How many soaps do you rotate?

[basko]

I'm asking this as a budding soap-a-holic. There are so many choices, so much variety, that I keep ordering the stuff. I've been into wetshaving for only 1 month, so I'll settle down eventually.

So let me ask fellow "soapers" how many varieties do you keep in your rotation? Daily, weekly etc?

I started on Proraso green tea, then I've got some razorock classic (which I love)...I've picked up a few others but have yet to try them.

[JCinPA]

including both soaps and creams, about 6. But one or two will be swapped out for scent during warm/cold weather, if that makes sense.

More than about 6, I can't deal with.

P.S. Around here that borders on blasphemy, I know.

[elsmooth]

I have a very respectable quantity of soaps (mostly Italian softs, lots and lots of RazoRocks), as a fellow soap-a-holic. I don't typically find myself rotating much...I find myself usually beating up one particular product until I find myself ready for a change. I find it's a good way to really get to know a product.

[rxonmymind]

Four:
Razorock Boston tea< Highly recommend
Tcheon Fung Sing Bergamotto Neroli & Barbe Rosse< Highly recommend this too! Great scent.
Proraso< No recommendation needed. It's Proraso!

[smalltank]

Trumpers Lime/mixed ma own container of mystery soaps/Italian Green Vitos soft soap..thats about it

[The Chandos]

First I rotate the soaps in the drawer, which is about a dozen. Then I rotate the soaps in the drawer with ones from a shoebox I have in the closet, which is another dozen or so. Then I rotate that box out with one of the other shoeboxes I have stored together in a plastic storage bin in the garage, which has about a dozen or so boxes in it. Sometimes it takes me six months or more to get back to the one I started with.

I'm just kidding! I have only about a dozen at the moment but I have a couple more on the way...

[texaninkc]

I have too many. Let's just say that I've tried to set up a rotation of soaps and no matter what I try I never follow through with it because there are so many. Makes for interesting shaves as I never tire of a product.

[willwhatyoudo]

I have 6 soaps/creams in my cabinet, but I mainly rotate between Tabac and MWF.

For the past few weeks, I've trying to use up soaps and creams that I don't use often to get rid of the clutter (and to make room for more fun soaps!).

[Cochese2323]

Rolling with 3 right now: Tabac, RazoRock XXX and TOBS Jermyn St. (TOBS not really the best performer, but the scent is so good, I can live with it)

I have tried about a dozen others, but haven't found anything worth keeping in the rotation yet. Either performance was sub-par (T&H, DRH) or couldn't get used to the scent (Cella, Akro).

Will probably add another RazoRock when I get bored of these. I really wish I could get down with MWF, but for the life of me, I cannot get the lather right with it.

[Snargle]

I don't rotate my soaps...I rotate my brush on the soaps! :a13:

Seriously, I have about 10 soaps right now...I don't use them in any particular pattern or sequence; I just pick out whatever I'm in the mood for on a given day. Sometimes I might use the same soap 2 or 3 days in a row; other times I'll use a different one each day.

[attime6]

Just 3 Right Now
VDH Deluxe
Williams
Arko Stick

[Dennard]

Four soaps, two creams.

[Cuttingboard]

Spring/Summer - Acqua Di Parma, Santa Maria Novella, CF Lime, Blenheim Bouquet, Art of Shaving Lemon or Lavender & DR Harris Arlington
Fall/Winter - Acqua Di Parma, MWF, Art of Shaving Lavender, Blenheim Bouquet, Provence Sante Green Tea

[Face&Head]

My 22 year old stopped by and told me he was taking some of my soaps and creams. He handed me a spreadsheet he had put together with the the expected number of shaves from each product I currently have (certain amount a WAG with the numbers). He determined that I could live to 90 without buying any more and it was silly for him not to take ten years worth. Even though I was pretty sure the number is wildly exaggerated, what could I say? I have about 10 in regular rotation and throw in a couple of utility players every 2 weeks for variety. This week I tried Mystic Waters (sandalwood) & Provence Sante (green tea).

[BrookR1]

One for every day of the month. I try to use them equally, but some I love so much, I will sometimes use them twice! in one week. When I lather up, I use twice the normal amount so I can get through them faster. I also like mounds of thick lather when I shave.

[ladykate]

Good luck with settling down. ;-}

I have a number of soaps - I blame a friend who gifted me a tub of ToBS Sandalwood. It started me looking for more.

