The stuff is so cheap but performs so well! It lather's really easily and performs up there with Mike's in my opinion. The scent is just so-so... my dad thought it smelled like a grandma which I can agree with lol. It's a weak scent though and doesn't smell bad necessarily so it's not hard to over look. Especially good for the price. I will continue to use Mike's just because I like different scents and I like to help small business men, but VDH can't be beat if you need/want a soap that's readily available and cheap.
VDH is pretty good stuff!
- Thread starter isaac d.
- Start date
It's also easy to melt down in a double boiler and add some of your own essential oil scents to it, then let it cool and re-harden.
If you are talking about the Deluxe version that is found just about everywhere, I agree that for it's price point, it is pretty decent soap.
Now, if you are referring to the Luxury Van Der Hagen......well, I think that soap is excellent. I use the scented and unscented versions and get the best shaves using them.
The Luxury is getting harder and harder to find locally. There is one Walgreens on the other side of town that still carries it. If they stop, that is one line of soap I will order in bulk online.
Regards.
Now, if you are referring to the Luxury Van Der Hagen......well, I think that soap is excellent. I use the scented and unscented versions and get the best shaves using them.
The Luxury is getting harder and harder to find locally. There is one Walgreens on the other side of town that still carries it. If they stop, that is one line of soap I will order in bulk online.
Regards.
FYI, there are five VDH soaps: Glycerin, Select, Deluxe, Luxury and Luxury Unscented. It helps if you are more specific as some members like only the luxury line (available at Target).
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Agreed. It's about the easiest soap to find and does lather well. I've only tried the deluxe version, but the glycerin seems pretty easy to find also. The luxury is available on Amazon, but if I have to order then I would rather order something like Ogalalla Bay or Honeybee in the same price range.
I've never seen the Select, but the Deluxe and the Luxury are very nice for the price.
they sell it with the beginner's luxury kit with the brush and mug.
Luxury is still sold at Drugstore.com.
For the money, I think the deluxe is fine. That is, it lather's nicely and the scent is OK and at least not strong.
But I find that, but itself, it doesn't provide much cushion/protection from the blade and also doesn't leave my face soft and smooth. Since I moisturize after shaving, I suppose that isn't a big deal, but still I like something that feels a bit more luxurious on my face. That's why I use VDH in an uberlather with Kiss My Face and glycerin. It performs like a champ with that combo.
But I find that, but itself, it doesn't provide much cushion/protection from the blade and also doesn't leave my face soft and smooth. Since I moisturize after shaving, I suppose that isn't a big deal, but still I like something that feels a bit more luxurious on my face. That's why I use VDH in an uberlather with Kiss My Face and glycerin. It performs like a champ with that combo.
I buy the Luxury Scented at a local Walgreen's. It's one of my favorite soaps.
Most Walgreen's don't stock it, but some do. You can go here, click on "Find at a store" and type in your zip code to find out if any of your local Walgreen's carry it.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/van-der-hagen-luxury-shave-soap-scented/ID=prod6066917-product
Most Walgreen's don't stock it, but some do. You can go here, click on "Find at a store" and type in your zip code to find out if any of your local Walgreen's carry it.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/van-der-hagen-luxury-shave-soap-scented/ID=prod6066917-product
I see the VDH Select at Rite Aid in my area (Atlanta). That soap is akin to Williams for me. The VDH Deluxe is at Wal-Mart and lately I've seen it at Kroger. It's good soap and I've used it with satisfying results. The VDH Luxury, as mentioned above, is available at some Walgreens, and at several online sources. The Luxury is a first rate shaving soap; I would say it's the best you can buy for $5.00. If you can't find it in a store, it's worth ordering.
Like any boar, the brush requires a break in period of a couple weeks before the ends split and soften up. I used the same VdH boar for nearly a year when I first started wetshaving. It shed some hairs, but not too many. Like you though, I have read many reviews of people complaining of it shedding excessively, but that wasn't my experience. I never left it upside down to dry either, but I guess the quality of that brush is hit or miss. For that price, it's worth a try. The only other brush I've purchased in my wetshaving journey has been a SOC Boar. It's certainly better, but not by far.
My VDH basic was my first brush, too. It didn't stink or shed--except for the initial washing. It lathered fine--or at least I thought so at the time. While I was happy hand-lathering quality cream, the brush really did make a positive difference for me. Unfortunately I didn't have a stand at the time, so I always dried it upside down, on it's base.
Within a couple of months I acquired my Frank Shaving Finest Badger. The difference in these brushes is night and day, IMO. After getting the badger I only used the VDH on rare occasions, or to test a new soap/croap. I tried to use it the other day for a shave and it simply was not what I wanted to use. It didn't lather the way I am now used to, and the hairs looked like total crap. I tossed it.
Keeping the old YMMV in mind, I wouldn't recommend this brush to anyone other than someone who wants to check out a shaving brush for the first time, and (like me when I started) doesn't have local access to the something better or the patience/desire to buy it online and wait.
With that said, the VDH hasn't soured me on boar, and I'm sure I will pick up an Omega or Semogue at some point.
I found that if you go to Walgreen's website and look up the luxury, you can put in your zip code and the site will tell you which stores in your area carry it.
lwt210:
The Luxury
Read More: http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=196305
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Keep in mind, the luxury isn't that much more expensive than the deluxe because the size of the puck is nearly double. Deluxe is 2.5 oz for $1.99 (.80/oz), and the Luxury is 4.5 oz for $4.99 (1.10/oz). Only $1.35 difference if you compare 4.5 oz sizes, or $.75 if you compare at the 2.5 oz size.
Don't get me wrong. The deluxe is good soap, and I like it, but the luxury is definitely a step up in performance for a very little amount of money.
Don't get me wrong. The deluxe is good soap, and I like it, but the luxury is definitely a step up in performance for a very little amount of money.
Agreed. Luxury has a better scent and does not have than creepy Barbie doll skin color..... I go for the Luxury version. Great value either way.... great glycerin soaps.
Ben
I picked up a couple of the luxury pucks a couple days ago and looking forward to using them; I have had a puck of the Deluxe "in the rotation" for a couple of years. The Deluxe strikes me as okay for the price, but not a puck I will buy again when I'm done with it.
All of the VDH soaps are a good value. I use the Deluxe as a base when I uber lather along with KMF unscented. It's fantastic for that.
