What soap/cream did you use today?

Noxzema Sensitive shaving cream. It has a pleasant fragrance and makes good lather, but I have others I prefer, so I am going to PIF it.

Tallow & Steel Sicily

Elvado Lake of the Woods Shaving Cream

Uncle Jon's Tahitian Dream

How do you like the scent and performance of this one? I find this and Pipe Smoke to be the most intriguing offerings by a soapmaker whose products I haven’t yet tried.

Patchouli (Turtleship) ★★★★☆ patchouli, vetiver, juniper

Korean turtle ships were covered with a metal deck to repel enemy arrows, bullets, and cannonballs. Protection was their prime virtue, and that dedication to defense has been carried over into today's soap. Since it was quite soft, Turtleship loaded quickly and easily, and took little effort to create a dense emulsion. Its shiny, slick lather tamed the edge of a new blade and gave excellent, comfortable shaves. From time to time I wondered if the razor was loaded, the glide was so smooth. It smells mostly of good, dark, earthy patchouli given some rootiness by a healthy dose of vetiver and a pinch of juniper. Altogether some very happy shaves and a soap I look forward to revisiting.

Bouki, I continue to immensely enjoy your reviews. The one of Noble Otter’s The Trail makes me want to buy it at once! Also, I loved these sentences from your review of Tallow + Steel Morocco: “Only Stirling's holocaustic Texas on Fire comes close to matching it. I detect no top notes, not even any rose, which is mentioned on the label.” That is a great description of Texas on Fire, and I also agree that the rose is difficult if not impossible to find in Morocco, which I otherwise truly enjoy.

If I may — why “only” four out of five stars for Turtleship Shave Co. Patchouli? I’m interested in that one, so appreciate anyone who can tell me about it (as of course you already did in your review — just curious as to what may have led to the docking of one star).

Ballenclaugh Soaps Vanderpool

After I aired out this strongly-scented soap when I first got it a couple of years ago, I’ve had nothing but love for it. The pure leather scent is now at a level that I find perfect — still strong, but not overwhelming. And performance is ridiculously good! Today, Chris (the artisan behind Ballenclaugh Soaps) said that he is considering bringing Vanderpool back. I hope he does.

Sapone Di Paolo - Pulito

Bouki, I continue to immensely enjoy your reviews. The one of Noble Otter’s The Trail makes me want to buy it at once! Also, I loved these sentences from your review of Tallow + Steel Morocco: “Only Stirling's holocaustic Texas on Fire comes close to matching it. I detect no top notes, not even any rose, which is mentioned on the label.” That is a great description of Texas on Fire, and I also agree that the rose is difficult if not impossible to find in Morocco, which I otherwise truly enjoy.

If I may — why “only” four out of five stars for Turtleship Shave Co. Patchouli? I’m interested in that one, so appreciate anyone who can tell me about it (as of course you already did in your review — just curious as to what may have led to the docking of one star).

Hi, Matt! Good to see you back. You ask, Why didn't Turtleship Patchouli earn five stars? The scent was very good, the price and availability were excellent, it protected my skin from the blade like a coat of Teflon, and it made a rich lather without any effort. The only thing I thought was lacking was an outstandingly plump finish. It didn't leave me taut and dry, but at the same time, it didn't give me that deep moisturfaction that my favorite soaps do. My skin's naturally dry, so I'm especially sensitive to this part of a soap's performance.

Four stars is not a knock, though. In fact, I'd be happy to have a full tub of Turtleship Patchouli on my shelf. The scent is very agreeable, and a dab of balm rectifies the dryness I experienced.

Please keep up with your photos and soap notes, too You're an engine of good will, and you make contributing to this forum happy and rewarding!

T&S Madagascar

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