Happy Monday From Florida! So, over in the 2019 Traveling Box Thread, there is/was a puck of Penhaligon Blenheim Boquet Soap. I admit that I just could not wait for the box to come back to me so I could try the soap. Then I saw an opinion in the thread that Penhaligon had stopped making hard soap, I knew I needed to find some. So, I jumped on fleabay and grabbed an NOS puck of the soap, in a wooden bowl. When the soap arrived, I soaked a brush, shook out most of the water, swirled the brush on the puck four times and took the brush to my face. Wow! Just a few swirls and paints to the face and I was rewarded with some of the most creamy, gliding, slipping lather that I have ever had. The shave was phenomenal! Soooo anyway! Now that it appears Penhaligon soap is no more; what would be a close second? D R Harris perhaps? Dunno for sure, it is a triple milled soap from the same country (I think.) Help!
The trouble with Crabtree and Evelyn is that it's been through multiple reformulations. The original is great. The latest is, too. But the first reformulation was abysmal. So the trick is knowing which one you're getting.
I don’t follow soap makers reformulations. Lol I’m very ignorant to all the technical stuff regarding this hobby. When Razorock, PAA or anyone else changes the formulas I don’t know why, how , when or what. I got what I get and I use what I got without knowing if it’s good, bad, modified or reincarnated. Lol. Personally my brain is too dense to absorb all of that info.
I had a couple flavors of C&E shortly after getting started here in 2010. I don't remember the performance though. The scent was great, Sierra, maybe?
Then I got the bad stuff when it comes to Williams. I have a sneaky suspicion that Williams is a basic bar of soap now. The darn thing doesn’t lather with water or without. The lather I do get is about the same as a basic everyday bar of soap. It disappears before I can finish Lather the opposite side of the face.
I still have three pucks of the Crabtree and Evelyn( sienna, nomad and sandalwood) they are good but I love my dr Harris soaps. I use the dr Harris as often as I can
I’m on the hunt for the sienna and nomad. The dr Harris is good but I feel the Crabtree gets creamier .
Hmmm I’m trying to think about how they compare for me. I feel like they about on par for me. But I’ll do a back to back test to make sure. As for finding the soaps I thought they stopped making them? I bought all of mine maybe 8 years ago and I’ve not even made a dent in them.
They can be had on ebay of course. Just not cheap. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Crabtree-E...OAP-with-WOODEN-BOWL-3-5-oz-MIB-/264269546504
Wow it’s a shame I gave away those extra ones I had. I bought a bunch when they had a Christmas sale long time ago, I think I got the bowl/soap for 10 bucks?
IMHO, shaving soaps and creams from these brands to have the very best scents: Crabtree & Evelyn D.R. Harris Geo F. Trumper Penhaligon's Taylor of Old Bond Street The Art of Shaving Truefitt & Hill Their products give really great shaves, too. My take is just get whatever is the least expensive at the time. This likely also applies to shaving creams and soaps from any of the French, Spanish, Italian, British, or American luxury perfume brands.
I love my D.R. Harris shave soaps. I currently have Marlborough, Arlington, Windsor and Sandalwood; I’m also waiting on Lavender to be delivered to my home. My favorite scent of theirs is Marlborough with its mix of cedar wood and sandalwood.
I've only used DR Harris sticks, which are very good soap indeed. Never used the bowls or the refill pucks for the bowls. It's the same soap, however. I've tried Marlborough, Windsor, & Lavender. They're great for travel as the stick has its own case. The performance and scent of each is outstanding. I like the fact that the scents are subtle and understated- not at all 'in your face' (although where else would a shaving soap be?). In that sense they are very British indeed. You can't get any more British than a shave with a Simpson's brush and a DR Harris soap! I've always been intrigued with Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet aftershave/cologne ever since I learned that it was the choice of several men I've admired. I've even heard that it was the daily fave of the late Pope John Paul II. I've never even smelled it, but I know that at some point I'll get myself a bottle. When I was single I had no problem spending $90 or $100 for a cologne, but I've been married 25 years, and most of my money has gone to feeding these damn kids, who not only insist on eating several times a day but also demand things like shoes and books for school. The cheek of them! But the last one is in college now, so maybe in 3 or 4 more years I'll finally get that Blenheim Bouquet.
Buy their scent library. One of my best purchases ever. You might find it cheaper, but here is a link for an in stock item: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BL39ZK/?tag=thshde-20
I just happened to receive my Penhaligons "Scent Library" yesterday actually found it for $20 shipped. ( one was missing) Gonna start with the oft mentioned Blenheim Bouquet tomorrow. Never tried ANY of So this is my chance.