Lightly scented soaps you find bland

Surprised Caties Bubbles got a couple of mentions. All of the ones I've tried have robust scents (even Royal Garden - which smelled like a rose garden).

Wholly Kaw Vetivertal is too light for me, which was a disappointment after using their other offerings that had decent scent strength (Fougere Bouquet and Vetililac). Some of the Strop Shoppe soaps (forgot which samples I had) were really light - another disappointment because Instinct is a fairly strong scent of theirs.

I’ll add one thing about scent strength. I want to smell this soap the entire time the lather is on my face without dissipation. As others noted, if it dissipates, then I might as well buy unscented. Its useless to say a strength of 5 out of 10 because one man’s 5 is another’s 10.  Its not so much an issue of being “strong” as “not dissipating”.

However, over time, I have noted that some soap makers know their stuff and others – not so much. Some GFT scents are sublime. IMO, they know their stuff (and I guess they should over all these years, from Eucris to Violet to GFT to Spanish Leather). T&H and DR Harris are no slouches either.

But too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Maybe I’ve changed but after using CF Lime for a week (or Lavender), it can be too much of a good thing and I find I need to switch. It’s just too much.  But I don’t get that with GFT or T&H scents.

Just a thought.

For me, its all about having a scent present during the shave.  If I can't smell the scent after a bit on the first pass, I assume I'm used to it.  Then I wipe on the second pass and expect to smell the scent.  If its still not present, its a let down.  Whats the point of having a scented shave soap if the scent isn't present?  If all  shave soaps had light to no scents like the soaps I mentioned in my original post, I would clear them all out and just use unscented Soap Commander purely for how it performs.   Its not about something being an "air freshener" its about the soap having a scent that sticks throughout the shave and enhances the experience.  Otherwise, one could just count on aftershaves/colognes for scent and again, just have one or two go to unscented soaps that perform well for your shave. Hell, even Barbasol has a scent and its freaking $1.26 people come on.

I agree 100%. If the scent is too lite, its into the (trash) ...

Now some will lather and the scent dissipates but when you relater you face, a new wave of scent hits you. Those are OK.

I Coloniali Mango -  The scent of this soap was a mild mango. It was a pleasant fruity scent but with barely any strength. It almost felt scentless.

Grim - I Coloniali has no mango scent in it. It has mango oil in it for skin prediction, glide etc, similar to coconut oil in many soaps. I say this respectfully, but I just cannot fathom how you could find the scent of this soap to be fruity and almost scentless. The scent is a quite strong and unique incense, like they use in Catholic Church Mass.

Are you sure you have not confused this soap with another soap? I ask because your description here is wildly at odds with not just my own personal experience, but also with that of every other review if this soap I have read to my recollection.

Nope, that is what I got from it. Light and fruity like a mild mango. Remember, 30% of all scent sensors in human are different. That's why one person's rose is another's .... sewage. http://www.monell.org/news/news_releases..._receptors

Researchers from the Monell Center and collaborating institutions have found that as much as 30 percent of the large array of human olfactory receptor differs between any two individuals. This substantial variation is in turn reflected by variability in how each person perceives odors.


And so I just Googled i Colongia Mango review and the first one that came up was this http://www.shaving101.com/index.php/prod...cream.html

" The aroma of the cream has a mango fruit-like character to it, but it is more subtle and blended with a light smokiness that gives it an interesting fragrance. With no bright or citrusy sweet tones"

Now I forgot to mention the light menthol but I don't think menthol is a scent. Like that author, I got light fruity scent that was like a Mango, and since I like Mango Ice Tea, it was sort of like that.

Here is another review

"To me it smells of over-ripe tropical fruit generally rather than mango specifically"

Other people call it smoky, cocoa. Here

"The scent is a mixture of mango and smoke"

Here

" I picked up the fruity scent throughout. It’s not especially strong"

So obviously a few people besides myself thinks its a fruity smell. I have no idea why people thinks its smoky. If you want smoky, try TTFFC Through The Fire. Now that is strong and the smoke smell will stay on you for an hour later.

As you point out, different noses perceive scents differently.

I get incense, wood and smoke mixed with an underlying dry fruity vibe from I Coloniali soap. And a quite strong scent.
The I Coloniali cream I get rhubarb and an earthy sandalwood from.

My pot of Geo F Trumper Coconut cream is now soon 4 years and still smells quite strong of coconut.

My TOBS Coconut also smells quite strongly of coconut and vanilla.

My Geo F Trumper Sandalwood cream also has a nice scent of smokey sandalwood.

My Caties Purple Grapefruit also smells pretty strongly. Great scent btw.

I can even detect a mild lavender note in Martin de Candre Unscented shaving soap.

BUT I know my sniffer detects scents other people can't detect.

