For the longest time, I stayed away from the huge influx of artisan soaps. I’ve been doing this whole wet shaving thing for over 8 years and can remember a time when there were really just a handful of artisans. The Three Sues being the primary Players: Honeybee Soaps, Saint Charles Shave, and Mama Bear Soaps.
When the era of Queen Charlotte, Stirling, Mike’s, Mystic Water, and similar came onto the scene, I think there was a big swing in perception. Before artisans were just something use use along with your commercial soaps. But with this new influx of artisans, it seems that folks started to favor artisan soaps over commercial, or at least equal at that point. This is where I found happiness and near Shave soap Nirvana with Mystic Water and Stirling. A couple years passed, with a couple new players, but no real advancement of soaps occurred.
Then a few years ago, Shave soap just exploded. New ingredients, maybe new techniques, new ideas, and tons of new artisans burst onto the scene. For me, it was too much too fast. I rejected them all. I was quite happy where I was and with what I was using.
Over the last year, or less, it seems to have died down a bit, and settled. So I began to wonder, which soaps were out there, that are still in business, and were the new ‘best’ soaps, and was I missing out on anything. Through samples, and trades, and PIFs, I have been able to try most of what most top reviewers would consider their top 5. I agree with some, but not others.
Enter CBL... I’m absolutely amazed by CBL Soaps. I find them as good, or better than absolutely everything that I have ever tried. From the experience that I have had in using Chris’s soaps, my desire to sample and explore new soaps is all but extinguished. I see no need to explore further, as I’m beyond satisfied with what I’m getting from them.
Ive chosen to be more selective than diversified in my choices, so I have chosen certain soaps for certain reasons. Yes, I know I’m skipping out on top performing soaps, but CBL is my top performing soap and I’m happy with it.
So here is my list of soaps, that I will continue to use and support:
CBL Soaps
Mystic Water
Jeeves of Hudson Street
Stirling
Saint Charles Shave
Honeybee Soaps
I may explore a little outside these 6 if a scent strikes me. But this is where I am happy. I have struck a balance of performance and value, which I am happy with.
When the era of Queen Charlotte, Stirling, Mike’s, Mystic Water, and similar came onto the scene, I think there was a big swing in perception. Before artisans were just something use use along with your commercial soaps. But with this new influx of artisans, it seems that folks started to favor artisan soaps over commercial, or at least equal at that point. This is where I found happiness and near Shave soap Nirvana with Mystic Water and Stirling. A couple years passed, with a couple new players, but no real advancement of soaps occurred.
Then a few years ago, Shave soap just exploded. New ingredients, maybe new techniques, new ideas, and tons of new artisans burst onto the scene. For me, it was too much too fast. I rejected them all. I was quite happy where I was and with what I was using.
Over the last year, or less, it seems to have died down a bit, and settled. So I began to wonder, which soaps were out there, that are still in business, and were the new ‘best’ soaps, and was I missing out on anything. Through samples, and trades, and PIFs, I have been able to try most of what most top reviewers would consider their top 5. I agree with some, but not others.
Enter CBL... I’m absolutely amazed by CBL Soaps. I find them as good, or better than absolutely everything that I have ever tried. From the experience that I have had in using Chris’s soaps, my desire to sample and explore new soaps is all but extinguished. I see no need to explore further, as I’m beyond satisfied with what I’m getting from them.
Ive chosen to be more selective than diversified in my choices, so I have chosen certain soaps for certain reasons. Yes, I know I’m skipping out on top performing soaps, but CBL is my top performing soap and I’m happy with it.
So here is my list of soaps, that I will continue to use and support:
CBL Soaps
Mystic Water
Jeeves of Hudson Street
Stirling
Saint Charles Shave
Honeybee Soaps
I may explore a little outside these 6 if a scent strikes me. But this is where I am happy. I have struck a balance of performance and value, which I am happy with.
