If only one: Honeybee Spa Eucalyptus Also in the rotation: Proraso VdH Select There are, of course, others that see duty on occasion. - Richard
My new favorite is the Institut Karité Extra Gentle Shaving Soap from Rasage Poulin. I won a round of this excellent soap in the December (or was it November? I forget) newbie giveaway. It was the last soap I got around to, don't know it just looked special so I saved it for last. All the soaps I enjoyed very much Kudos to TSD, Susies Bubbles and Gingers Garden, they were all excellent. The first thing I found out about the Institut Karite is that you can't melt it in the microwave, it got hot but would not melt. Second thing I found was that it likes a little more water than my other soaps and the third thing was that I believe this puck of soap is going to last forever. After a week of shaving I could still read the imprint of the name on the top of the bar, now after two weeks it's barely gone. Fourth thing I found was that with my cheapie VDH boars hair brush I barely have to touch the top of the soap before a big whopping lather jumps up at me! This is absolutely wonderful stuff and it's got a nice smell to it as well. I'm not a big fan of 'perfumie' smelling soaps, I like soap that smells like soap and or a barber shop smell if you know what I mean. The Institut Karité has a very low key but nice gentle fragrance that I love along with it's rich creamy lather. I'm pretty cheap and don't like the idea of spending $15 on a soap when I get good results from and like the VDH (Pink puck) soap for a buck fifty. But as long as the IK seems to be lasting and the way it lathers up I'm thinking of ordering another bar. I just love this stuff.
Right now I am leaning hard towards MWF, but I have a hard time letting go of my mamabears soaps, they are trury wonderful, but then again so are my Honeybee Sue soaps... So many soaps, and only one shave per day..
Believe it or not, my favorite soap is the Shave Den Soap. I have had Trumpers and Pre de Provence and TSD Soap beats them hands down. I find Trumpers drying and find that the lather is not all that slickery. PdP lathers well and is moisturizing but has a somewhat offensive scent. TSD soap smells fantastic, produces a copious amount of lather and is very slick...perfect for a BBS shave. Best of all, it is only $6.99!
I used to say Dr. Harris Arlington, but it's the only soap I've ever tried so that opinion might change pretty fast, esp. since I have the HUGE Newbie GiveAway pack incoming with a soap from just about every maker on here, which all seem to be amongst the top.
Only saying VDH now because that and Williams are the only ones I've tried so far. Tomorrow's day one of Col Conk bay rum.
My top 4 - no particular order: Tabac, Speick, GFT: Rose, MB: Awakenings. However, there are many soap makers that I still haven't tried...
Proraso by far it gives a great lather that is slick and cooling. Arko stick would be my second choice. Third would be Mama Bears Bay Rum.
In categories: Cheap, very, very cheap soaps: Monsavon and La Toja shaving stick. Unbelievable creamy lather for both soaps Medium price range soap: Tabac - what else (Nespresso, what else? ) Expensive soap: I don't own any
I unabashedly endorse Mama Bear's soaps. Scent for everybody. My favorites Rosemary Mint, Hydrogen, and Rosewood.:happy108
