Who are your Top 10 Artisan Soapmakers?

Who are your Top 10 Artisan Soap makers when you consider all things.... Cost, Packaging, Customer Service, Reputation, Performance & Scent.

I'm still in the processing of figuring my list out but I'm interesting in seeing what you folks think.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

1. Dr. Jons
2. Barrister and Mann
3. Chiseled Face
4. Beaver Woodright
5. Razo Rock
6. Through the fire fine craft


I only listed six because frankly I no longer see a need to try new soap makers. These six I find to be better than anything else I have tried and it seems futile to try new soap when I find these six to be great and the scent offerings between these six is ample. I could shave for decades with just these six makers and not hit all their scents. The performance between number 1 to number 6 is so miniscule too that it's barely noticeable.

1. Dr. Jons
2. Barrister and Mann
3. Chiseled Face
4. Beaver Woodright
5. Razo Rock
6. Through the fire fine craft


I only listed six because frankly I no longer see a need to try new soap makers. These six I find to be better than anything else I have tried and it seems futile to try new soap when I find these six to be great and the scent offerings between these six is ample. I could shave for decades with just these six makers and not hit all their scents. The performance between number 1 to number 6 is so miniscule too that it's barely noticeable.

Gotcha. Nice choices.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've tried: Mike's, Stirling, Strop Shoppe, LA Shaving Soap, Mystic Water, Wholly Kaw, BDS, Barrister & Mann (white label), Maggard, Mama Bear, Ogallala, RazoRock, Soap Commander, and Red Leaf. The only ones I would buy again, in overall likelihood of repurchase, are:

1. Soap Commander - I could easily use nothing but SC from now on and not miss the others.
2. BDS - Available from Whipped Dog. It's the exception to the rule about olive oil shave soaps. I haven't tried Oliva.
3. Stirling - I like the big samples and variety of scents. Plus, Rod provides excellent service.
4. Mike's - I prefer Mike's over Stirling but the hit-and-miss inventory can be frustrating.
5. Mystic Water - Excellent but not as easy to use as the ones above; complicated order process.
6. B&M - As good as any tallow soap listed above but more expensive. I need to try Latha.

The others were either just not good soaps, good but not worth the price, or purchases where I received bad customer service.

Those behind these soaps:

B&M
LPL
Nuavia
Mike's
Jabonman
MW
CRSW
SV
SDM
SDV

In no particular order:

Nanny's Silly Soaps
Martin de Candre
Le Père Lucien
JabonMan
Mike's Natural Soaps
Savon des Volcans
La Savonnière du Moulin
Calani Seife
Saponem Opera (Semogue Shaving Soap)
Tabula Rasa

Of course, this list reflects not only my personal taste, but also my geographical location.
It's easier (and less expensive!) for me to get soaps from this side of the pond.

Sometimes, when getting a soap from an US-maker, shipping costs are a deal breaker. You pay more for the shipping cost than for the soap itself!

In no particular order:

Nanny's Silly Soaps
Martin de Candre
Le Père Lucien
JabonMan
Mike's Natural Soaps
Savon des Volcans
La Savonnière du Moulin
Calani Seife
Saponem Opera (Semogue Shaving Soap)
Le Père Lucien

Of course, this list reflects not only my personal taste, but also my geographical location.
It's easier (and less expensive!) for me to get soaps from this side of the pond.

Sometimes, when getting a soap from an US-maker, shipping costs are a deal breaker. You pay more for the shipping cost than for the soap itself!

Makes sense.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Who are your Top 10 Artisan Soap makers when you consider all things.... Cost, Packaging, Customer Service, Reputation, Performance & Scent.  

A holistic viewpoint to grading is certainly the way to go. Scent is entirely subjective. I feel Packaging is a ridiculous attribute as the package gets thrown in the trash. Customer service is certainly important. Since there is no objective measure or standardized means to rate things, this is going to be all over the place. For example, I'm not so sure how much Customer Service one can get from LPL. OTH, some local companies are much easier to contact and deal with. In any case.

Mystic Waters
Mikes Natural
Route 66
Soap Commander.


I'm not 100% sure of the definition of "artisan". I thought that meant a one person or very tiny shop. These 4 seem to meet that criteria. I'm not so sure of MdC and LPL but if they meet the definition of "artisan", then they go above (i.e., rated higher) those 4.

I'll add that 10 is way to high a number as, at least for me, I would not buy anything that low on a list. Top 3 might be more reasonable but thats just an opinion.

Who are your Top 10 Artisan Soap makers when you consider all things.... Cost, Packaging, Customer Service, Reputation, Performance & Scent.  

A holistic viewpoint to grading is certainly the way to go. Scent is entirely subjective. I feel Packaging is a ridiculous attribute as the package gets thrown in the trash. Customer service is certainly important. Since there is no objective measure or standardized means to rate things, this is going to be all over the place. For example, I'm not so sure how much Customer Service one can get from LPL. OTH, some local companies are much easier to contact and deal with. In any case.

Mystic Waters
Mikes Natural
Route 66
Soap Commander.


I'm not 100% sure of the definition of "artisan". I thought that meant a one person or very tiny shop. These 4 seem to meet that criteria. I'm not so sure of MdC and LPL but if they meet the definition of "artisan", then they go above (i.e., rated higher) those 4.

Fair points. At this stage of the game I'm not exactly sure what an artisan is as it applies to soap making myself. Generally, I take them at their word. If they say they're an artisan I go with it


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

1. Mystic Water
2. Nuavia
3. Jabonman/Eufros
4. Mike's
5. Cold River
6. Barrister & Mann
7. Shannon's
8. Haslinger
9. Le Pere Lucien