Wm Neumann's Old Fashioned Soda Shaving Cream

This arrived today. I ordered it after hearing Mantic praise the hell out of it on a podcast with Eric Hodges and his pals. If you can't trust Mantic….

I like to use a product several times before writing a review but I'm just too eager, so, having had my first shave with it, as they say in France, "iamunnini."

It's 8 ozs for $24 in a handsome bottle with a pump dispenser. The ingredient list is clean and natural though it contains some form of hydrolized silk so it's not vegan if that's an issue. 

The scent is a blast of root beer, birch beer, and sassafras. It smells like a really good ice cream soda. I happen to like the smell a lot, and it doesn't overstay its welcome so, after the hot then cold towel I use after shaving, very little scent is left to fight with your balm or aftershave. 

I have to digress here to note that it was hard to choose one of the scents Neumann lists, they all sound compelling. And the wonderful staff there had the smarts to send a pack of samples of all of their fragrances. And a bar of peppermint soap. Both freebies and both really welcome. And the scents I've sampled so far are terrific. 

Paul H's videos put me in the mood to bowl lather instead of face lathering, and three pumps of cream whipped with a bit of water and a Muhle HJM synthetic quickly produced a fantastic lather. Using a Feather AC with a Feather Pro blade on its 7th shave, I got a BBS shave with three passes and the usual touch ups. The lather offered wonderful cushion and good slickness. The postshave face feel was excellent. 

I would put this slightly ahead of my St James cream and my DR Harris as far as slickness and cushion. It also reinforced my respect for Kiss My Face shave cream as the performance is about the same as the KMF, which is about one-fifth the price of this, but the scent far outdoes KMF for novelty and strength; KMF scents are very mild. But the ingredient lists for each are strikingly similar, remarkably similar.

At $3 per oz it's a bit more than some soaps but I can't quibble and I'm eager to stock up on some of the other scents, like Heartwood, which I had tried once when a friend gave me a sample, but the sample was tiny and I didn't think it fair to judge. 

I understand why Mantic loves this.

I've been tempted ever since I tried some of their aftershaves. The 1907 was very nice.

I've been tempted ever since I tried some of their aftershaves. The 1907 was very nice.

The 1907 is excellent, might be my next order. And I have to place an order with you as well 

I'm surprised that these Neumann soaps get to little attention on the forums, far as I can tell, particularly with a Founding Father praising them.

I own 1911 and Heartwood splashes and both are classy scents.

And I agree, they should be more popular ... but I'm not aware of a vendor that carries them??? That's the issue ... IMO.

Any other opinions on the different WM Neumann products and scents?

I haven't read a single review critical of this brand but for some reason it gets very little play around the internet. Any idea why?

I am hesitant to drop $24 for this product without further input, although the old fashioned soda sounds tempting. I tried TTFFC Power Hammer which smells a bit like Root Beer and enjoyed it.

I've got 1911, Heartwood, 1907, Old Fashioned Soda and Absolute Zero shaving creams, and aftershave splashes in 1911, Heartwood, 1907 and Absolute Zero. The splashes are my four favorites (out of my 60 or so), but my five Floids are mighty close and a lot cheaper. The five creams are my overall best performers, although XPEC, MdC, Esbjerg, Baume.be, Castle Forbes and Meissner Tremonia shaving paste are tough contenders. I only use one squirt of Wm Neumann cream to create mounds of great lather. The bottles are big, and last a long, long time.

I've always wanted to try Neumann; it's nice to read positive reviews from people whose opinions I trust. (Maybe I'm cynical, but when a blogger who sells ad space on his website 'praises the hell' out of a product, I'm less likely to buy it.)

I've always wanted to try Neumann; it's nice to read positive reviews from people whose opinions I trust. (Maybe I'm cynical, but when a blogger who sells ad space on his website 'praises the hell' out of a product, I'm less likely to buy it.)

I get this. I also get there's a bit of bandwagonism on these boards. I've learned to listen carefully to like-minded posters for buying advice. My initial purchase of Neumann was a bit of an adventure because there was relatively little information available on their products (as there is today).

I own products that are heavily evangelicized on these boards. Some are good, and some aren't (without naming names). Part of the reason I like Neumann products (if I want to psychoanalyze myself) is that that they fly a bit under the radar. I'm not shy about speaking about them, including their fault (which is that they're a bit pricey). Nonetheless, I have three unopened bottles of Neumann shaving cream in reserve for when I empty my first bottle.

I have the Neumann 1911 soap as well. It has a strong scent, cologne-like [supposedly old recipes discovered from family member who was an old time apothecary in the Washington DC area].

The scent itself is very interesting to me; I normally don't wear cologne etc. and this has that type scent but it is definitely "old school". It has elements of citrus, sandalwood and vanilla. No note really forward, more balanced.

Performance is good if not great. Can be a little finicky on the load and water but easy to dial in and once you do offers a decent, protective shave. Fair cushion and good slickness.

Post shave is in the good range as well.

I have had the tub for quite a while but at the time they did send samples of all their AS as well which I thought were good and pleasant to use too.

Overall, I keep it around because it is a very unique scent.

I get this. I also get there's a bit of bandwagonism on these boards. I've learned to listen carefully to like-minded posters for buying advice. My initial purchase of Neumann was a bit of an adventure because there was relatively little information available on their products (as there is today).

I own products that are heavily evangelicized on these boards. Some are good, and some aren't (without naming names). Part of the reason I like Neumann products (if I want to psychoanalyze myself) is that that they fly a bit under the radar. I'm not shy about speaking about them, including their fault (which is that they're a bit pricey). Nonetheless, I have three unopened bottles of Neumann shaving cream in reserve for when I empty my first bottle.

Thanks. Good input. I get the jumping on the bandwagon thing. It doesn't mean the products being pushed any good. I've found that mostly it just means they are dirt cheap. However, the same is true for the high end stuff. Some people push certain high end products as being elixirs from above and I found that all the pushing has made them disappointing to me when they didn't meet the standards and praise by those reviewing them.

I have the Neumann 1911 soap as well. It has a strong scent, cologne-like [supposedly old recipes discovered from family member who was an old time apothecary in the Washington DC area].

That's good input. I'm not to thrilled about cologne type scents, like TOBS Sandalwood is perfume like to me despite it being popular.