Valobra: I Found My Soap

[ailevin]

I have been sampling shave sticks and soaps for a couple months now. I started with Bigelow (Proraso green) cream, then Proraso croap (red,green, white) in the tub, then Cella, then MWF. I got samples of Tabac, and DR Harris soaps in several scents from Gary. I also picked up La Toja, Palmolive, Speik, Arko, and Valobra shave sticks. I have tried all of them except the Arko and Harris Marlborough. I can honestly say that there is not a bad one in the bunch, though I do seem to get a bit of irritation from the Proraso red, which I assume is related scent additives, since I do well with other colors of Proraso.

My original rotation was Cella and the three Prorasos. I liked the variety, but it became more and more Cella since I was getting better shaves with it. Then I discovered MWF and used it for a week. I thought the shave mechanics were not quite as good as good as Cella, but the skin conditioning was amazing. I'd put it in the category of healing. The DR Harris soaps were superior in scent, but not as nice on my skin as MWF, nor any better than Cella for shaving. Tabac was a different experience. It was easy to lather, but the lather had a different consistency of lather (at least in my hands). The lather was very slick, but didn't provide quite as much cushion as some others. OTH, it lathered easily, whereas I had a bit of learning curve for the Harris soaps and MWF.

All the sticks I tried worked quite well (I could happily travel with any of them), though they each had a different character. I will need to go back for detailed comparison, but my first shave with the Valobra stick was one of the best shave I have had, ever. I went back to MWF the next day with same prep and same blade +1 day, and then I went back to Valobra the day after that. The Valobra shave was noticeably better and left my skin feeling just as good as the MWF. So after a week with the Valobra I am convinced that I get a better shave and less irritation (better skin conditioning) than with either Cella or MWF. It's like I have the best of both.

I have enjoyed rotating throughs soaps and creams and suppose I will continue for variety, but right now, Valobra is a clear step better for me than anything else in my collection. I prefer milder scent (I'd put Cella, MWF, and Valobra in that category), but scent is actually much less important to me than comfort and quality of shave. OTH, I have no objection to any of the soaps I tried based on smell and find that even the more perfumed soaps seem to leave little residual by an hour after shaving.

In this ymmv shaving business, I've heard talk about finding your blade or finding your prep, or your brush or your razor, and I have explored these myself. But I am a bit shocked that the biggest leap I have taken in the past month is finding my soap.

Alan

 

[aihpcfl]

Interesting read for someone like me who knows he should explore but isn't inclined to do so. But I do think the soap or cream decision is second after choice of razor. Good job.

 

[Red_Oak]

Congratulations!! Valobra is a fine soap and one of my favorites. I could live if it was to only soap I could ever have. Do what you gotta do to have a great shave.

 

[mistercitizen]

It is a great soap. I shaved with Valobra stick this evening for the 6th straight shave of a brand new stick and will continue to use this soap until the stick is gone. The lather is incredibly good and just what you would expect from a tallow soap with the kind of reputation that precedes it. I can't say I even like the scent, but it is mild and tolerable. Performance beats scent for me, but I've used other soaps that perform just as well and smell spectacular so I can't see myself using Valobra on a regular basis or being "the soap" for me.

Ben

 

[DrColossus11]

Valobra stick is all I use while traveling. Makes me miss AOS tallow though.

 

[jwilock]

Valobra stick is all I use while traveling. Makes me miss AOS tallow though.

Pretty much the same thing. But you could always make your own stick from the AOS is you think they're noticeably different.

 

[DrColossus11]

Pretty much the same thing. But you could always make your own stick from the AOS is you think they're noticeably different.

AOS has been reformulated and no longer contains tallow. But mashing a couple Valobra sticks into a bowl is the next best thing.

 

[jwilock]

AOS has been reformulated and no longer contains tallow. But mashing a couple Valobra sticks into a bowl is the next best thing.

I was responding to his comment about tallow AOS - pretty much the same thing as Valobra. Ingredients list identical except for one ingredient, and the tallow AOS was indeed made by Valobra.

