Sell me on English soaps!

[Locham]

Hi Folks,

After a quick inventory of my shaving software, I noticed that I lean very, very heavily on Italian products. Cella, Valobra, SNM, Prep, Proraso (various tubs and tubes), Floid...it's a veritable bistro in my den. Yet I lived in England for two years and in almost everything else I'm a raging anglophile (old British motorcycles, British ales, using unnecessary u's in words likecolour, the list goes on and on).

So British soap lovers out there - sell me on it! I guarantee that I'll try at least one. My go-to soaps are Cella and Santa Maria Novella (okay, really soft creams), topped with Floid, so your suggestion should rank up there with those delights!

Standing by...

 

[jpakstis]

I don't know if he can ship to you, but try Garry's Sample Shop. I just got a sample of DR Harris Windsor and its first-rate. One of the big differences I notice between Harris and the Italian soaps is that Harris has tallow in it. I know that's not the be-all-end-all but you are looking for the hard sell, right!

 

[Catalin]

You can't go wrong with any DR Harris soaps. MWF is my absolute favourite, though!

 

[raccoonandbrush]

If you're going to try one English soap, have it be Mitchell's Wool Fat. MWF is neck and neck with Cella as my favorite lathering products (soaps and creams).

 

[7 O Menthol]

DR Harris is one of the best performing hard soaps out there... the Arlington scent in particular is intoxicating and fantastic.

 

[Locham]

That's quick! Thanks, Gents. Alrighty then, it looks like MWF and DR Harris are high up there on the list. I'll see if Gary will ship APO, but I'll email him tomorrow in case there are some other suggestions out there....

Cheers

 

[cluelessdude]

Completely agree with the others: MWF and DR Harris!!!

 

[SliceOfLife]

Dr Harris is a very nice soap.

Shave with it then have a cup of tea and discuss the (de)merits of a United European Commonwealth.

 

[k2clones29]

DR Harris Soaps are top-notch. Their Arlington scent is amazing. I also love Trumper's Eucris. The scent is euphoric.

Might I also recommend some American soaps??? If you love the Italian soaps, I'm willing to bet you'd love some of the soaps we got in the states. Mystic Waters, Mike's Natural Soaps, and Queen Charlotte soaps are all exceptional. Don't know what they do in terms of international shipping, but they're worth a look.

 

[Squidma]

DRH Windsor is absolutely fantastic. I just ordered the edt and as. The scent reminds me a bit of a subdued Klar Classic, if you have any experience with that soap (not English, but well worth it...one of my favorite scents). I have DRH lavender as well and this also produces a good rich lather and has a great scent. MWF seems to be hit or miss. I can't seem to get it to perform for me but keep it in the hopes that a miracle will occur one day. I've tried less water, more water, loading upside down, bowl lathering, face lathering...always comes out too airy. YMMV. I love the scent, though. If you are a fan of Eucris check out the soap. Great performer, IMO.

 

[cluelessdude]

DR Harris Soaps are top-notch. Their Arlington scent is amazing. I also love Trumper's Eucris. The scent is euphoric.

Might I also recommend some American soaps??? If you love the Italian soaps, I'm willing to bet you'd love some of the soaps we got in the states. Mystic Waters, Mike's Natural Soaps, and Queen Charlotte soaps are all exceptional. Don't know what they do in terms of international shipping, but they're worth a look.

+1 on American soaps. Also, Nancy Boy makes a great smelling and I mean great smelling shave cream using Lavender, Rosemary, and Peppermint EOs.

 

[Toddy]

The nearest to Cella type is Nannys silly soaps and they are all pretty good

I quite like Bath House Spanish fig & nutmeg soap. Some members seem to have difficulty lathering (never been a problem for me). Smells fantastic.

For a cheapy, do give Neals Yard soap a try.

If you want to venture elsewhere in the UK I also like Scottish Fine Soaps offering.

Avoid Penhaligons - truly awful soaps. How a supposed high end maker is happy offering something that bad is beyond me.
Trumper, Truefitt, Floris and TOBS are OK but nothing special.

 

[njpaddy]

My soft soaps & hard creams are history, PIF'd or trashed. I bought my first English soap this past February using a gift certificate someone gave me. The first was DR Harris Arlington, followed closely by DRH Lavender, followed by GFT Rose, then DRH Almond. I'm hooked. While Tabac, La Toja stick and some soft creams still see occasional use I found shaving nirvana in English hard soaps. Next purchase when the weather cools is DRH Marlborough.

 

[Optometrist]

D.R. Harris, MWF, and possibly TOBS are the only English soaps worth buying, IMO. It's unfortunate, but reformulation has rendered the rest diabolical latherers.

 

[Optometrist]

My soft soaps & hard creams are history, PIF'd or trashed. I bought my first English soap this past February using a gift certificate someone gave me. The first was DR Harris Arlington, followed closely by DRH Lavender, followed by GFT Rose, then DRH Almond. I'm hooked. While Tabac, La Toja stick and some soft creams still see occasional use I found shaving nirvana in English hard soaps. Next purchase when the weather cools is DRH Marlborough.

Don't forget the Windsor, brian!

 

[RichieRich3902]

I currently have DR Harris, Marlboro, Arlington, and T&F Luxury Soap. I love the glide and cushion of the DRH soaps and how moisturized my face is after I use it. I use Arlington quite often and Marlboro rarely anymore mostly because I think the Arlington is a better summer scent. I

think I may be the only one here that likes the T&F soap. I think it has a pleasant scent to it and the lather has plenty of cushion and glide and leave my face feeling good. I don't think the T&F is worth the price, I think a bowl is $45, but I bought mine from another member here and one I use it up I'll order a replacement puck.

 

[Optometrist]

I currently have DR Harris, Marlboro, Arlington, and T&F Luxury Soap. I love the glide and cushion of the DRH soaps and how moisturized my face is after I use it. I use Arlington quite often and Marlboro rarely anymore mostly because I think the Arlington is a better summer scent. I

think I may be the only one here that likes the T&F soap. I think it has a pleasant scent to it and the lather has plenty of cushion and glide and leave my face feeling good. I don't think the T&F is worth the price, I think a bowl is $45, but I bought mine from another member here and one I use it up I'll order a replacement puck.

Do you mean the T&H soap? How old is the soap you have? I believe the formulation has changed recently and it's, once again, these newer versions that have lathering issues.

 

[Marco]

D.R. Harris, MWF, and possibly TOBS are the only English soaps worth buying, IMO. It's unfortunate, but reformulation has rendered the rest diabolical latherers.

I agree with my English friend on both Harris and MWF. Never used Taylors, but would like one day.

 

[RichieRich3902]

Do you mean the T&H soap? How old is the soap you have? I believe the formulation has changed recently and it's, once again, these newer versions that have lathering issues.

Ha, T&H is what I mean, I think I need to have my eyes checked again. I'll have to see what formulation my soap is, when I bought it here I believe the seller said it was the newer vegetable soap not the tallow. If they have changed it again after than, then I'll just have to find something else to love.

 

[Tim_McD]

Any of the DR Harris soaps are winners. I also have Czech & Speake No 88 which is a fine soap, just a notch below the DRH products.

I have chucked the puck of Geo F Trumper's Rose soap that I bought. It was worthless as a shave soap and I would strongly caution against the GFT soaps - their creams are fantastic.