Shaving Cream/Soap Samples – Lessons Learned, A Ton of Empty Jars and Process Results

[  I overload everything (in my view) but compared to some others, I massively underload. It's all relative

I think this is a key point. And from looking at what other people tracked and wrote, it was clear that the cost/shave numbers were all over the place, and pretty wildly all over the place.

My only reason for mentioning this variability, is for those who might think Brand A is too expensive. For example, I've read constantly that MdC costs far too much, yet I seriously doubt those complaining actually have used it a substantial amount of time to realize it takes very little and perhaps they load it like they do typical "Artisan" soft soaps.  This week I've been using ABC and the stuff never runs out, even the tiny bit I have in a sample jar.  I keep looking at it and thinking ....

I AM SO SICK OF ALMOND!"  

[  I overload everything (in my view) but compared to some others, I massively underload. It's all relative

I think this is a key point. And from looking at what other people tracked and wrote, it was clear that the cost/shave numbers were all over the place, and pretty wildly all over the place.

My only reason for mentioning this variability, is for those who might think Brand A is too expensive. For example, I've read constantly that MdC costs far too much, yet I seriously doubt those complaining actually have used it a substantial amount of time to realize it takes very little and perhaps they load it like they do typical "Artisan" soft soaps.  This week I've been using ABC and the stuff never runs out, even the tiny bit I have in a sample jar.  I keep looking at it and thinking ....

I AM SO SICK OF ALMOND!"  

Quite right mate. I've been using MdC and ABC for months now and both soaps barely look used. They will last me years I expect.

I have been carefully tracking product use, recording the amount of product consumed. Its going to take a long time to get some serious data. But one thing I've noticed is I'm getting bored using the same thing day in, day out. Ho hum.   Variety is a good thing.

But its becoming obvious that some soaps you just chew up.  Even after a week, 7 days of use,  you can just see the levels going down as a dense brush just rips them up. OTH, others keep going and going and going and it looks like they will never end!!!! IN fact, its HEAVIER!!. OK, must be water hasn't evaporated yet.

Hmm  

I have been carefully tracking product use, recording the amount of product consumed. Its going to take a long time to get some serious data. But one thing I've noticed is I'm getting bored using the same thing day in, day out. Ho hum.   Variety is a good thing.

Grim, I’ve started to do something similar lately, just for curiosity’s sake. I would like to have an idea of how much soap I use (by each brand) on average per shave, and figure out cost per shave, as well.

There are a lot of variables that I am not tracking, though. Ideally, you would have to measure the amount of water in the brush before loading, then regulate the loading time and pressure in some manner, have the soap always dry the same amount of time in similar conditions every time, etc. That’s a bit much for me, at least. And yes — variety is definitely a good thing.

Elite – Antica Colla Barbiera  Saponetta da Barba all’Olio di Mandorla

Otherwise known as ABC Soap ... I prefer the Sapponetta.  Sapone da Barba in Crema, the cream, is about the most expensive game in town.  In fact, I have no idea why they sell the cream. The cream is way out of line in price with the rest of this group and I don’t understand why.  ABC soap is about the slickest soap that exists and I think the cream was not as slick.

If any one cares, the rumor quickly spreading is that ABC Sapponetta is no more. Only the Crema will be sold.

Of course, the cream is $20 more A few common places still has some in stock as its not exactly a hot selling item but once gone, I guess it will be no more.

REVALIDATION


I wrote this a few pages ago ...

Below it what I think of as my validation. Most of the validation soaps were within the heart of the normal curve.



Sadly, time and time again I wondered why I kept any of them. The scent might still be intriguing. I enjoyed the brief change. But there was simply no contest, IMO, in overall experience. The Elite soaps, in back-to-back comparisons, were simply superior.

Life is short. I saw no purpose in keeping them. The frugal police in the back on my head would say – NO NO! Use it up!.     It’s money!

But the "Life is to Short Devil" in my head would say – Meh, toss them.  


So the frugal police has been winning and I have a hard time tossing my validation samples. For the last six weeks I've been using them up and again and again I've come to the same conclusion. I'll use a good/decent soap and think "why isn't this as slick as .... (xyz)?" or "why isn't this as close a shave as ... (xyz)?" and then go back to xyz and go    So I've started to toss the bits of soap here and there from my validation pile. They simply aren't worth using.

But one thing that has stood out is the attribute of after shave feel. I've decided this is what really separate the big boys from the also rans. Let's face it, you can shave with about anything and there are a massive number of good and decent products out there,  but each time I go back to one of the big boys, the difference is pretty massive in terms of face feel.  At first I thought I could make up for it by using a good balm. While it helps, its just not the same thing.  ....

Using a soap with excellent face feel for a week vs using one that is "meh" is a huge difference. Since lots of soaps are "slick" and lots have decent "cushion" and a fair number have good "residual slickness", NOT all have really good after shave feel. And this is where the Big Dogs run  ... (IMO of course).

Time is one of the great validators. Good to read your continued thoughts and experiences on the subject, grim.

grim Thanks so much for this thread and for all the painstaking work you did. After reading, I've got some Nuavia and ADP on the way!

After reading all this intense material I thought for sure Arko would come out number 1. LOL

So cost is, of course, important to many and I have been trying to gather statistics on cost/shave. Unit cost doesn't really mean much. Some units are large (e.g., XPEC) and some are small (e.g., Haslinger). I believe the standard metrics is cost/shave.

WSP has done some of this for their rustic soap here

Do the math and it comes out to ~13 cents/shave. $12.99 for 101 shaves. Of course, in reality, the only thing that matters is YOUR experience how you build lather. I've started to gather statistics and have found some products as low as 7.5 cents/shave and some as high as 60 cents/shave.

More to come as I continue to gather data.