Provence Sante Green Tea vs. Verlaine

[Starkicker]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to add some more non-tallow soaps to my stable; I've already decided to get some PdP, but I wanted to know what the consensus was on Provence Sante and what scent is better received? Also, does this soap puck dry out like MWF? I have my MWF in a airtight ziploc container and though ugly, it prevents the soap from looking like a salt flat. Just wondering if I should splurge and get a wood bowl or go cheap and get a ziploc container if I get this soap.

Thanks!

 

[mblakele]

PSGT is a favorite of mine, and I have smelled PSV once or twice. Neither scent is all that strong. PSGT is a bit on the floral side, while the Verlaine is somewhat earthy. But I expect many people would smell both and say "smells like soap."

PGST should not crack. Because I am anti-bowl, my puck used to live it a ziploc XS. These days it is a stick. I biscuit-cut it into a round deodorant package like this one:

 

[Starkicker]

Thanks so much! Is it moisturizing like MWF?

 

[Ronnie Aloha]

Haven't used MWF but my green tea puck hasn't cracked.

 

[mblakele]

Thanks so much! Is it moisturizing like MWF?

Yes, but my skin feels different after using MWF than after using PSGT. I would have a hard time saying which one I prefer.

Institut Karité is another good French soap with shea butter, similar to PGST but with its own characteristic scent and lathering properties. It is difficult to say which one you might prefer, without trying both.

 

[gash]

I found that the verlaine wasn't slick enough for me. It was moisturizing, though. The aforementioned Institut Karite is slick enough, and I find it to be abnormally protective.

 

[kingfisher]

The Green Tea smells better. In fact, it smells amazing.

I don't think it's a great soap, though. I sold my puck on the B/S/T.

 

[Sabre]

Provence Santè is a great soap, both scents are great. I however prefer the Verlaine, which is I believe Linden and Verbena scented. Institut Karité is far too slick.
êShave soaps are also made in France with Shea Butter, and despite being a lot more expensive than Provence Santè/Prè de Provence are great alternatives/additions with a range of scents.

 

[gash]

Provence Santè is a great soap, both scents are great. I however prefer the Verlaine, which is I believe Linden and Verbena scented. Institut Karité is far too slick.
êShave soaps are also made in France with Shea Butter, and despite being a lot more expensive than Provence Santè/Prè de Provence are great alternatives/additions with a range of scents.

That's the first time I've read of a soap being too slick. Many people seem to be on a never-ending quest for slickness. Just curious - what is it that you don't like about Institut Karite's slickness?

 

[Sabre]

That's the first time I've read of a soap being too slick. Many people seem to be on a never-ending quest for slickness. Just curious - what is it that you don't like about Institut Karite's slickness?

I thought I had written a review, but it appears I haven't. This soaps if memory recalls leaves your face really mositurised, but due due to having 25% Shea Butter really allows the razor to glide over your face, which is good as long as it doesn't slip. I would definitely prefer this to a drying, less expensive soap. I have 3 or 4 so they will be used in the next 35 years....

 

[Lloyd]

I have had the Provence Sante Verlaine for several years. I put it in a used Taylor's shave cream pot and it works great. I am a face latherer and I find the Verlaine to be very easy to lather. Lots of good, slick lather that doesn't dry out easily. The puck has never shown signs of drying out or cracking. The scent to me is a bit floral. Although I am not crazy about the scent as I am about some others, I find the scent acceptable. I have never tried the Green Tea but once smelled it a Pasteur Pharmacy in NYC and was not impressed. Everyone seems to think that the Green Tea smells quite good and maybe in a shave soap it does but in the cologne form I didn't care for it. I find Provence Sante very moisturizing and reasonably priced. All in all a very good product. It does give a good, close shave.

 

[Mandina]

While "YMMV" makes it risky to recommend a given soap (or anything else in DE shaving) to any particular person, PSGT is to me one of the safest if any newbie were to ask for a recommendation: very light, clean scent (which is okay if you don't prefer a strong scent), easy to lather, and a nice dense, stable, slick, and moisturizing lather. MWF is the only one of my 25+ soaps that cracks when dry, but that's no big deal because it "recovers" the next time you use it. btw, PdP is one of my very favorite soaps, but for me it ranks with MWF as the only finicky soaps in my collection. With fairly hard water and face lathering, I have to load both PdP and MWF for a full two minutes (whether I use my smalish Omega boar or Muhle HJM black fibre brush), and I have to add water sparingly and gradually. There of course are threads about both soaps, including diverse approaches and experiences.