As someone that has been a Merkur blade and Williams Mug soap guy for years, I have found myself having to venture into new territory. The original Merkur blades are no more and made in Czech Republic (I tried one and half way thru the shave it felt like a bottle cap) and now that Williams is no more (I do still have 5-6 pucks), I am trying new soaps as well. The Dovo blades are still made in Germany and so far, feel like they are really close to the original Merkurs and I am trying new soaps, so I will have to give these a try as well. I plan on using a Feather blade for the first time on my next shave, just to see how I like it. Thanks for the info and look forward to watching more videos
I now always use the Arko as it lathers really well and is kind to my skin. The odd smell is the Tallow in it. I also love the Taylors, especially the Eton College collection with the matching Aftershave. But all Taylors make my skin really sore, even the sensitive one. I love Arko because it it easy to use and it great for my skin. I really enjoyed the reviews. Dave.
I have 4 out of the 6 - Arko, Proraso, Taylor's & Tabac, interestingly all relatively old products that have stood the test of time & more than hold their own against modern soaps!
also mark szorady is a nice person and kensurfs ( James bond lover ), my wife is always asking why are these wet shavers all so great persons, I know why, since wet shaving makes us very happy every morning , that's why haha, smelling wonderful scents , using nice brushes and testing new blades and razors , greetings from Mexico , Robert, you have to see the video where our kevy is visiting a shop , the owner or the shop is an unbelievable polite, educated and professional person, really incredible , the video is " a visit to the gentlemens groom room shaving shop ", there kevy did a wonderful visit, I see this video everytime a feel that i need a motivation
I appreciate that all of your choices are pretty cost effective. Tabac can run a bit of money but you get so much and it lasts forever. I've found that I'm usually disappointed by more expensive soaps and creams because I expect them to blow me away but they are only just as good (or sometimes less good) than these basic, frugal choices.
What a great comment Joshua!!You are correct in what you say. It is nice to use expensive soaps and creams now and again but they aren't that much better than the ones that have been around for many years. Cheers...Kevy
I see your production team created a nice domestic studio set to simulate your home kitchen for more intimate discussion videos. Nice touch! I have four of the soaps you list (Cella, Tabac, Arko and Proraso). Tabac's luxurious lather along with the terrific ceramic bowl are classic. I like the smell of Cella so much that I open it every so often just to smell it! I hear nothing but good things about Mitchell's Wool Fat and would like to try it. I think you might also like the smell of Edwin Jagger's Sandalwood soap. It took me awhile to figure out how to get a decent lather with it, but the sandalwood smell is excellent. I would add Williams Mug Soap to the list just to be sure you have the soap that practically started it all in 1840! The box has that almost two century old look to it, too! For about US 1.19 per puck, how can you go wrong? Some have said they had problems creating a lather, but personally, I've have had excellent shaves with it. It has a clean Ivory soap scent and really takes you back to the early days of shaving. I drop of glycerine makes a even thicker lather. Here's a good thread that discusses its history: straightrazorplace.com/soaps-creams/100160-williams-shaving-soap-history.html Those are about the only soaps I have at this time. I have many more shaving creams in tubes.
I'm amazed I couldn't remember seeing this video, so I watched it again! If I hadn't commented last year, I never would have known I watched it! That's what happens when you've watched about a thousand shaving videos in the interim! Since my last comment, I added Mitchell's Wool Fat so TOBS Sandalwood is the only one of the six I don't have yet. I'll add to my previous comment that EJ's sandalwood scent is among the best, but the soap itself doesn't offer much in the way of protection.
Huge factor for me is to avoid single use plastics, so Tabac & Mitchell’s best for that reason. Love Tabac. So soapy, I avoid blooming it. Must try Mitchell’s. Thanks.
Once you finish a Cella, Proraso or Arko tub just clean it out and add a Haslinger puck (60g so fit into anything) and you have snuck a 7th classic into the den...
I have all of those soaps Kevy and they're all great in their own way. However you need to expand your list to the Seven Super Soaps. Everyone should have at least one Godrej Shaving Round in their bathroom. An unassuming olde time soap from India that never fails to give a great shave.
Peter Claxton Thanks Peter. I've never heard of Godrej soaps. I just googled it and their soaps seem to get good feedback from the shaving community. Another one to look out for and add to the list! Lol! Cheers. Kevy 👍
I have TOBS sandalwood, Proraso red in the tub (and green in the tube), Tabac, and Mitchell's (recent purchase, haven't used it yet). I absolutely LOVE the scent of Taylor; it was the second cream/soap I ever bought after Proraso green, and they both hold a special place for me. Tabac takes me back to my childhood. When I first got it, I KNEW I'd smelled it before; turns out my dad had the aftershave when I was growing up. That Cella sounds too intriguing, I'm gonna have to check that one out. Great choices, Kevy.
