Santa Maria Novella after 4-1/2 Years and 11,000 Posts

**OldSaw** · 11-05-2011, 10:02 PM

I'm not sure what the expected shelf life is for Santa Maria Novella Crema da Barba, but after 4-1/2 years this tub is still going strong.

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I know they're not a very good pictures, but you can see that the bottom of the tub is still not visible. I've been using it off and on since I bought it back in 2007 and wrote this review.

Since it is not getting any younger (and neither am I) I've decided to use it more frequently. For the past few months I have been using it most weekends. It is still the best lathering product that I have and consistently get BBS shaves with it using plain old Red IP blades. I am still amazed at how great this stuff is.

With so many great products to try, I rarely replace any of my products when they are gone. This one, however, is at the top of my list for replenishing when the time comes. I got a steal on this tub when I got it for under $20, but even at the regular retail price of ~$50 I believe it is still a great value.

Just thought I would give an update.

**franz** · 11-05-2011, 11:02 PM

Dennis, from now on I think you should use that damn tub of SMN exclusively until it is dead, dead, dead.

**SuperChris** · 11-06-2011, 11:12 AM

Congrats on the 11,000th post

**OldSaw** · 11-06-2011, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by SuperChris

Congrats on the 11,000th post

Thanks.

**Cuttingboard** · 11-07-2011, 07:26 AM

I've been using the same SMN tub for the past 2 years in a rotation with Acqua di Parma and I'm about half-way....last forever!!

**SuperChris** · 11-07-2011, 11:19 AM

How would you describe the scent of SMN, I thought about making a high end cream/soap purchase as a Christmas gift for myself and that as well as the AdP are the list of products I am considering. Thanks.

**The Chandos** · 11-07-2011, 11:22 AM

Oh, wow! You're making me second guess my most recent (40th birthday) gift for myself - my Knize Ten puck in wooden bowl. Sigh, maybe next year... The K10 soap is very nice, however, so no real regrets!

**plpenn** · 11-07-2011, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by SuperChris

Congrats on the 11,000th post

+1 That is a lot of shared knowlage!

**OldSaw** · 11-07-2011, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by SuperChris

How would you describe the scent of SMN, I thought about making a high end cream/soap purchase as a Christmas gift for myself and that as well as the AdP are the list of products I am considering. Thanks.

It smells like... VICTORY!

Actually, it has a refreshing mentholatum scent, lighter than Proraso, very crisp and clean.

**Isaac** · 11-07-2011, 06:53 PM

I know we have both been using SMN for awhile. I have my tub of SMN of over 4 years going strong as well. Love it, and would never be without it.

**Cuttingboard** · 11-08-2011, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

I know we have both been using SMN for awhile. I have my tub of SMN of over 4 years going strong as well. Love it, and would never be without it.

Same here...will never be without!!!

Originally Posted by OldSaw

Actually, it has a refreshing mentholatum scent, lighter than Proraso, very crisp and clean.

I also get a really nice clean camphor smell. Very very pleasant!

**jakespoppy** · 11-08-2011, 10:53 AM

Congratulations on 11K, Dennis!

Going on 5 years at $50, or $10/year sounds like a bargain for a luxury cream!

**OldSaw** · 11-08-2011, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

Same here...will never be without!!!

I also get a really nice clean camphor smell. Very very pleasant!

Yes, camphor is probably a better description than mentholatum.

**Antique Hoosier** · 11-08-2011, 04:05 PM

Dennis congrats on your posting prowess and your loyalty and fidelity to the SMN cream... I really need to pick up a jar soon!

**OldSaw** · 11-08-2011, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by jakespoppy

Congratulations on 11K, Dennis!

Going on 5 years at $50, or $10/year sounds like a bargain for a luxury cream!

You know, I have routinely criticized fellow B&Ber's for over estimating how long a product lasts. I wish I had put a mark on the tub, or some other method, every time I used it, so I could know exactly how many shaves I got from it. The longest I went without using it was when I was out on the road driving truck and it was in storage for the entire winter that my wife was out on the road with me.

I'm just guessing, but I would say that this tub is somewhere around 100 shaves old. I base that on a fairly conservative estimate of using about twice per month for 4 of the past 4-1/2 years (~6months in storage). It is probably 1/2 used, so I think 200 shaves is a pretty fair expectation at this point. That would work out to 25 cents per shave. Considering that a SMN shave is always a premium shave (not a quick one pass when running late for the office) I am feeling very comfortable with this price. I would imagine that there are even a few users who could get a whole years worth of shaves from a single tub of SMN.

Oh, and thanks for the congrats.

**OldSaw** · 11-08-2011, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Antique Hoosier

Dennis congrats on your posting prowess and your loyalty and fidelity to the SMN cream... I really need to pick up a jar soon!

Thanks, and now that I'm back in an office I will not have the privilege of flying past one of your speed traps at 90 miles an hour...

Just kidding, my truck was governed at half past slow.

**Cuttingboard** · 11-09-2011, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by OldSaw

You know, I have routinely criticized fellow B&Ber's for over estimating how long a product lasts. I wish I had put a mark on the tub, or some other method, every time I used it, so I could know exactly how many shaves I got from it. The longest I went without using it was when I was out on the road driving truck and it was in storage for the entire winter that my wife was out on the road with me.

I'm just guessing, but I would say that this tub is somewhere around 100 shaves old. I base that on a fairly conservative estimate of using about twice per month for 4 of the past 4-1/2 years (~6months in storage). It is probably 1/2 used, so I think 200 shaves is a pretty fair expectation at this point. That would work out to 25 cents per shave. Considering that a SMN shave is always a premium shave (not a quick one pass when running late for the office) I am feeling very comfortable with this price. I would imagine that there are even a few users who could get a whole years worth of shaves from a single tub of SMN.

Oh, and thanks for the congrats.

With a little bottled water...you could shave while your wife drives!! :)

I would say that's a good estimate...I've had my tub for 2 years and use it about 4 times a week from April > September.

**Antique Hoosier** · 11-20-2011, 03:06 PM

Bought a tub of SMN from Lee and it is beyond GREAT. I've used it everyday since receiving it.

**CHSeifert** · 11-20-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

I've been using the same SMN tub for the past 2 years in a rotation with Acqua di Parma and I'm about half-way....last forever!!

Only these two creams in rotation - and 2 years ?

How much of the ADP do you have left now ?

How would you rate the ADP up versus the SMN ?

**professorchaos** · 11-20-2011, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

I know we have both been using SMN for awhile. I have my tub of SMN of over 4 years going strong as well. Love it, and would never be without it.

+1. My first lasted just over 4.5 years getting used at least twice a week. In that time I went through two pucks of MWF, tubes of Musgo Real and countless shave sticks.