Looking for Input - Buying 2 or 3 New Soaps

jww · Post by **jww** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:45 am

Gents,

Realizing that I am opening a door that will lead us down a path where some of us may not want to go -- but I admit that AD has set in lately. I am down to only a few soaps - with plenty of MWF still to spare, I am looking at expanding my line a bit, and am going to order up 3 new soaps in the next week or two.

So -- I am looking for suggestions - if you were buying 3 new soaps, what would they be and why? Budget or high-end suggestions are welcome (e.g. I have been thinking of Irisch Moos lateley, as well as GFT Rose).

Here is what I currently have in my soap stock - so we don't get duplication of what I already have on hand:
MWF
C&E Sienna
Palmolive classic stick
D.R. Harris Lavendar stick
D.R. Harris Arlington stick
Proraso green tub

Enjoy responding, I am looking forward to your replies.

gsgo · Post by **gsgo** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:48 am

Gold Dachs, Haslinger would be two of my suggestions.

jww · Post by **jww** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:22 am

Thanks.

I forgot to mention -- I am a pure tallow guy -- cold pour soaps have never worked for me, so please keep your suggestions to non-could pour soaps if you can.

paddy · Post by **paddy** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:50 am

cella
valobra
l'occitane cade
la toja

MaxP · Post by **MaxP** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:58 am

Wendell-

My recommendation is for Queen Charlotte Soaps.
Excellent scent, fine lather, reasonable price.

http://www.queencharlottesoaps.com/ind ... x&cPath=15

Tallow and Palm oil.

Good luck,
MaxP

LouisIII · Post by **LouisIII** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:15 am

Speick
Tabac
Arko
Wilkinson Sword stick

These are the soaps I've found to be best - all tallow heavy, in stick form, and relatively cheap to dirt cheap, depending where in the world you are.

druphus · Post by **druphus** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:28 am

Well GFT Rose is one of my standards along with AOS Sandalwood (which can be found at reduced prices). These would be my recommendation.

Janus · Post by **Janus** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:39 am

You really ought to try one of the Italian soft soaps. Most of them are tallow based, I think. Valobra soft soap is pretty darn good, too, even though it's non-tallow.

GA Russell · Post by **GA Russell** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:49 am

Wendell, you know that Cella is my favorite so far because it leaves my face feeling the best after the shave.

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:34 pm

Wendell, I'm one vote for the Italian soft soaps.

If you check my rankings of them in the review section you'll see that I consider P.160 to be the cream of the crop. They are all really good (Cella, Valobra, Vitos Red, P.160) but P.160 just has more of the good stuff for the skin and it doesn't skimp on performance.

Yes, it has tallow, specifically tallow. Not Sodium Tallowate, but tallow.

If you don't want to buy a kilo I'm pretty certain Italian Barber has 125g containers.

But Vitos and Valobra are really excellent SIS also. (If you don't want to buy a kilo)

If you buy a kilo and don't like it, I doubt you'll have a problem selling it.

Heck, if you can't sell it or don't care to break it up to sell it, I'll buy it from you for what you paid (less shipping) but shipping on my dime to me. I'm that confident that if you like tallow you'll like it. You need to like marzipan too.

I just realized that while tallow is on the ingredient list, it would probably saponify with the KOH to form Ktallowate.

Edit: You were looking for 2-3. If you don't consider me suggesting ALL of the SISs as suggestions (I really only stressed P.160) then I have a few more.

Valobra stick. I mill a few sticks into a bowl, add a teaspoon of water and mash it in ther to make a form fitting puck. The performance is superb. The scent is soap. Of course it can also be used as a stick. I looked at an unopened stick of Valobra and I couldn't decipher the ingredients, but it sure feels like a tallow soap to me. The scent is pure soap to my nose.

The 3rd is Speick. I use it as a stick, and again, mill it into a bowl, but I know there is a cream available if you don't want to mill the sticks. My nose is scent sensitive, and while this has quite a strong scent, I find it pleasant.

druphus · Post by **druphus** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:36 pm

I would also recommend P.160 as the best soft Italian, so I've mentioned three (3) and am out of votes.

desertbadger · Post by **desertbadger** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:54 pm

As already mentioned, Tabac, and I'll add Sir Irisch Moos stick left as is or grated into a puck.

Regards,
David

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:59 pm

Is there any P.160 left? Agree with Tabac and Speick, and I do think, despite what some say, that Klar Kabinett is in the same class.

Chris

jww · Post by **jww** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:22 pm

I was just on the Fendrihan site and they have the Cella, Tabac, and Irisch Moos -- unfortunately they are out of stock on the Speick at the moment. I must admit I keep on thinking I need a tub of GFT or TOBS, just because.

How would one describe Tabac's scent? I haven't tried it before, and understand that the scent is quite polarizing.

Anyone with experience in Edwin Jagger soaps? The sea buckthorn scent has me quite curious. I had a tube of their sandalwood cream and thought it was excellent. The soap intrigues me.

billyboy · Post by **billyboy** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:40 pm

If you stick with the designer/brand names: Irisch Moos, Taylor's Avocado, Trumpers Coconut, Klar Kabinett
If you go the artisan route - Mystic Waters, QCS, Kells'

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:03 pm

drmoss_ca wrote:Is there any P.160 left? Agree with Tabac and Speick, and I do think, despite what some say, that Klar Kabinett is in the same class.

Chris

Yes, Italian Barber has a quantity of it left. The price is climbing as the supply gets less, but it's still not too bad @ $50/kilo. A kilo is a lot of shaving.

RazorRamone · Post by **RazorRamone** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:50 pm

I can only see a few soaps comparing to your love of MWF.

As you already own Harris soaps, I suggest finding some vintage Yardley or Old Spice. Tabac is a good suggestion too; if the tobacco/powder scent is to your liking.

ThePossum · Post by **ThePossum** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:41 am

Wendell,

You can't go wrong with the Tabac. I consider it an equal to your fabulous MWF in lathering and performance.

Yes, the scent can be off-putting with it's patchouli heavy scent. Kinda reminds me of the incense I used to burn in my room in college in the 60's. Oh, those were great times.

ThePossum · Post by **ThePossum** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:22 am

MaxP wrote:Wendell-

My recommendation is for Queen Charlotte Soaps.
Excellent scent, fine lather, reasonable price.

http://www.queencharlottesoaps.com/ind ... x&cPath=15

Tallow and Palm oil.

Good luck,
MaxP

Max,

QSS looks very interesting. Any recommendations as to scent for the soaps?

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:49 am

Wendell,

You can't go wrong with the Tabac.

I think Wendell will enjoy the glass container too...keep up with the wooly stuff

clive