It's part of the joy. The possible combinations of razor/soap/scent are huge so I enjoy a slightly different but nice shave each day. I really haven't met a true soap that I don't like or couldn't make work (adding a bit of oil or glycerin usually helps) except for Dove (the white bar) which makes me ill and real wildcards like shampoo or body wash. Even the bad ones work... just suck a bit. However, I also use the Cellas, ToBS, Prorasos, MWFs, and such. One shelf in the closet has the soaps.

[PugslyCat]

Having a couple of dozen shaving mugs between my apartment in town and house in the country I was able to keep all of my soap in play at once. I had a couple of Mama Bear soaps, two Colonel Conk, two VDH (Select and unscented Deluxe), and some soap from Parker (Maybe a rose scent?) all in rotation at the apartment. At the house I had a puck of Williams and some VDH Select.

In February I decided to try and use up a couple of soaps, so I started using only the VDH Select at the apartment and only the Williams at home. Both should be gone within the week. After they are gone I am probably going to move on to the VDH select on weekends at the house and the VDH Deluxe during the week at the apartment.

[bkfist]

About 23 or 24 soaps, and 7 or 8 creams.

I've got about 12 that see use monthly, but during any given month I'll tend to get "stuck" on one or two and use those two for 16 or 17 of the 30 days...

The other 10 or 15 soaps, soap samples and a couple creams, see use every couple months.

[Catalin]

Soaps: MWF, MdC, Cella, DRH Marlborough, AOS Lavender, La Toja, Valobra. The only cream is Proraso. Plus a dozen samples (soaps and creams).

That makes 8 plus 12 samples. I thought I was sick, but after reading this thread I think I'm perfectly normal.

Now, please don't ask me how many aftershaves/balms I have!....

[basko]

That makes 8. I thought I was sick, but after reading this thread I think I'm perfectly normal.



Great replies. And I'm beginning to agree. It's good not to be alone, however I AM beginning to see that maybe I WON'T settle down.

great suggestions too!! I'll have to try some of those...:online2long:

[Marco]

I currently keep about 20 soaps and creams in my rotation.

[chuckr9]

MDC MWF & Tabac used one day each week, have over 30 that rotate into the other 4 days each week.

[shaverjoe]

15 soaps/creams total with more on the way :)

[shaverjoe]

I lied. 16 with more on the way. Have 12 MB samples to arrive tomorrow. I have zero glycerin based soaps so I figured I would give MB soaps a look.

[5savages]

My 22 year old stopped by and told me he was taking some of my soaps and creams. He handed me a spreadsheet he had put together with the the expected number of shaves from each product I currently have (certain amount a WAG with the numbers). He determined that I could live to 90 without buying any more and it was silly for him not to take ten years worth.

You have a smart kid!

[5savages]

Of the 22 soaps, 7 creams, and 6 sets of samples (T&H, GFT, MW, Mikes, OBR, and MB), I have 19 I haven't even tried yet. I've the ones I've tried, Tabac & Mystic Water are used for at least half my shaves, P.160, Cade, EJ Sea Buckthorn SS, Bigelow and Maca Root SC get about 25% and the remaining are used for the rest.

Now what I'm trying to do is to plow through my samples. I dedicate weekends and sometimes Mondays to samples.

I tried to set up a structured rotation but that fell apart after one week. One thing I do to help my desire to use the soaps more often, is that I whip up a lather to use as a preshave with one soap, then whip up another soap for the actual shave. My face has never felt better.

[Retiredgene]

As I read this discussion, I "recognized" myself in the I have LOTS of soaps so I went & counted them. There are 25 soap pucks, soft soaps, creams and a few lather less tubes! You'll see that a rotation is whatever one wants it to be as basically one week I'll rotate 1 brush on all my Italian soft soaps or Honeybee soup pucks, or I'll rotate all brushes on 1 soap to see how it works with boars & badgers and so on.

All in all, I really, really enjoy this part of the wet shaving process :wacko:

Gene

[Price]

Yep, soaps are my most enjoyable variable as well, Gene. Last time I counted there were 23 soaps and a half dozen creams (I count the Italians & the QCS "cream" as soaps). The standard term is "rotation", but there really is no rhyme or reason to it at all for me, just whatever I feel like in the morning. There are about 5 or 6 that get the lion's share of usage, and mostly the others are "hey I haven't used that one in a while".

