recommendation for soap in wooden bowl?

**Vinlander** · 07-29-2010, 09:19 AM

I'm looking for a wooden bowl that I can refill with whatever shaving soap I want to. It seems that there are a lot of soaps sold in wooden bowls - Mühle, Trumper, T&H, D. R. Harris, Taylor, Cyril Salter, etc. However, to satisfy my own strange logic, I want a bowl that is NOT engraved with the name of the original soap. (A paper label that I can soak off is OK.)

Could B&Bers give me some advice as to which soap bowl might meet my criterion? Also, which manufacturer makes the nicest wooden bowl? I am not so concerned with the quality of the soap - I just want a nice bowl.

Thanks for your help!

**Go West Young Man** · 07-29-2010, 10:40 AM

You'll pay a huge premium if you buy bowls from soap manufacturers.
Better to just buy a bowl you like and fit a soap refill into it, save yourself $30 easily that way.

**Iakona** · 07-29-2010, 10:45 AM

Isn't a vendor on B&B offering wooden bowls with engraved initials for a reasonable cost?

**michiganlover** · 07-29-2010, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Iakona

Isn't a vendor on B&B offering wooden bowls with engraved initials for a reasonable cost?

Yes, those are being sold by moderator ThirdEye at his store Gentlemen's Best:

http://gentlemensbest.com/SpecialOffer.aspx

**nemo** · 07-29-2010, 11:47 AM

To answer the OP's question, I would recommend D.R. Harris. Label comes off easily, price is nicely under $30, and contains a great soap that goes for $15 a puck.

**mskembo** · 07-29-2010, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by michiganlover

Yes, those are being sold by moderator ThirdEye at his store Gentlemen's Best:

http://gentlemensbest.com/SpecialOffer.aspx

Nice looking customized bowls for >$20

Of course the fact that a portion is donated to B&B makes this even MORE of a winner!

Mike

**kwsher** · 07-29-2010, 12:29 PM

Vinlander, per other post I just received the Muhle Sea Buckthorn in wooden bowl. It is a dark varnish but has no engraving, only paper label/seal that could be removed.

Nemo mentioned DR Harris, which I also coincidentally received in Arlington at the same time and although in my opinion tasteful and understated, it does have DR Harris in gold silk screened onto the wood in two places.

Although I have not ordered from them, I have read that Superior Shave is a reputable vendor as well and they offer the Muhle bowl in both black and natural as a reference.

**Jim** · 07-29-2010, 12:36 PM

Rays bowls are nice. Another option is the fine AOS soaps. They are my favorite wood bowl of all.

**john parker** · 07-29-2010, 12:50 PM

In case it is of interest, my understanding is that GFT bowls/pucks are smaller than most, such that other manufacturers pucks will not fit in the wooden GFT bowl.

**KittensAndRainbows** · 07-29-2010, 01:12 PM

Bowl sizes do vary, as do soap pucks. However, as a few have already stated, the bowl from Gentlemens Best is a great choice. The soap is top-notch, and I would recommend getting that as well, but you can get the bowl separately.

**RF1963** · 07-29-2010, 01:24 PM

Trumpers wooden soap bowls come with a paper label.

Haven't tried any other soaps in wooden bowls so don't know how they stack up against what else is out there but I can see the bowl lasting through many Trumpers refills.

**BlackBard** · 07-29-2010, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jim

Rays bowls are nice. Another option is the fine AOS soaps. They are my favorite wood bowl of all.

+1 for AOS bowls, which have no label.

**damooshki** · 07-29-2010, 02:49 PM

C&E soap bowls are just $18 with the soap and refills only $10 and have paper labels. These are the only wood soap bowls I have any experience with. But seem to me, a good value.

**Go West Young Man** · 07-29-2010, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by john parker

In case it is of interest, my understanding is that GFT bowls/pucks are smaller than most, such that other manufacturers pucks will not fit in the wooden GFT bowl.

However, it being soap, you can whittle and hack away until it's the right size.

**elkaholic** · 07-29-2010, 06:25 PM

Mama Bear has bowls for $8. It even has a cool bear burned into the top, no label.

http://mamabearssoaps.com/index.php?...roducts_id=216

**xriley** · 07-29-2010, 08:46 PM

It's hard to beat AOS. A real solid performer and as mentioned, no engravings or labels on the bowl.

It's worth the money.

**Vinlander** · 07-30-2010, 09:55 AM

There are more options than I anticipated! Thank you all for the suggestions.

**mkc1mjb** · 07-30-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by damooshki

C&E soap bowls are just $18 with the soap and refills only $10 and have paper labels. These are the only wood soap bowls I have any experience with. But seem to me, a good value.

I have several of the C&E bowls and they are very nice.

**40boy** · 07-30-2010, 10:18 AM

They sell a generic wooden soap bowl at drugstore.com for $6.49

Search for "Kingsley For Men Wood Shave Soap Bowl with Lid"

I don't own it so I don't know if it's any good, but it lloks nice, is available and IMHO relatively cheap.
YMMV