Soap Sample Passaround - signup now

Box was sent this morning, and so it begins.

dfoulk:

Can this pass around be revived if any interest or is it beyond salvaging?

Yes, absolutely.  If anyone wants to participate they are more than welcome to.

A couple of caveats.  First let me apologize if I didn’t discover your favorite to be one of mine.  Expectations and circumstances are unique to each of us and we are lucky to be traditional shavers right now for that reason.  Each of these notes are jotted down immediately after the shave.  You may find Close Shave an odd criteria but my whiskers are not particularly coarse, I am and have always been a one and done shave.  I have found soap does have an impact on closeness whatever the mechanism and see this as something I wanted to track.  Scent is interesting to me but not a deal breaker. 

Lastly would like to point out that 3/5 may sound average.  But it is relative to the rest of the field.  3/5 is a very high bar indeed considering the competition and not to be dismissed as ordinary.  Consider that Tabac in my mind would earn a 5/5 on slickness and of my favorites MdC a 3/5 you get what I mean. 

Beehive  Bay Rum  Never have tried a Bay Rum so though this would be a good place to start. 
Lathering Ease  5/5  Hard well water didn’t hinder this soap at all.  Takes on water without breaking down.  Lathers as easy as any soap I’ve used. 
Lather Quality  5/5  Thick and fine lather held up well through entire shave.   
Slickness  4/5 Excellent 
Protection  5/5  This soap’s duty is to protect your skin and it took this job seriously. 
Post Shave Feel  Neutral.  Comfortable, certainly not drying, not greasy either. 
Close Shave 5/5
Scent  3/5  Pleasant and attractive scent.  Not enough and not long enough. 
Excellent soap.  I will buy some.  4.5/5





Siliski Soap  Rosemary and Cedarwood
Lathering Ease  3/5  Somewhat sensitive on hydration took a little work and once it reached it’s zone exploded in lather.  I could be talked into a 4/5?
Lather Quality  4/5 Fine lather held up well through shave. 
Slickness  3/5  Reminded me of MdC perfectly adequate slickness.
Protection  3/5 
Closeness of Shave  5/5
Post Shave Feel   Neutral  Lovely neither drying or greasy.
Scent  5/5 Exceptional just enough to be engaging and clean well composed attractive.
Good soap, great scent.  3.8/5





Tallow and Steel Boreal
Lathering Ease 3/5  Took some work and a little more product than typical. 
Lather Quality 4/5  Held up well felt creamy.
Slickness  3/5  Took it up to the usual sheen and expected a typical slickness.  Not there.  Grit and no slickness at all.  Grabbed the brush and dipped it in the water, went back to the bowl for more and arrived at where you see in the picture, just at a point of not sloppy and got good slickness. 
Protection 3/5
Closeness of Shave  4/5
Post Shave Feel   Neutral to barely moisturizing.  It passes. 
Scent  5/5 Excellent, lingers a bit after the shave, enjoyed the clean pitchy attitude.  Reminded me of working in Sitka Spruce timber when in AK. 
Another good soap with a great scent.  4.2/5  Scent helped this soap enjoyed it.





Oleo Shiloh
Lathering Ease 4/5  Easy to lather, willing to take on water
Lather Quality  5/5  I thought the lather quality was very good, it had a thick feel to it and held up well.
Slickness  5/5  Excellent slickness even after a pass going back was no issue.  I like this. 
Protection  4/5  Comfortable soap, nice feel
Closeness of Shave  3/5  Only soap so far need to touch up. 
Post Shave Feel   Neutral to barely moisturizing.  I can use this soap and still be comfortable. 
Scent  4/5  I liked it.  I’m finding any scent I can actually smell appealing in this box.   
I like this soap and will end up buying some when this is done.  I was hoping something could come close to Beehive in terms of shaving performance, found one.  4.2/5



Don't have pics of Beehive and Oleo right now.  Didn't have phone going and will make some right now and post.  Pics up.  Oleo is a bit wet, probably should've used a fresh brush.