[mandoman]

10 soaps

[nav]

In 2009 I reached a rotation of 24 soaps but since then it has dwindled down to three which have been the best performers and scents and skin care.
these are MWF, speick and GFT rose.

[Zarba]

Mama Bear's Green Irish Tweed
L'Occitane CADE
Good ol' VDH Luxe

[Rengrave]

Currently, I am in the trial process with MdC, so I'm using it exclusively until I make a decision.

Normally, I have three soaps in my regular "rotation" (I use rotation loosely, because I don't actually use them one after another, they are just the ones I find myself reaching for the most often). D.R. Harris Marlborough, Tabac, and sometimes Cella. I am still on the fence in regards to MdC. It is very slick, but I feel a strange, faint prickly/stinging sensation when I'm brushing it on.. but I don't get any visible signs of irritation, so I'm not sure what's going on yet.

I also have several new soaps on the way from the UK and Turkey, so who knows what the "rotation" will be like in a few weeks time.

[eastomjac]

i lost track at 14,and 4 creams.i like the change from day to day;D

[turtle]

Don't make me count them.... please...

Too many yet not enough is my answer :innocent:

[Rudy Vey]

If I count them, I would feel bad that I have no reason to get some new stuff, so I don't count them, but my guess would be high 30/low 40's - all included. My problem is the storage space in my bathroom.....

[njpaddy]

6 active soaps are about my limit. Choice for the day depends on my mood. I have another 6 buried in a drawer that get used about once a year.

[Rengrave]

So is everyone counting every soap and cream they own as being part of their rotation? I thought "rotation" meant the soaps you use regularly.

[texaninkc]

So is everyone counting every soap and cream they own as being part of their rotation? I thought "rotation" meant the soaps you use regularly.

As I mentioned in my response, whatever system I develop for rotating lathering products never seems to work. Part of it is because I have about 1/2 of my stash at my disposal (~40 products). My "rotation" is of those 40ish products but it's because they're not in storage. I think the only way I can establish a short rotation is if I store everything but a few products. and that's not going to happen.

[malocchio]

maybe 7 or 8 soaps ,and about 35 creams

[celestino]

Two main ones, and two minor ones that i use to try to use up! Bit of a low count for here, but i know what works for me. i vary the scents a bit. Does that count as a higher number of soaps? Hehe!

[OkieStubble]

I don't rotate my soaps...I rotate my brush on the soaps! :a13:

Seriously, I have about 10 soaps right now...I don't use them in any particular pattern or sequence; I just pick out whatever I'm in the mood for on a given day. Sometimes I might use the same soap 2 or 3 days in a row; other times I'll use a different one each day.

Describes me perfectly so I will save some typing by quoting you. :)

[Wilfredio]

3 soap sticks (Tabac, Irisch Moos and Vergulde Hand),
2 creams (Palmolive regular and sensitive)
3 soap pucks (MWF, EJ Sea Buckthorn and Tabac)

On it's way: Speick cream and some TFS Barbe Rose

All in all quite reasonable I think, SWMBO begs to differ...

[StuMcB]

Currently 9 sticks and one tub .

[IA_Cabby]

Arko, Derby, VDH Deluxe and Luxury, Palmolive, RazoRock XXX and Fresco, Cella, QZD Berber, C.O. Bigelow, Proraso (green/new), Musgo Real, LEA

[brucea]

Right now 3. Edwin Jagger Sandalwood,Arko,and Erasmic

[mdw15]

My 22 year old stopped by and told me he was taking some of my soaps and creams. He handed me a spreadsheet he had put together with the the expected number of shaves from each product I currently have (certain amount a WAG with the numbers). He determined that I could live to 90 without buying any more and it was silly for him not to take ten years worth. Even though I was pretty sure the number is wildly exaggerated, what could I say? I have about 10 in regular rotation and throw in a couple of utility players every 2 weeks for variety. This week I tried Mystic Waters (sandalwood) & Provence Sante (green tea).

What could you say? Your son was employing the scientific method. He was crunching numbers. What a fine reflection on you!

[redrako]

Mitchell's Wool Fat
Tabac
Palmolive homemade Puck (grated into a MamaBear's Tub)

Arko Shave Stick
Speick Shave Stick
Palmolive Shave Stick
Wilkinson Sword Shave Stick

I will try this year:

Mystic Waters
MIke's Shave Soap
Queen Charlotte Soap
D.R. Harris Soaps.

