Review of Honeybee spa soaps

[Jim]

This thread is for the review Here (http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=53261#post53261)

[KC_Dave]

Link (http://stores.ebay.com/Honeybee-Spa-Soaps)

[gundog]

I agree with this review except for the fact I would give a rating of 10 for scent. The scent of the soaps I have tried so far have been great. These scents include: Very Sexy for Men, Drakkar, and Old Spice. These soaps are scented just right as far as I'm concerned, not overly strong, but scented just right so they can be appreciated without being over bearing or causing irritation. As stated in the review everything else about the Honeybee soaps is pure perfection and I just love the way they leave my face feeling. I have yet to find any other soap or cream to be as good.

Bud

[Jim]

Bud

I agree with you about the scent of the soaps, they are fantastic.
Of all the criteria of soaps I think scent might be the most subjective of all. Whats great for me might be over the top for you. I want to be totally immersed in the scent while I am using it!:biggrin:

[PottyDoctor]

Jim, great job on the review! Honeybee shave soaps have been a great find for me as well. I too have spent mega$$$ on soaps that were hyped to be the 'all-in-all' and then I ended up tossing most of them. I've been primarily a cream user because I had not been able to find but one soap that I was really, really happy with and that is Tabac. I had just about given up on finding additional soaps and had resorted to being content with the various creams I have in my rotation. :frown:

So many soaps irritate my sensitive skin, but I have not had that problem so far with the HB soaps. I credit part of that to the fact that Sue has apparently been able to achieve a good balance in using fragrance oils; i.e. use enough to give a nice strong fragrance but not enough to cause irritation in most men. Like most products, they have to be made to work for the majority I imagine.

Sue offers a plethora of fragrances and says she has more coming. Just what we need...more soaps to buy...and more places to store them. :biggrin: She also indicated in another thread that she would soon be offering the original cake as well as a stackable jar with the soap already poured in place [no more slip slidin' around]. :smile: I love the 'slip' the soap provides and the ease with which it lathers; and the lather is as luxurious as some of my premium creams. And at $2.50/cake this is for sure one of the best values in wetshaving! :cool:

[Jim]

I too have spent mega$$$ on soaps that were hyped to be the 'all-in-all' and then I ended up tossing most of them.
PD
Don't I know that pain in the wallet! :mad:

The Tabac has been something I want to try-
It seems our opinions while similar ''go against the grain'' of many other folks experience on the B&B,do you think its type of skin or beard or ??

Thanks

[greenerock]

The Honeybee soaps are awesome. I will do an occasional Nancy Boy or Proraso day shave but then I come right back to one of the shea butter soaps. I continue to be amazed at the slickness and closeness of the shave. They lather up in a fraction of the time it takes me to lather other soaps and when I'm rushed in the morning, every minute counts.:biggrin:

[PottyDoctor]

Jim,

I think it has a lot to do with sensitive skin types. It seems many folks are amazed that I have 'sensitivity issues' with certain products, but what works for one will not neccesarily work for all or most. For me it has boiled down to 'whatever works for me.' I'm sure I will continue to try other soaps and creams as well, mostly just because I like variety and am willing to pay the price to see which ones work and which ones don't.

I read so many reviews about Tabac being a great soap but highly fragranced, so I delayed ordering because I was thinking it would probably irritate my skin. I had tossed so many soaps and was about to give up on soaps altogether when I said, 'what the heck, I'll buy ONE more.' So I ordered the Tabac from Charles as QED. It turned out to be a winner! It is a very unique soap. Everyone has a different description of the scent and it seems to be a love it or hate it scent. It is a VERY hard soap; you can use it several times and it still looks like it has never been used, so a bowl will last a really long time. It took me a couple of tries to get the lather 'right,' but when I did I found it produces a slick, rich, luxurious lather that gives a great shave. I do like the scent and the best description I've heard is that it smells like 'English Leather on Steroids.' Some may disagree with that but it seems fairly accurate to me.

So at this point I have Tabac and Honeybee soaps in my rotation, that's it as far as soaps are concerned. As for creams I have several, some of which I will replace when empty and some of which I will not replace. One of my favorite creams right now is Kiss My Face in both the Lavender/Shea Butter and the Cool Mint; a great value in a great cream and available at most health/natural food stores. Some of my other favorites are D.R. Harris Lavender, T&H Ultimate Comfort and Nancy Boy.

To sum it up, I currently have six Honeybee scents to enjoy and I plan on buying more since they are available at a price point that one can enjoy a vast array of fragrances without a huge investment. I like the fact that the base recipe for all the soaps are the same, only the fragrance is different. You can count on a consistent shave from fragrance to fragrance and I really like that.

[PottyDoctor]

The Honeybee soaps are awesome. I will do an occasional Nancy Boy or Proraso day shave but then I come right back to one of the shea butter soaps. I continue to be amazed at the slickness and closeness of the shave. They lather up in a fraction of the time it takes me to lather other soaps and when I'm rushed in the morning, every minute counts.:biggrin:

Doug,

I really like the lather the Nancy Boy cream produces but I can truthfully say that when one dials in the right water/soap ratio, Honeybee soaps produce an equally good lather and leave ones face feeling 'mighty fine.' I don't know if it's the shea butter, clay, hemp or vitamin E or a combination of them, but whatever it is, it just plain works! :thumbup1:

[Mr.Benn]

I keep reading that these soaps are $2.50/cake, but none of the listed shaving soaps (http://stores.ebay.com/Honeybee-Spa-Soaps_Shaving-Soaps_W0QQfsubZ6) I see are this cheap (they're $3.29/cake).

Is there some type of discount for forum members or have the prices recently been raised?

[PottyDoctor]

I keep reading that these soaps are $2.50/cake, but none of the listed shaving soaps (http://stores.ebay.com/Honeybee-Spa-Soaps_Shaving-Soaps_W0QQfsubZ6) I see are this cheap (they're $3.29/cake).

Is there some type of discount for forum members or have the prices recently been raised?

They are $3.29 each or 4 for $11.95. At any rate they are one of the best values going for a high qualitiy shaving soap. I absolutely love the performance of the HB soaps and I'm sure you will too. No other soap with this kind of lather and performance can be had for these prices IMHO.

[HlSheppard]

I agree that these soaps are VERY nice. Absoltely a 10 when you factor in the price.

They (to me) are a worthy successor to Will G's soaps except for three differences:

1) they cut closer
2) slightly less moisturizing
3) better scents (purley subjective, but Will's scents didn't do much for me).

So far I've only tried the "Old Spice" and it was a great "take me back" scent with wonderful shave properties.

Another winner from another Sue.

[NE_Sue]

Unfortunately, I had to raise my prices slightly today, as Ebay is implementing a substantial fee increase effective Aug. 22. This is the 3rd fee increase for store sellers in @1 1/2 years, and I've absorbed them until this one, but I can no longer afford to do so. This fee increase is in addition to substantial shipping rate increases this year for my supplies. I tried to keep the increase as minimal as I could comfortably afford to, but effective today, shaving soaps have gone from 2.50 to 3.29. I think this is still a really good deal, and hope you'll agree.

HB Sue

[greenerock]

Sue,
It's still a fantastic price. I've spent waaaaay more on creams, soaps, gels, etc. that didn't give a shave that's nearly as good or as enjoyable as your soap.:thumbup1:

[PottyDoctor]

The Bay Rum is da' bomb! :thumbsup: I think I could shave with this stuff everyday and be happy. It is my favorite Bay Rum and I will be buying more for sure!

