I'm obsessed too, then! I have a spreadsheet with the number of shaves on all the soaps that I currently have and use. When I finish one (which has only been one full size soap and several samples) or when I trade one or sell it then I'll move it to a different page. So I have a page of current use and then a page for ones that are ended.
I find it interesting. For example, I've shaved with Stirling Barbershop 28 times according to my spreadsheet. I bought the soap used and therefore don't know how much soap was in there. I didn't weigh it or anything. But, even after 28 shaves it looks as though the puck hasn't diminished at all. It's fun to see how long or how many shaves a soap lasts. Of course "shave" is a subjective term because we all load different amounts. But it's still fun to keep up with.
I have never counted swirls or seconds. I just look at the brush and load it until I judge it has enough soap loaded. I fully admit I use to much but if that's the worst thing then I am all good. I can honestly say, I have never failed to have enough lather. My hardest soap is MdC. I have used the MdC Fougere 48 times since it was new and have loaded it the same as my other soaps. Judging the amount used thus far, I should get at least 300-360 shaves from the jar.
I started the spreadsheet about 4 months into wet shaving about the time I started to get more stuff. I wanted to document which things I used the most and which I didn't. At least that was my excuse. My wife would say it is just justification for being obsessive. We all shave differently. Some do more or less passes, have harder or softer water, bigger or smaller brushes, faces etc. Even as fast as I use soap, I have enough on hand for 3 years of daily shaves. So I might as well try to use some up.
I always have too much. I wash good lather down the drain after each shave. Soaps last for SO long that I like to load up a good amount. I don't feel like I'm wasting it because we get so many shaves from one puck.
look at this, some of us are listing brands other than Rte 66 on the Rte 66 thread itself! I suppose I "staaaaated" it.
But it a balancing test really, Quality vs quantity. And Route 66 definitely tips the scales on the quality side.
by the way, when I list myself as a "Gillette Repeating Razor", it's because I use the same one every day-you know that, right?(course with the one I just received from @Dzia Dzia, that policy may change soon).
I agree. Route 66 soaps are fantastic quality. I am continually amazed at how easy the soaps are to lather, the slickness and the post shave feel. It is the one soap I would recommend to new shavers. I don't rank soaps as such but have 2 groups, Buy Again or Not Buy Again. Route 66 are one of the few that are in the Buy Again group.
I have been measuring since I was recently informed that I needed to work on my lathering technique when I said I used upwards of two grams to a shave, or that I used two grams as a number with which to estimate. I would say that my average has been 1.5 ish. As Clint said, a big dense knot can really chew it up, and I am essentially a four pass shaver if I want to hit everything ATG. I am not in the habit of milking my brush to get at the last pass worth of soap. Especially when you figure that even at my sometimes excessive loading of 2 grams, you are looking at 75 shaves to a tub. Even at $20 a tub, I am only spending .25 a day on soap.
