Soap pricing

$20 with very, very few exceptions as I am not a PSF lunatic. They are soap makers, not dermatologists after all.

You can replace "soap" with anything else and you'll have the exact same conversation.

Green Eggs and Ham...

I would not buy it in a soap, I would not buy it in a croap;

I would not buy it triple milled, or a vintage bowl just half filled;

Though the ham might complement the boar, I could not hate it anymore;

For a brush stained green would bring me ire, and soapy-eggs would set my face on fire.

---

I'm usually looking for something under / at $20. That said, amount plays a part. BUT... I don't want a single scent in a 40oz jar. So, I'd just as happily pay $10-15 for 2oz of good stuff and buy more scents.

I'd also be more apt to pay more for a soap I know I like ... A scent I'm fond of, a manufacturer whose product has worked for me, etc.. This makes samples all the more important, imo.

I don't know. In the end, it's probably taken on a case by case basis, with some highly detailed thinking... Or I flip a coin. Lol.

I think IAMCDB's cost scale is about right, and I plan to start using it in my videos as well. I know the arguments about triple-milled vs artisan vs cream, etc. The problem is that there's no objective way to measure price per shave, so price per oz is the only objective measure we have.

Excellent $3 or less
Good $3 - $4
Fair $4 - $5
Pricey $5 - $6
Painful $6 or more

As far as the argument between triple milled and artisan soap longevity, I've done a bit of research and some of my own experiments over the years. Turns out it's not a big difference for most people. We're talking about .01 - .03 oz per shave difference.

As far as the argument between triple milled and artisan soap longevity, I've done a bit of research and some of my own experiments over the years. Turns out it's not a big difference for most people. We're talking about .01 - .03 oz per shave difference.

BUT why not take it the next step?

You already have cost per weight; why not weigh tub pre and post shave, using the delta to determine wt of product used per shave then multiply by cost per weight?

The aforementioned methodology evens the metric between cremes on one extreme and triple milled soaps at the other.

You can replace "soap" with anything else and you'll have the exact same conversation.

Green Eggs and Ham...

I would not buy it in a soap, I would not buy it in a croap;

I would not buy it triple milled, or a vintage bowl just half filled;

Though the ham might complement the boar, I could not hate it anymore;

For a brush stained green would bring me ire, and soapy-eggs would set my face on fire.

---

"POST OF THE DAY" AWARD

Yes, what he said^^^^

It just depends on what you'd like. For me, the most expensive soap I've purchased is the one I bought and don't use. If I buy a product and I use and enjoy it then it's worth it to me. I'd rather have less soaps that are really good instead of a whole bunch of average ones. I'm willing to pay a bit more for a soap than some others might. I look at it like this... I've certainly spent more for less. For example, some people will cringe at a $30 soap but don't think twice about grabbing a six dollar coffee or some take out food for lunch. I can skip the coffee, pack my lunch and purchase something that I can enjoy for a couple months of mornings. No wrong or right answer here, it's whatever makes you happy, it just depends on what you like.

In terms of why soaps cost what they do there are many factors:

Ingredients are the main factor. Some soaps contain much more expensive ingredients than others do. Some are geared more towards post shave and include some high end pricey cosmetics ingredients, expensive butters, etc. This does make a difference to me in not just the shave quality but in the quality of my skin.

The scents also can vary the price of a soap a lot. For example, is the maker using an inexpensive Fragrance Oil blend or maybe some higher end expensive essential oils as that'll impact what they have to charge to break even or potentially make a profit. The prices of some of the essential oils certainly get my attention. Some soaps cost more to make than others sell for.

Another factor is packaging as you can put your soap into a sixty cent jar or a much nicer jar that can cost two to four dollars per soap. Labels can also get pricey. Some guys like posting shave of the day pics where the packaging might matter to them while others not so much. Lids can range in price quite a bit as well as one lid might cost four times as much as another one does. As a result, some soaps have much nicer packaging than others do. Whether that makes a difference to you or not is a personal preference thing.

There are also shipping, packaging and marketing costs.

If you're of the mindset that the six dollar soap is as good as the $30 one then consider yourself lucky. If you feel the same way about your razor, brush, aftershaves and blades then you've likely saved yourself quite a bit of cash. I know that it would have saved me a lot of money had I felt that way. Unfortunately I do not, but I sure am getting some really great shaves.

I'm not saying that the price being charged will determine quality in all cases as, (in my opinion) some soaps aren't worth the asking price. Just because you paid more doesn't automatically make the soap better, but it does allow the maker to use some additional additives and ingredients that aren't available in a lower priced soap. In some cases a higher price is necessary and justified to attain a higher quality soap. For those that want to spend less there are plenty of options.

There is no right or wrong here, like everything in life you have to find the one that's best for you.

