Review (5/5): Fragrance and Performance Both Surprising
I admit I’m a shaving hobbyist. Soaps are like Pokémon, gotta catch ‘me all.
But we hobby shavers end up using these soaps once or twice and if they aren’t in our top 20 we put them up on the Reddit shaver trading boards. This way we can try ten soaps for the price of two, keep the ones we like and trade the rest looking for more winners.
Ladies and germs, this is a winner. My first Ogallalla product, I tried it on the recommendation of a guy I frequently trade with whose tastes are similar in many ways and who likes and demands the same performance characteristics of his shaving soaps. When he recommends one I sit up and listen.
So let’s talk performance. This soap, with my 26mm synthetic shaving brush, makes a ton of lather. A surprising amount. I kept adding water to get it down from “cake batter” to “pancake batter” to the soft whipped peaks and glossy sheen that lets me know it’s hydrated enough for maximum slickness. A nice thirsty shaving stick. Hooray. The ingredient list is vegan. I generally prefer soaps with tallow bases and added lanolin but I’m open minded about it. There are some vegan soaps in my keeper drawer.
Slickness was very good. Not quite what you can get from B&M’s “Reserve” line or good old Mitchell’s Wool Fat but very close. Lather, once worked to a good sheen and soft peaks, did not dissipate on the brush or dry on my skin. Maintains hydration well. Once again, B&M does it better, but for over $4 an ounce it ought to. For $1.50/oz. this stuff performs very well indeed. And as a bonus they include the plastic stick dispenser you won’t get from Arko or Speick. I just found my go-to travel shaving soap.
Scent: clovey but not as clovey as Ogallala’s matching aftershave, particularly the double strength. I found following my shave with Ogallala Bay Rum + Sweet Orange aftershave, regular strength, left my face smooth, disinfected, hydrated, and smelling like a Christmas tree but in a good way. The traditional clove top note fades on the dry down, leaving you with a really good scent for the rest of the day.
Some guys hate cloves. They get their bay rum fix from B&M, which uses no clove in its bay rum products. I like that too.
But this is a fantastic shaving experience for a shockingly low price, with added travel benefits. I’ll especially use it as the weather cools. I’m not keeping it because it performs well relative to price. I’m keeping it because it performs well regardless of price. The low price and portability are bonuses.
If you are a spice aficionado like me I recommend you try this shaving stick and don’t skimp on the water.