What soap/cream did you use today?

For the sensitive among us, there is no crying in shaving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8cCDthsuk

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - Soap of the Day

Grooming Dept Mallard Kulfi

Captain's Choice / 45th Parallel

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Just back from Europe after a two month+ stay accompanied by Ethos Lavender in F as my only soap. I also used it as both a pre and post shave. My skin feels absolutely fantastic.
Now back in my home den today I went with one of my favorites…Eufros Jabonman Mediterraneo…it never disappoints!

Wow, that label is something as I am sure it quotes some of the negative reactions that Charkalis has gotten.  In fact, I have seen a few of them here on this forum.  I have never agreed with any of it.  I think he makes a high quality product and I enjoy the branding.  Unfortunately, his branding makes him a target and appears to engender a negative response from the overly sensitive.

I couldn't care less about the "sexist" labels. We could say the same thing about 95% of Corporate America's commercials in everyone's face on TV (being "feminist" (the other sexist) garbage). The clueless idiot, weak guy and his genius, logical, strong wife in every ad.
What bothers most people is their scents.
Personally, I've owned OVER THIRTY of their soaps because I love their base... hoping to find a few scents that smell natural/high quality... If I sold all the scents I don't like (and I'm in process now), I'd have ONE left. And even that one isn't great, it's just not a fragrance oil bomb.
Bases are top tier... Scents are not.
Why he'd make a soap label acknowledging that instead of correcting it is beyond me.
Just my observations... Not picking a fight. I everyone's posts.

I am with Neroli's opinion on this. Scents are fair but do remind of candle shops and Bed Bath & Beyond. Base is top tier. I have one I do really enjoy [tobacco Vanille cousin] - and have given away all others. I think i may have summer Fig still.  Ethos, DG, GD, Sir Henry and WK reign king for me on top tier scents&base. Omnibus is my dilemma. Favorite lather but scents don't ring my bell. Sorry for the ramble & highjacking our focus. Just a favorite subject for us puck nerds , right?

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I'm personally of the same mind about A&E:  for the most part, I find the scents to be overly fragrant and, to me, more often than not, cloyingly so.  There are a few that I do happen to like (in my case, Vacanza Romana and London Gin Club) but I've become discouraged from even trying more soaps because generally they aren't to my taste. And the aftershaves are almost always too cloying.   Which is why I've BST-ed most of the soaps and splashes I've ever bought.  A&E's Kaizen base, in all its iterations, however, is fantastic.  And that's precisely why I DID buy The Recipe.  It's unscented.  The benefit of the base and the chance to use whatever aftershave I want.

As for why Peter doesn't change his scents?  Probably because they've been working for him.  He's apparently expanded his market incredibly; A&E now makes soaps both in Connecticut and in the Philippines.  Seems to have increased vendors in Europe.  Even has a retail storefront in Connecticut.  I've no idea as to his sales and profits but from all outward indications, A&E would appear to be expanding and doing well.  And I wonder whether the strong scents are a function of the same kind of market that has driven me (at least) to dislike his label artwork, which is rather "edgy" (and sometimes looks like, to me, tattoos (my personal subjective read)).  Perhaps folks who are attracted to the artwork are also more accepting and liking of (what to me are) over-strong scents?

Dave in KY • Wednesday October 26, 2022


Thanks for sticking with this tub of Friday Night Lights! I'm really enjoying watching it disappear. I know this thread is all about variety, but from time to time it's encouraging to see the same soap day after day, slowly wasting away. You're on the heels of something beautiful here, Dave.

For the sensitive among us, there is no crying in shaving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8cCDthsuk

Just been posting here about a really really good base (Kaizen 2e).  However, for me GD Kairos SE is as good as it gets.