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What are your “Elite” soaps?

Back on point (sorry for the hijack KJ)...while maybe not elite...these are just outside the elite for me.

Storybook Soap Works - I used Visions and Revisions today...and man my g=face felt moisturized all day...it was some good stuff.
Ariana & Evans - This one also is just outside elite. A VERY good soap with some very nice scent profiles.
Noble Otter - I know you tried the sample of Longhorn I sent you...but if you get a chance...I would try it again. I really think it is some pretty good stuff!
 
Interesting info and thoughts. Reminds me of the boycotts that my parents participated in quite frequently when I was growing up during the 80s. A big one I remember was against Ford.

Every company has their ideals and throws their profits behind something in support. I guess I’d rather find out up front than hear backhandedly. It’s true, folks shouldn’t beat people over the head with bull headed fervor, but there should be welcoming conversation for understanding.

Sorry these things have soured your views of the company! Thanks for sharing what transpired though.
 
No, no, you guys are good. In fact I had considered making a separate post about this, but I’ll go ahead and elaborate here.

I’m open to all religions, but my personal beliefs are a bit more, out of the norm. When I ordered from SS, I received some unsolicited religious material in with my order. I was pretty offended by this. I went back to their website to see if I had missed something. Because if they had referenced anything religious related on their website, then it would have been my oversight. But this was not the case. I can’t find anything on their site to show any affiliation, whatsoever. Yet the materials included with their order, are very “one sided”. So that is the end of any consideration I have for that brand. I have two soaps from them, and will use them, but I won’t give them another penny of my money, no matter how good it may be.
 
dangerousdon said:
KJ, Concerning your list.....
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I know what you mean, but just to be clear, this isn’t “my” list.....,
dangerousdon said:
Back on point (sorry for the hijack KJ)...while maybe not elite...these are just outside the elite for me.

Storybook Soap Works - I used Visions and Revisions today...and man my g=face felt moisturized all day...it was some good stuff.
Ariana & Evans - This one also is just outside elite. A VERY good soap with some very nice scent profiles.
Noble Otter - I know you tried the sample of Longhorn I sent you...but if you get a chance...I would try it again. I really think it is some pretty good stuff!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I feel the same about A&E, but have another sample ahead. And I intend on buying some NO Samples to give them another shot, didn’t care for lonestar , but don’t want scent to influence my impression.
 
Spider said:
When I ordered from SS, I received some unsolicited religious material in with my order. I was pretty offended by this. I went back to their website to see if I had missed something. Because if they had referenced anything religious related on their website, then it would have been my oversight. But this was not the case. I can’t find anything on their site to show any affiliation, whatsoever. Yet the materials included with their order, are very “one sided”.
Click to expand...

That pretty much sum up my experience as well.
 
Spider said:
No, no, you guys are good. In fact I had considered making a separate post about this, but I’ll go ahead and elaborate here.

I’m open to all religions, but my personal beliefs are a bit more, out of the norm. When I ordered from SS, I received some unsolicited religious material in with my order. I was pretty offended by this. I went back to their website to see if I had missed something. Because if they had referenced anything religious related on their website, then it would have been my oversight. But this was not the case. I can’t find anything on their site to show any affiliation, whatsoever. Yet the materials included with their order, are very “one sided”. So that is the end of any consideration I have for that brand. I have two soaps from them, and will use them, but I won’t give them another penny of my money, no matter how good it may be.
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There is the word “church” on the front page in reference to where the owners got their original encouragement to try soap making, but yes, nothing to facilitate that. Sorry you also had to experience that!

Looking forward to the development of this thread as you possibly obtain and try samples from the others!
 
I'm gonna be the fly on the wall here. While I've been "traditional" shaving (or whatever the term we want to use is) for close to 10 years, I've only recently started acquiring soaps in greater number and comparing. Scent note details as I've posted before are beyond my sniffer. I like it or I don't. Performance I can see differences in soaps but not to the level yet that I see in the reviews and write ups I read and watch here. I respect and appreciate all the feedback I glean from you guys. Buzzing back to the wall to be an observant fly..................
 
Great discussion gentlemen.

I'm in the same boat with SS, and their marketing practices. This is the first I've heard about the religious stuff, but honestly it wouldn't have bothered me all that much had it happened to me. What bothers me is that they deem it ok to charge full price for a product that they admitted was not right. Once I read that at the other place, my desire to purchase or try any more of their soaps ended pretty quickly; to the point that I PIF'd out one of the two tubs I have, and will be doing the same to the other here in the near future. There are too many other soaps that perform just as well if not better who don't engage in questionable marketing practices.

Another that I'm very hesitant on buying, but not completely boycotting is B&M. Will (the B&M proprietor) does make a good soap, but as mentioned above, the Glissant base is a solid tier 1 box 3 soap, (Adagio is the exception because the scent is so good to my nose). The Reserve base is supposed to be much better, but I didn't get a great lather out of it when I tried a sample of the "Cool" (a take on Aqua Velva). Will has made a couple of risque marketing choices in the past as well for his "Hallows" and "Fougere Gothique" soaps as well. These soaps have been getting get high marks for scent and performance, but when it was released, it was marketed as "the scent a devil would wear"<sic>, I feel that you're really polarizing your customer base. With that being said, I did just check the B&M website, where he's still selling the EdP of Fougere Gothique, and he's removed that marketing slant, so I think he may have realized his mistake.

Grooming department is a soap that I'll eventually try, but it's got to be the right scent. It seems that much of his scents can be polarizing, on top of the fact that he sells out so quickly, and the soap base is constantly changing, as pointed out earlier.

