I placed an order for some of this soap prior to reading reviews of it at another shaving forum -- big mistake. This is not only the worst shaving soap I have ever used, but also the worst shaving product period. If I were given a choice between this soap and canned foam, I would take the foam without hesitation -- and most likely get a better shave. This stuff performs so poorly that it makes my humble $1.50/puck VDH look like Penhaligon's. When I loaded the brush and began face-lathering, everything looked like it should, and I had a nice, reasonably thick coating of slick-looking lather covering my face. But, by the time I shaved the right side of my face, the rest of the lather had almost completely dissipated! So, I started "lathering on the go" by brushing this cotton candy of a soap on each section of my face prior to making a pass. I have never, EVER changed products in mid shave, but I did it today. I'm sorry I can't write a more objective review, but this soap is horrible beyond belief. Thank goodness they offer a 60-day return policy, although I only needed about 60 seconds to realize that I was going to utilize it. When I get my refund, I think I'm going to buy 25 pucks of VDH with it.
Thanks for the heads up. I thought about trying it. At least you got a nice bowl out of it. I wonder if it would fit some AOS or Harris or something...
The bowls are indeed nice, but I'm not keeping them. This is all going back. EDIT: To answer your query, although slightly more shallow, the AOS puck does fit into the bowl nicely.
I can't see the box well enough. What is the flavor? I think we discussed this before. I used the Sandalwood to some degree of success last year. Not my favorite by any means, but also not the stinker you describe. I gave it to my son...I should go look for it and test shave it again to be sure.
I just pulled that picture from their website, but the flavor I used was Almond. Do you think that the Sandalwood would perform differently?
Caswell-Massey just fair. I used C-M soap for a couple of years (mostly almond) with reasonable success. However, (1) my beard is not heavy and (2) I hadn't tried anything else besides a couple of pastes/creams which I really didn't care for. I have since used Tabac (very nice) and l'Occitane (fantastic). I also have a few more I plan to try. The one thing C-M does have going for it is its smell. It is fragrant and lasts through the whole puck. However, after using the two mentioned above, particularly the l'Occitane, I would suggest looking at something other than Caswell-Massey. The choices out there are almost endless so why go with a fair product when you can get a great one.
Not sure. I'm going to shave the sandalwood tomorrow and check my facts. Will update thread. This about sums it up except you've got it backwards. Tabac is #1 and L'Occitane #2!
I have the Sandalwood cream, not the soap, but my experience was about the same. I love the scent, but it won't lather at all. I add a squirt of KMF unscented shave cream to the C-M every time I use it. Seems like a waste, but the C-M was a gift from my daughter, and I WILL find a way to use it up. Larry
Its the ONLY thing going for it. Got a beautiful bowl and puck of this from my MIL last BD and I will say that its not the WORST soap I ve ever tried but its pretty close. A squirt of KMF unscented cream and a brush loaded with the CS soap will give you a great shave tho oops...........shoulda read Larrys post 1st. YEAH. What he said ^^^
I told ya the bowl was nice! I did a post about this very cream last year and I had the same results as you. I couldn't even bring myself to write a review.
The one thing worst than this soap is the cream. Takes forever to lather and when it finally does it wasn't worth the effort. It has no cushion and it's not very slick, and worst of all... it burns! But it does smell good.
Everybody seems to agree it smells good. Somebody go home tonight and jam a wick into a puck and light it up. Maybe they can be used that way instead.
This about sums it up except you've got it backwards. Tabac is #1 and L'Occitane #2! [/QUOTE] Shep, obviously something like shaving soap is a personal preference and I do like both. However, in the case of Tabac vs. l'Occitane, it wasn't the fragrance I was referring to (l'Occitane has almost none). For some reason I just find it easier to lather up the l'Occitane, and get a thicker lather, than I can with Tabac. (Though, Tabac is a million times better in that department than Caswell-Massey.) I'm not sure why since I'm using the same brush. In any event, it really depends on the mood I'm in and the fragrance I want when I start my shave routine in the morning. I've yet to try my other soaps, Pré de Provence, Crabtree & Evelyn Sienna, Roger & Gallet l'Homme (I used to really like the EdT), and samples of the Shave Den's Tropical Verbena, and Vetiver. If you've used any of these, any suggestions as to which of them I should try next?