Is there any way to purchase this from the USA without ridiculously overpaying either for the product itself or for shipping?
Monsavon Bol à Raser
- Thread starter Edinburgh
- Start date
There is some on ebay.
Keep in mind you can also find Monsavon in the French West Indies. I picked up three while in St. Martin in the Caribbean for $1.78 each. Talk with any friends who cruise, they might be able to help.
I've read many bad/not so good reviews of this soap, yet still it intrigues me. If offered in stick form, I'd have already bought it. I imagine I'll still cave and try it at some point - stick or no, theres just something about it...
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I like it. And I'll be looking for it in St. Martin, too. Hadn't heard that before.
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I was in Sint Maarten two weeks ago and picked my three bowls up at the Super U in Marigot. I did not see any at Le Grand Marche on the Dutch side, and didn't visit any of the smaller grocery stores on the island. FYI. Good luck!
I spend a lot of time in France and have access to Monsavon at €1.05 (about US$1.30). On the basis of cost per oz, this is easily one of the cheapest out there, rivaling Arko stick in the US or Palmolive stick in the UK on a price-per-gram basis. And it's been continuously produced since around 1928. So all signs are that it's one to try.
Well, I have used it for quite a few shaves and it's really not good. In fact I got down to about a third from the end and just threw the bowl away. The lather it produces is thin, and it does not last long.
For a country that knows a thing or two about how to make top-class soap (MdC, Pré de Provence etc.), it's quite surprising that this stuff is still used after so many decades.
In France you're probably better off going for the Palmolive cream, which is always sold right alongside Monsavon in the shaving aisle, and it's available just about everywhere for around €1.45. The Gillette Bleue Extra blades are also excellent at around €1.50.
But again, Monsavon gets a thumbs down for me and a few others on this site.
The fragrance is also rather strange - a cross between J&J Baby Powder and lavender (at least to my schnozz). Lavender I can take, but that soft J&J background fragrance is definitely not for me.
YMMV
Well, I have used it for quite a few shaves and it's really not good. In fact I got down to about a third from the end and just threw the bowl away. The lather it produces is thin, and it does not last long.
For a country that knows a thing or two about how to make top-class soap (MdC, Pré de Provence etc.), it's quite surprising that this stuff is still used after so many decades.
In France you're probably better off going for the Palmolive cream, which is always sold right alongside Monsavon in the shaving aisle, and it's available just about everywhere for around €1.45. The Gillette Bleue Extra blades are also excellent at around €1.50.
But again, Monsavon gets a thumbs down for me and a few others on this site.
The fragrance is also rather strange - a cross between J&J Baby Powder and lavender (at least to my schnozz). Lavender I can take, but that soft J&J background fragrance is definitely not for me.
YMMV
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YMMV indeed, but I do not like Monsavon either. The Arko and Palmolive sticks are in the same price range, and much better soaps, in my opinion.
And if you have access to it, the blue Wiklinson Sword shave stick is good too (but not as good as the Palmolive stick, imo).
This soap is the best bargain in wet shaving IMO. The real beauty of this soap is how well it works in the hard water found in most of France and Europe. For me, soaps are a real nusance here. Very tough to lather in hard water. So, I either use creams or this soft soap. I've payed a LOT more for a lot less in terms of performance. Don't laugh, but I actually prefer it to MdC. It's slicker and provides more cushioning and protection at a fraction of the cost. I bought both. I sold the MdC and kept this one..YMMV.....
