FWIW, this thread is for sticking with soaps long term and sharing an experience with it. Start to finish? Sure. A month at a time? Why not. A daily or weekly rotator probably won't have the same experience as someone using it longer. Everyone is free to join the discussion, of course, and this thread has certainly morphed from one where we watched johnniegold kill triple milled soaps.
My Guess... 3017
- Thread starter johnniegold
- Start date
Along the subject of killing soaps start to finish....I love C&S so much, that I'm going to continue using it until the end of the month....and not kill it. 
By the end of April I will have about 25 shaves on this puck, enough that I have learned how to use it and learned that I love it. At the end of the month I am putting C&S back on the shelf for a bit. Right next to my stash of Haslinger soaps as my 2 favorites.
I have several soaps I want to give the full 3017 treatment to. I don't believe any of them will hold any surprises as I have used them all, just not the scents I have on hand. Mikes, B&M, RR, etc. I believe when Mr. Gold started this thread years ago it was partly to reduce his stash to a manageable level. Which is exactly the mission I shall set upon starting May 1. Last year I started this 3017 method to discover what soaps I like. I was bouncing around between different products so often I never really learned a soap. Well Mission accomplished! I will continue the 3017 method to reduce my stash to 2 or 3 soaps that I absolutely love, with the occasional soap I haven't used before tossed in for the sake of variety. I have grown tired of using average or below average soaps and creams and am also tired of chasing the next great artisan scent that will be here today and gone tomorrow. So I am settling on a few select high performers, and will give a new-to-me soap the full 3017 treatment every now and then when my curiosity gets the best of me.
Ah, 11 shaves left on C&S. At that time I believe the puck will only be 1/3 down. I am expecting to get at least 3 months out of this puck.
Now I have to decide what soap is on deck for May 1 to be whipped....beaten....loaded like I hate it, and generally pummeled to its inevitable death.
By the end of April I will have about 25 shaves on this puck, enough that I have learned how to use it and learned that I love it. At the end of the month I am putting C&S back on the shelf for a bit. Right next to my stash of Haslinger soaps as my 2 favorites. I have several soaps I want to give the full 3017 treatment to. I don't believe any of them will hold any surprises as I have used them all, just not the scents I have on hand. Mikes, B&M, RR, etc. I believe when Mr. Gold started this thread years ago it was partly to reduce his stash to a manageable level. Which is exactly the mission I shall set upon starting May 1. Last year I started this 3017 method to discover what soaps I like. I was bouncing around between different products so often I never really learned a soap. Well Mission accomplished! I will continue the 3017 method to reduce my stash to 2 or 3 soaps that I absolutely love, with the occasional soap I haven't used before tossed in for the sake of variety. I have grown tired of using average or below average soaps and creams and am also tired of chasing the next great artisan scent that will be here today and gone tomorrow. So I am settling on a few select high performers, and will give a new-to-me soap the full 3017 treatment every now and then when my curiosity gets the best of me.
Ah, 11 shaves left on C&S. At that time I believe the puck will only be 1/3 down. I am expecting to get at least 3 months out of this puck.
Now I have to decide what soap is on deck for May 1 to be whipped....beaten....loaded like I hate it, and generally pummeled to its inevitable death.
I've enjoyed using a lot of soaps and creams from start to finish. Some were fun, some I became really bored with. The most difficult I think was the MdC Fougere. I used to love it, until I found myself wishing it was slicker than it is, and wishing it would hurry and run out. It took 100 daily shaves to use it up. Now I know there are slicker soaps and creams out there, and I'll focus on those.
Right now, it's a tube of Wars (Poland) cream that I'll use up from start to finish. Good stuff. And slick! I estimate it'll last about 3 weeks or so as I shave every day.
Right now, it's a tube of Wars (Poland) cream that I'll use up from start to finish. Good stuff. And slick! I estimate it'll last about 3 weeks or so as I shave every day.
