Italian Red Head to Head: Proraso vs Cella

[Doc Dan]

Just for fun, I decided to do a head to head comparison between Proraso Red and Cella Red. I used a Thiers Issard full hollow ground razor for three days and a Parker PTW Shavette with Wizmet blade for three days. I shaved one day with Proraso and one day with Cella with the straight razor, and then repeated with the shavette.

Scent: Oh man, that Cella smells amazing, even in the tub! I love that Marzipan smell. The Proraso is a sandalwood scented soap and in the tub has a strong chemical smell, to me. However, once lathered an on the face, that goes away and it has a nice, soft sandalwood scent that is not too sweet. I like it.

Lather: Both made great lather and were easy to get the consistency and sustainability that I wanted. I had peaks, but I wanted a moister yogurt, so I added a bit of water to my tips. To me, both felt great, but maybe the tallow based Cella felt a bit creamier. Both were nice, though, for the money.

Performance: I have found that for me and my environment, loading Proraso as I normally load other soaps is not optimal and performance suffers. I overloaded my brush enough to easily get six passes and I got far better performance out of the soap. The Cella, I overloaded just to keep things equal and I got good performance out of it, as well. I did three passes, WTG, ATG, XTG. With my straight razor, I had a bit of dragging with both, though I was able to do all of my passes, and even the scything XTG on my Adam's apple and along my jaws which are real problem areas. The shavette had no such issues. That thin, sharp blade cut through the whiskers with only a small amount of dragging. After all, these are not top tier soaps, but they are good enough to give a safe shave. I had enough residual slickness to touch up areas without re-lathering, though I found it more expedient to do so.

Value: Both of these soaps are inexpensive. There are some that perform better for me that cost less or slightly more. Still, for the money they are pretty good. The Cella cost me the equivalent of $9.40 USD and the Proraso cost the equivalent of $8.60 USD. However, I can get the top tier performing Shannon's Soaps Rebrab with the Chupacabra base for $9.99 and it is one of the best soaps I have ever used.

In summary, both of these are nice shaving soaps and not expensive. They smell good. However, for the same money I can get a top tier soap, so that is something to keep in mind.

 

[Lockback]

Just for fun, I decided to do a head to head comparison between Proraso Red and Cella Red. I used a Thiers Issard full hollow ground razor for three days and a Parker PTW Shavette with Wizmet blade for three days. I shaved one day with Proraso and one day with Cella with the straight razor, and then repeated with the shavette.

Scent: Oh man, that Cella smells amazing, even in the tub! I love that Marzipan smell. The Proraso is a sandalwood scented soap and in the tub has a strong chemical smell, to me. However, once lathered an on the face, that goes away and it has a nice, soft sandalwood scent that is not too sweet. I like it.

Lather: Both made great lather and were easy to get the consistency and sustainability that I wanted. I had peaks, but I wanted a moister yogurt, so I added a bit of water to my tips. To me, both felt great, but maybe the tallow based Cella felt a bit creamier. Both were nice, though, for the money.

Performance: I have found that for me and my environment, loading Proraso as I normally load other soaps is not optimal and performance suffers. I overloaded my brush enough to easily get six passes and I got far better performance out of the soap. The Cella, I overloaded just to keep things equal and I got good performance out of it, as well. I did three passes, WTG, ATG, XTG. With my straight razor, I had a bit of dragging with both, though I was able to do all of my passes, and even the scything XTG on my Adam's apple and along my jaws which are real problem areas. The shavette had no such issues. That thin, sharp blade cut through the whiskers with only a small amount of dragging. After all, these are not top tier soaps, but they are good enough to give a safe shave. I had enough residual slickness to touch up areas without re-lathering, though I found it more expedient to do so.

Value: Both of these soaps are inexpensive. There are some that perform better for me that cost less or slightly more. Still, for the money they are pretty good. The Cella cost me the equivalent of $9.40 USD and the Proraso cost the equivalent of $8.60 USD. However, I can get the top tier performing Shannon's Soaps Rebrab with the Chupacabra base for $9.99 and it is one of the best soaps I have ever used.

In summary, both of these are nice shaving soaps and not expensive. They smell good. However, for the same money I can get a top tier soap, so that is something to keep in mind.

Nicely done!
I haven't tried Proraso Red yet but really like the Green. And I just bought some Cella Red about a month ago and really, really like it, although I'm not as fond of the scent as some here are.
Thanks for the comparison. I'm quite sure down the road I'll try some Proraso Red as well ...

 

[SydneyShaver]

In my opinion, its not even close. Cella (both green and red) is leaps and bounds above Proraso. Better scents (imo) Better performance, better formulation, better longevity and thus better value. The artifical scents of proraso also just don't appeal to me anymore. They just don't match up to high quality or all-natural fragrance oils. The proraso splashes on the other hand are definitely better than cella's (The scents don't match the soaps and the formulations are ironically quite good).

 

[Doc Dan]

In my opinion, its not even close. Cella (both green and red) is leaps and bounds above Proraso. Better scents (imo) Better performance, better formulation, better longevity and thus better value. The artifical scents of proraso also just don't appeal to me anymore. They just don't match up to high quality or all-natural fragrance oils. The proraso splashes on the other hand are definitely better than cella's (The scents don't match the soaps and the formulations are ironically quite good).

