Cold River Soap Works - Sharpologist

Merkur Man's video was an example of how he builds lather nothing more. His shiny lather method had a lot of interest for good reason.

^^^ this.

Merkur Man demonstrated technique. He showed a lawn mower cutting grass or how to perform a task. That is not the same thing as most reviews of soaps the person creates lather off screen and then just shaves. IMO, that is not a review of soap.

just my opinion.

Definitely agree. There are several reasons why there are so many more video reviews these days. Most of the reasons will get me vilified if I actually say them, so I'll go with time/convenience for the reviewer. It must take them much longer to write out a review that they feel the time trade off for the watcher/reader is worth it given the amount of content shared.

I have no issue with the existence of video reviews of products. If I am going to buy a lawn mower, I like I can go to  youtube and find 50 reviews of lawn mowers. That's fine. But we are not talking lawn mowers here. We are talking $15 products where you cant actually see work being done.

If someone wants to have a "following" or somehow self-promote themselves as a reviewer, I got no issue with that at all. Some people become "professional" reviewers on Amazon. That's fine - review whatever you want. Make all the videos and publish 1,000 of them. That take initiative, time, patience and a presence. Thats good.

But do not do it at the expensive of well written words. Consumers can easily read the words far faster than video. I can watch the parts of lawn mower and see how its used. I can't see anything from watching someone shaving. I can't see "glide" or tell "cushion" or sense "scent". But I got no problem if you want to do that. Just provide the written word too.

Go to any major news website. More and more you see a clutter of videos. Some have annoying ads in front of them, Some have the written word with them, and some don't. No words? Then it doesn't get watched. Its TOO SLOW.

We live in a world of INSTANT GRATIFICATION. This is just me but I have no time and no desire to sit through 12 minutes of .... yada yada yada. Now others might like that. Get to the bottom line. If you are going to have another one tomorrow, then get to the bottom line immediately.  Cool thats fine. But for the rest of us who are unwilling to watch, please provide the written description. Thats all I'm saying.  Video reviews? Fine, make them but also write some words.

You could always write your own reviews, post then up here, or on your own blog, or wherever. Then you wouldnt have to trouble yourselfvsith waiting for someine else to do it for you...

I dont do "reviews", but I do videos. I do then because they are fun and I enjoy it. Its not easy to sit in front of a camera and talk to no one, but speaj as though an audience is in front of you. It takes patience to make the videos, edit them, process them, and upload them. It also takes a certain amount of boldness. We are putting ourselves out there i. The truest sense of the word for all ti see and hear, criticize and compliment. We expose every nuance of our process to the armchair experts, and just wait for someone to cone along and telk us how bad we did, what we shoukd be doing differently, and hiw they are always better and more proficient than we are...

Anyhiw...just bear in mind that there is nothing easy about reviewing products, regardless of the format of the review. If someone diesnt like a format or atyle...move on to one you do like, instead of trying tk change what other people enjoy doing...

Rant over...sorry...

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You could always write your own reviews ... Then you wouldnt have to trouble yourselfvsith waiting for someine else to do it for you...

That is exactly what I did here http://damnfineshave.com/thread-shaving-...ss-results I test well over 200 soaps and continue to do so a bit here and there but not extensively anymore. I'm not taking the word of anyone unless they are crowdsourced, across hundreds of people, as being top tiers stuff.

Anyhiw...just bear in mind that there is nothing easy about reviewing products, regardless of the format of the review.  

I wrote I have no issue with the existence of video reviews of products.  ...But do not do it at the expensive of well written words. Consumers can easily read the words far faster than video.  Again, I have no issue with the existence of them, but take a look at Craig K review. He did his due diligence. He researched the owner, talked about the company, discussed the history. He compared the product to other soaps. He did a fine and detailed job, although as I said before, I am not a fan of attributes all caring the same weight, which he appears to do.

Then I see video reviews of soap. The lathering is done off camera. But its a soap review. Why is it done off camera?

So its fine. I don't care if they exist, I just think Craig K did a professional job and like to see more using his style and the research he put into it. And part of this is he wrote well, eg.

