Pre de Provence -- a short review

[Swistak]

I purchased this hard soap at a local boutique-like shop, for a few dollars over the Amazon price (usually sold at a reasonable $15). The scent of the PDP No. 63 was what drew me in, as well as the forum's praise of the product. This soap will do the job, and it will do it quite well. But, it is not what I would call a user friendly (fool proof) soap. The lather, when formed on the puck, is quite bubbly---it seems that SR shavers enjoy the thinness of this particular soap's lather, and many users also like it for its clean (not super-fatted) post-shave feel. I have found the product slightly drying, even though I consider myself to have oily skin. Unfortunately, I always experience a 'tingle' when lathering for the second pass. I have not been able to shave with PDP without feeling this slightly uncomfortable (but not disqualifying) sensation, even though the first pass is usually discomfort free.

I suspect it is the fragrance that adds to the reaction of my skin, as well as the general thinness of the lather and the subsequent dragging of the blade against the skin---my own fault, and user error, to be sure. Users report better performance by loading PDP nearly twice as long as they'd load another soap. This is difficult to do on the puck, and I have found more success by using the puck as a shave-stick to get even more soap on my face---after rubbing the puck on my face, I load the brush heavily on the puck, then face lather the slime soap-paste on my face with the lather forming already on the burns. The result is more soap, and less bubbliness. The lather instantly feels thicker and creamier, and almost a little greasy. Nonetheless, the itchy/burning sensation does not completely disappear. It appears I simply have a negative reaction to some ingredient or fragrance in the soap. I will finish the puck (no easy task given how long the quad-milled puck lasts; at least a year, I suspect, given my other creams and soaps), though will likely not repurchase it, though I would like to eventually try the Bergamot and Thyme scented version.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

That's interesting. I just recently got a puck of the bergamot and thyme. I am primarily a straight razor guy although I use a DE to cleanup my neck. If anything lather I get off the puck is almost too thick.

 

[Swistak]

That's interesting. I just recently got a puck of the bergamot and thyme. I am primarily a straight razor guy although I use a DE to cleanup my neck. If anything lather I get off the puck is almost too thick.

Huh. I figured it was my own user error, which loading harder seemed to fix. I recently acquired a stiffer brush for the purpose of lathering this very hard soap, so maybe that will help with loading on more product. The diversity of opinions and experiences in this hobby is what keeps it interesting.

 

[Swistak]

That's interesting. I just recently got a puck of the bergamot and thyme. I am primarily a straight razor guy although I use a DE to cleanup my neck. If anything lather I get off the puck is almost too thick.

Have you otherwise been able to get decent shaves with this soap?

I recall reading in several places that SR shavers prefer a thinner, more 'yogurty' lather, and people seem to say that PDP delivers that kind of lather. Interesting how our mileages all vary, given that you have found it to be on the thicker side.

 

[brucered]

I started out using PdP with my regular, go to badger brushes (Paladin, Simpson) and couldn't get it dialed in. I was discouraged as I don't normally have issues with soaps. I tried a couple boars (Semogue), using various methods, no luck.

Finally, I gave some inexpensive synthetics (RR) a try and they just clicked. It took a bit of adjustment in terms of loading with an almost dry brush, but it just worked for me. I know others have conquered PdP 63 with badgers, so know it was my own user error. That said, once I got it dialed in with a $15 synthetic, I enjoyed my shaves and have used that brush for almost an entire year now and started to look at adding a couple more synthetics to my brush rotation.

This was a post I made in the 3017 thread after I spent an entire year with PdP (63).

It was good, but not on Tabac level

How many shaves have you used it for? It took me a while to fully dial it in and I think I would reapply to the brush for pass two.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Have you otherwise been able to get decent shaves with this soap?

I recall reading in several places that SR shavers prefer a thinner, more 'yogurty' lather, and people seem to say that PDP delivers that kind of lather. Interesting how our mileages all vary, given that you have found it to be on the thicker side.

Yes, I have been enjoying it very much. I do like a thinner lather generally but maybe not as thin as a lot of SR guys. As I write this it occurs to me that it is easy to go too wet with this soap though. Perhaps if you start with a less wet brush, and load longer, then add water very gradually, you might achieve a similar lather to what you're getting by using it like a shave stick.

