West Coast Shaving - Gatsby No. 1

Ok folks.  It seems WCS has found another soap maker and their site has the Gatsby No. 1 now available.  They are calling it V2 and it has as its base duck fat.  Not sure if the scent is the same as the previous version.  I'm hesitant to buy it since it was the scent that really drew me into the first version.  That said I am very tempted to throw all caution to the wind and just order a tub.  I could be swayed by some gentle prodding from my fellow shaving enthusiasts.

The ingredients of the original PAA formula is as follows:

Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Shea Butterate, Potassium Castorate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cocoa Butterate, Potassium Avocadoate, Parfum [Fragrance]

And the ingredients for the new version is as follows:

Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Water, Kokum Butter, Potassium Hydroxide, Palm Kernel Oil, Duck Fat, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor Oil, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil & Sodium Lactate

I just noticed one more thing.  The old tubs had 4 oz. of product and the new ones have 5 oz.

Looks like the "new" ingredient list is the same as the list used for their other soaps which were made for WCS by Oleo Soapworks.  IF you need any prodding, I would strongly recommend getting a tub as Oleo produces a great soap  

Bingo. That's all the prodding I need. Ordering myself a tub. My year of purchases is done in only three months!

You still have a sample, or barring that a good memory, of the original? I definitely want to know how it compares. I still have plenty of the original, but would like to know where it stands with replacements down the road.

Actually it shouldn't smell exactly the same. On their site they stated it was a reformulation with intentional changes to the scent, as per below:

"For this v2 reformulation, we've added Sicilian orange for a more prominent citrus note"

Now I am intrigued. I love the current, but who knows ... They may have done it one better.

Looks like the "new" ingredient list is the same as the list used for their other soaps which were made for WCS by Oleo Soapworks.  IF you need any prodding, I would strongly recommend getting a tub as Oleo produces a great soap  

Bingo.  That's all the prodding I need.  Ordering myself a tub.  My year of purchases is done in only three months!

You still have a sample, or barring that a good memory, of the original? I definitely want to know how it compares. I still have plenty of the original, but would like to know where it stands with replacements down the road.

I don’t have any of the sample left. I’m just waiting to see if I’ll get the 10% off and free shipping for signing up for their newsletter.

I just ordered a tub. I'm really looking forward to it's arrival and trying it out. I'll post a review once I have a few shaves down with it. I won't really be able to compare it to the old since it's been a while since I used up the sample but I'm curious to see how slick duck fat can be.

I’m interested in hearing how the scent has changed in this new version, if anyone can make the comparison. (Even from memory, MntnMan62. ) Obviously, it’s also no longer a vegan soap, but Oleo’s base is a nice one.

As for the aftershave, I recall seeing a lot of love for version 1, with the downside that the scent apparently did not last very long on the skin. Since I’m assuming that not only the soap, but also the aftershave is now made by Oleo & Company, it would be interesting to know how the scent and performance of that product might have changed, as well.

So, the tub of WCS Gatsby No. 1 V2 arrived and I took a whiff of it and had in the back of my mind some idea of what V1 smelled like. And this new formulation doesn't seem to smell the same. There just seems to be something missing. Due to the kind and gracious generosity of MaxP, he has allowed me to buy a portion of a tub he was able to acquire so I'll be able to do a side by side comparison. I'm guessing the performance of the V2 will be excellent given it is made by Oleo. The old formulation was made by PAA. I remember the performance being pretty good but only got about 3 shaves from the sample. I've tried their Atmotic and am not a fan of pancake makeup. And the performance hasn't impressed me either. Although to be fair I may have used the Atmotic once. Now I'll really be able to give the two of them a true comparo worthy of the old Top Gear and the new The Grand Tour.

I shaved with the V2, new formulation, this morning. First I have to say that the scent opened up once I started lathering in the bowl. And it began to more closely approximate the scent of V1, at least based on my distant memory of what it smelled like. Essentially, I really like the scent of V2. l loaded my Connaught Omega boar w/ faux jade handle for 1 minute since I had never used it before. I then went to the lather bowl, adding small amounts of water at a time until I had a nice tight lather with soft peaks and a nice sheen to it. I then went to my face and took some time to work it into my beard as I had not shaved in 5 or maybe even 6 days (blasphemy). I did 3 passes plus touch up. BBS for sure, although I find that the longer I go without shaving, the easier it is to get BBS. I'd say slickness was very good. Not the best I've seen but very good. Cushion was also good. Not a single weeper and a small amount of feedback from the alum. Residual slickness was also very good, but not the best I've had. I finished with my usual alum, witch hazel and then Fine American Blend. Face feels nice. I won't say it's "moisturized" like some soaps leave me, but it feels very good. This was my first go at it and I like what I'm seeing right out of the box. I'm looking forward to a few more shaves with it and will compare it to V1 when my shipment from MaxP gets here. Now I'm more curious than ever to compare the scents as well as performance. Sort of a contest of artisans between PAA and Oleo.