It just depends on what you'd like.  For me, the most expensive soap I've purchased is the one I bought and don't use.  If I buy a product and I use and enjoy it then it's worth it to me.  I'd rather have less soaps that are really good instead of a whole bunch of average ones.  I'm willing to pay a bit more for a soap than some others might.  I look at it like this... I've certainly spent more for less.  For example, some people will cringe at a $30 soap but don't think twice about grabbing a six dollar coffee or some take out food for lunch.  I can skip the coffee, pack my lunch and purchase something that I can enjoy for a couple months of mornings.  No wrong or right answer here, it's whatever makes you happy, it just depends on what you like. 

In terms of why soaps cost what they do there are many factors: 

Ingredients are the main factor.  Some soaps contain much more expensive ingredients than others do.  Some are geared more towards post shave and include some high end pricey cosmetics ingredients, expensive butters, etc.  This does make a difference to me in not just the shave quality but in the quality of my skin.   

The scents also can vary the price of a soap a lot.  For example, is the maker using an inexpensive Fragrance Oil blend or maybe some higher end expensive essential oils as that'll impact what they have to charge to break even or potentially make a profit.  The prices of some of the essential oils certainly get my attention.  Some soaps cost more to make than others sell for.   

Another factor is packaging as you can put your soap into a sixty cent jar or a much nicer jar that can cost two to four dollars per soap.  Labels can also get pricey.  Some guys like posting shave of the day pics where the packaging might matter to them while others not so much.  Lids can range in price quite a bit as well as one lid might cost four times as much as another one does.  As a result, some soaps have much nicer packaging than others do.  Whether that makes a difference to you or not is a personal preference thing. 

There are also shipping, packaging and marketing costs.   

If you're of the mindset that the six dollar soap is as good as the $30 one then consider yourself lucky.  If you feel the same way about your razor, brush, aftershaves and blades then you've likely saved yourself quite a bit of cash.  I know that it would have saved me a lot of money had I felt that way.  Unfortunately I do not, but I sure am getting some really great shaves. 

I'm not saying that the price being charged will determine quality in all cases as, (in my opinion) some soaps aren't worth the asking price.  Just because you paid more doesn't automatically make the soap better, but it does allow the maker to use some additional additives and ingredients that aren't available in a lower priced soap.  In some cases a higher price is necessary and justified to attain a higher quality soap.  For those that want to spend less there are plenty of options. 

There is no right or wrong here, like everything in life you have to find the one that's best for you.

Nailed it David.  

Speaking of good soaps I’m a fan of yours my friend.

It just depends on what you'd like.  For me, the most expensive soap I've purchased is the one I bought and don't use.  If I buy a product and I use and enjoy it then it's worth it to me.  I'd rather have less soaps that are really good instead of a whole bunch of average ones.  I'm willing to pay a bit more for a soap than some others might.  I look at it like this... I've certainly spent more for less.  For example, some people will cringe at a $30 soap but don't think twice about grabbing a six dollar coffee or some take out food for lunch.  I can skip the coffee, pack my lunch and purchase something that I can enjoy for a couple months of mornings.  No wrong or right answer here, it's whatever makes you happy, it just depends on what you like. 

In terms of why soaps cost what they do there are many factors: 

Ingredients are the main factor.  Some soaps contain much more expensive ingredients than others do.  Some are geared more towards post shave and include some high end pricey cosmetics ingredients, expensive butters, etc.  This does make a difference to me in not just the shave quality but in the quality of my skin.   

The scents also can vary the price of a soap a lot.  For example, is the maker using an inexpensive Fragrance Oil blend or maybe some higher end expensive essential oils as that'll impact what they have to charge to break even or potentially make a profit.  The prices of some of the essential oils certainly get my attention.  Some soaps cost more to make than others sell for.   

Another factor is packaging as you can put your soap into a sixty cent jar or a much nicer jar that can cost two to four dollars per soap.  Labels can also get pricey.  Some guys like posting shave of the day pics where the packaging might matter to them while others not so much.  Lids can range in price quite a bit as well as one lid might cost four times as much as another one does.  As a result, some soaps have much nicer packaging than others do.  Whether that makes a difference to you or not is a personal preference thing. 

There are also shipping, packaging and marketing costs.   

If you're of the mindset that the six dollar soap is as good as the $30 one then consider yourself lucky.  If you feel the same way about your razor, brush, aftershaves and blades then you've likely saved yourself quite a bit of cash.  I know that it would have saved me a lot of money had I felt that way.  Unfortunately I do not, but I sure am getting some really great shaves. 

I'm not saying that the price being charged will determine quality in all cases as, (in my opinion) some soaps aren't worth the asking price.  Just because you paid more doesn't automatically make the soap better, but it does allow the maker to use some additional additives and ingredients that aren't available in a lower priced soap.  In some cases a higher price is necessary and justified to attain a higher quality soap.  For those that want to spend less there are plenty of options. 

There is no right or wrong here, like everything in life you have to find the one that's best for you.

Nailed it David.  

Speaking of good soaps I’m a fan my friend.

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words.