WEEKLY SHAVING SOAP REVIEW

[Errol]

DLC YAQI – Velvet Rose Shaving Soap​

First Look - Roses, Roses and more Roses that adorn the tub cover of Yaqi’s Velvet Rose with the only exception being the soap and the company’s name. Simple yet effective with the font used for the soap’s name adding a touch of elegance to the presentation. I’m not head over heels but I do like the cover art a lot as it is a perfect teaser of what to expect when you take off the lid.

Side note – Yaqi’s collaboration in South Africa with artisan Fernando Saraiva of Master Soap Creations often flies under the radar but it is a venture that struck gold for both companies. It introduced MSC Soaps to a number of shavers worldwide while strengthening Yaqi’s position not just as a shaving brush and razor maker but as a company offering quality hardware as well as software for all shaving needs. My introduction to Master Soap Creations was also through Yaqi shaving soaps.

First Whiff – A homage to Jo Malone’s classic fragrance of the same name, the soap’s top notes are rose and patchouli that hover above a heart of labdunum and musk with amber and a bit more musk at the base. The artisan describes this as a dark damask rose forward scent that is surrounded by oud wood, a touch of clove and a finish of praline. That description is pretty much bang on, when you open the tub the rose and the wood come through. The musk may be present in two layers of the scent profile but rather than overpower the two main notes, it stays in the background lending a gentle projection with that nutty praline finish . This is a classy masculine rose scent where neither the patchouli, clove or woody oud notes make an attempt to outdo the elegant damask rose. I am a mega fan of it and am sure that this soap will be in heavy rotation for my shaves.

First Lather – The Velvet Rose ingredient list features Triple Pressed Stearic Acid, Purified Aqua, Tallow, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Palm Oil, Glycerine, Sodium Lactate , Bentonite Clay, pure Essential Oil, Fragrance Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, D-panthenol and Tussah Silk. Using my newly acquired Yaqi Ocean Synthetic brush and a table spoon of water, I worked a teaspoon of the soap gently in my Timeless TR bowl, a minute later I had a nice pasty lather. I then let the soap sit for a minute before adding two more tablespoons of water and working at it for another minute and a half. There is a healthy dose of tallow in the mix like all other MSC soaps, the end result of bowl lathering was a creamy, rich and luxurious lather.

First Performance – While painting a few lather strokes on my face, it also struck me that the Yaqi Ocean Brush had an amazingly soft feel on the cheeks with excellent splay. When you have an excellent soap in terms of lather quality and fragrance coupled with a quality synthetic brush, you tend to lather more than actually shave the stubble off. I had to stop at some point of time and focus on the shave. Two passes with a good mate's Alpha Outlaw Evolution and a Feather blade were enough to deliver a smooth as silk BBS. That is where MSC soaps always shine, they are slick as ever while providing excellent cushion and protection with wonderful fragrances. I never use the lather left behind in the bowl on my face like a lot of shavers do post shave but I did it this time around, that’s how much I enjoyed Velvet Rose.

First Opinion – This is a soap for a rose fan which I am, not a feminine or an overly masculine rose fragrance but the gentlemanly kind. The matching after shave with zero alcohol is nourishing for the skin and has good sillage and projection, I have been guilty of carrying the little sample around in my bag to splash on before meetings or important events. Velvet Rose is a top tier offering from Yaqi and MSC and with a generous 6 oz pour, it remains one of the best value for money buys in the shaving soap arena. Highly recommended.

Cover Art Work – 7 / 10

Lather Quality – 9 / 10

Fragrance – 10 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 9 / 10

Slickness – 8 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 63 / 70

Availablity – Sold by the Yaqi factory Store on Ali Express - https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005006190355893.html

Love roses. Great review of another soap waiting discovery.

 

[LesC]

Great Review again mate , still waiting for an Aussie Supplier. I've emailed 6 companies (I've purchased from) metioning Master Soap Creations would like an Australian/NZ distributor and forwarded each e-mail to Fernando of Yaqi South Africa, so hopefully one day!!

