Shaving cream might not be the most thrilling topic, but it is an important one. After all, your face is one of the first things people see when they meet you. So why settle for a subpar shave?
There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing a high-quality shaving cream. In this update to the article I’ll go over some of the most important ones: brands, ingredients, and more.
The Best Shaving Cream For Men
Takeaway Summary (Alphabetical Order)
Amazon links are Sharpologist affiliate. Geni.us links may be affiliate.
Mass Market:
Shopping Mall:
Specialty:
- Blu Atlas
- Castle Forbes
- Nancy Boy
- New York Shaving Company
- OneBlade
- St. James of London
- Supply
- Taconic Shave
- Taylor of Old Bond Street
- Truefitt & Hill
- Trumper
Skip To:
What Is The Best Shave Cream In Specialty Distribution?
What Is The Best Shave Cream At The Mall?
What Is The Best Shave Cream In The Mass Market?
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing A Shaving Cream? A Buying Guide
Why Trust Sharpologist?
Unlike a lot of other “best shaving cream” lists from large consumer or fashion websites that concentrate on sponsorships or just what is available on Amazon, Sharpologist specializes in getting the best, most enjoyable shave possible.
This list is based on the personal experience of Sharpologist‘s editor (me!), contributors, and readers who have actually purchased and used the products–plus over ten years of research from review sites and specialty discussion forums. Generally-speaking, shaving facial hair is the primary objective.
There are three broad categories of results: products available in the mass market, “the mall,” and the high-end available at specialty retailers and online.
Looking for the best shaving soaps? Click/tap here for that article.
What Are The Best Men’s Shaving Creams In Specialty Distribution?
Here you will find most of the best shave cream for men available, especially if you’re a safety razor user. Most are designed to be lathered with a shaving brush, though they can be used brushless as well (you just have to use more of the product).
The Shaving Brush
Why should you use a shaving brush? Simply put, a shaving brush is the perfect way to prepare stubble for shaving. And not just for a single reason–there are a number of ways in which using a shaving brush benefits the shaving process including hydration, cleaning and exfoliation, lather coverage, and a better overall experience.
Shaving Cream Performance
Many traditional shaving creams are light years ahead of mass market shaving foam and shaving gel items, and provide an excellent sensory experience as well. Don’t let the cost put you off: they are so concentrated that a tub will last for months and months of daily use. Some of these are available on Amazon. I think some of “the best of the best” shaving creams include (in alphabetical order):
Blu Atlas
Blu Atlas is new to the list this year. This is a brushless product but offers excellent performance, and post-shave moisturization is outstanding. It’s also vegan. However it is very expensive. Full review here.
Castle Forbes
Castle Forbes shaving creams have a reputation of being strongly-scented: I like to say that using their Limes shave cream is like getting hit in the face with a key lime pie 🙂 . Without a doubt a luxurious product with outstanding performance (at a commensurate price).
Nancy Boy
Nancy Boy – Originally formulated with only a single scent, Nancy Boy added a couple additional scents a few years ago (all are very mild). Nancy Boy is advertised as a “brushless” shave cream but it is brush friendly (and seems to work best with a synthetic-fiber shave brush). This shave cream is great for those who want to avoid nicks while shaving. Availability is limited to the Nancy Boy website but performance is stellar and they have an excellent reputation in the wet shaving enthusiast community.
New York Shaving Company
New York Shaving Company (NYSC) shave creams scents are a mix of classic European, “old timey” American, and natural scents. They also have a sample pack.
OneBlade
OneBlade – OneBlade’s “Black Tie” shave cream had been available in a single, moderately-strong lavender scent but recently added another, Barbershop! Performance is really excellent: it can build a thick, rich lather and the ‘cushion’ aspect is particularly noteworthy.
St. James Of London
Another British brand now in the US. Some refer to St. James of London shave cream scents as “traditional with a twist:” Mandarin & Patchouli, Cedarwood & Clarysage, Black Pepper & Lime, Sandalwood & Bergamot, etc. They also boast an “all natural” and nourishing ingredient mix. Performance is excellent across the line.
