What are your “Elite” soaps?

[Spider]

I mean it.... Elite only!

Not your favorite soaps, not your tier I soaps, your no kidding Elite status soaps. Use Chad’s rating system be your guide.

I know there’s no way I could honestly say that my two favorite soaps could be considered Elite. So let’s seperate any emotion or personal feelings and just focus on the best of the best, the Top 1%.

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In my experience there is only 1 that I would put in the Elite category. And that is Declaration Grooming. Totally based on latherability, the Shave, and post shave.

My only problem with DG soaps, is that I think they are to heavily scented, and they burn my face a little. Weird, because I have quite the opposite of sensitive skin and no soap has ever bothered me before. I know some may, take that as a hit, that drops it from Elite in their scales, but I’m not including that, as it’s just a personal hit.

So what are your Elite soaps?

 

[Dagwoodz]

I have three that I consider Elite category soap bases. Declaration Grooming's Bison Tallow, Ariana & Evans goat milk formula, and Wholly Kaw's Donkey Milk formula. I would put Declaration Grooming's Project Icarus base in here as well, but I currently do not own any of it.

All three of these are about as close to perfect as you can get for me...this is not taking scent preference, price point, packaging, or anything other than the soap's performance.

Close runners-up are Noble Otter, Soapy Science and WSP Formula T.

 

[Spider]

Thanks Josh. I was definitely looking forward to seeing your picks.

From watching your videos, I guess I wasn’t surprised too much, lol.

 

[Dave in KY]

I'm sure it's no surprise that I list CF GTB............Just kidding. Not looking at favorite scents who could argue with you 2 professionals. I agree with Declaration Grooming's Bison Tallow, and Wholly Kaw's Donkey Milk formula. I own 2 DG and still have some Wholly Kaw samples which I love the performance of but haven't zeroed in on a scent to purchase a full tub set of yet. Short list of next purchase is A&E when I pic a scent to get a set of also. Nice thread and look forward to others thoughts

 

[dmshaver]

I will be quite interested in reading responses to this thread. Just getting into soaps this week, I value the opinions of you gentlemen.

 

[GearNoir]

Unfortunately I don’t think I’ve got enough experience with soaps/creams to say what a true elite tier soap might be.

From my current experience though, I’d have to say that Grooming Department’s beef tallow soaps do it for me. They check all boxes and then some.

 

[WildWest74]

My elite list, in ascending order:

3. Phoenix & Beau Whitechapel
2. Grooming Department (Angel, Wonderland)
1. Wild West Shaving Co. (All scents)

These are the only soaps that give me a truly elite experience, from lather, to shave, to post-shave with no splash.

 

[DocHoliday0831]

So far for me the Elite soaps are only my Saponificio Varesino soaps. A few more are close but the SV stuff is my Elite.

 

[dangerousdon]

The elite soaps that I have...and I am only including soaps that I currently have and not just tried...are really few and far between. In fact if we are talking about truly elite status soaps...I only have one. Wholly Kaw (Donkey Milk Formula) King of Oud. It is the best soap I have and might be the best soap I have tried. It is that good.

Two others that are just out of elite status and still might make it there once I use it more are Ariana & Evans - St. Barts and Noble Otter - Lonestar. Not so much for the scents of these...though I do enjoy them...but solely for the performance!

I have a tub of CUIR ET ÉPICES by L&L grooming This is the Bison tallow formula. I have no idea if the formula changed any when they became Declaration Grooming. I like it well enough...but I don't think it is an elite soap. Definitely Tier 1...but then again...I have not used it in quite some time!

I have a tub of the Sudsy Soapery new soap with tallow enroute, so I have high hopes with this stuff. Is it elite? We will see.

 

[GearNoir]

I have a tub of the Sudsy Soapery new soap with tallow, so I have high hopes with this stuff. Is it elite? We will see.

I definitely feel, for me, that Sudsy Soapery (super creamed, triple butter) and Jeeves of Hudson St. are up there...very close to elite, but not quite.

 

[dangerousdon]

I definitely feel, for me, that Sudsy Soapery (super creamed, triple butter) and Jeeves of Hudson St. are up there...very close to elite, but not quite.

Definitely with you...SS is up there and I like it a lot...but not elite. I am hoping this new tallow formula puts it on top!

 

[ShawnF]

For me and the small amount I own or tried, I have to say for performance My vintage Old Spice, MDC, and Mystic are my elite. The Old Spice has very little scent left, and the MDC has almost too much scent, but the performance, ease of lathering, feel while shaving and post shave is just excellent. Same with the MW although I like the scent strength in the MW better.

The MDC is the biggest shocker for me because it is one of maybe 3 non-tallow soaps that perform for me at all and the only one on that level. I've even tried SS, SV, and Panna Crema (the expensive stuff. The tallow version actually works well for me), but they were very close to the bottom for me in performance. Something in my skin makes them so dry and have such little glide it's almost like dry shaving.

 

[Cvargo]

Oh man this is VERY hard for me to answer. But I'll try.

According to my spread sheet if I throw scent out the window I'd be left with

Beehive
WSP T and the soaps he makes for other companies like Bullgoose etc
Saponificio Varesino
Some of CBL soap bases
Wholly Kaw donkey milk* I add the asterisk because I haven't used it enough but I'm pretty confident it'll be there.

If I include scents Stirling and Soap Commander are in there.

I'll also add that Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations iteration 6 I tried for her as she is revamping her luxury line is DAMN good and could easily be elite when she finalizes it.

 

[dangerousdon]

I'll also add that Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations iteration 6 I tried for her as she is revamping her luxury line is DAMN good and could easily be elite when she finalizes it.

Now I am VERY Interested!

 

[DocHoliday0831]

.

I'll also add that Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations iteration 6 I tried for her as she is revamping her luxury line is DAMN good and could easily be elite when she finalizes it.

you sir have my complete and undivided attention!

 

[Cvargo]

Pannacrema Nuavia is probably in there too. But it's been awhile since I used it

 

[dangerousdon]

Pannacrema Nuavia is probably in there too. But it's been awhile since I used it

I would say that Nuavia is Elite just on scent alone...but I can't do that. While I think it is one of the most moisturizing soaps out there...I think it underachieves in other areas.

 

[Cvargo]

I would say that Nuavia is Elite just on scent alone...but I can't do that. While I think it is one of the most moisturizing soaps out there...I think it underachieves in other areas.

Fair point and again it's been awhile since I used it. I need to pull out my jar.

 

[celestino]

If Elite implies expensive and a very good soap, then Panna Crema Nuavia would be my reference. Nevertheless, I have never bought it as my main soap, Mystic Water, seems to top it at a fraction of the cost. Thus, I think I have had my Elite soap for the past eight years. ?
Other soaps that I would consider Elite would be:
Grooming Dept
Declaration Grooming
Wholly Kaw
Eufros/Jabonman

 

[dmshaver]

I have three that I consider Elite category soap bases. Declaration Grooming's Bison Tallow, Ariana & Evans goat milk formula, and Wholly Kaw's Donkey Milk formula. I would put Declaration Grooming's Project Icarus base in here as well, but I currently do not own any of it.

All three of these are about as close to perfect as you can get for me...this is not taking scent preference, price point, packaging, or anything other than the soap's performance.

Close runners-up are Noble Otter, Soapy Science and WSP Formula T.

Any specific soap of the DG, A&E, or WK soaps you mention above? Or are they all elite in the Bison Tallow for DG, all goats milk in A&E, & all Donkey Milk formulas by WK?