Thoughts on Saponificio Varesino soaps?

Discussion in 'Shave Soaps' started by Fly2High, Apr 13, 2017.

  1. ob1page

    ob1page Frozen in Phoenix

    I'm not sure when it was released, I got mine unused on the secondary market. Bullgoose still has some in stock, it's well worth tracking down. It's similar to the 70th scent but different enough to stand out and it has a strong scent. Some say it smells just like Aqua di Parma cologne but I haven't tried that combo yet
     
  2. Ksblazer

    Ksblazer Well-Known Member

    Bumping this thread

    Just got the dolomiti last month and I'm very impressed with the performance, scent and post shave feel of this soap.

    So impressed that I ordered the felce as the scent really appealed to me. It just arrived today and I must say the scent smells even better than I expected. Also ordered the felce aftershave to go with it.

    Can't wait to try them out. Will report back when I do.
     
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  3. anomaly1985

    anomaly1985 New Member

    Their entire lineup is fantastic. Some have mention that Tundra Artica and Stella Alpina provide more slickness therefore are more fitting for straight razor use. Personally have found them all to provide great slickness. Their scents are the embodiment of Sicily.
     
    Ksblazer likes this.
  4. Fly2High

    Fly2High Breaking Frugal

    Update.
    I love SV soaps.

    Now a big fan.

    Have Tundra Arctica, Stella Alpina, 70th Anniversary, Dolomiti and Manna di Sicilia and can say that I enjoy ever scent they make.

    Definitely a top tier for me.
     
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  5. Ksblazer

    Ksblazer Well-Known Member

    As mentioned I would let you know what I thought of the Felce 4.3

    It arrived in a aluminum container inside a plastic container. The aluminum container has a classy presentation. Forest green with Grey lettering and design.

    Upon opening it. I get a very aromatic modern like fern scent with some hints of lavender and soap. It's a really unique fougere scent that I can't compare to any of my 80s fougere colognes that I like. Puck has a crown on it. Just like the packaging.

    Soaked my semouge brush gave it a few swirls on top of the puck and lather was building with ease. I have quite soft water. But both of my SV soaps lather like crazy with very little effort. Probably less than 30 seconds and I had the brush loaded enough for a 3 pass shave and any needed touch ups.

    Lather has a whipped cream consistency but just slightly on the thicker side of whipped cream. Lathered up my face and went to work with my Edwin Jigger DE 89 razor. Only my first shave with this but I'm getting great slickness. As if I can't feel the blade touching my skin yet my wiskers are getting shaved off. Give this soap high grades for cushions and slickness.

    After the 1st pass i rinsed my face and it felt very well conditioned. Did a couple more passes with touch ups and ended up with a baby face post shave feel.

    It usually takes a couple other products to get my face feeling this good after I get done. So I give this soap high marks in the post shave feel.

    Final thoughts is that this is a top tier go to soap. It performed way above average in all regards. Can't really find any minor complaints with it at all. Highly recommend anyone who hasn't tried any SV soaps to give them a try.
     
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  6. Redrock

    Redrock Well-Known Member

    @Ksblazer . Good review and my exact impression on the SV soaps.
     
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  7. Ksblazer

    Ksblazer Well-Known Member

    Thanks Redrock

    Every shave I've have with both my SV Felce and Dolomiti have been so good, that it makes me want to buy every one of their soaps and shave with them everyday.
     
    jwr3265 likes this.
  8. ischiapp

    ischiapp New Product Bloodhound

    As anticipated, I start testing the Beta 4.3 of Saponificio Varesino today.
    I chose to use the American version, Asylum Colonia.
    https://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/sos-june-2020.64254/page-42#post-1810374

    Very calmly, I will share the data of the "Wax Upon A Time" project.
    In fact, given the expected yield, to consume the 10g it will take dozens of uses.
    Upon starting, the package weighs 131g and I use the same parameters as the first test.
    http://ilrasoio.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=5855&p=358362#p358362

    Just to see the real incidence of waxes.
    Both the Alba wax and especially the Carnauba wax offer various advantages.
    The first is certainly to increase resistance.
    But also to favor secondary lubrication.

    Beta 4.0
    No Wax ...................... Dolomiti
    Beta 4.1
    No Wax ...................... Settantesimo Anniversario, Tundra Artica
    Beta 4.2
    Cera Carnauba + Cera Alba ... Cosmo, Stella Alpina
    Beta 4.3
    Cera Carnauba ............... Cubebe, Desert Vetiver
    Cera Carnauba + Cera Alba ... Felce Aromatica Reformulated, Manna di Sicilia, Mirto di Sardegna, Opuntia
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2020
    Ijustmissedthe50s likes this.
  9. jaro

    jaro the dread and the fear

    S.V. is a soap I want to try one day..But at that price I really do hope it's a great soap..
     
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  10. nav

    nav Well-Known Member

    Not only is it great soap but it's rock solid and should yield 250+ shaves!

    The same amount of soap from an artisan (i.e. Not triple milled) will yield half or even less shaves than SV.
     