Supply
New to the list this year is Supply’s Ultra Lather Shave Cream. Available in a number of (relatively mild) scents, building a lather with this shave cream using a brush is stupid-easy, even in “hard” water. It is also quite tolerant of the water-to-cream ratio. It can work brushless so consider this shave cream “brush friendly” but not a “brush required” product.
Lubrication/glide is very good and the protection/cushion aspect is outstanding!
Taconic Shave
Taconic Shave has line of shave creams in a pump bottle that performs especially well. Taconic shave creams are also an exceptional value. It is made in small batches by a knowledgeable artisan. Their original shave creams are quite good as well.
Taylor Of Old Bond Street
Taylor of Old Bond Street – Taylor Of Old Bond Street has a wide variety of both classic and modern scents and some versions are formulated specifically for sensitive skin. Their sandalwood shave cream is a often listed as a favorite shaving cream on Amazon.
Truefitt & Hill
Truefitt & Hill shave creams are a good mix of “natural” and cologne-like scents, some popular with younger men (1805, Ultimate Comfort) while others are more classic (Trafalgar and Grafton are considered by some as “old man” scents). The No. 10 cream is meant to be used brushless but is “brush friendly” anyway. Truefitt and Hill creams may be ever-so-slightly less cushioning than others in this category but the difference is subtle: most agree the performance is excellent.
Trumper
Trumper shave cream scents tend to stay in the classic, conservative realm. Some may seem a bit foppish but you might be surprised how downright masculine a Rose or a Violet scent can smell. In any event, almost everyone considers these shaving creams as superior in their performance.
What Is The Best Men’s Shaving Cream At “The Mall?”
A step up from the “mega-mart” but not quite at the level of a high-end, specialty brand, the typical enclosed shopping mall in the U.S. may have some outlets for the shaver looking for a good shave cream. Amazon is a good alternative here as well.
Jack Black Supreme
Jack Black Supreme – Is available in a single scent from some mid-tier department stores in the mall. It can be used with or without a brush, Jack Black Supreme consistently gets excellent reviews. Jack Black Beard Lube is a very good alternative.
Kiehl’s
Kiehl’s offers two excellent brushless shave creams (Mentholated and sensitive). The “White Eagle” version with menthol and camphor gets most of the buzz.
The Art Of Shaving
The Art of Shaving – The Art Of Shaving-branded “brick and mortar” stores have closed due to COVID. However the line is still available at many mall retailers such as Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Macy’s, as well as online.
The line-up recently expanded to include more interesting scents (and they have an unscented version made for those with sensitive skin). The Art of Shaving shave creams are more-than-solid performers and their fairly wide availability makes them a “gateway drug” into good shaving.
What Is The Best Shaving Cream In The Mass Market Or Drug Store?
Finally a look at mainstream products you might find in your local supermarket, “big box” retailer, drug store/chemist chain (particularly in the United States), and on Amazon. Unfortunately, most mainstream shaving products are, relatively speaking, poor performers (all other things being equal). Many are foam in pressurized cans and filled with chemicals that try to compensate for the skin-drying effect that propellants can have. If you have no other choice than to use a mass market shaving product, at least try to use a drugstore shaving cream that comes out of a squeeze tube.
Only a few brands in this category rise above the rest (in alphabetical order):
Barbasol 1919
Barbasol 1919 shave cream is in somewhat limited distribution: it’s available on the Barbasol website and a number of regional grocery chains: Wegmans, Food City, Marc’s, Menards, Wynn Dixie, Shop Rite, Bashas’, Hannaford, and Giant grocery stores. Plus Amazon.
The shave performance of Barbasol 1919 Classic Shaving Cream is excellent. Post-shave moisturization is good but lubrication/glide is exceptional (especially for its class) and cushion/protection is excellent (particularly considering how little you need to use).
Cremo Shaving Cream Products
Available in a variety of scents (the Peppermint, Menthol and Tea Tree Oil version is particularly excellent for the summer) and unscented, Cremo shave cream is widely available, found in many national drug store chains, grocery stores, and “big box” or “megamart” outlets.
