Found my new favorite soap!!!

[Matt555]

And the winner is.......

Pre De Provence!!! I tried it a few years back and did not care for it (cannot remember why). Bought a new tin a few days back and it is great. I only use shea butter soaps now. Pre De Provence is simply great and the price cannot be beat. $14 for 5.2oz.

[AABCDS]

Hmmm, interesting. Have you tried Institute Karite or Provence Sante? I haven't tried either of those but I've read that others think both of those are better than PdP. So far, I think PdP is mediocre. I absolutely love the scent though.

[nemo]

Pre De Provence!!!
the price cannot be beat. $14 for 5.2oz.

It's a heavy puck that wears down slowly. Good stuff, good economy.

[Matt555]

Hmmm, interesting. Have you tried Institute Karite or Provence Sante? I haven't tried either of those but I've read that others think both of those are better than PdP. So far, I think PdP is mediocre. I absolutely love the scent though.

I have tried both! Institute Karite is good, but I am not super fond of the scent. My other favorite soap is Provence Sante Greent Tea. I find the Pre De Provence to be a bit slicker compared to Provence Sante though. Both smell really nice.

Do you really work at the lather for PdP? It takes some extra work to get it really lathered up, nice and slick. Maybe the shea butter prevents it from lathering super easy?

[Deacon Frank]

I really like PdP -- the scent and the skincare. But I have a hard time getting a good lather from it consistently. One time I'll get a great, slick, protective lather...the next it'll be sticky and thin. As far as I can tell I'm not doing anything differently, either. Wish I could "crack the code" of this soap!

[cluelessdude]

My favourite as well. After liking the scent I have found I enjoy subtle scents and my face also thanks me for that. What an amazing soap. I am awaiting the arrival of IK. I have a feeling French soaps are the best in the world and they ain't tallow so go figure!

[GreekGuy]

My favourite as well. After liking the scent I have found I enjoy subtle scents and my face also thanks me for that. What an amazing soap. I am awaiting the arrival of IK. I have a feeling French soaps are the best in the world and they ain't tallow so go figure!

The french veggie soaps are fantastic. Why can't the english learn from them...

Anyway, does anyone have issues lathering from the tin? Does it work well to load your brush or is it kinda awkward. At 5.2 Oz it sounds like a larger puck and tin but its hard to say without seeing it

[Mr. Flay]

I really like PdP -- the scent and the skincare. But I have a hard time getting a good lather from it consistently. One time I'll get a great, slick, protective lather...the next it'll be sticky and thin. As far as I can tell I'm not doing anything differently, either. Wish I could "crack the code" of this soap!

I used to try to bowl lather it, but never found a "sweet spot" that I could replicate. Since I've gone 100% face lathering with this and Cade, I've had consistently great lather. With the PdP, I'm keeping the surface of the soap moist by capping the tin directly after use. I'm using a wetter brush (a boar, dripping the excess water out of the soaked brush, then a couple of "up and downs" to force out a little more water), them I loading up the brush with a lot of product. I'm finding that if I then set the loaded brush aside for a bit while I do a little more face and razor prep, it seems to help the lather as well.

As I finish all of my posts regarding shaving methods and products: YMMV.

[Mr. Flay]

The french veggie soaps are fantastic. Why can't the english learn from them...

Anyway, does anyone have issues lathering from the tin? Does it work well to load your brush or is it kinda awkward. At 5.2 Oz it sounds like a larger puck and tin but its hard to say without seeing it

Hmm. PdP was the first soap I bought when I started wet shaving (from Amazon, I didn't even know about this forum at the time). I fumbled around trying to figure out was to do with it for a few months, so I can't honestly tell you whether it was awkward loading the brush from the full tin. Everything was awkward back then. I eventually set PdP at the back of the cabinet for quite a while as I did the exploring and experimenting we all do. When the more experienced me pulled the tin back out a couple of months ago, I didn't have any trouble swirling the brush around on the 2/3 full tin.