Thanks Benjamin. Yes, threw a reason these soaps are still being made today...they just work great. Cella is another good one to have in the shave den. Kevy 😀👍
The Italians make some amazing shaving products. Love my tubs of Proraso and Cella. Some of the best inexpensive creams/soaps. I wish I could find Proraso and Cella in stores locally as opposed to something like VDH Deluxe soap.
Wonderful! Toobs, Sandlewood has been the standard for me since the beginning of wet shaving . Matched with Pinaud's Clubman can't be beat in my estimation. Still looking for a good Bay Rum aftershave however. Cheers Kevy!
Im very new to the wet-shaving community and your videos already helped me a lot! thx for that! I cant describe how much i like your personality and your videos :) please never stop :P greetings from germany!
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy watching the videos and are picking up some tips from them. The wet shaving community has some wonderful kind people in it and they are always happy to help out anyone with questions. Cheers. Kevy :)
I’ve been wet shaving for about 35 years and for me, the key element is that I can only use non-scented or perfumed soaps. My skin just reacts to it, and I know through experience it’s not the razors as such ie razor burn, just the scented bit, so I am more limited.
My favourite soaps are Mitchell's Wool Fat, Proraso and Arko. Taylor's of Old Bond Street Sandalwood is a good soap but dries my skin. I want to try Cella and Tabac.
From reading on a lot of forums and Reddit groups, there is a lot of "soap snobbery" with regards to Proraso in my opinion. Proraso is excellent for anyone wet shaving on a budget, but at the same time it is still a good product, and like you Kevy, I will always have Proraso in my den. I'm planning on getting some TOBS shortly, as I want to try using a shaving cream (which is what the TOBS is you showed in this video) and see how my lathering is with it, as with this you need to scape a small piece (roughly almond sized) out of the tub and into the brush, and from there its a choice or directly face lathering or bowl lathering, I would probably go with bowl lathering, as I seem to get my lather better with that method. Another great vid, look forward to seeing more 🙂👍🏼
I always think the only way to know if a soap is any good for you is to try it out for yourself. Shaving is very subjective in all areas - blades, razors, soaps, cream etc. What one person likes, another won't. I like Proraso for what it is. Sure, it's not the best soap out there but it does the job, and for me, performs well and I like the scent and also the price of it. TOBS creams are another one that I think should be in every shave den. There's plenty of scents to try out too. It's sometimes easier to control the kind of lather you want in a bowl. Cheers. Kevy :)
I hope you have an idea about the kind of quality service you're providing to the wet shavers around the world, because for someone like me, who suffered from atrocious shaves, your videos were/ are a boon to say the least. I had really bad experience in shaving for years and there was no one to talk about it. This year I came across your channel and some others as well. I'm really pleased to say that I look forward to shaving because of your humble, genuine and easy to relate informative videos. Stay safe, keep sharing your thoughts/ experience with us. From the six soaps, Tabac is on the way. I'm still new in wet shaving and taking the soap collecting slowly.
Hi Kevy Shave - my first comment on your videos (I think). GREAT CHOICE. Well done. They're all in my den and all absolutely cracking shave soaps. I was in the UK a year ago and had a straight shave at a Turkish barber and they used ARKO, Spectacular! Thanks heaps for the videos
Hi Mike. Thanks for the comment and welcome to the madhouse!! All good soaps. I might do another one, like an updated one...we'll see. I've never had a shave at a Turkish barbers. There are lots of them in the UK. How was it? Good? Did you enjoy it? Cheers. Kevy :)
Kevy Shaves the very first straight shave I had was as a young lad in the navy and we docked in Ismir in Turkey. And yes, the one I had in the UK was great. Well worth it. Cheers.
I have all of these soaps, except Arko. I never tried Arko, so going to give it a try. I love TOBs sandalwood, and I recommend TOBs for the beginner. I absolutely love TOBs, Mitchell's, Cella, and Tabac. I am not a fan of proraso only due to the scents. Proraso is excellent quality and price. Great list Kevy !
I do have Arno I actually like the smell of it, it lathers up nice enough though TOBS is the best for me in that category. I actually save the lather left over and use it the next time and it still work well for me but TOBS Sandlewood is the mildest smelling.
