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Multiple Soap Fragrance Disappointments/Recommendations

pipingtenor2570

pipingtenor2570

Shave Member
Yesterday I received a large order of sample shaving soaps from Maggard. They represented a number of diverse fragrance families and types across a wide variety of makers. To say I was disappointed with the quality of fragrances almost across the board would be an understatement. Some were cloying without obvious reason, some were extremely synthetic smelling when particular natural resins the synthetics are supposed to mimic are readily available, and one was extremely well crafted and contained quality oud. Please understand, there are plenty of fragrances I don't care for personally that I still recognize are incredibly well crafted.

Based on your experienced noses, would some of you be kind enough to point me in the direction of soap makers who not only make incredible soaps, but whose fragrances are regarded as expertly crafted using high quality ingredients?

Much appreciated!

Scott
 
I guess it occurs to me that the most direct solution is to simply use only unscented soaps and use my favorite EDPs after my shave.
 
MarkB said:
Also, what specifically were / are you searching for? Soaps that are homages to certain frags?
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I appreciate that recommendation, Mark. I'm mostly searching for something that isn't cloying with sweetness or smells artificial/synthetic. Beyond that, I really don't have any requirements except the soap be slick and well lathering. I hope that makes sense.
 
Erm…I’m an artisan soap maker. I gave little doubt my soaps deliver great shaves but scent is fairly subjective so I’m hesitant to say my stuff smells better than what you’ve experienced with those samples. I certainly DO have a few scents that might be considered sweet or cloying BUT a few of my favorites (orange dirt!) are pretty awesome. Drinks and Dave’s is incredible but it might be a too much for some. Che k out CBLsoap.com to see if anything interests you. Maybe you can trade those samples you got from Maggard’s for something I have
 
CBLindsay said:
Erm…I’m an artisan soap maker. I gave little doubt my soaps deliver great shaves but scent is fairly subjective so I’m hesitant to say my stuff smells better than what you’ve experienced with those samples. I certainly DO have a few scents that might be considered sweet or cloying BUT a few of my favorites (orange dirt!) are pretty awesome. Drinks and Dave’s is incredible but it might be a too much for some. Che k out CBLsoap.com to see if anything interests you. Maybe you can trade those samples you got from Maggard’s for something I have
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“Hombres Barbershop” and “Spaghetti Western” are great @pipingtenor2570

You should definitely try those as well.
 
CBLindsay said:
Erm…I’m an artisan soap maker. I gave little doubt my soaps deliver great shaves but scent is fairly subjective so I’m hesitant to say my stuff smells better than what you’ve experienced with those samples. I certainly DO have a few scents that might be considered sweet or cloying BUT a few of my favorites (orange dirt!) are pretty awesome. Drinks and Dave’s is incredible but it might be a too much for some. Che k out CBLsoap.com to see if anything interests you. Maybe you can trade those samples you got from Maggard’s for something I have
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I really appreciate you adding to the conversation, and I'm grateful for the recommendations. I have no doubt that your soaps are of the first water. And yes, I don't disagree that scent is, on some level, subjective. For example, Tom Ford Tobacco Oud is an extremely polarizing fragrance, even among those in the perfumery trade; love or hate. However, I've never heard haters in the fragrance industry try to argue that it isn't a brilliantly crafted fragrance. Does that make sense?

I'm looking forward to perusing your soaps and getting some in my hands and on my face.
 
CBLindsay said:
I don’t have spaghetti westerns listed on ,y website anymore BUT I think I can mix up a special request if needed. I think I have an old puck of something like hombres sitting around too
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I would absolutely love to try those out, if that's possible without trouble and strife on your part.
 
pipingtenor2570 said:
I guess it occurs to me that the most direct solution is to simply use only unscented soaps and use my favorite EDPs after my shave.
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After my 8 or so years of traditional shaving, this is the direction I’ve slowly been steering towards the last year or two.

I’d more often rather have a well priced, pleasantly but lightly scented soap and AS, and follow it up with my fragrance of the day.

While there are many great software scents out there I enjoy, given the modest price point of most artisans, I think it’s unfair to expect too much from them in the quality scent department. My guess would be that few of them actually employ or collaborate with actual perfumers.
 
GearNoir said:
After my 8 or so years of traditional shaving, this is the direction I’ve slowly been steering towards the last year or two.

I’d more often rather have a well priced, pleasantly but lightly scented soap and AS, and follow it up with my fragrance of the day.

While there are many great software scents out there I enjoy, given the modest price point of most artisans, I think it’s unfair to expect too much from them in the quality scent department. My guess would be that few of them actually employ or collaborate with actual perfumers.
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Thank you very much for giving food for thought. I appreciate what you've said very much.
 
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