Review (4/5): PROS and CONs
I’ve been single-blade shaving for about 5 years. I enjoy trying out different blades and soaps. This is one of my stand-byes so I can recommend this soap.
1. SHAVE: EXCELLENT. Mitchell’s is very slick and leaves very little tendency to cut or scrape. It results in a close, smooth shave in two passes. Most premium soaps result in a good-to-excellent shave.
2. SKIN: EXCELLENT. This product contains lanolin and results in the very best and softest after-shave experience of any soap I’ve tried. Most premium soaps result in a fair-to-good experience for me.
3. VERSATILITY: GOOD. Some soaps seem to shave very well with one brand of blade and not others. Mitchell’s doesn’t seem to mind. I use ASTRA and generally sharp blades.
4. LATHER: FAIR. This soap deposits easily onto a wet badger brush, sufficient to lather onto the skin and shave well. It does not whip into a full thick lather if that is important to you. It is also reputed (I have no direct experience) to be difficult to lather at all if you have hard water.
5. LATHER DURABILITY: GOOD. The lather on the brush lasts OK during the shave. Easily enough for two passes.
6. PUCK DURABILITY: EXCELLENT. I tend to rotate among several brands of soap, and most milled soaps collect enough water from the brush to decay and dry out somewhat before the puck is finished. Mitchell’s lasts to the end.
8. VALUE: FAIR. Mitchell’s is priced about the same as other premium milled soaps. However, if it is sold as a bare replacement puck so you will need a shaving bowel or other container.