The other ymmv thing here is that my skin is on the drier side and this soap seems to add some moisture to my skin, post shave which is the opposite of what you are getting. I don't know if there's a difference in performance between the #63 and the Bergamot and Thyme or not, it was my understanding that it's the same base but I haven't used the 63.

 

[gpjoe]

Users report better performance by loading PDP nearly twice as long as they'd load another soap.

PdP has also been a challenge for me.

I've got both (No 63 and Bergamot &Thyme) and find that takes much longer to load than any of my other hard soaps...well, except Williams and Arko which are also very hard soaps, like PdP.

If you're getting thin and foamy lather with lots of bubbles, try loading more soap.

 

[gpjoe]

I have to admit that this is the very reason that I don't reach for my PdP soaps very often. I've got too many other soaps and creams that are less finicky...all to say:

I'm gonna use my No 63 tomorrow, just to see how it goes.

And one final thought:

If you like the scent of No 63, I find Stirling Sandpiper very similar (to my nose)...and it lathers easily and shaves great.

 

[Bud2024]

I purchased this hard soap at a local boutique-like shop, for a few dollars over the Amazon price (usually sold at a reasonable $15). The scent of the PDP No. 63 was what drew me in, as well as the forum's praise of the product. This soap will do the job, and it will do it quite well. But, it is not what I would call a user friendly (fool proof) soap. The lather, when formed on the puck, is quite bubbly---it seems that SR shavers enjoy the thinness of this particular soap's lather, and many users also like it for its clean (not super-fatted) post-shave feel. I have found the product slightly drying, even though I consider myself to have oily skin. Unfortunately, I always experience a 'tingle' when lathering for the second pass. I have not been able to shave with PDP without feeling this slightly uncomfortable (but not disqualifying) sensation, even though the first pass is usually discomfort free.

I suspect it is the fragrance that adds to the reaction of my skin, as well as the general thinness of the lather and the subsequent dragging of the blade against the skin---my own fault, and user error, to be sure. Users report better performance by loading PDP nearly twice as long as they'd load another soap. This is difficult to do on the puck, and I have found more success by using the puck as a shave-stick to get even more soap on my face---after rubbing the puck on my face, I load the brush heavily on the puck, then face lather the slime soap-paste on my face with the lather forming already on the burns. The result is more soap, and less bubbliness. The lather instantly feels thicker and creamier, and almost a little greasy. Nonetheless, the itchy/burning sensation does not completely disappear. It appears I simply have a negative reaction to some ingredient or fragrance in the soap. I will finish the puck (no easy task given how long the quad-milled puck lasts; at least a year, I suspect, given my other creams and soaps), though will likely not repurchase it, though I would like to eventually try the Bergamot and Thyme scented version.

Do you put a layer of water on the puck for several minutes before lathering?

 

[Swistak]

This was a post I made in the 3017 thread after I spent an entire year with PdP (63).

It was good, but not on Tabac level

How many shaves have you used it for? It took me a while to fully dial it in and I think I would reapply to the brush for pass two.

I have been using it off and on for the past 3 months or so. Not much success with my floppy badger brush---unless I smear a bunch of it on my face like a shave stick, and then load the badger up on the buck with the tips only wet, and then face lather all of that soap together adding water here and there; this 3-step process produces quite the nice shave with an otherwise floppy brush. I have yet to try it with a synthetic. I gave it a spin with my SOC Mistura today, and it wasn't as great a success as I was hoping. Perhaps the Mistura hasn't broken in yet and is retaining some of the lather. I will try again with a synthetic, and will continue to try with the Mistura. Thanks!

 

[Swistak]

Do you put a layer of water on the puck for several minutes before lathering?

I usually do... something inspired me to soak the puck under water for an entire night, and now I think I screwed up my puck. It grew like a sponge, and then shrank back down to its size, leaving a bunch of cracks. I am not sure if it lathers as well as it used to, but perhaps it has simply dried out worse due to the soak. I will *slowly try to rehydrate it.

 

[Swistak]

Yes, I have been enjoying it very much. I do like a thinner lather generally but maybe not as thin as a lot of SR guys. As I write this it occurs to me that it is easy to go too wet with this soap though. Perhaps if you start with a less wet brush, and load longer, then add water very gradually, you might achieve a similar lather to what you're getting by using it like a shave stick.

The other ymmv thing here is that my skin is on the drier side and this soap seems to add some moisture to my skin, post shave which is the opposite of what you are getting. I don't know if there's a difference in performance between the #63 and the Bergamot and Thyme or not, it was my understanding that it's the same base but I haven't used the 63.

