What are your “Elite” soaps?

[CBLindsay]

I’ve said it before, I have a hard time ranking soap characterbeyond “like” or “don’t like”. This makes it hard for me to determine THE best...but I can identify top top 1% (or maybe 10%). For me, scent strength is an important characteristic so it does play into how I determine my elite soaps. PannaCrema Nuavia and Saponificio Verasino are probably near the very, very top elite because they hit on everything I enjoy about a soap. I don’t dislike any SV Scent but I can’t say the same about Nuavia, I’m not as fond of Nuavia blue. I also put L&L (declaration grooming) in my elite grouping too. Again, it hits all marks including scent strength. There are several other soaps I’ve tried that behave and feel similar to DG/L&L (grooming lounge and Mystic Waters come to mind) but fall short in some way.

I might place my Tabaca-Veg and my beta 4, 4.1 and 4.2 in my elite group but only because they are different from the other 3 while also hitting on all marks.

 

[BarberDave]

Real Simple there are two

Saponificio Varsesino ( ALL THE FLAVORS )
Panacrema Nuavia Verde

That is it

 

[Dagwoodz]

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?

I was speaking only about the soap base formula, not specific scents. DG (especially their collaboration soaps with Chatillon Lux) can be a little polarizing. But when they nail it, they NAIL it...such as Pure Lavender, or Champs De Lavande. (Bandwagon, Southern Paradise, and Fourth & Pine are also very nice) Wholly Kaw is scented for those with more sensitive skin, but their King of Oud is one of my favorite scents in any soap I own. Ariana & Evans tend to be strongly scented across the board, and my favorite from them is SoCal Hipster and Grecian Horse.

 

[NurseDave]

Ok ok, here is the list. And in performance order.
#1 Nuavia
#2 SV
#3 A&E

Now, I'm very curious for those of you that don't have at least one of these on your list if you've tried them. I know a few of you have and I'll just have to chalk that up to you being off your rocker. But if you haven't, you owe it to yourself to do so at your earliest convenience.

 

[Spider]

But if you haven't, you owe it to yourself to do so at your earliest convenience.

Thats part of my reason for make no this thread. To see what is out there that I might need to try. The other reason I’ll post later.

 

[Cvargo]

I clearly need to get a full tub of the A&E to fully appreciate what it has to offer. The samples are awesome and I can tell it is something special.

 

[Dave in KY]

Ok ok, here is the list. And in performance order.
#1 Nuavia
#2 SV
#3 A&E

Now, I'm very curious for those of you that don't have at least one of these on your list if you've tried them. I know a few of you have and I'll just have to chalk that up to you being off your rocker. But if you haven't, you owe it to yourself to do so at your earliest convenience.

Numbers 2 and 3 are on my short list when funds recover

#2 going to get the 70th soap/Splash and A&E I'm still zeroing in on which scent. I like the sound of Revolution but unsure as I haven't seen any scent reviews on it.

 

[NurseDave]

Numbers 2 and 3 are on my short list when funds recover

#2 going to get the 70th soap/Splash and A&E I'm still zeroing in on which scent. I like the sound of Revolution but unsure as I haven't seen any scent reviews on it.

Right on. But if it's just going to be one SV soap, may I suggest that you go with the Opuntia? There may be an exception, but most of the folks around here that held 70th at the top of the SV pyramid, now think that Opuntia has dethroned it.

 

[Dave in KY]

Right on. But if it's just going to be one SV soap, may I suggest that you go with the Opuntia? There may be an exception, but most of the folks around here that held 70th at the top of the SV pyramid, now think that Opuntia has dethroned it.

Sure, confuse me more.

I'll review them both before deciding.

 

[Spider]

When are they going to perfect smell-o-vision? Then we’d know which one to pick, and be sure it’s the right one for us. I hate blind buys. And just because everyone else agrees, doesn’t mean you’re going to like it. *cough* GTB *cough*

 

[NurseDave]

When are they going to perfect smell-o-vision? Then we’d know which one to pick, and be sure it’s the right one for us. I hate blind buys. And just because everyone else agrees, doesn’t mean you’re going to like it. *cough* GTB *cough*

Not that it helps for hard soaps like SV. I've had this idea rattling around in my head for some type of samples club. We see all these soaps being reviewed and I'm sure a bunch of us would like to try them. And it would be a lot cheaper for someone to buy a tub and split it into a bunch of samples vs everyone ordering their own.

