One Last Soap?

Let's face the age challenge.  Some of us are much, MUCH closer to the end of our shaving days than others.  As a result, we have less time than many to enjoy trial-and-error, experimentation and the thrill of the hunt.  Not to be morose about it, but we need to condense new experiences into that relentless, winding-down of the clock.

So, I'm asking that you share with old fogies, especially those of us who are re-inventing our shaves into the wet style, your hypothetical choice of your last soap. Use whatever selection criteria you must (and share those with us), but choose one soap you'd use as your last hurrah to face shaving.

On behalf of the Order of The Silverbacks, thank you!

Could you please go over the part about not being morose about it?  


In a more serious vein, the most on-point reply I can think of is that when the time comes, the last thing I'd care about is what my last soap was.  Perhaps some will find that a useful perspective, and if perspective was on your mind when creating this thread TheBurgh, then you have done well IMO.


PS  If I had one nickel for every year I have been 39 years old, ... I'd have a lot of nickels.

Good morning, TheBurgh! Let me see if can help you focus on a few soaps that have worked well for me. Over the last eight years I've tried eighty-two different brands of shaving soap. A lot were one and done, but many have proved faithful long-term companions. Here are the five I've used the most over the last twelve months. I guess that's not exactly what you're asking for, but maybe there's something here that will help you find a soap for your final shaves.

1. Barrister & Mann – Oodles of scents, and the omnibus base is wonderful. My favorite scent is Cheshire (Earl Grey tea), but Beaudelaire is a very nice fougère, and Seville is a classic take on American barbershop.
   
2. Meißner Tremonia – A quirky German brand that's hard to find in the States. I order mine through a Spanish online outlet. I like their scents and their dry, talc finish. Favorite scents include Himalayan Heights, Dark Limes, and Strong 'n Scottish.
   
3. Ethos – For skin care, this brand tops my list. The scents are simple but vivid. Favorites include Blood Orange, Lost Souls, and Colonia. 
   
4. Mike’s Natural Soaps – A classic in the world of wet shaving, Mike's has been around since the beginning of the artisan soap cooking revolution. It makes a heavy, yoghurt-like lather that gives me ultimate protection. Favorites include Hungarian Lavender and Bay Rum.
   
5. Phoenix & Beau – Their Spitfire scent (juniper, leather, tobacco) is one of my favorites ever. And their thick, tallow lather gives a very good shave. Unfortunately, I don't care for most of their other scents. They all start smelling the same to me.
   

You may also want to follow our DFS daily soap thread (What soap/cream did you use today?) to help you stay abreast of what's weird and wonderful in the world of shaving soap.

Yes, the perspective is "less time to journey (actuarially and wet shave late start), so please help with shortcut soap hints."

Simplicity used to be simple. The older I get, the smarter I used to be.

Grooming Dept any base
A&E Kaizen 2e
Ethos
MacDuff's
Barrister&Mann Omnibus

I remember reading a post on another shave forum from a gentleman in his 70s who had been wet shaving for many years, but had recently discovered artisan soaps and was enjoying the trial and error of discovering them. Clearly that can be an expensive proposition.

My approach would be to find a great soap base and then order samples. I would add Stirling Soap Company to the excellent suggestions on the board already.

Omnibus [Barrister&Mann]
Grooming Department
Wholly Kaw
LJdJ
Ethos
MdC
Saponificio Varesino

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As time marches on our skin and our beard hairs age along with the remainder of our parts. Beards often become more coarse and tougher to shave. At the same time, skin often becomes thinner and looser, more easily cut and more easily irritated. A great shave soap can help compensate for these anatomical changes.

Currently, my best soaps are:
Grooming Dept Kairos SE
Grooming Dept Kairos and Mallard
Ariana and Evans Kaizen 2e
Ethos Grooming Essentials Type F
Barrister and Mann Omnibus

While these are my favorites, there are another 25 or so that are nearly as good. These favorites will allow me to get a near BBS shave with zero irritation and keep my face feeling great for the next 24 hours or more. What more can I expect of a shave.

As time marches on our skin and our beard hairs age along with the remainder of our parts. Beards often become more coarse and tougher to shave. At the same time, skin often becomes thinner and looser, more easily cut and more easily irritate. A great shave soap can help compensate for these anatomical changes.

Currently, my best soaps are:
Grooming Dept Kairos SE
Grooming Dept Kairos and Mallard
Ariana and Evans Kaizen 2e
Ethos Grooming Essentials Type F
Barrister and Mann Omnibus

While these are my favorites, there are another 25 or so that are nearly as good. These favorites will allow me to get a near BBS shave with zero irritation and keep my face feeling great for the next 24 hours or more. What more can I expect of a shave.

Roger that ^10x

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Having used Martin de Candre Fougere for the better part of the past two months, I can honestly say an MdC soap could certainly work as a "one last soap". the main reason is I note MdC is because of its diversity. If you need a quick slick lather when enough cushion for a 1 or 2 pass shave, it works. If you prefer a thicker lather which good slickness, load longer and face-lather for a few minutes. Also, it's a non-tallow so you can skip the witch hazel...I still use it but I really like a WH splash after rinsing off the soap.