[sanfranciscian]

Love it myself, Don't be afraid to use some water with it and it will reward you with IMHO some of the best lather there is, as a matter of fact i can't remember when i got a bad batch? for me it is one of the easiest to use.

Ian

Edit , I don't know if it makes any difference but I have my own soap containers i use so always grate and smush my soaps, seems to have a positive effect on most of them.

[edgerunner]

I just want to join those liking PdP. I'm still in my testing phase with soaps and trying to decide which ones I like the most. But from about 15 soaps I've tried lately, PdP is a clear winner so far. There are several soaps fighting for the next few spots but PdP is a leader in my list. It's easy to lather, works well for bowl or face lathering, the scent is nice, it's slick not overly thick, and leaves the skin soft and moisturized.

[cvac]

Love the stuff. Always very consistent for me. Great light refreshing scent that pairs with a multitude of aftershaves. My puck is almost gone and will be replaced when done.

[MaritimeFanatic]

PdP and PS are two of my most favorite soaps!

[Matt555]

I have no problem lathering from the tin. I face lather all my soaps and so far, I get a great lather every time with PdP. As mentioned, Provence Sante is a close runner up, but I am pretty sure the lather dries a bit quicker on the face and is not quite as slick.

[arm017]

And the winner is.......

I only use shea butter soaps now. Pre De Provence is simply great and the price cannot be beat. $14 for 5.2oz.

Could you comment on the shea butter? How does it leave your skin?

[cluelessdude]

Could you comment on the shea butter? How does it leave your skin?

Can you say soft?! It's unbelievable how soft it leaves the skin along with their asb.

[LeftyT]

I'm feeling the same way about Cade. It's creeping up in only a couple shaves. I think the French soaps are definitely worth trying. Eventually I'm going to give Karite a go.

[jwcarlson]

And the winner is.......

Pre De Provence!!! I tried it a few years back and did not care for it (cannot remember why). Bought a new tin a few days back and it is great. I only use shea butter soaps now. Pre De Provence is simply great and the price cannot be beat. $14 for 5.2oz.

The price can, and is easily beaten. :) Just to clarify.

Glad you found a "new favorite". What was your previous winner?

[Austin]

It's a heavy puck that wears down slowly. Good stuff, good economy.

Mine is still at about 70% after 7 years of periodically using it. This was the first soap I bought to start this journey.

[Crixus]

Mine is still at about 70% after 7 years of periodically using it. This was the first soap I bought to start this journey.I posted once that if you bought a screw-top tin of PdP and dedicated it strictly for travel, you would probably never have to buy another travel soap.

Even if you work in a carnival. Probably.:smartass:

[Matt555]

Could you comment on the shea butter? How does it leave your skin?

It leaves my skin noticeably softer and my face feels better after the shave. I also believe the shea butter creates a better lather. You have to work at it a bit more, but it is almost like a half cream, half soap lather once it is whipped up.

To answer another question, my previous favorite was Provence Sante Green Tea (another she butter soap). This one was bumped to second place now. It just does not seem to be quite as nice as PdP.

And lastly, I am holding my ground on this. 5.2oz for $14 WITH a metal tin.....price cannot be beat!

[oc_in_fw]

Why can't the english learn from them...


One (Harris) doesn't need to. The others need to go back to their original formulations (not likely)

on edit: just so you know, IK is on my short list for the next purchase- just need to lay off fountain pens and inks for a bit.

[Matt555]

I like the fact the French soaps differ so much from the English ones. It means there is something for everyone. I used to only use tallow soaps for the longest time. Then veggy ones like Proraso and Valobra (soft)........and now I have moved onto the French she butter ones.

IK was a great soap too. The smell was just mediocre though (to my nose). I think it was a powdery-rose smell. Although once lathered and on the face the smell was near non existent. PdP and PS green tea smell super fresh and even when lathered provide a very nice light and clean smell! (You might want to buy all 3 just to make sure though:clap:)

[elsmooth]

I recently bought PSGT and PdP. Haven't tried either one yet, but as far a scent goes...these two are just stellar in that category. Can't wait to hit 'em with the brush and see if performance matches the scent...if it does...boy, I'll be in for a treat!