[Jim]

Unfortunately, I had to raise my prices slightly today, as Ebay is implementing a substantial fee increase effective Aug. 22. This is the 3rd fee increase for store sellers in @1 1/2 years, and I've absorbed them until this one, but I can no longer afford to do so. This fee increase is in addition to substantial shipping rate increases this year for my supplies. I tried to keep the increase as minimal as I could comfortably afford to, but effective today, shaving soaps have gone from 2.50 to 3.29. I think this is still a really good deal, and hope you'll agree.

HB Sue

Sue- will you have the new tubs ready soon? and how about the new scents you promised? Hurry!:biggrin:

[Mr.Benn]

Unfortunately, I had to raise my prices slightly today, as Ebay is implementing a substantial fee increase effective Aug. 22. This is the 3rd fee increase for store sellers in @1 1/2 years, and I've absorbed them until this one, but I can no longer afford to do so. This fee increase is in addition to substantial shipping rate increases this year for my supplies. I tried to keep the increase as minimal as I could comfortably afford to, but effective today, shaving soaps have gone from 2.50 to 3.29. I think this is still a really good deal, and hope you'll agree.

HB Sue

Oh, that's right. I remember reading about eBay's latest fee-increases, and how they would likely hit those with eBay stores especially hard. Perhaps Google will heed the pleas for a competitive alternative to eBay (http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story/0,,1850788,00.html)?

Anyway, I certainly didn't mean to imply that the new prices were in any way unreasonable. From what I've read about the quality of your soaps, $3.29/cake still sounds like a tremendous bargain.

[NE_Sue]

Yes, they claim they have to balance the Ebay marketplace, or some such excuse. Just another story to increase fees because they can, but I guess when you're as big as Ebay, you can pretty much do what you want.
I've been selling on Ebay since 2004, and have kept the same pricing since the beginning, so having to increase most of my product line was painful for me, but it was just too big a financial hit to absorb this time.

Jim, I have the new jars, and just need to get a pic to list. I have a few of the new fragrances ready, but you all have kept me so busy remaking my current line, I'm struggling to keep up LOL. Initially, I'll be offering the current size puck with the jar, so you'll have the choice to use it in the jar, store it there, or use your own favorite container.

And Ron, I just got more of your favorite Bay Rum in and made another batch this weekend.

HB Sue

[Suzuki]

Yes, they claim they have to balance the Ebay marketplace, or some such excuse. Just another story to increase fees because they can, but I guess when you're as big as Ebay, you can pretty much do what you want.
I've been selling on Ebay since 2004, and have kept the same pricing since the beginning, so having to increase most of my product line was painful for me, but it was just too big a financial hit to absorb this time.

Jim, I have the new jars, and just need to get a pic to list. I have a few of the new fragrances ready, but you all have kept me so busy remaking my current line, I'm struggling to keep up LOL. Initially, I'll be offering the current size puck with the jar, so you'll have the choice to use it in the jar, store it there, or use your own favorite container.

And Ron, I just got more of your favorite Bay Rum in and made another batch this weekend.

HB Sue

Sue, any plans to start shipping to Canada - at your prices, duty wouldn't be an issue and shipping would be pretty reasonable (obviously, purchaser to pay).

Thanks.

[NE_Sue]

I'm working on shipping to Canada...just need to figure out which of those dang custom forms I need lol and to see how many soaps I can fit into a Global Priority flat rate envelope.

HB Sue

[Suzuki]

I'm working on shipping to Canada...just need to figure out which of those dang custom forms I need lol and to see how many soaps I can fit into a Global Priority flat rate envelope.

HB Sue

Sue, that's great news - most vendors just use the green labels - fortunately, you can get a lot of soaps for under CAD$20, which is under the personal exemption as far a duty goes. I routinely get packages of multiple soaps for $5 to $7 USPS priority leter.

Keep us Canucks posted!

[NE_Sue]

I should have some solid information about this later this morning...I'm just working on coffee number 1, and as soon as I feel I'm consciously awake and coherent, I'm heading for the Global Priority envelopes to stuff them with soap and see how many I can fit in and still close the envelope lol.

HB Sue

[NE_Sue]

Ok, I'm almost awake now, working on the 2nd cup of coffee, and the magic number is 6. I can fit up to 6 shaving soaps into a Global Priority Flat Rate envelope for $7.50 to Canada.

HB Sue

[Suzuki]

Can you use the flat rate boxes to Canada?

[NE_Sue]

Unfortunately, the $8.10 Flat Rate box rate is only good in the US. I'd love it if they'd come out with a Global Flat Rate box but so far, it's only the envelope that's available. The Global Priority Flat Rate envelope is still a pretty good deal, as long as the products fit. It allows for up to 4 lbs...the biggest problem is that it's a cardboard envelope that doesn't have a lot of room in it.

HB Sue

[gundog]

Sue,

Despite the price increase, your soaps remain a fantastic bargain. I'm also pleased to see that the same size puck will be available as this size fits perfectly in my Old Spice shaving mugs. Your shaving soaps are absolutely fantastic. I just wish I could use of some of my old stock of soaps and creams faster as I have now become spoiled using your shaving soap. I need to try your bathing soaps for my next order.

Bud

[NE_Sue]

So glad you're enjoying them Bud. I'll be posting later in the Skincare and Shampoo sections to get an idea of what additional fragrances I should add in bath soaps and shampoos.

HB Sue

[Steelforge]

Hi Sue,

I've just been having a look at some of your soaps on eBay, they seem fantastic value. Is there no way you can ship some to the UK though? I'd be happy to pay whatever is needed for shipping if you could.

Thanks,

Iwan :smile:

[Suzuki]

So glad you're enjoying them Bud. I'll be posting later in the Skincare and Shampoo sections to get an idea of what additional fragrances I should add in bath soaps and shampoos.

HB Sue

Sue, might I suggest an a/s balm as an addition to your product line - many people like to layer scents and this would likely to be the case with your products as well.

[Nitrox]

I'm working on shipping to Canada...just need to figure out which of those dang custom forms I need lol and to see how many soaps I can fit into a Global Priority flat rate envelope.

HB Sue

Great news Sue, a little something to cheer us poor Canadians who have a hard time ordering anything from outside Canada.:smile::smile::smile:
I do have three of your soaps I got from a great forum member and they are awesome. Thanks Sue.

[NE_Sue]

Glad you're enjoying them Nitrox. I hope to be able to open shipping to Canada very soon. I'll post here as soon as I can do it on an ongoing basis.

After Shave Balm is a great suggestion, Suzuki. I'll definitely look into it!

HB Sue

[moses]

Sue,

I just got three soaps that I ordered from you last week (bay rum, oak moss, and dragon's blood). Looking forward to trying them. I wanted to thank you for the amazingly fast service. As I remember, I ordered on Thursday, and they arrived on Saturday!!!!! (At work, which is why I only get them now, as for once I wasn't at work on Saturday).

Looking forward to hearing about After Shaves also.

Oh, and I think you should not feel badly at all about the price increase. Although it seems I ordered just before you bumped up, I would not have cared. If these are as good as everyone says, you could probably double your price and still be considered a great deal.

[gunship]

Sue,

I just got three soaps that I ordered from you last week (bay rum, oak moss, and dragon's blood). Looking forward to trying them. I wanted to thank you for the amazingly fast service. As I remember, I ordered on Thursday, and they arrived on Saturday!!!!! (At work, which is why I only get them now, as for once I wasn't at work on Saturday).

