I can not argue with you.
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What are your “Elite” soaps?
- Thread starter Spider
- Start date
I can not argue with you.
MilkCrate
"I am a Milk Crate with Dreams"
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?
I’m in this camp also, so no worries.
I have only tried the Nuavia from this list. It is elite. However, the Project Icarus dethrones it for the top spot. The regular DG is elite to me as well.
This is where I live as well...
\n\nBut you live in Utah you can stop at Harmon\'s and try an elite soap from Beehive. \n\nOr order from Lisa\'s and it arrives in one business day.
\n\nwell if either of you wins my pif you can fix that situation!!
I forgot I do have a Wholly Kaw tub of Jamestown Gentleman though I’m not sure if it’s Donkey Milk or not
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
When you hold it up to your ear, can you hear the sound of braying?
dmshaver
0
That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while!??
Ok, so here is the other reason I started this thread. A while back, someone on another forum who has used like 600 different soaps posted his best soaps. Since ihad been avoiding new soap makers like the plague (After Mystic Water), there were just too many, I decided to give a go at his list to see if there was any I wanted to add to my den.
His Top Tier includes the following, with my comments:
Grooming Dept - I have not tried yet, but have a sampler enroute from GearNoir.
Tallow & Steel - To me, it’s Tier I, for sure, but not “elite”. It’s just missing the bar, slightly.
Wholly Kaw (donkey milk version) - Have not tried yet.
Declaration Grooming - Absolutely, I consider this to be elite!
Sudsy Soapery - I have two soaps from SS, it’s good, but I don’t like the consi
stency of the soap in the tub, too soft. And I disagree with some of their marketing choices, so I’ll never buy from them again.
PannaCrema Nuavia - I’ve heard great things, but I tried a PC soap before and it was so sickly sweet, I could not stand it. It kind of turned me off PC forever. I am curious about Nuàvia, albeit insanely expensive, I’d just want to be positive about which of the 3 scents I was going to buy before committing.
B&M (Reserve) - Have not tried the reserve, but have 2 B&M soaps that are solid Tier II soaps. No interest in exploring the brand further.
So, I wanted to see what else was out there, that others (who I hold their opinions in greater regard) consider Elite. I have discovered Beehive from Chad, and still looking for more. Have more samples to try!
His Top Tier includes the following, with my comments:
Grooming Dept - I have not tried yet, but have a sampler enroute from GearNoir.
Tallow & Steel - To me, it’s Tier I, for sure, but not “elite”. It’s just missing the bar, slightly.
Wholly Kaw (donkey milk version) - Have not tried yet.
Declaration Grooming - Absolutely, I consider this to be elite!
Sudsy Soapery - I have two soaps from SS, it’s good, but I don’t like the consi
stency of the soap in the tub, too soft. And I disagree with some of their marketing choices, so I’ll never buy from them again.
PannaCrema Nuavia - I’ve heard great things, but I tried a PC soap before and it was so sickly sweet, I could not stand it. It kind of turned me off PC forever. I am curious about Nuàvia, albeit insanely expensive, I’d just want to be positive about which of the 3 scents I was going to buy before committing.
B&M (Reserve) - Have not tried the reserve, but have 2 B&M soaps that are solid Tier II soaps. No interest in exploring the brand further.
So, I wanted to see what else was out there, that others (who I hold their opinions in greater regard) consider Elite. I have discovered Beehive from Chad, and still looking for more. Have more samples to try!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
I think of this guy’s list, I must agree with Grooming Dept as I said in my initial post, I feel it to definitely be “elite tier” for me based on my limited experience.
Sudsy Soapery’s Supercreamed Triple Butter base I actually like a lot. It is very similar to Jeeves of Hudson Street to me, despite it not having tallow. However I don’t consider either to be “elite tier” but they are very definitely near the top of “tier 1”.
B&M Reserve I simply flat out disagree with. I have a sample of the Classic scent, I've used it once; it deserves another lathering eventually, but I thought it terrible.
T&S I could see has being top tier for some folks, the sample I had also lathered very much like SS and JoHS.
