New Artisans

I've been seeing quite a few interesting new Artisans posted in SOTD and social media such as 345, MacDuffs, Laugar, Blue Devil Soaps, Stone Field, Paragon, Bartigan & Stark, Angora, and True North to name a few. Actually I've been hearing about 345 and MacDuffsfor awhile but have yet to try them. 

I'd like to pick a few up and was hoping to get some opinions from those of you that have tried them regarding performance, scents(strong, light) and anything else you'd like to comment on and please feel free to add any not mentioned

Thanks for any input!

Oasisdave 

My only experience is with Macduff’s and it’s quite good from my use over the last couple months. I’ve alternated with my Grooming department soaps for the most part and the end result (comfort of shave, moisturizing and skin feel afterwards) is pretty awesome. They currently have their V3 soaps on for $15-16 USD and I find the performance close to their v4. Mind you they have some interesting new scents in V4 with some summer ones coming in the first week of June. 



Their bar soaps are great as well. I bought the Old Strathcona and its fantastic. I’m looking at picking up the matching soap and splash, but need to show some restraint.

In the end, performance is top notch if you can find a scent that appeals to you.

I’ve got some experience with both 345 and MacDuffs. 345 soap base is called Trinity, and I’ve had good experience. I got a dense lather with plenty of cushion and slickness for great protection. The scent strength to me is about a 6-7 with Derby, and similar with Flannel Shirt (only two scents I’ve tried).

For MacDuffs the only base I’ve used is their V3, and to be honest I didn’t see the need for a base upgrade. So I haven’t tried any of the new scents, but those I’ve tried I’ve enjoyed. Maybe a 5-6 scent strength. The lather was a dense lower profile which I prefer, and excellent slickness. I’ve used Badlands and Viticulture, and both are great.

IMO you can’t go wrong with either of these artisans. It’s all about finding the scent you like!

I can vouch for 345. I own four soaps with a fifth one coming. Very good, unique scents and rock solid scent strength. The thing that gets me about them however, is the performance which each time I use them (at 16.95 for 5.8oz) stuns me with how slick and creamy the lathers always are. I definitely recommend 345, especially Flannel Shirt(My Favorite), White Buffalo, Bel Air and Sharkbite scents.

Another one you didn't list but I like a good deal is Hub City. Morning hike is an incredible scent and their performance is also really fantastic. If you like Tobacco Vanille from Tom Ford, Red Cabin in the Woods is another good scent. They sell samples too, when you click on a soap, use the dropdown and see if the .5oz is available.

Good luck on your search.

345 is a good new artisan and the only one from that list i have tried thus far. They are a fantastic value and performance is very good although i have only 1 shave in with 345 (White Buffalo) there will be many more to come. Really wish i could shave more than once a day just to get a chance to use some of the MANY fantastic soaps more often!

I'm always intrigued when some of these new artisans pop up on if they're been making other soap products for a while and recently branched into shaving products, or just haven't been on the radar until recently. With artisans like MacDuffs and 345 is sure seems like they hit the ground running whatever way it came about!

345 is a good new artisan and the only one from that list i have tried thus far. They are a fantastic value and performance is very good although i have only 1 shave in with 345 (White Buffalo) there will be many more to come. Really wish i could shave more than once a day just to get a chance to use some of the MANY fantastic soaps more often!

Yeah I hear you, I have way too many soaps and wish I could use them more often.

I'm always intrigued when some of these new artisans pop up on if they're been making other soap products for a while and recently branched into shaving products, or just haven't been on the radar until recently. With artisans like MacDuffs and 345 is sure seems like they hit the ground running whatever way it came about!

I was thinking the same thing.

345 is a good new artisan and the only one from that list i have tried thus far. They are a fantastic value and performance is very good although i have only 1 shave in with 345 (White Buffalo) there will be many more to come. Really wish i could shave more than once a day just to get a chance to use some of the MANY fantastic soaps more often!

Yeah I hear you, I have way too many soaps and wish I could use them more often.

I'm always intrigued when some of these new artisans pop up on if they're been making other soap products for a while and recently branched into shaving products, or just haven't been on the radar until recently. With artisans like MacDuffs and 345 is sure seems like they hit the ground running whatever way it came about!

I was thinking the same thing.

Someone once suggested one pass in the morning…and one pass in the evening!
That gives you twice the fun!

For MacDuffs the only base I’ve used is their V3, and to be honest I didn’t see the need for a base upgrade. So I haven’t tried any of the new scents, but those I’ve tried I’ve enjoyed.

Thank you for the shout out! I just wanted to comment on this point here-- first I'm very happy with our V3 and it was a huge step up for us.  But when we wanted to upgrade the packaging to the wider shallower tubs, I figured I might as well take that opportunity to look at the base and see if we can squeeze anything else out of it.  So we made a few minor adjustments (Kokum butter replacing coconut/babassu oil, switching to liquid extracts, slight bump to glycerin/superfat content), and with the new packaging, it was just simpler to call it V4. I think V4 is better, but not by much as it's still largely the same recipe.  

That said, we have lots of V3's left on sale so it's a perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to try us out for a good price!

-Sean

For MacDuffs the only base I’ve used is their V3, and to be honest I didn’t see the need for a base upgrade. So I haven’t tried any of the new scents, but those I’ve tried I’ve enjoyed.

Thank you for the shout out! I just wanted to comment on this point here-- first I'm very happy with our V3 and it was a huge step up for us.  But when we wanted to upgrade the packaging to the wider shallower tubs, I figured I might as well take that opportunity to look at the base and see if we can squeeze anything else out of it.  So we made a few minor adjustments (Kokum butter replacing coconut/babassu oil, switching to liquid extracts, slight bump to glycerin/superfat content), and with the new packaging, it was just simpler to call it V4. I think V4 is better, but not by much as it's still largely the same recipe.  

That said, we have lots of V3's left on sale so it's a perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to try us out for a good price!

-Sean

The V3 is great and a good deal if you pick some up now on sale.

Sean, the tubs might seem like a minor detail but I'll tell you, the wider, shallower tubs are just better and thank you for upgrading to that.  

Are you going to be doing V4 for your whole catalogue eventually?  I'm thinking the Bay Rum and my favourite MacDuff scent, Old Sea Captain would be a couple I'd like to see in V4.