With my Mama Bear's Lime Ice done, the good Captain's Bay Rum was used for its first shave today. The scent from the container is rather light, but maybe that is because my other Bay Rum soaps might just be scented stronger. In any event, it is a nice scent without coming close to being overpowering. On the face, the scent remains light but, unlike some other soaps and creams I have used, the scent does not fade but remains persistent throughout the shave. That was a pleasant surprise. 
Apparently, I did not load my brush long enough as the second pass's lather was rather weak
, but still gave me the slickness I look for in a quality product. Like with most new soaps, it will probably take a few days for me to dial it in.
The North AS sample was a bonus from Scott (the Capn) and felt wonderful on the skin. I have not used witch hazel before, so I suspect it is a combination of that and some glycerin in the ingredients which is doing the magic. The juniper scent doesn't jump out and say "Here I am!" when applied but sits nicely in the background.
Even after one shave, I think I understand why Scott's stuff gets so much praise.
Apparently, I did not load my brush long enough as the second pass's lather was rather weak
, but still gave me the slickness I look for in a quality product. Like with most new soaps, it will probably take a few days for me to dial it in.The North AS sample was a bonus from Scott (the Capn) and felt wonderful on the skin. I have not used witch hazel before, so I suspect it is a combination of that and some glycerin in the ingredients which is doing the magic. The juniper scent doesn't jump out and say "Here I am!" when applied but sits nicely in the background.
Even after one shave, I think I understand why Scott's stuff gets so much praise.
Very late to the party, but I recently finished a soap! It was a Queen Charlotte that I picked up at an antique store. I know it isn't antique but the case that I grabbed it from also sells new Merkurs, Proraso soap, as well as antiques 
It was the Queen Charlotte scent. I initially didn't like the scent much (kind of floral) but grew to enjoy it. The soap itself was nice even though my lathering had gotten lazy while I was using it. I did get a couple of great lathers at the end of its life once I committed to relearning the basic (thereby eliminating my bad habits). I'm using a puck of ToBS sandalwood now that I really like. I use it daily (or every 2 days) with an occasional MWF just for fun
I just ran across a puck of Williams at an antique store yesterday... Is there a way to tell the OLD stuff from the newer? I remember reading that there was a reformulation at some point?
Chris
It was the Queen Charlotte scent. I initially didn't like the scent much (kind of floral) but grew to enjoy it. The soap itself was nice even though my lathering had gotten lazy while I was using it. I did get a couple of great lathers at the end of its life once I committed to relearning the basic (thereby eliminating my bad habits). I'm using a puck of ToBS sandalwood now that I really like. I use it daily (or every 2 days) with an occasional MWF just for fun I just ran across a puck of Williams at an antique store yesterday... Is there a way to tell the OLD stuff from the newer? I remember reading that there was a reformulation at some point?
Chris
Congratulations on finishing that soap, Chris. You can get a lot of information on vintage Williams here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/147700-Identifying-Vintage-Williams
Hole at the bottom of the bowl was pretty big today for the AOS, so I smashed the sides down to the middle. Can't recall how much I measured the soap but I think there's less than 30g remaining.
After a few days of lathering my B&M Leviathan in the jar, I transplanted it to my Dottie bowl. Much more area to load from. I used a wetter brush than I had previously, lathered on the soap, and the lather began to explode. Just about lather-porn quality. Nice and slick lather, I had one weeper on my neck (typical area for me to get them in), but I am attributing that to the Feather blade. I'll switch to one of my stand-by blades tomorrow and see if I get no weepers.
My previous attempts were loading on a drier brush then going to a separate bowl. The lather I got was much thinner than I would like. I know to each his own and YMMV, but I cannot for the life of me load from tubs and jars. Just doesn't work for me, and I am quite content with transplanting soap into a bigger bowl.
My previous attempts were loading on a drier brush then going to a separate bowl. The lather I got was much thinner than I would like. I know to each his own and YMMV, but I cannot for the life of me load from tubs and jars. Just doesn't work for me, and I am quite content with transplanting soap into a bigger bowl.
Totally with you on loading from a bigger bowl. a 4-inch tin feels a touch small to me. A 5" tin is great, or a bowl with higher sides to contain the proto-lather.
