On a Facebook Group, I did a PIF where people listed their top 5 favorite soaps. Here are some thoughts after tallying up the responses: * 110 soaps from 44 companies listed overall * 9 companies with 5 or more soaps mentioned (Barrister & Mann, Catie's Bubbles, Maggard Razors, Mike's Natural, Phoenix Artisan Accouterments, RazoRock, Soap Commander, Stirling, and Tiki) * Traditional Barbershop and Sandalwood scents were common * TOBS nearly shut out the competition as far as the traditional British brands (T&H got 1 mention to TOBS 9, 0 for GFT or DRH) Top Overall Soaps were: 1. RazoRock XXX 2. Catie's Bubbles Le Piment de la Vie (LPV) 3. Proraso/CO Bigelow Green 4. TOBS Sandalwood 5. Catie's Bubbles Quatre Cent Vengt (QCV) - tie 5. Cella - tie 5. RazoRock Zi Peppino - tie 5. Tabac - tie 9. Several soaps tied... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10IsNOpgQopO58eizzgPLJuKh7AXKEz1Hil9V5trgpqg/edit?usp=sharing
I can already sense that Stirling will make the list...a lot of loyal fans in this bunch. Great poll, I'm interested how well it will do here. I want to try that Zi Peppino as it has done well on various lists that I've seen before.
I have 3 of your soaps listed. I am surprised to see RR XXX at number 1. With all the buzz surrounding Caties Bubbles (LPV) I would have thought that would've been number 1. Interesting at number 9 Klar Kabinett, a discontinued hard to get soap. No mention of TSD? People are missing out on an exceptional soaps.
I didn't care for XXX, but really like SoZ from razorock. It's hard to snag some LPV...it's a hot soap right now.
I agree with what Will Carius of B&M said: each group and forum seems to lean toward certain soaps. Catie’s, RazoRock, and Phoenix Artisan seem to be more popular on Facebook. I plan to do a broader poll across all the forums, Reddit, Facebook groups, and Google+ groups.
Someone could be a member of all the forums, Facebook Groups, Google + and so on. I'm sure many people have multiple shaving forum accounts.
Same. I haven't tried a RazoRock soap where I liked the scent - and one of them caused my face to break out. They seem to perform pretty well though.
All 3 received votes, but not in the top 8. Only 13 soaps had more votes than MWF and Arko. I think Mystic Water could get more exposure if she participated more in the communities. Same for Strop Shoppe.
I use Cella a lot and have a few TOBS in my rotation that are wonderful. I go for more creams and never liked Sterling as it leaves a nasty residue on everything that is hard to get off. Castle Forbes is my all time favorite, and it's price may have kept it from getting more votes, if any.
Interesting results. Not sure how one product garners 2x, 5x, 10x those cast for other quality soaps—unless it happens to simply be beyond compare. XXX is a nice enough product, but from that list, I'd personally place it after Tabac, L'Occitane Cade, Le Pierre Lucien, and Cella. YMMV.
Not to disparage people's choices, mind you. It is, after all, just soap. But it is unusual to see 'one soap to rule them all'—considering getting wet-shavers to agree on any ONE product can be challenging. I've read positive comments about the RR XXX, but I've seen more positive noise made here for other brands (such as Stirling, MdC, Tabac and MWF). I suppose much has to do with the audience sampled.
