The very best luxury soaps/creams, money no object

Mystic Water (Sensitive and original formulas)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Packaging: This is not a luxury soap, and the packaging reflects that. Mystic Water comes in a very functional and solid plastic container with a screw top. Does the job without fuss, but also without frills.

Olfactory impressions: I've tried a few from the line. My favorites for scent are the Sensitive Skin formula (reminds me of the smell of a nice herbal tea), Bay Rum (which doesn't smell like bay rum to me, but is quite nice and pleasant), Poggio di Pini (lovely outdoors fragrance), and Tea Tree & Blue Gum (smells exactly like the name would suggest - tea tree + eucalyptus).

Performance characteristics: My experience with Mystic Water can be read on this thread. For the longest time, I had issues lathering this soap in my extremely hard water (which Celestino apparently had no trouble with). In any case, the switch to soft water solved this problem for me. What you need to know: If you have hard water, you might have better luck with the regular formula, as the Sensitive formula was a bit more difficult for me to lather.

When lathered, Mystic Water produces a dense, shiny lather that is extremely slick and stable. The photos taken by celestino and Merkur Man really show off the qualities of this soap, and how the lather can be coaxed into a beautifully thick, yogurt-like product that will ensure a comfortable shave.

If lathered improperly or without enough time, it is not the most protective of soaps, however the extreme slickness will provide all the protection that is required for users with good technique. Shaves with Mystic Water are comfortable, quick, and effortless. Better still, whether or not you get a great shave (when I was first using the soap in my hard water, I had some nicks partly due to the water but also due to my lathering technique), the exceptional post-shave feel will ensure that your results are flawless and comfortable.

Post-shave feel and look: The post-shave qualities of this soap are the reason why I believe this soap deserves a special mention, despite not being a "luxury" soap. Probably due to the very clean and deliberately conditioning ingredients list, post-shave feel is one of the best on the market. Particularly with the Sensitive Skin formula, my face always feels heavily moisturized and deeply conditioned, and my complexion looks great. If you haven't yet tried this soap, give it a shot for the post-shave qualities alone.

If I wake up in the morning with some irritation and/or dry skin issues, I reach for Mystic Water Sensitive formula. Even with a rushed shave, it solves those issues quickly, completely, and without fail. I don't know what is responsible for this quality, but the artisan deserves credit for producing one of the most heavily moisturizing and conditioning soaps on the market. This is truly great stuff that will be of help to many folks with problem skin.

Out of the available formulas, the Sensitive Skin formula and the regular formula (with lanolin) are my favorite. The Sensitive Skin formula is more heavily moisturizing and conditioning for my skin, but the lanolin formula also provides a good level of moisture that goes beyond a neutral skin look/feel. If you are inclined to order samples, I'd recommend that you include the Sensitive formula along with (perhaps) the Bay Rum with lanolin. To me these produce a noticeably different skin feel and look, but both are very enjoyable.

Who might like this product: Users that prefer simple/natural formulas with tallow. Lovers of slickness. Folks who want to try a quality soap with an emphasis on post-shave feel. The price point is great and the samples accessible, and Michelle of Mystic Water is one of the kindest and most responsive artisans in the business (a huge plus in my book).

Who might not like this product: If you have oily skin and don't like strong moisturizing/conditioning properties because they feel heavy on your face, avoid the Sensitive formula and go with the regular formula with lanolin. Also, as a fragrance lover, many of the scents weren't my style and didn't blow me away. Don't be afraid to try the sample service, but if you want to buy a full size puck without trying others, stick with the flavor suggestions of veteran users.

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Thanks for reading gents! If you have any comments or suggestions on the format of this review, please let me know.

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My next review will be on Antica Barbieria Colla soap.

Great review for Mystic Water. I have been enjoying Cuppa Joe, the only scent I have so far but I'm sure I will try more eventually.

Thanks Hobbyist! I still need to try that scent. There are a few standouts for me, and I really enjoy the post-shave feel. I'm big on having a tailored rotation, but Mystic Water has earned a spot .

I'm sort of confused. When one talks about luxury soaps, the first one that comes to my mind is Martin de Candre, yet I didn't see it mentioned until page 4. If you haven't tried it, I would definitely suggest it. It's true that you have to order it from France, but it's worth it to pay the shipping if you buy more than one at a time.

@Uzi Martin de Candre Fougere is a great soap and one of my favorites (it also happened to be my previous review). It's definitely a staple in my collection due to its great performance and wonderfully cleansing post-shave feel, but it's the classy vibe of the scent, the elegance of the packaging, and the overall experience that makes it a luxury-class product. Great stuff!

Thanks for your comment .

Boingo I don't know if I will review CRSW, but after trying all 3 formulas, I find their offerings to be massively overrated (and oddly, V1 seems to perform better than V2 for me). Especially in the area of fragrance, the scents are nowhere near the quality of B&M. Oliva is probably the best of the bunch, and in my opinion it is inferior to Glissant in performance, at least with my skin and technique. YMMV of course.

+1

Boingo I don't know if I will review CRSW, but after trying all 3 formulas, I find their offerings to be massively overrated (and oddly, V1 seems to perform better than V2 for me). Especially in the area of fragrance, the scents are nowhere near the quality of B&M. Oliva is probably the best of the bunch, and in my opinion it is inferior to Glissant in performance, at least with my skin and technique. YMMV of course.

+1

I think they are good soaps but they did not work well for me. Love their presentation and the size of the tins. But so far i have tried 5 (classic tallow, 2 v1 selects and 2 v2 selects) and sold 4. The one i will keep is a v1 and I love the scent (puro fresco). I might give them another shot down the road but my den is pretty stocked right now.

Hi, I enjoy your reviews and since you ask for suggestions on your footnote: I follow a review on another forum and the OP has a list of the reviewed products with the final rate, current product being tested and next product on the list. I fund that very useful; particularly for those not following the entire review process. It helps answering questions before hand.

lloydrm I appreciate the detailed recommendations! The only reason why I don't place final ratings on the end note is because I plan on doing a roundup at the end, where I will list all the ratings and will give special "awards" for being exceptional in certain categories. Do you think I should provide a list anyway, even though I am doing a roundup?

Also, I am done with my testing (for the most part), and the only thing left is to write the reviews. Of course I'd be happy to let folks know what product I will be reviewing next. To that end, my next review will be on Antica Barbieria Colla soap.

I'll do my best to remember to include this information after each review. Thanks much for the helpful suggestions .

EDIT: I have updated the previous review to include information on my next review.

Thanks for another great review, Peter and you are doing a wonderful job!