Looking forward to hearing about After Shaves also.

Oh, and I think you should not feel badly at all about the price increase. Although it seems I ordered just before you bumped up, I would not have cared. If these are as good as everyone says, you could probably double your price and still be considered a great deal.

I'm anxoius to get a report back on these soaps so let us know what you think. I have been looking for a good soap and from what I have read, these seem to have the quality that I'm looking for.

[moses]

In all fairness, I should say that I can unequivically endorse QED as well. I expect to have as good a reaction to these. I am expecting some differences though. These seem more mildly scented, although with wonderful scents. Charles, really is generous with his essential oils (I also like that his soaps are pure essential oil, although it probably makes no practical difference). This results in really enveloping heavenly odors (especially with the sandlewood).

[NE_Sue]

Hi Iwan,
I'm working on it, so please don't give up. At the moment, I'm swamped with orders (thank you all lol) and still making more soap at 9 PM, trying to keep up. Please PM me and let me know what you're interested in, and I can at least check out the best possible shipping cost for you.

HB Sue

[moses]

Well, I promised to report back, so here it is.

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!

Lather: WOW. Lathers really fast. Even faster and easier than QED, which is great stuff. I just handheld the puck sideways over my bowl and work the brush for a while, letting it drip into the bowl. I thought I had too much water in there, but when I went to work it in the bowl, the lather just exploded. This whipped up as fast as any of my creams (after the initial working of the puck stage).

Scent: Great. I got Oak Moss, Bay Rum, and Dragon's Blood. The Bay Rum I used. The scent pretty much filled my bathroom, without being overwhelming. I could perhaps have even used a little more scent, but I've actually never had a cream/soap that I didn't feel that way about. I really liked this aroma, but I have no other Bay Rums to compare to. Oak moss was a really nice scent, probably my favorite of the three. Very refreshing, green, outdoorsy scent. Dragon's Blood is very nice, but not really for me. Smells fairly feminine to my nose. Perhaps I will use it for leg shaving on others.

Based on the three of these that I have, these are very different scent types from QED. The QED soaps that I have are very strong, clean, clear one-note (or two-note) aromas. Charles picks one or two EO's, and you get a very simple, clear and sharp smell of those. Because he is so generous, the smells are quite strong on the ones I have, which to me is a good thing. Honeybee seems more complex, and more muted. To me, these scent are somewhat "softer," and have a complexity to them, instead of the sharpness and clarity of QED. Frankly, I would not want to suggest that one is better than the other - raspberries and mangos (two of my favorite fruits - much better than apples or oranges).

Shave: This stuff shaves like blazes. It is the soap equivalent of my beloved Cremo-Cream. Only with really nice scents. By that, I mean if is slick as anything. The razor really glides, with not hint of hestitation. This is a quality that I really like in a shaving product, and these soaps are as good as anything I have ever used in that catagory. The first pass was the single best one-pass shave I have ever had (other factors besides the soap did play in here, but still). Basically, I have other things that might be as good a shave (QED, Cremo, T&H UC), but nothing better. And this is probably one of the two slickest.

Skin feel after: Very moisterizing. My skin felt great after (aside from a little overshaving, which wasn't the soap's fault).

Upshote - I would say this is a must have, if you like soaps at all. Especially if you like a very slick shave. I am now a partisan for two soaps.

[Jim]

I encourage everyone who has used this soap to go to the review (http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=53261#post53261) and place your comments and ratings there also! :biggrin:
BTW if you like the shave soap- I did a review of the bath soap -check it out!

[NE_Sue]

I'm so glad you had an enjoyable shave, Moses. And just to add a little more interest, I'm delighted to say that I've added 5 new fragrances in my Ebay store, and tried to put in a lil something for everyone: Yuzu, a mouth puckering Japanese grapefruit, Lime (no Lemon in this one, just fresh zesty Lime), Mountain Meadow, a clean outdoorsy fragrance, Cedarwood Amber, woodsy softened with Amber, and my personal favorite, Forest Pine, smells like fresh Christmas trees!

Oh yes, and the jars you've asked for are also now available, with the puck of soap inside, and a nice flat lid for stacking. You can find them all at
http://stores.ebay.com/Honeybee-Spa-Soaps. Happy browsing!

HB Sue

[ceebz]

I just bought four soaps today. (Yuzu, Lime, Oakmoss and Oceania) Can't wait to try them!

[gundog]

ceebz,

Please post back how you like your selection of scents. I love the soap, now to learn and try the various scents. I have not tried those scents yet, but they sound intertesting. The scents that I have tried so far are the Old Spice, Drakkar, Very Sexy, for Men, Bay Rum, and one of the newest scents which is the Forest Pine. They are all fantastic but my favorite is the Forest Pine and the Drakkar, and the Bay Rum and the....... Actually they are all great, different but great, I suppose my favorite depends upon my mood at the time.

Bud

[ceebz]

ceebz,

Please post back how you like your selection of scents. I love the soap, now to learn and try the various scents. I have not tried those scents yet, but they sound intertesting. The scents that I have tried so far are the Old Spice, Drakkar, Very Sexy, for Men, Bay Rum, and one of the newest scents which is the Forest Pine. They are all fantastic but my favorite is the Forest Pine and the Drakkar, and the Bay Rum and the....... Actually they are all great, different but great, I suppose my favorite depends upon my mood at the time.

Bud

Will do. I'm pretty excited, I haven't used a new soap in months.

[NE_Sue]

So I guess I shouldn't tease that I'm already working on the next group of new fragrances lol.

[Jim]

So I guess I shouldn't tease that I'm already working on the next group of new fragrances lol.

You- are- a- tease !

Shame on you :biggrin:

[PottyDoctor]

So I guess I shouldn't tease that I'm already working on the next group of new fragrances lol.

Did somebody say Honeysuckle? :biggrin: :wink:

[boboakalfb]

Ok...first experience with Honeybee this morning...Oceania was my choice and this stuff is great. Nice clean...fresh scent...if you like T&H 1805 then you will like this soap. Great slick lather and smooth shave. I have 3 other soaps to try out...Bay Rum tomorrow...Coconut on Sunday and Dragons Blood on Monday...

These soaps are definitely a great bargain...if you haven't tried them you really owe it to yourself.

[letterk]

I have the Oceania and Coconut as well. They perform great like all of the Honeybee soaps. Personally, my favorite is Vetyver.

[boboakalfb]

The Vetyver will definitely be in my next order...I just have to figure out what other scents to try. I did see the Issey Miyake which my wife would love.

[letterk]

The Vetyver will definitely be in my next order...I just have to figure out what other scents to try. I did see the Issey Miyake which my wife would love.

I think that's going to be my next one. My wife's all-time favorite cologne.

[Jim]

John
You will love it!

[Jim]

just received a bunch more soaps from Sue at HBS today and I had a great shave today ! LIME To quote the kids "Its OFF THE HOOK" I really enjoyed it. and as always it worked GREAT! Thanks Sue

As an aside I also got some of the new plastic tubs that Sue is integrating into her product line. A melted puck fills 1/3 the container. Do not get it to hot- I believe its a polystyrene and it softens and loses its shape its not really an issue, just pay attention. They stack very well and are easy to label.:biggrin:

A WINNER!

[tanker]

Jim.

If you have tried Col Conk's lime, How does the Honeybee Lime compare? I liked the scent of the Col. Conk lime, but the shave was nothing to write home about.

[Jim]

Jim.

If you have tried Col Conk's lime, How does the Honeybee Lime compare? I liked the scent of the Col. Conk lime, but the shave was nothing to write home about.

