What's new
The Shaving Cadre

Welcome to The Shaving Cadre, a forum dedicated to gentlemanly discourse about wet shaving and other topics of common interests. Membership is always free so register today and join in the fun

What is your Top Soap...by Soap Maker

dangerousdon

dangerousdon

"I am Udderly Insufferable”
Veteran
Concierge Emeritus
Let's see how this goes. What I want to know is what is your favorite soap by soap maker. That is...pick that one soap by each soap maker that is Ultimate...Top Dog...The Deep Freeze? And what makes it your favorite soap by that soap maker? Is it just the scent? Formulation? Packaging? Post Shave Feel? Just let us know why. Feel free to name a few soaps by a different soap maker each. For Example:

Out of the Soaps that I have tried by @LNHC Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations I was really big on a few. Recently I acquired her Somali Rose and her Irish Green Tweed in her most recent formulation of her soap. I was thinking that Somali Rose would be my favorite scent of hers hands down...but man that Irish Green Tweed is a really good contender. But in the end...

Lisa's current formulation is REALLY GOOD (one of my favorite formulations of any soap maker), but I think that the Somali Rose scent in her current Artisan Formulation is top dog for Lisa. A nice, original, and sophisticated scent that is nice and manly also. Yup...Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations Somali Rose takes the cake.

Okay...now your turn...by Artisan/Soap Maker...what is your favorite?
 
For me, it seems to change on a regular basis but today I would probably say L'Orange Verte by A&E. I'm not a huge A&E fan and I believe the L'Orange Verte is the only soap of theirs that I have actually purchased. And aside from a couple small samples that were sent to me I really haven't tried much else from them. I can't recall what base it is, but it's a few years old so not their newest base. However, I would bet that 80% of the time I end up reaching for one of my CBL Soaps (in any of Chris' bases).

For me it is the scent that I enjoy and look for. I have good water for lathering and I don't think I am nearly as discriminating as others when it comes to formulation/base performance. There are so many good performing soaps out there that for me it comes down to scent.
 
I have to say the Grooming Department. Simply fantastic scents slickness and post shave. There are so MANNY great soaps out there. Nice question,.
 
dangerousdon said:
Well then...this one turned out a dud.
Click to expand...
You called it a dud thread in less than 12 hours?

CBL is by far my favorite soap. Of his lines, even though he has made newer soaps with improvements, my favorite is still his old Premium line. They just lather better for me. And of those premium soaps the best are the ones with Hemp oil. And of that line, my favorite scent is Dragon's Blood..... with or without the cooling agents. I love either.

Any other artisan I pick, the choice would just come down to what scent I prefer.
 
Spider said:
You called it a dud thread in less than 12 hours?

CBL is by far my favorite soap. Of his lines, even though he has made newer soaps with improvements, my favorite is still his old Premium line. They just lather better for me. And of those premium soaps the best are the ones with Hemp oil. And of that line, my favorite scent is Dragon's Blood..... with or without the cooling agents. I love either.

Any other artisan I pick, the choice would just come down to what scent I prefer.
Click to expand...
+1 here. The Premium base is where it's at, imo. I have two of them (should have gotten more when available) and they just rock. Smokey Mountain Cedar for the cool weather and Sir Fougere for the warmer months. Always a CBL at the ready.

Another great one is Ethos. I have not done well with the scents. The colonia is pretty good, probably downright awesome if you like cologne scents. Still, hands down Frank's best creation IMO is Greenfresh. Just a killer scent in a base that is amazing. Just need to find an Ethos soap in a winter scent and I'll have two great for each half-year. [emoji846]
 
Still Mystic Water for me. My first true soap love. It's the post shave feel that edges out the rest. Favorite scent is probably the Maestrale. Used to be Bay Rum but my tastes changed.

CBL is pretty close in performance.

Dialing in a DRH right now, and it's the best traditional soap I've used in a long time.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
 
Just as a note...this thread wasn't meant to limit responses to just one soap period. But just the top soap per your favorite soap makers.

@CBLSoap.com is a favorite around here for obvious reasons. And Chris has a lot of offerings in a lot of different formulations. I don't think Chris made a bad soap...period. That being said, Like @Spider , I still think that the Old Premium line of CBL Soaps were the best of everything, and especially the ones containing Hemp Oil. That formulation beats out any soap of any maker for me. And while I love a lot of the scents...and I REALLY LOVE a lot of the scents, Iron Throne is an absolute favorite of mine. It's a great scent that isn't so heavy and is fresh enough to wear in warmer months. And has just the right of cooler weather notes to wear in the fall and winter. I am hoping Chis makes this again at sometime...even if he has to call it something else.
 
@CBLSoap.com Roasted Oatmeal Stout
Never got to try this in the premium base but I LOVE IT in the master barber/tonsorial base and I'm so glad he started making the AS to go with it!

@LNHC Haute Leather
Hands down the BEST Leather scent I have come across and Lisa's soaps are fantastic.

@Joe Hackett Stirling's Texas on Fire
A wonderful campfire in the woods kinda scent that will always be a favorite.
 
haggises said:
Still Mystic Water for me. My first true soap love. It's the post shave feel that edges out the rest. Favorite scent is probably the Maestrale. Used to be Bay Rum but my tastes changed.

CBL is pretty close in performance.

Dialing in a DRH right now, and it's the best traditional soap I've used in a long time.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I must agree with Tony’s assessment of MW. I once bid on and won an auction lot he put up of a couple of tubs of MW soaps. I tried Tea Tree & Blue Gum and Brown Windsor. Performance was excellent and I’m a huge fan of the Tea Tree & Blue Gum scent.
 
I think I'd have to say CBL is my favorite all around soap for price & Performance. I don't think you can go wrong on any of the lines he produces.

