Thought I'd post a mini-review of sorts of Queen Charlotte Soaps and Al's Shaving Cream, two American-based shave cream/soap makers. I recently purchased a shave cream sampler set from each manufacturer, and using a circa 1956 Gillette SS red-tip razor (see pic of similar razor here: http://community.artofmanliness.com...-razor-w-case-and-blades-3?xg_source=activity ) and a pack of Feather blades, here are my thoughts.
QSC:
I've used most of their creams before, and have been very impressed. This time I purchased a sampler set consisting of Fougere/Mysore Sandlewood/Basilica/Green Irish Tweed/Vetiver. I was surprised to see the sample containers were much smaller this time; I hadn't noticed they now made them smaller on the website when I ordered. A bit disappointing there.
In any event, three of these scents were new to me; the Mysore Sandlewood, Green Irish Tweed, and Fougere. The Sandlewood and Fougere were quite pleasing, but I have to say the Green Irish Tweed scent was almost imperceptible. I know a lot of you speak highly of this scent on here and I was looking forward to trying it (I also bought the matching after-shave balm), but I think they need to make the scent considerably stronger. All creams provide a first-rate, thick, creamy lather, and I had zero nicks in five straight shaves. A superb protective lather; fantastic quality.
Al's Shaving Cream:
I purchased the 7-day sampler pack, consisting of Bodega, Boheme, Calabria, Calypso, Goodfellas, Palermo, and Saigon scents ($15). Shipping to Canada was almost the same price; QCS ofers a much more reasonable USPS first-class air shipping price (about half). Something to keep in mind for you non-Americans out there.
All of the scents were quite nice, but the only one I would say is a must-have for me is Palermo (a lovely woody-green forest scent). The quality of the lather was, alas, a little disappointing...there's lots of it, but I found the QSC lather to be much thicker and more protective. I'm going to try using more product (each sample container has about 2-3 shave's worth of cream), but I don't think it will make a huge difference. All-in-all, the quality of the shave was good, as were the scents, but not "great" as they are with QSC. I had considerably more nicks with Al's creams than with QSC (I used a new blade each time with each cream). I feel QSC is more moisturizing as well.
Just my opinion, folks...others may have a different experience.
That said, I would rank the four American shaving soap makers I've tried as follows:
#1-Nancy Boy
#2-QSC
#3-Al's Shaving Products
#4-Mama Bears
QSC:
I've used most of their creams before, and have been very impressed. This time I purchased a sampler set consisting of Fougere/Mysore Sandlewood/Basilica/Green Irish Tweed/Vetiver. I was surprised to see the sample containers were much smaller this time; I hadn't noticed they now made them smaller on the website when I ordered. A bit disappointing there.
In any event, three of these scents were new to me; the Mysore Sandlewood, Green Irish Tweed, and Fougere. The Sandlewood and Fougere were quite pleasing, but I have to say the Green Irish Tweed scent was almost imperceptible. I know a lot of you speak highly of this scent on here and I was looking forward to trying it (I also bought the matching after-shave balm), but I think they need to make the scent considerably stronger. All creams provide a first-rate, thick, creamy lather, and I had zero nicks in five straight shaves. A superb protective lather; fantastic quality.
Al's Shaving Cream:
I purchased the 7-day sampler pack, consisting of Bodega, Boheme, Calabria, Calypso, Goodfellas, Palermo, and Saigon scents ($15). Shipping to Canada was almost the same price; QCS ofers a much more reasonable USPS first-class air shipping price (about half). Something to keep in mind for you non-Americans out there.
All of the scents were quite nice, but the only one I would say is a must-have for me is Palermo (a lovely woody-green forest scent). The quality of the lather was, alas, a little disappointing...there's lots of it, but I found the QSC lather to be much thicker and more protective. I'm going to try using more product (each sample container has about 2-3 shave's worth of cream), but I don't think it will make a huge difference. All-in-all, the quality of the shave was good, as were the scents, but not "great" as they are with QSC. I had considerably more nicks with Al's creams than with QSC (I used a new blade each time with each cream). I feel QSC is more moisturizing as well.
Just my opinion, folks...others may have a different experience.
That said, I would rank the four American shaving soap makers I've tried as follows:
#1-Nancy Boy
#2-QSC
#3-Al's Shaving Products
#4-Mama Bears