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  11. jaro

    jaro the dread and the fear

    maybe one day i will try it... thanks for the info.
     
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  12. ischiapp

    ischiapp New Product Bloodhound

    I want to celebrate the golden soul of this month of August.
    So I'll complete my experiment on waxes in Saponificio Varesino shaving soaps.
    In fact, depending on the generation and model, SV offers a different consistency in relation to the waxes it uses.
    So also a different yield, in terms of duration.
    This is why I am running the test, for which I have created special hashtags.
    #CeraUnaVolta / #WaxUponATime

    These will be the products subject to verification:
    • Beta 4.0 2016 Dolomiti
    • Beta 4.3 2017 Felce Aromatica
    • Beta 4.3 2018 Asylum Colonia
    [​IMG]

    On paper the favorite should be Felce.
    In fact it has both waxes, and in a higher position.
    Very visible also to the touch, where it is compact and waxy.
    Although my favorite, given the particular technical qualities, is Colonia.
    http://www.ilrasoio.com/viewtopic.php?p=300628#p300628

    I have already started, as seen in my SOTDs.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  13. brit

    brit in a box

    tuesday shave
    late brit first gen aristocrat
    platinum
    bbj omega
    sv felce
    acqua di selva [​IMG]
    awesome..
     
  14. ischiapp

    ischiapp New Product Bloodhound

    In August I was consistent in testing.
    #CeraUnaVolta / #WaxUponATime
    These are the data of the SOTDs.
    [​IMG]

    As you can see, there isn't much of a difference.
    All soaps have a better performance with synthetics.
    The waxes still allow a good yield.
    https://theshaveden.com/forums/thre...icio-varesino-soaps.55375/page-3#post-1833687

    Going into detail, the stick mode was the least efficient one. Better tolerated by harder soaps.
    With the classic FL and a sweet synthetic, the result is definitely superior.

    These are the numbers:
    • Beta 4.0 Dolomiti
    10 uses = 30 seconds of load = 6g
    0.200g per second with 80% synthetic
    • Beta 4.3 Colonia
    11 uses = 81 seconds of load = 15g
    0.185g per second with 88% synthetic
    • Beta 4.3 Felce
    11 uses = 43 seconds of load = 9g
    0.209g per second with 53% synthetic

    In practice, the Felce is the most resistant.
    In fact, it is the one that has been most abused, also using bristle and old-fashioned synthetics in a preponderant percentage.
    However ripping a very honest result.
    The Dolomiti is my fetish, and I treated it with white gloves.
    But it still consumes just over half a gram at a time.
    The Colonia is certainly the most delicate.
    But it is also the one with the highest performance, and it is normal that it "wastes" more.
    In any case remaining in the average of one hundred shaves compared to the original packaging.

    I keep repeating it, now with greater knowledge of the facts.
    Saponificio Varesino offers amazing performances.
    But at very low cost.
    It is a great investment.
    In practice, it is unexpencive.
    For sure has one of the best quality / price ratio in the world.
     
  15. The Fox

    The Fox Well-Known Member

    I've had two soaps from this Saponificio Varesino. Of all the soaps I've tried, these probably produce the best lather. The only other one that comes to mind that might match it is Mitchell's Wool Fat soap, but it's been a long time so I can't say for sure. But back to SV, their Stella Alpina was one of the most amazing scented soaps I've ever smelled. But they are expensive!
     
    brit likes this.
  16. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    Quad milled. Probably the most concentrated version of shave soap ever made.

    If someone were to take a puck and somehow turn it into an equal amount of tube or tub shaving cream, it would fill a half a dozen or more.
     
  17. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    Long term use, MWF leaves my face feeling softer and smoother, but there's no comparison, SV is the best hard shaving soap formula on the market. I don't like most of their scents, but I can tell a well crafted scent when I smell one, and they are all well crafted.

    Saponifico Verisino is the soap that I use as a benchmark to compare all other soaps to. It's really that good.

    Ease of lathering, slickness, cushion, post skin care. It ticks every single box, and ranks near the top in all. It was also the soap that convinced me that a pure vegan soap could stack up against a tallow formula soap.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2020
  18. ischiapp

    ischiapp New Product Bloodhound

    My favourite SV is Dolomiti.
    I'm lucky to have the Black Edition 2016.

    Now, the new Beta 4.3 has more Silt.
    And few other new actives, from Manna di Sicilia.
    IMHO, a must have!!!

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
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  19. Paul Turner

    Paul Turner outside the quote(s) now

    At Phoenix AA it's the other way around.....the aftershaves cost more than the soaps(I think the AS used to be lower than now).
     
  20. ischiapp

    ischiapp New Product Bloodhound

    On the paper the 4.3 is way better.
    But I can not really feel it on my skin.

    I'm testing both, in comparison.
    The old 4.0 in the lucky Black Edition of the 2016 version.
    And the new 4.3 of this year, with its beige puck.

    It's a hard work, but I'm enjoying ...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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