My Week With Martin (MdC)

[brucered]

Here is my 1 week test, similar to the one found here (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/185811-How-much-does-a-shaving-soap-last-an-experience-with-Martin-de-Candre?highlight=), but perhaps not as technical as I did not dry between uses, did not try to limit the amount of lather used etc. And I seemed to have used WAY more then the previous tester (I'll work on cutting down the amount used per shave next time it's in rotation).

I used my usual A-B-C's in my head for a lather time (about 10-12sec) for each use. I varied my razor every couple of days and my brush daily. I bowl lathered some days and face lathered others, to give an overall general idea of how much I use "on average".

Hardware used:
Feather AS-D1
Bull Progress Deluxe
BRW Gillette New with Short Combs
Semogue LE Bristle 2
Semogue 1305
Thater Stout 2
TGN Finest Restore

Method Used:
Day 1 Face Lather
Day 2 Bowl Lather
Day 3 Face Lather
Day 4 Bowl Lather
Day 5 Bowl Lather
Day 6 Face Lather
Day 7 Bowl Lather

My pretest weight of the jar with lid was 470.3g, my post-test weight was 461.3g. Therefore I used an average of 1.285g per shave. Much more then the previous tester, but I made sure I used enough on my brush to last the entire shave or enough in my scuttle for an extra touch up pass. I see no need in trying to stretch product to last for years.

Overall it was a fantastic "Week with Martin". My lathers were perfect every day, no matter what brush or method I used. My shaves were equally as good.

Based on my price of MdC shipped to me from France, $60cdn, I figure my average $/use of MdC is sitting around $0.45 per day.

To me, it's well worth it. It's a no-brainer when it comes to lather and delivers some of the thickest, bountiful, luxurious lather I have ever experienced.

My week of using it daily reaffirms my purchase and what I already knew....MdC is worth every penny. :w00t:


http://s15.postimage.org/fwm1tcvl3/Day_1_Sunday_Face.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/fwm1tcvl3/) http://s15.postimage.org/d3su9bv8n/Day_2_Monday_Bowl.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/d3su9bv8n/) http://s15.postimage.org/86jv1yinb/Day_3_Tuesday_Face.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/86jv1yinb/) http://s15.postimage.org/8xcl7ql0n/Day_4_Wednsday_Bowl.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/8xcl7ql0n/) http://s15.postimage.org/mfjhk0x5z/Day_5_Thursday_Bowl.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/mfjhk0x5z/) http://s15.postimage.org/y5xf1epyf/Day_6_Friday_Face.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/y5xf1epyf/) http://s15.postimage.org/frmvxfdnr/Day_6_Saturday_Bowl.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/frmvxfdnr/)


http://s13.postimage.org/ysfbu3845/MY_WEEK_WITH_MARILYN_PRINT.png

[UngerWoo]

It may just be my favorite, which makes it worth the cost for me as well. A week with Martin seems like a great idea for an SotD themed thread.

[DC_MPA]

I am surprised you lathered for 15 seconds. I stopped at 3 seconds and had my brush loaded with enough soap to go three passes. It could be I'm reading this wrong though. Did you mean you loaded them face or bowl lathered for 15 seconds?

[brucered]

I am surprised you lathered for 15 seconds. I stopped at 3 seconds and had my brush loaded with enough soap to go three passes. It could be I'm reading this wrong though. Did you mean you loaded them face or bowl lathered for 15 seconds?

nope, that was the "application time" which can probably cut way down, like you said. next time i'll go for 1/3 that and it will probably work as just as well.

i just timed my ABC's and it looks like i was applying product for 10-12seconds

i'm used to normal soaps/creams and used about 1/2 my application time of others with the MdC, but i guess i need to reduce it even less.

it was an experiment and i'm looking for feedback etc, so this is one i'll definitely factor in next time....LESS APPLICATION TIME

but i will say this, it was AWESOME LATHER and TONS of it. :001_tt1:

[DC_MPA]

I like the review! Great job! I will always have MdC in my rotation. It is very impressive stuff!

[brucered]

I like the review! Great job! I will always have MdC in my rotation. It is very impressive stuff!

thanks...and yup, a 3 sec application will work just fine. i just did a "3 sec application test". and there was enough lather for a full shave.

looks like there will be a 2nd week with Martin coming up shortly, with a "3 sec application" process.

i guess i should have tried that from the start...oh well, lesson learned, but a fun one. :thumbup1:

[DC_MPA]

I've used my jar for a few weeks now and you can still see the uneven bumps from the crown of the soap. A jar is going to last for a very long time!

[Whitmore]

Thanks for your observations!

As said before I'll usually give the MdC a three- to four second whirl and use a bowl to lather. After three passes I still have enough soap for one or two more rounds left, it's really astonishing.

