Plain Soaps

[Bogeyman]

Today, I used a newly made Williams Mug soap puck and to be frank if I "bloom" the puck in hot water I always get a great shave. Sure, it won't give you a Nancy Boy after shave face "feel" and it has practically zero scent, but it costs less than $1.50 and it always works for me, but I will add that a great synthetic brush helps. I used a YaQi Mew Brown (SynBad) 24mm and lathering was simple. Tomorrow, I want to use an old Palmolive soap stick that I haven't used in ages and which works just as well, as does Arko and the Speick stick. All of these give great glide, cushion, etc. Sometimes I think many of us have gone off the deep end chasing "dragons" for a new fix like a drug addict via new scents and the latest greatest soaps. I have caught myself falling into that dark abyss and have really tempered my soap purchases in the last year with few exceptions. It's nice to revisit the oldies as it's like shaking hands with an old friend for those of us who used these in the past. I went through RAD & BAD years ago and one day I said "Look at all this sh#*!!". I just asked myself what my deceased paternal grandfather, who died at age 97 years ago and used a straight razor, would say if he saw all that crap I had. I then sold the vast majority and made money in the process fortunately.

 

[GearNoir]

After you try them all individually, mix them

I agree, many classics and cheapies do a great job still. It is nice to dabble in the vast range of the artisan stuff though too.

 

[Spider]

Williams is one of my favorites. I always get great lather from it. And there aren't many soaps that are slicker. It just performs great. I agree on your thoughts about chasing soaps and trying to get the latest and greatest. I'm trying to temper my purchases as I have enough soap to probably last the rest of my days. There's still a few I'd love to try, mainly for the scents, but I really don't plan on adding any new artisan to my stable. I have a handful that I love and will try to just keep what I have.

I do have a drawer full of Williams (modern and vintage), always ready to go!

 

[Dave in KY]

"I have enough soap to probably last the rest of my days." @Spider
Understatement of the year Alert

 

[Bogeyman]

I used a Palmolive stick today with a new Gillette Silver Blue in my old trusty Gillette English "ball end" Tech razor and I feel the need to be intellectually honest in that the actual lathering & shaving were simply marvelous as always. The only areas where artisan soaps win here is by scent & skin conditioning for those that desire such. There is otherwise nothing to be gained. Nothing. I will add that IMO the Speick tallow shave stick has very good post shave qualities and costs less than $10.00.

I cannot be the only person here that has gazed longingly at a bevy of artisan soaps in their possession and felt like...

 

[Dave in KY]

Everyone is different. I have a ton of soap too and intend to stop/slow purchases but love what I have on hand for the variety. Glad you found what makes you happy.

 

[Spider]

I agree that the palmolives and Williams and the like are completely serviceable, and I enjoy using them....... but they are very much lacking when compared to the modern artisan soaps. As much as I love Williams..... there is no comparison to the quality and feel of the lather produced by artisan soap.

If I did not feel this way, I'd be using Williams every day, instead of the more expensive artisan soap. I do not feel cheated at all by my soaps and love them every time I use them.

 

[beginish]

At this point in the hobby, I've used so many different soaps and creams, I know what I like. I have something like 10 years worth of soap STILL in the den, and that includes not purchasing any for the better part of 4 years now, and I know all will give me good shaves. Some will give me great shaves. When the day comes that the only soap in the den is the one I'm using at the moment, I'll start looking around, but something tells me I'll just buy a puck of MWF and call it a day.

 

[Bogeyman]

I agree that the palmolives and Williams and the like are completely serviceable, and I enjoy using them....... but they are very much lacking when compared to the modern artisan soaps. As much as I love Williams..... there is no comparison to the quality and feel of the lather produced by artisan soap....

When I used a boar brush with plain soaps I admit sometimes they didn't lather as easily as with a latest generation synthetic brush. It took more work, That said, I can get luxurious & slick lather using a synthetic as I think they have really been a bonafide "game changer". These past few weeks I have been doing a through comparison of these old standbys, e.g., Williams, Speick stick & Valobra, and I have to be frank that they shave just as good, if not better, than current artisan soaps. I admit that I was a willing sucker and no one forced me to buy artisan. Scent be damned and as regards post shave feel I use an AS anyway. Damn! I resolved RAD & BAD years ago and never was much of a hair brush fanatic so I have nothing to blow money on nowadays!!