"As the shave progresses, the wood scents become more prominent, with cedar providing the backnotes along with a refined juniper and a fairly crisp only slightly earthy vetiver helping to balance the sweet floral notes that persist. The vetiver here is not smoky or grassy, and will not immediately smack you in the nose with power, but instead is an example of vetiver as it was used in perfumes before Guerlain came along; seen but not heard if you will, used as a balancer to the rest of the composition rather than a main star.

CRSW Bois Floraux is one of the only compositions I have smelled in shave soap that suggest that they could have been ported lock, stock, and barrel from the scent vaults of Dior or Lauder. It’s a great smell, one that succeeds by subtlety and careful composition rather than by exuberance, and like piano compositions by Alkan, "

I have no idea who Alkan was so looked him up and his a peer of Liszt and Chopin, who I do know of.

I'm not criticizing some people like to make videos, I was also like to see the words, and since we are discussing soap reviews, so the making of the lather as for many that is an issue sometimes. Even Craig notes it. "For the patient, an added minute of lather making is no issue, but it would be remiss of me to ignore the fact that some competitors can create similar excellent performing lather in a bit less time." So if someone is going to review this in a video, I want to see how long it takes.

I understand some people are comfortable writing, some making videos, and here is a very good example of something else. https://brushnsoapnblade.wordpress.com  This gentleman started out writing and stopped. He freely admits he is much better at podcasting. And he is very good at it.  We are all different.

Definitely agree. There are several reasons why there are so many more video reviews these days. Most of the reasons will get me vilified if I actually say them, so I'll go with time/convenience for the reviewer. It must take them much longer to write out a review that they feel the time trade off for the watcher/reader is worth it given the amount of content shared.

I have no issue with the existence of video reviews of products. If I am going to buy a lawn mower, I like I can go to  youtube and find 50 reviews of lawn mowers. That's fine. But we are not talking lawn mowers here. We are talking $15 products where you cant actually see work being done.

If someone wants to have a "following" or somehow self-promote themselves as a reviewer, I got no issue with that at all. Some people become "professional" reviewers on Amazon. That's fine - review whatever you want. Make all the videos and publish 1,000 of them. That take initiative, time, patience and a presence. Thats good.

But do not do it at the expensive of well written words. Consumers can easily read the words far faster than video. I can watch the parts of lawn mower and see how its used. I can't see anything from watching someone shaving. I can't see "glide" or tell "cushion" or sense "scent". But I got no problem if you want to do that. Just provide the written word too.

Go to any major news website. More and more you see a clutter of videos. Some have annoying ads in front of them, Some have the written word with them, and some don't. No words? Then it doesn't get watched. Its TOO SLOW.

We live in a world of INSTANT GRATIFICATION. This is just me but I have no time and no desire to sit through 12 minutes of .... yada yada yada. Now others might like that. Get to the bottom line. If you are going to have another one tomorrow, then get to the bottom line immediately.  Cool thats fine. But for the rest of us who are unwilling to watch, please provide the written description. Thats all I'm saying.  Video reviews? Fine, make them but also write some words.

what do you say to someone who might not be able to write all that well but is comfortable speaking about the product in front of a camera?  in other words, it's easier for them to make a video than trying to write a review.  I'll also disagree with your point about not being able to see glide or cushion in a video.  in what ways would someone describe glide and cushion better in written form than showing you in a video?

in Merkur Man's lathering video, he shows you what the lather looks like on the skin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcJA9ZMaphA

all that aside, I'm the type of guy that is absolutely awful at stringing together a few sentences, let alone a solid review that touches all the bases.  I'm also a shy guy, believe it or not, so you won't have to worry about me making video reviews.  

to each their own is my motto!

andrewjs18, your points are well taken and it is an angle I did not look at.  I am a reader and always have been.  Most of the time, though not always, I absorb something better by reading about it rather than watching a video.  Also, as grim points out, I can read faster than I can watch a video.  If a video is too long for what is being discussed, I lose interest and don't continue watching.  Because of that, I may miss important information.

