So I just stumbled upon Charles's new and improved QED site. I heard about it right when I started wet-shaving, but the site was so unimpressive, and almost everything was listed as "sold out" The new site is fantastic. I am impressed that the QED soaps are 5 oz.! that's a lot of soap. My question is how long do these last? Since they are glycerin do they vanish pretty fast? Also feel free to thrown in a scent recommendation.
QED duration
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They last a LONG time. QED is one of the best vendors....great products, prices, and service. The QED line (their own brand) are all high-quality.
As one of Charles's biggest fans, I use a bunch of QED's soaps. In answer to your duration question yes, if you use them frequently you will use them up faster than you would a triple-milled soap. However, to your point 5 oz. is indeed a lot of soap. Thus, even tho they get used up more quickly, the amount of soap compensates for that. It's not a 1:1 ratio (glycerin:triple-milled) but they still last a comfortably long time, especially when used in rotation with other soaps.
Re scent recommendations, what do you like? I'm leery of recommending anything without knowing your preferences. That said, all of his scents are super-saturated. That is, he crams as much EO as possible into his soaps without affecting the quality of the shave. The upshot is that when you're shaving w/his lavender, you have a lavender farm in your bathroom. When you use his chocolate, it's like shaving w/a dark-chocolate candy bar. Etc., etc. You get the picture.
Some of my faves are:
1. Lime. Pure, real, lime. In spades. I'm pretty sure this is his biggest seller.
2. B&B. The same scent as his "Special 218" but with added sandalwood. Hard to describe, but sandalwood, pine, & other woodsy/fruity notes are involved. An absolutely amazing scent -- the same scent as the much-coveted (and sadly no-longer-available) B&B cologne. Pretty sure this is only available in stick form now.
3. Bathtub Gin - 7-Up + juniper. Great stuff - 'nuff said.
4. Chocolate & Mocha Java - Like they sound. Chocolate & coffee/chocolate mixed. Both of these have the added benefit of leaving your skin incredibly soft & supple. Something about the EOs he uses in these particular soaps really comes close, to me, to the way my skin feels after using a tallow-based soap.
Anyway. My 2 shekels. I'm sure other guys will chime in w/their faves as well. Good luck!
We actually counted the number of shaves in two QED shave sticks last year. I don't recall the weight in Charles' sticks, but I think the sticks averaged about 35/36 shaves each. An educated guess is that you should get 2 to 3 months of continuous shaves out of a 5 oz. tub of QED if the tub is roughly twice the weight of a QED stick.
Lime is wonderful, especially in the summer. Sandalwood is awesome too, but I think Charles discontinued that. I think it was one of his best sellers, but the sandalwood just got too expensive to make and sell at a reasonable price.
Lime is wonderful, especially in the summer. Sandalwood is awesome too, but I think Charles discontinued that. I think it was one of his best sellers, but the sandalwood just got too expensive to make and sell at a reasonable price.
The QED Sandalwood has been described by some here as a pure one note, very dry scent. I have it and use it occasionally. I also have the Pine-Cedarwood, which smells like a fresh cut pine log. Not for everyone, but I love it for, again, occasional use. I'm sure there are threads on this forum which have more opinions & detail.
But it's absolutely a soap line to try.
But it's absolutely a soap line to try.
I checked out the website, http://www.qedusa.com/qedman-qedman-shaving-soap-p-54.html, and did not see the chocolate or mocha java offered. Can you point me in the right direction if I am missing something (you recommendation has got me interested in trying these).
Thanks.
I am using the Patchouli/Tea Tree/Peppermint soap (in a tub). I would think this scent would please any lovers of menthol, its very cooling. I have a couple sticks for travel, but use tubs at home. I also have the Bergamot scent (like Earl Grey). I checked out the new site yesterday and saw that the new listings show "Wild Orange", which I don't know if its the same thing.
Though QED charges for shipping, their prices are lowere than many other vendors.
Though QED charges for shipping, their prices are lowere than many other vendors.
I have the Lime and the Pine/Cedar...amazing scents, both of them. I will definitely re-order when out.
Wild Orange is different from Bergamot. It smells great! And like, well, oranges. (Dunno about the "wild" part, tho.
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The sticks are 2 oz.s versus the jars which are 5 oz.s. I find that I apply the sticks somewhat more heavily than when using soap from the jar. But still get several months as I learned while on the road, YMMV. There is at least several months of shaving in a 5 oz jar. Never really bothered to check as I like to change my fragrance daily.
I have yet to finish a soap puck. I'm nine months into wet-shaving and have emptied a few cream tubs, but soap seems to last and last. A tub of SMN and a few pucks of soaps ought to last years!
I'm aaaaaaaalmost finished with a tub of lime. Maybe there are 3 or 4 more shaves left. And I bought it in Jan. of '08!