More to follow.

Long Rifle Leather Stocking
Lathering Ease  4/5  Easy lathering soap.
Lather Quality  4/5  Nice thick stand up lather.
Slickness  3/5  Slickness was adequate and persistent.
Protection  3/5  Interesting soap, loudest shave I’ve had, big audio feedback.  Protection adequate. 
Closeness of Shave  4/5
Post Shave Feel   Neutral. 
Scent  3/5  Pleasant but light.  Does linger after the shave. 
I like the soap despite the score.  3.5/5  I'm beginning to realize that one time with a brand is probably not enough to really get the feel for a soap.  Nevertheless this is quite a learning experience.  And as always first impressions do matter.  Good looking lather. 

Black Tie    Black Velvet
Lathering Ease  5/5  Based on my trials with Sir Henry’s I wanted to see how much water Black Velvet could take without falling apart within reason of course.  As you can see in the pic it finally started to get a bubble here and there so on the face it went.   
Lather Quality    5/5  Firm, gorgeous.
Slickness    4/5 
Protection  5/5  7th shave on this blade, lather made it feel like the 2nd or 3rd.
Closeness of Shave  4/5
Post Shave Feel   Neutral to slightly moisturising. 
Scent  3/5  Nice scent would be good if a bit stronger and lasted longer. 
Excellent soap. 4.3/5 based largely on performance criteria.    After gushing over the Sir Henry’s I was somewhat anxious but looking forward to trying a non-tallow version from Black Tie.  Didn't disappoint.  SWMBO is sniffing samples for an order.  I will buy some.

David:

Sure appreciate your time and the contributions from so many soap makers to make this happen. This is really interesting and fun.

Black Tie    Black Velvet
Lathering Ease  5/5  Based on my trials with Sir Henry’s I wanted to see how much water Black Velvet could take without falling apart within reason of course.  As you can see in the pic it finally started to get a bubble here and there so on the face it went.   
Lather Quality    5/5  Firm, gorgeous.
Slickness    4/5 
Protection  5/5  7th shave on this blade, lather made it feel like the 2nd or 3rd.
Closeness of Shave  4/5
Post Shave Feel   Neutral to slightly moisturising. 
Scent  3/5  Nice scent would be good if a bit stronger and lasted longer. 
Excellent soap. 4.3/5 based largely on performance criteria.    After gushing over the Sir Henry’s I was somewhat anxious but looking forward to trying a non-tallow version from Black Tie.  Didn't disappoint.  SWMBO is sniffing samples for an order.  I will buy some.

Black Velvet is one of my favorites.  The splash gives me the scent longevity you may be looking for.

---

David:

Sure appreciate your time and the contributions from so many soap makers to make this happen.  This is really interesting and fun.

I second that emotion. Mother box was an eye opener.

Black Velvet is one of my favorites.  The splash gives me the scent longevity you may be looking for.

   So... I feel stupid.  Thanks for that!

I like your numbering/grading system.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations - Doc Holiday
Lathering Ease  4/5  Interesting in that I consumed the entire dollop to load the G2.  But the scent was so fun I didn’t mind. 
Lather Quality  4/5  Really nice lather.  A few bubbles here and there but the bulk of the lather was really fine.  So far all of the soaps make a fine lather.  I’ve noticed with bowl lathering speed can affect quality and  also I’m enjoying bowl lathering. 
Slickness  4/5  Good slickness, with some residual if needed. 
Protection  3/5  Good no complaints. 
Closeness of Shave  5/5  One and done super close shave with this soap. 
Post Shave Feel   Neutral to moisturizing. 
Scent  5/5    I love the scent and the treat of lingering wisps post shave.  Evidently it’s no longer offered as a soap. 

4.2/5    It has been 4 years since I discovered there was a world outside of Williams.  The first foray beyond Williams was a complete disaster and have avoided soaps with lanolin until this box and this shave with Lisa’s.  What a treat and a fine shave.

Arrived today.  Consequences of 'the box'. Surely more to follow.