I started with the Premium. But like the Tonsorial base a lot too. Plan on trying one of my Master Barber puck soon. Just need to finish off one of my other soaps first.

LNHC is another favorite of mine. One of my wet shaving regrets is not trying her soaps sooner. I really like the Barbershop and Tobacco and Bay scents a lot.

Sopanifico Veresino is another favorite of mine for a hard milled vegan soap. Felce Aromatica is a great scent IMO. Loads up quickly and a puck lasts a long time.

Those are my Big 3 favorites. But I haven't tried as many as most of you guys here have.

For a Cheapie no thrills soap. I like Arko stick. It just works for me.

I like Cella too. I feel it performs well for the $$. They don't produce a big variety of scents. But I like to reach for it on work mornings as it lathers quickly, has good slickness and leaves me with a good post shave feel too.

For a tubed cream. I like to go with some old school Proraso Red in the fall through winter time as I like their take on Sandalwood. The Green for spring and summer as I've always liked the scent and face chill of their eucalyptus.
 
Last edited:
I've had a ton of Stirling @Joe Hackett pass through my den in the last 8 years, and there isn't one that comes to mind as a true dud. However, when I bought Christmas Eve last November, it truly hit a different level. It's not one I'll reach for year round, but WOW does it hit every single right note for me in that Christmastime profile. One whiff of the tub or the AS balm and I'm taken right back to watch the "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" stop motion TV special while eating my mom's Christmas cookies in the early 90's. There are so many holiday themed scents out there from various artisans and Stirling Christmas Eve is absolutely the tip of that mountain in my experience.
 
Stirling
Lisa’s
Mystic Water
Mikes.
WSP

Going against the grain...pun intended...

The Shaving Cadre has become an environment of incessant butt smootching of CBL soap and other top members of the forum...it has gotten out of control. This may as well be Facebook.

If I don’t get kicked out, I think I’m all done. I do understand the definition of “cadre”. I’ve yet to be part of a forum that’s this tight and which I don’t find to be positive or welcoming.

I came here to get away from the Badger & Blade Nazis only to become part of a good ole boys club where members have there own little private jokes/comments.

I’m not against camaraderie at all, but this is too much for me. I join forums for product and equipment information and opinion sharing.

It’s certainly nice that members know each other but the private comments make me feel that I’m NOT a member, but an outsider.

Sorry...few will probably see this....it’s been nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Well,
Unlike the other areas you mention we not only allow comments like this, but appreciate other opinions. Soap is something with a ton of opinions. In my opinion where your logic is incorrect is that people mention CBL soaps as a favorite, because it is that good. Now you may accuse me of being bias because I his partner, an owner of this forum, and his friend. However, if you read many of my reviews CBL does not always come out on top. That is the beauty of this forum is we do welcome diversity and opinion, as long as they are respective, let me repeat that! RESPECTIVE.
Also Cadre means FAMILY and the vast majority here are exactly that, but at the same time “This Family” is not for everyone, as clearly you feel that you are not, and that is OK. The TSC is not for everyone. If you decide to leave we wish you the best of luck in finding a place you can embrace. If you decide to remain a member we welcome it as long as you remain RESPECTIVE of EVERYONE here which included Vendors, owners, members ETC. However make no mistake if you decide not to follow the TOU or the items I have outlined above, you are correct you will be asked to leave, but your comments will remain for all to see

again best of luck
 
I know it's a bit of a conglomeration between Chatillon Lux and Declaration Grooming, but I LOVE Vide Poche. Most won't know what this is since it was a very short run and will likely no longer be made. But at the time it was in DG Grooming's Icarus formulation. It was the scent that put me over the top...but that Icarus formulation of the soap was one of the best out there at the time. I would LOVE to have this in the DG's Milksteak Formulation.

1621343461534.png
 
It's hard to pick favorites as most soaps these days provide excellent shaves but love seeing people's top picks if for nothing more than YMMV Here are a few personal favorites:

Wet The Face Christmas time- this soap I picked up on BST some years back and knew nothing about this artisan but it turned out to be excellent with a strong Pine/Basalm/Fir scent.

Ballenclaugh soaps- top notch performance, unique scents which like B&M can be hit or miss. Hot Barrel Rose, Honey Tobacco, and Festive Parlor are top choices.

Ach Brito Mongo/ Musgo Real- Mongo is a newer soap that has quickly moved thru the ranks. It has a Devine masculine cologne scent that smells like absolute class. Triple Milled with top notch performance.

Southern Witchcrafts- amazing performance, interesting unique scents.

Storybook Soapworks Shaken- I've ranted & raved about this scent and think it is a true masterpiece. Really sad to see this artisan close down shop.

IColoniali- such a unique soap. Nice menthol cooling with a spicy scent that is different yet nice.

These are just a few at the moment that come to mind. Favorites are always changing with a few exceptions that stand the test of time. Usually It comes down to scent preference since the performance of most soaps these days are very good with some just being marginally better, but if it's in the den it's good stuff. It does seem like many of my favorites are no longer in production so thankfully a tub of soap is a lifetime supply so no worries about not being able to replace them lol.
 
To be honest, it has been so long since I bought a new soap, I think all of them have been reformulated at this point. So my "best" may be different if I actually tried the current offerings out there.

Stirling was my first soap and I have always had it in my top 3. I can't say what is their best scent though because there are so many that still sound good and I am yet to try. From what I have seen, Gatlinburg has been my favorite.

A&E produces a wonderfully slick lather and the L'Orange Vert smells amazing.

I haven't tried B&M since their white label days, but their Seville and Lavanille smelled great.

The last mention is Declaration Grooming with 2 scents. Their Colonia Balsamica (RIP) and their Unconditional Surrender. Both were scents by Chatillon Lux, buy DG made the soaps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top