 

[Teddyboy]

Excellent and thoughtful write-up. I'll bet those breezes off of the Pacific don't hurt either.

 

[ridnovir]

Valobra is excellent, congrats on your quest. I am patiently waiting for Valobra in tub - soon to be released.

 

[Valerius]

Congratulations, excellent chioce!

 

[ailevin]

Thanks for the kind words. In my first three months of DE shaving I have had several "best soap ever" moments, so this too may pass. I enjoy experimenting and like the variation in lather textures and scents. Once upon a time I was a chemist and the shaving gear is like my new chemistry set. Besides, I now have a cupboard full of soaps and sticks to play with.

And yes the ocean breezes are nice in Redondo, particularly during these heat waves that have been baking the rest of So Cal.

But back to the original topic, I thought the Valobra stick was a bit pricey, especially compared to other well regarded shave sticks, but it is worth every penny, and my only regret is that I waited as long as I did to try it.

 

[jwilock]

Pricey? Hm, What did you pay for it? My local Italian deli carries Valobra shave soaps and sticks and I think it's only about $12 or so for the stick. That doesn't seem too expensive. Given it's essentially the same, except for scent, as the old tallow based AOS soaps which used to go for $30 for a small puck and now go for more than that, it seems pretty reasonably priced.

 

[abrowncrayon]

Thanks to your write up I feel I must try the Valobra stick. I'll add it to my list of must-buys after I have purchased some Trumper's cream (i've just been burning through a sample pack and can't decide which flavour to purchase). There seems to be too many great soaps and creams to try and I'll soon have enough to last me many years! I'm not complaining though - I'll probably keep hunting for 'my soap/cream' for years to come!

I too prefer the milder scent, one that smells 'natural' and Cella is one of the winners for me in terms of scent and performance.

 

[ckang79]

Does anyone know if the Valobra block (croap) has similar performance to the shave stick version?

 

[ailevin]

Pricey? Hm, What did you pay for it? My local Italian deli carries Valobra shave soaps and sticks and I think it's only about $12 or so for the stick. That doesn't seem too expensive. Given it's essentially the same, except for scent, as the old tallow based AOS soaps which used to go for $30 for a small puck and now go for more than that, it seems pretty reasonably priced.

I paid $12.99 and was comparing to price of Arko ($2.75), Palmolive ($3.75), La Toja ($5.50), Speick ($7.50), so it was the most expensive in my shaving stick test lineup. Now that I have used it, I would say it is a very high quality product and well worth the price.

 

[Jboone78]

Hands down one of my favorite soaps!

 

[jwilock]

I paid $12.99 and was comparing to price of Arko ($2.75), Palmolive ($3.75), La Toja ($5.50), Speick ($7.50), so it was the most expensive in my shaving stick test lineup. Now that I have used it, I would say it is a very high quality product and well worth the price.

Ah yes. Those would all be great, economical choices. I've got several La Toja sticks - even grated one into a bowl to use that way, plus one each of Palmolive, Arko and Speick. So all good. There are of course lots of much more expensive choices that make the Valobra seem not so expensive. But then again I'm not sure if any of them are better than the ones you've mentioned.

 

[Frankthetank]

Valobra is great, but at $14 for a 50 gram stick, its not the greatest value. I also don't personally find that it performs any better than La Toja or Speick. Thats $42 for the equivalent of a 150 g puck. I'll stick with La Toja.

Maybe I'll change my tune. I've only had a few shaves with it, so I'll have to mash the rest I have into a puck and finish off the 50 g stick, then re-evaluate. I'm sure my cheap side will win out, though.

 

[nwjs]

My local Italian deli carries Valobra shave soaps and sticks and I think it's only about $12 or so for the stick.

"Only"? It's only a puny 50g of soap, man. It isn't even any cheaper over here in Europe... going for about 11 EUR. For the little stick, where Palmolive is 1/10 the price.

I'd have tried it by now but I refuse to buy something so ridiculously overpriced.