The very best luxury soaps/creams, money no object

Peter, I have not noticed any discernible difference between Manuel's soaps (Jabonman/Eufros) in performance and it is only the scents that are stronger in the Eufros line, in my opinion.
He has always made an excellent-performing soap.
Good luck.

celestino I appreciate the reply! I really enjoy his lavender scented soap (especially). Whatever the oils used in the other soaps, that one would likely still be my favorite.

Oops I disposed of my Tabula Rasa sealer caps (with the ingredients listed). They were getting in the way when I just wanted to open the tub and get right to the goodness. Oh well.

onethinline it was a necessarily sacrifice - collateral damage in the blitzkrieg of the morning shave.

Claus, you clearly have an extensive knowledge of luxury shaving creams and soaps. Thank you for sharing it. Among your collection, which ones have really grabbed your attention, which ones have wowed you? For example, when I started wet shaving, my first non-canned goo purchase was T&H 1805. I was amazed at how good it was in comparison to the canned gels I was using. I remember thinking "If there is more stuff like this out there, I am completely hooked!" I have tried quite a few classic soaps since then that work fine (PdP, MWF, Cella, MdC), but the next one with the "wow!" factor was CRSW Jardin D'Orange. What are the standouts in your collection for you?

Thanks much for your kind comments Tom Slick!

I don't mean to dodge the question (which is a great question by the way - I hope others take a crack at it), but I'm still carefully evaluating everything and writing up my thoughts. Many (but not all) of the ones that Claus listed previously have captured my attention. Other than alluding to a broad range of things and in general terms, I hesitate to list anything specific because I'd like to finish and update my individual reviewing process before providing a comprehensive and comparative analysis of these products. It goes without saying that different products standout for different reasons (or not), and when they do I want to articulate why. I've been avoiding threads that ask for favorites for a reason .

But if I were to cheat and name one (SPOILER ALERT ), I'd list PannaCrema Nuavia, which is an absolute gem and a top performer in my rotation.

NeoXerxes, I haven't been that tempted by the Nuavias but they are starting to cause an itch. Can you tell me more about their scent profile?

NeoXerxes, I haven't been that tempted by the Nuavias but they are starting to cause an itch. Can you tell me more about their scent profile?

I doubt NeoXerxes will mind if I jump in here too. I have both Nuàvias and love them. My last obsessive hobby before this wet shaving thing was fragrances, and I like to think I've got a pretty good sniffer. Given whatever level of connoisseurship I can now claim, I'll vouch for these soaps having very well-judged, multi-layered, appealing fragrances.

Blu is a spicy-floral composition, with an impression of coriander, jasmine, a bit of lavender, and sweet warmth. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was inspired by Caron's classic Third Man (Troisieme Homme) fragrance from the 80s. By the way, you can grab Caron Third Man for great prices — gorgeous scent. I feel like Blu is the more immediately easy to like, as it has sort of a spicy classical masculine vibe.

Rossa is a rich, labdanum-weighted woody fragrance. The sandalwood is the Australian type, as opposed to Indian Mysore, which is good for me as I don't care for the latter. Labdanum (maybe it's opoponax here too?) plus an oud-wood accord give this a sensual, licked-skin vibe. It just vaguely edges on naughty, in a carnal, warm-bodies way, but it's not actually musky or funky. That hint makes it that much more alluring, actually. There's some cedar there too. Overall I get a rich, warm-toned, not desiccated, round wood effect. It's the sexier of the two, for sure.

The fine fragrance analog for Rossa that I can think of would be Amouage Epic Man, which has a similar oud-sandalwood effect. Also the sandalwood note in Rossa is similar to D.R. Harris Marlborough, though Marlborough is a more demure scent for sure.

Hope this helps!

SharpSpine Sure!

I can't quite think of a fragrance analogy for Blu,
but it smells like an aromatic spicy composition. It has amber in the base and comes across as very "fresh" (though extremely complex). The Rossa reminds me of the style of an Amouage scent, with heavy woods, amber, and some ingredients that remind me of incense and oud. So, Blu is spicy-fresh, Rossa is woody-oriental.

Complexity and quality are present in both; both smell like they use extraordinarily expensive ingredients and an actual perfumer. In terms of scent strength, their strength is commensurate with something like an aftershave (remember, it is designed to function as an aftershave with the excess lather). I enjoy both versions, but since I prefer more fresh fragrances, I prefer Blu.

onethinline you nailed it in much more detail than my own explanations. From one frag head to another, well said!