Thank you for reminding me. I went back and re-read my post because of yours and realized I had forgotten something important. The Cella was a little better performance wise, for my tastes, and smelled a world better. The Proraso was better than I was expecting based on previous experience, and wasn't bad. Cella was just a little better and I like the simpler ingredients better, too.

 

[Asktm]

My vote also goes to the cella. Better than proraso in every aspect. Moreover I thing proraso's creams are better performer than the soaps.

 

[borwish]

I'll buck the thread and state that I prefer red Proraso over both Cella. I like it's performance better and think that the red Proraso smells great---as does red Cella. I find that I don't need to load either more than a typical soap and get plenty of lather. No disrespect intended. I appreciate your opinion and just wanted to share mine. With different water, tools, and technique there can be quite a varying experience.

In summary, both of these are nice shaving soaps and not expensive. They smell good. However, for the same money I can get a top tier soap, so that is something to keep in mind.

I've never tried Shannon's soap, so I can't comment on it's quality. I assume you are referring to the 3 oz pucks, but keep in mind that both Proraso and Cella are 5.2 oz. Proraso red in a tube is what I'd recommend to a beginner because of it's ease of use and quality lather. I do agree though that for a little more money one can pick a better product from several makers.

 

[Doc Dan]

That's why there are so many different soaps that have been around and are around. Everyone is different and all we can do is report on our own experiences. Skin type makes a difference in soap preference. Also, the type razor one uses makes a big difference. Preferring Proraso isn't bucking the thread, it is simply your difference in soap preference based on your unique characteristics.

 

[reformedshavr]

I shave with both Proraso and Cella at least once a week - they both meet or exceed the performance of many of my other high end products. Cella is what I take when I travel as I can always get a good lather regardless of water type/quality.

 

[Lane101]

Hi @Doc Dan , Nice evaluation of Prorasso Red and Cella. Agree with your conclusions on the Prorasso (have not used Cella). I also find the scent from the tub to be a bit of a sharp chemical smell though it does mellow out to become more pleasant in the lather. While I enjoy how easily Prorasso lathers it's not the slickest of the products I use. Have found better options for similar or less money. I'll use it straight every month or two and have mostly used my tub as a superlathering ingredient in my Van Der Williams blends.

 

[Doc Dan]

Hi @Doc Dan , Nice evaluation of Prorasso Red and Cella. Agree with your conclusions on the Prorasso (have not used Cella). I also find the scent from the tub to be a bit of a sharp chemical smell though it does mellow out to become more pleasant in the lather. While I enjoy how easily Prorasso lathers it's not the slickest of the products I use. Have found better options for similar or less money. I'll use it straight every month or two and have mostly used my tub as a superlathering ingredient in my Van Der Williams blends.

Certainly I like Proraso better mixed with Stirling Unscented Beeswax. It gives it the missing slickness to which you referred. So, yes, it is better mixed.

 

[BigJ]

Great comparison of two very fine soaps!!

 

[Doc Dan]

Update: I have come to the opinion that Proraso is simply meh. I have reached the conclusion that Cella Red is one of the best soaps out there, even running with the big dogs. It is the only soap for which I keep backups. It is a truly superior performer. I just used Cella Red last night with my straight razor, in fact, and had a glorious, creamy shave. Last year, my wife was running out of soap and I gave her a tub of Cella Red. She loved it immediately and talked about how creamy and smooth it was.

 

[dieselfuel79]

No question both Cella and Proraso are fantastic. I’ve tried Cella Red and the Bio green. Great soaps, but I’m sticking with Proraso green. (I did not like Proaso red and the blue had a licorice scent I couldn’t get past.) There’s just something about the routine - including the pre-shave, cream and aftershave splash.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use either however.

 

[Barberbite]

My personal absolute preference for Proraso red, the best among many soaps for me. Even the Cella red is too good, but lately I'm bored of almond soaps.

 

[Alex Jr]

Cella is amazing. I get a creamy slick lather better than soaps costing 3x more.

 

[Brutus]

To each his own…

Trying Proraso seems to me akin to a right of passage; every shaver should have tried it at least once, but it would be a shame to terminate one’s journey there.
There are so many other products out there that I would rather use.

Proraso get’s the job done, but for me that’s about it.
It does not elicit any excitement in me when I occasionally use Proraso (e.g. when in Italy) and I usually don’t even finish it.

Other shavers may disagree with me and that is totally fine.


B.

 

[The Blackadder]

For me, Proraso is average, one of my least favorites. Cella competes easily with SV, A&E, B&M, my top performers

 

[Doc Dan]

For me, Proraso is average, one of my least favorites. Cella competes easily with SV, A&E, B&M, my top performers

I think so, too. Cella Red is the reason I have slowed way down buying new soaps. The only reason I use a different soap is simply for a change of smell, but the Cella Red is my daily driver.

 

[srgjazz]

I have tried Cella Red twice and it lights up my face. I regularly use Proraso Red and have no problems.
One thing I wish is when someone says oh there are many soaps better than xyz that they give an example or two. Otherwise it is unhelpful and what I refer to as an Unsubstantiated Bald Face Assertion.

 

[bartje-p]

Cella certainly would be my pick, I don't like the Proraso sandalwood that much. But you should give TFS crema purissima a try if you can too, you won't be disappointed. Dirt cheap here in the EU.....