Do I really want MdC for Christmas?

Hey folks, looking for a little advice -

Looks like I'm going to get through GRU-Christmas successfully, and am thinking about getting myself a treat. It was going to be MdC, but now I'm not so sure. I have Catie's Bubbles LPV and several pucks of Tiki, which I've read are pretty close in performance. Quite frankly, I like B&M, MWF and Haslinger Schafmilch much better, particularly the post-shave feel (Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood is not too far behind). I'm thinking it might be the tallow/lanolin thing.

So, is MdC's performance that much better? And the fougere or the unscented? I'm willing to plunk down the cheddar for it; after all, it is Christmas! But I'm also looking at some alternatives: more Haslinger, Gillette 7OC Permasharps, Mike's Hungarian Lavender.

I know it's YMMV, but I'd be thankful for anyone who's willing to share their thoughts.

Thanks!

I had a sample of it, and enjoyed it a lot, I personally found Dr. Selby to perform equally but not smell quite the same. YMMV

I suggest buying MdC in a JAR! then you can sell the jar on here or elsewhere for quite a bit.

OR you can buy it, split it in half, sell the other half and then have enough to last you a good 150+ shaves!

The "tallow lanolin [clay] thing" makes the different soaps apples and oranges, IMO. I like oranges, no contest, but acknowledge the comparison is between different sorts of things.

MdC is beautifully simple, minimal ingredients... lathers while you're not looking, rinses away like it was never there.

Mike's (for example) is slicker, leaves residual slickness on your skin for buffing or touch ups without relathering, has more "skin conditioning" after the shave, is more protective if you use pressure or harsh blades...

To me, both excellent but Mike's is clearly better. But I get why someone might prefer an automatic-fast lather and super easy clean rinse, or prefer one's scent options... or apples.

Now owning MdC, Mike's Natural and Catie's Bubbles, I am of the opinion that MdC, while excellent, does not provide a better shave than either Catie's Bubbles or Mike's Natural.

zed117 said:

I suggest buying MdC in a JAR! then you can sell the jar on here or elsewhere for quite a bit.

OR you can buy it, split it in half, sell the other half and then have enough to last you a good 150+ shaves!

Click to expand...

My den is a black hole. Nothing ever leaves...

wagstaff said:

The "tallow lanolin [clay] thing" makes the different soaps apples and oranges, IMO. I like oranges, no contest, but acknowledge the comparison is between different sorts of things.

MdC is beautifully simple, minimal ingredients... lathers while you're not looking, rinses away like it was never there.

Mike's (for example) is slicker, leaves residual slickness on your skin for buffing or touch ups without relathering, has more "skin conditioning" after the shave, is more protective if you use pressure or harsh blades...

To me, both excellent but Mike's is clearly better. But I get why someone might prefer an automatic-fast lather and super easy clean rinse, or prefer one's scent options... or apples.

Click to expand...

I like apples, oranges, and mangoes...which one is mangoes?

tvad said:

Now owning MdC, Mike's Natural and Catie's Bubbles, I am of the opinion that MdC, while excellent, does not provide a better shave than either Catie's Bubbles or Mike's Natural.

Click to expand...

And that's why I'm getting more hesitant about pulling the trigger on MdC. The cost of one jar can get me a lot of other stuff...

Ok, it's peaches and mangoes. Better?

unkajonet said:

And that's why I'm getting more hesitant about pulling the trigger on MdC. The cost of one jar can get me a lot of other stuff...

Click to expand...

Yup. I don't think the value is there. You can buy three Mike's Natural soaps for less than one MdC.

tvad said:

Yup. I don't think the value is there. You can buy three Mike's Natural soaps for less than one MdC.

Click to expand...

One jar of MDC will last longer that 3 tins of Mike's. The value is there.

I think every wetshaver should experience MDC. Is it the best? Maybe. Maybe not. But there is nothing else like it. With the Christmas sale they are having (10% off) I suggest you treat yourself to a jar of both the regular scent & fougere.

definitely MdC for Christmas!
Both flavors!

Now, now...no enabling. Two is not an option. I'll be going up to Old Town Shaving and picking up a jar, if I decide to get a jar.

@ wagstaff: I don't like peaches, so it's gotta be mangoes.

You have the best photos!

Steelman said:

One jar of MDC will last longer that 3 tins of Mike's. The value is there.

Click to expand...

Hmm...I'll keep an eye on this and report back, if I still have my memory intact at that point.

August West said:

You have the best photos!

Click to expand...

Thx, Tony! That's Santa Ernie from the event yesterday!
All natural beard!
He gets it groomed by the barber each week during season!

unkajonet said:

Now, now...no enabling. Two is not an option. I'll be going up to Old Town Shaving and picking up a jar, if I decide to get a jar.

@ wagstaff: I don't like peaches, so it's gotta be mangoes.

Click to expand...

So, Mike's. Like I said

Yes, you do. Go for it.

Sorry, but what is GRU?

MaxP said:

Sorry, but what is GRU?

Click to expand...

Gentelmanly Restraint Until (Fall, Summer, Christmas . . .). It's a form of not buying anything for the specified period then blowing what you saved the first week after. Or at least that's what I did.

Yes, of course. Great stuff, and it lasts forever!

Go for it. It is great and lasts forever. MDC's cost per shave is actually lower than many other soaps.