However - I totally understand anyone who does a full fifteen-second routine. There's just too much creamy goodness to restrain yourself. :001_smile

MdC is simply an outstanding soap.

[dangersteve]

Wonderful work! Although right after the first post, like every MdC thread, it seems to have devolved into claims of getting a full lather by waving the brush over the jar.

I have to get some of this to see for myself!

[brucered]

Wonderful work! Although right after the first post, like every MdC thread, it seems to have devolved into claims of getting a full lather by waving the brush over the jar.

I have to get some of this to see for myself!

that's one reason i decided NOT to skimp on my application of 10-12 sec, which is 1/2 what i normally do. i wasn't trying to see how LITTLE product i could use, i was seeing how much i use compared to my other products.

i knew it didn't take as much as i normally use (2 x ABC's in my head), so went with (1 x ABC's in my head).

it appears i can reduce that even more, and will do a smaller 2-4 day test with a 4-6sec application and see if i get as good shaves using that little of the product.

[celestino]

Great job, Bruce!! Waiting on the 3 second charge of MdC for the nest thread!!

[brucered]

Great job, Bruce!! Waiting on the 3 second charge of MdC for the nest thread!!

it's on deck again for tomorrow. i'm gonna limit the time to about 1/2 what i did, i think that will do it and give me enough for 3 passes. and will try it over a 3-4 day period (or perhaps another full week) and see what i come up with. i'll use the same method of rotating brushes and face/bowl etc.

but all that thick lather i got from my 12sec charge sure was nice, not sure i want to go back now. :crying:

i'm not trying to make it last forever. heck if i have to buy 1 a year, i'll do it. even at the rate i applied, i'm looking at 135 shaves from a jar. used in rotation with my other 10 quality products (MWF, TFS, LaToja, Cella, RR, QCS, MW) it's looking to last me a few years, as i have no intention on sticking with 1 exclusive lather product...what fun would that be?

[Whitmore]

Wonderful work! Although right after the first post, like every MdC thread, it seems to have devolved into claims of getting a full lather by waving the brush over the jar.

I simply had to share because it amazes me. I'm not really interested in the discussion whether or not MdC is worth its price - everyone should try and decide for himself. But there's definitely something in the formula that makes this soap a lather monster. For me it's just very satisfying to see that a classic product made from six simple ingredients puts most of its modern competitors to shame.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be actually waving the brush over the jar to see if I can get enough lather for three passes. :001_wub:

[Z man]

This is simply the best shaving product that I have used. Period.

[brucered]

well, day 1 with a 5-6 sec swirl and my G5 was not nearly as good or thick.

yes, i had enough lather for 3 passess, but it was not near as luxurious and thick as my previous week and i didn't find my shave as good either.

i'll give it a few more days with this method, but i may have been spoiled with the previous application amount. :001_wub: and if so, i'll stick with a 10-12 application process and be done with it. like i said, i'm not trying to make this stuff last for years or justify the amount paid, i was just curious.

[dangersteve]

Face or bowl lather? I'd imagine that if you spend a lot more time lathering in a bowl you can get a lot of lather out of little soap, if you were so inclined.

[brucered]

Face of bowl lather? I'd imagine that if you spend a lot more time lathering in a bowl you can get a lot of lather out of little soap, if you were so inclined.

i did that today...5-6sec application, then scuttle lather. it was good, but not as good as when i use more product. i'll give it a few more days with less product, and see what happens.

it got a good shave with it today using less product, but it wasn't as enjoyable and not nearly as thick and creamy on face, which i enjoyed with my "week with martin" test.

[MaxP]

Great posts Bruce.

Thanks

[brucered]

Great posts Bruce.

Thanks

thanks. day 2 of my 2nd week with martin. using less product (6-8 swirl or there about) and a quick weigh of my jar has it at about 0.4-0.5g/use. i'll give it a few more days, so i get a better average.

shaves are still good, but the 1st was not nearly as enjoyable. todays was pretty close to my usual MdC experience, but i had to flush down little to no extra after my 3 passes and touchup.

[brucered]

so day 3 is done. i've been doing bout 7-9sec application and getting great shaves the last 2 days. more then enough for 3 full, thick passes, with very little going to waste.

the past 2 days were better then the 1st day, as i really tried to limit the amount used for day 1.

i have used my Semogue LE2 boar scuttle and a Thater Stout 2 badger and face, both have been fantastic, over the past 2 days.

a quick measurement puts my 3 day test with the 8sec (or there abouts) application at 1.2g total use, so 1/3 of what they 10-12sec application time was using. which doesn't add up, but we'll give it a few more days and see.

i'm wondering if the last few seconds of my FULL time lathers of 10-12sec are what breaks the soap down in the container and transfers more during that time, then the initial few seconds of load up?

anyway, a few more days and i'll post back a 2nd full week test and how much i used, but so far it's looking a lot better for the "grams/use" ratio, and i'm still getting nice, thick, full lather, but having to waste very little from my scuttle or brush after i'm done.

