The Quest To Find My Favorite Soaps With Reviews...

Discussion in 'Shave Soaps' started by CJames, Aug 12, 2013.

  1. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Barber Shop Summary
    SS_130826.jpg
    Summary and Scoring:

    Ease of Lathering: 9.5
    I've finally got lathering with the OS mug dialed in. It took just a little practice since, when this began it was my first usage of these mugs. Overall the soap is extremely easy to lather. It does take slightly more loading time in the OS mug, but I will chalk that up to the mug and user error rather than the soap after lathering the soap out of the wide mouth tin. I still begin the process with a few drops of warm water as Mike's soaps tend to be more effective utilizing this method.

    barbershop.gif
    Scent: 9.25
    An instant classic in any age. Whether you are one who enjoyed the traditional barber shop of old or have never set foot in one like me, the scent has an enduring quality that bridges gaps in time appealing to both grandfather's and college students. As mentioned in my day 3 summary, this is a scent that one would want to go before them upon entering the boardroom or any other room. It is a crisp masculine scent that just oozes a confident humility that lets others know you are there without being extravagant or obtrusive. It screams confidence in full measure without even a hint pretense or arrogance. It has a complex quality to it striking a great balance and unity leaving one with an impression of the total package rather than a cacophony of disparate notes.

    Lubrication: 9
    I have found the lather produced by Mike's to be sufficiently slick, not as much as the MWF control, but more than acceptable. They have plenty of slickness evident even after rinsing between passes.

    Density - Cushion - Protection: 9.5
    The lather created by this soap is super dense. It provides plenty of cushioning and protection for a superior shave. I have found that when lathering this soap from the tin it creates a dense and cushioning lather right up there with Tabac and likely exceeding MWF.

    Skincare - 9
    The ingredients of this soap certainly read like a list of the most popular and effective skin care products on the market. My skin was always left feeling soft and hydrated after each shave indicating the quality array of ingredients pleasing to the skin. In my opinion, this is an area where our control MWF really excels, Mike's is close, but not quite there.

    Price - 10
    With refill bars between $8-$9 you can't go wrong!

    Overall - 9.35 Another winner and instant classic from Mike's Natural! If you are a man, I would venture to guess the scent of this soap might appeal to you. Again...highly recommended! For those of you who haven't noticed...The past (2) soaps have surpassed the scoring of our MWF control!


    Next Week...Mike's Natural Peppermint & Rosemary!
     
    Shaver X, Bobcat and Ryan B like this.
  2. Ryan B

    Ryan B Knight of the Soapocracy

    Mike's Barbershop is in my top 5 for a reason. And my feelings are the same as yours. Enjoy the Barbershop stick.
     
  3. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Peppermint & Rosemary
    Mikes_Pep_Rose.jpg
    Conclusion Day 1:
    As I opened up this sample and molded it into the bottom of the trusty OS mug, the first thing I noticed was a subtle woodsy aroma that blended well into peppermint. It was a fairly mild and understated scent. As I began to lather up with this one, the scent grew a little stronger, but still on the light side of things. It reminded me of the holidays, that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We often have rack of lamb for dinner at Thanksgiving, which is seasoned with Rosemary. The soap also has a mild cooling effect upon the skin, no doubt due to the peppermint EO. I also noticed that this formulation seemed a little slicker than the others, I wouldn't imagine there is anything different about this soap, but it did seem to be more slick nonetheless. Overall first impressions were positive, but not incredible as with the Hungarian Lavender or Barber Shop.
     
    Bobcat likes this.
  4. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Peppermint & Rosemary
    Mikes_Pep_Rose.jpg

    Conclusion Day 2:
    Really more of the same today. It would seem that the Rosemary in this scent is the one that sticks with you in the first impression. The peppermint is late to the party, but is still there and noticeable, just not first to arrive. The Rosemary is really the dominant scent, it arrives first and leaves last, having a hint of peppermint in the middle. I admit I have not tried many or any soaps with peppermint EO and the mild cooling it yields is very pleasant. A menthol fiend may not notice it too much, but its there. Of course the soap itself is first rate quality, with its ease of lathering, density, and slickness. A great soap, just not my favorite scent. I imagine it would be a tall order to make every scent appeal to everyone!
     
  5. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Peppermint & Rosemary
    Mikes_Pep_Rose.jpg

    Conclusion Day 3:
    In wrapping up this scent, I would comment that this is one I could pass up on, due to some much better contenders from Mike's. Overall the scent is a straight-forward combination of Rosemary and Peppermint. It provides the shaver with a cool and fresh experience with a woodsy twist. For me it is reminiscent of the holidays. The scent is pleasant, but slightly on the light side for my preference. I would have to rate this one third on the list of scents from Mike's Natural, that I have tried so far, behind Hungarian Lavender and Barber Shop, but ahead of Pine & Cedarwood. Summary and scoring to follow later today. Up next is one I have been anticipating - Mike's Natural Vetiver.
     
