I am not affiliated with, nor have I received any free or discounted product from the vendor. I've waited a while to review this soap because I wanted to get many shaves with it. I've now had at least 30 shaves with Ethos Lavender shave soap & feel I have the soap dialed in. A few observations before I get to the review. The packaging is first class, from the mailers to the labels to the jar & lid. I really like the jar, it's large enough to easily load from. Next, the quantity, 7 ounces! Not 4 ounces like most shave soaps, almost double that amount, 7 wonderful ounces of this nectar in each jar. Scent: This is a clean, mild lavender scent, not overbearing. Pure is what I think of as I smell it. There aren't perfumes or powders coming into my nose, just a clean natural lavender scent. Extremely nice in my opinion. Lather: Be ready to make some lather! As you make the lather add drops of water & watch it explode into a monster. This is very easy to lather & easy to dial in. Whether you like yogurt consistency or a thinner, slicker consistency, this soap can deliver. The lavender scent continues with the clean fresh scent as it goes on the face. A wonderfully relaxing sensory experience. This soap provides great glide & slickness. My stubble gives no resistance to my razor as it glides over my face. I use short strokes & go over each area I shave multiple times in quick succession. Residual slickness is very important to me using this method. Ethos has great residual slickness & I'm able to do these multiple strokes with no dragging even though the lather had been removed with a previous stroke. My 30 second loading provides enough lather for 3 passes & plenty left over. After my third pass, I like to re-lather my face & let the amazing skin food properties of the soap nourish my skin a while longer while I clean my gear. After rinsing, an application of Thayers, followed by an AS splash, & I'm feeling like a million bucks. The post shave feel of this soap is as amazing as the other areas I've already detailed. My face feels moisturized, not oily. It feels healthy & cared for, not just clean-shaven. I've used Ethos Lavender with a variety of brushes (badger, boar, & synthetic), & with a variety of razors (aggressive & mild). I have not found a combination where this soap was not exemplary in every area. This is my new #1 soap. I wish Ethos Grooming Essentials many years of success. I'm hooked, he's got me as a life-long customer.
Excellent review and we all learn from the forums folks who have used different products and experiences! I noticed lately you have been using this soap a lot, I was thinking it must be good because you are particular with your shave gear. I personally believe there is something about Lavender soap & aftershaves period. I have not used that Ethos lavender brand but I have used the Razorock Lavender brand and at first I was not overly impressed but that changed over time because I noticed my post shave was better than almost all my other soaps and shave results seemed excellent. It was the first tub of soap I completed before any of the other soaps. The Lavender scent is a manly scent IMO for a wild flower or weed that has been domesticated in the last 60 -200+ years or more. There is something about Lavender that is positive for myself and many others. I believe that another good brand of Lavender that is Mikes natural shaving soap Lavender that I have not tried yet. Lavender when done right would be every ones favorite over time IMO( I'm a Lavender fan as you know by this post). Thanks for sharing David!
Very well written Ron, you made some excellent points. I appreciate how you say lavender is a manly scent. When the scent is formulated correctly, I believe lavender is a scent that wears well on men. It is not a perfumy smell that your grandmother would wear! That's what some companies sell as lavender. What Ethos has is a pure, fresh, clean lavender scent that doesn't have an undercurrent of chemicals mixing with other chemicals to produce an artificial scent. You are correct in your statement about my gear. I am particular with my shave gear. I have spent more than a few dollars over the years buying razors, soaps, & more of everything else. I purchased more than I could ever have used. But on my journey I've learned what I like & what it means to me to have a quality shave experience. As I've dialed in my likes, I'm not using nearly the amount of gear that I used to. I prefer quality over quantity. Ethos is a soap that I will keep in my den. It is currently my #1 soap. Last comment, you mentioned post-shave, my post-shave with Ethos is off the charts. My face is moisturized & hydrated, not oily or waxy.
I contacted the soapmaker direct. He will have the website up within a couple of weeks. I'll let you know when it's online. Admins: May I share the link openly in this thread, or should I PM the info? I want to be in compliance with all TOU's of this fine forum, that's why I'm asking beforehand. I prefer getting permission rather than finding out after the fact I broke the rules.
Your scent description reminds me of the Block Island artisan hand soaps I pick up at the supermarket..Lavender is my favorite of the choices, and there's nothing fancy to it...just clean and fresh.