The best combination of both I have ever seen is on the Goulet Pen Co. site.  Once a week, Brian Goulet does a very popular question and answer video answering questions folks have asked him about all things fountain pen over the previous week.  Brian is quite gregarious and his videos can run between 45 minutes and an hour.  However, he summarizes the video with bullet points, short comments, and the time on the video for a particular question so one can go right to that point.  I realize I probably won't see that with freewheeling shaving videos but I do think it is the best of both worlds.

Fast forward!  

In regards to news sites going to more video, I think the reason for that is to sell more commercials to run before the stories. They can charge more for those if the viewer cannot fast forward through them, than they can charge for clickable ads that are easily ignored.

I do not think that is why shave video makers do what they do - there are as many reasons as there are videographers, imho. To each his/her own... I like written reviews better because I can read faster, and I'm not always in a situation were I have earplugs to listen to the video in any event.

This is not meant as a dig at any people who do videos - I did watch them quite often when I was learning how to DE shave, and I will likely return more often when I someday learn to use a straight razor. I really appreciate the time that it takes to make a video - thanks to everyone who makes them!

Merkur Man's video was an example of how he builds lather nothing more. His shiny lather method had a lot of interest for good reason.

A longtime forum member friend who was there from the start of the first MSN forum back in the 90's says it's the best example of how to build proper prep. No video is shot above his wrists. A great source for those starting out or anyone who wants to get the most out of their soap.

The other YouTube videos coming out are funny really...or quite odd depending on one's mood. Most appear to be narcissists and don't want to be at the mercy of other people's preferences. It's a control thing. The guy with the captains hat and videos of gents shaving no facial hair are self-involved to say the least!  



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I definitely understand that his video was a lathering technique more than a review on the soap itself, but at the end of the video, he squeezes the lather out of the brush into his hand to visually show you its slickness and glide. I don't know how that could possibly be conveyed better in written form than showing you in a video.

Definitely agree. There are several reasons why there are so many more video reviews these days. Most of the reasons will get me vilified if I actually say them, so I'll go with time/convenience for the reviewer. It must take them much longer to write out a review that they feel the time trade off for the watcher/reader is worth it given the amount of content shared.

I have no issue with the existence of video reviews of products. If I am going to buy a lawn mower, I like I can go to  youtube and find 50 reviews of lawn mowers. That's fine. But we are not talking lawn mowers here. We are talking $15 products where you cant actually see work being done.

If someone wants to have a "following" or somehow self-promote themselves as a reviewer, I got no issue with that at all. Some people become "professional" reviewers on Amazon. That's fine - review whatever you want. Make all the videos and publish 1,000 of them. That take initiative, time, patience and a presence. Thats good.

But do not do it at the expensive of well written words. Consumers can easily read the words far faster than video. I can watch the parts of lawn mower and see how its used. I can't see anything from watching someone shaving. I can't see "glide" or tell "cushion" or sense "scent". But I got no problem if you want to do that. Just provide the written word too.

Go to any major news website. More and more you see a clutter of videos. Some have annoying ads in front of them, Some have the written word with them, and some don't. No words? Then it doesn't get watched. Its TOO SLOW.

We live in a world of INSTANT GRATIFICATION. This is just me but I have no time and no desire to sit through 12 minutes of .... yada yada yada. Now others might like that. Get to the bottom line. If you are going to have another one tomorrow, then get to the bottom line immediately.  Cool thats fine. But for the rest of us who are unwilling to watch, please provide the written description. Thats all I'm saying.  Video reviews? Fine, make them but also write some words.

You could always write your own reviews, post then up here, or on your own blog, or wherever. Then you wouldnt have to trouble yourselfvsith waiting for someine else to do it for you...

I dont do "reviews", but I do videos. I do then because they are fun and I enjoy it. Its not easy to sit in front of a camera and talk to no one, but speaj as though an audience is in front of you. It takes patience to make the videos, edit them, process them, and upload them. It also takes a certain amount of boldness. We are putting ourselves out there i. The truest sense of the word for all ti see and hear, criticize and compliment. We expose every nuance of our process to the armchair experts, and just wait for someone to cone along and telk us how bad we did, what we shoukd be doing differently, and hiw they are always better and more proficient than we are...