I also detect a strong Wonderfull clean soapy scent in Mitchell Wool Fat shaving soap, that others don't.

We're all different. You most likely have a less sensitive sniffer than most. Nothing wrong with that.

I get incense, wood and smoke mixed with an underlying dry fruity vibe from I Coloniali soap. And a quite strong scent.
The I Coloniali cream I get rhubarb and an earthy sandalwood from.

This.

Early on many saw Mango and reported scents along the same line [herd mentality ironically]. There is a sweet component which I believe contributes, less vanilla, more benzoin. Definitely woody mid tones with a strong incense component. I agree this is a stronger scented soap/cream from my experience and is actually part of my "never without" collection as the performance is top notch as well.

But as with all: YMMV.

Surprised Caties Bubbles got a couple of mentions.  All of the ones I've tried have robust scents (even Royal Garden - which smelled like a rose garden).  

Wholly Kaw Vetivertal is too light for me, which was a disappointment after using their other offerings that had decent scent strength (Fougere Bouquet and Vetililac).  Some of the Strop Shoppe soaps (forgot which samples I had) were really light - another disappointment because Instinct is a fairly strong scent of theirs.

I was surprised as well - the Menage a Lavande was my second CB soap the first being Midnight Dreary which I really like and find to be perfectly scented both in strength and composition.  For that reason i expected the Menage a Lavande to be equally as good, that and the following description from CB website:

"A limited edition luxury cream soap scented with a blend of 5 high end lavenders from around the world. Designed with the sole intention of being the "Ultimate Lavender Experience." (bold underline added)

You know what they say about good intentions right?  For me it isn't the ultimate lavender experience , I have several lavender soaps by other makers that are more lavender-y.  The Menage a Lavande would have been more accurately marketed as "another entry into the already crowded lavender shaving soap space albeit a very mild and subtly scented one."

I was surprised as well - the Menage a Lavande was my second CB soap the first being Midnight Dreary which I really like and find to be perfectly scented both in strength and composition.  For that reason i expected the Menage a Lavande to be equally as good, that and the following description from CB website:

"A limited edition luxury cream soap scented with a blend of 5 high end lavenders from around the world. Designed with the sole intention of being the "Ultimate Lavender Experience." (bold underline added)

You know what they say about good intentions right?  For me it isn't the ultimate lavender experience , I have several lavender soaps by other makers that are more lavender-y.  The Menage a Lavande would have been more accurately marketed as "another entry into the already crowded lavender shaving soap space albeit a very mild and subtly scented one."

Wow - that's another surprise for me as well! Ménage a Lavande is second to Latha Lavanda as my top lavender soap. Really goes to show how much noses differ.

How would you describe Midnight Dreary? I've been curious about that one

I was surprised as well - the Menage a Lavande was my second CB soap the first being Midnight Dreary which I really like and find to be perfectly scented both in strength and composition.  For that reason i expected the Menage a Lavande to be equally as good, that and the following description from CB website:

"A limited edition luxury cream soap scented with a blend of 5 high end lavenders from around the world. Designed with the sole intention of being the "Ultimate Lavender Experience." (bold underline added)

You know what they say about good intentions right?  For me it isn't the ultimate lavender experience , I have several lavender soaps by other makers that are more lavender-y.  The Menage a Lavande would have been more accurately marketed as "another entry into the already crowded lavender shaving soap space albeit a very mild and subtly scented one."

Wow - that's another surprise for me as well! Ménage a Lavande is second to Latha Lavanda as my top lavender soap. Really goes to show how much noses differ.

How would you describe Midnight Dreary? I've been curious about that one

Maybe I got a weak batch of the CB because I also like the Latha Lavanda as well as the Meisner Tremonia Lavender de Luxe, Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender, B&M Black Label Lavender, B&M Lavanille (not a pure lavender), D.R.Harris lavender (both puck and stick), eShave Lavender.....I'm sure I'm leaving out a couple but I do like my lavender soaps which is why I was looking forward to the CB Menage a Lavande. Its still a nice soap just not the "ultimate Lavender Experience" I was expecting.

Midnight Dreary is hard to describe - sort of a musky nice and pleasant smelling, no brightness its dark but its not one of those earthy scents. Cattie says it contains this: A Poe inspired soap with notes of Orchid, Lotus, Spices, Black Currant, Black Truffle, Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber and Vanilla. Thats a lot of fragrances blended in there so I do not have the vocabulary that could sum it up in a concise descriptive way other than I really like it.

I was surprised as well - the Menage a Lavande was my second CB soap the first being Midnight Dreary which I really like and find to be perfectly scented both in strength and composition.  For that reason i expected the Menage a Lavande to be equally as good, that and the following description from CB website:

"A limited edition luxury cream soap scented with a blend of 5 high end lavenders from around the world. Designed with the sole intention of being the "Ultimate Lavender Experience." (bold underline added)

You know what they say about good intentions right?  For me it isn't the ultimate lavender experience , I have several lavender soaps by other makers that are more lavender-y.  The Menage a Lavande would have been more accurately marketed as "another entry into the already crowded lavender shaving soap space albeit a very mild and subtly scented one."

