Soap Showdowns

Discussion in 'Shave Soaps' started by LevelupShaves, Aug 5, 2017.

  1. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    .5 oz of each enough? Sample size?

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  2. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Sure should be. I only use both soaps for a week so you should be able to get a good comparison from two samples!


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  3. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    Pm your address and I'll get 3 of them out.

    If someone could get you a sample of the Arctiqe that would be great.

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  4. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Oh wow you bet thanks! I love thought you were asking if that was enough for you to do it. I’d be glad to though!


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  5. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    So this week it’s going to be a couple of personal favorites
    Barrister and Mann Seville vs DR Harris Marlborough. No matter which soap wins the real winner is me because it’s going to be a great week in Shaving


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  6. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    So after a longer week of comparison and a lot of back and forth I have a winner and it wasn't as close as I would have expected.

    Scent: Seville is a classic barbershop scent with some amazing complexity. It's a blend of citrus oak moss and Pachouli. It's very layered and even changes throughout the shave it's undeniably a great scent.
    Marlborough is a solid masculine scent with cedar and Sandalwood. The finish Marlborough is a bit smoke from the cedar wood but it's nice and straight to the point. While I like Marlborough's scent it's still a pretty easy victory for Seville the complexity and scent strength just give it the win.

    Lather
    Seville is one of those soaps that when you get it right is gives you an amazing lather and when you get it wrong it's just okay. It's a very thirsty soap I generally keep my face wet and brush wet for this one.
    Marlborough almost lathers itself. Seriously a little water 10 seconds of loading and there are mounds of lather to work with. Both of these soaps give a high quality lather but the ease with which it arrives for Marlborough gives it the easy win.

    Slickness: I almost feel bad saying this but there really is no contest DR Harris is simply the slickest soap I've ever used period. It's like ice on a wet road slick and an easy round to judge.

    Post shave: Both of these soaps do a spectacular job on post shave but I feel like Seville edges out a win here.

    Value: Marlborough is $12 to $15 for four ounces while Barrister and Mann Seville is $16 for four ounces and it comes in a tub. On the surface this is a tie but when you consider that DR Harris is a triple milled soap that doesn't even look used after several shaves it tilts the scale in favor of Marlborough.

    Overall these are two of my favorite soaps and I'm kind of shocked this wasn't a closer race. If you haven't tried DR Harris give it a shot it's excellent and you can get it in a wood bowl, Stand alone puck or shave stick. Barrister and Mann Seville is also a great Staple in the den.


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  7. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    Another great week's review.
     
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  8. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Did this one go how you thought it would?

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  9. FaceScraper

    FaceScraper Well-Known Member

    Great review! I like your showdowns...and it's great that you're being objective with the comparisons. I look forward to seeeing more! Are you eventually going to take the "winner" of each round and pick the top finalist out of that group?
     
  10. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Possibly if I have enough that are close. For example Proraso would be good against PdP 63 but not a fair comparison with something like B&M or DR Harris


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  11. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    I would say it is very similar to the last one. I really like both soaps, but would have guessed B&M to win it. Again, I cannot fault your judgements, other than I think that while it takes a little more work and water to get it there, B&M gives me the thinner, shinier and more stable lather that I prefer.

    Keep em coming, I think you are doing an awesome job with it.
     
  12. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Thanks I appreciate it

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  13. FaceScraper

    FaceScraper Well-Known Member

    I suppose even if you were to continue to have showdowns, you'd spend a lifetime, and a king's ransom before you ever got to figure out your "ultimate, bestest ever" favorite soap! And that's without trying to categorize soaps based on scents, styles, etc.
     
  14. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Oh yeah this is more of a what's in my collection right now kind of thing. I'll do a few more then leave it alone for awhile until I start replacing things.

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  15. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    @jaxstraww sent some samples of Stirling Spice and B&M Reserve Spice for a blind showdown which is coming next week


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  16. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    This week I’m doing a showdown of 2 of my best vegan soaps PAA Crown King Pineapple Bayrum which came with an I’d Lather be Shaving coffee cup and Caties Bubbles Irish coffee which smells like it belongs in a coffee cup


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  17. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Alright another week down another showdown down that's a lot of down but I'm down so it's all good. Here's the results of the Showdown between Phoenix Crow King Pineapple Bayrum and Catie's Bubbles Irish Coffee.

    Scent
    Both of these soaps are perfect as far as scent goes. Literally perfect dead center on scent strength perfect creation of the inspiration and a vast array of other scents to choose from. Seriously if scent is your thing you owe it to yourself to pick up something from both of these brands. Tie here since their both so good.

    Lather
    Catie's Bubbles whips up a great lather with little to no effort. It's also very forgiving on water so the sweet spot is pretty big.
    Crown King lathers well but it takes a little more work and a little more water to find it's sweet spot. Once you find the sweet spot it is a denser lather though. The win goes to Catie's Bubbles here though both are great.

    Slickness
    Catie's Bubbles makes a slick and thick lather but it's nothing amazing. Crown King produces a much slicker and thicker lather probably the best non tallow lather I've ever seen. The win goes to CK here pretty easily.

    Post Shave
    Catie's Bubbles feels good post shave a little Shea butter keeps the skin feeling nice and hydrated. Crown King doesn't feel good post shave it feels amazing. I mean as good as Barrister and Mann or Stirling amazing post shave feel. It's possible that CK has the best post shave I've ever felt. Clearly CK is the winner.

    Value
    This is as much of a tie as value can be. Both soaps are similar in consistency and price both would be a great buy.

    Overall
    Catie's Bubbles is a nice soap with a great smell and decent performance while Crown King is a great soap with amazing post shave feel and a slightly slicker lather. The winner is Crown King but both soaps honestly rock.



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  18. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    Another great review. Keep em coming!
     
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  19. LevelupShaves

    LevelupShaves Well-Known Member

    Thanks man

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  20. FaceScraper

    FaceScraper Well-Known Member

    Another good showdown, and another great write up. Always enjoy seeing these!
     

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