I've read threads here regarding Proraso's new formula and how guys don't like it as well. I have noticed that the soap looks different....sort of like Swiss cheese, with hundreds of little holes throughout the product, but I hadn't detected any difference in the smell (Sandalwood version which smells like Old Spice to me) and I was basically satisfied with its performance.....until recently, that is. I'm down near the bottom of the puck, and I've noticed that it seems to be harder to lather lately. In fact, I've switched to my synthetic travel brush b/c it seemed to work up better lather then my regular pure badger.
So, when it came time to order more soap, I decided to abandon my old standby and try to find something better. After carefully studying lots of old threads here and reading some reviews on Maggard's, where I order from, I decided to try Stirling Spice, since one of the best things about Proraso, IMO, was that it reminds me of the Old Spice shaving soap I used when I was in college ages ago. I beg to differ with several reviewers that the SS is a dead ringer for OS....IMO it's not even close. But boy did it perform in every other way!!! I thought the scent was much BETTER, though different, from an OS scent. This was very clean, soapy and refreshing to my nose! The lather was VOLUMES better than the Proraso, even using my badger brush.....I made three complete passes instead of my usual two....and still had to squeeze a good amount out of the brush while cleaning it. I can only imagine how much
more my synthetic will yield! The cushion was good, and the lather very slick....kept my
face very slippery throughout. I got a DFS with hardly any effort at all!
In summing up, I'll continue to use Proraso Cream as my travel soap, as I like the toothpaste-like tube and I don't have to pack my mug along.....BUT, as of today, I consider myself a Stirling Soap fan and customer from now on (or at least until I find something I like better!)!
Hope somebody finds this helpful.....
So, when it came time to order more soap, I decided to abandon my old standby and try to find something better. After carefully studying lots of old threads here and reading some reviews on Maggard's, where I order from, I decided to try Stirling Spice, since one of the best things about Proraso, IMO, was that it reminds me of the Old Spice shaving soap I used when I was in college ages ago. I beg to differ with several reviewers that the SS is a dead ringer for OS....IMO it's not even close. But boy did it perform in every other way!!! I thought the scent was much BETTER, though different, from an OS scent. This was very clean, soapy and refreshing to my nose! The lather was VOLUMES better than the Proraso, even using my badger brush.....I made three complete passes instead of my usual two....and still had to squeeze a good amount out of the brush while cleaning it. I can only imagine how much
more my synthetic will yield! The cushion was good, and the lather very slick....kept my
face very slippery throughout. I got a DFS with hardly any effort at all!
In summing up, I'll continue to use Proraso Cream as my travel soap, as I like the toothpaste-like tube and I don't have to pack my mug along.....BUT, as of today, I consider myself a Stirling Soap fan and customer from now on (or at least until I find something I like better!)!
Hope somebody finds this helpful.....