I have not tried any of the Colonials soaps- This Lime HBS soap smells great not at all artificial and the shave is a 10+ :biggrin:

IMHO its also the best value-

[ceebz]

just received a bunch more soaps from Sue at HBS today and I had a great shave today ! LIME To quote the kids "Its OFF THE HOOK" I really enjoyed it. and as always it worked GREAT! Thanks Sue


I too, received four soaps from HBS today, and I also used the lime today.

What can I say, this stuff's fantastic. A very nice, fresh scent and a very good lather. I don't think it lathered as well as the Arko stick but, it was more than sufficient. (may also be that it was my first run with the soap) The one thing I really loved about the soap was, it was very lubricating and left my face nice and smooth, I didn't even use a moisturizer today.

Sue, this is a fantastic product and you provide wonderful service. (I ordered on Thursday and got the soaps today) I would recommend this soap to anyone.

[moses]

Never tried the Arko, but I find that Honeybee lathers as well as or better than ANYTHING else I have tried. Including great lathering creams like Taylors Avocado, Nancy Boy, or Trumpers.

[NE_Sue]

Being a soap "cooker" I'm not a big fan of microwaving soap, but if microwaving is your favorite form of melting, it shouldn't be done on high temps. The best melting temp for soap is 150 degrees to preserve the quality of it. My preferred method is to put the soap in a pyrex or microwave safe cup, melt it, then pour into your container. Do not let it boil.

HB Sue

[moses]

Sue,

Would it be safer or less safe on a double boiler? A little concerned about that method because boiling water is way over 150 degrees, but perhaps if the water were kept at a good warm, rather than boiling, and a lot of stirring was done? Or maybe I'll just leave em in puck form.

[NE_Sue]

Glad you like the Lime! It's replacing the Lemon Lime, which gets mixed reviews, and is now in the 3 pc Sampler also. You wouldn't believe how many different Limes I sniffed trying to find one that smelled fresh and not that fake synthetic scent.

Still more new stuff coming so stay tuned!

HB Sue

[PottyDoctor]

Still more new stuff coming so stay tuned!

HB Sue

I can resist anything but temptation! :sad:

[NE_Sue]

Hi Moses,
To me, double boiler method is the best way. It takes a little longer but the result is worth it, IMO. My recommendation is to heat some water in a saucepan til it just starts to slightly steam, then turn the heat down. Put your soap into a pyrex or heat resistent container, and let it slowly melt. Stir thoroughly when melted, and pour into your favorite container to cool.
I'm no scientist, but I feel I have much better control of the melting this way, and retain the properties of the soap ingredients more consistently than intermittent blasts of microwave heat.
It's all a matter of personal preference, though.

HB Sue

[setherd]

Well I purchased a bar of the old spice yesterday, can't wait to try it!

[Raj]

Honey bee Sue,
How do we get your soap in Europe? Do you have any retail outlet in Europe? Ordering from the USA is a problem because of the postal charges and the dreaded Swedish customs that slapps on not only a custom duty but even a handling charge for goods from the USA. The customs department has lost a lot of revenue source lately due to the EEC regulations allowing free import within the EEC. They have to make up for the lost revenue by charging for goods from out side the EU. Do you have any suggestions?

[Jim]

What a shave today-HBS


GREEN TEA!!
What a great scent, very clean and tannin scent no floral at all. A nice change. I swear this one feels different too. I will be back to this again soon!(no its not tantric):biggrin:


Yesterday was OCEANIA very nice -not floral sort of like the 70's aftershave CANOE if I remember ?? I liked it.:001_smile


Tomorrow Who knows?

[Jim]

Raj
Your best bet is to PM Sue! Take care,

[NE_Sue]

Hi Raj,
I'm working on International shipping, and hope to be able to do it in Sept. I just passed the first hurdle of a shipment to Canada that arrived safely in 4 business days using the Global Priority Flat Rate envelope. That's what I hope to use for Europe as I can fit up to 6 shaving soaps in the envelope to most of Europe for $9.50 shipping.
As soon as I'm set up to ship Internationally, I will post here in B&B.

HB Sue

[Raj]

Thanks Sue. I like shaving soaps and am dying to try yours since my result with Crabtree and Evelyn shaving soaps has been unsatisfactory because they do not lubricate or moisturise the skin.

[kozulich]

I used HBS for the first time last night. Mountain Meadow, I believe, which had a nice fresh clean scent. I must admit I did have a little trouble getting the lather I wanted. I used the same technique I use for Mama Bear, C&E, and Classic soaps, but I got less lather, and it seemed to dry on my face too quickly. Lately, with those other soaps, I've been loading the wet brush on the soap bar, and then whipping to a lather in a pre-wet, pre-warmed lather bowl. Superb results with all those other soaps. With HBS, I got very little lather - like I was running out by the 3rd pass, and the second half of my face would be dry by the time I got the first half shaved. So my question is, should I be using more water than with other soaps or more soap? Obviously, from the reviews here, this is a superior soap, so my technique must need to be tweaked.:blush:

[gundog]

Orest

That is very unusual, I found just the opposite to be true. The Honeybee soap I found to be more forgiving and much easier to work up a good lather with than other soaps I have tried. From what you describe, I would say you definetly need more water. What kind of brush are you using? I have used both an Omega boar brush and Rooney's Finest with absouletly no problem. If your brush does not hold enough water, just add water as you work up the lather.

Good Luck! Bud

[boboakalfb]

I agree with Bud...sounds like a bit more water should do the trick. Just keep adding a couple drops at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.

[Jim]

Todays HBS ''flavor'' is YAZU.... what the heck is a yazu?

http://www.theproducehunter.com/temp/Yuzu5.jpg


This is what yahoo said;
Yuzu Fruit
YUZU is a citrus fruit common in Japanese kitchens. The surface of the fruit is uneven, and the peel's fragrance is sweet and slightly bitter. The flavor of the juice is similar to grapefruit but has definite overtones of Mandarin orange. YUZU juice is very fresh and tangy-tasting, and is an important ingredient in ponzu. Traditionally, shreded YUZU peel is used to garnish clear soups and simmered dishes. Today's fusion cuisine has resulted in dishes such as Tuna Sashimi with Wasabi-YUZU, Tuna Tartare with YUZU on Fried Potato Gaufrettes, YUZU Monogatari (Gin, Ginger Ale and YUZU juice), and YUZU-Maui Onion Salad. YUZU's exterior color changes from green to yellow as the season progresses. Exterior color is not important, and either color fruit is used interchangeably.



I can tell you that this is one great smelling soap in-fact it is the first HBS soap thats the lather smells just as great as the puck does! I do not as a rule go for Foodie scents but for some reason Yazu does not make me think of a kitchen.It shaves great as always
This one is way on the top of my current hit parade! ITS A MUST TRY!

Sue this one is out of the Park!:thumbup:

[NE_Sue]

Glad you like it Jim. I really wanted to try something very different that would be a unique to HBS, something I didn't see offered by every vendor. The first time I read the description, I thought, ooooh, that sounds interesting, and the first time I sniffed it, I loved it! Even the name, Yuzu, is kind of fun. I haven't had it very long, but it's already a big seller in shower gel too. Enjoy!

