Seasonality of Soaps/Creams

[Shutterbug57]

Here is a thread that both the soap and cream guys & gals can respond to. I have come back to traditional shaving recently after a 25 year hiatus. Back in the day I could only afford Williams and I used it regardless of the time of year.

Since joining B&B, I hear comments like "Tabac is a winter soap" or "I have to get some lime cream for the summer", etc. I have Tabac and AoS Sandalwood in my den and both of these seem to be considered winter products. My question for the group is what makes a soap/cream a summer or winter product?

 

[Judge Dredd]

It's a great question. I probably get it all wrong, but I think the 2 factors are "scent" and "sensation", and contrasting them. So for me, this means:

• Summer/hot days: Proraso menthol, and the occasional bay rum. I don't have any citrus scents in my rotation, but sometimes in summer I could kill for a lemon- or tangerine-based cream. The rumoured TOBS grapefruit is absolutely giving me fits of desire at the moment
• Humid days: Irisch Moos (YMMV, but for me, the humid Mesozoic rainforest weather just perfectly matches the scent and longevity of a full Irisch Moos morning)
• Winter/colder days: I tend to go spicier (think Cade, rose, lavender, I'Coloniali, etc). Basically, warmer scents to contrast the weather. I also do bay rum in winter.
• Spring: think herbaceous/aromatic: Musgo Real original, Palmolive (Au version), etc. I'm yet to try them, but I've earmarked Nivea, La Toja and Proraso Blue for spring for future rotations.

If you're spoilt for choice or can't decide, I'd suggest bay rum or something almond as a trans-seasonal. Florals also work trans-seasonally.

 

[babydials]

Lighter scents like citrus, are summery, heavier scents like leather or woods are wintery. Also any scent that reminds one of Christmas is wintery. Also, something more moisturizing is wintery, like Proraso Sandalwood Shea (apologies I know this is the soap board) because they are kind to winter roughed skin.

 

[Niles]

+1 to all the thoughts mentioned here. Light scents, such as menthol and citrus, are scents I primarily use in warm weather. Soaps/creams dominated by tobacco, woods, leather, and other heavier scents are best used in cool weather because your sense of smell is not as sensitive in the cold. So these deeper, stronger scents are detected easier in the cool months.

 

[Mick]

I use warm water and scuttles (bowl and brush scuttles) in the winter

I use cold water in the summer.

So my winter and summer choices are not scent driven but usage driven

I tend to use creams more in the winter as I enjoy building lather with them in my scuttles

I tend to use shave sticks and soaps in the summer as I face lather with them so no need for a scuttle or bowl in summer

NOW for the exceptions....

I will use my stainless steel lather bowls in summer and use creams but not as often as I will face lather with soaps and shave sticks but it is an exception to the above winter/summer routine.

As far as scent goes they are all great (otherwise I would not have them) so the scents are all year, just the lathering method changes is all.

 

[ironfisted]

Many good points. Your personal taste and feelings are the most important factor. I tend to favour a seasonal rotation with scents like Bay Rum being used more in the winter and the light citrusy scents in the summer, but I think the one hard rule for me is that I use menthol when I want to cool off. Especially for head shaves, mentholated soaps like Mama Bear's Lime Ice, Proraso, or QCS Vostok, will cool my skin before I head out the door on a hot summer day. Having said that, sometimes I feel like I need that cooling sensation in the winter and I don't hesitate to reach for one of my summer soaps.

 

[BrookR1]

Any easy way to determine if a soap makes a good summer or winter soap is by the color of the package.

Anything with a green/blue/white package makes a great spring/summer soap.

Anything with a brown/red/orange package makes a great winter soap.

Of course, there are a few exceptions like MWF and Arko.

 

[Graybeard57]

I try to ignore the assigned seasons for soaps. Like colognes, AS, and clothes, I find the "proper" seasonal accoutrements to be arbitrary. Use what you like, wear what you like, when you choose.

 

[Mdkmdk]

In my experience, I agree with the sentiment that lime soaps/creams are not for the winter. Something about it just doesn't fit the mood.

However, going against the grain, I think QCS Vostok is awesome in the winter. It's well known as being an ice cold soap. Here's my thinking. I ride my bike to work in the morning (in new england, no less). I find it hard to wake up in the winter to begin with. But having the coldness of Vostok on your face with the cold wind on it as well is the best wake up call I've ever experienced.... and I roast my own coffee. This probably seems crazy to some, but give Vostok a try in the winter... better yet, try Proraso pre-cream, Vostok, and then Vostok ASB.... your face freezes and feels unbelievable!

 

[Coler]

I think its down to how fragrance affects or is impacted upon by mood.

Winter - mulled wine, mince pies, heavy red wines.

Summer - gin & tonics, slices of watermelon, prosecco.

So in Winter I find myself reaching for Mike's Barbershop and Tabac or something like that.

In Summer I'll tend towards Mikes Orange/Black Pepper/Cedarwood and TOBS Lemon & Lime.

It's a mood thing

edit : actually Tabac is all year round for me. Tabac is MAN.

 

[urkel]

back in the day i only used gillette shaving cream in the can. the cheaper the better. i found some bay rum about 10yrs ago and at least got into using that. now it's bay rum with limes and bay rum with cedar. i like a little speick in the summer as well as musgo. it's all in what you find available. it's all about the hunt and trying different scents now

 

[rum]

The only soap I use during the warmer months is Trumper's Rose. I have it just "sat there" for the rest of the year. I probably won't be buying another puck when this is gone.

My other soaps however get used year-round. Martin de Candre can cope whatever the weather, as can Palmolive and Castle Forbes Lavender. I also just got a puck of Creed GIT (previously I had Original Vetiver) and that too seems to perform well year-round.