Clay Face
Honolulu, Hawaii
2017 was the year of a hundred soaps. As I worked my way through dozens of pucks and samples, I noticed that each gave me at least a very good shave, but some clearly had something special to offer, and I returned to them many times. Below is my list of the ten soaps I used most in 2017. They're ranked by the number of times I reached for them.
1. No. 88 (Czech & Speake) - Deep, dense cushion and a beguiling old rose scent made this the soap I chose the day after a shave got a little too close.
2. Stella Alpina (Saponificio Varesino) - A gorgeous citrus and eucalyptus scent combined with a smooth finish worked wonders on groggy mornings.
3. Tundra Artica (Saponificio Varesino) - The rose and oud accord is a classic, rich but restrained. The lather is slightly lighter than other SV soaps, but still sufficient to give an excellent shave.
4. Juniper (Cold River Soap Works) - The scent of fresh juniper works all year round for me, and the thick suds make for a carefree shave.
5. Cade Soap (L'Occitane) - This soap is indestructible. It's going on its fourth year.
6. Le Grand Chypre (Barrister & Mann) - I'm not sure I love the lime in this chypre, but it lasts only a few minutes, while the labdanum and oakmoss linger blissfully for hours.
7. Rosa Bourbon Tallow (Eufros) - My favorite Sunday soap, Rosa Bourbon smells utterly divine. It's the truest rendition of a rose among all the soaps I've tried.
8. Fougère (Martin de Candre) - A complex medley of herbal notes make this my favorite fougère. The scent is deep, rich, and always interesting. I wish the soap offered better cushion, though.
9. Marrakesh (Mystic Water) - This smells so groovy. The patchouli and cinnamon take me back decades. The lather is among the finest, and the finish is as dewy as your garden on a spring morning.
10. basique (Grooming Dept) - This would probably be closer to the top of this list if it had come out in January. Grooming Dept soaps are among the best on my shelf, both for their complex scents and for their exceptionally soft finish. If I had to retire every soap but one, basique would be my keeper.
1. No. 88 (Czech & Speake) - Deep, dense cushion and a beguiling old rose scent made this the soap I chose the day after a shave got a little too close.
2. Stella Alpina (Saponificio Varesino) - A gorgeous citrus and eucalyptus scent combined with a smooth finish worked wonders on groggy mornings.
3. Tundra Artica (Saponificio Varesino) - The rose and oud accord is a classic, rich but restrained. The lather is slightly lighter than other SV soaps, but still sufficient to give an excellent shave.
4. Juniper (Cold River Soap Works) - The scent of fresh juniper works all year round for me, and the thick suds make for a carefree shave.
5. Cade Soap (L'Occitane) - This soap is indestructible. It's going on its fourth year.
6. Le Grand Chypre (Barrister & Mann) - I'm not sure I love the lime in this chypre, but it lasts only a few minutes, while the labdanum and oakmoss linger blissfully for hours.
7. Rosa Bourbon Tallow (Eufros) - My favorite Sunday soap, Rosa Bourbon smells utterly divine. It's the truest rendition of a rose among all the soaps I've tried.
8. Fougère (Martin de Candre) - A complex medley of herbal notes make this my favorite fougère. The scent is deep, rich, and always interesting. I wish the soap offered better cushion, though.
9. Marrakesh (Mystic Water) - This smells so groovy. The patchouli and cinnamon take me back decades. The lather is among the finest, and the finish is as dewy as your garden on a spring morning.
10. basique (Grooming Dept) - This would probably be closer to the top of this list if it had come out in January. Grooming Dept soaps are among the best on my shelf, both for their complex scents and for their exceptionally soft finish. If I had to retire every soap but one, basique would be my keeper.
Member
AZ
1. Stirling Sharp Dressed Man
2. Stirling Executive Man
3. Mystic Waters Irish Traveller
4. WSP Formula T Gaelic Tweed
5. Stirling Sandpiper
6. Stirling Dunshire
7. WSP Formula T Ol' Kentucky
8. WSP Formula T Matterhorn
9. WSP Formula T Mahogany
10. Route 66 Bourbon Jungle
There are quite a few others that I love the scents, but the performance can't match these. I've also discovered that I love the performance of B&M, but I haven't yet found a scent of theirs that I love.
2. Stirling Executive Man
3. Mystic Waters Irish Traveller
4. WSP Formula T Gaelic Tweed
5. Stirling Sandpiper
6. Stirling Dunshire
7. WSP Formula T Ol' Kentucky
8. WSP Formula T Matterhorn
9. WSP Formula T Mahogany
10. Route 66 Bourbon Jungle
There are quite a few others that I love the scents, but the performance can't match these. I've also discovered that I love the performance of B&M, but I haven't yet found a scent of theirs that I love.
Garrett, The Shaving Disciple - Christian, Husband, Father, Writer, YouTuber, Head Shaver
2024 Software Restraint
2024 Software Restraint
Administrator
Philadelphia, PA
(01-05-2018, 10:16 AM)feston Wrote: Man, and I haven't used 10 soaps yet...
http://www.maggardrazors.com/
Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.
Member
(01-05-2018, 10:18 AM)andrewjs18 Wrote:(01-05-2018, 10:16 AM)feston Wrote: Man, and I haven't used 10 soaps yet...
http://www.maggardrazors.com/
Thanks. I appreciate their affordable shipping policy. Besides, their assortment is probably the best out there. That's why I will order from them in the future.
I've been using soaps one by one, 3-4 per year in total. And I'm purchasing them mostly on sale/promotion.
Btw, my favorites are Institut Karite Shea Soap and SV Dolomiti.
Member
1) Cold River Soap Works Glide - Olfactory Hue
2) Cold River Soap Works Glide - Fragile Confusion
3) Jabonman Eufros - Rosa Bourbon
4) Cold River Soap Works Select - Citrus
5) Mikes - Hungarian Lavender
6) Martin de Candre - Fougere
7) Cold River Soap Works Select - Juniper
8) Jabonman Eufros - Kabash
9) Mikes - Vetiver & Black Pepper
10) Saponoficio Varesino - Tundra
From a performance standpoint only, it's CRSW Glide!
2) Cold River Soap Works Glide - Fragile Confusion
3) Jabonman Eufros - Rosa Bourbon
4) Cold River Soap Works Select - Citrus
5) Mikes - Hungarian Lavender
6) Martin de Candre - Fougere
7) Cold River Soap Works Select - Juniper
8) Jabonman Eufros - Kabash
9) Mikes - Vetiver & Black Pepper
10) Saponoficio Varesino - Tundra
From a performance standpoint only, it's CRSW Glide!
Member
1. Phoenix & Beau – Albion
2. Mike’s - Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper
3. Grooming Dept - After The Fire
4. Phoenix & Beau - Spitfire
5. Mickey Lee - Jefferson Square
6. Tabac from Germany
7. Valobra - Fougere
8. Saponoficio Varesino – Felce Aromatica
9. Mickey Lee - Colonia Di Agrumi
10. B&M – Cool
Something like this
2. Mike’s - Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper
3. Grooming Dept - After The Fire
4. Phoenix & Beau - Spitfire
5. Mickey Lee - Jefferson Square
6. Tabac from Germany
7. Valobra - Fougere
8. Saponoficio Varesino – Felce Aromatica
9. Mickey Lee - Colonia Di Agrumi
10. B&M – Cool
Something like this
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