 

[Dave in KY]

When are they going to perfect smell-o-vision? Then we’d know which one to pick, and be sure it’s the right one for us. I hate blind buys. And just because everyone else agrees, doesn’t mean you’re going to like it. *cough* GTB *cough*

Not that it helps for hard soaps like SV. I've had this idea rattling around in my head for some type of samples club. We see all these soaps being reviewed and I'm sure a bunch of us would like to try them. And it would be a lot cheaper for someone to buy a tub and split it into a bunch of samples vs everyone ordering their own.

Brilliant

 

[GearNoir]

Ok ok, here is the list. And in performance order.
#1 Nuavia
#2 SV
#3 A&E

Now, I'm very curious for those of you that don't have at least one of these on your list if you've tried them. I know a few of you have and I'll just have to chalk that up to you being off your rocker. But if you haven't, you owe it to yourself to do so at your earliest convenience.

Yea, like I mentioned, just not the experience yet. I mean I’m totally happy with the soaps I have (thank you sir!) but the big names just aren’t going to happen any time soon. So none on your list!

Am I banished to shavers noobdom?

 

[Spider]

but the big names just aren’t going to happen any time soon. So none on your list!

Am I banished to shavers noobdom?

All in good time. When I started out, I was the cheapest of the cheap. It was years before I convinced myself to spend any decent amount of money on a single soap or other product. What are you missing out on? Not much, the last 5-10% performance wise. I could be perfectly happy living in Tier II. Great soaps live there. So don’t sweat it.

 

[Dave in KY]

All in good time. When I started out, I was the cheapest of the cheap. It was years before I convinced myself to spend any decent amount of money on a single soap or other product. What are you missing out on? Not much, the last 5-10% performance wise. I could be perfectly happy living in Tier II. Great soaps live there. So don’t sweat it.

Ditto for me. Been at this since 2009 and just this year is when I've been in a position to splurge when I want. Is it fun? YES. Is it necessary? YES, NO I'm just kidding. I'd be happy with my lime col conk if I had to be.

 

[GearNoir]

All in good time. When I started out, I was the cheapest of the cheap. It was years before I convinced myself to spend any decent amount of money on a single soap or other product. What are you missing out on? Not much, the last 5-10% performance wise. I could be perfectly happy living in Tier II. Great soaps live there. So don’t sweat it.

Ditto for me. Been at this since 2009 and just this year is when I've been in a position to splurge when I want. Is it fun? YES. Is it necessary? YES, NO I'm just kidding. I'd be happy with my lime col conk if I had to be.

Yes, really, I’m quite happy living in the “tier 1” and “tier 2” categories. Really, I’m more like Chris in this way, I either just like a soap or I don’t, even the ones I don’t, I give extra tries to work with it a bit.

 

[DocHoliday0831]

Sure, confuse me more.

I'll review them both before deciding.

Opuntia is by far the best scented SV soap!!!!!!!

 

[ShawnF]

Ok ok, here is the list. And in performance order.
#1 Nuavia
#2 SV
#3 A&E

Now, I'm very curious for those of you that don't have at least one of these on your list if you've tried them. I know a few of you have and I'll just have to chalk that up to you being off your rocker. But if you haven't, you owe it to yourself to do so at your earliest convenience.

Put me in the club then!


Actually I won't argue that they are great soaps. One of the Nuavia (blue I think) I wasn't a huge fan of the scent, but the rest I really liked. They just don't perform for me. I'll admit I'm an oddball anyhow since most non-tallow soaps don't, so I'll just sit here on the floor.

 

[Cvargo]

Opuntia is by far the best scented SV soap!!!!!!!

I don't know. It's hard to beat the fern for me.

 

[DocHoliday0831]

I don't know. It's hard to beat the fern for me.

thats #2 for me