Soaps for guys who use Mach 3 or Fusion Razor

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 05:56 AM

I'm getting married in June and I'm thinking about putting together a shaving package for my groomsmen that includes a brush, stand, a soap and bowl, and a cream. Looking to spend $75 on each guy. I doubt any of these guys use a DE razor so I would like to know which soaps are fine to be used with a Mach 3 or Fusion razor? Also, since I don't know whether they prefer a sented or nonscented soap or cream, which soap or cream has only a light sent?

I'm looking at these right now but have never used or smelled but they get great reviews on this board:

1. Provence Sante
2. Institute Karite
3. Pre de Provence

Thanks in Advance

**Sullybob** · 02-25-2009, 06:08 AM

I think that any soap or cream would be fine with a cartridge razor and that it will be a significant improvement over the cream in a can they are using now.
I think that I would go with the soap or cream that lathers the easiest. That way they will have the greatest chance of a successful shave.
Of the products you listed I have only used Pre De Provence and I thought it had a pretty mild scent. Have you thought about getting an unscented soap or cream? AOS makes an unscented cream that isn't to expensive and it would also be available locally if they really like it.

Here's my take on how my shaving soap or cream smells. If it doesn't smell good I'm not going to use it very often. I have a Sandalwood soap that smells great and I use it all the time because it preforms great and I love the smell.

Could you try and tailor each set to each groomsman? Now that I think about that it, that sounds like a lot of work doesn't it?

Edited to add.

Have you thought about Poraso or C.O.Bigelow shaving cream?

**Whitmore** · 02-25-2009, 06:10 AM

L'Occitane Cade has a very light, subtle scent and feels good on the skin. It costs around ten bucks but is (in my opinion) worth much more.

**Sullybob** · 02-25-2009, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Whitmore

L'Occitane Cade has a very light, subtle scent and feels good on the skin. It costs around ten bucks but is (in my opinion) worth much more.

Where are you finding the refills for $10? That is a great price.

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 06:56 AM

Just found out one of the guys uses an electric razor...thoughts?

**cymric** · 02-25-2009, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

I'm getting married in June and I'm thinking about putting together a shaving package for my groomsmen that includes a brush, stand, a soap and bowl, and a cream. Looking to spend $75 on each guy.

Welll... I use a Mach3 (M3Power in fact, although no vibrating handle nonsense) exclusively, so am in a very good position to judge :).

I have encountered no soap or cream which didn't function because I was shaving with this razor but your skin of course has to agree with the blades, otherwise it's a one way trip to the nearest trashcan. Since you want your groomsmen to receive a stand and a brush, you don't have much money left for the soap in the bowl and the cream. I did shave myself with an Omega boar hair brush for years on end and it worked just fine, but once you have tasted badger there is no returning to such mundane items any longer. I forgot what a good starter badger cost---I think it was about $30 or so. A stand can also easily cost a similar amount, meaning that you have very tiny budget to work with, even if you subtantially cut back on the brush. And if you do, I wonder if it's worth the effort of going for the creams and soaps you already had in mind.

Easy products which did not fail in my case: Tabac soap (not the cream!), Cella soft Italian soap (P.160 is a similar product which smells better but unfortunately didn't agree with my skin---but there have been reports of it being the other way around...). I have high hopes for D.R. Harris soap, but in a bowl that's not exactly a cheap product. (Cella and P.160 allow you to mould the product into a container of your choosing---could be something to keep in mind.)

Creams: Bodyshop cream, almost any TOBS cream, Musgo Real. But people also report good things about Proraso, Nivea and a host of others. In the end it depends on how much money you want to spend.

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 07:13 AM

I don't think I'll include the stand because they are expensive and I would rather put the money toward a better brush, looking at the Rooney 3/1 that Vintage Blades has for $39.

I emailed the guys wives/girlfriends to see what or if they use any products to give me a sense of their eagerness for grooming.

I'm willing to spend around $75-90.

Rooney brush for $39 and another $20 for a good soap/cream and $25 for travel set or misc. item.

Rooney Vintage Blade Special B&B link

**Wilfrid Laurier** · 02-25-2009, 07:25 AM

I would not recommend the Tabac soap; while the performance is fantastic, the scent can be really hit and miss, it seems to be about 50-50 between those who love it and those who hate it.

Do you plan on getting the soap in a bowl? or just a soap refill? This can make a huge difference as the bowls that come with the various soaps usually look good but can easily add $20 or more to the price.

**masonjarjar** · 02-25-2009, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

I'm getting married in June and I'm thinking about putting together a shaving package for my groomsmen that includes a brush, stand, a soap and bowl, and a cream. Looking to spend $75 on each guy. I doubt any of these guys use a DE razor so I would like to know which soaps are fine to be used with a Mach 3 or Fusion razor? Also, since I don't know whether they prefer a sented or nonscented soap or cream, which soap or cream has only a light sent?

I'm looking at these right now but have never used or smelled but they get great reviews on this board:

1. Provence Sante
2. Institute Karite
3. Pre de Provence

Thanks in Advance

As a cartridge user, I'd use anything anyone else uses with their DE or straight. It's all good.

