European vs US soaps
- Thread starter CPRuss
- Start date
ashwinbalachandran
Forum GOD!
If scent profile is important to you, hard to beat american artisinal soap makers. While SV & MDC are both triple milled and will last a long time, I do find the scent strength lacking across both 
You can also look at castle forbes - have heard great things about the 1445 , Lime and Lavender
You can also look at castle forbes - have heard great things about the 1445 , Lime and Lavender
adrian ivanovici
Forum GOD!
Best performing and strong scent I used were Lodrino and Daisho.
Soaps used until this date:
ToBs
Cella
Proraso
Stirling
Emporium
Arreffa
Arco
Razorock
Fine Shaving
Zingari Man
Scottish Fine Soap
Coming up: Saponificio Varesino, Noble Otter and wholly cow.
Soaps used until this date:
ToBs
Cella
Proraso
Stirling
Emporium
Arreffa
Arco
Razorock
Fine Shaving
Zingari Man
Scottish Fine Soap
Coming up: Saponificio Varesino, Noble Otter and wholly cow.
ashwinbalachandran
Forum GOD!
I have seen lots of Krokos in my local wet shaving group. It should be good. Imho B&M Omnibus is just too good for it to be used as an effective barometer
I usually get disappointed but very few match that base so I have lowered my expectations 
Sm29
Forum GOD!
MdC is my preferred soap And use it almost every day that I’m home. No other soap has felt as “clean” to me. It lasts forever, lathers well and provides the right amount of slickness and cushion.
Years ago I had purchased B&M Seville in the glissant base and while I liked the scent I did not like the way the glissant base performed and have not bought their soaps since.
I am working my way through my old stash when away from home. These soaps include Haslinger, DR Harris, tallow Tabac. While good none of these beat MdC. Should I decide to give another soap a try it would be SV. I use SV aftershaves most of the time.
Rose on top and the final remnants of Original on the bottom.
Years ago I had purchased B&M Seville in the glissant base and while I liked the scent I did not like the way the glissant base performed and have not bought their soaps since.
I am working my way through my old stash when away from home. These soaps include Haslinger, DR Harris, tallow Tabac. While good none of these beat MdC. Should I decide to give another soap a try it would be SV. I use SV aftershaves most of the time.
Rose on top and the final remnants of Original on the bottom.
Sm29
Forum GOD!
I am now at 431 shaves from the Rose Brain Bowl. I suspect there will be another 30 or more shaves.
chazt
Forum !
Re: US vs EU scent profiles, imo most American artisanal soaps are too highly scented. It feels like an olfactory punch in the nose. Who needs that? Most of the EU and UK soaps made soaps I’ve tried (artisanal and mass produced) are much more gently and pleasantly scented. There are exceptions to the rule of course, but generally the theory is supported every time.
chazt
Forum !
I’m four shaves in to my jar of MdC Nature. Frankly, at the rate the product is being depleted, I figure my grandson will be the one to see the bottom of the jar.
Randy
Forum GOD!
Or your grandson of your grandson.
Randy
Forum GOD!
So, tried and found a good sample of MdC Vetyver the other day. I didn't shave as I was already. Only a test, after a very long time when I first tried it and my lathering technique was a disaster. Still is.
I placed it all and spread it in a bowl, all dry. I bloomed it for 2 minutes or so. The water was hot, so a quantity of soap got lost in the sink so the sample became smaller all of a sudden.
I read again the ingredients: "Oh my God, the list feels so short".
The scent was very natural, kinda heavy and surrounded the enclosed bathroom.
I loaded with patience, as I added only droplets of water in the sample carefully. The proto lather on the knot (Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24mm) was a bit fluffy and not dense. When I finished, there was a good amount of leftover sample in the bottom
As I went to my hand to start the build up, I noticed that the soap after a few seconds needed water. The lather was not very soft like let's say Pere Lucien but stronger and shinier especially as I was adding water.
I kept going with the brush, until the lather was "shave ready" (for my strange taste).
In one word , beautiful. I wasn't sure if in my hand was Wholly Kaw Siero or MdC or a Declaration Milksteak/Icarus/Bison Tallow formula.
It's also impressive, what a stable lather I got, with not so much soap. Of course I didn't expect to have the density of McDuffs or First Line Shave or Los Jabones De Joserra, or, or, or... BUT:
It impressed me so much that I am now on the fence to get the 50gr. I still believe that this soap feels expensive, although it maybe not, as it will give way many shaves than your standard artisan.
I placed it all and spread it in a bowl, all dry. I bloomed it for 2 minutes or so. The water was hot, so a quantity of soap got lost in the sink so the sample became smaller all of a sudden.
I read again the ingredients: "Oh my God, the list feels so short".
The scent was very natural, kinda heavy and surrounded the enclosed bathroom.
I loaded with patience, as I added only droplets of water in the sample carefully. The proto lather on the knot (Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24mm) was a bit fluffy and not dense. When I finished, there was a good amount of leftover sample in the bottom
As I went to my hand to start the build up, I noticed that the soap after a few seconds needed water. The lather was not very soft like let's say Pere Lucien but stronger and shinier especially as I was adding water.
I kept going with the brush, until the lather was "shave ready" (for my strange taste).
In one word , beautiful. I wasn't sure if in my hand was Wholly Kaw Siero or MdC or a Declaration Milksteak/Icarus/Bison Tallow formula.
It's also impressive, what a stable lather I got, with not so much soap. Of course I didn't expect to have the density of McDuffs or First Line Shave or Los Jabones De Joserra, or, or, or... BUT:
It impressed me so much that I am now on the fence to get the 50gr. I still believe that this soap feels expensive, although it maybe not, as it will give way many shaves than your standard artisan.
chazt
Forum !
Clearly you were very pleased with the soap, @Randy. That’s excellent! Your observation was similar to mine - the lather improves as you add water slowly. It’s a thirsty soap. I find it to be very hydrating and slick with enough water, and wow, it really takes it! I also agree with you that it is a much lower cost per shave over time than any soft artisan soap. If you like and enjoy the soap then it’s a solid purchase if you’re willing to pay the entrance fee.So, tried and found a good sample of MdC Vetyver the other day. I didn't shave as I was already. Only a test, after a very long time when I first tried it and my lathering technique was a disaster. Still is.
I placed it all and spread it in a bowl, all dry. I bloomed it for 2 minutes or so. The water was hot, so a quantity of soap got lost in the sink so the sample became smaller all of a sudden.
I read again the ingredients: "Oh my God, the list feels so short".
The scent was very natural, kinda heavy and surrounded the enclosed bathroom.
I loaded with patience, as I added only droplets of water in the sample carefully. The proto lather on the knot (Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24mm) was a bit fluffy and not dense. When I finished, there was a good amount of leftover sample in the bottom
As I went to my hand to start the build up, I noticed that the soap after a few seconds needed water. The lather was not very soft like let's say Pere Lucien but stronger and shinier especially as I was adding water.
I kept going with the brush, until the lather was "shave ready" (for my strange taste).
In one word , beautiful. I wasn't sure if in my hand was Wholly Kaw Siero or MdC or a Declaration Milksteak/Icarus/Bison Tallow formula.
It's also impressive, what a stable lather I got, with not so much soap. Of course I didn't expect to have the density of McDuffs or First Line Shave or Los Jabones De Joserra, or, or, or... BUT:
It impressed me so much that I am now on the fence to get the 50gr. I still believe that this soap feels expensive, although it maybe not, as it will give way many shaves than your standard artisan.