30 it was probably the best shave ive had since i started. I think its just much easier to lather but the shave was amazing. Im starting to wonder if the expensive soaps are still worth it lol.
Cheap soaps just as good?
- Thread starter robmckittrick
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Try out Mike's Naturals, (www.mikesnaturalsoaps.com). You won't be disappointed.
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- #3
I really want to but being stationed in Germany the shipping from the mikes site is very expensive. Its actually the soap that I am most excited about but i guess ill have to wait until i get back stateside =[
Being in Germany might give you access to some great soaps at a better price than normally seen here in the US. Try out Tabac, Klar (Seifen or Kabinett) and Speick if you can find them for reasonable prices. You may find it worthwhile to stock up before returning home.
That said, price gives little indication of performance in my experience. I have had good and bad soaps across the entire spectrum. Van der Hagen is a good example of an inexpensive soap that performs well, with the Deluxe and Luxury being my preference.
That said, price gives little indication of performance in my experience. I have had good and bad soaps across the entire spectrum. Van der Hagen is a good example of an inexpensive soap that performs well, with the Deluxe and Luxury being my preference.
Rob, if you are in Germany, you might want to look up some Klar Kabinette soap. Inexpensive and really good stuff! 500 grams goes a long, looooong way.
VDH is good soap imo. I've been using it and have no complaints. I think price goes up on soaps or products once you start getting into better scents and ingredients. Not necessarily quality or performance.
I recently tried Mikes and have to agree that it is just fantastic. It is completely different from VDH. But I've used Mama Bear also and Mike's is completely different from that also.
So I don't know if I can make a comparison of soaps by Mike's vs VDH or even Mama Bear. I personally think it is a matter of glycerin vs tallow. So you are almost comparing Apples to Oranges (almost).
I recently tried Mikes and have to agree that it is just fantastic. It is completely different from VDH. But I've used Mama Bear also and Mike's is completely different from that also.
So I don't know if I can make a comparison of soaps by Mike's vs VDH or even Mama Bear. I personally think it is a matter of glycerin vs tallow. So you are almost comparing Apples to Oranges (almost).
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- #7
Thanks for all the tips. Once i am able to start travelling around germany i want to see what german soaps i can get. My poor Dr Harris hasnt got any use for awhile now lol.
Are you using VDH Deluxe or the Select? The Deluxe is the better one although they have a "Luxury" which is supposedly even better and nicer smelling, but it's hard to find in the states. All cheap !
VDH makes some good soaps, I have two and use them. Williams is also inexpensive, I got a puck for 89 cents. It's ok but not great IMO. Price is not an indication of quality in many things shaving BUT there are some things that are worth the money. You can get Proraso soaps and creams for about $10. That's more than $1.30 but you also get a lot more quantity: about 5.2oz for either, roughly double the amount of a VDH puck. That's puts it at about 3 times the cost but I think you'd find the higher quality and performance worth it. You should be able to find Proraso and some other mid level European brands in Germany, either at the local store or from a European vendor with reasonable shipping. Unless you get into the really high priced stuff, soaps and creams (along with blades) are some of the less expensive indulgence items in shaving. Razors and brushes can get pricey fast.
Scott
Scott
Scott
Scott
Here are a few German/European soaps you SHOULD try while you are there
Tabac
Palmolive (stick)
Speick (stick)
Gold Dachs
Klar
Knize Ten
You own it to yourself since they are "local" products
If you are in Germany you should be able to get Tabac pretty easily!!!
If the BX carries VDH Luxury, try it. But wow, Germany makes some of the best razors (DE and straight, new and vintage) and shaving soaps & creams in the world.
Here's a few added German soaps and creams (I don't know the costs however):
*Calani This is an artisan soap.
*Haslinger (Austria)
[*Rated highly by B&B members]
Nivea shaving cream
Irisch Moos (Irish Moss) shaving cream
Edwin Jagger/Muhle soaps and creams (I believe these are made in Germany, not UK, but I could be wrong)
Wikinson Sword Stick
Olivia's Seife
Dr. Dittmar (owned by Klar, or vice versa)
Olivia's Seife (tub)
Anne Marie Borlind
Logona Mann
Weleda (Swiss I think)
Florena
Kappus
Nautik
Balea (cream can only be found in DM drugstore)
Cerrus
Herbacin
Phaemosan
Lavera
Kaloderma
Tabula Rasa
You can look in the Reviews section of the B&B site and read reviews of these shaving soaps and creams.
More are listed at this post.
I also must mention the famous Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle. Oh yeah, the Da Vinci and Shavmac shaving brushes, and ...
HTH
Dennis
Here's a few added German soaps and creams (I don't know the costs however):
*Calani This is an artisan soap.
*Haslinger (Austria)
[*Rated highly by B&B members]
Nivea shaving cream
Irisch Moos (Irish Moss) shaving cream
Edwin Jagger/Muhle soaps and creams (I believe these are made in Germany, not UK, but I could be wrong)
Wikinson Sword Stick
Olivia's Seife
Dr. Dittmar (owned by Klar, or vice versa)
Olivia's Seife (tub)
Anne Marie Borlind
Logona Mann
Weleda (Swiss I think)
Florena
Kappus
Nautik
Balea (cream can only be found in DM drugstore)
Cerrus
Herbacin
Phaemosan
Lavera
Kaloderma
Tabula Rasa
You can look in the Reviews section of the B&B site and read reviews of these shaving soaps and creams.
More are listed at this post.
I also must mention the famous Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle. Oh yeah, the Da Vinci and Shavmac shaving brushes, and ...
HTH
Dennis
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If you can find a stick of Arko where you are, try it. Great lather! (The scent is not for everyone, but, at the price, it's worth a try.)
You should look in Bitburg, that´s nor far away from Spangdahlem. There should be some drugstores like Müller, Rossmann or DM. There you can find Palmolive, Speick, Tabac, Nivea, Balea and some blades. Or you look in a pharmacy. Some of them have Phaemosan Shaving Cream or L´Occitane. Or they can order you Kappus Shaving Cream for example. Don´t be shy, pharmacists have studied an speak English.
I wouldn't bother with US made soaps while you are in Germany. There are very good soaps being produced in Europe, for very reasonable prices. Think of Nivea, Palmolive, Weleda or Speick.
Most supermarket blades probably are rebranded Personnas (Crystal or Red). Instead of buying those, I would buy the "real" Personnas from Ebay.
Most supermarket blades probably are rebranded Personnas (Crystal or Red). Instead of buying those, I would buy the "real" Personnas from Ebay.
Speik. Nuff said.
All very good suggestions above.
I would recommend looking in the supermarket/pharmacy/perfume shop off base, never know what you'll find.
Plenty of Turkish shops in Germany from memory too.
I would recommend looking in the supermarket/pharmacy/perfume shop off base, never know what you'll find.
Plenty of Turkish shops in Germany from memory too.
What he said! You are literally at the doorstep of a lot extremely great shaving products! Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the UK make most of the world standard products! As for stuff from the US, don't you have an APO mailing address?
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