lavender shave soap smells better than lavender body soap

I've noticed that my TOBS shave soap in lavender smells soooo much better than any of the lavender-scented body soaps that I have at home. The body soaps have a much stronger, kinda spicy smell, for lack of a better term. The TOBS shave soap has a sweeter smell.

Anyone know why? Is the lavender in TOBS special? It's always difficult to figure out how lavender is different because every soap manufacturer web site I check always talks about how their lavender is 'special'... maybe from France, or England, or organic, or something else.

Honestly, after smelling the AoS Lavender shave cream, I can't tell where the lavender is supposed to be in any of the lavender TOBS products. It's purple I guess... but in comparison I find it smells too much like candy.

+1 @ Engine.

Engine said:

Honestly, after smelling the AoS Lavender shave cream, I can't tell where the lavender is supposed to be in any of the lavender TOBS products. It's purple I guess... but in comparison I find it smells too much like candy.

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lirijavdekje said:

+1 @ Engine.

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Interestingly, AoS and TOBS are both straight EO scented, and made at the same factory.

AoS lavender (soap and cream) is the closest thing to lavender I have come across. They're great shavers too.

joe201 said:

AoS lavender (soap and cream) is the closest thing to lavender I have come across. They're great shavers too.

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Have you tried Castle Forbes?

it could be the type of lavender EO used, too. there is lavender 30/32, lavender 40/42, and i've even seen lavandin substituted for lavender.

here is a list of lavender from one place i reference for prices:

Lavender 40/42% France
Lavender 40/42% Stara Planina
Lavender Hungary
Lavender Lnp Oregon
Lavender Moldova
Lavender Oregon
Lavender Pure 40/42% France
Lavender Russia
Lavender Spike Spain

in addition, strength will vary the scent, as well.

Ignatius said:

Interestingly, AoS and TOBS are both straight EO scented, and made at the same factory.

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I'm pretty certain that these soaps are not produced in the same factory. I just checked my boxes for each and the Taylor's is made in England while AOS is made in Italy (by Valobra). They are actually two different kinds of soap I believe. The Taylor's being a true triple-milled soap while AOS is a pour soap like Tabac. They are both essential oil fragranced but AOS is different in that the soap itself imparts a strong scent which interferes with the lavender a bit and the Taylor's smells a lot more like real English Lavender (at least to my nose). In fact the Taylor's reminds me a lot of Atkinson's English Lavender cologne.

The only thing these two soaps have in common is that their teak bowls are sourced from the same provider. I noticed that as well when I got my soaps but I don't find that surprising as it's been reported that Taylor's likes to save money on production costs so sharing a commonality with another company may serve that.

Chris