Shave Sticks

An extensive list there fella, well done
 

Speick is superb, the stick is rock hard and I've found it's really easy to overload. I've found by applying a bit less and using a bit more water, and losing a bit of lather density for slickness leads to a lather that performs better in the shave, but as ever YMMV.
 
Yeah I think I applied double the amount I needed because the soap is so hard I couldn't tell how much was coming off the stick. Definitely a great soap though.
 
What are your thoughts on Taconic's Bay Rum scent, compared to others available? Looking for smth of the kind to add into rotation.
 
This thread and the Tabac "Five Alarm Fire" thread has got me to using some of my old LaToja, Arko & Palmolive sticks the past week or so and I have to be frank that as regards latherabilty & shave quality (discounting the PSF nonsense) these are really benchmark soaps. Ain't no fancy smell, but damn they do the job they were designed for perfectly!!
 
Yep! All under-praised.

I keep a string of classics in: Palmolive, Wilkinson Sword, Arko, Derby, Erasmic (Tallow), Speick, LEA & Vie Long (Tallow LEA). They're all grated into tubs so I can lather on the soap, which I prefer. I also have some vintage which I've left in stick form: Rolls Razor, Ever Ready (also sold as Essesse) & Boots (which I think is Palmolive, although it's more lavender than modern Palmolive).

Whenever I take a run through them, it's Derby and Wilkinson Sword that stand out for me. That, and the Rolls Razor soap which is like fresh linen billowing in the breeze, clean and fresh.
 
That is some serious collection,didn't realize there were so many out there tbh

What's your top 5? In terms of smell and slickness etc
 
I think successful stick use depends on the amount and type of stubble acreage you have at the time of shave. By that I mean if you have a fairly full beard with more than a day or twos growth you can easily rasp off enough soap for a decent lather. If you just have a few chin scraps, a tash and extended side burns it can be more difficult.

I have a reasonably full beard but if I shave on consecutive days (not often) I can struggle on the second day because basically I'm still a bit too smooth to lay off enough soap. There are plenty of ways around that of course but that's what I find so I'm not surprised that folks like to grate their sticks into a puck as it makes for far greater consistency.
 


Or, the ratio of soap to beard will be dependant on the length of beard divided by smoothness of cheeks times hardness of soap/cream minus the first number you thought of.
 
Tried it yesterday evening and I now see what people mean by "easy to over-apply". You think you've hardly got any on your face until you hit it with a wet brush, and disappear behind a wall of lather! A unique and pleasant smell too. For balance, I did use Tabac splash after! I like them both!
 
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