How are these shaving soaps (opinions)

**schwartr** · 04-17-2008, 08:24 PM

I know this is a highly biased question, but any info would be of help. How do rank/think of the following soaps?

1) soaps from emsplace.com?
2) Col conk?

I know finding a soap will take time, but so far these two have my attention. I want to get a bowl from emsplace and it come with soap. Col conk seems to be everywhere and popular. I just want some info on the two.

Thanks
Robert

**Jimbo** · 04-17-2008, 08:36 PM

I used Col Conk exclusively when I fist started mug and brush shaving 10 years ago. Lathers well; smells good and it's economical. My favorite scents were Almond, Amber and Bay Rum.
I haven't tried EM.

**Suzuki** · 04-17-2008, 11:54 PM

Have you looked at the reviews in the "review" section or done a search in the soap forum?

**MikeLip** · 04-18-2008, 04:13 AM

Can't help you with the Ems Place stuff. But the Col. Conk is OK. Not spectacular, and the scent seems to disappear almost instantly which is disappointing. But it works fine. Frankly you should probably go to Walgreens and get the Van Der Hagen glycerine soaps. They works just as well, and are less money.

If you want REALLY good soaps that will stink up your bathroom in the best way and work unbelievably well, go to Mama Bear. Actual cost isn't much more since you get a lot of soap for your money and it seems to last a long time.

**crocto** · 04-18-2008, 11:40 AM

i've got the col conk soap and it great. i really like it. it smells better and its easier to get a good lather then with the van der hagen as someone else mentioned. there's reviews of col conk stuff in the review section of the website.

**Suzuki** · 04-18-2008, 11:53 AM

My experience (and this is very much a YMMV thing) is that glycerine based soaps do not perform as well as the hard soaps - in particular the soaps that contain tallow.

I still use several glycerine soaps, largely because you can get them in great scents. I find that the glycerine soaps I like best have lots of other goodies in them (shea butter, clay, etc.). The soaps made by Colleen at TGQ are some of my favourite glycerine soaps.

If you're looking to try different soaps, I would get one glycerine and one hard soap - Em's soap and Conk will likely perform similarly (I've not tried the Em's but base this on the ingredients).

If you want to order from Em, my suggestion is to buy one of her glycerine soaps and then buy any of the Speick stick, Tabac soap or Rivage.

Don't be put off the price of the Tabac or Rivage - the hard soaps last much longer than a similarly-sized puck of the glycerine soap. The Tabac in the ceramic bowl is a very good value given the quality of the bowl and its fantastic stuff (if you don't believe me, read the reviews!).

**scoopster** · 04-18-2008, 12:16 PM

I use Conk Amber. I havent' tried Em's soap.

* I love the scent - I do wish it was a bit stonger.
* It gives a good shave but as others have said, the triple milled soaps provide a better shave and last longer so the price per usage tends to be closer than what the initial purchase price indicates.
* In the grand scheme of things Conk is very economically priced.
* I prefer QED glycerin-based soaps over Conk, even though they are mor eexpensive. Their scents are outstanding and worthing paying a few dollars more for.

Try Conk - its cheap and will shave well. But do try some other products as well, especially a tripple milled soap (Tabac, Trumper, Harris, etc).

**htownmmm** · 04-18-2008, 01:13 PM

Col.Conk Almond is one of the must have soaps for a wetshaver.

marty

**Mottern Man** · 04-18-2008, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by htownmmm

Col.Conk Almond is one of the must have soaps for a wetshaver.

marty

Yes, yes it is.

**Jimbo** · 04-18-2008, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Suzuki

My experience (and this is very much a YMMV thing) is that glycerine based soaps do not perform as well as the hard soaps - in particular the soaps that contain tallow.

I still use several glycerine soaps, largely because you can get them in great scents. I find that the glycerine soaps I like best have lots of other goodies in them (shea butter, clay, etc.). The soaps made by Colleen at TGQ are some of my favourite glycerine soaps.

If you're looking to try different soaps, I would get one glycerine and one hard soap - Em's soap and Conk will likely perform similarly (I've not tried the Em's but base this on the ingredients).

If you want to order from Em, my suggestion is to buy one of her glycerine soaps and then buy any of the Speick stick, Tabac soap or Rivage.

Don't be put off the price of the Tabac or Rivage - the hard soaps last much longer than a similarly-sized puck of the glycerine soap. The Tabac in the ceramic bowl is a very good value given the quality of the bowl and its fantastic stuff (if you don't believe me, read the reviews!).

This is how the addiction starts...

I would suggest trying some of the hard soaps. You should get a different soap for every day of the week.
I would I highly recommend Speick Stick. Tabac performs well but as I've said before, it stinks. Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood is nice. I also like the Proraso Green Tea soap.
And them, things really start to get expensive.

**alabamalawyer** · 04-20-2008, 05:48 PM

I have tried triple milled and glycerin based soaps from most vendors mentioned on this site. I have decided that I prefer the shave I get from the triple milled. However, the one glycerin soap that I have kept and use consistently is Col Conk Almond.

**prewt** · 04-20-2008, 06:39 PM

I have not tried a soap from either one you mentioned but I would rather try Ems than the Col. I know you can contact Em and get direct answers to your ?s + I like to visit the smaller vendors. I have tried other products from her and they are very good.