Which soap to try first?

[GoldenMonkey]

My order from Vintage Blades arrived today, and my WCS order arrived a few days ago, and I have lots of new options to use for tomorrow's shave. I want to leave it up to you guys to decide though...which of the following combos should I use first? The Tabac, SCS, Trumper's, C&S, and PC I already had, but the Pen's and Harrises are new...and all four smell freakin' GREAT, by the way...

 

[GoldenMonkey]

There BETTER be more votes by tomorrow morning, or I'll just go with...a Braun electric, jsut to spite you all! Lol...

The horror...the...horror...

 

[mdunn]

another vote for tabac:

its cheap, easy and an amazing lather

 

[talibeard]

I would go for the Prairie Creations, just because the mix of dragon's blood and rum sounds so good.

 

[WhosYerBob]

Don't pay any attention to those Tabac fanatics - PC is what you *really* want!

 

[strat1117]

I voted for Arlingotn becasue it is my favorite of the soaps you have listed (I am assuming that the two Pen's are new formulation, which I haven't tried yet). I think it is superior to Tabac in both performance and scent (although that may be a minority opinion). Tabac would be #2 for me of the soaps on your list.

Nevertheless, you have a wonderful selection of products, and you will no doubt enjoy using each and every one.

 

[Leche]

I picked Tabac, inexpensive, crazy good and easily obtainable lather, and you just have to use at some point.

 

[markb]

Don't pay any attention to those Tabac fanatics - PC is what you *really* want!

Tabac!!

 

[negncic]

If the Penhaligons is the reformulated version, please post a review.

 

[texbilly]

Arlington. Unless the Pen is old formulation by some chance, in which case you know the answer.

 

[JPM]

There BETTER be more votes by tomorrow morning, or I'll just go with...a Braun electric, jsut to spite you all! Lol...

The horror...the...horror...

Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Both Pen's are the new formulation...but MAN do they smell great and lather really well...I'll be sure to post a review, but I don't have any basis for comparison as I've never tried the old tallowy goodness (*sigh*).

The Arlington just MAY be my favorite scent of them all...not sure yet, and...TALLOW! Mmm...

Tabac - you guys crack me up. Yes, it's a great soap, gives phenominal lather just by looking at it, performs amazingly, and I also have the splash, balm, and cologne to go with it, but I'm feeling more English than German today...my leisurely weekend shaves are something I look forward to, and Tabac seems more utilitarian than decadent.

THe PC soap is a milled blend of two sample pucks Krissy sent me. I find the spiced rum and the dragon's blood to be similar in profile - both spicy, earthy scents. They really work well with each other, IMO.

 

[norton]

If the Penhaligons is the reformulated version, please post a review.

+1

Purely selfish reasons. We need reviews of the new formulation.
While comparing to the old formulation would be interesting, it isn't a requirement. If it shaves well, great. If not, well...

Good for you for jumping in.

 

[SiBurning]

I think you should pull 9 brushes out of your den, lather up all 9, make little sections out of your face, and go for it. I voted for cs88, just because.

 

[texquill]

Blenheim Bouquet is, by far, the best of those on the list that I've tried. It will be a great benchmark with which to compare the rest!

 

[leeparmet]

Tabac is the baseline I use to judge soaps.

~Lee

 

[jadam318]

I've used very few of those you listed. As a matter of fact, I still haven't tried Tabac after nearly a year of wet shaving. What can I say? I've found plenty of other soaps that I have a hard time putting down.

I chose the Pen English Fern. Of the soaps you listed, that is the one I most want to try. As you said, Tabac seems too utilitarian for a weekend 'posh' shave. D.R. Haris Marlborough is the only one of those I've ever used. It is good stuff, but there is better out there, IMO. I've used a couple different PC soaps, but neither of the ones you've mixed. PC is incredible if you get the water content on the money.

I still say go for one of the Pens. I'd go English Fern, and we all know how important my opinion is.

I think you should pull 9 brushes out of your den, lather up all 9, make little sections out of your face, and go for it. I voted for cs88, just because.

+1 - This is the best recommendation thus far, I think. Life is short, my friend!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Ok, well...almost everyone got trumped by SWMBO's choice - she liked Arlington's scent a lot, so I went with that one. It smelled great, but I had a hard time with the lather. I was able to build nice lather initially, but I couldn't keep it moist and thick through each pass. I face lathered as usual with my Rooney 1/2 Finest, which could whip up tallowy goodness from a ribeye steak, but like I said...it kept going dry. Adding more water (I also face rinse between passes) to the point that it was not holding peaks just caused it to have slip but no cushion. I hit the puck again after the second pass, but even then it was not optimal. I didn't get any blade chatter or nicks, but the areas around my chin and under the nose were abraded a bit, and I have some overall redness. The alum told the truth of the tale, and burned like the dickens for a few seconds (although I have had shaved that felt like they went better that the alum revealed to be murderously rough, to be fair). because of the burn, I went with some Aqua Velva + a dab of 444, and things are calming down, but I'm going to have that "slightly windburned" look today, lol. Dry lather razor burn aside, the Arlington left my skin feeling nice and toned, and very hydrated. I think if I can get the hang of lathering this soap (and pointers are welcomed), it will be a regular, for sure. Comparing it to the other soaps above that I haver already used a few times, I'd rank them thusly (and these are not final scores, merely based on one shave with the DR Harris):

Tabac
Trumper's Lime & SCS (tied)
D.R. Harris Arlington & C&S #88 (tied)
Prairie Creations

Yes, Tabac does seem to be the baseline, and in overall terms of lather and effectiveness and protection and skin conditioning is near perfect...I just haven't had the scent grow on me. I LIKE it, I just find it a bit boring compared to the English boys (although the #88 shave soap smells pretty meh...nothing like the cologne, which is ruley) and the variety of scents offered by our resident soap makers. If I had to only ever have onle line of soap to get me through life, it would be SCS...


And...I ONLY have *gasp* TWO brushes! To be fair, the Rooney Finest is to me the measure of what any brush should be...I also have a 3/1 Super, and I PIFed a Vulfix 2233 Super a while back. If I had nine, my wife would just straight up kill me, and then burn the brushed to spite all you guys, lol...

 

[GoldenMonkey]

I still say go for one of the Pens. I'd go English Fern, and we all know how important my opinion is.

For the record, the EF was my vote as well...there's always Monday...nice way to start the week!

 

[WinstonSmith]

I'd suggest you skip all that expensive stuff and get a pink puck of VDH at Walmart.

It works just fine, and will provide a cheaper learning experience. By the time you've chewed through the puck, you will be ready to better enjoy the more expensive soaps.