Nivea Men Sensitive Calm Liquid Shaving Cream
Nivea Men Sensitive Calm Liquid Shaving Cream is relatively new to the US market and still in somewhat limited “brick and mortar” distribution right now (Amazon link for convenience). It comes out of a pump bottle and it’s quite a bit “runnier” that the typical shave cream–I would call it a lotion, like a lot of aftershave balms.
From the bottle I get a mild, vaguely soapy/citrus scent into my admittedly very insensitive nose. Lathered on the face I get nothing–it’s basically scentless to me.
The lather itself is very good when applied by hand and improves a bit more with a shave brush. I would classify this as a “brush-friendly” cream.
Performance is surprisingly good for me, almost to the level of the best traditional creams and it easily holds its own with other good, widely available brushless shave creams like Cremo, Pacific Shaving, and Jack Black. Lubrication/glide and cushion/protection are both excellent.
Pacific Shaving Caffeinated
Pacific Shaving was originally known for their Shaving Oil. They later added several shaving creams. However the star is their Caffeinated Shaving Cream. Although promoted as a “brushless” shave cream it is “brush friendly” and many report the performance of Pacific Shaving Caffeinated improves even more when lathered with a brush. Pacific Shaving is also notable for their use of natural ingredients. “Brick and mortar” distribution is available at Hy-Vee, Savemart, Giant Eagle, Big Y, and some Stop & Shop stores.
Proraso Lather Shave Cream
If you happen to find a Proraso shaving cream in a local brick and mortar store (sometimes seen in stores that specialize in over-stocks or inventory of “distressed” businesses–TJ Maxx, TK Maxx, Marshalls, etc.), snatch one up. Proraso is very good!
Available in a number of scents/formulations, you will probably most commonly find the “Refreshing And Toning” cooling shave cream, with eucalyptus oil and menthol, in the green tube. But all versions are comparatively inexpensive and perform very well.
Keeping An Eye On
There are a number of other shave creams that I’m keeping an eye on for possible inclusion in a future update. Some are relatively new to the market. Others have had a recent change in their business circumstances. Some have recently changed their formulation. And some are here simply because there is not enough information for a full evaluation yet.
What Factors Should you consider when choosing The Best Men’s Shaving Cream? A Buying Guide
Shaving cream can be pretty important: it can make using shaving with a blade a pleasant, fragrant diversion–or a painful, bloody chore. There are some good shaving products, but are also a lot of ghastly ones.
Here is Sharpologist’s criteria for determining which may be the best shaving cream for men (it could be the best shaving cream for women too of course, but some of the scents may be unappealing to women):
Quality of ingredients and avoiding things like parabens
In every shaving cream formulation, each ingredient plays a role. While some ingredients are essential, others only have a minor effect. The performance of the cream serves as the ultimate test for the formulation and indicates whether the correct formula blend of ingredients and concentrations has been used.
High tier shaving cream formulas have a common structure that includes carefully selected ingredients that have been optimized for years. Deviations from these general guidelines results in poorer performance, a less comfortable shave, and the possibility of razor burns on the skin.
Determining performance from ingredient lists is often complicated because the actual contents of the product are not listed. Furthermore, ingredient lists do not include the concentration of each ingredient or their purity. This can also be problematic when troubleshooting allergic reactions.
It is important to realize that the process of selecting shaving products is not an exact science and several factors, including glycerin content, scent and other additives can modulate performance. Personal preference, allergies, skin type, etc. can be important factors in the selection process. However, the best high fat shaving cream covered here that use this foundation rank among the finest in the market and are known for their performance and the best shaving experience.
When evaluating the quality of ingredients in shaving creams, it is important to compare different brands and their ingredient lists. Some of the ingredients to look out for include:
- Hydrating agents such as aloe vera, glycerin and oatmeal which help support the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
- Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E which help fight free radicals that can lead to premature aging of skin.
- Emollients like lipids and shea butter which restore the skin barrier while humectants like glycerin and aloe vera hydrate the skin by pulling water into it.
