Suggest something new (to me)

[SilentTuba]

This seems sacrilegious to say on B&B, but I really haven't tried many different soaps in the 4 years I've been DE shaving. I've tried Williams (bad experience), VDH (better), and AoS, which is my go-to soap. It's time to try something different.

I've got a few possibilities in mind, but I want to know what the B&B community thinks. What is your absolutely favorite, go-to soap? I'm not as concerned about scent, as I am about something that will produce a slick, rich lather.

I know best soap threads are a dime a dozen. What I am really looking for, is the superstar soaps, the ones universally regarded as top performers.

Thanks for the help!

 

[mharris127]

I like Arko and GZD for shave soaps. They both are very similar to each other, come in stick form that you press into a shaving mug with the bottom of a large prescription bottle. Bestshave.net sells them, Arko is also available on Amazon and FleaBay. They are both Turkish soaps.

 

[kingfisher]

RazoRock. Pick a scent you like and enjoy.

 

[Havok305]

My journey has led me to these soaps and samples. I like the soaps on the upper portion of the list. Everything after Proraso did not provide the lather I was looking for. The top three, followed closely by the next couple, have produced the best lather (as well as moisturization) for me. YMMV.

Barrister & Mann
Tabac
Stirling
Speick
DR Harris
Mama Bears
Proraso
Mike's Natural Soaps
ToBS
Col Conk


I sill have samples to finish for Mike's and Momma Bear's so my opinions may change.

 

[FozzieBear1971]

Mikes
Pre de Provence
Tabac
Proraso

 

[robochoche]

If your AOS is tallow other soaps might disappoint. Try MDC or Razorock.

 

[SystemaCid]

I use;
Col Conk-Almond, Amber and Lime.
De Vergulde hand-Regular. I didn't like extra fris.
Dr. Selby's- Labeled a cream, but it's hard like a soap.
Arko
Godrej Shave Round- Little hard to get but worth trying.
Valobra-I don't use it much but it works well.
VDH-Glycerine

YMMV

 

[JazzyJ]

Mitchell's Wool Fat
Tabac
Mike's

 

[gmgaj]

VDH Luxury if you only tried the deluxe. It is worth the upgrade.
Proraso/CO Bigelo
Arko
Ogallala Bay Rum
Razorock
Kiss My Face

 

[Luc]

I think that you should consider the scent as chances are that you will have a product that is very slick and the scent will be nice so you will love the stuff.

If cost is not an issue, Martin de Candre.
If you can make it lather well (as some do it easily and some don't), MWF
As a shave stick, Wilkinson Sword, hands down!

 

[njpaddy]

My superstar soaps and go-to soaps are different. Harris is my "superstar" soap. I have all 5, preferring the Almond. However my "go-to" soaps are SRD, reasons being their great scents, ease to lather even with my well water and performance as good as Harris (YMMV, of course). I currently have tubs of SRD Opus X (tobacco/nicotine scented) and Bay Rum and for the past two months have been using the SRD sample pack. I plan on ordering more SRD tubs when the samples are gone as several scents really stood out.

 

[DesertJake]

Based strictly on performance I'd say go for Pannacrema. I'm not all that thrilled with the scents, but the performance is superb!

Close behind are Razorock's KotC line and XX. Stirling is wonderfully slick, but more work to lather with my hard water.

 

[Valerius]

D.R. Harris, Valobra and Speick stick soaps.

 

[shavefreak]

If price is no object and you like richer masculine scents I would buy Aqua di Parma, ADP

If price matters the latest Razorock formulation "XX" for $10.00 is an amazing soap for the price or any price really. A sweeter more floral scent.

If you would like a few soaps for an insane value check out the Sterling soap line. The moisturizing is second to none however the lather will not explode like some elite sops like ADP, MDC and Panna Crema.

 

[chrismikehead]

Arko. Speick, or Palmolive shave sticks

 

[chron67]

I would HIGHLY recommend Barrister and Mann. Excellent soaps at a great price and they are very quick to reply to any emails and fill orders. I find them superior to MdC in every way (and I enjoy my shaves with Martin de Candre). My best soaps are from Strop Shoppe, in particular their special edition black tie soap, but I have seen a number of reports lately of slow orders and lack of communication so take that into account before you order. If you are not in a rush to receive your order then I would also recommend these.

I also highly recommend the more recent Razorock products. I haven't used the King of the Castle or XX lines yet but the Razorock artisan series soaps are excellent and all accounts indicate that the newer products are even better.

 

[bassopotamus]

If your AOS is tallow other soaps might disappoint.

I agree. I had kind of poo pooed the AOS fanaticism I see around here. I'd been sitting on a puck for a couple years, and decided to try it the other day, with the hope that I wouldn't like it and could sell off the slightly used puck for a fortune. Turned out, it was really, really good. Lathered pretty easy (once I got the puck nice and wet), and couldn't believe how protective the lather was. I shaved with an R41, and splashed with Captain's Choice. And was astounded. It was one of maybe 3 shaves I've ever had where the AS gave me ZERO BURN. NONE. NADA. So, long story short, I'm keeping the AOS.

That said, I have a bunch of soap, and you will too. The two soaps that I have used that come closest to AOS are DR Harris and Mystic Waters. I haven't used DRH much yet, but the performance comes close to AOS, and I think their composition is very similar (both are very hard tallow soaps). Mystic Waters is completely different in form (it is almost a croap, it is so soft). It is a giant pain in the neck to dial in, but I finally got it right, and also got the absolute zero razor burn shave with it recently.

Beyond that, there is approximately a metric buttload of great soaps available right now. Some others that you might like

Mike's (I'm not wild about most of the scents, but the Vetiver smells great, and they all are performers).
Razorock (they all lather well, most smell good. Nervous wreck doesn't smell like anything)
Petal Pusher Fancies (I really like the Neroli)
Al's Sapone da Barba (I really dislike the smell, which is a really heavy floral with a little wood, but the performance is quite good)

 

[01HDFXD]

I am astonished not to see Cella mentioned even once so far in this thread. It is my go-to soap, to the extent that I have no desire to try anything else. JMO, YMMV.

 

[mattdenicola]

Order three pucks and enjoy the nirvana:

1) Mike's Hungarian Lavender - $9
2) RazoRock XX - $10
3) Stirling Anise - $5

You won't find a better $24 worth of soap. (I know shipping screws it up)

 

[SilentTuba]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I ordered a puck of Razorock, ad pan on trying soe others n the near future...I don't want to go crazy and have piles of stuff in the bathroom, but Mike's, Tabac, and DR Harris are on the radar. I'm curious about Arko, too, but its so polarizing its intimidating!

as for AoS, I don't think my current puck is a tallow soap (it was a fairly recent purchase). I like it, but its not as good as pucks Of AoS I've had in the past.