Been shaving now for 18 months and have 5 of them (not tabac). Can't get along with Arko or proraso white. MWF and Cella are my two favs for performance
I love Proraso green, I have Tabac and PAA Cavendish (which cost a lot, but works and smells great), and I have had some great shaves lately with Razorock Caribbean Holiday. But I always go back to the proraso. It's inexpensive, smells great and works so well. BTW I have the soap, but prefer the cream.
Hi Kevy, thanks for the reply. This morning I tried Proraso soap again but after watching a few videos, decided to give it a bit more time lathering (about a minute or so) and wow, I wasn't disappointed. The lather was so thick and creamy. I think that sometimes we have gear but maybe don't use it in the correct way and watching videos from you and others, certainly helps me to get a great shave so thanks Kevy!!!
@@nicknewey6152 That's great to hear Nick. Soaps are quite cheap. Dont be afraid to load the brush with plenty of it and experiment with adding water to the lather. Just have fun with it. Cheers. Kevy 😀👍
Did you try CREMO? It's incredibly slick. You don't need a brush to apply. Saves lot's of time. Literally cuts to the chase during morning rush. Refreshing Mint scent is the best, but be prepared to feel your face frozen during the shave. It takes couple weeks to get used to the ice cold feeling.
CREMO won't produce a leather like traditional soaps do, so you might feel cheated at first. But once you see how well it protects you get over the lack of foam quickly. The more water you apply the slipperier it gets. You won't be disappointed.
oh, thanks to your videos, now I am preparing my shave den , my wife is not very happy since she does not understand why I need so many different soaps since I am maybe going to live a couple more years since I am old , but nevertheless I need at least one soap for every day of the month , haha greatings from Mexico, I like a lot your vids, you are a nice person .
@@kevyshaves4109 yes you are right , but you are a professional , I am only a normal person who likes to shave the old way, greetings from mexico, I like also your english accent, when i visited edinburg schotland the way people are speaking there english is also very nive ( by the way I am from the north of belgium , antwerp, but live since many years in mexico )
Great Video Kevy, I agree with you they are all great soaps, I've just bought TOBS Grapefruit fantastic scent really wakes you up in the morning especially if you have to get up early - all the best Mark.
I like to use Arko and mix it with another soap. Also I have menthol crystals I melt down in avocado oil to get a great thick menthol lather. I've many artisans soaps and creams. Thanks
Great video Kevy Love ti and Excellent Choice as I’m setting my shaving Den and this is exactly my opinion on soaps.. Arko is great they use it a lot in Turkey and very popular even Dr. Oz is using it👍🏼👍🏼 Also Impressed Taylor of Old Bond more than with Dr.Harris actually.. Rest is awesome Choice good old tradition Soaps Cheers Alan
I’m 61 years of age and have always wet shaved but have had my first DE razor for about a week. I’ve always used Pears natural soap which lathered beautifully but my first Proraso was a revelation. Incredible compared to plain soap. I have the menthol and sandalwood and personally prefer the sandlewood. I plan on shouting myself a Muhle R89RG for my birthday next week. Fell in love with the look of that razor.
I have tried most of these soaps except Tabac. I plan to order a tub this weekend to try it. You know Kev, since your "Best Wet Shave" video, I bought the Proraso Sandalwood (red). The scent is overtly masculine, but incredibly clean as well, with astounding performance. Many thanks for the suggestions. It's turning what was once the "chore" of shaving to something to look forward to each morning. Cheers!
+Kevy Shaves Have you tried the Proraso shaving creams yet? I have the menthol and sandalwood in the soap and cream versions but haven't tried the creams yet.
In my case, my top 6 are all US Artisan Soaps (most moisturizing soaps for my dry skin): Cold River Soap Works (Select V2) Mike's Natural Soaps Barrister & Mann Shannon's Soaps Mystic Water Soap Commander
Haven't ventured beyond TOBS and Proraso, but never heard of these. Just checked out Barrister&Mann and their soaps and after shaves look promising. Thanks for sharing.
+Kevy Shaves It is actually two that I don't have. I don't have the ARKO and the Green Proraso. I did have the Green Proaso, but it is gone and I now have a tube of CO Bigelow, which is the same thing different label.
Is there a noticeable difference between the Arko stick and soap in the container? I've been using the stick, haven't tried the soap in the container as yet. The sticks are great. So are my Proraso Green and Red soaps. These are my favourites and go-to shaving soaps. You can't go wrong with these. Scent is subjective. Some like them, some don't. I hv no issues with scent. In terms of performance, Arko and Proraso are both great.
