Per a reader request, I’m comparing QED’s soap to the Eufros soap made by Jabonman in Spain. Since the Satin Tip brushes are identical save for color, they are ideal for such comparisons.
Loading the Eufros soap was a snap, but in loading the QED I quickly detected the presence of clay in the ingredients, since it required a couple of driblets of additional water. Now that I have some experience with soaps using clay, I can more easily see and understand what’s happening when the soap shows a slight reluctance to load, and I know how to handle it.
I actually did not recall for sure whether QED soaps contain clay, though it sure seemed like it, so I checked just before writing this. Yep: ingredients are:
shea butter, kokum butter, palm oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, vegetable glycerin, and clay
You may detect that QED doesn’t use a waterproof label. In case you are unable to read it, the soap I used is his Mint Zest, which uses spearmint, orange, and lavender essential oils, which (he writes) “not only provide a subtle delightful scent but are purported to be antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and toning.” I do like the fragrance.
This tub of Eufros is his vetiver fragrance, which I like a lot. I would rate both soaps excellent in the quality of the lather, once you take into account the presence of clay in the QED soap and thus the requirement for a little more water in the loading.
So far as glide and slickness, I really could not detect any significant difference with the razor I used today, the Stealth stainless steel. This razor is hefty and cuts easily, so it easily moved through the lather and over my beard. After three passes I had an exceptional BBS result, with no trace of a nick.
A good splash of Fine’s Clean Vetiver, a favorite aftershave, and the week begins.
Filed under: Shaving