So much of this is YMMV! Thanks for the input!

 

[Swistak]

I have to admit that this is the very reason that I don't reach for my PdP soaps very often. I've got too many other soaps and creams that are less finicky...all to say:

I'm gonna use my No 63 tomorrow, just to see how it goes.

And one final thought:

If you like the scent of No 63, I find Stirling Sandpiper very similar (to my nose)...and it lathers easily and shaves great.

I totally get that---I often reach for an easy cream. But when I do get the PDP right, it is great! (mild skin irritation aside; still don't know if it's from an ingredient or poor lather on my part).

Thanks for the recommendation!

I think my nose has grown sour to the scent of No 63. It somehow makes every brush I use smell like a wet dog or hog! Excellent smell off the puck when dry, but it brings the stank out of my natural hair brushes when wet!

I would still love to try the Bergamot and Thyme scent!

 

[Bud2024]

I usually do... something inspired me to soak the puck under water for an entire night, and now I think I screwed up my puck. It grew like a sponge, and then shrank back down to its size, leaving a bunch of cracks. I am not sure if it lathers as well as it used to, but perhaps it has simply dried out worse due to the soak. I will *slowly try to rehydrate it.

Oh no! That’s such a shame. I hope that works out for you. I can vouch for their balms if you give up on their soap. I have sensitive skin and usually experience fragrance burn with most products, but not PdP’s balms. Really love those scents!

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

Have you otherwise been able to get decent shaves with this soap?

I recall reading in several places that SR shavers prefer a thinner, more 'yogurty' lather, and people seem to say that PDP delivers that kind of lather. Interesting how our mileages all vary, given that you have found it to be on the thicker side.

Thinner isn't quite the right word.

Straights shavers tend to prefer and prioritize slickness, which is achievable via a very wet, less viscous lather. We get this type of leather more by incorporating a LOT of water, rather than by soap selection. So, if I want a "thin" soap, I don't choose a certain soap so much as add the right amount of water.

Lather is, essentially, a ratio of three things (soap, water and air) with said lather's characteristics changing any time any one of those 3 factors/ratios change.
If you don't add much water to PDP, it will be thick
If you do add a lot of water, it will be "thin" (both cases assuming you load enough, that is)
...hence, I suspect, the variation in your experience vs Darth's

 

[Swistak]

Thinner isn't quite the right word.

Straights shavers tend to prefer and prioritize slickness, which is achievable via a very wet, less viscous lather. We get this type of leather more by incorporating a LOT of water, rather than by soap selection. So, if I want a "thin" soap, I don't choose a certain soap so much as add the right amount of water.

Lather is, essentially, a ratio of three things (soap, water and air) with said lather's characteristics changing any time any one of those 3 factors/ratios change.
If you don't add much water to PDP, it will be thick
If you do add a lot of water, it will be "thin" (both cases assuming you load enough, that is)
...hence, I suspect, the variation in your experience vs Darth's

Good distinctions to keep in mind!

 

[Lane101]

I purchased this hard soap at a local boutique-like shop, for a few dollars over the Amazon price (usually sold at a reasonable $15). The scent of the PDP No. 63 was what drew me in, as well as the forum's praise of the product. This soap will do the job, and it will do it quite well. But, it is not what I would call a user friendly (fool proof) soap. The lather, when formed on the puck, is quite bubbly---it seems that SR shavers enjoy the thinness of this particular soap's lather, and many users also like it for its clean (not super-fatted) post-shave feel. I have found the product slightly drying, even though I consider myself to have oily skin. Unfortunately, I always experience a 'tingle' when lathering for the second pass. I have not been able to shave with PDP without feeling this slightly uncomfortable (but not disqualifying) sensation, even though the first pass is usually discomfort free.

I suspect it is the fragrance that adds to the reaction of my skin, as well as the general thinness of the lather and the subsequent dragging of the blade against the skin---my own fault, and user error, to be sure. Users report better performance by loading PDP nearly twice as long as they'd load another soap. This is difficult to do on the puck, and I have found more success by using the puck as a shave-stick to get even more soap on my face---after rubbing the puck on my face, I load the brush heavily on the puck, then face lather the slime soap-paste on my face with the lather forming already on the burns. The result is more soap, and less bubbliness. The lather instantly feels thicker and creamier, and almost a little greasy. Nonetheless, the itchy/burning sensation does not completely disappear. It appears I simply have a negative reaction to some ingredient or fragrance in the soap. I will finish the puck (no easy task given how long the quad-milled puck lasts; at least a year, I suspect, given my other creams and soaps), though will likely not repurchase it, though I would like to eventually try the Bergamot and Thyme scented version.

