Major Announcement From Sebum

Yes. I have contacted Dan privately about the passaround. I believe he is early to bed and early to rise, so waiting on the details.

Just my two cents on this topic.

I'm closing in on 50 years of being a 'wet shaver'. Other than a period in school when I had a beard, and a year when I lost my razor traveling and used carts, it's always been DEs and for the past several years, straight razors. Have soaps to last beyond 3017.

I've never used anything better than the Sē'bŭm line, period. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's finicky to lather if one approaches it as one does the typical shaving soap. Took me a while to adopt the technique demonstrated by Rick on YouTube (slightly damp synthetic brush and slow addition of water by dipping tips slightly). The technique shared by Ols67 also worked well when using a badger brush (slow, measured, additions of water). I get it, some don't want to be bothered, because they're perfectly happy using what they have.

But I have to tell you, every time I use the Sē'bŭm line, I wonder why I shave with anything else. 

The Tonka Bean line (I have the Natural and Barbershop, tried a sample of the Pearl Jam shared with me by a member of DFS) is very good, IMO. Way easier to lather than the original Sē'bŭm line. I've even done a side by side with the Tonka Bean Co. Au Naturel and the Sē'bŭm Tonka Bean. Yes, I'm one of those who were called 'suckers' on the closed thread for being 'duped' by the hype. Other than the TBC being easier to lather, the Sē'bŭm was better in all regards including performance and post shave. Using the Sē'bŭms for weeks at a time made a noticeable difference in both the feel and appearance of my skin (I noticed it as did my better half).

Are there product lines that come close? Yes, of course. One that comes to mind is Mo's Grooming Dept products, especially if one uses the preshave and post-shave serum. 

I understand why Rick would make the decision to expand the product line, although I'm personally not especially happy about it. I like being able to order a soap I've gotten to love without waiting for a custom order (the Tonka Bean set I got took a good month to produce). But I understand and wish him well in the new ventures.

Good posts in this thread 

Gentlemen thank you!
Rick respect! 

For me Sebum number 1 (ultimate). 
I like GD and Mo very much, but GD as like little brother.
Number 3 is not. Everything else is just fun.

I’ve never used Sebum soap before but a friend sent me a tub of the unscented Tonka Bean Shave Co Soap. I used a synthetic brush and a bowl and was very careful incorporating water. I whipped the lather until my arm was sore and have it a go. I found it very hard to get a solid lather with this soap. Slickness was really great but I found it really lacking in cushion and protection. I will say that for an unscented soap it does have a really pleasant light scent.