HB Sue

[gundog]

O.K. enough is enough.... I'm going to have to stay off this forum. Now I'm dying to try the Yazu. I thought all this buying and trying different soaps would be over once I discovered the ultimate shaving soap with the Honeybee. However, with all the talk of the different fragrances, this is not the case. Because of this forum, I now have a severe case of SCAD or more appropriately, HSAD (Honeybee Soap Acquisition Disorder). I'm currently awaiting an order now and can't even remember what scents I ordered. I just know they are ones I have'nt tried and they sounded good.

If there were only one scent in the Honeybee soap, I would be content and just enjoy the remarkable shave. Since this is not the case, I suppose there is no hope for me. I enjoy all the fragrances I have tried so far and this really serves exacerbate my disorder.

[kozulich]

Orest

That is very unusual, I found just the opposite to be true. The Honeybee soap I found to be more forgiving and much easier to work up a good lather with than other soaps I have tried. From what you describe, I would say you definetly need more water. What kind of brush are you using? I have used both an Omega boar brush and Rooney's Finest with absouletly no problem. If your brush does not hold enough water, just add water as you work up the lather.

Good Luck! Bud

I'll definitely give it another shot. I'm sure that I just haven't gotten the working ratios right yet. I'm using a boar brush.

[gundog]

Orest,

Keep at it, you will get the hang of it. Practice makes perfect!

Bud

[tanker]

You are in for a very pleasant experience. This soap is something else!

[Jim]

Having been raised to the old saw "If you have nothing nice to say- say nothing" this is a difficult post for me to make- I am compelled to make it only because of my prior high praise for HBS Shaving soaps.

The HBS lemon-lime shave soap worked perfectly-as all the soaps do.

The Scent however was worse than horrible- If I had tried this version first I would never have tried any other- its that bad.
Its not lemon its not lime it has no citrus bite- flat and mushy very artificial and feculant. If that was not enough the lather smelled worse than the soap!

I cannot recommend this version of HBS shave soap.

[ceebz]

Having been raised to the old saw "If you have nothing nice to say- say nothing" this is a difficult post for me to make- I am compelled to make it only because of my prior high praise for HBS Shaving soaps.

The HBS lemon-lime shave soap worked perfectly-as all the soaps do.

The Scent however was worse than horrible- If I had tried this version first I would never have tried any other- its that bad.
Its not lemon its not lime it has no citrus bite- flat and mushy very artificial and feculant. If that was not enough the lather smelled worse than the soap!

I cannot recommend this version of HBS shave soap.

Heh, that's probably why Sue's not making the Lemon-Lime anymore.

[Jim]

Just a quick update-
Sue Pm'd me and advised me that this soap is no longer being sold- she also offered to replace it at her cost..Thanks Sue :smile:

Now what to shave with tomorrow?

[Jim]

Todays soap is LAVENDER Scented HBS shave soap.

As always this is a great shaving soap- slick, easy to lather and a great price, Of all the great scents available lavender is one of my favorites, alas the only complaint I ever have with the HBS is the strength of the scent,especially in the lavender its extremely subtle.In comparison Taylors is strongly scented,and most would say that Taylors is tame stuff.
Overall this is a keeper- add some lavender follow up scents and you are good to face the day.

[greenerock]

I love the Honeybee shave soaps. It's hard for me to use anything else. It's kind of like....Okay, today I'll use something else just to get rid of it. Once I've used everything else, I plan on just using the shea butter soap. This morning I used 1 pump of Kiss my Face on top of the Honeybee soap. It was a really nice shave. I have to work soap in there somehow, right?:biggrin:

[Keith5698]

After reading about the quality of these soaps, and all of the great choices for scents, I can't wait to try them. I only which I was able to build a good lather with soaps. I just can't seem to get it right. But either way, I may just buy some of these, and keep working on it until I get it right. These soaps sound fantastic.

[gundog]

After reading about the quality of these soaps, and all of the great choices for scents, I can't wait to try them. I only which I was able to build a good lather with soaps. I just can't seem to get it right. But either way, I may just buy some of these, and keep working on it until I get it right. These soaps sound fantastic.

You will find that the Honeybee soaps are superb at lathering. Once you get the correct ration of soap and water figured out or even close to it, they will lather as well as the creams. You will be amazed at the shave.....Enjoy!

Bud

[OldSaw]

I recently posted an update from my experience with HBS soap here.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=64995&postcount=51

This is some really great stuff.

[Jim]

Been traveling for a week or so and took along some HBS soaps along for the ride-

Sandalwood- :thumbup:

This is in the top 5 of my HBS rotation very nice and spicy scent not the fake cinnamon and clove imitation sandalwood that so many soaps are passing themselves off as.

Forest Pine :thumbup1:

Fist shot at this and I liked it-not to heavy. I thought of Balsam when I lathered this up, I followed this with B&B cologne for a great start to my day!


Old Spice:thumbup:

Classic and clean this one brings me back to watching my Dad shave, great scent. A winner and in the top 5 HBS.

As always these soaps deliver a topnotch shave and leave my skin feeling great!:biggrin:

[zachster]

I received my Old Spice Honeybee soap yesterday, but am not finding the lather to be as luxirious as others report -- I like to build lather on my face, not in the bowl or cup, and this soap just isn't performing as well as others I've tried, except after many passes with the brush (at which point the lather, though very full, starts feeling dry). Moreover, with a fresh Persona (U.S.) blade, I wound up with some pretty annoying razor burn. Mind you, I usually use Feathers, but was impressed with the Personas when used with Nancy Boy. I'm guessing they don't work as well with soaps as they do creams, so I'll give Sue the benefit of the doubt and blame the burn on the blade! Tomorrow I will try the Honeybee with a fresh Feather blade. Still, I'm just not that impressed with the lather (and I've tried lathering a few times tonight since this morning's shave, just to experiement with technique).

[Queen of Blades]

Did you use enough water? I presume you did since you said you practiced lathering several times tonight. Maybe give a bowl a try?

[zachster]

Did you use enough water? I presume you did since you said you practiced lathering several times tonight. Maybe give a bowl a try?

I've experimented some more since posting, and I guess this soap requires a bit more water than I'm used to using. I usually soak my brush in the mug with the soap, empty the mug, shake the brush off briskly a couple of times, swirl a bit, and lather on wet face. I'm finding that the Honeybee works better if I don't shake the brush quite as much (just one limp shake!).

That said, I did two passes this morning with the Honeybee and a fresh Feather blade, and got myself a verrrry close shave indeed! A bit of razor burn, again, but I think this is just an aggravation of yesterday's burn with the Persona blade (those will be going to the back of the drawer, I think).

One more shave, and I might become a Honeybee convert yet!

[Keith5698]

I just had my first experience with HBS soap today, and all I can say is WOW! I was having problems getting a good lather from my QED Grapefruit/Peppermint soap (although that is getting much better), but I had no problem with the HBS soap at all. I tried the Coconut today, and I got my best shave yet. The smell is fantastic, and my razor was really gliding today. No irritation at all (a couple of minor nicks, but I don't blame the soap for that!) I can't wait to try the other two (Oceania and Drakkar). From everything I was reading about these soaps, I was expecting quite a bit from them. Not only did they meet my expectations, but they surpassed them easily. I'm sure I'll try other products, (after all, that's half the fun of wetshaving) but I have no doubt that HBS soaps will be a staple in my collection.

[moses]

Zach (guessing there),

Glad to hear it went better this time. Definitely experiment with more water, especially if the lather is drying at all. I usually shake out pretty well if I'm lathering on the face, for less messy initial lathering. But then after working onto my face a little, I dip the brush tips in the hot water to pick up more water. Maybe a couple of times, depending on how the lather is looking.

