Favorite Bath Soaps

[TRBeck]

I really like the bath soaps from Agraria, in particular the Balsam. Really nice scent, but not strong. The Lavender & Rosemary is also nice.

For a bodywash, I really like Kiehl's Pour Homme. St. Ives used to make a really great, bright grapefruit scent (not the sweeter smelling junk they make now) and I've been trying to find a replacement for it.

Brent, have you tried The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit shower gel? I stumbled across some in a Marshall's a while back: very bright, fresh, natural-smelling.

Regards,

[hoffo]

Wow, I didn't realize there were that many different bath soaps available!

Until I try some of these previously mentioned ones, my favorites are both Pre de Provence... Peony and Lavender. I like the L'Occitane scent bath soap as well, but from what I understand, they're discontinuing that one.

[whispercircuit]

Gordon, where in NYC can you get the English version of the Yardley?

[SteveK]

Unfortunately, Martin de Candre sent a sample of soap along with the shaving soap I ordered. Unfortunately, I think it was the best I’ve ever used. Unfortunately, I’m now going to have to figure out the optimal number of bars to order vs. the absurd shipping costs from France in order to confirm my initial impression. Unfortunately, I’m now in the process of slowly explaining to my spousal unit (and this will take time) why on earth do I need to spend an ungodly sum of money purchasing soap from an obscure manufacturer in France. This will take time.

Steve

[JayTrek]

May the Force be with you my young padawan. You are going to need it.

Unfortunately, Martin de Candre sent a sample of soap along with the shaving soap I ordered. Unfortunately, I think it was the best I’ve ever used. Unfortunately, I’m now going to have to figure out the optimal number of bars to order vs. the absurd shipping costs from France in order to confirm my initial impression. Unfortunately, I’m now in the process of slowly explaining to my spousal unit (and this will take time) why on earth do I need to spend an ungodly sum of money purchasing soap from an obscure manufacturer in France. This will take time.

Steve

[bernards66]

Whisper, Cambridge Chemists always stocked it. Pasteur's prices are much better but they only have it sometimes, often not. New London in Chelsea might stock it, I don't remember for sure.
Regards,
Gordon

[SRD]

The price for the English made Yardley is very reasonable via cvs online, at least compared to what I paid for my last three bars. It's the 4th or 5th item on this page.

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/search/search ... &x=18&y=10

[bernards66]

Dave, That is an outstanding price. CVS....who knew? I sure wish some of their stores around here would stock it.
Regards,
Gordon

[Gene]

Gordon,

I checked the link out, and they have a tab marked "Ingredients". So, I followed it and see this:

"Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Isopropyl Lanolate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Terasodium Etidronate, (Chromium Oxide Greens),(Iron Oxides), (Zinc Oxide, (Barium Sulfate)."

That's the English. The US version (at the top of the page) still lists Sodium Tallowate as the number one ingredient.

Am I missing something here?

[bernards66]

Gene, No, my good man, you have simply not been paying adequate attention ( chuckle ). The genuine English version unfortunately switched over to palm oil around the time that most of the other top shelf brands/makers did; Floris, Claus Porto, Bronnley, and the rest. It is still a very high quality soap however. Palm oil soaps don't work for my skin but many gents have no specific issue with them. The made under license US version is not triple milled, is still tallow based ( as is Ivory and Palmolive for that matter ) and is available for a good price in many supermarkets and chain drugstores. It is an excellent soap for the money IMO.
Regards,
Gordon

[EL Alamein]

Gene, No, my good man, you have simply not been paying adequate attention ( chuckle ). The genuine English version unfortunately switched over to palm oil around the time that most of the other top shelf brands/makers did; Floris, Claus Porto, Bronnley, and the rest. It is still a very high quality soap however. Palm oil soaps don't work for my skin but many gents have no specific issue with them. The made under license US version is not triple milled, is still tallow based ( as is Ivory and Palmolive for that matter ) and is available for a good price in many supermarkets and chain drugstores. It is an excellent soap for the money IMO.
Regards,
Gordon

Just one note: Ivory, at least around these parts, is not tallow based anymore and this has been the case for a few years.

Chris

[Gene]

Well, I know about the US Yardley, I have used it and it is very nice. I did miss the memo about Engklish Yardley switching, however.

Chris, I bought 3-pack of Ivory the other day, it still lists Sodium Tallowate as the first ingredient, although ti did admit that it was either tallow or something else. Is that what you mean?

[brothers]

I was at the local Hispanic grocery store a while back, and just for fun picked up some extremely inexpensive Mexican-made bath soap, basically all tallow, with just one or two other ingredients. Seems to work just fine.

[bernards66]

Gary, Yeah, I've seen that stuff here as well. I've never tried any although I've thought about it and kept it in the back of my mind.
Regards,
Gordon