Yardley Shaving Soap? What did I find?

[Blue-EyedSon]

I stopped in an antique shop today and noticed a wooden bowl that looked strikingly like a bowl of shaving soap. When I opened it up, I noticed that it sure seemed like it was shaving soap and it said "Yardley" on the top. I felt like I remembered the name "Yardely" from the forum, but I couldn't remember anything about it. It had no price tag on it, so I asked how much they wanted. Unfortunately, the dealer wasn't in and they said they weren't supposed to call dealers for a price of something that would be under $25 and that I would have to wait and come back once the dealer came into the shop to price it. When I informed them that I wasn't really from the area and I'd like to get it, they said, "How about $5.00." So ... I figured, what the heck? Why not?

So... what exactly did I find? In doing some quick searching on here it seems that Yardley did indeed make a shaving soap and it gets high marks. Are there different scents? This one has no label on the lid, so I can't be sure. It definitely has a sandalwood dominated scent with maybe some fern-iness in there as well. It smells great. I'm assuming it's a sandalwood scented soap, but did they make soaps with other scents?

Also ... any ideas how old this might be or what it might actually be worth?

If pictures are helpful, they are attached.

[DSB]

You lucked into a pot of gold. Yardley is my favorite shaving soap. It is worth quite a bit of money based on recent ebay sales. It has gone as high as $100 on ebay. Without a label, it's worth less. However, your puck appears unused, which is great.

It was originally a lavender scent. Your puck probably lost its scent long ago, though. The scent you are picking up is probably from the wooden bowl.

My advice: USE IT! That is the best $5 you will ever spend!

[Straight Arrow]

You got yourself a wonderful Yardley soap that routinely goes for upwards of $50. A great soap and a great score. Congratulations.

[40boy]

I'll give ya ten bucks for it right now:em2300:

Seriously, Nice score! You absolutely stole that.

Did they have anymore?

[Topgumby]

I love these stories. Great find.

[Blue-EyedSon]

You lucked into a pot of gold. Yardley is my favorite shaving soap. It is worth quite a bit of money based on recent ebay sales. It has gone as high as $100 on ebay. Without a label, it's woth less. However, your puck appears unused, which is great.

It was originally a lavender scent. Your puck probably lost its scent long ago, though. The scent you are picking up is probably from the wooden bowl.

My adive: USE IT! That is the best $5 you will ever spend!

I think I will definitely give it a try or two to see if I like it. It does appear almost unused. I think it was probably used a couple of times. There is a bit of soapy residue in a few of the letters, which makes me think it has been used. But the letters are still quite distinct, which makes me think that it was used no more than a handful of times.

Are you sure the only scent they made it in was lavender? I'm definitely getting some bit of woodsiness that is faintly reminiscent of sandalwood. I'm pretty sure it's not just the wood of the bowl that I'm smelling. I tried closing the bowl very tightly and smelling the wood alone. By itself, I don't really smell anything from the bowl. The only lavender scented soap that I have is from TOBS, which is maybe skewing my perspective on what a lavender scented soap would be like. Well ... on second sniff in comparing it to TOBS ... maybe it is lavender. Maybe that's what I was picking up on as a having a ferny quality because lavender seems to feature in the fern scents that I've experienced.

Also ... Scott ... this was the only one they had. If they had more, I definitely would have picked them up as well. If I don't like it, expect to see it in the BST. But I kind of doubt that. I really like the scent, whatever it is. And I'm guessing it will perform quite well.

[beginish]

Soap score of the year so far. My Yardley looks to be of the same vintage, and unless it was wrapped, that original lavender scent should be long gone. It is probably the bowl.

[texquill]

Another bonus - your find is a tallow-based soap. Yardley is one of my favorites, even though the fragrance has faded over time.

[Shaving Dad]

Wow, what a find! Congrats to you! Hope you enjoy it.

[andrew98]

Ha! That's great! Enjoy it.

-Andy

[Blue-EyedSon]

Thanks to all for the words of congratulations.

I just tried lathering with it in part because I wanted to see how this soap actually performs and to get a thin portion of the top layer off so that I can try it in the morning. Wow! I really had no idea that lather could be this good. I've tried a few soaps: TOBS, Trumpers (new formulation), Tabac, and DR Harris. This puck of Yardley's vastly out performs all of them. Never have I gotten a slicker and denser and voluminous amount of lather. Moreover, it was probably the easiest lather I have ever made. I'm amazed that lather can actually be this good.

It sounds like the consensus is that Yardley only made a lavender scented shaving soap. The woodsiness I'm getting must just be a result of it being in the wooden bowl for so long. The more I've smelled the soap, the more I can detect some faint lavender with maybe a touch of woodiness.

Getting this soap has made me wonder ... there seems to have been a bit of chatter lately regarding Pen's older formulation of English Fern. For those of you, if any, who have used both, how does the Pen's compare to Yardley?

[beginish]

Yardley lather beats Pens in my hands. Scent is a completely different story.

[SRock]

my adive: Use it! That is the best $5 you will ever spend!

+1

[Blue-EyedSon]

Well, I gave it a try this morning. And I must say, WOW! This soap is incredible. I really did not know that it was possible to get lather this good. My experience with soaps may be on the limited side as I've tried TOBS, Trumpers (newer formulation), DR Harris, and Tabac. This puck of Yardley's significantly outperformed everything I've tried. I've yet to get a denser, slicker, more moisturizing, or more protecting lather. Moreover, it lathered up far easier than anything I've ever made. I'm thoroughly impressed on the lather side.

Now, with respect to the scent, whatever scent remains is faint. So faint as to be almost nondescript once lathered. Maybe there is a hint of lavender. Maybe there is a hint of some woodsiness. But, overall, not much. That's the only thing I'm not sure about on this soap. I enjoy soaps having a scent, so ... hmm ... What to do? What to do? I think I'll give it another try or two and then go from there.

Also ... can anybody else offer a comparison of Yardley's to Pen's older formulation of English Fern?

[Hayden]

Man, I really love shaving bowls. I think that might become my new AD

[mdunn]

unbelievable score!

[Gustav]

5$ is a steal for such a great soap. I am lucky enough to have one of these that my father bought in the 70ies when he decided to try and soon after gave up DE-shaving. For me this soap beats EVERYTHING I have ever tried up until now by a long shot. I use it for birthdays and special occasions when I have something special to celebrate. Congratulations on finding this rare gem.

[Bogframe]

+1 on what everyone wlse said. Yardley made a hell of a soap, and to find one is a rare and beautiful thing. To find one that's only been used once or twice is a godsend. Use it in good health!