Wow - that's another surprise for me as well! Ménage a Lavande is second to Latha Lavanda as my top lavender soap. Really goes to show how much noses differ.

How would you describe Midnight Dreary? I've been curious about that one

Maybe I got a weak batch of the CB because I also like the Latha Lavanda as well as the Meisner Tremonia Lavender de Luxe, Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender, B&M Black Label Lavender, B&M Lavanille (not a pure lavender), D.R.Harris lavender (both puck and stick), eShave Lavender.....I'm sure I'm leaving out a couple but I do like my lavender soaps which is why I was looking forward to the CB Menage a Lavande.  Its still a nice soap just not the "ultimate Lavender Experience" I was expecting.

Midnight Dreary is hard to describe - sort of a musky nice and pleasant smelling, no brightness its dark but its not one of those earthy scents.  Cattie says it contains this:  A Poe inspired soap with notes of Orchid, Lotus, Spices, Black Currant, Black Truffle, Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber and Vanilla.  Thats a lot of fragrances blended in there so I do not have the vocabulary that could sum it up in a concise descriptive way other than I really like it.

Midnight Dreary was inspired by Tom Ford Black Orchid. I haven't smelled MD, and don't care for Black Orchid, but smelling it in a Sephora or something might illustrate what would be best expected from the scent.

Maybe I got a weak batch of the CB because I also like the Latha Lavanda as well as the Meisner Tremonia Lavender de Luxe, Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender, B&M Black Label Lavender, B&M Lavanille (not a pure lavender), D.R.Harris lavender (both puck and stick), eShave Lavender.....I'm sure I'm leaving out a couple but I do like my lavender soaps which is why I was looking forward to the CB Menage a Lavande.  Its still a nice soap just not the "ultimate Lavender Experience" I was expecting.

Midnight Dreary is hard to describe - sort of a musky nice and pleasant smelling, no brightness its dark but its not one of those earthy scents.  Cattie says it contains this:  A Poe inspired soap with notes of Orchid, Lotus, Spices, Black Currant, Black Truffle, Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber and Vanilla.  Thats a lot of fragrances blended in there so I do not have the vocabulary that could sum it up in a concise descriptive way other than I really like it.

Midnight Dreary was inspired by Tom Ford Black Orchid. I haven't smelled MD, and don't care for Black Orchid, but smelling it in a Sephora or something might illustrate what would be best expected from the scent.

Thanks! Sounds like there's a lot going on from the scent description. I'll give Black Orchid a whiff next time I'm at the mall.

Wow - that's another surprise for me as well! Ménage a Lavande is second to Latha Lavanda as my top lavender soap. Really goes to show how much noses differ.

How would you describe Midnight Dreary? I've been curious about that one

Maybe I got a weak batch of the CB because I also like the Latha Lavanda as well as the Meisner Tremonia Lavender de Luxe, Tabula Rasa Dark Lavender, B&M Black Label Lavender, B&M Lavanille (not a pure lavender), D.R.Harris lavender (both puck and stick), eShave Lavender.....I'm sure I'm leaving out a couple but I do like my lavender soaps which is why I was looking forward to the CB Menage a Lavande.  Its still a nice soap just not the "ultimate Lavender Experience" I was expecting.

Midnight Dreary is hard to describe - sort of a musky nice and pleasant smelling, no brightness its dark but its not one of those earthy scents.  Cattie says it contains this:  A Poe inspired soap with notes of Orchid, Lotus, Spices, Black Currant, Black Truffle, Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber and Vanilla.  Thats a lot of fragrances blended in there so I do not have the vocabulary that could sum it up in a concise descriptive way other than I really like it.

Midnight Dreary was inspired by Tom Ford Black Orchid. I haven't smelled MD, and don't care for Black Orchid, but smelling it in a Sephora or something might illustrate what would be best expected from the scent.

Barrister_N_Mann its good to see you back, I'll have to try to sniff some Black Orchid when I get a chance.  I enjoyed your monthly Newsletter, particularly the piece by NeoXerxes .

chill31613 getting a chance to smell a proxy for Midnight Dreary is a good idea.  I think if we had a chance to smell these soaps before we bought them we likely would have fewer soaps lying around unused or PIFed. I'm not saying that ménage a lavande is a bad soap or that it smells bad, just that it's pretty mild to my nose for something marketed as the ultimate lavender experience.  Oh, I also have Mystic Waters Jeff's Lavender and it's nice too. I think I might have enough lavender soaps.