The very best luxury soaps/creams, money no object

Yep, not an overload of menthol (Proraso green is stronger, for example), but a good touch, like AdP.

Bvlgari Black doesn't strike me as tobacco- or amber-like, but more a combination of rubber, vanilla, and floral. It's a very distinct and compelling accord. If you have a chance to smell it again, I'd be curious to hear how you feel it compares to SMN. I do feel like there's a commonality there, interestingly. Either way, I enjoy the scents!

Ah sorry! I was thinking of Man in Black, which doesn't have tobacco listed but has that same sort of peppery amber/tonka vibe. In any case, I need to try Black again, clearly. I'll give it a shot next time I'm at the mall.

Nuavia and I Coloniali are the most luxury soaps I have. Their performance is outstanding and their scents just amazing!

Nice choices Fargo!

Czech & Speake, but I can't pick a winner over the two scents.

PannaCrema Nuavia

Overall Rating: 10/10

Packaging: One of the best in the business. The ceramic jars are solid, well made, properly painted, and logo-free! Simple and yet eminently classy. This is a luxury jar that will look great on any bathroom sink.

Olfactory impressions: There are currently two scents available - Blu and Rossa. Blu is my favorite (though they are both amazing) and the one that I chose to purchase. It is a peppery, ambered (and slightly floral) aromatic spicy fragrance. Rossa comes across as much darker to my nose, as it smells extremely woody and a bit oriental, as it has an oud/sandalwood vibe. In terms of quality, both scents are not only stronger than many other offerings on the market (without being overpowering or "too much), but they also smell like they use much higher quality ingredients than is the norm in shaving products. Unlike many products that are marketed using scent, these actually smell like luxury-class soaps, and one can tell this from the first sniff.

Performance characteristics: Nuavia is marketed as an all-in-one product that can work as a pre-shave, shaving soap, and aftershave. I admit that I was skeptical, but when I received the soap and used it for the first time, I realized that PannaCrema is not exaggerating one bit.

First, a word on the lather. The lather color is every so slightly off-white due to the brown color of the soap. Don't expect an ultra-dense, heavy, yogurt-like lather with Nuavia - it's simply not designed to produce such a texture. In many ways the lather texture is comparable to Barrister & Mann (Glissant base), which is an excellent tallow soap with a lather that looks and feels similar to Nuavia. Nuavia's lather is lightweight - not bubbly - but has a texture that comes across as unique and practical.

And from the moment the lather is applied to the skin, the effect is noticeable. It sinks in ever so slightly on my skin, moisturizing the surface and preparing the hairs for the shave. In-shave performance is one of the best in the business. Slickness, cushion, and protectiveness are all off the charts. I wouldn't say it is absolutely the best in each of these categories, but out of all the soaps I've tried, this one is one of the very few that manages to excel (as in, top 5) in every single performance category. This makes Nuavia one of the most versatile soaps available, as it always provides me with a fantastic shave and has something for everyone. Expect this soap to achieve a high rank in my final roundup.

Post-shave feel and look: If the "you can use this as an aftershave" marketing is any indication, post-shave feel is magnificent. I always slather my excess lather onto my face after the shave (while cleaning my razor), and it leaves my face moisturized all day and looking great! One might be able to skip an aftershave with this soap. I don't personally, as I enjoy using them, but my skin is noticeably improved after using Nuavia. My favorite part of this soap is that the moisturizing mechanism doesn't leave the face looking shiny or feeling at all heavy; instead it ensures that the face looks comfortably neutral while feeling healthy and moisturized.

Who might like this product: Almost everyone. Though I believe that shaving products are intensely personal and subjective, this is one soap that I don't hesitate to recommend to others. Its performance is fantastic - one of the best on the market. This is a true luxury soap in every category.

Who might not like this product: People who don't want to buy expensive products. Also, the scents that are currently available will be hit or miss. They are both beautiful, but cater more to people who like complex niche fragrances.

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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.

******

My next review will be on Barrister & Mann (Glissant base).

