The very best luxury soaps/creams, money no object

I have only tried one of the original SV soaps ages ago and I can't even remember which one. I didn't think it was that good and never got round to buying anymore. This one drew me in with its fantastic looks more than anything and I liked the sound of the scent. Turns out it's a very nice soap, good performance and the post shave left my face feeling very good.

I will add this is the first aftershave of theirs I have used and it is very nice too

It's now on my list . I'd also be interested in trying the aftershave since it seems to have a nice ingredients list.

I applied the aftershave close to 24 hours ago and up until about midday today I could still smell it. It obviously stays on the skin for some time although it doesn't seem that strong to others around me...I asked....impressed with the longevity.

In addition to soap performance, it’s always nice to hear about aftershaves and their characteristics. Sounds like this one is worth placing on the shopping list. Thanks, WindsorCitrus!

Used Cosmo this morning. Unless overwhelmingly positive, it's tough to make a call with one use but first impressions:

The scent is solid if subtle; enjoy the coffee and it has the peppery quality that I have come to associate with SV blends in general.

Performance is good. Nice cushion as per usual however I find 4.2 to be a little light on slickness. Post shave is relatively good.

I would judge the new formula to be an improvement over previous iterations and give it a solid C+ to B-.

Will continue to revise impressions with further use of course.

PS the packaging is really cool!

Thanks for the impressions Kevin! Light on slickness? . Maybe that will change as you dial it in and learn the water ratios.

Thanks for the impressions Kevin! Light on slickness? . Maybe that will change as you dial it in and learn the water ratios.

Could be Peter although not all that unexpected based on previous experience. I did adjust the hydration throughout the shave/build and will keep playing around.

Regardless, a positive shave but would like a bit more thus far.

Keep you posted!

Gents, apologies for being sluggish on the review posts. My attention has been captured by a few other projects recently (my latest, a comparison between two similar high end boars, a Zenith and the Antica Barbieria Colla boar, can be found here), and consequently I have been very slow on these posts.

After acquiring a few small shipments of samples, I have also been testing a number of other artisan soap brands in more detail. If any of them turn out to be especially noteworthy in terms of performance, I may do a review soon.

Like many of you, I'm looking forward to hearing more on the Saponificio Varesino Cosmo in order to see if its worth purchasing and comparable in performance to many of the products mentioned in this thread.

Alas, I'm a slickness junkie.

Used Cosmo this morning. Unless overwhelmingly positive, it's tough to make a call with one use but first impressions:


I  ...  give it a solid C+ to B-.

I used Cosmo this morning and will try to give my thoughts. I don't do soap reviews so bear with me. Its just my opinion. kwsher is right. When I tried SMN, it just touched my face and I knew it was very, very good. It's hard to come up to that standard.

TL;DR C+ is generous

Scent of the tub is faint coffee to me, bloomed, a tiny bit less faint. Lathering was trivial. Lather "feel" was somewhat luxurious. Scent was faint coffee and something else. Not like Mystic Cuppa Joe which you knew was fresh brewed coffee but a faint European Latte? Hard to describe. It was there but barely. I might call it "sophisticated" but if so its WAY over my head to figure out. Scent strength was low. Strength dissipation was above average. In other words, it did not dissipate much while in use, just faint while other soaps might start strong but dissipate quickly.

IMO, cushion was subpar. My face is still sore. No cuts. Slickness was average. Residual slickness was average. I'm lazy I don't want to keep reapplying lather constantly. Some soaps you can go back over the same area of skin multiple times. Not so much with this one. Can't really comment on post shave because I used a balm instead of a splash.  No cuts, weeping, etc, just some rawness. I knew when the alum touched my face.Sure, its one use and sure, dialing it in might get better but I've done this before and rarely do I upgrade a score. Downgrade is usually the result. First impressions matter. The tin is pretty and dents easily. Don't drop it if you like tins.

Just my opinion. IMO there is no way this is in the same class as others in this thread. As usual, you might feel quite differently. Sorry Since this was my first SV, I WANTED to really love it. But I just can't see it in the same class of soaps as the others in this thread.

Thanks much for the detailed comments grim.

Ouch . I was really hoping for a massive improvement over the previous formula. They were on the right track with Tundra, which was said to be fairly slick (though lacking in cushion, I've read), but this doesn't sound like they improved on that formula.

I'm not sure I can enjoy this soap. The lather looks good, but I need my soaps to be quite slick or I get irritation.

Thanks much for the detailed comments grim.

Ouch . I was really hoping for a massive improvement over the previous formula. They were on the right track with Tundra, which was said to be fairly slick (though lacking in cushion, I've read), but this doesn't sound like they improved on that formula.

But read carefully about Tundra. http://www.saponificiovaresino.com/shop/...cts_id=137

The performances are balanced to improve the cutting depth. ... This film, once it resides on the skin, decreases the mechanical friction and has a protective action against the blade. While rinsing it off from the face, this film is very palpable on the hands.


cover the soap with boiling water for 5 minutes, school, save the "enhanced" water (a part of the film forming ingredients are contained within it) to use it to moisten your face, before lathering,

It's meant for the straight razor crowd and yeah, there is no way, no how, am I going to boil water and put it on top for 5 minutes Seriously?

Don't let my experience stop anyone from trying anything, I just don't think its in the class of the ones you have gone over - not in my experience.

Sounds like we are of a similar perspective grim . I think it a "nice to have around soap" and will continue to work on dialing it in but it is not an exponential improvement over the previous versions from my experience. Although I generated a relatively thick lather with decent cushion, it just didn't have the slickness of other contemporaries, particularly in this price band.

I have been using a SE razor this week so next time I try I will give it a run with a DE and see the result(s).

From my experience SV doesn't deserve mention in this thread currently. I wouldn't even consider it until possibly beta 7.0. I'm my opinion it really needs that much work.

I'm also not a fan of paying to be a beta tester. Just my couple ¢.