#1

Member
Austin, TX
I have developed a great appreciation for Soap Commander over the last year- great products, interesting scents, fair price and Darren/Carrie offer fantastic customer service!

I just received an email outlining some new releases this Wednesday and as they rarely, if ever, frequent the forums thought I would share for those interested:

Connection
Crisp leaves under foot mingle with a hint of pine, while the lingering whiff of berries imprints a trail on your soap [other notes along the path include cedarwoods, eucalyptus and citrus].

Commitment
Indian Sandalwood

stroppinglad and primotenore like this post
Kevin
#2
(09-21-2015, 07:58 PM)kwsher Wrote: I have developed a great appreciation for Soap Commander over the last year- great products, interesting scents, fair price and Darren/Carrie offer fantastic customer service!

I just received an email outlining some new releases this Wednesday and as they rarely, if ever, frequent the forums thought I would share for those interested:

Connection
Crisp leaves under foot mingle with a hint of pine, while the lingering whiff of berries imprints a trail on your soap [other notes along the path include cedarwoods, eucalyptus and citrus].

Commitment
Indian Sandalwood

Thanks for posting this. SC is my favorite maker of vegan artisan soaps.
#3

Member
Austin, TX
I just now was able to take a moment and head to the SC site: Connection is already sold out!

Will look forward to the next production run.
Kevin
#4
Much as I like Soap Commander (and other artisanal soaps), I often wonder about the wisdom of providing too many choices, instead of two or three "killer" products. There are probably more variations and themes from Razorock, Mama Bear, or Soap Commander than I can probably experience in my lifetime, although I am constantly on the look out for the next "great" modern classic. Razorock XXX would probably fall into this category. There are a lot of (possibly polarizing) unique scents that have withstood the test of time; products such as Arko, Cella, Proraso, etc. Some may hate these, but there is no denying their longetivity. I quite like the fact that MdC, for instance, only provides a few choices, but with great market differentiation, and very high quality products. I would just as soon buy one "classic" scent than have to maneuver around ten that I may or may not like. What do others think?
#5

Merchant
Thousand Oaks, CA
(09-24-2015, 08:55 PM)Boosnark Wrote: Much as I like Soap Commander (and other artisanal soaps), I often wonder about the wisdom of providing too many choices, instead of two or three "killer" products. There are probably more variations and themes from Razorock, Mama Bear, or Soap Commander than I can probably experience in my lifetime, although I am constantly on the look out for the next "great" modern classic. Razorock XXX would probably fall into this category.  There are a lot of (possibly polarizing) unique scents that have withstood the test of time; products such as Arko, Cella, Proraso, etc. Some may hate these, but there is no denying their longetivity.  I quite like the fact that MdC, for instance, only provides a few choices, but with great market differentiation, and very high quality products. I would just as soon buy one "classic" scent than have to maneuver around ten that I may or may not like. What do others think?

As a vendor, I definitely feel your pain. It's incredibly difficult to keep up with the HUGE number of products a particular artisan/company has. It's expensive, and not all products sell as well as others. However, to properly represent a brand its almost necessary to stock each one of their products, lest a customer gets antsy and finds another source for the one scent you don't stock- that sale and potential future sales are lost. I've personally learned this the hard way in my business.

As a consumer, I absolutely love variety. Like many folks here, I have a personal rotation that will last me several years of shaves. I don't tend to own multiple shave soaps from the same maker (unless its an entirely different formula, not just scent), but I definitely own multiple aftershaves from the same maker. To each their own.
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#6
(09-24-2015, 08:55 PM)Boosnark Wrote: Much as I like Soap Commander (and other artisanal soaps), I often wonder about the wisdom of providing too many choices, instead of two or three "killer" products. There are probably more variations and themes from Razorock, Mama Bear, or Soap Commander than I can probably experience in my lifetime, although I am constantly on the look out for the next "great" modern classic. Razorock XXX would probably fall into this category.  There are a lot of (possibly polarizing) unique scents that have withstood the test of time; products such as Arko, Cella, Proraso, etc. Some may hate these, but there is no denying their longetivity.  I quite like the fact that MdC, for instance, only provides a few choices, but with great market differentiation, and very high quality products. I would just as soon buy one "classic" scent than have to maneuver around ten that I may or may not like. What do others think?

I have mixed feelings about it. I like knowing that a soap maker will continue making certain soaps until the world ends. For example, I feel confident that DR Harris will forever make Arlington, etc. And having a limited but still ample selection, like DR Harris's, simplifies things. Whereas I am always tempted to try yet another scent from another artisan. Just when I've found happiness with, say, Brand X Super Sandalwood, along comes Brand X's Marzipan and Velveeta, and Brand Y's Cocoa Nutmeg Shilly Shally, which will no doubt get wonderful youtube reviews that make me feel like life really won't be complete until I've at least smelled it if not bought it and lathered with it. 

