The very best luxury soaps/creams, money no object

I guess I should really try the new Glissant formula hearing all of these praises.

A quick aside: Which B&M soaps have the Glissant base? In a quick look at the website, I only saw one where it was mentioned in the soap's description.

That was a good question.  I had assumed that all B&M's had the Glissant base.

A quick aside: Which B&M soaps have the Glissant base? In a quick look at the website, I only saw one where it was mentioned in the soap's description.

That was a good question.  I had assumed that all B&M's had the Glissant base.

Nope, though eventually they will (apart from Latha, obviously).

vtmax, I would love to get some more CRSW.  However, this predilection for finishing soaps, combined with a desire to try so many different things, severely limits me.  I have one CRSW, one MW (imagine that, celestino) , one AOS, and one MdC.  The wish list includes Meißner Tremonia, B&M, Tabula Rasa, Pannacrema Nuavia, and Esbjerg.  But if I get those,  I would soon be hearing the siren call of Boellis Panama, AdC and Baum.be.  And everybody certainly should try some Castle Forbes Lime.  I've got a pretty thick head of hair (let's call it silvery) that I am not willing to give up, so I don't think I can consume more soap/cream than I already am.  So much quality soap/cream, so little time.

vtmax, I would love to get some more CRSW.  However, this predilection for finishing soaps, combined with a desire to try so many different things, severely limits me.  I have one CRSW, one MW (imagine that, celestino) , one AOS, and one MdC.  The wish list includes Meißner Tremonia, B&M, Tabula Rasa, Pannacrema Nuavia, and Esbjerg.  But if I get those,  I would soon be hearing the siren call of Boellis Panama, AdC and Baum.be.  And everybody certainly should try some Castle Forbes Lime.  I've got a pretty thick head of hair (let's call it silvery) that I am not willing to give up, so I don't think I can consume more soap/cream than I already am.  So much quality soap/cream, so little time.

Everyone is different, but for me none of the modern soaps, artisan or otherwise, can compare to the vintage tallow-based Penhaligon's and Floris soaps.

Everyone is different, but for me none of the modern soaps, artisan or otherwise, can compare to the vintage tallow-based Penhaligon's and Floris soaps.

John, although I love my artisan soaps, I have to admit that your SOTD photos have an air of old world elegance to them exactly because of the soaps and aftershaves you use.  Sadly, the reformulations of many of the true classics you own just aren't the same.

Everyone is different, but for me none of the modern soaps, artisan or otherwise, can compare to the vintage tallow-based Penhaligon's and Floris soaps.

John, the only thing that has been a deterrent for me with the older soaps is that they have some ingredients that I would rather not use on my skin on a daily basis. I completely understand how this would be a trivial thing to some, but it is a significant factor for me and I find a few of the artisanal soaps to be almost or just as good as these older ones, in my opinion. As always, of course, YMMV and it is wonderful to have such variety.

churchilllafemme I haven't yet tried those, but I will say that I always enjoy looking at your SOTD stuff. Very classy!

John, although I love my artisan soaps, I have to admit that your SOTD photos have an air of old world elegance to them exactly because of the soaps and aftershaves you use.  Sadly, the reformulations of many of the true classics you own just aren't the same.

I agree, Freddy, most of the reformulated soaps are not as good. However, I'm sure part of my preference for the vintage ones is just that I really like stuff with history and tradition, and I always have, even when I was much younger and not so vintage myself.

John, the only thing that has been a deterrent for me with the older soaps is that they have some ingredients that I would rather not use on my skin on a daily basis. I completely understand how this would be a trivial thing to some, but it is a significant factor for me and I find a few of the artisanal soaps to be almost or just as good as these older ones, in my opinion. As always, of course, YMMV and it is wonderful to have such variety.

Fortunately, Celestino, my skin does not react to any of the vintage soaps, although it is quite sensitive to most colognes and eau de toilettes.

churchilllafemme I haven't yet tried those, but I will say that I always enjoy looking at your SOTD stuff. Very classy!

Thank you. When I was a kid and insisted on saving all my allowance and lawn mowing pennies in order to buy something I wanted, my dad would ask, "Why do you always need to get the best and most expensive?" And my answer always was that if I was going to spend my money on something to own and enjoy for a long time, I wanted it to be something I could treasure and cherish. I guess I never outgrew that....