Another soap I really do want to try is Talbot Shaving. I've heard very good things about this soap maker, and hopefully I'll be able to snag some here shortly. (another hard to get soap)
 
Interesting bit on B&M. I get pretty good results with the soaps. But I have had way to many misses on the scent front. So I tend to not buy from them.
 
A couple important issues have crept up in this thread. One that B&M has been notorious for, the frequent changing of soap base. We all appreciate a better soap and that an artisan keeps working toward perfection but having too many ACTIVE bases in play or changing bases so frequently you can't be sure which version you are going to get vs what may have been reviewed. One artisan found a unique way to deal with this issue... Ron at the Groomatorium has kept the Chiseled Face Groomatorium brand soap very consistent while releasing new soap bases under new or different brand names (stubble buster). I believe he is making soap under other brand names too but I don't know enough to say for sure. This is a creative way to bring a new product base to market without destroying the existing reputation or brand.

The other issue raised is how an artisan does business. It is unfortunate but true, a hard fought battle to provide a great product, build a strong brand and grow a strong business can be instantly & significantly impacted by behaviors and perceptions. What may be intended to be clever or creative can be perceived by customers and the community very differently. There are cases however, where the artisan has lied, been intentionally deceptive and/or manipulative. Search the internet, there some who have done some pretty unforgivable things.

Personally, when it comes to how an artisan chooses to portray their brand, I am quite tolerant... I understand these small business folk are competing in the VAST world wide web for attention and will do or try any number of things to get attention and be found. Because I know just how small these businesses are (in relation to the world I live in), I am not easily offended by the things they might try. I think (hope) most people are like me in this regard. What artisans need to understand is that tolerance and lack of resentment DOES NOT mean I/we support everything they do. I can honestly say I respect the creativity and commitment even when I do not support the message or action. What is hard to ignore is when the artisan is willfully deceptive, lies, cheats, steals or is otherwise less than honest. These are character issues, not an attempt to be unique or creative. I think the shaving community does a decent job of keeping those with character issues in check.

In general terms I prefer to NOT receive religious or political pronouncements along with my purchases. I am also not a fan of including bible verses or symbols on websites or business cards. I think ones religious and/or political convictions will show in how they conduct their business...what they do and say naturally during the course of conducting business. In my experience such measures are often employed people who have no such convictions. Case in point, SS. Chooses to include material suggesting they stand on the highest moral ground possible, all while intentionally hiding the fact that a product they are selling is less than perfect...because they couldn't afford the hit. Talk about failing the test.

Fortunately there are many very good artisans who not only make elite level soaps but do it while running an honest and ethical business. Some go miles out of their way to provide exceptional customer service. Others are very interactive and responsive, making them a pleasure to do business with. With artisans like these it is easy to not do business with those who rub us the wrong way. Although this thread may seem to have gotten a little of track I think it is worth noting that how an artisan conduct their business is also part of what makes a soap elite.

I don't think I could proclaim a soap ELITE if I couldn't recommend someone buy from the artisan who made it.
 
I have tried a fair number of soaps (annual soap sample passaround elsewhere), however, I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to determining the best slickness/glide/cushion/residual slickness, and post shave feel.

I have settled on my two favorites which are solely based upon my own experience.

1. MERshaving Black Fern (duck fat base) I also like the Duck Sauce scent and a couple others.

2. SV Felce Aromatica

I have not tried any of the Declaration, Wholly Kaw or PannaCrema soaps, though at some point it would be fun to see what all the fuss is about.

Always open to learning more.
 
ccpastork said:
I have tried a fair number of soaps (annual soap sample passaround elsewhere), however, I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to determining the best slickness/glide/cushion/residual slickness, and post shave feel.

I have settled on my two favorites which are solely based upon my own experience.

1. MERshaving Black Fern (duck fat base) I also like the Duck Sauce scent and a couple others.

2. SV Felce Aromatica

I have not tried any of the Declaration, Wholly Kaw or PannaCrema soaps, though at some point it would be fun to see what all the fuss is about.

Always open to learning more.
Click to expand...
Is that the Felce Aromatica in the green tin or the older version? Both are fantastic but the green tin one offers an even better experience.

I have only tried one duck fat based soap but i dont recall whose it was. Declaration uses bison tallow, I would say Declaration is most like the duck fat one I tried. The fatty acid profile for duck, bison and grass fed beef is a bit different than traditional beef tallow and it seems to produce a different kind of lather as a result.
 
CBLindsay said:
Is that the Felce Aromatica in the green tin or the older version? Both are fantastic but the green tin one offers an even better experience.

I have only tried one duck fat based soap but i dont recall whose it was. Declaration uses bison tallow, I would say Declaration is most like the duck fat one I tried. The fatty acid profile for duck, bison and grass fed beef is a bit different than traditional beef tallow and it seems to produce a different kind of lather as a result.
Click to expand...

I purchased the SV last October while at Pastuer’s Pharmacy in New York (30th anniversry trip). It is a refill puck packaged in a cardboard box, I assume it is newer. However, you know what assumptions will do...
 
Mike's Natural Soaps Rose & Cedarwood. I always compare soaps to Mike's, never the other way around. Any of his flavors are great, but R&C is my personal favorite. Lather cushion, glide, and excellent post shave feel. It's got all I look for in a soap.
 
Cvargo said:
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.
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Chad, where might I find your chart that classifies tiers & boxes for soaps? Thanks
 
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