VdH Select - inaugural run

[expatCanuck]

For $2 at the nearby Rite Aid (about 2 blocks from Fenway Park), I have a hypo-allergenic soap that has virtually no scent, and what little there is just smells delightfully 'clean'.

Nice lather with virtually no effort - a dozen swirls at the top of the plastic container with my BBE2 (which is losing its funk ) generates enough for at least two passes. Smooth & 'cushiony'.

Maybe a touch drying -- or at least less moisturizing than my other two go-to's.

That said, while it won't replace my HBS or Proraso (you'll have to wrest those from my cold, dead hands), VdH Select earns a place in the rotation. I like this soap.

Forget Williams -- this is the gold standard for a good budget soap, IMHO.

[masonjarjar]

I like the White! but.. I like all 3..

To boil my experience down with the VDH soaps to their most basic:

Select (White) = Thick, cushiony lather

Glycerine (Amber) = Slick

Deluxe (Pink) = Moisturizing

(they're all glycerine based.. actually right now I'm using a mix of all 3!)

[expatCanuck]

I like the White! but.. I like all 3..

To boil my experience down with the VDH soaps to their most basic:

Select (White) = Thick, cushiony lather

Glycerine (Amber) = Slick

Deluxe (Pink) = Moisturizing

(they're all glycerine based.. actually right now I'm using a mix of all 3!)

Mason -
Do the scents differ significantly?
I've only used the white, but I smelled the Deluxe/Pink in Walgreen's a while back,
and my recollection is that I found it a bit too 'perfumey'.

[masonjarjar]

I have new pucks of all 3 in front of me now, still in the plastic containers.

The Select and Deluxe smell identical to my nose. Now, that's not to say the lather won't smell different. In fact, if my memory serves me, the Deluxe does seem to retain more of the scent when lathered up than the Select does. But, the difference isn't huge.

The Glycerine is very similar, but a tad weaker, maybe more soapy.

I'm not good with scents.

I do know that they all smell like Grey Flannel cologne.

[otherstar]

These are the only soaps I have been using for the last several years (before that I used Colgate, Burma Shave, or Williams..which is what I could find around here at the time). I've yet to try any of the "high end" soaps because theses have been doing the trick for so long, and they are cheap. I like the Deluxe (pink) the best and when I use it I get a nice thick, slick lather that is quite moisturizing. The Select (white) gives me a good lather, but is rather generic otherwise. The Glycerine (Amber) is very slick, but I don't get a great lather with it. I imagine that mix of all three would be quite the performer!

[Mike V]

I have only been at this DE shaving for about 2 weeks and have only had 1 BBS with no irritation, 1 BBS with some irritation and a couple of pretty good shaves, but it is coming along ok. I too have been using the three VHD soaps and after reading about someone using glycerin in addition to soap, I tried it. I put 10 drops of pure glycerin in my soap mug, soap up the brush, then make the lather in the mug with the glycerin. Absolutely cannot imagine anything being slicker.

Mike

[Bristlingbeardofodin]

I enjoy all 3 VDH soaps as well though I haven't bought any in over a year since I like variety. They are fine soaps, however, and an incredible value.

[zirkdog]

I started on a puck of VDH select this week, $2 at Rite-Aid. Only used it three times, but it's worked out great for me each time. My only comparison is a 6+ year old no name soap (possibly williams or colgate) and the canned Gillette Fusion goo. So far it's worked pretty good and given me some good protection. No complaints here.

[Navy Chief]

I like the Deluxe one also, I have the regular (amber) and do not find it to be quite as moisturizing. For a budget soap they are wonderful. I still need to try my Williams though. I still love my Mama Bear, and Honeybee Sue soaps though.