PannaCrema Nuavia

Overall Rating: 10/10

Packaging: One of the best in the business. The ceramic jars are solid, well made, properly painted, and logo-free! Simple and yet eminently classy. This is a luxury jar that will look great on any bathroom sink.

Olfactory impressions: There are currently two scents available - Blu and Rossa. Blu is my favorite (though they are both amazing) and the one that I chose to purchase. It is a peppery, ambered (and slightly floral) aromatic spicy fragrance. Rossa comes across as much darker to my nose, as it smells extremely woody and a bit oriental, as it has an oud/sandalwood vibe. In terms of quality, both scents are not only stronger than many other offerings on the market (without being overpowering or "too much), but they also smell like they use much higher quality ingredients than is the norm in shaving products. Unlike many products that are marketed using scent, these actually smell like luxury-class soaps, and one can tell this from the first sniff.

Performance characteristics: Nuavia is marketed as an all-in-one product that can work as a pre-shave, shaving soap, and aftershave. I admit that I was skeptical, but when I received the soap and used it for the first time, I realized that PannaCrema is not exaggerating one bit.

First, a word on the lather. The lather color is every so slightly off-white due to the brown color of the soap. Don't expect an ultra-dense, heavy, yogurt-like lather with Nuavia - it's simply not designed to produce such a texture. In many ways the lather texture is comparable to Barrister & Mann (Glissant base), which is an excellent tallow soap with a lather that looks and feels similar to Nuavia. Nuavia's lather is lightweight - not bubbly - but has a texture that comes across as unique and practical.

And from the moment the lather is applied to the skin, the effect is noticeable. It sinks in ever so slightly on my skin, moisturizing the surface and preparing the hairs for the shave. In-shave performance is one of the best in the business. Slickness, cushion, and protectiveness are all off the charts. I wouldn't say it is absolutely the best in each of these categories, but out of all the soaps I've tried, this one is one of the very few that manages to excel (as in, top 5) in every single performance category. This makes Nuavia one of the most versatile soaps available, as it always provides me with a fantastic shave and has something for everyone. Expect this soap to achieve a high rank in my final roundup.

Post-shave feel and look: If the "you can use this as an aftershave" marketing is any indication, post-shave feel is magnificent. I always slather my excess lather onto my face after the shave (while cleaning my razor), and it leaves my face moisturized all day and looking great! One might be able to skip an aftershave with this soap. I don't personally, as I enjoy using them, but my skin is noticeably improved after using Nuavia. My favorite part of this soap is that the moisturizing mechanism doesn't leave the face looking shiny or feeling at all heavy; instead it ensures that the face looks comfortably neutral while feeling healthy and moisturized.

Who might like this product: Almost everyone. Though I believe that shaving products are intensely personal and subjective, this is one soap that I don't hesitate to recommend to others. Its performance is fantastic - one of the best on the market. This is a true luxury soap in every category.

Who might not like this product: People who don't want to buy expensive products. Also, the scents that are currently available will be hit or miss. They are both beautiful, but cater more to people who like complex niche fragrances.

******

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

******

My next review will be on Barrister & Mann (Glissant base).

NeoXerxes --great review and thanks---I just received my tub of Rossa on Monday and have used it twice. I love it for all the reasons you explained above. My SWMBO did not particually like the scent,and it is strong,but I told her to get used to it as the shaving properties of this soap is off the charts and its going to be used a lot in my house.

Excellent Nuàvia review, NeoXerxes. That's an apt description of what makes these soaps so special. And while both scents are stronger than typical for shave soaps, I've never found them heavy or overbearing; they're both well-judged and very tastefully composed; both are more in line with high-quality fine fragrances than common shave soap/cream scents. Nobody needs Nuàvia to get a great shave done; what Nuàvia offers is a luxurious, pampering experience. It's an indulgence, but when that's what you're after, it really pays off.

Nice review NeoXerxes! I agree with you. I've mentioned this before, but Nuavia Rossa/Blu are my two favorite soaps in the world. They are truly tremendous products.

Thanks for reading gentlemen . Nuavia is an amazing product. There are very few game changers in the shaving world, but in my opinion this is one of them.