I used Tao today and I have never used a better soap. Some of the scents are okay, but the performance is absolutely top notch. Tao and Verbrannt smell amazing, Before and After the Fire are okay and Island in the Sun is simple and pleasant.
View attachment 929075 As a first time user of GD with this last batch, I was put off my the delay and screw ups and planned to not repeat any purchases. However, upon using the product “Island in the Sun”, I am amazed at how good it is. I have used most of the other top elite soaps that everyone recommends and GD really is leaps and bounds better than the others.
And there we go.
Once people realized there is no soap presently being made that matches GroomingDept (and there isn’t) we could hear a pin drop. What a relief.
Orange and leather seems like such a odd combination. Does the scent work? Should I buy it?I used Naranja de Sangre and had a wonderful shave. The scent was blood orange and leather. At first I didn’t know if I’d like it but it smells wonderful, especially after it’s lathered. Performance is as good as any soap I have.
It seems to me that performance with this batch is even better than his previous iterations.
I thought it might be weird but it smells very nice. I even got a compliment from my wife about the smell, that doesn’t happen very much with my soaps, unless it smells like Aventus.Orange and leather seems like such a odd combination. Does the scent work? Should I buy it?
My delivery of 3 soaps never arrived even though is says delivered today.
I emailed Mo and he responded same day and said he will ship replacements on Monday.
I am happy
I got my original soaps today even though usps says they were delivered Saturday.
I asked Mo to cancel my replacement that he was working on. He sent me a really nice email reply.
I received:
Incense & Rose
Island In The Sun
Chypre Conifère
They all smell great. I am 3 for 3 with this vendor in terms of scent. This is rare for me with the newer artisans.
In his email he asked me to mention:
I'm really sorry for the delays in shipping. I'm working hard on fixing this bottleneck. I'm not trying to create artificial scarcity, I'm juggling my space to make do with the current constraints. I need space for manufacturing that's pristine, the soaps needs to cure in an ideal environment, then I need to store an inventory.
Well, considering that this thread had to do with the lead-up to, and the subsequent delays with the new releases, some might feel that there really isn't much point in posting on this thread anymore, as most people have received their orders.
I think the point in continuing this thread is simply to underline the opinion of old and new users of GD that these are the best soaps you can buy. That wasn't happening earlier in the thread where the prevailing mood was "there are plenty of other soaps just as good that you can get without the hassle".
There are indeed plenty of other soaps with comparable performance that will be more available and in more traditional/universally appealing scents. My Tao performed similarly to Storybook Soapworks, which has an excellent barbershop scent (hallward's dream). Admittedly, Storybook Soapworks is an exceptionally comfortable shave. But it is still comparable. The post-shave of Tao is amazing, but it's similar to the post-shave of Declaration grooming Icarus or the new Southern Witchcrafts formula. Admittedly, I haven't dialed in the lather to Tao yet. Performance is really good, but I wouldn't say it's significantly better that you'd be missing out on your shaving life by not using a GD product (assuming your den as Excelsior, Icarus, Noble Otter, Southern Witchcrafts, Storybook Soapworks, Eleven, SV...)I think the point in continuing this thread is simply to underline the opinion of old and new users of GD that these are the best soaps you can buy. That wasn't happening earlier in the thread where the prevailing mood was "there are plenty of other soaps just as good that you can get without the hassle".
There are indeed plenty of other soaps with comparable performance that will be more available and in more traditional/universally appealing scents. My Tao performed similarly to Storybook Soapworks, which has an excellent barbershop scent (hallward's dream). Admittedly, Storybook Soapworks is an exceptionally comfortable shave. But it is still comparable. The post-shave of Tao is amazing, but it's similar to the post-shave of Declaration grooming Icarus or the new Southern Witchcrafts formula. Admittedly, I haven't dialed in the lather to Tao yet. Performance is really good, but I wouldn't say it's significantly better that you'd be missing out on your shaving life by not using a GD product (assuming your den as Excelsior, Icarus, Noble Otter, Southern Witchcrafts, Storybook Soapworks, Eleven, SV...)
I'll also note my skin is distinctly different (legs) so it is likely the soap "feels" differently. From what I understand, my legs feel like the neck area- sensitive to aggression and in need of a very comforting shave. In this department, GD performs very comfortably, and I'm sure with dialing in it'll perform even more comfortably. But I'm mostly using the product for the scents- I love the wild, creative scents. There are profiles being done here that have very minimal or no overlap with other artisans.
Just got the rest of my order today, but not really. I was supposed to get:
1. Tao
2. Island in the Sun
3. Sandalwood Fig
4. Before the Fire
5. Mallard Kulfi
Instead I got another Magnolia Oud and Naranja de Sangre.
I’m frustrated.
That would be frustrating. Especially after the shipping delays.Just got the rest of my order today, but not really. I was supposed to get:
1. Tao
2. Island in the Sun
3. Sandalwood Fig
4. Before the Fire
5. Mallard Kulfi
Instead I got another Magnolia Oud and Naranja de Sangre.
I’m frustrated.