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French Shaving Soap Compendium.

I am in Paris for Business and I did not take any Shaving soap/cream with me on purpose because I thought I could easily find one here. Though, the one i found was a very cheap one (1.60 euro) and called Monsavon. Surprisingly it seems to be a good soap/cream (is something in between). I will give it a second try once I will be back in Amsterdam and I will let you know.

Best,
Tom
 
Ah, a nice thread. Resurrected to tempt all us soapaholics. As Jim can attest, I may be a Celtic fanatic and at times, an unrepentant Anglophile, but I cease and desist with all teasing of the Francs when it comes to shaving toiletries. The packaging, the scents, and most importantly, the way most perform. Some of the best out there. I did not look over the entire list to avoid the temptation. I am buying either AOS or one of the exotics next. Yes...I am. I mean...I am pretty certain.

Regards, Todd
 
great list... I'm surprised I didn't see it before, and surprised there are so many soaps I haven't considered yet!

Based on my experience of Pre de Provence and Institut Karite, I like French shave soaps. So much so, that I have some L'Occitane Cade and Provence Sante on their way to me right now... next on my French soap hit list is Joris...
 
great list... I'm surprised I didn't see it before, and surprised there are so many soaps I haven't considered yet!

Based on my experience of Pre de Provence and Institut Karite, I like French shave soaps. So much so, that I have some L'Occitane Cade and Provence Sante on their way to me right now... next on my French soap hit list is Joris...

LOVE Provence Sante!!!! Used it this morning with exceptional results.
 
great list... I'm surprised I didn't see it before, and surprised there are so many soaps I haven't considered yet!

Based on my experience of Pre de Provence and Institut Karite, I like French shave soaps. So much so, that I have some L'Occitane Cade and Provence Sante on their way to me right now... next on my French soap hit list is Joris...

Joris = great stuff. Methinks you will likey ... :thumbup1:
 
do i need to try joris again? the first time i used it the lather was so thin and airy it provided niether slickness nor cushion.

Try it again, for sure. I find this to be one of the better soaps in my rotation. I'm not crazy about the scent (tho I certainly don't object to it) but I find that it works very well indeed.
 
Joris = great stuff. Methinks you will likey ... :thumbup1:

on my last travel to Paris (actually I am just back from there) I purchased Monsavon and Joris. I am looking forward to shave with Joris. I already love the scent. Is there any AS or EDT in similar scent?
 
do i need to try joris again? the first time i used it the lather was so thin and airy it provided niether slickness nor cushion.

I used it for the first time yesterday and thought it merited a B+ rating (where MWF is a solid A). Pleasant, unoffensive soapy scent and a slick, comfortable shave.
 
great list... I'm surprised I didn't see it before, and surprised there are so many soaps I haven't considered yet!

Based on my experience of Pre de Provence and Institut Karite, I like French shave soaps. So much so, that I have some L'Occitane Cade and Provence Sante on their way to me right now... next on my French soap hit list is Joris...

Well let me tell you something. You may try the Provence Sante and decide as I did that it will take a SPECIAL soap to match or out perform it. It really is that good. More to the point is the fact it completely DESTROYS the myth that veg based or shea butter soaps cannot lather like the best of the old time tallow soaps. Bollocks. It provides one of the richest, most comforting shave lathers around. I am not alone in that opinion. Okay, the caveat. You may buy it and hate it but I am betting otherwise.

Regards, Todd
 
Hi
Can someone provide me a link for a online shop where I can buy Joris?

Thank you

Try calling Colonial Drug:

Colonial Drug - The Hard-to-Find Fragrance Specialiste
49 Brattle St - Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02138-3706
Phone: 617-864-2222
Fax: 617-864-2223

I'm betting they have it. Their website isn't up & running yet but if you call them they'll ship it out post-haste (provided, of course, that it's in stock). They won't even ask you for CC info -- they'll send a bill along w/the product.

Good luck!

EDIT: Whoops ... just noticed you're in Copenhagen. Try this link.

Good luck!
 
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I am in Paris for Business and I did not take any Shaving soap/cream with me on purpose because I thought I could easily find one here. Though, the one i found was a very cheap one (1.60 euro) and called Monsavon. Surprisingly it seems to be a good soap/cream (is something in between). I will give it a second try once I will be back in Amsterdam and I will let you know.

Best,
Tom

Monsavon is an excellent soap. Not at the same performance level as Provence Sante, L'Occitane, Pre sde Provence, but reasonably close. It's a soft soap similar in density to Proraso and is nicely scented in a citrusy lavender way with a little classic barbershop thrown in. It's hard to find in the US and is quite a bit more expensive than what it can be had for in France.
 
Try calling Colonial Drug:

Colonial Drug - The Hard-to-Find Fragrance Specialiste
49 Brattle St - Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02138-3706
Phone: 617-864-2222
Fax: 617-864-2223

I'm betting they have it. Their website isn't up & running yet but if you call them they'll ship it out post-haste (provided, of course, that it's in stock). They won't even ask you for CC info -- they'll send a bill along w/the product.

Good luck!

EDIT: Whoops ... just noticed you're in Copenhagen. Try this link.

Good luck!

Thx Evbo the link was just what I needed..
 
Well let me tell you something. You may try the Provence Sante and decide as I did that it will take a SPECIAL soap to match or out perform it. It really is that good. More to the point is the fact it completely DESTROYS the myth that veg based or shea butter soaps cannot lather like the best of the old time tallow soaps. Bollocks. It provides one of the richest, most comforting shave lathers around. I am not alone in that opinion. Okay, the caveat. You may buy it and hate it but I am betting otherwise.

Regards, Todd

Hi Todd - I shaved with Provence Sante this morning. I have the same experience with the lather as you. It might be one of the best lathering veg based soap I've tried. Really impressive. Shaved great and was moisturizing. The scent is fresh and clean smelling with a hint of florals. Not the most masculine scent, but nice enough... at any rate, it doesn't linger long at all. For the money it's an excellent buy.
 

Luc

"To Wiki or Not To Wiki, That's The Question".
Staff member
I have to bump this thread! Excellent work done here! I have a lot of soaps that I need to try!
 
Hi Todd - I shaved with Provence Sante this morning. I have the same experience with the lather as you. It might be one of the best lathering veg based soap I've tried. Really impressive. Shaved great and was moisturizing. The scent is fresh and clean smelling with a hint of florals. Not the most masculine scent, but nice enough... at any rate, it doesn't linger long at all. For the money it's an excellent buy.

Must...get...Provence Sante
 

Luc

"To Wiki or Not To Wiki, That's The Question".
Staff member
As you have one French Canadian soap, I found another one.

http://www.vertmousse.com

They have their own shaving soap. The website is in French only. They listed their ingredients. I'm unsure if anyone tried it. Funny thing, their store is close to my parents.
 
So far Provence Santé is my most favourite soap, I am also impressed with Tabac. I have several unused IK's :w00t:, and today my Comptoir des Savonniers from Bordeaux and La Maison du Barbier arrived - which is hopefully similar to Joris (or is it Plisson :confused:).
 
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