(This post was last modified: 01-17-2020, 09:16 PM by Lipripper660.)
I still don't know how to feel about a soap that costs $11 per oz. I can afford it, sure, but I have to wonder if a workaday chore like shaving ought to be dragged into the an upscale, high fallutin', fit-for-the-King type price range. That said, I obtained a sample of Martin de Candre Vetiver and really looked forward to shaving with an extreme-priced soap. First sniff did not impress me much but hey, I wasn't really after the scent anyway. I carved out an almond sized nob of soap and smeared it into a bowl. Generally I find samples perform better when I overload a brush and feel many soaps get bad reviews when sampled because of insufficient product. I loaded the whole nob and went to face lathering with a relatively dry synthetic. WOW! The scent that is obviously more than just vetiver, and which seemed meh off the sample, opened like few other soaps I have ever used! Floral top? Yep, I think so. A sharpness that I believe is likely oak moss? And the Vetiver……..! Oh my that vetiver! It is smoky for sure. Not Salters French Vetiver smoke but a very present smoke note which I really like. It's grassy. Duh. And there is the burnt rubber vibe that is reported to put many off this scent. Me? I love it. No, it doesn't smell like a riot downtown after the Pistons win the championship but it does have that high school kid in a Plymouth Roadrunner laying down black stripes on a country road vibe. Lather came easy and hearkened to Caties Bubbles but hey, no surprise as Mr. Cullen was attempting to make a working mans MDC when he whipped it up. High structure. Plenty of cushion and slickness. Offered a super shave that was close and comfortable. This lather goes into my “hug” category. No sting or burn or tingle or nothing. Excellent. Did I mention the scent? Mmmmm. Now this soap is a Steric and coconut oil base meaning it might have a dry finish AND its dry like toast. Dry finish is never a deal breaker for me because I'm going to use a post product anyway but I always give a new soap 30 minutes to “even out” post shave. This one I knew was going to leave me tight and when thirty minutes came my face was still ready for a Neil Peart drum solo (RIP Neil). A splash of Black Tie Razors Black Velvet splash righted the ship and kept the vetiver vibe going. So am I looking for a tub of MDC vetiver? My wallet is still deciding.