Best Almond Shaving Soap

cryhavoc · Post by **cryhavoc** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:52 pm

I've been using Col. Conk Almond and really like the scent. As a soap it is ok. I'm looking for a quality soap with a great Almond scent. Opinion gentlemen?

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:37 pm

Come to think of it Jay there is no almond scented soap I don't like. My first choice is Harris but there is no best scent, only preferences.

PT · Post by PT » Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:59 pm

I agree. Col. Conk has a great smell, mediocre performance.
The only other almonds I have tried is TOBS and Volabra and out of those Volabra is my fav.

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:15 pm

Any of the soft Italian almond soaps will put the Conk in the shade. Cella, P160, Vitos and Valobra are all good.

Chris

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:35 pm

Jay, Well, my recommendation normally would be D R Harris's Almond hard shave soap, but it does not have that 'foody' sort of almond scent but rather a bracing eau de quinine fragrance. If the foody almond scent is a must than probably one of the Italian soaps like the Valobra soap brick or one of the ones mentioned by Chris above. If you are open to creams than one of the classic English potted numbers like Taylor or Truefitt & Hill.
Regards,
Gordon

Nitrox · Post by **Nitrox** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:28 pm

The Cella 'soap' has a nice strong almond scent to it. The creams are pretty well even in scent among the top name brands.

PT · Post by PT » Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:15 pm

I'm going to have to try Cella now.

Nitrox · Post by **Nitrox** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:46 pm

PT wrote:I'm going to have to try Cella now.

In my opinion, you won't regret it. The more I use it, the more I like it.
It has an amazing lather that ranks up there with the best.

TRBeck · Post by **TRBeck** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:10 pm

I agree that you'll be impressed with Cella's lather. Scent..hard to say. I like it, but I can see where some don't. I think Valobra's almond scent is slightly nicer; P.160 is too sweet for me. I like the Vitos scent as a middle ground, and you aren't giving anything up in terms of lather; really great soap.

Regards,

cryhavoc · Post by **cryhavoc** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:36 am

Ok Gents, since I am cheap I've decided to go with the Cella. I'm saving my pennies for the Harris.Thanks for the opinions, I'll let you know what I think of the Cella.

95% · Post by **95%** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:41 pm

TRBeck wrote:I agree that you'll be impressed with Cella's lather. Scent..hard to say. I like it, but I can see where some don't. I think Valobra's almond scent is slightly nicer; P.160 is too sweet for me. I like the Vitos scent as a middle ground, and you aren't giving anything up in terms of lather; really great soap.

Regards,

Of the ones Tim mentions, I'm familiar only with Cella and Valobra. They certainly lather well, as almost everyone agrees. As to their scents, initially I liked Cella. It had an old-fashioned, clean smell that reminded me of how my childhood house smelled after the cleaning woman had left, having done the laundry with a washboard and a tank of hot water. She must have used the same soap - whatever it was, probably an inexpensive household tallow soap - to wash the floors, kitchen, and bathroom. Eventually, however, it occurred to me that what I was smelling in Cella was the natural smell of fat, only weakly covered up with a bit of almond oil. Valobra smelled a little less fatty, though still I thought it was in the same ballpark.

I concluded that I preferred a well-composed fragrance like the ones offered by Trumper et al.

franz · Post by **franz** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:48 pm

Can any of you gents try to enlighten me on what eau de quinine smells like? I plan to add another Harris soap eventually (almond or lavender), but I am a little puzzled when I run across that term

95% · Post by **95%** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:56 pm

The Harris Almond soap, which some describe as having an eau de quinine scent, comes across to me as dry, bitter, and slightly medicinal. It's a part of my weekly rotation.

drumana · Post by **drumana** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:05 pm

cryhavoc wrote:Ok Gents, since I am cheap I've decided to go with the Cella. I'm saving my pennies for the Harris.Thanks for the opinions, I'll let you know what I think of the Cella.

I was going to chime in and put in another vote for Cella. Good choice. I think you'll like it.

GA Russell · Post by **GA Russell** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:01 pm

Cella is my favorite as well, but I still have a way to go in trying the most highly regarded soaps.

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:49 pm

So far I've only used Vitos and p.160 and like them both. If anyone can't lather them and get great lather they didn't put their brush on the soap. I always get too much brush loading when I use them 'cause they load so easily (fast!).

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:22 am

I've avoided Conk's soaps. Almond would be Harris first, then tied for second would be Vitos Extra Super Cocco and Italian Barber Ltd. Ed. My solid third choice is RazoRock Cacao, if we all agree it's a soap. It might be considered a cream.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:56 am

franz it's the same quinine as found in a gin & tonic, if that gives you a reference.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:58 am

Jay I'm currently using Cella as well, I find it easy to lather and a very pleasant scent.

cryhavoc · Post by **cryhavoc** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:08 am

I've got some Harris Almond coming to me, I got a great deal and couldn't resist.