  6. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Peppermint & Rosemary Summary
    peppermint_ol.jpg Rosemary_Small.jpg
    Summary and Scoring:

    Ease of Lathering: 9.5
    Mike's Natural soaps are extremely easy to lather. It does take slightly more loading time in the OS mug, but I will chalk that up the mug and user error rather than the soap after lathering the soap out of the wide mouth tin. I still begin the process with a few drops of warm water as Mike's soaps tend to be more effective utilizing this method.

    Scent: 8.25
    This scent is a straight-forward combination of Rosemary and Peppermint. Nothing mysterious or complex about this scent, just a woodsy scent that finishes with a fresh and cool minty sensation. The scent is fairly light, so those who appreciate that would pleased here. The Rosemary is probably the dominant tone here, but it doesn't completely overshadow the Peppermint.

    Lubrication: 9
    I have found the lather produced by Mike's to be sufficiently slick, not as much as the MWF control, but more than acceptable. They have plenty of slickness evident even after rinsing between passes.

    Density - Cushion - Protection: 9.5
    The lather created by this soap from the wide-mouth tin is super dense. It provides plenty of cushioning and protection for a superior shave. I have found that when lathering this soap from the tin it creates a dense and cushioning lather right up there with Tabac and likely exceeding MWF.

    Skincare - 9.25
    The ingredients of this soap certainly read like a list of the most popular and effective skin care products on the market. My skin was always left feeling soft and hydrated after each shave indicating the quality array of ingredients pleasing to the skin. This particular soap contains Peppermint EO, which leaves the skin with a mild cooling sensation that is very pleasant and adds to the quality of the shave. In my opinion, this is an area where our control MWF really excels, Mike's is close, but not quite there.

    Price - 10
    With refill bars between $8-$9 you can't go wrong!

    Overall - 9.21 Though, the scent is fairly light and not my favorite, it is still a very high quality soap with the added benefit from the cooling Peppermint EO.

    Next week, the much anticipated...Mike's Natural Vetiver!
     
    Shaver X, Ryan B and Bobcat like this.
  7. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Vetiver
    Mikes_Vetiver.jpg
    Conclusion Day 1:
    I was really excited to try this scent because I have heard some good reviews and Vetiver just sounds cool. Just say it V-E-T-I-V-E-R, sounds manly and cool right? Vetiver is a new scent to me. Being such, I had to do a little research before trying this one out. I sampled a few Vetiver's and enjoyed a couple, but not many. The Creed Vetiver was very nice, but IMHO some of them just smelled dirty! So, my excitement was tempered somewhat by the time I actually got around to trying this soap out. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this particular variety was somewhat cleaner and fresher that the other Vetiver's I sampled. True to form though, the scent was very earthy, like damp oak moss with some herbaceous notes. I'm not sure about this scent yet...We'll see what happens as time goes one. BTW, I paired this with a sample of Sterling's Vetiver AS milk.

    Conclusion Day 2:
    Well...The scent has grown on me a little. I'm not sold on it yet, but I did seem to enjoy it a little more the second time around. It's quite possible that Vetiver is just an "acquired" taste at least for me. I could sense traces of a woodsy scent in addition to the damp, earthy and herbaceous notes I noticed the last time around. This scent reminds me of walking through a heavily wooded area in the Boreal forests of B.C., particularly in an area that has a dense undergrowth covered with moss and lichen. This scent is probably about as earthy as you can get while still retaining a fresh and clean quality. It also has a staying quality to it that seems to last long after the shave. I can still get traces of this one 5+ hours after the shave. I have to say, its growing on me, but still not enough to buy it.
     
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  8. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Vetiver
    Mikes_Vetiver.jpg
    Conclusion Day 3:
    Overall I would have to say that I do enjoy this scent. However, It probably wouldn't find a very regular spot in the rotation. I think Vetiver is just not my favorite of scents in general. This version is very earthy as Vetiver should be. There is a hint of damp oak moss here with a spicy herbaceous quality that is hard to place. The closest I can get to describing it would be a combination of Oregano and Rosemary. The scent is also clean and refreshing a more rare quality among Vetiver, with staying power. For those who are big fans of Vetiver, I would imagine this would be one you would want to try!
     
  9. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Vetiver Summary and Scoring
    Vetiver.jpg

    Ease of Lathering: 9.5
    Mike's Natural soaps are extremely easy to lather. It does take slightly more loading time in the OS mug, but I will chalk that up the mug and user error rather than the soap after lathering the soap out of the wide mouth tin. I still begin the process with a few drops of warm water as Mike's soaps tend to be more effective utilizing this method.