 

[Bladerunner7]

Love roses. Great review of another soap waiting discovery.

Cheers Mate. It is an awesome soap and a must have.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Great Review again mate , still waiting for an Aussie Supplier. I've emailed 6 companies (I've purchased from) metioning Master Soap Creations would like an Australian/NZ distributor and forwarded each e-mail to Fernando of Yaqi South Africa, so hopefully one day!!

@LesC , just get it off aliexpress as in the Yaqi ones. terrific soaps all of them and most have the upgraded base with that good amount of beef tallow.

 

[Vittoria]

DLC YAQI – Velvet Rose Shaving Soap​

First Look - Roses, Roses and more Roses that adorn the tub cover of Yaqi’s Velvet Rose with the only exception being the soap and the company’s name. Simple yet effective with the font used for the soap’s name adding a touch of elegance to the presentation. I’m not head over heels but I do like the cover art a lot as it is a perfect teaser of what to expect when you take off the lid.

Side note – Yaqi’s collaboration in South Africa with artisan Fernando Saraiva of Master Soap Creations often flies under the radar but it is a venture that struck gold for both companies. It introduced MSC Soaps to a number of shavers worldwide while strengthening Yaqi’s position not just as a shaving brush and razor maker but as a company offering quality hardware as well as software for all shaving needs. My introduction to Master Soap Creations was also through Yaqi shaving soaps.

First Whiff – A homage to Jo Malone’s classic fragrance of the same name, the soap’s top notes are rose and patchouli that hover above a heart of labdunum and musk with amber and a bit more musk at the base. The artisan describes this as a dark damask rose forward scent that is surrounded by oud wood, a touch of clove and a finish of praline. That description is pretty much bang on, when you open the tub the rose and the wood come through. The musk may be present in two layers of the scent profile but rather than overpower the two main notes, it stays in the background lending a gentle projection with that nutty praline finish . This is a classy masculine rose scent where neither the patchouli, clove or woody oud notes make an attempt to outdo the elegant damask rose. I am a mega fan of it and am sure that this soap will be in heavy rotation for my shaves.

First Lather – The Velvet Rose ingredient list features Triple Pressed Stearic Acid, Purified Aqua, Tallow, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Palm Oil, Glycerine, Sodium Lactate , Bentonite Clay, pure Essential Oil, Fragrance Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, D-panthenol and Tussah Silk. Using my newly acquired Yaqi Ocean Synthetic brush and a table spoon of water, I worked a teaspoon of the soap gently in my Timeless TR bowl, a minute later I had a nice pasty lather. I then let the soap sit for a minute before adding two more tablespoons of water and working at it for another minute and a half. There is a healthy dose of tallow in the mix like all other MSC soaps, the end result of bowl lathering was a creamy, rich and luxurious lather.

First Performance – While painting a few lather strokes on my face, it also struck me that the Yaqi Ocean Brush had an amazingly soft feel on the cheeks with excellent splay. When you have an excellent soap in terms of lather quality and fragrance coupled with a quality synthetic brush, you tend to lather more than actually shave the stubble off. I had to stop at some point of time and focus on the shave. Two passes with a good mate's Alpha Outlaw Evolution and a Feather blade were enough to deliver a smooth as silk BBS. That is where MSC soaps always shine, they are slick as ever while providing excellent cushion and protection with wonderful fragrances. I never use the lather left behind in the bowl on my face like a lot of shavers do post shave but I did it this time around, that’s how much I enjoyed Velvet Rose.

First Opinion – This is a soap for a rose fan which I am, not a feminine or an overly masculine rose fragrance but the gentlemanly kind. The matching after shave with zero alcohol is nourishing for the skin and has good sillage and projection, I have been guilty of carrying the little sample around in my bag to splash on before meetings or important events. Velvet Rose is a top tier offering from Yaqi and MSC and with a generous 6 oz pour, it remains one of the best value for money buys in the shaving soap arena. Highly recommended.

Cover Art Work – 7 / 10

Lather Quality – 9 / 10

Fragrance – 10 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 9 / 10

Slickness – 8 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 63 / 70

Availablity – Sold by the Yaqi factory Store on Ali Express - https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005006190355893.html

Great review Bladerunner7.
The cover art on the container is really eye-catching.
Also a pretty high score of 63 out of 70.
I will be watching for next weeks review.
Cheers mate.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Great review Bladerunner7.
The cover art on the container is really eye-catching.
Also a pretty high score of 63 out of 70.
I will be watching for next weeks review.
Cheers mate.

Thanks much Mate.

 

[Bladerunner7]

SHAVOLOGIST – Kailash Shaving Soap​

First Look - An image of Mount Kailash overlooking the Kailash range of the Transhimalaya, in the western part of the Tibetan plateau adorns the tub of Shavologist’s personal favorite soap. The bright orange and yellow illuminates the mountain top, separating it from the smaller peaks below which seem to rise above the clouds. That halo like effect and the light towering over the darkness gives this tub cover a mystical persona making the artwork rather unique.

Side note – The Shavologist or Atul Chaddha is a an IT professional and consultant who hails from Rajasthan in India. A diehard EDP/EDC collector with over 250 bottles in his stable, Atul embarked on his soap making journey in 2017 when he found it rather expensive to procure soaps and aftershaves by Fine Accoutrements and other popular brands in India. Sharing his samples with other Indian wet shavers and then through online information, trial, error, a blown up oven and user feedback, Atul launched his first product in 2021 to resounding success with his soaps occupying the top spot in the Indian wet Shaving community today. The Shavologist soaps are now even stocked at Pasteur Pharmacy Inc New York where they often sell out. Every soap is hand cooked the traditional way, finished and tested by Atul himself with only 18 soaps manufactured in every release, making them super exclusive.

First Whiff – Kailash is a soap that’s released every year on the occasion of the Indian festival Mahashivratri which is special to the artisan and features a scent profile associated with the event. Top notes are cannabis sativa and fresh green with wood, tobacco and coffee in the middle, all resting on a base of oud and incense. This is a homage to Tom Ford’s Black Afghano Nasomatto and at first whiff that cannabis sativa opening is strong with a bit of saffron, wood , coffee, musk , ambroxan and vanilla coming through as a blend. The incense and oud are very subtle and present throughout but refrain from overpowering that opening note. This is a discerning fragrance and if you love the Tom Ford Original, you will love this. I’d rate the fragrance strength as mid to slightly strong.

First Lather – Kailash is a tallow free croap with a soft consistency. Using a teaspoon of it and with my Frank Shaving synthetic and a Daiso plastic bowl, I was able to get a nice foamy lather in thirty seconds. I would attribute that to the coconut acid and coconut milk in the soap. I added a tablespoon more of water and kept working the soap clockwise and anti-clockwise in the bowl for another minute before letting it rest and then giving it a spin for another thirty seconds. I was rewarded with a luxurious lather. This isn’t a thirsty soap and a little bit of water is good enough to produce a well hydrated lather.

First Performance – Kailash features the artisan’s latest base Calibre 4 and the ingredients listed are Stearic Acid, Water, Coconut Acid, Kokum Butter, Castor Oil, Coconut Milk, Potassium Hydroxide, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerine, Aloe Juice, Avocado Oil, Lanolin, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Silk Amino Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Mulberry Extract, Tussah Silk and Comfrey Extract. With a high Shea butter and Glycerine content I was expecting this soap to perform well and it did. I had a comfortable two pass BBS with my Ikon Tek and a Wizamet blade. The cushion, protection and glide were good but fell short of a home run for me due to one reason, while the soap performed well, the lather started to dissipate a bit after my first pass to a thick yet slightly runny consistency. Knowing how the Shavologist loves feedback, this is something he will fix soon.

First Opinion – Shavologist soaps are on par with some of the finest available internationally in performance and punch way above their price tag. His Skin Food is probably the best post shave repair I have ever used. I’m a fan of Kailash and here’s my suggestion, take a break from the daily trials of life with this soap and ascend the age old mountain peak known for its peace and tranquil.

Cover Art Work – 7 / 10

Lather Quality – 6 / 10

Fragrance – 7 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 8 / 10

Slickness – 7 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 8 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 53 / 70

Availabilty – https://shavologist.com/ , https://pasteurpharmacy.com/

 

[Vittoria]

SHAVOLOGIST – Kailash Shaving Soap​

First Look - An image of Mount Kailash overlooking the Kailash range of the Transhimalaya, in the western part of the Tibetan plateau adorns the tub of Shavologist’s personal favorite soap.. The bright orange and yellow illuminates the mountain top, separating it from the smaller peaks below which seem to rise above the clouds. That halo like effect and the light towering over the darkness gives this tub cover a mystical persona making the artwork rather unique.

Side note – The Shavologist or Atul Chaddha is a an IT professional and consultant who hails from Rajasthan in India. A diehard EDP/EDC collector with over 250 bottles in his stable, Atul embarked on his soap making journey in 2017 when he found it rather expensive to procure soaps and aftershaves by Fine Accoutrements and other popular brands in India. Sharing his samples with other Indian wet shavers and then through online information, trial, error, a blown up oven and user feedback, Atul launched his first product in 2020 to resounding success with his soaps occupying the top spot in the Indian wet Shaving community today. The Shavologist soaps are now even stocked at Pasteur Pharmacy Inc New York where they often sell out. Every soap is hand cooked the traditional way, finished and tested by Atul himself with only 18 soaps manufactured in every release, making them super exclusive.

First Whiff – Kailash is a soap that’s released every year on the occasion of the Indian festival Mahashivratri which is special to the artisan and features a scent profile associated with the event. Top notes are cannabis sativa and fresh green with wood, tobacco and coffee in the middle, all resting on a base of oud and incense. This is a homage to Tom Ford’s Black Afghano Nasomatto and at first whiff that cannabis sativa opening is strong with a bit of saffron, wood , coffee, musk , ambroxan and vanilla coming through as a blend. The incense and oud are very subtle and present throughout but refrain from overpowering that opening note. This is a discerning fragrance and if you love the Tom Ford Original, you will love this. I’d rate the fragrance strength as mid to slightly strong.

First Lather – Kailash is a croap with a soft consistency. Using a teaspoon of it and with my Frank Shaving synthetic and a Daiso plastic bowl, I was able to get a nice foamy lather in thirty seconds. I would attribute that to the coconut acid and coconut milk in the soap. I added a tablespoon more of water and kept working the soap clockwise and anti-clockwise in the bowl for another minute before letting it rest and then giving it a spin for another thirty seconds. I was rewarded with a luxurious lather. This isn’t a thirsty soap and a little bit of water is good enough to produce a well hydrated lather.

First Performance – Kailash features the artisan’s latest base Calibre 4 and the ingredients listed are Stearic Acid, Water, Coconut Acid, Kokum Butter, Castor Oil, Coconut Milk, Potassium Hydroxide, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerine, Aloe Juice, Avocado Oil, Lanolin, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Silk Amino Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Mulberry Extract, Tussah Silk and Comfrey Extract. With a high Shea butter and Glycerine content I was expecting this soap to perform well and it did. I had a comfortable two pass BBS with my Ikon Tek and a Wizamet blade. The cushion, protection and glide were good but fell short of a home run for me due to one reason, while the soap performed well, the lather started to dissipate a bit after my first pass to a thick yet slightly runny consistency. Knowing how the Shavologist loves feedback, this is something he will fix soon.

First Opinion – Shavologist soaps are on par with some of the finest available internationally in performance and his skin food is probably the best post shave repair I have ever used. I’m a fan of Kailash and here’s my suggestion, take a break from the daily trials of life with this soap and ascend the age old mountain peak known for its peace and tranquil.

Cover Art Work – 7 / 10

Lather Quality – 6 / 10

Fragrance – 7 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 8 / 10

Slickness – 7 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 8 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 53 / 70

Availabilty – https://shavologist.com/ , https://pasteurpharmacy.com/

Great review BladeRunner7
Very unique picture on the top of the container
Cheers

 

[Bladerunner7]

Great review BladeRunner7
Very unique picture on the top of the container
Cheers

Thanks Mate. Much appreciated. Its a lovely soap with a very unique scent profile.

 

[Gargravarr]

Great review Bladerunner7

Although I'm certain we have entirely different scent preferences, I always look forward to your weekly reviews. This soap looks like it would be worth trying...

 

[Bladerunner7]

Great review Bladerunner7

Although I'm certain we have entirely different scent preferences, I always look forward to your weekly reviews. This soap looks like it would be worth trying...

I think we do like similar fragrances, just that with travels to the middle East on work in the past I was exposed to a ton of Oud, Saffron, Woody, Tobacco etc fragrances, I do like them but when the right quantity is added. Not really fond of overwhelming fragrances.

I think you'd like Kailash.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Gentlemen, missed out on my review a few days back due to personal reasons but posting it now. This means that there will be two reviews this week.

 

[Bladerunner7]

TFS - 75th Anniversary Witch Hazel & Oak Shaving Soap

First Look - The number 75 on the cover makes it special and it definitely isn’t the number of ingredients in the soap. Released to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of TFS or Tcheon Fung Sing, now a legendary shaving soap making Italian brand the cover design is simple yet classy. Gold lettering on a black background is always a source of attraction for me and with the two star players Witch Hazel and Oak in White lettering on the cover, I do like it a lot.

Side note – In 1930, China born Tcheon Fung Sing with his soap making skills sailed the seas to Europe where he settled down in Italy with an Italian woman who played a major part to in popularizing and selling his products locally. Post the war in 1945, the company named after him took birth. In 1951, the company won the Gold Medal for shaving products at the inaugural Turin Fair. The reins of the company were later passed on to his daughter Gabriella Tcheon, and finally to granddaughter Paola Barile who makes the soaps today. From it’s humble roots TFS uses only vegetable based materials,. The handmade production process of the soaps guarantees their longevity while skipping the use of any preservatives. Besides their own brand, TFS also churns out soaps for Rasozero and some for Razorock.

First Whiff – The scent profile of TFS 75 is described as ozonic and balsamic with oak, hawthorn and cyclamen sitting atop a base of violet , sandalwood, patchouli, cloves and musk. At first whiff this soap is anything but complex to my nose, sandalwood and hawthorn are present but it is the violet and cyclamen that shine through. Cyclamen also known as sowbread or swine bread is a warm weather plant that flourishes indoors. The easiest way to describe the fragrance of TFS is that of a family bath soap. Remember bathing in childhood days when every family member came out of the shower smelling the same thanks to the same kind being used by all, that’s what it is. Think Camay, Yardley, Dove and even a stronger version of Ivory. This soap features a mid-strength fragrance with a powdery, lightly floral and soft aroma and I find it a refreshing change from the Woody, Leathery, Oud and Tobacco dominated soaps.

First Lather – TFS 75 isn’t a croap or a hard puck but somewhere in between. It has a soft wax like texture to it and I had to scrape off a teaspoon of it akin to scraping a portion of butter fresh from the refrigerator. I added two tablespoons of water and let the soap sit in my Timeless TR bowl for two minutes, before proceeding with my Blackland Signature Brush (courtesy of @Nanook, ever grateful for it) to generate a lather. A minute later I added a one more tablespoon of water before working that thick paste into a luxurious and creamy lather. I was shocked at the volume of it, a little goes a long way with this soap.

First Performance – While lathering up my face, I noticed that there was a slight tingling on my cheeks, witch hazel always does that to my skin. There was a slight drop in the fragrance strength when I had finished my first lathering process but my skin felt really good, like it was ready for the sharpest blade. One and a half pass with my Stirling Hyper Aggressive razor was good enough for a comfortable BBS finish. The cushion and protection was above average and not once did I feel threatened with the big blade gap razor or the German Wilkie blade. This soap performs really well and it has a unique quality to it, if the lather slips on to your fingers it feels a bit slippery, but after the shave when I felt my cheeks they were powdery smooth. The inclusion of rich doses of stearic acid, coconut oil, mango seed butter, cupuacu butter, shea butter and witch hazel leaf extract make this soap shine in the way it hydrates, protects and tones the skin. The cushion on the other hand is just about average.

First Opinion – The TFS 75 Witch Hazel & Oak shaving soap is a 150 ml pour making it great value and it takes me back to the days when post school hours followed by a mud soaked and grueling game of soccer we would get back and hit the showers, only to emerge smelling a bit floral, powdery and fresh before hitting the dinner table, that was truly a dream life back then. Recommended for every den.

Cover Art Work – 6 / 10

Lather Quality – 8 / 10

Fragrance – 6 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 7 / 10

Slickness – 7 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 7 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 51 / 70

Availability – www.shavingmarket.com.au ( when I last checked they had two in stock) and most online shaving supply retailers.

 

[Vittoria]

Brilliant review and info @Bladerunner7
I notice it scored a bit low in some areas
That picture of the brush with the lather on wow I have a way to go before I can get lather that thick that sticks to the brush like that gotta keep practising
Cheers

 

[Gargravarr]

Great review @Bladerunner7, I've often wondered about an Italian soap under a Chinese name, but been too lazy to look it up. Funny you mention family soaps - mine was Yardley (of course).

I like the description of that scent profile - with the exception of patchouli. I have a particular aversion to that, though there are some products where I forgive it...

 

[Bladerunner7]

Brilliant review and info @Bladerunner7
I notice it scored a bit low in some areas
That picture of the brush with the lather on wow I have a way to go before I can get lather that thick that sticks to the brush like that gotta keep practising
Cheers

Thanks Mate. The artwork was okay and the fragrance is mild to mid-strength. it's still an awesome and unique soap to use. No need to splash on any Witch Hazel after the shave.

 

[Bladerunner7]

Great review @Bladerunner7, I've often wondered about an Italian soap under a Chinese name, but been too lazy to look it up. Funny you mention family soaps - mine was Yardley (of course).

I like the description of that scent profile - with the exception of patchouli. I have a particular aversion to that, though there are some products where I forgive it...

Yeah mate, TFS is one of the most iconic shaving soap brands in Italy and known more for manufacturing soaps for others.

My family soaps were Yardley Lavender and Wright's Coal Tar. If we came back muddy and greasy after a game of footie then it was only Wright's for us.

As for the Patchouli, it occupies about 3 percent of the actual fragrance profile. It's barely noticeable. If you like Yardley, you will love this one, it is similar yet different in a way.

 

[Nanook]

Great review @Bladerunner7, I've often wondered about an Italian soap under a Chinese name, but been too lazy to look it up. Funny you mention family soaps - mine was Yardley (of course).

I like the description of that scent profile - with the exception of patchouli. I have a particular aversion to that, though there are some products where I forgive it...

Unfortunately, Patchouli is very hard to avoid. It's in everything

 

[Bladerunner7]

Unfortunately, Patchouli is very hard to avoid. It's in everything

That is true mate but in the TFS 75, its barely noticeable at all. In fact neither are the cloves or sandalwood, just a tad bit of musk and mainly that fresh light floral scent.