**markb** · 02-25-2009, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

I'm getting married in June and I'm thinking about putting together a shaving package for my groomsmen that includes a brush, stand, a soap and bowl, and a cream. Looking to spend $75 on each guy. I doubt any of these guys use a DE razor so I would like to know which soaps are fine to be used with a Mach 3 or Fusion razor? Also, since I don't know whether they prefer a sented or nonscented soap or cream, which soap or cream has only a light sent?

I'm looking at these right now but have never used or smelled but they get great reviews on this board:

1. Provence Sante
2. Institute Karite
3. Pre de Provence

Thanks in Advance

1 & 3 I have and use.. Great soaps!

**cymric** · 02-25-2009, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Wilfrid Laurier

I would not recommend the Tabac soap; while the performance is fantastic, the scent can be really hit and miss, it seems to be about 50-50 between those who love it and those who hate it.

That's a valid point---unfortunately every scent can be hit or miss. Casually inquiring after their preferences with their partners is indeed probably the best way to go.

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Wilfrid Laurier

I would not recommend the Tabac soap; while the performance is fantastic, the scent can be really hit and miss, it seems to be about 50-50 between those who love it and those who hate it.

Do you plan on getting the soap in a bowl? or just a soap refill? This can make a huge difference as the bowls that come with the various soaps usually look good but can easily add $20 or more to the price.

Not sure about the bowl w/ lid, I'm seaching for a bowl with lid for myself and the average price is $25-30. And they're not all that attractive. Might be best to go with a cream since it already has a lid. Or I could buy a refill and see if there are any bowl with lids at the Container Store or similar.

I see that Truefitt & Hill have a shave soap that comes in a refillable wooden bowl w/ lid for $40 and refills are easy to come by for $16 at the Grooming Lounge. Any other manufacturers do this and refills easy to find?

**MikeLip** · 02-25-2009, 09:50 AM

Of the three you mention, I like IK the best. It leaves my skin feeling great and I love the clean scent. However the scent is rather strong. The Pre de Provence comes in a really nifty little tin, works as well as IK but is nowhere near as strong smelling. Possibly a better choice. The Provence Sante also works great and the redware bowl is nice. I like the scent of that stuff too.

French soaps are becoming favorites of mine!

I guess from a gift standpoint, Provence Sante is about the best because of the bowl - you don't need to buy anything else but a brush. I'd go to Ems place and get a nice Omega boar.

**scoopster** · 02-25-2009, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

Just found out one of the guys uses an electric razor...thoughts?

You could take a bit of risk and go for a nice aftershave. Nice top shelf brands will ring in around your target price:

Penhaligons, Floris (Top, top shelf)
Trumper, Harris, Truefit & Hill (next tier down)

**scoopster** · 02-25-2009, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

Just found out one of the guys uses an electric razor...thoughts?

One last thought is to give the person your original gift anyway and include a razor. Perhaps this person would be willing to take a shot at traditional shaving as a result of receiving your gift.

**DanOK** · 02-25-2009, 10:09 AM

As a starter I would suggest L'Occitane Cade or Tabac, probability the Tabac as the one with the bowl is very reasonably priced ($15 range) and easily available online. The Rooney is a great brush at that price but hey I still use and love my Tweezerman ($15) and continue to recommend it as a starter brush. Nice plastic stand in black or white ($8) and maybe a nice AS and ASB with the remaining $25 or $30 bucks.

A nice hand written note on the card with your fountain pen and your done. Oh and don't forget to reference your friends over at the B&B site for those who catch the bug.

Congrads on your upcoming marriage. Can't be to many grandkids in the world.

**Whitmore** · 02-25-2009, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Sullybob

Where are you finding the refills for $10? That is a great price.

Apologies, I'm being a tool - I'm talking about the price in Germany which is 10 €, that equals 12 - 13$.

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by MikeLip

Of the three you mention, I like IK the best. It leaves my skin feeling great and I love the clean scent. However the scent is rather strong. The Pre de Provence comes in a really nifty little tin, works as well as IK but is nowhere near as strong smelling. Possibly a better choice. The Provence Sante also works great and the redware bowl is nice. I like the scent of that stuff too.

French soaps are becoming favorites of mine!

I guess from a gift standpoint, Provence Sante is about the best because of the bowl - you don't need to buy anything else but a brush. I'd go to Ems place and get a nice Omega boar.

Provence Sante has a gift set that includes the shaving soap, bowl and an Omega Boar Brush.

**MikeLip** · 02-25-2009, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

Provence Sante has a gift set that includes the shaving soap, bowl and an Omega Boar Brush.

BINGO! I'd go with that in a heartbeat.

**Cuttingboard** · 02-25-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by MikeLip

BINGO! I'd go with that in a heartbeat.

I wanted to put together a personalized box of stuff for each guy but I guess I would have enough room in the box to put extra stuff. I wanted each guy to have a few things in common but add stuff that their significant others said that they enjoy. Below is a picture of the gift box.