[mdw15]

Soaps were an early ad but I "settled down" at some point. I've stayed there as my attention was drawn to other obsessions.

I only have two soaps going at a time, each in a separate mug w/lid. I found D.R. Harris (mostly Arlington) and Trumper's Limes to be the go to soaps for my superlather so I've settled for that; I'll vary the creams more, but not much.

For a while now I've read about software, soaps among others, without buying anything new but for some reason (as if reason were the key), by the time this thread is over, I'm thinking something will be added to my inventory, either again or for the first time.

Such is the power ultimately of the commentary on this site. You can resist for a whlle, maybe.

[Lexbomb]

I think I am at about 19 but honestly I rarely use them all

[Jacob Robertson]

RazoRock Cacao, Razorock Fresco, Razorock Caprician Lemon, Ingram, Proraso.

5.

[Jcabbage]

Tabac Stick and MWF. Waiting on a PIF of Mama Bears and maybe will add something else later but i have enough to last for awhile.

[sanuginz]

Currently 2 just Martin de Candre and Dr. Selby. I'll probably add Razorock (tallow free) eventually.

[josie67]

At this point I rotate:
Proraso cream, Cella, P160, TFS Bergamotto/Neroli, TFS blu, TFS red, TFS Tobacco Verde, MdC, Razorock XXX, and Razorock Fresco. I use one cream for a week, and when I change the blade, I change the soap.

[kbuzbee]

One. MdC.

Ken

[eastomjac]

So is everyone counting every soap and cream they own as being part of their rotation? I thought "rotation" meant the soaps you use regularly.

i did not count those in storage.

[incucrash]

one
Cella, Cella, and more Cella

actually, I mainly use Cella, over at girlfriends I have a tub of Pacific shaving Company stuff, and I also use Pre De Provence and Arlington

[mdevine]

There are fifteen that I can easily get gat lather with and actually use. I have four shave sticks; Arko, Palmolive, La Toja and Speick, four soft soaps; Razorock Mughetta di Bologna, XXX and Napoleon's Violet and Cella, and seven hard soaps; AoS Lavender and Sandalwood, La Toja, MdC, Cade, Tabac and MWF. I have half a dozen others that don't make it into my rotation.

Mike

[Tim_McD]

I keep a spreadsheet for product rotations. I track lather, glide scent and post shave condition for each of my soaps and creams. The week long rotation of product allows me to decide product performance with different brushes and if I would buy it again.

I started with 19 products in rotation; that has been culled to 9

Product Rotation: Razor Monthly / Soaps-Creams Weekly / Brushes by mood
Monthly: Razors: Feather AS / EJ D89 Barley Chrome / Muhle R89 Rosegold (all loaded with Feather blades)
Even week: Shave Creams: GFT Coconut, Nancy Boy Signature, GFT Violet , T&H Rose
Odd week: Shave Soaps: La Toja stick, DR Harris Lavender, Trumpers Rose, Speick, Cella
Brushes: Simpson Colonel, Vie-Long 13061, Frank’s Shaving Silvertip / Vie Long Beehive / Frank's Travel

[HornHiYo]

I have AK1869 and Provence de Sante Green Tea (awesome scent; smells like Trader Joe's green tea soap)

[BeeSeeDub]

I have 11 soaps/creams...There are still so many I'd like to try but these 11 should last me for a few years.

[cryhavoc]

10soaps, some soap samples and CO Bigelow cream

[WesternModern]

Two. Proraso green tub and Razorock Fresco.

[gash]

Six soaps, plus one cream. Some are croaps, though. The grand list, created after much trial and error:

RazoRock Muguet de France
Institut Karite
RazoRock King Louis
RazoRock Fresco
I Coloniali
Dovo mint
Acca Kappa 1869 cream (in the tub)

[Mirrorsaw]

I have 4 that I use a lot. MWF, Tabac, KMF limes, and RR Boston tea party. I have a sample of MdC, I like it, but I'm still not really sure about it. I have a puck of DRH as well, but I like the scent a lot more then anything. I also ordered a new soap from QCS. But that will be a summer soap. I would like to buy a few more creams and maybe a soap or two. Just not sure which to get yet... I also don't really have a rhyme or reason to which soap I grab, I just grab one and go.