[brucered]

so i just finished up another 6 days with MdC, using about 6-8sec application per day.

end result, much less soap used, still got great shaves.

i found face lathering used more and bowl lathering less (a day by day weigh, showed the bowl lathering using about .5-.6g/day).

i started week 2 at 459.8g and ended 6 days later at 455.0. so i used 4.8g of soap over 6 uses, so an average of 0.8g per day, much less then the previous week, using the same methods (bowl, face, badger, boar).

all in all, it was nice to see how good it could perform with less soap used, but for the amount i use it in rotation, i'll probably stick to my full 12-14 application time and have a nice luxurious shave when i use MdC.

if MdC was my only soap, i'd probably stick with the less application time, but because i have quite a few great lathering products in my den, i don't mind splurging and using more then i need per use.

[cvac]

I usually spend at least 2 minutes loading hard soaps...I probably spend a minute or more with MdC. I suppose I look wasteful to you guys...

[brucered]

I usually spend at least 2 minutes loading hard soaps...I probably spend a minute or more with MdC. I suppose I look wasteful to you guys...

not me...if it work, it works. if you go 1 minute with MdC, i don't mind going back to my ABC's (about 12-14sec) to get the lather i have been accustomed to.

[DC_MPA]

Geez, why don't you just set it on fire and watch it burn :)

I'm the pathetic one. I can get enough loaded on my brush in 3-5 seconds to give me 2 passes then I realized I wet the tips lightly with hot water to get my third pass. I didn't realize I did that until the other day. I noticed I do that with a lot of products. Just goes to show you how cheap I am lol



I usually spend at least 2 minutes loading hard soaps...I probably spend a minute or more with MdC. I suppose I look wasteful to you guys...

[BBShaver]

Man Brucered i LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEE that Day 4 Brush!!!! :001_tt1:

[brucered]

Man Brucered i LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEE that Day 4 Brush!!!! :001_tt1:

Thanks! That is my 1st ever restore (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/203276-Getting-ready-for-my-1st-restore-bought-a-Handle?highlight=). It turned out quite nice after some trial and error.

It's school bus yellow (wifes craft paints) with a TGN finest. I love the handle shape and size it's comfortable and versatile.

[brothers]

Hi Bruce. I've enjoyed the chronicle. I like to stay on the soap to load the brush a bit too long, by design. I make it a practice to squeeze the lather out of the brush after I've finished the last pass, so I can just rub it all over my whole face and let it sit a few minutes while I clean up. I do this with everything. I've got plenty, and the only reason I have all that stuff is the enjoyment I get from using it. I'm not trying to save the world or to grow wealthy! If this is my only vice, I would be surprised.

PS, coincidentally, my first brush refurb was a black and white Made Rite brush, and I also chose the Finest knot from TGN. I've used that brush hundreds of times since I redid it about 3 or 4 years ago, and it's a workhorse. I don't think it's ever lost a single hair that I can recall. Your yellow one is quite nice!

[brucered]

Hi Bruce. I've enjoyed the chronicle. I like to stay on the soap to load the brush a bit too long, by design. I make it a practice to squeeze the lather out of the brush after I've finished the last pass, so I can just rub it all over my whole face and let it sit a few minutes while I clean up. I do this with everything. I've got plenty, and the only reason I have all that stuff is the enjoyment I get from using it. I'm not trying to save the world or to grow wealthy! If this is my only vice, I would be surprised.

PS, coincidentally, my first brush refurb was a black and white Made Rite brush, and I also chose the Finest knot from TGN. I've used that brush hundreds of times since I redid it about 3 or 4 years ago, and it's a workhorse. I don't think it's ever lost a single hair that I can recall. Your yellow one is quite nice!

thanks gary,

i do the same trick with MdC and MWF. after i'm done, or for the 3rd pass, if i'm getting low on lather, i squeeze it out and then rub on face and use paint strokes to get the most of it.

the TGN doesn't loose hair, is soft but scritchy, not as luxurious as my Simpsons were or my new Thater is (softest brush ever), but i love it and use it regularly, as it's dear to me with being my 1st restore and how well it turned out.

[global_dev]

Face or bowl lather? I'd imagine that if you spend a lot more time lathering in a bowl you can get a lot of lather out of little soap, if you were so inclined.

i would think that lather would not be as dense, lots of air incorporated.. and not as nice...



I usually spend at least 2 minutes loading hard soaps...I probably spend a minute or more with MdC. I suppose I look wasteful to you guys...

that sounds way long... are you sure? whats your rotations per minute of a brush? i don't think mine are as fast as what i've seen in videos..

[brucered]

after 2 weeks with MdC, i'm having a hard time transitioning to other products.

2 days in a row now with another product and 2 days with so-so shaves. :a52: