My first soap was William's Mug Soap. I didn't buy it, I am pretty sure that it was a roommate's from long ago and that it somehow ended up with my stuff. When I got into wet shaving I remembered seeing it, so I dug it out and gave it a go...I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. My first GOOD soap (which I bought on the same day that I tried the William's) was Van Der Hagen Deluxe, which I still use and enjoy. My first non-locally purchased soap (which I ordered with my first set of gear, but didn't arrive until after I had already tried William's and VDH) was RazoRock Napoleon's Violet, which I also still use and love.