    Scent: 8.5
    The scent of Vetiver is one that has grown on me these past few days. It has a clean and refreshing scent that lingers upon the skin. It reminds me of walking through a heavily wooded area in the Boreal forests of B.C. It has a heavy earthy quality with spicy herbaceous notes that can be most closely identified with Oregano and Rosemary.

    Lubrication: 9
    I have found the lather produced by Mike's to be sufficiently slick, not as much as the MWF control, but more than acceptable. They have plenty of slickness evident even after rinsing between passes.

    Density - Cushion - Protection: 9.5
    The lather created by this soap from the wide-mouth tin is super dense. It provides plenty of cushioning and protection for a superior shave. I have found that when lathering this soap from the tin it creates a dense and cushioning lather right up there with Tabac and likely exceeding MWF.

    Skincare - 9
    The ingredients of this soap certainly read like a list of the most popular and effective skin care products on the market. My skin was always left feeling soft and hydrated after each shave indicating the quality array of ingredients pleasing to the skin. This particular soap contains Peppermint EO, which leaves the skin with a mild cooling sensation that is very pleasant and adds to the quality of the shave. In my opinion, this is an area where our control MWF really excels, Mike's is close, but not quite there.

    Price - 10
    With refill bars between $8-$9 you can't go wrong!

    Overall - 9.22 The scent probably won't find a regular spot in my rotation, but it's a quality scent nonetheless.

    Up Next...Mike's Natural Lime!
     
  10. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Lime
    Mikes_Lime.jpg
    Conclusion Day 1:
    I must admit that I am intrigued by Lime scents, not as much as Lavender, but still one that holds appeal for me. That being said, I was eager to try this one as Mike's is a high quality soap. When I opened the package and sampled the scent for the first time I wasn't overly impressed with the smell. Yes it was Lime, but more of an artificial type scent to my nose. When I actually lathered it up, some of that artificial quality seemed to drop away and yielded to a slightly bitter Lime that can sometimes be associated with the zest. Overall, my first impression of this Lime is one I could pass on, but there are still two days to go. Hoping for improved results in the upcoming days.
     
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  11. HolyRollah

    HolyRollah BaconLord

    Chris, I had the same impression as you regarding the 'imitation' or 'artificial' impression of the lime scent. A very decent soap, as usual, but the lime scent didn't impress my nose. The 'Orange, Cedarwood' still my fav of the lot.​
     
  12. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member


    Looking forward to that one too! I have already found (2) top soaps that will remain in rotation as well. That is impressive from any one manufacturer!
     
  13. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Lime
    Mikes_Lime.jpg
    Conclusion Day 2:
    Well, the artificial scent was still detectable in the soap. It did seem to be a little less noticeable than before, but still there. As I mentioned before, Lime is a favorite of mine, but this is one of my least favorite. The soap itself is up to Mike's super high quality, but the scent just doesn't do much for me. IMO it could use either a more complex Lime scent, or at least one that does not have an artificial quality to it. I think I will pass on day three of this soap in favor of the next scent on the list. Summary and Scoring to follow...Up next, Mike's Natural Orange, Cedarwood and Black Pepper.
     
  14. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Lime Summary & Scoring
    LimeCarFresh.jpg

    Summary and Scoring:

    Ease of Lathering: 9.5
    Mike's Natural soaps are extremely easy to lather. It does take slightly more loading time in the OS mug, but I will chalk that up the mug and user error rather than the soap after lathering the soap out of the wide mouth tin. I still begin the process with a few drops of warm water as Mike's soaps tend to be more effective utilizing this method.

    Scent: 6.5
    I know my comments on this one will probably be unpopular, but I must report what I smell. The scent is a fairly light, but artificial smelling Lime scent. Unfortunately, I reminds me of a cheap citrus or Lime air freshener. To me the soap could benefit from a more complex citrus or Lime, or certainly one that is less artificial. Overall this is a scent I could pass on. There are better Lime scents out there and Mike's has much better scents as well.

    Lubrication: 9
    I have found the lather produced by Mike's to be sufficiently slick, not as much as the MWF control, but more than acceptable. They have plenty of slickness evident even after rinsing between passes.

    Density - Cushion - Protection: 9.5
    The lather created by this soap from the wide-mouth tin is super dense. It provides plenty of cushioning and protection for a superior shave. I have found that when lathering this soap from the tin it creates a dense and cushioning lather right up there with Tabac and likely exceeding MWF.

    Skincare - 9
    The ingredients of this soap certainly read like a list of the most popular and effective skin care products on the market. My skin was always left feeling soft and hydrated after each shave indicating the quality array of ingredients pleasing to the skin. In my opinion, this is an area where our control MWF really excels, Mike's is close, but not quite there.

    Price - 10
    With refill bars between $8-$9 you can't go wrong!

    Overall - 8.87 The scent is one I will not purchase.

