Shaving soap from England

[winston61]

A friend of mine is traveling to England and has generously offered to bring me back some shaving soap. I'd like to ask for some input as to what I should ask for. Is Klars Kabinett(sp?) available in the UK? Or should I go the cheap route and ask for a handful of Boots shaving sticks? I'd like something nice of good quality, since this is a rare opportunity. Any ideas? Thanks to all.

[denim]

Do you like shaving sticks? Maybe some Arko, Palmolive, Speik, I dunno.

[Tim_McD]

DR Harris is the first thing that comes to mind, even though it is readily available on this side of the pond. Depending on the timing, I would be asking him to snag some of the new Windsor line - even though a soap isnt part of the release.

[insomniac]

Palmolive sticks would be the best bang for the buck. It's a good performing soap, scent is "fresh", and they are much much cheaper over there.

[Toddy]

Pucks you can usually find in chemist shops are Culmak and Wilkinsons, sometimes MWF (other than Boots where they do their own brand bowls and soaps) and Erasmic sticks. In supermarkets Palmolive sticks and sometimes Erasmic. Don't bother with the Erasmic bowls as they are a terrible product and of you see an Erasmic stick in a plastic container that is useless too..

[davros]

It really depends whereabouts your friend is going in England, and how much trouble they'd be willing to go to for the more obscure/high end stuff.

Palmolive sticks can be had in a lot of regular high street chains, for the equivalent of about 1US$ a pop, so they're not a bad choice to stock up on. The Boots soap is fine, but IMO nothing to get excited over. The blue Wilkinson Sword tallow sticks aren't seen in the wild very often, but well worth picking up when they do show up.

If your friend's gonna be in London, obviously you can knock yourself out on Jermyn Street, etc. Department stores in bigger cities, and even some of the smaller towns sometimes carry interesting stuff, but it's a bit hit and miss. However, B&M prices for middle to high end kit are generally rather inflated compared to what you'd pay on the net, so its doubtful whether you'd save much.

[galopede]

As Davros says, quality stuff is very hard to find in shops and is expensive when you do find it.

I would also highly recommend the Palmolive sticks. Our European version is very cheap and very good. Most supermarkets sell them and you might also find them in some of the drugstore shops. Off the top of my head, he could try shops such as Superdrug, Savers and Bodycare for things like Palmolive and Erasmic if he passes any on his travels. The Palmolive cream is rather good too.

I must admit to having never tried any of the Boots own brand stuff but he will find Boots shops everwhere. I wouldn't recommend the Wilkinson's bowl, the only soap I've ever binned!

Gareth

[Bluebriz]

Palmolive sticks can be bought for 49p each. Palmolive cream and a few others are cheap too, from around £1.50 I think. If you find a TK Maxx you can get various TOBS for about 5 or 6 pounds.
Boots shaving soaps i've never tried, but the Freshwood a/s balm is the best i've ever used. I could probably skin my face and rub that on and it would fix it right up.

[Oblique Human]

Ask him for some Culmak shave soap, very very good performer. Erasmic if you haven't tried it yet.

[Toddy]

You will only find Culmak in independent pharmacies (drugstores) as Boots sell their own brands. You can get Erasmic in independent pharmacies Lloyds Pharmacy chain, Superdrug and some supermarkets. Palmolive in all the main supermarkets.

The good Erasmic stick is in a card box. Avoid any erasmic sticks you find in a plastic tube like a deodorant as they are only any good as hand soap.

[Alias...]

Ingram Shaving Cream (http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=5292&title=ingram-shaving-cream&cat=41)is worth picking up if you enjoy a good menthol kick. A tube of that can be found for less than £2 in Superdrug or Savers alongside the Palmolive and Erasmic products.

As has been mentioned previously though, your friend will have to go to London and visit the actual brick and mortar stores to find the higher end products like Trumpers, D.R Harris etc. Beyond that department stores like John Lewis or House of Fraser would be the best bet. They often stock TOBS and also Kent Shaving Soap (http://www.johnlewis.com/230446454/Product.aspx) which I believe is rebranded MWF.


(NB - If you go for the Ingram make sure it's the blue package and not the green. The green is brushless.)

[Luc]

This might help: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Category:UK_Shaving_Soap_Compendium

[Toddy]

Yes Kent is MWF. I also understand (but stand to be corrected) that Bluebeards Revenge soap is also rebranded MWF

However as already stated its not worth tramping round the high end stores as you can get just as good if not better deals online.

You can get C&E in any C&E store in the UK

Harrods used to do their own brands which weren't available anywhere else, so you may want to look there.

There's also a store in London which specialises in American products and imports and sells all the usual American soaps and beauty products such as Caswell Massey and Lightfoot Pine.