I was able to shave with Gatsby V1 today that I received from MaxP. It had been at least a week since I shaved with V2 so I can't really comment on the scent comparison other than to say I really enjoyed the scent from V1. I used a Razorock 400 brush with noir knot and bowl lathered in an Aesop bowl. The razor was a New Deluxe on an Ikon Bulldog handle with a Personna Platinum (Israeli Red) blade. I have to say that slickness and cushion seemed similar to the new formulation. It was good but not the best I've experienced. Same with post shave feel. As I feel my face about 30 minutes after shaving, it feels good but far from moisturized as some soaps. The biggest difference I've noticed is that the consistency of the V1 is very very soft, more of a croap, as compared to V2 which is much harder. I scooped a dollop of V1 and put it in the bowl with a little bit of water for this shave while I loaded V2 directly from the tub onto my brush. In both cases I was able to whip up a nice yogurt like texture with a nice sheen and soft peaks. So, my initial reactions to each is that I love the scent of both and have yet to be able to decipher the difference between the two. They are different but I just can't describe it yet. Performance seems quite similar. I need more time with each and will shave with V2 again on Friday.

I was able to shave with Gatsby V1 today that I received from MaxP. It had been at least a week since I shaved with V2 so I can't really comment on the scent comparison other than to say I really enjoyed the scent from V1. I used a Razorock 400 brush with noir knot and bowl lathered in an Aesop bowl. The razor was a New Deluxe on an Ikon Bulldog handle with a Personna Platinum (Israeli Red) blade. I have to say that slickness and cushion seemed similar to the new formulation. It was good but not the best I've experienced. Same with post shave feel. As I feel my face about 30 minutes after shaving, it feels good but far from moisturized as some soaps. The biggest difference I've noticed is that the consistency of the V1 is very very soft, more of a croap, as compared to V2 which is much harder. I scooped a dollop of V1 and put it in the bowl with a little bit of water for this shave while I loaded V2 directly from the tub onto my brush. In both cases I was able to whip up a nice yogurt like texture with a nice sheen and soft peaks. So, my initial reactions to each is that I love the scent of both and have yet to be able to decipher the difference between the two. They are different but I just can't describe it yet. Performance seems quite similar. I need more time with each and will shave with V2 again on Friday.

Thank you MntnMan62 .

It seems if they are this close you can't go wrong with V2 (since V1 is now history). I'll definitely be checking back to see how your assessment of the scent progresses. They have to be close, though, right?

From their website: "#1 Gatsby is an elegant, masculine scent that might remind you of dressing to the nines, speakeasies, and the clink of ice on crystal. This 1920s inspired scent is from the days when men were dapper, clean-shaven, and well-groomed. Notes of oakmoss, cardamom, bergamot, lavender, cedarwood, amber, coumarin, and vetiver. For this v2 reformulation, we've added Sicilian orange for a more prominent citrus note."

I wonder if the orange is the only discernable scent change?

I was able to shave with Gatsby V1 today that I received from MaxP.  It had been at least a week since I shaved with V2 so I can't really comment on the scent comparison other than to say I really enjoyed the scent from V1.  I used a Razorock 400 brush with noir knot and bowl lathered in an Aesop bowl.  The razor was a New Deluxe on an Ikon Bulldog handle with a Personna Platinum (Israeli Red) blade.  I have to say that slickness and cushion seemed similar to the new formulation.  It was good but not the best I've experienced.  Same with post shave feel.  As I feel my face about 30 minutes after shaving, it feels good but far from moisturized as some soaps.  The biggest difference I've noticed is that the consistency of the V1 is very very soft, more of a croap, as compared to V2 which is much harder.  I scooped a dollop of V1 and put it in the bowl with a little bit of water for this shave while I loaded V2 directly from the tub onto my brush.  In both cases I was able to whip up a nice yogurt like texture with a nice sheen and soft peaks.  So, my initial reactions to each is that I love the scent of both and have yet to be able to decipher the difference between the two.  They are different but I just can't describe it yet.  Performance seems quite similar.  I need more time with each and will shave with V2 again on Friday.

Thank you MntnMan62 .

It seems if they are this close you can't go wrong with V2 (since V1 is now history). I'll definitely be checking back  to see how your assessment of the scent progresses. They have to be close, though, right?

From their website: "#1 Gatsby is an elegant, masculine scent that might remind you of dressing to the nines, speakeasies, and the clink of ice on crystal. This 1920s inspired scent is from the days when men were dapper, clean-shaven, and well-groomed. Notes of oakmoss, cardamom, bergamot, lavender, cedarwood, amber, coumarin, and vetiver. For this v2 reformulation, we've added Sicilian orange for a more prominent citrus note."

I wonder if the orange is the only discernable scent change?

Yes, the scents are definitely close. So far I can’t really identify what is different. I agree that I find the new scent just as intoxicating as the original. I’m not settled on performance yet but admit I don’t have it dialed in yet. But the scent alone is my favorite of everything I have ensuring it will have a permanent spot in my den, as long as WCS can keep offering it.