Awesome video buddy. Btw. U clean up pretty nicely there bro. Lol. I've thought about my soaps of choice if we had the zombie apocalypse. Lol. Thanks for sharing man. I enjoyed it.
Why would I have to have something I do not like? Thank you for the info on the Soaps. I just started trying to find better products because I have to shave every day now.
Anthony Perez Cheers Anthony. I put these as the top 6 as they are readily avaivle to buy in most countries. Some artisan soaps cost a lot ro buy and ship. Everyone's super 6 soaps will be different cheers. Kevy 👍
Well Kevy, I tried Cella and loved it, same with Tabac. I'll always keep them in my rotation. But Kevy... Should I say this? I don't want to hurt Kevy's feelings. OK here goes... I'm glad Turkish peasant-farmers can afford a good shave (if not a luxurious one), but Kevy, life's too short for Arko, ha ha.
I am not a beginner wet shaver but I don't have any of those brands in my den. :( An oversight that I assure I will correct shortly. I really do appreciate the recommendations and will acquire one of the soaps mentioned in my next shaving supplies order(along with the OSP mentioned in a prior video). Thank you for the information.
Williams is a classic soap too but I've heard they are discontinuing making it. Wether that's true or not that's why I don't include it in this line up. Maybe for the next super six it will be in there. Thanks for commenting 😀
+Kevy Shaves oh!!! no complaints with the list. I was just thinking of all the soaps that has been around 100 yrs. or more. this was a great video, because these are the soaps that all new artisan soaps are measured. simply put, the soaps you mentioned were 1st they set the bar. cheers🍻!
My first opportunity to watch one of your vids. Nicely done, I like the fact that as divided as some are about some of your choices, you spoke to the history/tradition and that YOU liked them. I'm one of those people whose first choice of cream was TOBS Sandalwood and unfortunately, I broke out pretty badly. Oh well, it's not like it was hard to trade. I've never tried Arko, but really wan to try TABAC. THAT SAID.....MWF and Cella are staples and both perform exceptionally well. Last night I shaved with MWF and it was like going to a restaurant you love and saying to yourself, "why don't I come here more often?" Nicely done. Okay, I have a few question for YOU. I noticed in your Instagram photos that you have used Simpson's cream: 1) have you experienced or heard people talk about some of the issues mentioned with TOBS? 2) what is your favorite scent? 3) how would you rate its performance? Sorry to ramble. Subscribed and thanks again! Cheers ~ Jack
Hey Jack, MWF is a great soap. Not much scent but very good if you're sensitive to certain ingredients in soaps & creams. To answer your questions... 1) I have heard TOBS does not agree with some people's skin, especially the sandalwood scent for some reason. Personally, I've never had any issues with any TOBS products. 2) Ooh, that's a difficult one! So many great scents out there just now. If I had to choose 3 scents at the moment they would be...K Shave Worx Cure For A Bellyache which is a coconut & lime scented soap. Then Geo F. Trumpers Spanish Leather cream, I love the scent on that and finally RazoRock XXX which is a take on Aqua DI Parma and is just beautiful! 3) The 3 I mentioned all perform wonderfully well but I would say the best performer in my opinion would be the K Shave Worx soaps which really are outstanding in both scent, performance and post shave feel. Great questions, I hope that answers them for you. Cheers...Kevy 😀
Wow, talk about coincidence. I posted to a page on FB about wanting to add a dedicated lime soap and after shave. 3 ppl mentioned K Shave Worx "Limelight" soap and aftershave. The price is excellent, free shipping, and many people have talked about both their performance and scent. ACES!
I have Arco, Tobac and Proraso. I need to add the others to my "to buy" list. I also like Tiki Bar, Cattie's Bubbles and Soap Commander. If I had to choose only one, it would be Tiki Bar. What would you choose?
Allen Sandusky if I had to choose one of the super 6 it would be Tabac. If I had to choose only one brand of soap it would be Wickham soap from the UK. All the best. Kevy 👍
Kevy, what a great choice! I've got all except the Mitchells Wool Fat and Cella (but I do have a Figaro which is Italian and smells like Mr. Kiplings almond slices. I will grab some mitchells when I'm back in the UK in a couple of months. Any suggestions on Shaving shops (in or very close to London) to visit would be much appreciated.
Jermyn Street in Piccadilly in London is where I you want to go Mike. Do you know about - thestraywhisker.com.au an online shaving shop in Australia. Really nice friendly guys with a fantastic selection of top notch shaving things. Tell them Kevy sent ya!