[zachster]

Zach (guessing there),

Glad to hear it went better this time. Definitely experiment with more water, especially if the lather is drying at all. I usually shake out pretty well if I'm lathering on the face, for less messy initial lathering. But then after working onto my face a little, I dip the brush tips in the hot water to pick up more water. Maybe a couple of times, depending on how the lather is looking.

I have been experimenting with dipping the bristles, with good results. But I guess that's what bothers me a bit about this soap -- it seems way to finicky and labor intense! Now, it might just be my imagination, but it seems like I got better results today with the sandalwood puck than I was with the old spice puck -- maybe the OS was just from a bad batch???

Zach

[gundog]

I have been experimenting with dipping the bristles, with good results. But I guess that's what bothers me a bit about this soap -- it seems way to finicky and labor intense! Now, it might just be my imagination, but it seems like I got better results today with the sandalwood puck than I was with the old spice puck -- maybe the OS was just from a bad batch???
Zach


Based on your posts I would be very suspicious of the quality of your water. I have found the Honeybee soaps to be much more forgiving than other soaps and have never expereinced any problem whatsover in developing a good lather.

[moses]

I would have thought so to. A quick check of Zach's HOF entry reveals that he is from SF, however. SF has some of the very best city water in the country, if not the best. It is not the water. (Unless he is dipping his brush in the bay....).

It is a homemade product, I guess a bad batch is possible. I am more thinking either not enough soap on the brush, or not enough water. or both.

[zachster]

I would have thought so to. A quick check of Zach's HOF entry reveals that he is from SF, however. SF has some of the very best city water in the country, if not the best.

Indeed we do! And the highrise I live in has a massive supply of ultra-hot water for excellent shaving (our building engineer seems to have convinced himself that one should be able to make a cup of tea straight from the tap) :laugh:

Once again this morning, I got better results with the sandalwood puck, but it's still not lathering as well as other soaps I've tried (kind of thin and transparent). That said, I am getting good lubrication from this soap, and close shaves, and that's what really counts. But I think I'll shelve it for awhile and come back to it in a couple of weeks.

[vespergo]

yes you should definately come back to the HB soaps soon because they are definately a delight! i love the scents of bay rum and sandalwood, and hopefully before too long I'll be ordering some more when sue gets larger amounts available for package deals like a 4 or 6 slot variety.

the shave i get from these is phenomenal and my skin looks great afterwards. it's very moisturizing and my skin loves it. at first i was skeptical of the shea butter because i have sensitive skin (or did at one point in my life) that i thought i should avoid it, but caved in to all the buying pressure and just bite. well i'm pleased to say that not only am i having no adverse reaction to it, but it's improving skin tone as well.

[zachster]

Since my last post on this thread, I came back to Honeybee soaps and am now thoroughly converted! Can't figure out why I had a problem lathering before -- now I get a nice, rich, creamy lather. Finished my puck of sandalwood and have now received a puck each of lavender and lime -- I'm really enjoying the lavender (haven't tried the lime yet). I never did go back to finish the Old Spice puck, as it was a bit too strong a scent for my tastes (I like OS, but it didn't seem quite right in a soap).

[Sue]

Hi Sue, Welome to the club of 'Increased Cost'! I just joined too. Between fees and the Post Office you can only absorb so much. I don't know if you use SD alcohol or not but if so and your supply runs low, be prepared to get hit with a $20.00 'Hazmat' fee on top of the shipping fee.

If your soaps are 3" diameter, you can put three into a flat rate Global Priority mailer. Go to the USPO website here ~ http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10152&top=Y&categoryId=11820&parent_category_rn=&top_category=and order everything online and it will be delivered to your door quickly.

You will need the following: Customs Form, Item # FORM 2976 for Global Priority; also # FORM 2976-A if to an APO or FPO over 1 #; the form envelope FORM 2976-E, Global Priority mail stickers # DEC-10, Tyvek Envelope # EP 15-GP for four pounds and under; and Global priority flat rate envelopes # EP 15-A.

If you use the USPO website you can set up an account linked to your CC and print and also D/L monthly expenses for taxes. There is also a good address book and you can put up to 10 shipping labels in a batch order. This website is only for Global or Domestic Priority or Express mail, no first class etc., or military.

Good luck to another Sue!

[moses]

Since my last post on this thread, I came back to Honeybee soaps and am now thoroughly converted! Can't figure out why I had a problem lathering before -- now I get a nice, rich, creamy lather. Finished my puck of sandalwood and have now received a puck each of lavender and lime -- I'm really enjoying the lavender (haven't tried the lime yet). I never did go back to finish the Old Spice puck, as it was a bit too strong a scent for my tastes (I like OS, but it didn't seem quite right in a soap).

Glad to hear it's working for you now. Sometimes you never know what the problem was, it just kinda goes away with more practice.

-Mo

[BIG JOHN]

Sue, I received the 3 pack sampler I purchased from you on Ebay and have to tell you that your soaps are by far the best I have used in my 2 months of wet shaving. For the record, I have tried many different soaps to compare with. I have sensitive skin and your old spice soap gave me my best shave ever with my Merkur HD and a feather blade. Zero irritation and zero nicks! Keep up the good work and keep those excellent soaps coming.

[Gunky]

I keep reading HB soaps are great, but will it work for my skin? I'm 20, and I suffered from acne as a teen, now I just get oily skin with clogged pores....I noticed that when I used soaps in the past (Williams, Riviage) I tend to get more clogged pores and "bumps" on my cheeks, but when I started using creams they went away. Anyone experience anything with HB soaps?

[NE_Sue]

Hi Gunky,
I don't believe you should have any problem with my soap. It's especially formulated to provide skin care during shaving, and the ingredients will not clog your pores. I haven't had any reports of it causing breakouts, and it's been used by many different skin types: dry, oily, sensitive, extremely sensitive.

Of course, the users here on the Forum can give you a better unbiased critique regarding your specific question than I can. I can only tell you that from an ingredients standpoint, it should be fine. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

[moses]

I keep reading HB soaps are great, but will it work for my skin? I'm 20, and I suffered from acne as a teen, now I just get oily skin with clogged pores....I noticed that when I used soaps in the past (Williams, Riviage) I tend to get more clogged pores and "bumps" on my cheeks, but when I started using creams they went away. Anyone experience anything with HB soaps?

I'm slightly older, but I am prone to oily skin an the occasional outbreak. I actually find honeybee to be about the best thing out there for my skin. Definitely nothing like Williams, et. al. In fact, my face is much happier since I've switched from some "oil control" face wash to her bath soap for washing my face.

-Mo

[Gunky]

Kool, once I finish my Palmolive Italian Tube I'll look into Honeybee soaps, couple of questions, can anyone recommend any good scents, something fresh "barber shoppy"? Looking into the Old Spice one since I have an Old Spice mug speaking of which, do HB soaps fit into Old Spice mugs?

[BD1970]

Kool, once I finish my Palmolive Italian Tube I'll look into Honeybee soaps, couple of questions, can anyone recommend any good scents, something fresh "barber shoppy"? Looking into the Old Spice one since I have an Old Spice mug speaking of which, do HB soaps fit into Old Spice mugs?


Yes, her soap pucks will fit in an OS mug. If you need to you can melt it & pour it into just about anything.

[Dr. Mike]

Kool, once I finish my Palmolive Italian Tube I'll look into Honeybee soaps, couple of questions, can anyone recommend any good scents, something fresh "barber shoppy"? Looking into the Old Spice one since I have an Old Spice mug speaking of which, do HB soaps fit into Old Spice mugs?

