MacDuff's Soap Company

American Vintage is a very nice scent. However, I do agree with other posters who have noted that the base is very soft, almost too soft.

Yeah, I agree, although for me it doesn't matter. I bowl lather so whether I load form the tub or scrape some up for the lather bowl it's the same. I regularly switch between loading from the tub or digging up some for the bowl. I loaded from the puck today for a very long count. What I wiped up with my finger from the puck and spread on my whiskers was enough to create plenty of lather for a 3 pass shave. Then I had a brush with 3x as much soap to build a lather from. So from now on I'll be scraping up some for the bowl.

About the scent. Leather scents from frags or soaps are down on the bottom of my dislike pile of notes. AV is the first soap with a leather note that I really like. With only a couple of uses, leather is pretty much the only note I can actually identify. The rest is just a pleasant background scent.

With regard to the softness of the soap, it is not a major problem, just annoying. I too bowl lather. When I do so with American Vintage, the soap migrates to the outer edge of my Captain's Choice bowl and is harder to incorporate into the lather. Once created the lather performs well.

With regard to the scent, I get a lot of wood. Notes from MacDuff's indicate rosewood and mahogany along with leather.

"Notes: Tobacco, Rosewood, Leather, Mahogany, Lemongrass, Citrus, Ho Wood, Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Spice. American Vintage is primarily a tobacco scent that’s sweetened with the earthy rose-esque notes of rosewood and ho wood essential oils. The tobacco base is complimented with the richness of mahogany and leather with the earthiness of cedarwood and oakmoss." (from The Razor Company website).

The wood notes are natural to my amateur nose presumably because of the essential oils used while the leather is probably aroma chemicals. I think that overall it is well done.

Taking into account the above-mentioned minor criticism, I would recommend American Vintage. It reminds me of how that acoustic Guild Guitar smelt when I purchased it in 1969 from a guitar store in Santa Monica, California. Smells sometimes stay with you.

Ive noticed that several very good, latest generation soap bases are quite soft, or at least start out that way.  I have been bowl laughter lately so it isn't a problem for me - I started scooping and bowl lather mostly because of some issues with certain brand of soap where stuff was growing on the puck.  I picked up a tub of Spearhead Black Watch recently - its their new soap base and it's identical to MacDuff.  Theres a few others that are very similar.  I have noticed that they tend to firm up over time.  I find the base so good that I'm willing to accommodate any softness related concerns.

Ive noticed that several very good, latest generation soap bases are quite soft, or at least start out that way.  I have been bowl laughter lately so it isn't a problem for me - I started scooping and bowl lather mostly because of some issues with certain brand of soap where stuff was growing on the puck.  I picked up a tub of Spearhead Black Watch recently - its their new soap base and it's identical to MacDuff.  Theres a few others that are very similar.  I have noticed that they tend to firm up over time.  I find the base so good that I'm willing to accommodate any softness related concerns.

100% its a very minor thing and it should not stop you from trying this amazing soap base.  Just be careful if you puck load.

Really it‘s quite simple. I am purely a face latherer. For soft soaps, I scoop the desired amount into the ridiculously small metal shaving bowl from Mühle and load from there. It is actually the only shaving related item I have been using continuously for over 10 years.

I picked up a tub of Old Strathcona and a tub of Wildrose Country from MacDuff's recently and Sean included a few samples one of which was Winter Cabin.  I shaved with it this morning and it was very nice.  My main concern with the scent notes was raspberry and despite it having a fair amount of raspberry un-lathered it softened way down on lathering and was a pretty nice smelling shave.  I didn't find it too strong, to my nose it was a soft, almost musky smell.  I havent lathered up either of Old Strathcona or Wildrose Country yet but really like what's coming off the puck.  Not too strong, Old Scona is a barbershop scent and a very nice one.

I just used the sample of ‘Birth Of The Cool’ shaving soap that was graciously sent to me by Pasteurs.  I honestly wasn’t expecting much as I never heard of MacDuff’s and usually only use the old standards (tabac, MWF, Salters, etc.), but I was pleasantly surprised.  The scent to me is a bit powdery but the shave itself was outstanding.  And the post shave feel I got was right up there with Santa Maria Novella’s outstanding shave soap.  That’s quite impressive considering that the SMN cost ~$90 shipped, and the Macduff’s comes in at ~$20. 

Anyway, just ordered the Birth Of The Cool and Birch + Root.  Very happy to have stumbled upon this brand, they deserve much more attention.

Ive been saying this desmoface  since the debut of MacDuff's v.4 soap base but I'm just a voice in the wilderness I guess - MacDuff's is a legit top tier shaving soap.  I'd put them in my top 3 and no I won't name the others here.  If you want to up your shaving game get some.

I'm learning, Marko, LOL.  I generally only use the old standards, but this stuff is the real deal and I was excited to receive this today from TheShaveSupply.  Not to shamelessly plug an online retailer, but this place is always a pleasure to deal with, Gareth (who I assume is the owner) always writes a personalized note on the invoice, in this case it was, "Birch + Root is Awesome," but also always sends samples, in this case a pack of blades.  Needless to say, I'll continue to shop there.  Anyway, I can’t wait till this evening's shave, the label is making me thirsty for some old school Frostie Root Beer...

I'm learning, Marko, LOL.  I generally only use the old standards, but this stuff is the real deal and I was excited to receive this today from TheShaveSupply.  Not to shamelessly plug an online retailer, but this place is always a pleasure to deal with, Gareth (who I assume is the owner) always writes a personalized note on the invoice, in this case it was, "Birch + Root is Awesome," but also always sends samples, in this case a pack of blades.  Needless to say, I'll continue to shop there.  Anyway, I can’t wait till this evening's shave, the label is making me thirsty for some old school Frostie Root Beer...

That’s a great soap  

It's been over a month without anyone sharing their love for MacDuff's, so I'm going to do a double post ...