Friday night I took an odd evening shower and decided to clean up even though I'd quickly shaved that morning. I had my sample of Vitos Extra Super stand in and was reminded of what a slick and protective soap feels like. It only took half the first pass to realize the MW has been severely lacking recently.
Sunday was back to the MW and loading much more product and being careful not to over-whip it and get it plenty hydrated was much better, though still needs some more dialing in.
Today was super rushed and only got in one pass so there was little required of the soap, as long as it gets a little wet it's sufficient for that style shave.
Friday night I took an odd evening shower and decided to clean up even though I'd quickly shaved that morning. I had my sample of Vitos Extra Super stand in and was reminded of what a slick and protective soap feels like. It only took half the first pass to realize the MW has been severely lacking recently.
Sunday was back to the MW and loading much more product and being careful not to over-whip it and get it plenty hydrated was much better, though still needs some more dialing in.
Today was super rushed and only got in one pass so there was little required of the soap, as long as it gets a little wet it's sufficient for that style shave.
RazoRock Son of Zeus is going well. It is a slick, easy soap with a nice though quite strong scent. I think that it narrowly edges out the RR tallow formulations that I've tried.
Based on travel, I've had two stray shaves, including one this morning, with Mystic Water Irish Traveler. It's probably the best performing soap that I've used. Easy to lather, super close yet protective shave and fantastic post shave feel.
Based on travel, I've had two stray shaves, including one this morning, with Mystic Water Irish Traveler. It's probably the best performing soap that I've used. Easy to lather, super close yet protective shave and fantastic post shave feel.
I agree. The argan oil formulas for me are the best.
I have a tub of XX I picked up a year or so ago. Am planning on 3017ing it sometime this Summer. RR makes a good soap.
Thank you, sir.
AOS weighed in at 243g before today's shave, putting it on pace for 74 shaves total and 1.4g per shave. I might have lost a gram reforming it.
Oddly struggled with it today. I used a boar for maybe the second time with this soap and apparently had too much water as it was a foamy mess. Squeezed the brush and re-loaded, and it was much better.
Tomorrow is shave 28 with my 50g of PdP and there still appears to be at least a week left.
It's definitely getting softer and may go quickly now.
It's definitely getting softer and may go quickly now.
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Decided to mix it up today by lathering right on the puck. I soaked my Shavemac 24x54 2-band, squeezed the water, and wet the tips. Then lightly swirled on the puck until I was getting a creamy lather. I went with it and added a bit more water and kept making more lather. Painted on the face but it was a touch dry and not enough for two passes, so I added more water and kept working on the puck until I was happy.
This AOS is so forgiving of hydration and technique. Really a top notch soap.
This AOS is so forgiving of hydration and technique. Really a top notch soap.
I think I'm crossing the half-way point on my tub of PdP; it's been since February now.
At the beginning it felt like weeks before I could dent the imprint on top. The soap has clearly absorbed a lot of water over the past two months of use and likely swelled - I'm guessing my rate of consumption is likely increasing with the added water.
It's a great soap and my third 3107 soap. I would definitely buy this one again.
If I continue to use soap of this calibre: I would have no difficulties in sticking with one soap at a time (I know I'll start itching when I get down to the bottom)
At the beginning it felt like weeks before I could dent the imprint on top. The soap has clearly absorbed a lot of water over the past two months of use and likely swelled - I'm guessing my rate of consumption is likely increasing with the added water.
It's a great soap and my third 3107 soap. I would definitely buy this one again.
If I continue to use soap of this calibre: I would have no difficulties in sticking with one soap at a time (I know I'll start itching when I get down to the bottom)
I moved into triple digits on a soap for the first time this morning. 100th shave with the PdP. Will be done before the end of the month.
Congrats! If you were rotating soaps (non-3017), imagine how long you would have this puck in your shave den.
Exactly. I've seen some guys say they have over 300 pucks in stock.
I couldn't imagine rotating soaps again. Monthly to month, sure...but never daily or every couple days, not for me.
If you burn one soap a month, 300 soaps will last twenty-five years. At some point, that's not really "stock".