Anyhiw...just bear in mind that there is nothing easy about reviewing products, regardless of the format of the review. If someone diesnt like a format or atyle...move on to one you do like, instead of trying tk change what other people enjoy doing...

Rant over...sorry...

Sent from my LGL34C using Tapatalk

I find shaving videos to be very relaxing to me. before going to bed, I'll usually watch a few to help wind down.

I have no issue with the existence of video reviews of products. If I am going to buy a lawn mower, I like I can go to  youtube and find 50 reviews of lawn mowers. That's fine. But we are not talking lawn mowers here. We are talking $15 products where you cant actually see work being done.

If someone wants to have a "following" or somehow self-promote themselves as a reviewer, I got no issue with that at all. Some people become "professional" reviewers on Amazon. That's fine - review whatever you want. Make all the videos and publish 1,000 of them. That take initiative, time, patience and a presence. Thats good.

But do not do it at the expensive of well written words. Consumers can easily read the words far faster than video. I can watch the parts of lawn mower and see how its used. I can't see anything from watching someone shaving. I can't see "glide" or tell "cushion" or sense "scent". But I got no problem if you want to do that. Just provide the written word too.

Go to any major news website. More and more you see a clutter of videos. Some have annoying ads in front of them, Some have the written word with them, and some don't. No words? Then it doesn't get watched. Its TOO SLOW.

We live in a world of INSTANT GRATIFICATION. This is just me but I have no time and no desire to sit through 12 minutes of .... yada yada yada. Now others might like that. Get to the bottom line. If you are going to have another one tomorrow, then get to the bottom line immediately.  Cool thats fine. But for the rest of us who are unwilling to watch, please provide the written description. Thats all I'm saying.  Video reviews? Fine, make them but also write some words.

what do you say to someone who might not be able to write all that well but is comfortable speaking about the product in front of a camera?  in other words, it's easier for them to make a video than trying to write a review.  I'll also disagree with your point about not being able to see glide or cushion in a video.  in what ways would someone describe glide and cushion better in written form than showing you in a video?

in Merkur Man's lathering video, he shows you what the lather looks like on the skin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcJA9ZMaphA

all that aside, I'm the type of guy that is absolutely awful at stringing together a few sentences, let alone a solid review that touches all the bases.  I'm also a shy guy, believe it or not, so you won't have to worry about me making video reviews.  

to each their own is my motto!

andrewjs18, your points are well taken and it is an angle I did not look at.  I am a reader and always have been.  Most of the time, though not always, I absorb something better by reading about it rather than watching a video.  Also, as grim points out, I can read faster than I can watch a video.  If a video is too long for what is being discussed, I lose interest and don't continue watching.  Because of that, I may miss important information.

The best combination of both I have ever seen is on the Goulet Pen Co. site.  Once a week, Brian Goulet does a very popular question and answer video answering questions folks have asked him about all things fountain pen over the previous week.  Brian is quite gregarious and his videos can run between 45 minutes and an hour.  However, he summarizes the video with bullet points, short comments, and the time on the video for a particular question so one can go right to that point.  I realize I probably won't see that with freewheeling shaving videos but I do think it is the best of both worlds.

I'm a chill and relaxed guy either way. if someone enjoys writing reviews more than making a video about the product, go for it...and vice versa.

Nice review on an excellent soap and one of my personal favorites!

A question for those in the know, has anyone asked Larry @ CRSW to consider joining DFS?

Nice review on an excellent soap and one of my personal favorites!

A question for those in the know, has anyone asked Larry @ CRSW to consider joining DFS?

I doubt he will ever join here, but I think it would be good if he does ever decide to.

Nice review on an excellent soap and one of my personal favorites!

A question for those in the know, has anyone asked Larry @ CRSW to consider joining DFS?

I doubt he will ever join here, but I think it would be good if he does ever decide to.

Isn't he a TSN official vendor? I think he is, but I don't know what kind of restrictions, if any, he has.