However, it is important to note that not all shaving cream formulations will have these beneficial ingredients. Some may contain fragrances or alcohols which can cause skin irritation; sulfates which can lead to dryness; mineral oil which clogs pores; emulsifiers like polysorbate 20 that may cause allergic reactions in some individuals; or other potentially harmful additives that may be found in lesser known brands or products without labels specifically for sensitive skin types. Do your research thoroughly before making a purchase decision so that you know what ingredients are included in each formula of shaving cream out there!
Price
Price is always something that is important to consumers when choosing a shaving cream. Generally, the price of shave creams varies between brands and what can be found online or in stores. Some higher-priced shave creams may include more product, special scents or promise skincare benefits while also being more concentrated and requiring less product with each use.
However, there are also cheaper options available that may not provide as many benefits but still provide an effective way to shave without breaking the bank. It is important to compare prices between brands before making a purchase decision so that you can get the most value for your money while still getting a quality product that meets your needs.
Scent (Or Fragrance-Free)?
When choosing a shaving cream based on its scent, it is important to consider the fragrance itself, how long it will last, and how it will interact with your skin and other products. You may also want to consider whether you prefer a more subdued scent or something bolder.
It is also important to note that if you have extremely sensitive skin or react easily to products with added fragrance, you may want to opt for an unscented option. Some brands allow you to make a statement with your shave cream while others provide more subdued scents that are less likely to clash with other products used during your morning routine.
Texture Or Consistency (No Foam Or Gel, Please)
When choosing a shaving cream, consider the texture or consistency of the cream. A rich shaving cream may require mixing with water or some level of lathering before application (while gels and liquids can be applied directly with less preparation). It is also important to consider your skin or hair type when selecting a texture as certain consistencies seem to perform better with certain types.
Lubricity
Lubricity is important because it helps prevent irritation and inflammation caused by friction between the skin and blade of the razor. Additionally, it can help reduce wear on both the razor and skin which can extend its lifespan – therefore saving you money in the long run.
Skin And Hair Hydration And Moisturizing
Hydration is another important factor to consider when choosing a shaving cream. The cream keeps moisture in your beard hair during the shave, which helps keep your beard softer and easier to cut. Additionally, it can provide additional lubrication to the razor and prevent it from gouging into the skin. Hydration can also make it easier for you to track where you’ve shaved due to lather visibility.
Ability to provide protection against razor burn
Razor burn is a common side effect of shaving. It occurs when the skin is exposed to a sharp blades without enough protection on the shaving area, causing it to become inflamed and red. Razor burn can also be caused by using harsh ingredients such as alcohol.
It is important to consider razor burn protection when choosing a shaving cream because it can help prevent skin irritation and reduce the risk of developing infections due to cuts in the skin. The right cream will moisturize your beard while you shave, lubricate your razor so it glides easily over your face without causing additional damage, provide soothing ingredients for sensitive skin types, and add aesthetic.
Ability to provide protection against razor bumps
When choosing a shaving cream, it is also important to consider its ability to provide protection against razor bumps. A good shaving cream will protect your skin from abrasions while keeping it hydrated, preventing redness and razor bumps from developing. It can also help reduce the risk of getting ingrown hairs which can lead to painful infections if left untreated. Additionally, certain ingredients can help prevent acne breakouts and other skin conditions associated with shaving. Therefore, it is essential to look for products that offer these benefits when selecting a suitable product for your shave needs.
The razor type is a factor here, too. Fewer blades are better.
Summing Up
In conclusion, the best men’s shaving cream in 2024 is a product that caters to individual needs, provides a comfortable shave, and offers lasting results. The right cream can help make the morning ritual more enjoyable while delivering soft, smooth skin. With so many products on the market today, it’s important to do your research and pick the one that’s right for you. Don’t hesitate to try out different formulas or read customer reviews before making a purchase.
Did I miss something? Disagree with a rating? Leave your suggestions and comments below!
