Penhaligon's English Fern

BullGoose · Post by **BullGoose** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:15 pm

It is a sad day as I have come to the realization that something in Penhaligon's English Fern shave soap does not agree with my face.

This soap creates some of the richest creamiest lather I have experienced but unfortunately, it leaves my face tingling. Am I alone or do others have issue with this sacred soap? And yes...it is the old tallow formula.

gil3591 · Post by **gil3591** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:18 pm

too bad phil. send it to me and i'll trade you for an arko stick.

BullGoose · Post by **BullGoose** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:21 pm

gil3591 wrote:too bad phil. send it to me and i'll trade you for an arko stick.

Arko is ok on my face but it assaults my sinuses. At least it keeps the mosquitoes away.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:24 pm

Phil, I didn't have any problem with the soap, have you tried the cream?

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:39 pm

Phil, No. I have had problems of that sort with some soaps ( and even a few creams ) but Penhaligon's English Fern is, thankfully, not one of them.
Regards,
Gordon

BullGoose · Post by **BullGoose** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:52 pm

Squire wrote:Phil, I didn't have any problem with the soap, have you tried the cream?

No...I have used Penhaligons cream but have never tried the EF cream.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:13 pm

Did you like the one(s) you used?

BullGoose · Post by **BullGoose** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:07 pm

Squire wrote:Did you like the one(s) you used?

I received a small sample of a discontinued Penhaligons cream and cannot remember for the life of me which scent. But yes...I liked the cream a lot!

lawcash1 · Post by **lawcash1** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:45 pm

Phil,
I am three shaves into my first puck of tallow first Pen's EF and so far it hasn't been the best for me either, but I don't think it is the soap that is giving me problems so much as the learning curve. I just don't get the level of protection that I expect from the lather. I am a one razor - Edwin Jagger, one blade - Gillette "Swede" shaver. Since you are noticing some tingling, your experience is a bit different from mine. I was really looking forward to breaking the seal on this (first of three bowls) legendary soap.
I recently finished a tub of Castle Forbes Lavender that lasted me two years. I remember almost giving that away after my first few shaves, but I made some adjustments in how I built the lather; which brush I used; and I switched to face lathering exclusively with it. In the end the CF was the very best cream I had ever used, surpassing even Nancy Boy, which for me is very high praise indeed. I am going to apply the same thinking to the English Fern for a few more shaves to see if I can find the right method to building and applying the lather.