Triple Mills

[jramire2]

I currently only have three different brands of triple milled soaps.

1)L'Occitane - Good, but takes a lot of work for good lather
2)Art of Shaving - Sandalwood. Haven't used it yet (and here I am looking for another soap :rofl)
3)Crabtree & Evelyn - Sandalwood, Sienna, Almond - I tend to use the almond the most, but Siennas my favorite scent.

I do have lots of glycerin soaps, and I had a puck of T&H but really didn't care for the scent so I traded it. And I also had a puck of Kent(woolfat) that I really wasn't impressed with, but that was before I had a good brush for soaps (my old brush couldn't even whip up a lather from a glycerin soap).

So, any suggestions for a good, yet affordable triple mill? My budget's around $15 for a soap refill (don't really care if it comes w/a bowl or not), haven't decided on a scent yet but NO sandalwood. I've already got plenty of sandalwood stuff. So I'm pretty sure my price limit rules out DR Harris or Trumpers.

I don't see a lot of discussion around Taylors triple mills, they any good?

[Baloosh]

Haven't tried any Taylor's soaps yet, but I definitely like my Floris (Elite) soap.

Lathers great, and performs wonderfully. In fact, I think I'll use it tomorrow morning! :drool

Also, I've recently picked up a DR Harris Arlington soap, but only used it once so far. The only time I've used it was a pleasure.

[TraderJoe]

Also, I've recently picked up a DR Harris Arlington soap, but only used it once so far. The only time I've used it was a pleasure.

I am always pleased with my shaves with DR Harris soaps.

I can recommend the following:

1) De Vergulde Hand (not sure if this is triple milled, but it is one of my favorites....and is non-glycerin based)
2) DR Harris
3) Mitchell's Wool Fat
4) Geo. F Trumper
5) Provence Sante

[mparker762]

At $15 you're pretty limited. T&H is only about $11, but you've already done that one. Trumpers refills tend to be around $18, and Harris is around $20. Trumpers soaps are smaller than Harris and T&H and deliver inferior shaves, though they may be worth it for the scent.

Gold-Dachs "Rivivage" is $9 at Classic, and it's a very good one, though it's also on the small side.

Taylor's soaps have an ok reputation, but few rave reviews.

I'm curious why your price limit so low given that triple milled soaps last so long (about 9 months)... $20 is pretty good compared to creams or even glycerine soaps, and there's an awful lot of great choices in the $15-$20 bracket.

[jramire2]

The reason for the lowball price I'm limiting myself to is...well I know myself. And by that I mean I know that I'm going to end up buying more than one soap to justify shipping (since the only triple mill I can get locally is C&E and AOS). It's a bit easier to justify buying 2-3 soaps at $15 apiece to leverage shipping costs Vs. 2-3 soaps at $25-$30 apiece.

[herzi]

Why did nobody mention Tabac?
Very impressive soap

[rick]

Tabac
Mitchells (for Kent) Wool fat
Floris

[IsaacRN]

Forgive the question...but what is triple milled soap?

[TraderJoe]

Forgive the question...but what is triple milled soap?

Basically, a non-glycerin based hard soap. Lasts long time, is said to be better for people with sensitive skin - but that's a debate in itself

Further reading HERE (http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1283)

[IsaacRN]

i always thought that glycerin was the best for a shave allowing a slicker surface.

[TraderJoe]

i always thought that glycerin was the best for a shave allowing a slicker surface.

You'll get great shaves with either, and they are both excellent in their own regard. I find the following to be true:

1) -> glycerin more slick
2) -> triple milled more friendly to skin, and does superb job of preparing whisker (and these will also contain glycerin, in most cases)

~I get very close shaves with glycerin-based soap (yes it is slick)
~I also get very close shaves with triple-milled

6 eggs in one hand, 1/2 dozen in the other hand :D

[Baloosh]

+1 on TJ's comments.

I've found equal enough performance (so far) with glycerin vs. triple-milled soaps. If you're into heavy and wonderful, in-your-face scents while you shave, then glycerin soaps are more often much more fragrant than triple-milled.

If, on the other hand, you prefer a somewhat more understated, subtle type of scent (but equally as nice) then more often a triple-milled soap is your best bet for that shave.

I just decide whatever I feel like using while I'm preparing my beard after the shower. I'm spontaneous like dat. ;)

[Bronco]

Forgive the question...but what is triple milled soap?

Milling involves putting soap through metal rollers and shredding it, then pressing it back together in a high-pressure press to form bars.
Milling helps to distribute the color and fragrance evenly throughout the soap, makes the texture smoother and makes the final bar of soap harder and longer-lasting. "Triple milled" will have been rolled three times before being formed into bars or pucks.

[jramire2]

oh yeah, I forgot about tabac. I'll have to pick up some of that.

Would a shave stick from Tobs or DR harris fit in my budget? I haven't looked at them lately, so I'm not sure what they go for.

In regards to soap overall, I'm a bit confused.

I know there's a difference between triple milled and glycerin soaps, but what about tallow based soaps like erasmic sticks? Are those considered hard milled soaps or glycerin soaps, or neither?

I've also got a couple of soaps that I don't believe fit into the glycerin OR the triple mill category. For instance, they don't get a lot of talk here, and they don't lather very well at all unless you add some KMF, but ogallala bay rum soaps have a great scent and are pretty darn slick. However, I doubt they're triple milled, but also found out the hard way they won't melt like glycerin soaps. Same goes for Williams. So what's the deal w/these kinds of soaps?

