Do you own more shaving soaps or shaving creams...and why?

**Dennard** · 08-07-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by bastimret

That was my question, what side of the line do croaps take in this measurement?

I would say they are their own category. Though if I had to choose a side for them, I would say soap.

**gwav64** · 08-07-2012, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Dennard

I would say they are their own category. Though if I had to choose a side for them, I would say soap.

I agree.

**Tim_McD** · 08-07-2012, 07:42 PM

7 soaps and 5 creams - whittled down from 11 and 9, respectively (not including any of the samples I have used).

I like that soaps have a longer shelf life and I could easily be set with three product lines (Cella, MdC and DRH) - but they do lack the intense scents of some creams. I dig the T&H Rose, GFT Violet and Nancy Boy Signature scents too much to ever give them up

**OldSaw** · 08-07-2012, 07:47 PM

All soaps here. Better, slicker lather (generally speaking) and they last much longer.

**mhdena** · 08-07-2012, 07:58 PM

85 soaps
1 cream

when the cream is gone, it won't be replaced.

**Saltchuck** · 08-07-2012, 08:11 PM

Mostly soaps. I get better and more consistent lather from soaps than from creams, but I understand that the reverse may be true for others.

**gwav64** · 08-07-2012, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by mhdena

85 soaps
1 cream

when the cream is gone, it won't be replaced.

Incredible! There are so many wonderful and different soaps! I started out with Proraso white (tub) and then just kept adding soaps. I love the efficiency and lather of sticks.

**Vlad** · 08-07-2012, 09:09 PM

Soap, by a lot. But I can't really say I get better lather out of them...I don't think I can really tell the difference. But somehow, soaps are more fun.

**htownmmm** · 08-07-2012, 09:59 PM

Soaps by an almost 4:1 count. Face lathering and soaps just go together like bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.

**gwav64** · 08-08-2012, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Vlad

Soap, by a lot. But I can't really say I get better lather out of them...I don't think I can really tell the difference. But somehow, soaps are more fun.

Agreed! Somehow...soaps ARE more fun!

**OldSaw** · 08-08-2012, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by mhdena

85 soaps
1 cream

when the cream is gone, it won't be replaced.

Wow! And to think I have to rough it with less than a dozen.

**Cochese2323** · 08-08-2012, 08:48 PM

Soaps for me too. When I first got started, i chose to start with a soap because it seemed more "traditional". Luckily it was Tabac and I never looked backed. I have only owned three creams and they were all quality ones (AOS, Castle Forbes and Proraso red). I no longer own any of them. I just find soaps to produce better lather for me and I like the process with soaps more, loading from the puck and all. Creams seem like cheating, like you'd be missing out almost.

**xraygun** · 08-09-2012, 12:19 AM

I like traffic lights!

**Renato1** · 08-09-2012, 08:54 AM

I have around 20 soaps and 20 creams. What I find interesting in the responses here is that no one mentions that - from my experience - there is not one soap that is anywhere near as slippery as what some creams are.

When one uses creams like Trumpers, Nomad, Art of Shaving, Erasmic, the Australian Windsor and Natio ones, after shaving when one is rinsing them off, one can easily tell that their residue is still there and is still extremely slippery - one can easily shave over the washed off area without a problem. Cheaper creams like Arko, Body Shop, Palmolive, Vars, Neutrogena and all other hard soaps I've tried just aren't like that.

On the other hand, no cream - regardless of slipperiness - is the same in effect as the tallow based hard soaps.

And I rate all the non-tallow based hard soaps as better than the cheap creams I've used.

I don't know why people are worried about shelf life of creams. We recently had a thread where people had multi-decade old tubes of cream that still worked fine.
Regards,
Renato

**Dave_D** · 08-09-2012, 12:30 PM

Soaps, they perform great, store better and are generally cheaper. Have had some fun shaves with creams though.

**OldSaw** · 08-09-2012, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Renato1

I have around 20 soaps and 20 creams. What I find interesting in the responses here is that no one mentions that - from my experience - there is not one soap that is anywhere near as slippery as what some creams are.

When one uses creams like Trumpers, Nomad, Art of Shaving, Erasmic, the Australian Windsor and Natio ones, after shaving when one is rinsing them off, one can easily tell that their residue is still there and is still extremely slippery - one can easily shave over the washed off area without a problem. Cheaper creams like Arko, Body Shop, Palmolive, Vars, Neutrogena and all other hard soaps I've tried just aren't like that.

On the other hand, no cream - regardless of slipperiness - is the same in effect as the tallow based hard soaps.

And I rate all the non-tallow based hard soaps as better than the cheap creams I've used.

I don't know why people are worried about shelf life of creams. We recently had a thread where people had multi-decade old tubes of cream that still worked fine.
Regards,
Renato

I guess I've found the exact opposite to be true and that is another reason why I prefer soaps, they are more slippery. It is much easier to get more product into the lather with creams, so perhaps you are just using much more product with the creams and not enough with the soaps.

**joshua1970** · 08-09-2012, 05:23 PM

used to be a cream guy, but since finding B&B I've dove headfirst into soaps....lots of them!

Istill like my creams, some (Preraso red, TOBS Sandalwood, Avocado) I've used for years.... but use soaps for 90% of my shaves now....

**Gordy2** · 08-09-2012, 05:37 PM

I have more "Croaps" than either soaps (1) or creams (3). This is due to trying the new RR and TFS products which some may consider soaps and also liking QCS "croap" products. I actually enjoy creams more, and plan on eventually turning the tide around when I use up or trade my RR products.