#1

Member
New Mexico
Is the Dr Harris Windsor the be all end all? Is there other stiff competition out there? It world be cool to get a solid take on the scent that doesn't run 60+ for a refill and splash.

Wondering what the DFS consensus is.  thanks!!!

DanLaw likes this post
#2

Member
Chicago Suburbs
It all depends upon what you are looking for in a soap or cream.

I have a tub of the DR Harris Windsor soap in a wooden container.
The scent is quite nice with citrus top notes with leather, black pepper and vetiver on the dry down.
The wooden bowl is a nice touch, but you pay a premium for the bowl.
If you like the soap, you can purchase refill pucks for a more reasonable price.

DR Harris built its reputation based on a tallow soap. Although its current formula still contains tallow, it also contains lots of vegetable fats such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil. While these vegetable oils do produce a slick lather, they do not produce a protective lather. Also, unlike many newer artisan soaps, the DR Harris soap does not contain any ingredients designed to condition and moisturize the skin.

If you are someone who has oily skin, then DR Harris might work quite well for you. Unfortunately, I have dry, sensitive skin. DR Harris does not work well for me. I rate soaps based on 6 criteria from 1 to 10 with 10 being best. Here is how I rate DR Harris soap.

Ease of Loading       6/10  This is a hard soap, so it takes a while to load your brush
Ease of Lathering     8/10  It takes a little effort to eliminate air bubbles from the lather
Slickness                 8/10  It is a slick lather, but not the slickest
Residual Slickness    6/10  Once you remove visible lather, little slickness remains. Buffing strokes are not recommended.
Cushion/Protection   6/10  My sensitive skin is easily irritated when using this soap.
Post Shave              6/10 The lather provides nothing to condition and moisturize the skin. An post shave product is needed.

So overall, I rate DR Harris soap at 40/60 of which is 67%. For my sensitive, dry skin, that is a failing rating.
I occasionally will use the soap, but I much prefer recent artisan soaps.
The only reason I keep it in my den is I like the scent of Windsor.
If you skin is less sensitive and less dry than mine, DR Harris might be suitable.
I am sure you will get some feedback indicating the soap is great.

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#3
In general my experience is that the British soaps smell nice, particularly the cremes, but there are much better performing soaps at much lower prices.

One exception that I haven't tried but would like to is Kent soap. The packaging makes it looks like it is made by LEA but still has a tallow content?

I also believe that I read that, or something to that effect elsewhere.

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#4

Member
New Mexico
definitely am looking for a well performing soap with plenty of cushion/protection,  slickness/residual slickness, and a great post shave feel...a  tallow formula would be nice but is by no means a deal breaker if a soap is not, a matching AS is definitely a bonus ...... from the notes above it seems the dr Harris wouldn't compete as far as performance. 

But in that case who does? I'm just not finding much out in there the way of Windsor scented shave soaps.

DanLaw likes this post
#5

Member
Chicago Suburbs
(10-05-2024, 03:54 PM)4pointoh Wrote: definitely am looking for a well performing soap with plenty of cushion/protection,  slickness/residual slickness, and a great post shave feel...a  tallow formula would be nice but is by no means a deal breaker if a soap is not, a matching AS is definitely a bonus ...... from the notes above it seems the dr Harris wouldn't compete as far as performance. 

But in that case who does? I'm just not finding much out in there the way of Windsor scented shave soaps.

I like the Windsor scent, but it is not my favorite scent. What specifically about the Windsor scent are you looking for in a soap?

Also, where do you live.? If you live in the States or in Canada, there will be more options for artisan soaps. There are plenty of soaps with citrus scents. There are plenty of soaps with leather scents. There are several soaps with vetiver scents. Of the more than 250 soaps I have tried, none is a a match to Windsor. However, there are more than 1000 soaps available, so there might be one I have not tried.

A great scent in a shave soap is an important part of a great shave. However, there are lots of great scents. So pick your soap formulation and then pick your scent. 
Most soaps scents are only mid-strong. They are not designed to replace a cologne, EDT or EDP as far as fragrance is concerned. Thus, if you have a signature fragrance, you do not necessarily have to have a soap with the same fragrance., it just should be in the same category. However, many artisans do release aftershave products with scents to match their soaps.

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#6

Member
New Mexico
I'm in the states and have tried TONS of artisan soaps over the years and already have a decent rotation and probably a few that are Windsor adjacent or have similar qualities here and there, but, that's not what I'm after.... just a good take on the Windsor scent in a great soap. Not almost Windsor or kind of like Windsor. But Windsor.
It's been a pain finding more than a couple so thought I'd throw the question out here.

DanLaw likes this post
#7

Member
Chicago Suburbs
(10-08-2024, 12:05 AM)4pointoh Wrote: I'm in the states and have tried TONS of artisan soaps over the years and already have a decent rotation  and probably a few that are Windsor adjacent or have similar qualities here and there, but,  that's not what I'm after.... just a good take on the Windsor scent in a great soap. Not almost Windsor or kind of like Windsor. But Windsor.
It's been a pain finding more than a couple so thought I'd throw the question out here.


Perhaps the best thing to do would be to purchase the DR Harris Windsor cologne or EDT and add a few drops to  either an unscented soap or a lightly scented soap of similar scent.  You can add a few drops to the tub of artisan soap, seal the lid and let the scent soak into the soap. You can also add a drop or two to your lather bowl, or to the tub of soap just before loading your brush. That is the only way I know to match the Windows scent exactly.

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