I Have Hit The "Wall"

Now that there are at least two so called perfect "100" score soaps and as I could not ascertain any real difference between DG Icarus & their new Milksteak I probably won't be buying the newest Wholly Kaw base, Siero. Since I don't factor in any PSF I am left with pure performance & scent. I really cannot distinguish much if any difference as regards pure performance amongst most good soaps so it's time for me to push away from the artisan "merry go round" as this "oneupmanship" for market relevancy has worn me (and my wallet) down. Time to put down the Kool-Aid.

I pretty much agree. I had been 3017 ing some pucks and had not bought soap for months until Milksteak. Great stuff for sure, but not worlds better than my other faves. So I am on the sidelines (again), as well.

Very interesting concept - I do believe you’re onto something.

It’s quite exhausting in fact & the prices have risen well beyond what I believe is reasonable inflation.

Just a few years ago, an expensive soap was $12 per jar & today soaps are well into the $20s and more in some cases.


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Welcome Gents. I've been riding that pony for quite a while now too. Grateful someone wants to futz with all this stuff but that someone isn't me. I get solid performance from old school favorites without all the hype. My kid builds custom brushes so is more "plugged in" than I am meaning I get to try all the new stuff that comes down and I find I just don't need all this to enjoy a shave.

Whew, glad someone said it, I’ve got hundreds of soaps, all in the quest to find a good one, well guess what I can shave with all of them,some are just a little better feeling


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I've hit the wall so many times I don't know which way is up anymore.  Whether its a game changing razor or a soap with angel tears in it, I just find that the improvements are so infinitesimally incremental that I can't discern it.  Maybe I need to go back to shaving with carts and cans for a while then switch straight to the newest stuff so I can experience the same magic as when I first started out wet shaving.  I guess we are suffering from a wealth of riches as there is so much good stuff out there that we've come to take excellence for granted.  I am grateful for the efforts of all of the artisans and vendors in wet shaving and I know that I will buy some latest greatest at some point...maybe some Bay Rum

Really, what is the point of this post on a shaving hobbyist forum? Are you trying to make everybody feel bad about it? If you've really "hit the wall" why do you even come here anymore?

BPman & wyze0ne

Hopefully I don't offend anyone as that is not my goal or intention on this post. I think this is an interesting topic and one I have been thinking about for a while. There is always innovation to be had but there will always be a "wall" one needs to over come.

You see a similar phenomenon in transistor sizes. For the past few years media outlets and some experts deemed Moore's law to be antiquated. However lately we are seeing now applications of technology that is disproving that and all it took was thinking outside the box. So I see the problem as two folds. One is how can be continued to push our formula for those that can discern the differences and the other is what can we do to continue to push the envelope for those who cannot?

Do we go quadruple milled to be more value oriented for those who hit the wall? Do we do mass user survey to see what they are rating the soap on and find newer chemistry to try to achieve a truly discernible difference.

I think we are at an interesting crossroad and can't wait to see what the future holds.

Really, what is the point of this post on a shaving hobbyist forum? Are you trying to make everybody feel bad about it? If you've really "hit the wall" why do you even come here anymore?

If you want to be a sarcastic jerk then why reply?

I was done chasing the perfect soap and I was working my way down to my top 3, but then bought up one of the Movember auctions 2 years ago and got side tracked. Then I also decided that I had to try the ones that seem to be at the top of everyone's list and a few of additional soaps. I work through them 1 tub at a time and I'm making progress. So far my favorite are B&M Excelsior, DG Icarus, and Wholly Kaw, but I have not tried any of newest releases. Tallow + Steel, Grooming Dept., Oleo also ok. Stirling was very slick, but not protective for me.

I also finished a puck of MWF which is really good, but it takes longer to get the perfect lather so I likely won't replace it.

I also have new unused pucks of vintage Colgate, Yadley, and Old Spice that I need to get around to trying.

In the end, I the top 3 that I will probably always have are ABC, Panama Boellis, Tabac and I'll continue try others from time to time.