    Up Next...Mike's Natural Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper!
     
  15. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper
    Mikes_OrCedBp.jpg
    Conclusion Day 1:
    I have been intrigued about this scent since the first time I saw it. It seems to be such an uncommon combination of scents. I do enjoy citrus scents and am somewhat partial to cedar as I used to work in a mill. My first thought after unpacking this one was, wow, what a breath of fresh air after the Lime! All (3) scents were easily detectable in this interesting combination. The Orange was the dominant note in this mix and it was natural, like an Orange grove. The Cedarwood comes up next in strength followed by the Black Pepper. While all (3) scents were detectable, the balance here is really well done with the overall experience being greater than each scent individually. Looks like another winner here from Mike's. Ready for day 2!
     
  16. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Orange, Cedarwood & Black Pepper
    Mikes_OrCedBp.jpg
    Conclusion Day 2:
    Another great shave today with Mike's Natural Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper. The scents in this soap really blend together very well. Yesterday, it seemed that the Black Pepper was a fairly subtle background scent. This was not the case today. The Orange was still dominant, but the Pepper seemed to come through much stronger today. What this says to me is that the combination of scents are extremely well balanced, which can be a tricky task. I must say that Mike got this one right, not only the are the scents very natural, they are balanced in a manner that highlights the best in all three. Both Cedarwood and Black Pepper could easily become overpowering if they are not mellowed out by something a little on the sweeter side. IMO, this soap achieves this goal and creates a pleasing combination of scents that compliment each other very well. I don't own a puck of this one. It looks like another soap purchase may be in my future...
     
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  17. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Orange, Cedarwood & Black Pepper
    Mikes_OrCedBp.jpg
    Conclusion Day3:
    Really just more of the same praise here today. This soap has gained popularity from many within the wet shaving community and with good reason. The uniqueness and quality of the scent combination has even been extolled by other artisan soap makers. It is just a wonderful combination of Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper. The Orange is no doubt the dominant scent, but the others aren't just relegated to sitting the bench, they are easily noticeable too. The combination makes for a nice, warm and slightly sweet fragrance that especially reminds me of fall. This soap is one that would rank in my all time top 5 and one I will want to procure for my den when Mike starts selling soaps again!
     
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  18. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member

    Tour De Mike's
    Orange, Cedarwood & Black Pepper
    Summary & Scoring
    alaska-cedar.jpg OrangeBloss.jpg j
    Summary and Scoring:

    Ease of Lathering: 9.5
    Mike's Natural soaps are extremely easy to lather. It does take slightly more loading time in the OS mug, but I will chalk that up the mug and user error rather than the soap after lathering the soap out of the wide mouth tin. I still begin the process with a few drops of warm water as Mike's soaps tend to be more effective utilizing this method.

    Scent: 9.5
    This scent is a real winner. It has become very popular within the wet shaving community. Both shavers and fellow artisans alike have grown to enjoy this unique scent combination. It is a well balanced formulation of Orange, Cedarwood , and Black Pepper. The Orange is the most dominant scent, but the others are easily detectable as well. It has a warm and mildly sweet quality that slightly complex and reminds me of fall. For me, this scent ranks in my top 5 of all time and above Mike's Barber Shop and slightly below or equal to the Hungarian Lavender. Of course, I am biased on this being the Lavender Fiend that I am!

    Lubrication: 9
    I have found the lather produced by Mike's to be sufficiently slick, not as much as the MWF control, but more than acceptable. They have plenty of slickness evident even after rinsing between passes.

    Density - Cushion - Protection: 9.5
    The lather created by this soap from the wide-mouth tin is super dense. It provides plenty of cushioning and protection for a superior shave. I have found that when lathering this soap from the tin it creates a dense and cushioning lather right up there with Tabac and likely exceeding MWF.

    Skincare - 9
    The ingredients of this soap certainly read like a list of the most popular and effective skin care products on the market. My skin was always left feeling soft and hydrated after each shave indicating the quality array of ingredients pleasing to the skin. In my opinion, this is an area where our control MWF really excels, Mike's is close, but not quite there.

    Price - 10
    With refill bars between $8-$9 you can't go wrong!

    Overall - 9.39 This is an absolutely phenomenal scent that I will purchase at some point in the future.

    Up Next...Mike's Natural Lily of the Valley.
     
    Bobcat likes this.
  19. Shaver X

    Shaver X Well-Known Member

    Wow, thanks for all those great reviews! They are very well done indeed.
     
  20. CJames

    CJames Well-Known Member


    Thanks...It's a joy! I can't wait for the next testing. It will be a testing of Lavender scents. I think I have about 12 or so Lavender soaps now. The one I do not have is MdC. If anyone would like to send me a tiny sample...I would certainly appreciate it! ;) I could always offer something in return too.
     

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