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Good article. I’ve used quite a few of those creams listed and they have all worked well for me as a wet shaver who usually uses traditional straights and shavettes. My favourite though will always be TOBS sandalwood. Reasonably priced, lathers up easily, good slickness and skin protection, and on a personal note, the scent is exactly what I remember as a child, sat waiting in my uncle’s barber shop waiting to get my hair cut in the early 1970’s!
You seem to have soured on Wholly Kaw La Supérieure–that you previously were quite enthusiastic about. Am wondering why?
Wholly Kaw is a shave soap, not a shave cream. It’s still on the best shave cream list.
In 2021, you said about “Wholly Kaw La Supérieure Dulci Tobacco Shave Cream”:
“Performance-wise, Wholly Kaw La Supérieure Dulci Tobacco shave cream is outstanding for me! Both lubrication/glide and cushion/protection are at the level of the best shave creams. In fact, if Wholly Kaw ever decides to add additional creams with other scents to the line it would meet the criteria for adding it to the ‘best’ list.”
Since then, they’ve added “La Supérieure Peach Karma Shave Cream” and “La Supérieure DFS 2021 Shave Cream.”
Unless you’ve lost your enthusiasm for their “La Supérieure” shave cream, it appears appropriate for you to include them in your “best” list, as promised in 2021.
Speick cream should be included, imho.
How do you compare it to the creams listed here?
I think Speick is good but not at the level of the creams in this post. But I will re-visit it (I do like the Speick scent a lot)!
I believe in another article you commented on using Jack Black Beard Lube under the Jack Black Cream. I have been doing this for years. So after using many, many soaps, croaps and creams, this combination yields the best shaving experience in over 45 years of shaving. The Beard Lube can be used under any soap or croap as well. Nothing compares to this combination.
Thanks, SalS! I just ordered some Breard Lube to try. Although I’ve gotten away from a few pre-shave oils, I want to try it as a pre-shave, but especially to condition my goatee.
Living in Australia any thing that comes out of the USA the price even on Amazon is way above any product that comes out of GB or Europe or Asia for instance a can of Barbasol with a Prime free International delivery is more than Au$40.00 so unless one is reckless with their money most Shaving item like soaps, creams, etc are just not worth it. The import cost of individual items is often above hundreds of dollars through the US postal system. A similar item out of GB is about Au$40. Considering that London, GB is further than New York from Sydney Aus. it is hard to understand the excessive cost difference and why US goods are a challenge when considering to purchase US made product.
I’m in the US, but have noticed that UK shaving suppliers are carrying US products, so you might be able to find them for shipping to AU.
Υπάρχουν πολλες και καλύτερες κρέμες στα ίδια ποσά ευρωπαϊκές , προτείνω να δοκιμάσετε grooming cult από Ελλάδα
Thanks Giorgos! will try.
Out of curiosity – I am suspecting that SupplyCo is actually OEM-ing the “The Art of Shaving” cremes, as scents and consistency seem eerily similar. Does anyone have any insights ?
Thnx all! Can anyone mention casswell-Massey? Tried some hard soap very subtle fragrance (hardly any) hardly any lathering ability. I’m talking used the whole damn thing. Although excellent performance. Not use to these posh soaps.Q:Is their more modern version lather-up.?Ya know they have been around for ever. Thnx Fred H.
Thnx for all the helpful sharing. Before I had to buy to try. Ya I got some soap that really wasn’t what I was looking for. Now I’ve tapped into a very valuable resource, your input. My response has always a resounding thank you all very much. One question. What would be everyone’s favorite lime fragrance soap or cream? The best Fred H.
Hi George– The notification was sent but whether he saw it or decided not to reply I cannot say (I do know he was in the hospital recently. Regarding the picture, that was taken at The Nobleman Barbershop in Milwaukee several years ago, when I gave a presentation on old school wet shaving to some of their clients.
Q: is there any truth that some artisan was purchasing the Mugs name To make a new version of the old defuncked champion? Also can ya mention if other Williams products will still be available? As usual thnx for all your helpful info. The best Fred H.
When i received my Simpson’s chubby 3 in super badger, it came with a gift.
That was a 125ML twist can of their “luxury shaving cream”.