 

[Bladerunner7]

WCS Duck Fat Shaving Soap – Pear – Brrr Shoppe​

First Look - Images of Pear on the outer circle of the tub’s cover with the soap name , description and the ingredients listed doesn’t make this a standout bit of art work but a functional one. Many times have I had to search for the ingredients on the side of the soap container or underneath it, which has often made it an annoying experience for me. The Pear-Brrr Shoppe cover works well with the illustration on the cover’s edge, coming across as simple yet classy and one that tells me all about what to expect when I take off the lid.

Side note – West Coast Shaving or WCS launched their business in 2007 selling razor blade sample packs. Since then they have collaborated with numerous artisan soap, razor, lather bowl and shaving brush makers to create exclusive products available only on their website. One of their most famous collabs has been the razor heads and handles designed by Brian Twilley of Charcoal Goods fame.

First Whiff – Inspired by the scent wheel developed by Michael Edwards, Pear-Brrr Shoppe is the WCS take on the barbershop aroma and is a part of the WCS Duck fat shaving soap pack created by Vida Perez from Oleo Soapworks, the other fragrances being Fougere, Cologne, Chypre and Oriental. At first whiff I get Pear, at second whiff I get Pear and a touch of menthol. This isn’t a barber shop fragrance but an aromatic fruit scent. Pear like Passion fruit, Pineapple and a few others are considered exotic fruits due their aromas having an invigorating and refreshing quality, this soap captures that extremely well. While the fragrance profile is actually mid strength it isn’t fruity or sweet but very pleasant.

First Lather – I am a big fan of Duck fat based shaving soaps with Aion Skincare’s Mallard range by Mo Abed being one of my favorites. There is a unique quality to the lather that is unmistakably duck, a richness and sheen that stands out always. Using a two dollar bowl bought from the Japanese Daiso chain and my FS Pur-Tec Pro synthetic brush I started the bowl lathering process with a teaspoon of soap and two tablespoons of water. While whipping the brush around in circles, I noticed the unique way the lather started forming, felt like I was beating up a Greek yoghurt for a salad dressing. Pear-Brrr Shoppe is a fairly thirsty soap but don’t over hydrate it, a tablespoon more of water and a minute of rotating the brush clockwise for a minute produced a rich, dense and mousse like lather. The lather quality of this soap is very impressive.

First Performance –The complete ingredient profile of this soap includes stearic acid, water, kokum butter, potassium hydroxide, palm kernel oil, duck fat, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, glycerin, jojoba oil & sodium lactate. Over the years and through experience I have noticed how soaps with minimal ingredients always deliver the goods and so did Pear-Brrr Shoppe. Using my Stando Chors with a Gillette Nacet, I had a two pass BBS. Getting rid of a five day growth was never easier with the soap providing excellent cushion and protection. A few shavers have complained of the WCS duck fat range leaving their skin feeling dry post shave but for me, my cheeks felt moisturized with the soap’s slickness still present on them. I just wish the fragrance was a bit stronger during the shave. Unlike a few other duck fat based soaps, the lather did not dissipate even after two passes. The cooling factor in the soap is mild to mid strength and extremely enjoyable too.

First Opinion – The WCS Pear-Brrr Shoppe is a soap that deserves a lot more credit than it gets. The duck fat combined with the many rich vegetarian butters in it make it a skin nourishing soap that helps deliver a unique shaving experience. Highly recommended for the summer and those random days when the weather gets too hot for comfort. If you love a good Pear sorbet then this one is for you, don't try and eat it though.

Cover Art Work – 6 / 10

Lather Quality – 9 / 10

Fragrance – 6 / 10

Cushion & Protection – 8 / 10

Slickness – 7 / 10

Post Shave Feel – 8 / 10

Value – 10 / 10

Total Point Score – 54 / 70

Availabilty – Exclusively at www.westcoastshaving.com