The others I have not tried.
One sample that did catch my attention was one from First Canadian. I think you got one in your box from Chad. I thought it was pretty decent (though perhaps not elite).
That one I believe is one I packed for this weekends shaves at the lake.
First Canadian while good. To me is a tier 1 box 4.
I stand by my comment Beehive is elite.
I also stand by that what we are getting ready to see in the re formulation from LNHC I think is going to be there also. I won't say for sure until I try a new soap but I am getting excited.
I stand by my comment Beehive is elite.
I also stand by that what we are getting ready to see in the re formulation from LNHC I think is going to be there also. I won't say for sure until I try a new soap but I am getting excited.
Chad, I concur! It’s almost weird to say about a relative unknown soap, but I think it is seriously the best soap I’ve ever used. Maybe not quite the post Shave I get From Mystic Water, or the slickness I get from Williams. But it checks the most boxes from any soap yet.
Im a believer!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
The one I got to try was Ether’s Peppermint & Grapefruit. Really great scent and really decent performance.
KJ, Concerning your list...honestly...Grooming Dept. has changed his soap formulation so many times that I decided that I just don't care. There are a lot of people that really like his stuff...but every time I was h=going to buy on of his...a new soap base came out...I just gave up on it.
Tallow & Steel I have only sampled and I liked it plenty...I just didn't think it was elite. I guess that could change with a full tub...but since they are no longer selling through third party, I don't care to pay for shipping from Canada.
Wholly Kaw with Donkey Milk...is legit...it might be the best soap out there that I have tried. That soap base is no joke!
I have a tub of L&L Grooming. I know they changed their name to Declaration Grooming, but I don't know if the soap changed any. What I have is pretty good, and I would consider it Tier 1...but I wouldn't call it elite. That being said...I haven't used it in a while so maybe I'm confused.
I'll get back to Sudsy Soapery.
PannaCrema Nuavia...hmm...I'm probably going to anger a lot of people on this...while I think the Nuavia scent...specifically the Rossa...is an elite scent...and the post shave feel on Nuavia is one of the best...I definitely don't think it is elite. In fact, I like Marco's less expensive Tallow Line a lot better.
B&M...I have tried B&M a few times...different formulations...and to be honest...I'm very "meh" about them.
Okay...about Sudsy Soapery. I get that you don't like the consistency of it. And that's fine. I just purchased their new tallow formulation and the soap is much more firm...more like other shave soaps. But I am intrigued about your comment about their marketing choices. Previously before my latest purchase, I have acquired about five tubs of Sudsy Soapery. No issues at all. This last one however, they included a page that talks about the quality of their butters and oils that they use. Sounds good. Until I turned the page. Then I read what I amounts to proselytizing. Now I am Catholic...but most of my teenage years my immediate family was...well let's say...evangelical for the lack of a long explanation. So I support those in the Christian faith as well as other religions. If I am paying for a product, I really don't want to be evangelized. Therefore...I likely won't be buying from Sudsy Soapery again either. I know this might seem silly to some...but it's a business practice that doesn't sit well with me.
As to Sudsy Soapery I have nothing against the product. But there is an instance with a new scent soap they released a few months back they knew something was wrong and they knowingly shipped it out and charged the same price. When confronted they admitted that soap was inferior but stated still sold it at higher price because they couldn't take the hit.
Personally I have a big problem with that. And now the proselytizing stuff Don mentions I'm glad I am done with that maker. Two things you can't really change in a man. His faith and his political affiliation.
Disclaimer: the above is the down and dirty version and doesn't include all the facts. This can be confirmed by others here that frequented the journal section at the other place.
Personally I have a big problem with that. And now the proselytizing stuff Don mentions I'm glad I am done with that maker. Two things you can't really change in a man. His faith and his political affiliation.
Disclaimer: the above is the down and dirty version and doesn't include all the facts. This can be confirmed by others here that frequented the journal section at the other place.
Thanks for the info Chad...It is settled for me then. I will finish...and enjoy...the soaps I have from Sudsy Soapery...but I just won't buy any more from them.