19 December 2009

A Saturday Shave - Crema Sapone

Crema Sapone Shaving Soap

I thought this Italian shaving soap would come with its own bowl but no such luck. It looks like a large brick of snot but it smells like almonds and lathers up fast and rich. You tear off a piece and cram it into a bowl of your own. It's soft and very malleable. And this box looks like it'll last a couple years at least.
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12 comments:

  1. The Sluice Box19 December, 2009 12:12

    One of your previous postings inspired me to give double edged shaving a try. Now I'm happily using a Merkur razor. Next I need to settle on a favorite blade. I've yet to graduate from creams to soaps. Thanks for sharing this type of information. -Aaron

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  2. Anonymous19 December, 2009 13:18

    I thought I was being exotic ordering shaving soaps on eBay. Where did you find that Italian soap?

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  3. tintin19 December, 2009 13:41

    Aaron- Great to hear. I hope to high light every Saturday some of the more obscure shaving stuff available as well as stuff that can be ordered on on line.

    PP- I found this at Pastuer Pharmacy in NYC. I know that doesn't help you in the Great White North so here's a link to a forum discussing the soap with some links where it can be ordered.

    http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=C&t=2222

    Good luck on the hunt. It's great stuff and worth the effort.

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  4. James19 December, 2009 15:04

    My mother gave me my grandfather's shaving kit about 15 years ago. Old Spice mug.Boar brush and a Gillette Adjustable. I've used them ever since. As an Army Brat in the 50s and 60s I still can smell the Barbasol and boot polish in the morning.

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  5. TRB19 December, 2009 18:18

    I guess you've previously revealed your insurance background; but what a great use for the old centennial J&H bowl. Mine is filled with lord knows what and in a drawer somewhere. Wonder what it would fetch on Ebay??
    TRB

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  6. Michael Rowe19 December, 2009 18:33

    I'm using Harris lime cream shampoo because of Tintin. :-)

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  7. tintin19 December, 2009 20:22

    James-
    It's a pleasurable way to shave isn't it? A little more time but well worth the luxury.


    TRB- You didn't know I was outted? In Business Insurance no less but fortunately no one reads it anymore. And it's a sesquicentennial, dude. A shame J&H'll never make a bicentinneal. Did you see any of that $1.8 billion?

    Michael- It's lemon. And it's the best isn't it? But it's getting tough to find even in NYC. I think Cambridge is the last to carry the large size.

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  8. GSV JR19 December, 2009 21:17

    Beards in the winter, guys. Beards.

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  9. Cary B.21 December, 2009 12:25

    There's nothing more relaxing, when you actually have the time, to give yourself a proper shave. Not to mention, using a brush is the best way to fend of razor burn and the like.

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  10. Bill Smith03 July, 2010 21:08

    Great review on this soap, I have read good things about it. Granted I just started another puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat so it will be a while before to trying some...

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  11. -=Doug25 January, 2011 12:51

    Hey Tin--

    Where do you procure Crema Sapone. It is NA on Amazon.

    I too have discovered the joys of Double Edge shaving and, after nearly a year of experimenting with many razors, Jaggers, Merkur Slants, Gillette SS's and Adjustables, have settled on the 1930's open comb Gillette "New". They are readily available for $15 or less on eBay but typically are worn to the raw brass which was off-putting at first but now and once polished, I rather enjoy it.

    Thanks for you amazing blog, Tin!!

    -=Doug

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  12. tintin25 January, 2011 15:47

    Doug-
    I get the Sapone at Pastuer Pharmacy in NYC. Looks like it'll last for 20 years the way it's going. I'm using a Merkur and have a fondness for Derby blades ($1.49 for 5). Never going back to the Gillette triple power super slick $4 a blade fraud. I woke up and smelled the Sapone.

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