[Matt555]

I just used PdP again tonight. I am pretty sure this is the only soap I will be using in the foreseeable future. I think even my PS Green Tea is going to the back burner for a while. PdP is just perfect and my skin does not feel tight or dry after shaving like it does with so many other soaps. I should of given it more of a chance when I tried it 2 years ago. I think I used it twice back then and was not impressed for whatever reason. It took two years to re-discover it.

$13.49, no tax and free shipping (for prime members) on Amazon for whoever is interested. This is where I got mine.

http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Provence-Butter-Enriched-Shave/dp/B0026DWB7Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333777629&sr=8-3

[Mirrorsaw]

What does PdP smell like?

Also what does IK smell like? (I have been looking at WCS since I wan... uh, need some stuff. And I wanted to buy one of them.)

[Matt555]

What does PdP smell like?

Also what does IK smell like? (I have been looking at WCS since I wan... uh, need some stuff. And I wanted to buy one of them.)

This is tough, but I will do my best.......
PdP smells very fresh, clean, with hints of citrus....and believe it or not, a very, very slight reminder of super fresh laundry (similar to the smell of a dryer sheet). It is excellent. It smells even better when it is lathered and on the face.

IK smells quite powdery with hints of rose. A nice scent, but not as vibrant and as exciting as PdP in my opinion.

But most of all, I did not get the slickness from IK. Maybe too much shea butter? IK is 25% shea butter. I am not sure how much is in PdP. You could always buy both! Someone on B/S/T will take whichever one you like least off your hands in minutes.

AND, I just saw that if you order $50 on WCS and enter the coupon code found under the vendor section, you get a free puck of Province Sante Green Tea! That is my second favorite she butter soap. It contains talk to help prevent razor burn (whether or not is really works, I have no clue). And it smells really good too!

[Mirrorsaw]

Ugh why did you have to tell me about the coupon code... Now I have to spend 50, at lest...

[GreekGuy]

One (Harris) doesn't need to. The others need to go back to their original formulations (not likely)

I haven't tried DRH but I've heard many good things. I was referring more so to Floris, Pens, and Trumpers. It's not that they can't make a good soap. It's that they choose not to. They had a good product, and purposefully ruined it

[njpaddy]

First impression. I used PdP for the first time yesterday. While the shave was close, and my face felt soft after the shave, the feeling of slickness during the shave was not up to my top 3 of Harris, Tabac or La Toja. I need to experiment with the water ratio and shake more water out of the brush next time to see if that helps. Other than lather flying everywhere because the brush held too much water, I had no problem loading from the tin and face lathering. I found the scent light and on the bland side compared to what I'm used to. I was hoping the scent would be similar to the French milled shea butter bath soap I have, but it wasn't.

[cluelessdude]

AND, I just saw that if you order $50 on WCS and enter the coupon code found under the vendor section, you get a free puck of Province Sante Green Tea! That is my second favorite she butter soap. It contains talk to help prevent razor burn (whether or not is really works, I have no clue). And it smells really good too!

Where is this info? :( I just ordered IK and MWF from there last week. Would have loved to have tried Province Sante.

I absolutely LOVE the scent of PdP. Do you have the ASB? It is my FAVORITE as well. So I think you will like it as well since PdP is my favorite soap. I also just bought the 100% PdP Shea Butter and it's amazing.

Oh and I also bought a PdP bar soap, which is also amazing :scooter:.

[Matt555]

The promo just started.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/206957-Free-Provence-Sante-Green-Tea-Shaving-Soap-Offer

If you like PdP, I am sure you will like PS Green Tea.

The only Aftershave I use is "Everymans Jack Signature Mint".

[oc_in_fw]

I haven't tried DRH but I've heard many good things. I was referring more so to Floris, Pens, and Trumpers. It's not that they can't make a good soap. It's that they choose not to. They had a good product, and purposefully ruined it

sad, isn't it? I hope Harris never gives in.

[arm017]

sad, isn't it? I hope Harris never gives in.

I agree. Harris is the only one I have kept around.