Claus Porto and Lepi de Provence bath soaps?

[K.T.]

I was in a great shop called Lucca in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood today, and my GF picked me up a bar of verbena bath soap I had requested for my birthday. I was looking for some Pre de Provence, but either the store didn't carry it or else I missed it.

She ended up getting a bar of Lepi de Provence, which cost the same as Pre de Provence, $7. The verbena scent was very, very nice. I had never heard of this company before, but the soap appeared to be of high quality, triple milled. Apparently, they've only been around since the 1990's but seem to make a quality product.

I was also impressed by the store's stock of Claus Porto soaps, which I found out after I got home is a Portugese firm that's been in business since the 1800's. I love the smell, feel, look, and packaging of the Claus Porto soaps but it was a bit more than I wanted to spend today. Surprisingly, I found out that this company mills their soap 7 (!) times so they won't crack, and for longevity. This so impressed me that I plan on picking up thier large, egg-shaped bar as a gift to myself at some point.

Anyone have experience with these two soaps?

The store also carries Santa Maria Novella soaps and colognes, but that's another splurge that will have to wait until later. Great scents these soaps have!

 

[Lusitano]

I've tried some Claus Porto soaps, and they are really good. They are pricey but last a long time. The company (Ach Brito) which produces these soaps also manufacturers shaving creams (like Musgo).

Be careful with personal care products containing verbena oil, is a known human intoxicant and it has been banned in Europe.

 

[global_dev]

She ended up getting a bar of Lepi de Provence, which cost the same as Pre de Provence, $7. The verbena scent was very, very nice. I had never heard of this company before, but the soap appeared to be of high quality, triple milled. Apparently, they've only been around since the 1990's but seem to make a quality product

I may be mistaken, but the LdP may be the rounds that EnchanteOnline sells for the Method shavers...

 

[mars]

yes, enchante sells l'epi de provence. great soaps.

 

[global_dev]

i have then the green tea LdP round. It smells amazing and it's strong, not overpowering and stifling.

 

[sanuginz]

I would say the lepi is better in terms of performance because of the added shea and the claus porto is better in terms of scent.

 

[K.T.]

I've used the L'epi de Provence in the shower for 3 days, now, and it is fantastic! I use a Axe branded scrubber/pouf, and just a brief rub on the soap bar produces plenty of creamy, good smelling lather that's a treat to wash with. Why hadn't I done this before? Sure beats the bottled body wash I was using previously.

I don't want to go crazy with soap AD, but I ended picking up some Kirk's and some sodium tallowate Yardley cucumber soap.

While the Yardley smells nice, it is somewhat overly strong and a bit artificial smelling compared to LpD. Also, it felt more like a standard bar of soap rather than the creamy treat that the LpD is.

I haven't tried Kirk's yet, but it's in the soap lineup.

Next will be the Whole Foods brand offerings. The Verbena/Cedar seems to be a favorite. I'll probably splurge on Claus Porto or Santa Maria Novella for Christmas.

Washing with nice soaps is a revelation! Kinda like jumping into wet shaving after years of using canned goo.

 

[RILEY]

Claus Porto soaps like you said are milled 7 times & I can vouch they last for ever. I purchased the marine scent & it smelled so fresh & clean. The Orange one is next on my list.

The lather off a Porto is so luxuriously creamy. Just fantastic.

Just fantastic soaps that are worth their price tag.
BTW the Musgo body bar smells just like the shave cream

 

[Lusitano]

BTW the Musgo body bar smells just like the shave cream

Not quite the same, it is somewhat different. But YMMV.

 

[Sabre]

South of France, Mistral, L'Epi de Provence, Pré de Provence, Belle de Provence et al are US company brands that are produced by three French contract soap manufacturers.

 

[Just looking]

Poppy is one of the greatest scents on Earth

I kid you not.

I dare you to try it and not love it.

once in a while I'll pick up a bar for my wife.
It takes every ounce of self control in me not to use it.

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

 

[K.T.]

Poppy is one of the greatest scents on Earth

I kid you not.

I dare you to try it and not love it....

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Thank you for the tip. There were a couple of C.P. scents that I thought were really fantastic, but I didn't catch what they were. I bet poppy was one of them. I think the other one that really got me was the white bar with the sea scent.

I'll be back at Lucca soon to pick some up. Thanks!