You can both melt and mill the soaps. I have milled a couple into some plastic screwtop bowls that I like, and it works great.
I have several Honeybee soaps, and love them all. They make a great lather, and are just top notch products with incredible scents. I just used the Oakmoss this morning and can still smell the incredible scent (mmmmmmm!). I also tend to have oily skin, but I have found the best way to deal with this is to use a good astringent after my shave. I like the Thayer's witch hazel, because it tightens up my skin without the burn of an aftershave. It comes in some good scents, but I prefer the lavender, and you can usually find it at a GNC store. I then follow up with a good AS balm, and have not had any problems.
I don't know what would be comparable to a barber shoppy scent. I have the following: Violet, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Lavender, Forest Pine, Lime. I love them all. She has a whole bunch of scents available, and at her prices, you can't go wrong trying several to find a scent you like. As I've told others, if you get one you don't like, let me know, and I might take it off your hands. But seriously, when you can try 3 of them for $9, or 6 for $18, you really can't go wrong. You would be hard pressed to find a better deal.

[Ladykramer]

What do the scents smell like. I'm not sure what "perfect" means. Is there something I can relate it to?

[Dr. Mike]

What do the scents smell like. I'm not sure what "perfect" means. Is there something I can relate it to?

I guess the obvious question would be, what scent are you referring to? She has so many.
If you know the scent already, you have an idea (e.g. Lime smells like lime). If it is a scent you are unfamiliar with, sometimes you can describe it (Oakmoss from Honeybee, to me, has a distinct coconut scent in it), but some you can't (I can't describe Sandalwood to save my life to someone who hasn't ever smelled it, ditto on Vetiver).
Sue does have a page in her eBay store that describes the various fragrances (not all are available for her shave soaps, but it will give you an idea). Here (http://www.honeybeespa.com/hss-fragrance.html) is the link.

[Ladykramer]

I guess I was referring to Vetiver, Sandlewood and the Very Sexy Man. Bwahahha. My husband hates coconut so that wouldn't work so well. I'll check out her page. Thanks!

[Dr. Mike]

I guess I was referring to Vetiver, Sandlewood and the Very Sexy Man. Bwahahha. My husband hates coconut so that wouldn't work so well. I'll check out her page. Thanks!

I also hate coconut, but I love the Oakmoss. I don't know why that is.
The Vetiver has been described by others as a grassy smell. Not like fresh cut lawn grass, but something like that. It really is hard to describe. This is a very pleasant Vetiver. I can't comment on the other two you mention, as I haven't tried them. Good luck with it. She sells a 3-pack choose your scents sampler for something like $9, so it is a great deal, and if he doesn't like them, you aren't out that much, and probably could sell or trade them pretty easily on here (just get your posting count up, though, so they don't delete it).

[Ladykramer]

I just found her site and that deal! It sounds great. Very Sexy for Men just made me laugh and even if it turns out smelling awkward, the name alone is worth the money. Grass huh? That doesn't sound too inviting. Are these soaps moisturizing or do they dry out your face??

[norman931]

Are these soaps moisturizing or do they dry out your face??

I've tried many soaps, and Honeybee soaps have the best moisturizing of any of them.

Norm

[jss]

I just started DE shaving this Fall. You are all correct Sue's soaps are fantastic! In addition to the product Sue's communication with her customers ranks among the highest. You are never left guessing "what's going on?" Thanks Sue.

jss

[Dr. Mike]

I just started DE shaving this Fall. You are all correct Sue's soaps are fantastic! In addition to the product Sue's communication with her customers ranks among the highest. You are never left guessing "what's going on?" Thanks Sue.

jss

+1
Sue is fantastic for customer service. I placed an order late Friday night, and by Saturday I already had an email from her confirming my order, and asking if I was Dr. Mike on B&B. The soap arrived before noon on Monday. I'm making up my Christmas list, and some of her soaps will definitely be on there!

[Belegnole]

Is there a way to purchase Sue's soaps without using ebay?

[mental]

I have three soaps from the "sampler" on the way, and am looking forward to using them based upon the great reviews.

[duckintheface]

Is there a way to purchase Sue's soaps without using ebay?
Send her an email at [email protected]

[PottyDoctor]

I've been using Sue's Honeybee shaving soaps for more than a year and they are great! However, I'm wondering how others get their best lather from HB Soaps.

Do you lather them directly onto the face or do you make the lather into a bowl or mug first?

[Jim]

Hi Ron!

[norman931]

Do you lather them directly onto the face or do you make the lather into a bowl or mug first?

I suppose you could do it either way, but I lather on my face.

Norm

[Holton181]

Lathering on the face just doesn't work for me with the Honeybee spa soaps. I use Goosemeplease's lathering technique. best lather from anything I've used.

[Churchill]

Love HBS's soap scents but something in her soaps just does not agree with my face. It's strange because I don't have sensitive skin and hers are the only shaving products that I've had problems with.
I sure hated having to give my brother her fresh lemons and oceania soaps.:mad:

[PottyDoctor]

Has anyone tried the HB soaps made with essential oils instead of the fragrance oils?

[RichGem]

Has anyone tried the HB soaps made with essential oils instead of the fragrance oils?

I've used (and really like) the "Valencia"... the scent is very subtle (orangey, but at times with a tinge of "bubble gum" -- but pay that no mind, I have lousy sinuses). It's one of the most lathering and easiest to lather soaps I've used. The wider mouth jar (than her standard jar) is also a help with the lathering.

[RichGem]

Lathering on the face just doesn't work for me with the Honeybee spa soaps. I use Goosemeplease's lathering technique. best lather from anything I've used.


What's Goose's technique?

[jss]

Sue's soaps were the first one I tried. They are terrific.

[mental]

What's Goose's technique?

I assume it's what's depicted in his stickied tutorial... Here's a link.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136

[Jim]

I assume it's what's depicted in his stickied tutorial... Here's a link.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136

In fairness to the other Gents- it was a group effort!

[RichGem]

I assume it's what's depicted in his stickied tutorial... Here's a link.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136

Thanks!

[Lynchmeister]

Hey Ron, nice to see ya again. For HBS soaps, I lather directly on my face and get great results.

[Suzuki]

Has anyone tried the HB soaps made with essential oils instead of the fragrance oils?

Yes - I've tried the floral euphoria, carribean vacation and cedarwood sage - I also have, but have not yet tried the ylang ylang and frakencense and myhrr.

The soaps perform as well as the other HB soaps, so if you like her soaps generally, you'll like the EO soaps as well.

The floral is a very sweet, heavy floral - its quite strong and actually will stay on your brush for a couple of shaves afterward. If you like florals, this is a good one to try - rose, jasmine and a touch of sandalwood. I get more jasmine than anything, but there is some rose in there as well - I don't detect the sandalwood at all, and I suspect there's very little in there and its just dominated by the floral components.

The cedarwood sage is a nice clean, green scent that I think is quite good.

The carribean vacation is a combination of bay rum, lime and vetiver - a nice combination, with the vetivier giving depth to the scent. There could be more bay rum in here as far as I'm concerned, but overall, I think the combination works reasonably well.

As for EO soaps, Colleen at TGQ has some all-EO soaps and is actually going EO only. She makes some very good glycerine-based soaps with lots of other good stuff in them that you might want to try as well.

[PottyDoctor]

Yes - I've tried the floral euphoria, carribean vacation and cedarwood sage - I also have, but have not yet tried the ylang ylang and frakencense and myhrr.

