How do you create your soap "rotation"?

So...I currently have around 17 soaps and a few more are in the mail. I am working towards eventually having my top ten high performance soaps/creams on my shelf and ditching the rest...and then creating a rotation of the ten so that no single soap feels ignored. How do you establish your soap rotation?

 

I'm on constant search for inspiration.
sometimes I troll the sotd posts, sometimes I feel like a certain scent. sometimes I participate in fun themes( menthol Monday, tobacco Tuesday).
sometimes the razor choice influences the soap selection. I like the lather consistency with soap commander. so, when I use a straight,I normally pick a sc to go with it.
if I were more organized, someone would post something that I'd have to have and throw it all off.
I use a different one every day, but they're not in a set rotation.

 

I keep a hard rotation. That is I don't deviate unless I'm going on vacation, I take just two soaps with me.

As soon as I get a new soap I use it for my next shave, then it goes to the end of the rotation line.

Occasionally I do have to rearrange as soaps get used up (still have 30 something). Then I try to keep my similar scents apart. For example I have about six different brands of sandalwood. I put a few soaps between each one.

 

No set rotation for me, I'm inspired by other members SOTD, or from past experience. I'll rarely use a soap/cream back to back mornings.

 

I usually have a plan for a couple days but if I open the cabinet and something strikes my fancy I go with it. Kind of planned chaos. Same with brushes and razors. I have a plan and then use something different.

 

I use a lot of samples and pucks and store them in matching ziplock screw top tubs so it's easy to stack them and take from the bottom of the "tower" of soaps and put the previous weeks soap on top of the stack. Sometimes I might pull from the middle but you don't know what you are going to get till its drawn. It's fun to revisit soaps.

 

This is an interesting thread, and it's fun seeing how everyone creates their own soap and cream rotation.

More than anything else, my goal (inspiration?) is a close and comfortable two-pass shave using any product or item in my rotation.

Since I participate in the monthly "focus" threads, I usually stay with one or two soaps or creams for the month. Often, my impressions of a product will change if I use it for awhile. I usually begin to appreciate it more as I learn how to dial it in for the best shave. That holds true even when I go back to products I've had for awhile. I usually research products before I purchase them, so I expect them to perform well. I've only "given up" on one soap...and that was one I picked up on impulse.

YMMV

 

I'm struck by divine inspiration as I peruse my shaving soap shelf and one soap just calls out to me. 'Pick me...pick me' I hear it call...

 

Depends upon the mood I am in when I decide my other gear.

 

I sometimes go with theme shaves (menthol Monday, tobacco Tuesday, wool fat Wednesday, etc.) or other times I will pick one that i'm in the mood for. no set schedule is IMO part of the fun and variety of wet shaving.

 

I use the same soap for an entire month and move on to the next for the folowing month. July is Tabac and August will TSD soap and after that it will be PDP for September and then start again with the Tabac. For travel I have an Arko stick. No shaving creams.

Dave

 

That's me also. Just whatever tickles my fancy when I stand in front of the sink.

 

My wife read the thread and she has booked me an appointment with a psychologist. I don't know what the problem is...I thought everyone fretted about their soap rotation?

 

You mean they don't?

 

Yes, I understand...divine inspiration is pretty much how it has worked for me so far...and it seems to work fine...but my OCD has made up its mind to narrow the shaving soap world to 10 top performance soaps...and they are demanding a rotation...equal and fair treatment for all!

 

Do you find the Maca Root Shave Cream lathers well with a brush?

 

Nor to answer for Ryan, but the stuff lathers great!