Its mild to non scented. Its like a creamy version of MWS, totally non irritating.
It is as good as any of my favourites.
I will have to take another look at Simpson’s shave cream. They re-formulated it a year or so ago and I haven’t tried the new version yet.
Thanks, Mark, for sharing your thoughts on a broad range of creams. I mostly use soaps but have tried a few creams and have been fairly pleased with most. One you didn’t mention that stands out for me is Wet Shaving Products. I particularly like Olympus, which is their take on the Creed Aventus scent profile.
What about SV and MDC? I’ve tried everything out there and these are a cut above for me.
SV and MDC are both excellent but they’re soaps not creams. 🙂 I have a separate article about the best shave soaps.
Yes, there are two mass market creams you didn’t mention that deserve top billing. My second choice is Kiss My Face Cream which is still excellent in all aspects of performance and especially if you like lavender.
My new favorite, which I compare to any cream or soap extant, is Nivea Men Sensitive Calm Liquid Shaving Cream. Performance wise in terms of latherability, glide, lubrication, residual slickness and post shave feel, is as good as ANY cream or soap. I describe the scent as mild-neutral. The best part? I bought the 6.8 ounce bottle for $3.47 at Wal-Mart. I use a brush for both products. Two pumps into my shaving bowl and my barely moist brush whips up a ton of ideal lather.
I will have to re-visit KMF: they reformulated and pulled way back on availability a few years ago (right before COVID). The Nivea is a new one to me and I will definitely try it!
Yes, we have tubes here of the Nivea in Canada. Awesome value and great lather.
I used this very early in my wet shaving beginning and unfortunately have semi forgot about it as i too have gone down the rabbit hole of buying a plethora of creams and Soaps.
i still have some and would be a great travel tube
You missed a great one and the best value of them all. Palmolive is hard to beat at any price.
I am surprised that you make no mention of Proraso Single Blade shave cream. It is purported to be far slicker than the mainline Proraso shave cream. It is well regarded by some key straight edge shavers.
I have tried the Proraso Single Blade shave cream. It’s a little better than “regular” Proraso but not as good as the other creams on this list IMO.
No Proraso! Proraso is a very well respected cream in the shave community.
Tom, you’re right, Proraso is well respected. And it’s very popular. But this is not a “popular” list, it’s a “best” list. While Proraso is very good, in it’s class there are definitely better shave creams IMO.
If I use my Proraso pre shave ($15) and make a super lather of their soap ($10)& cream ($10), I get a $20 shave for $35. Proraso is the Edge gel of Italy.
Hello Larry
Have you considered using an almond size portion of each
Proraso Cream and Preshave?
Using whole tubes and jars ( as your math suggests) during one shave will certainly get expensive !!
😂 😆 😝
I agree brother I have all flavours tubes/tubs and it’s as Creamy and Dreamy as some of the luxurious brands
Super slick 👍🏻 🪒
How could you mention Van der Hagen and leave out Cella
Because Cella is not available at the local grocery store or megamart.
Hmm …No Proraso?
A good “Mall” performer for me is The Body Shop Macca Root
There really is no such thing as “The Best”, there is the “Most Expensive VS Cheapest”, but it will always depend on skin type, hard vs soft water, which brush, how good you are at lathering, do you like thin or thick lather, a lot comes to play, but no matter what, there is a reason the products are on the market, and that is because then can be used, just not everyone has the best of luck with them.
Great article 🙂
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Thanks for an interesting writers. Here are a few miscellaneous reactions:
– I wish you had focused more on details of performance and less on fragrance. To me, performance mostly means (1) ease of lathering with a small amount of product, (2) slickness, or, as you call it, lubrication, and (3) post-shave moisturizing. I don’t understand “cushioning” as a benefit. We’re trying to get a close shave.
– Fragrance that’s good-or-bad-or-indifferent, or strong-or-weak, is even more subjective than taste in Chinese food. I’m OK with most fragrances but not crazy about any. A very few are unpleasant or irritating. So I’ll pay a fairly fancy price for performance but not for fragrance.