The soaps perform as well as the other HB soaps, so if you like her soaps generally, you'll like the EO soaps as well.

The floral is a very sweet, heavy floral - its quite strong and actually will stay on your brush for a couple of shaves afterward. If you like florals, this is a good one to try - rose, jasmine and a touch of sandalwood. I get more jasmine than anything, but there is some rose in there as well - I don't detect the sandalwood at all, and I suspect there's very little in there and its just dominated by the floral components.

The cedarwood sage is a nice clean, green scent that I think is quite good.

The carribean vacation is a combination of bay rum, lime and vetiver - a nice combination, with the vetivier giving depth to the scent. There could be more bay rum in here as far as I'm concerned, but overall, I think the combination works reasonably well.

As for EO soaps, Colleen at TGQ has some all-EO soaps and is actually going EO only. She makes some very good glycerine-based soaps with lots of other good stuff in them that you might want to try as well.

Reason I'm asking about EO soaps from HB is that some of the fragrances give my face the 'burn'. It seems I have sensitive skin when it comes to many soaps and creams. I absolutely love the scent, lather and shave of HB soaps, but I think I might ought to give one of her EO soaps a whirl.

[skippiks27]

I had burning from both the Lime and Yuzu HBS soaps. I shot sue an email and she sent me an aztec gold, victorian rose and unscented. All three work amazingly well with no burn (smell great too). Also I've had no burn and great shaves from Bay Rum and Sandalwood HBS soaps.

[PottyDoctor]

I had burning from both the Lime and Yuzu HBS soaps. I shot sue an email and she sent me an aztec gold, victorian rose and unscented. All three work amazingly well with no burn (smell great too). Also I've had no burn and great shaves from Bay Rum and Sandalwood HBS soaps.

It's just a very individual thing with this issue. Thanks for the response.

[Belegnole]

Well I now have a few on the way! Can't wait to try them...

Bay Rum, Yuzu, Oceania, and the Cedarwood Amber

[indykramer]

Oh man my wife got me three scents for Christmas and they are amazing. Someone tipped her onto trying them for me. Who ever is responsible for that i owe some thanks.

Anyway about the soaps i have Very Sexy for Men, Yuzu and Mayan Gold. They are all outstanding soaps. It doesnt seem like it takes much soap to load the brush and its over flowing with slick lather. Great stuff and cheap too.

[norman931]

Great stuff and cheap too.

Not cheap- just inexpensive! :smartass:

Norm

[Belegnole]

Not cheap- just inexpensive! :smartass:

Norm

I keep saying the same thing to my customers.........

[letterk]

I just used some Honeybee Spa soap yesterday, after not using it for months, and have to say, it's a darn good soap for the price.

[Jack Bauer]

LetterK,

I have tried and love Honeybee soaps. From your experience is there a more moisturizing Glycerine based soap out there? Also, do you find triple mill soaps generally are more moisturizing? Thanks.

Chris

[Suzuki]

LetterK,

I have tried and love Honeybee soaps. From your experience is there a more moisturizing Glycerine based soap out there? Also, do you find triple mill soaps generally are more moisturizing? Thanks.

Chris

I find the tripple-milled/talow soaps better generally - slicker and more lubricating.

Honeybee sues are some of the best glycerine based soaps out there - for me, the best glycerine based soaps are those made by Colleen at TGQ. She doesn't sell on e-bay and has a low profile around here, but her soaps are top notch and she's converting her entire line to EOs.

[andrewinman]

Budget cost, works great, smells good, all around great product:001_smile. The unscented is my go to along with proraso.

[Timmy!]

This is my first Shave Soap from Honeybee Sue and I love it! I chose to try the Bay Rum, which is wonderful! She is truly an awesome person to do business with! These reviews are definitely accurate and you won't be dissatisfied with the results!:thumbup1:

[ThePossum]

Ye Olde Barbershop Soap

Great price, quick shipment, insanely great scent. What more can one ask. Sue hit the scent on the nose. It smells more like a barbershop than a barbershop.

Thanks Sue for a great soap. I look forward to trying another scent or two in the future.

[SunsetSam]

Very excellent soap! I bought the Ye Olde Barbershop scent. It gave me the best shave I've ever had, but I still need to experiment with other brands, etc.

[The Seeker]

Wow. Just wow. I shaved with my Honeybee soap about an hour ago for the first time. I'm gobsmacked. For mine, it outperformed Tabac. "HERESY!" I hear some of you shout but it's true. With a three day old feather in my Merkur HD, I experienced what I can easily say was the best shave I've had in 9 months of wetshaving.

I face-lathered and was amazed at how easily a nice, thick mixture appeared. As I made the initial few strokes I knew I was onto a winner.

With the first WTG pass under my belt, I had removed more hair than I ever have with another soap or cream. Once the second XTG pass was finished, all that was needed was some blade buffing and I was done.

Not only was the scent fantastic (Cherry Pipe Tobacco), the moisturising was superb. My face feels amazingly soft and I have zero irritation.

I never shave ATG as my neck cannot seem to tolerate it but I sense that with HBS, I may just be able to get away with it. A winner - highly recommended.

[charlex]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is finding these soaps to be an insanely great value and incredible performance-wise. I just revived my old puck of HBS Lime after shaving with Art of Shaving Sandalwood and T&H Luxury for the past 6 months. Honestly, I find HBS shaves better than both of these expensive soaps! *ducks* :redface:

Lather, cushion, glide and skin conditioning are all off the register! The lime scent is, IMO, good but not great. But at these prices, I can order 6 or 7 pucks in different scents and be set for years.

I thought I was doing something wrong with the expensive triple-milled soaps, but I've been wetshaving for years and using soaps exclusively for a while now, so I'm pretty sure I can't blame my technique.

Even at 2x the price, these soaps would be a stellar deal. Is this the best (poorly kept) secret in wetshaving?

[lamaman3]

Don't forget the best part - they fit PERFECTLY in an old spice mug! :thumbup1:

[Jim]

Just revisiting some of my first soaps and I can still say that these soaps are a great value and have stood the test of time.
Give them a try.

[edharley]

While contemplating a review of Sue's bay rum soap, I decided to see what others said. I found this thread. Rather than re-invent the wheel, I will just ad to this thread.

In just 3 weeks, Honeybee Spa bay rum has become the only soap in my rotation. I'm not quite ready to PIF my MWF, Tabac or D.R. Harris Arlington but I must admit I haven't used any of them since I opened Sue's soap. I'll try some of her other scents in the future, but I will have some Honeybee soap on hand as long as it is available. I won't likely give up my Arlington because I love the distinctive scent and it IS a great soap but it isn't a BETTER soap than Honeybee!.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Sue is a class act with a phenomenal business acumen! She has everything it takes to keep customers coming back for more.

If I had nothing but Honeybee Spa soap and a tube of Bigalow for my Dopp Kit, I'd be a happy shaver!

Thanks Sue

[GianquiMan]

How long do these soaps last?! After 3 weeks on a puck it doesn't look like it even has a dent in it :thumbup1:

As long as these excellent, well priced soaps are available I have no interest on trying any others. I only wish you could get "mentholated" versions of her scents.

[edharley]

How long do these soaps last?! After 3 weeks on a puck it doesn't look like it even has a dent in it :thumbup1:

As long as these excellent, well priced soaps are available I have no interest on trying any others. I only wish you could get "mentholated" versions of her scents.

Try the Eucalyptus or the Eucalyptus Spearmint. I bet one of them will soothe your "menthol" cravings.