I just started a new puck of Williams Shaving soap, also one of the hardest pucks out there. Typically for Williams I needed to use my stiffer boar to successfully lather it and that continued to work well for the first shave with this puck. For my second shave I tried one of my synthetics and finally figured out how to get great lather with it.

Details and lessons learned from this shave are in the post linked below. Hope this helps with your PDP.

What did you use today? +Rate the shave 1-10 (10 best)

Pre-Shave: scalding shower with B&M Paganini's Violin soap Bowl/Scuttle: PAA Spacescape Lather Scuttle 4.0 Soap: Declaration Grooming - Massacre of the Innocents Brush: Parker Premium Handmade, 3-Band Pure Badger with Rosewood Handle Razor: Rockwell 6C Blade: Voshkod (3) Post-Shave: Declaration...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[NorthernSoul]

...This soap will do the job, and it will do it quite well. But, it is not what I would call a user friendly (fool proof) soap. The lather, when formed on the puck, is quite bubbly---it seems that SR shavers enjoy the thinness of this particular soap's lather, and many users also like it for its clean (not super-fatted) post-shave feel. I have found the product slightly drying, even though I consider myself to have oily skin. Unfortunately, I always experience a 'tingle' when lathering for the second pass. I have not been able to shave with PDP without feeling this slightly uncomfortable (but not disqualifying) sensation, even though the first pass is usually discomfort free.

I'd suggest giving yourself some time with this soap. Don't judge too early. When new, this soap is very hard and so takes more time to load than average. After some use, the puck will absorb some water and loading will be easier. The key to getting a good lather is to always load enough soap.

The brush that PdP sells to go with this soap is a fairly firm Omega boar. I just use the soap tin for storage. I prefer to take the soap out of the container and hold it with one hand to load the brush.

Next, let the lather develop. I like to face lather with it. If you have loaded enough soap, apply a thin layer of soap to the face, then gradually add water two or three times while face lathering. There is plenty of lather this way, IME.

If the fragrance is too strong, you can leave the tin open for a few weeks and the scent will be toned way down. That may help you with the skin sensitivity.

 

[Grundi]

I love PdP soaps, both 63 and Bergamot & Thyme and get great lather from both (the lather I get is very similar between the two). My method is a bit different, and I use the same method for all the hard soaps, and get very consistent results. I've used this method for PdP soaps, Williams soap, and a couple of other very hard soaps.

Method (pioneer face lathering): I start my brush soaking, wet my face, and then rub the edge of the puck on my wet whiskers until I see a modest amount of residue. Then, I shake the excess water from my brush, and begin face lathering. I'll dip the tips of the brush in the soak water a couple of times during the lathering process. (I need to give credit to @Guitar10 for helping me develop this while trying to find a consistent method for lathering Williams with a synthetic brush).

 

[gpjoe]

I'm gonna use my No 63 tomorrow, just to see how it goes.

And so I did...today.

Used my SoC Mistura. Soaked the brush for about an hour (eating dinner, then quick shower). Once the tap was hot, I ran the brush under the tap to warm it, shook the brush and went to the soap - No 63.

Twenty to thirty swirls, which is usually enough of most of my other soaps (some more, some less) I went to my face to apply the lather...and it seemed too thin. Thinner than I would expect.

Back to the puck for 20 more swirls, then back the my face. Hmmm...still not there. Back to the puck, 15 additional swirls. This is an absurd amount of loading, compared to ANY of my soaps.

I must have enough, right?

Back to my face, more scrubbing...and I still seem to have an opaque lather (I can still see my face)...what? This might be OK for some, but I like my lather at least thick enough at this point to be able to paint my face, even thinly, and not see my skin though the lather at which point I add a touch more water to assure it won't dry on my face.

Anyway, I wiped the lather off, grabbed my Stirling Sandpiper, and had an awesome shave using my Feather SR Kamisori.

Honestly doubt I'll use the PdP again...life's too short, and I've got far too many other soaps and creams to fiddle with this one.

Yeah, I quit.