[St. Croix]

Taylor's soaps are great. Just not mentioned often. Also, increase the budget just a few bucks and contact Lee (http://www.leesrazors.com) and get the GFT soaps. Awesome soaps.

St. Croix

[TraderJoe]

I've also got a couple of soaps that I don't believe fit into the glycerin OR the triple mill category. For instance, they don't get a lot of talk here, and they don't lather very well at all unless you add some KMF, but ogallala bay rum soaps have a great scent and are pretty darn slick. However, I doubt they're triple milled, but also found out the hard way they won't melt like glycerin soaps. Same goes for Williams. So what's the deal w/these kinds of soaps?

The technical term for these is ---> Soap :D

[IsaacRN]

I like soap...it makes things so clean..and nice :)

[Leisureguy]

I highly recommend a D.R. Harris shave stick. Every time I use D.R. Harris---whether the soap's in a bowl or used as a shave stick---I think, "Man! What a great lather!"

That would be a very good one to get.

[jramire2]

What about Valobra shave sticks, are they any good?

I noticed that bigelow chemists has proraso red on sale for $5, and to leverage shipping costs I was going to pick up a valobra stick, or maybe some DR Harris shaving creams.

[herzi]

I had none, but it is said that they are very good. Good performance and a very classy scent.

[TraderJoe]

What about Valobra shave sticks, are they any good?

I noticed that bigelow chemists has proraso red on sale for $5, and to leverage shipping costs I was going to pick up a valobra stick, or maybe some DR Harris shaving creams.

The Valobra shave sticks are excellent: the lather incredible, the scent muted and classy.

[Mottern Man]

TABAC!

Scent is strong but it is a great (cheap) soap.

[jramire2]

OK here's an update.

As usual I went overboard. I found a great site that had Floris refills on clearance for under $10/puck. I posted this in the vendors section if anyone's interested, but the site is 1stperfume.com. I found it when googling for Floris shaving soap.

So after I found the site, I got pucks of both the JF and the Elite. The scent of Elite is just OK to me, haven't used it to shave w/yet though so maybe it will change. However I have shaved with the JF already and it is by far the best soap I've ever used. Scented well, not too strong but not too weak, lathered up really really well and got an excellent shave out of it. The only soap I've used that had lather and cushion like a cream, but still was close cutting like a soap.

I also got two more hardmill soaps in trade, on puck of Mitchells, and one puck of Harris Lavender. AND I got decants of Italian Floid, Musgo, German Pitralon (I think the official name is Pitralon classic, but I'm double checking w/the guy I got it from), and Swiss Pitralon.

I haven't used the MWF or the Arlington soap yet, but I think I'm hooked on top notch triple mill soaps. I'm already scouting for a good place to buy Penhaligons, and am considering picking up some Joris (and possibly Plisson).

Of the aftershaves I got, I wasn't keen on the Musgo or the Swiss Pitralon (though the Swiss stuff did make my skin feel great, I just didn't like the scent). But the Italian Floid was great and I really liked the smell of the German Pitralon I received. I'm going to have to get some of that stuff.

Has anyone here used both Floris and Penhaligons and Joris? I'd like to know if the Penhaligons and Joris stack up to the quality I've seen from my Floris.

I am always pleased with my shaves with DR Harris soaps.

I can recommend the following:

1) De Vergulde Hand (not sure if this is triple milled, but it is one of my favorites....and is non-glycerin based)
2) DR Harris
3) Mitchell's Wool Fat
4) Geo. F Trumper
5) Provence Sante

Joe, I can get Provence Sante' quite reasonably at a local Central Market ($10 for a refill). I almost got it theis weekend, but wasn't sure if it was a triple mill or not. But even if it isn't a triple mill, does it stack up to Floris?

[msandoval858]

Provance Sante is one of my favs. At $10 a refill puck, I'd pick that up right away! I have the PS in the ceramic bowl which is very nice but I hear expensive. I was fortunate enough to recieve this one as a gift from a friend. The little bowl is good friends with my Duke 1 brush :D

I'm a big fan of the Trumpers soaps as well. They have a great scent, lather easily, and give me a great shave every time. I have the Lime, Sandalwood, and Rose. Violet will be added soon.

[jramire2]

You might be interested in this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Provence-Sante-Verlaine-Shaving-Soap-gift-box-3-5-oz_W0QQitemZ120151727078QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11840QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) then.

[TraderJoe]

Joe, I can get Provence Sante' quite reasonably at a local Central Market ($10 for a refill). I almost got it theis weekend, but wasn't sure if it was a triple mill or not. But even if it isn't a triple mill, does it stack up to Floris?

As far as I know/can tell, it is triple-milled.

Does it stack up to Floris? I'm sure that's open to interpretation, but the Provence Sante is one of the only shaving soaps I know of with talc.....so its quite different.

As Mike said, its good stuff

[qhsdoitall]

Quick List of some Triple Milled. Let me know if I goofed.

Art of Shaving
Crabtree & Evelyn
Caswell-Massey
Czech & Speake
De Vergulde Hand
D.R. Harris
Floris
Geo F Trumpers
Gold-Dachs
Joris
Knize 10
L'Occitane Cade
Mitchell's Wool Fat (Kent)
Penhaligons
Plisson
Pre de Provence
Provence Sante
Tabac
Taylor of Old Bond Street
Truefitt & Hill
Yardley

[jramire2]

I didn't know Pre de Provence was a triple mill. I always thought it was just a shea butter infused regular soap. Not a glycerin soap, and not a triple mill. But a soap that falls into the "in-between" category that most non-triple mill, yet not meltable, shave soaps end up being put into. Like Williams, or Ogallala Bay rum soap.