GFT vs Penhaligons

[Manco]

Which do you think is better?

 

[dreadpirate]

I like GFT. Haven't tried Penhaligons.

 

[RILEY]

Personally I want to try Trumpers Coconut based on B&B reviews here. It constantly appears in members top 3.
As well, I would like to try Penhaligons but will not pursue the new formulation at its price point

 

[Sullybob]

Old or new Penhaligons?

 

[sanuginz]

Trumpers is for sure the better choice in comparison to new formulation Penhaligon's. The new Penhaligon's has mixed reviews and no consensus has been reached on it. Also the higher price point hurts Pens. The Trumpers has only positive reviews and the consensus has been reached that is among the best of the best.

 

[professorchaos]

Neither. They both stink on ice since being reformulated. Pre-reformulation, I'd have gone with Penhaligon's by a slim margin.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

I've used both pre and post-reformulation Trumper's and, to be honest with you, I can't tell a huge difference. In fact, they seem to be about equal in just about every way. That lather is slightly thinner, but the product is just as effective, in my experience. Did they reformulate yet AGAIN? I haven't bought a Trumper's soap in probably a year and a half now.

Haven't tried the new Penhaligon's. I'm definitely going to wait until more have reviewed it before I even think about dropping a cent on it. Until then, Penhaligon's is completely scratched off my list. Shame, that.

 

[mretzloff]

Neither. The removal of tallow has cost them my patronage.

 

[professorchaos]

I've used both pre and post-reformulation Trumper's and, to be honest with you, I can't tell a huge difference. In fact, they seem to be about equal in just about every way. That lather is slightly thinner, but the product is just as effective, in my experience. Did they reformulate yet AGAIN? I haven't bought a Trumper's soap in probably a year and a half now.

Haven't tried the new Penhaligon's. I'm definitely going to wait until more have reviewed it before I even think about dropping a cent on it. Until then, Penhaligon's is completely scratched off my list. Shame, that.

To be honest, I haven't picked up any Trumper's in quite a while. Tried it after the (or: one of the) reformulations and found it lacking. I haven't tried it since.

 

[The National Razor]

Never tried the Pen's, probably never will. But GFT is a great soap in my opinion.

 

[Rusty Jackknife]

Personally, I don't get the love affair with Trumpers soap. IMO, the performance does not match the top tiers of Harris/Tabac/AOS/etc.

I have tried several GFT soaps - including the Rose - and have experienced mediocre results. I have tried different water, switching out my brushes, and wearing steel-toed boots with a thong. None of these variables improved my average experience with Trumper shaving soap. However, there are many Anglophiles who believe their Trumpers shaving products are in a class by themselves and will never change this beloved brand. Much like Jaguar and Land Rover owners...

Find an (expensive) bowl of Pens tallow. You will be glad you did...

 

[scoopster]

I find Trumper tallow and pre-tallow pretty close. I have used:

tallow Rose and Violet

veggie Violet and Sandalwood

So I have had one scent from both veggie and tallow versions (Violet) but they were purched and used sequentially, never did a side by side. When I alternate between my vedggie sandalwood and my tallow Violet or Rose I give a slight edge to the tallow version. The lather is just a tad bit thicker/denser.

What's nice about Trumper is the scent options you get. Haven't found one yet that I dislike.

Penhaligons - Well I acquired four pucks of tallow English Fern for fear the veggie version will suck. It will be a long long time before I am looking for more fern! For me, the Pens beats the Trumper in performance and the scent of the Fern is great too.

 

[richmondesi]

English Fern is the scent that comes to mind when I think of shaving soaps. I'm going to miss it when I run out.

I've got some Trumpers with Tallow, and it is quite good as well. I'd give the edge to the old Pens though. I'd also not having a problem buying a new formulation GFT... Can't say the same about the current Pen's until they work out the problems

 

[English]

To be honest, I haven't picked up any Trumper's in quite a while. Tried it after the (or: one of the) reformulations and found it lacking. I haven't tried it since.

You should. Try the "Limes". You are missing one of the worlds best shaving soaps. Their reformulaion is now better than ever. Actually, it is better than their old tallow formulation which used to dry out on the face if you were not too careful. The only thing I find hard to forgive is that they made the rose soap scent a little more flowery when before it had been delicate but manly.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

You should. Try the "Limes". You are missing one of the worlds best shaving soaps. Their reformulaion is now better than ever. Actually, it is better than their old tallow formulation which used to dry out on the face if you were not too careful. The only thing I find hard to forgive is that they made the rose soap scent a little more flowery when before it had been delicate but manly.

How's the scent of the veggie Limes soap? I'm none too impressed with the "limes" scent of their cream, which isn't limes at all IMO, but I'd be interested in a nice citrusy soap for the coming spring and this may fit the bill.

 

[Doc4]

Just about every opinion about Pens is regarding the now-sold-out and discontinued "tallow" version. There is little known about the performance of the veggie version, so it's kind of like asking whether I preferred the dinner I had last night at one restaurant, or the one I'm going to have tomorrow at a different restaurant.

In addition, there seems to be a body of opinion out there that other reformulators have tweaked their reformulations as time goes on (I've heard comments to this effect about Trumpers and Floris, for a start.) Dunno if there is truth to this, but probably. Once the "your soap sucks" feedback pours in, they try to improve. So even an opinion about a reformulated soap may be (unbeknownst to all involved) an opinion about "version 1" when now a much better "version 3" is being sold.



Just get a puck of Arlington.

I have tried different water, switching out my brushes, and wearing steel-toed boots with a thong. ...

Ah, summertime girls in Campbell River ... brings back memories.

 

[richmondesi]

Excellent point about the potential for tweaking or reformulating the Pen's again, Ian

 

[English]

How's the scent of the veggie Limes soap? I'm none too impressed with the "limes" scent of their cream, which isn't limes at all IMO, but I'd be interested in a nice citrusy soap for the coming spring and this may fit the bill.

I'm not an expert on scents and I haven't used any cream for years. With scent, I either like em or hate em. It's a citrusy scent. Not something I'd want to eat. Bitter wrather than sweet is how I would describe it. Not offensive in any way. I used it this morning and had a great shave.

I think the best citrus cents are either AOS cream or Castle Forbes. They both get rave reviews as being true limes and great creams. The Castle Forbes is a very rich cream and I think that both Companies use mostly essential oils wrather than synthetics perfumes. You can certainly tell the difference.

So much choice out there.

 

[DogHair]

I don't think the GFT soaps are in the same league with the tallow based Penhaligon's. Except for Violet I've tried them all. I currently have Rose & Coconut but I don't reach for them often. A good tallow based soap like Wool Fat or AOS will beat them hands down in my book.

 

[rum]

I have and use the Rose by Trumper's - it deserves a mention, even for a reformulated/veggie soap. The lather is very slick, thick, soothing and smells divine. It also works a treat with the Coral Skin Food. One of my favourite soaps out there. Also the first soap I ever used.

As far as Pen's go, I think they all smell the same and now they are smaller in size, made up of poorer quality oils, there isn't much point in even bothering with them.

Just my tuppence.