What soap/cream did you use today?

Vétyver v. (Martin de Candre) bright vetiver

If this isn't my favorite soap, it's certainly among the top five. What makes Vétyver so likable? First, it's cheap. Martin de Candre will give me three passes for just over seven cents. That's better than just about every other soap in my stable. Admittedly, a full 200g jar is a little steep up front, but in the long run this super dense soap is the bean counter's choice. 

Next, Martin de Candre is lean. For years I've favored soaps rich with superfats, lanolin, and exotic emollients because at first they give such a plump finish. I'm discovering lately, though, that these rich lathers often over hydrate my hide, leading to irritation the next day. I'm starting to favor simple, lean suds that may be drying at first but eventually allow my skin to balance out. Anyway, here on the beach, I get plenty of hydrofaction from the sea breeze, so I don't need much in my soap. 

What's more, Vétyver smells fantastic. A clean bright note of bergamot graces an immaculate vetiver that's interesting enough to use every day, but not so strong as to annoy after three or four shaves. Vétyver offers a bright tempting scent that can easily lure me from my slumbers even on the grayest morning. 

And finally, the presentation is perfect. I like the feel of the heavy plastic jar. It's unique, easy to spot, and stacks without any problems. The aperture is wide enough for my best brushes, and there are labels both on the top and the side, each sporting an elegant typeface. Martin de Candre projects quality without sliding into glamour. There aren't any gilt hood ornaments, Latin inscriptions, or opera windows. It's just a very well built soap laden with excellent ingredients and excellent value. Oh, and Vétyver gives me a really, really good shave every time.

Exactly.

Really Great review... I mean, SOTD!

MDC does all this with just a few simple ingredients...which means they're high quality and are used with the right knowledge/process.

Don't need 20 skin butters and milks to get a great shave, and MDC has never dried me out.

Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux La Quatrieme Ville

Floris Santal shaving cream (vintage), wonderful stuff

CBL Balsamic Oud

I picked up this NOS Williams soap in Texas about a year ago. Or maybe it was Missouri.  Which ever state it was, this soap is a traveler.  The past little while I have been paying more attention to a soaps finish.  Is it plump or is it dry or is it somewhere in between?  In all reality I don't care how a soaps post shave is because I follow up with some sort of post-shave product anyway.  All I really want a soap to do is perform its duties by offering to be a carrier of water and offer slickness and cushion.  This soap delivers and in fact delivers very well.  Easy to load and lather.  The scent is all but gone but I still get a sense of nostalgia using a soap that may well be,older than me.  It seems to hearken back to my Pop and Grandpas standing in front of a sink and working up a lather from a soap they got as a Christmas present but was not opened until July because they already had a puck of Williams in the mug.  They had 7 people sharing this bathroom so there were no cupboards filled with brushes.  No racks of razors.  No drawers of soaps.  Just that mug of Williams, a boar brush, and a Superspeed sitting next to it.  And hidden behind the mirror was a bottle of Old Spice.  Not the sissy watered down version of today, but a true many scent that'd get him through the day.  Yep, I like breaking out the old stuff but wouldn't do so unless it was a good option.  Oh, and the finish?  It was just a touch tight but much better to me than modern Williams.

Vétyver v. (Martin de Candre) bright vetiver

If this isn't my favorite soap, it's certainly among the top five. What makes Vétyver so likable? First, it's cheap. Martin de Candre will give me three passes for just over seven cents. That's better than just about every other soap in my stable. Admittedly, a full 200g jar is a little steep up front, but in the long run this super dense soap is the bean counter's choice.

The aperture is wide enough for my best brushes, and there are labels both on the top and the side, each sporting an elegant typeface. Martin de Candre projects quality without sliding into glamour. There aren't any gilt hood ornaments, Latin inscriptions, or opera windows. It's just a very well built soap laden with excellent ingredients and excellent value. Oh, and Vétyver gives me a really, really good shave every time.

You do this kind of stuff on purpose don't you?  MdC cheap?  Well you are the one that keeps the spreadsheet so I'm trusting you on that front.  I do love the scent.  I enjoy the performance.  And like you, I've been watching super fatted soaps but for a totally different reason. I see reports of soaps going "off" and all I've seen have a higher fraction of free oils.  I have never heard of an old Williams puck that was off or moldy.  Wonder if there is a correlation because if there is you better guess more soaps are going in the garage fridge.  So go ahead and turn in your sales report.  I'm hunting for a MdC Vetiver now.

A&E Asian Plum

I think I read somewhere that when Chris Cullen started making soap he was striving to make a short ingredient list soap that was clean and performed like Martin de Candre.  Well, in my eyes he did that very well.  Exceptional though is his ability to make masculine  scents with broad appeal.  Everyone has had, currently has, or should procure his Piment de la Vie.  This soap was the first one I ran into that said “things have changed”.  Pure awesomeness.  Today's soap, La Terre Verte may be even better!  Scent strength is a stout 9/10 that lingers post shave.  This is a fougere like few fougeres can pull off.  Mighty pleasing scent that most of the ladies in our lives would like too.  As for performance, Caties always seems to be just a tic better on closeness than most others.  Post feel is very nice. So why the name "Caties Bubbles"?  To honor his daughter.  (Good job dad!)

You sir are an enabler. Nice post. Love lpv

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