– One product on the list, TOBS cream, smells nice (none of the fragrances I’ve tried is unpleasant), lathers easily, and is reasonably priced for what it is. But it’s short on slickness. It works fine with a good preshave product like Trumper Skin Food but not otherwise.
– Spieck and Palmolive are both excellent, even regardless of their low prices. Well worth a try.
Thanks again. Keep it up.
I think the term “cushioning” refers to the layer of protection the cream (or soap/croap) provides to inhibit razor burn…at least that is my understanding, from seeing/hearing it on blogs/YouTube. I believe it would be a 4th category to add to the three that you mention above. I’m very much still the novice, but have noticed differences in protection from various products. A good, slick, moisturizing lather doesn’t necessarily mean good protection/resistance razor burn. Although in most cases, if the product is very effective for the three criteria you mention, it probably would have good cushioning.
This blog is great and I’m a sponge right now, trying to learn as much as I can, as I “practice” each day!
I love reading these updates! I’m picky though and tend up wasting money money on shaving soaps / creams that just aren’t right and throwing them out…the Maggard Razor site’s tiny samples became my friend a year ago and saved me hundreds of dollars (I have no financial interest in them). I think my problem is that I am sensitive to the fragrance and absolutely cannot handle it once I taste the aroma in my mouth. While I adore the the Dr. Harris and Co. Arlington (soap not cream) and can tolerate The St. James of London “Black Pepper & Lime” (used on travel, but not at home), I personally find a lot of the Taylor of Old Bond Street, Truefitt and Hill, as well as the Geo F. Trumper’s to have been way too much for me. One shave cream that I rely almost exclusively upon for shaving (for feel, shave and aroma, without a shaving brush) is Fulton and Roark. I have no invested interest in their company and don’t use them at home (since I stick to the brush), but I SO MUCH enjoy the easy aroma and ease while traveling…Maybe check it out Mark! I really look forward to try the Cyril Salter both lime and vetiver (unless someone convinces me otherwise) and am curious about the Eshave and Nancy Boy, which I have never heard of.
Nick D: I enjoyed your comments and I have much in common with your “wasting money on shaving soaps / creams that just aren’t right and throwing them out” – of course I always feel guilty about throwing them out, but I see no acceptable alternative. (I personally wouldn’t want a used shaving cream/soap).
Bob: to me, cushion is as important a parameter as are slickness and scent.
Chris T: agree fully with your cushion comments. The reason I don’t like Cyril Salter is that the cushion is weak. I don’t want to see my skin after I’ve lathered my face with a brush. Most often this correlates with a more watery kind of lather which would require much more product to even slightly overcome and that’s a disadvantage when dealing with expensive creams.
I’ve tried just about all the great creams on the list a bunch of times and I keep coming back to my two very favorite creams: (1) St. James of London, and (2) Taylor of Old Bond Street. In that order. Great lathers, cushion, scents, lubricity and protection.
***I have a question for the group and for Mantis (Mark): have any of you experienced your shave cream hardening appreciably (almost soap-like) even if it was put away with the cap screwed on well? And if so, is there any way to recover the soft texture?
Great group, great website! Thanks, all.
– Mark
Have you tried “Dirty” from Lush. Hand made. Only scent they have. Brushless, nice scent, great shave. In my opinion
I have not tried Dirty but I’ll put it on my “to try” list.
Hi,
what do you think of Saponificio Varesino Desert Vetiver ?
Please your review on Saponificio Varesino.
I myself think it is a great quality product, especialy in combination with the OneBlade Genesis.
Best regards,
Henk
Saponificio Varesino is a shave soap, not a shave cream…different list. 🙂 I’ve tried Saponificio Varesino soaps before and I have trouble with them, though they generally get good reviews.
Hello, what do you think about “VITOS” in a tube… I think it’s One of the best (quality price)
Try Moon Soaps Amaretto Speciale; one of the only creams that I know of that uses tallow. Plus the scent is amazing!
I will definitely check into that. The web page seems to use the terms ‘shave soap’ and ‘shave cream’ interchangeably.