I'm ready to give up on artisan soaps.

[vocalistbob]

I like supporting small, independent businesses, but I am ready to give up on artisan soaps. I have not been able to generate a thick lather (I don't like it too thick) with any of them (Mike's, QCS soap and croap, Mystic, Prairie, etc.).

I have used Mike's and QCS (different varieties of each) for quite a while and while they are slick enough, they don't give me the thick lather and cushioning I get with MdC and MWF. I don't think the issue is my technique since I am able to generate nice, thick lather with MWF. It may be more of a challenge for me because of our hard water and my preference for large brushes, but I have loaded Mike's for a full minute and still can't generate thick lather or enough lather to last for 3 passes without re-loading. QCS's croaps are easier to load, but I still can't get that thick lather (not too thick) that I seek. I have tried hot water and warm water, more water and less water, softer brushes and stiffer brushes, but no luck.

I just ordered some Barrister & Mann. If that doesn't work, then I give up.

 

[Jboone78]

I would not officially give up until you have tried a soap from Calani..... in my opinion, artisan at its finest. But I have had some great success with Mike's though, especially the Lavender. But if Panna Crema is considered artisan, then that is another one to try as well that already has a strong following.

 

[jasonb8736]

If the other soaps aren't working for you, I suggest shelving them for a bit and trying again another day. In the meantime, it only makes sense to use soaps that provide you with a satisfying experience.

I have a couple of the artisan soaps that you mentioned, but I've become a very big fan of the Razorock soaps.

 

[TallyShave]

I would point out that MdC is also an artisan, so you won't be totally giving up on artisan soaps.

I would not officially give up until you have tried a soap from Calani..... in my opinion, artisan at its finest.

I couldn't agree more on Calani...just an excellent soap. However, I haven't had issues with any of the others listed either.

 

[rand77]

+1 for Calani. Certain RazoRock products lather themselves, they may not be tops in all areas but they sure do lather easily. Also SeaGrape Studios with tallow and lanolin is up there.

I'm going try out Strop Shoppe with tallow in the upcoming week or so, and I'll be adding my thoughts on that.

 

[shavefreak]

water load brush, water load. I can get yogurt out of most any soap all the matters is time. That being said here are my top picks for an easy lather and a high quality protective shave.

MDC
ADP/Razorock XXX - RR king of the castle and King Louis are great also
Razorock XX $8.00!!!
Panna crema
Tabac
Strop Shoppe special edition with tallow, is excellent a bit longer than MDC and ADP but not by much but ultra thick yogurt

 

[Shave_Rat]

I can agree that QCS croaps don't build a thick cream like lather compared to say MdC or many others, but it's great with it's wet, slick, lasting lather. It's actually my preferred lather type for straight razor shaves, where you really want that wetter slickness. I have gotten to where I don't discount a soap/cream for the type of lather it builds, I only discount them on how effective that lather actually is, and if I like/love/hate the scent.

 

[rushchairman]

Bob, I fully support your decision. Charitable fellow that I am, I would be pleased to relieve you of your collection of Mike's.

 

[BigWill]

Bob, I fully support your decision. Charitable fellow that I am, I would be pleased to relieve you of your collection of Mike's.

And I, your collection of QCS.

 

[vocalistbob]

Rush, you're a helluva guy! "Charitable" only begins to describe you!

 

[Haggises]

And I, your collection of QCS.

Dibs on the Mystic and Prairie!

 

[MaxP]

This is interesting.

I've had good success with Mike's, QCS, Jabonman, Panna Crema but NO LOVE at all for Mystic Waters. In fact, I'd gotten rid of all MW except for a single shave stick.

This morning I thought to give MW a final effort. Maybe it was the sitck, maybe it was a well squeezed brush, whatever it was...BAM! I actually got the thick yougurty lather that had previously eluded me. It didn't have quite the cushion of MdC, but it was on par with Mike's. And, as many have reported, the after shave face feel is great.

So, count me firmly in the camp of users of the artisan soaps. I'll rank some of them right next to DRH and only slightly below MdC or CF.

Disclaimer: I have soft water. I can make lather from any good soap/cream (and I can lather some poor soaps as well)

 

[djh]

Life's too short and important to punish yourself.

Buy a good soap and enjoy it each morning.

 

[joglander]

Try Stirling soaps. They outperform many of the big brands. Better, in my opinion than Calani, though that, too is a fine soap.

 

[wimbouman]

If you try Calani - and Vox Populi here urges you so - try their Oriental Plum.
Proud bearer of the title 'Forumsrasierseife des Rasurforums gut-rasiert. de' and it is the best Calani I know of.

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Aqua, Elaeis guineensis oil, Stearic Acid, Cococs nucifera oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, Lanolin, Glycerin, Parfum, Xanthan gum, Eugenol, Geraniol, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene

 

[oldtrout]

Many of the artisan soaps I've tried have ended up being used as bath soaps, but I'm happy to hear you're giving Barrister & Mann a try before throwing in the artisan soap towel. I used Barrister and Mann for the first time yesterday and it exceeded my expectations. Please let us know how it performs for you.

 

[vocalistbob]

I used the Barrister & Mann (Seville) today. I was pretty hopeful because of all of the superlatives I've seen written about it, but the results were disappointing - and a bit weird. I loaded it for a full minute and initially, got a nice lather, but I still had to re-load twice before I was done. Then, when I went to rinse out my brush, there was practically no soap left in the brush at all - very strange. I used it with a new brush that arrived today, so I'm wondering if that might have been a factor, although I can't imagine why that would have made a difference.

I bought two pucks; the Seville and the Bay Rum, and both were very intensely and very pleasantly scented. I will try the soap a few more times to see if I can get better results.

 

[mctmatt]

Its hard to say why some soaps work for some and it might not for others. I love Barrister & Mann, but I think your approach is correct to give it a few more tries and see if you have any different results. I am hoping you get great results the next few shaves, but if not then having to fall back to MdC and MWF well is not a bad thing either.

I used the Barrister & Mann (Seville) today. I was pretty hopeful because of all of the superlatives I've seen written about it, but the results were disappointing - and a bit weird. I loaded it for a full minute and initially, got a nice lather, but I still had to re-load twice before I was done. Then, when I went to rinse out my brush, there was practically no soap left in the brush at all - very strange. I used it with a new brush that arrived today, so I'm wondering if that might have been a factor, although I can't imagine why that would have made a difference.

I bought two pucks; the Seville and the Bay Rum, and both were very intensely and very pleasantly scented. I will try the soap a few more times to see if I can get better results.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I used the Barrister & Mann (Seville) today. I was pretty hopeful because of all of the superlatives I've seen written about it, but the results were disappointing - and a bit weird. I loaded it for a full minute and initially, got a nice lather, but I still had to re-load twice before I was done. Then, when I went to rinse out my brush, there was practically no soap left in the brush at all - very strange. I used it with a new brush that arrived today, so I'm wondering if that might have been a factor, although I can't imagine why that would have made a difference.

I bought two pucks; the Seville and the Bay Rum, and both were very intensely and very pleasantly scented. I will try the soap a few more times to see if I can get better results.

The brush can make a difference, so try it with others you have for the next couple trials. It really sounds like your water could be really really hard as well. You could always grab a gallon of cheap distilled/spring water from the store just to see how much the water is affecting things, just so you know.

 

[vocalistbob]

Yup, we have very hard water here. I also use large brushes which require a LOT of product, so I'll try one of my smaller brushes (under 30mm) tomorrow and see what happens. I like the scents so much (I bought the Seville and Bay Rum) that I want these soaps to work.