I do think that, at some point, the performance of shaving soaps starts to hit a certain peak and there are only a few that really stand out as far as exceptional slickness, cushion, postshave feel, and so on. There are only so many ways to make shaving soap. So intriguing fragrances are a way of standing out. I like knowing that, if I want to, I can smell Ben Franklin (Stirling) or baseball stadium dirt (B&M) or a cigar humidor (Soapy Bathman) while lathering, but the desire to try all of them is frustrating. And the drawback, of course, is that when you fall in love with a fragrance you have no idea whether it will be continued, discontinued, kept in stock, etc. You don't have that problem, usually, with the established brands that have a limited menu. 

I guess I have to cast my vote for variety but, really, I'm just not the kind of guy who could own, say, fifty or sixty soaps without feeling a little silly. I applaud those who have vast collections, I have a friend who has over ninety, but I'm up to about twelve or fifteen and really feel like that's pushing it. I think the best model is probably Soap Commander's and Reef Point's, to name only two. They seem to have established a regular menu but, from time to time, they offer seasonal limited editions. Irena of Ginger's Garden offers a large selection but will make a custom soap if you tell her what fragrance you want, which is another good way to ensure your favorite is on hand.
#7

Veni, vidi, vici
Vault 111
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2015, 05:14 PM by primotenore.)
I have the Indian Sandalwood; ASB and soap. Today was my second shave with them. I am looking forward to relaying my findings in a more comprehensive review at the end of the week. BTW, I think their Rose is terrific and I agree that their CS is outstanding too.

(09-25-2015, 04:24 AM)stroppinglad Wrote:
(09-24-2015, 08:55 PM)Boosnark Wrote: Much as I like Soap Commander (and other artisanal soaps), I often wonder about the wisdom of providing too many choices, instead of two or three "killer" products. There are probably more variations and themes from Razorock, Mama Bear, or Soap Commander than I can probably experience in my lifetime, although I am constantly on the look out for the next "great" modern classic. Razorock XXX would probably fall into this category.  There are a lot of (possibly polarizing) unique scents that have withstood the test of time; products such as Arko, Cella, Proraso, etc. Some may hate these, but there is no denying their longetivity.  I quite like the fact that MdC, for instance, only provides a few choices, but with great market differentiation, and very high quality products. I would just as soon buy one "classic" scent than have to maneuver around ten that I may or may not like. What do others think?

I have mixed feelings about it. I like knowing that a soap maker will continue making certain soaps until the world ends. For example, I feel confident that DR Harris will forever make Arlington, etc. And having a limited but still ample selection, like DR Harris's, simplifies things. Whereas I am always tempted to try yet another scent from another artisan. Just when I've found happiness with, say, Brand X Super Sandalwood, along comes Brand X's Marzipan and Velveeta, and Brand Y's Cocoa Nutmeg Shilly Shally, which will no doubt get wonderful youtube reviews that make me feel like life really won't be complete until I've at least smelled it if not bought it and lathered with it. 

I do think that, at some point, the performance of shaving soaps starts to hit a certain peak and there are only a few that really stand out as far as exceptional slickness, cushion, postshave feel, and so on. There are only so many ways to make shaving soap. So intriguing fragrances are a way of standing out. I like knowing that, if I want to, I can smell Ben Franklin (Stirling) or baseball stadium dirt (B&M) or a cigar humidor (Soapy Bathman) while lathering, but the desire to try all of them is frustrating. And the drawback, of course, is that when you fall in love with a fragrance you have no idea whether it will be continued, discontinued, kept in stock, etc. You don't have that problem, usually, with the established brands that have a limited menu. 

I guess I have to cast my vote for variety but, really, I'm just not the kind of guy who could own, say, fifty or sixty soaps without feeling a little silly. I applaud those who have vast collections, I have a friend who has over ninety, but I'm up to about twelve or fifteen and really feel like that's pushing it. I think the best model is probably Soap Commander's and Reef Point's, to name only two. They seem to have established a regular menu but, from time to time, they offer seasonal limited editions. Irena of Ginger's Garden offers a large selection but will make a custom soap if you tell her what fragrance you want, which is another good way to ensure your favorite is on hand.

Sometimes, even time-honored soap houses (GFT, Williams to name two) abandon their original recipes and produce an inferior product.

thehollowaytape likes this post
~~~~
Primo
Shaving since 1971; enjoying my shaves since 2014
A che bel vivere, che bel piacere, per un barbiere di qualità! Happy2
#8
I've been meaning to get into Soap Commander but they have so many scents. Think I'm stuck between Courage and Inspiration (although inspiration is geared towards women, the idea of 'Japanese Grapefruit' is intriguing to me haha.)
#9

Member
Austin, TX
I enjoy all the SC soaps that I have tried [Courage, Passion, Endurance, Confidence and Refreshment] and the scents are top notch but Courage is by far my favorite thus far.
Kevin
#10

Member
Austin, TX
For community members interested, I just received an email update indicating that Connection and Commitment will be back in stock at Noon CST today.

Darren also mentioned they were going to change their lineup and discontinue Wisdom, Relaxation, Motivation and Purpose. If these are your favorites, get while the getting is good!
Kevin


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