#1
(This post was last modified: 03-30-2019, 12:27 AM by Luis_Garcia.)
I am sure that many of you could tell me many more things about these handmade soaps, but I like to make a brief introduction always and I hope you will be pleasant about this revision.
[Image: tBixgZH.jpg]

It is an artisanal soap produced in the United States (Booneville, Arkansas) by Roderick and Amanda Lovan, a young couple, who began their journey in the manufacture of products for shaving back in January 2012.
From the beginning they have tried to create products of the highest quality at the lowest possible cost and always with the utmost respect for the environment, basing their formulations on natural and 100% biodegradable products. So much so that even their packaging and stickers come from recycling.
Throughout these 7 years have gone through different formulations in their relentless search for "perfect" soap, although they have been around for 2 years now, which has finally fulfilled what they intended: a soap at the right price , with natural, ecological and moisturizing products.


These tallow soaps have a very simple composition, with few products but of good quality. They are a clear example that less is more. A simple formula, careful and that works:

[Image: uD9zUCy.jpg]
Beef Tallow, Stearic Acid, Distilled Water, Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Vegetable Glycerin, Fragrance Oil, Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Milk, Lanolin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate



Packaging.
It is one of the main hallmarks of these soaps. An unmistakable green packaging made with recycled plastic more friendly to the environment, with a label also recycled. All soaps, unless they are special editions, have a very similar label, changing only the color of the outer ring and the icon. This icon, I think deduce, that tells us that it is based on a perfume.
[Image: lqV9SV6.jpg]

Longevity / Duration
This is undoubtedly one of its strongest points. It is a hard soap (not pressed) and its more than 160 grams (5.8 Oz) make these soaps are almost infinite, and more for those of us who love to accumulate soaps.

If we assume that in each load that we make with the brush we take 1.5grs, we will have more than 100 shaves. And now everyone who throws their accounts: if you only shave with this soap will last more than 4 months, if you have many soaps and rotations ... will be years.

Load required
Load easily on the brush, and see how that foam is generated in the packaging itself is very nice, so you always end up carrying more than you need. Although for me that is not a problem, I prefer that on lather and fully enjoy the soap.
[Image: lqUicm0.jpg]


How is the lather?

The first thing that catches your attention is that it is a dark, brown lather. This is due to the vanilla, so you have to take it into account when using the brush (in case you could dye the fibers) and using the towel that can stain it and we all know how our ladies can be angry with these details...
[Image: s5jkx61.jpg]

I leave you the process of creating the lather so you can see its evolution:

1.- We load the brush, and we simply distribute that load of soap by the suribachi:
[Image: BgJknwp.jpg]

2.- We add a little water with the tips of the fingers and continue working the lather:
[Image: ZnDWQVl.jpg]

3.- A few more drops of water And that's it! It is a dense lather, with an intoxicating, sticky, dense aroma that has lost its dark color enough:
[Image: GLbTfhH.jpg]
[Image: K8Tj2eX.jpg]

Water / soap ratio.
These soaps are quite permissive with the water that they admit, although as you have seen in the pictures with two times I have added enough water. And that it is a soap that admits enough water is a particularly pleasant thing since this additional hydration makes the lather have more body and is more slippery.

Quality of the lather.
It is a great lather, it is very aromatic and abundant. It has body and consistency. It is a lather that is in my top ten particular, and if we put the variable "price" jumps to the top three.

Protection and sliding of the razor.
The castor oil, almond oil, shea butter and lanolin make the razor slide without any problem and these emollient oils leave the beard perfectly prepared to cut it without problems.

Feeling on the face.
Normal, I have not noticed anything. Neither cold, nor heat, nor itching. It is a soap with a lot of vanilla, so it is something to consider people who have some sensitivity or allergy, but I repeat. I have not noticed anything weird.

Hydration and Post-shave.
I give myself only two passes, in FTG and ATG, with what I have enough lather to apply a generous layer of comfort-lather, and the result after removing it with water is very good. It makes my skin look great, although I must admit that at this point it is not the brand that stands out the most.

Scent.
It's a great aroma, tobacco and vanilla inspired by the Tom Ford perfume that goes by that name. For those who have not smelled it, to say that it reminds me a lot of the vanilla pipe tobacco when it was opened from its bag (without burning, of course). A clean, warm, intoxicating and very elegant perfume. It is a very pleasant aroma that accompanies you throughout shaving, although its fixation on the skin is not excessive.

Price.
As this expensive or cheap is very relative I put my scale:
• Cheap: less than $10
• Normal: $10 - $20
• Expensive: + $20
• Very expensive: + $40
This soap can be found online for less than $14, according to this scale should be "normal" but is that this soap bring almost 45% more soap than any other, therefore from my point of view is a cheap soap.

Price for shaving.
Previously we said that we could use it in more than 100 shaves, therefore we would get each shave to 14cts. A negligible amount for the high quality that these soaps have.

Recommended.
I do not like to tell people if they have to buy one thing or another, because as we always say, "each face is different, and what one can do well is not another" but in this case I can not pass up the opportunity to recommend the purchase of this brand.
The Stirling soaps are teaching us how for $14 it is possible to use an excellent soap, with one of the widest varieties of perfumes and with 45% more quantity than any other. If someone is lucky enough to find his favorite scent (simple thing since they have all kinds of perfumes) he will have made a master purchase. I've hit the nail on the head with this one.

[Image: U2OvZii.jpg]

This has been my first review of a soap written in English, I deeply regret if I have committed any spelling mistake and I only hope you enjoy reading

Best,

StraightEdge, olschoolsteel, Sun777 and 16 others like this post
#2

Super Moderator
San Diego, Cal., USA
Luis, it is an excellent review. I have several Stirling shave soaps, including Haverford, and I enjoy them all.

Luis_Garcia and ezlovan like this post
#3

Merchant
Arkansas
Thank you so much for the awesome review, Luis. One odd the best I've ever seen for my soap. Thank you.

Luis_Garcia, olschoolsteel, Matsilainen and 1 others like this post
#4

Member
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Luis, thank you for the excellent review!

Freddy and Luis_Garcia like this post
Whenever I go to shave, I assume there’s someone else on the planet shaving, so I say “I’m gonna go shave, too.”
– Mitch Hedberg
#5

Super Moderator
Excellent review Luis_Garcia! As a former pipe smoker, I'm very intrigued by the scent since opening a vanilla-scented tobacco was always a joy

Matsilainen, Freddy and Luis_Garcia like this post
#6
Although I only have one Stirling soap at present I have tried many samples and I can unequivocally state that all give/gave me a great shave.

Luis_Garcia and Matsilainen like this post
Secretary Ramsey put his foot into it yesterday . . . in the course of his remarks he said that California “needs water and better society.”  “So does h-ll,” yelled someone in the crowd.  
#7

Member
Illinois
Excellent review Luis. I have 6 different Stiring scents in my rotation and have been an exclusive Stirling user for over 2 years now. Best bang for your buck products on the market today!!

Luis_Garcia and Matsilainen like this post


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)