OP
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- #17
It does make you reminisce doesn't it?
I pulled Spitfire out for a shave this morning, every bit as good as day one 
REVIEW - Phoenix & Beau 'Spitfire'
- Thread starter nick_s
- Start Date
I pulled Spitfire out for a shave this morning, every bit as good as day one I've had this soap for a few months now and it is a fantastic performer. I have to say that I appreciate the scent but it isn't really for me so I haven't used it as much as I should. I've been living away from home for a while now and ended up taking this soap and using it a bit more. I don't know if anyone else experienced this but after my (roughly) 8th shave this soaps scent changed dramatically and to be honest I don't think I can stop using it for the next while. It's shot to the top in my opinion. I don't know why this is but the tobacco scent has all of a sudden just exploded through. What a fantastic soap, looking forward to many more from them, possibly a wee oud scent at some point
My thoughts, based on a small sample:
A tallow soap from a British artisan? I was in. In fact I'd been meaning to take a look at these for a while.
I found lathering took some effort, although subsequently I see they note that their soaps are ‘thirsty beasts' — which would explain why I got better performance when blooming it before use. With a bit of water lather blossomed.
Slickness and protection varied and I rarely got away without a good number of nicks. Few were substantial but were more than I'd expect from a soap providing adequate protection.
The fragrance generally accompanied me. It's described as tobacco, leather and juniper. I picked it up as a ‘soap' scent more often than not but paying closer attention I may have confused that with the tobacco (or it's layered on top, just not very strong). It's pleasant enough but didn't do much for me.
I've heard a lot of good things about these soaps, so my experience may be down to using a sample rather than the main product.
That said, I found it did a pretty good job with enough water. I'd describe it as competent rather than stellar though.
Full review here.
A tallow soap from a British artisan? I was in. In fact I'd been meaning to take a look at these for a while.
I found lathering took some effort, although subsequently I see they note that their soaps are ‘thirsty beasts' — which would explain why I got better performance when blooming it before use. With a bit of water lather blossomed.
Slickness and protection varied and I rarely got away without a good number of nicks. Few were substantial but were more than I'd expect from a soap providing adequate protection.
The fragrance generally accompanied me. It's described as tobacco, leather and juniper. I picked it up as a ‘soap' scent more often than not but paying closer attention I may have confused that with the tobacco (or it's layered on top, just not very strong). It's pleasant enough but didn't do much for me.
I've heard a lot of good things about these soaps, so my experience may be down to using a sample rather than the main product.
That said, I found it did a pretty good job with enough water. I'd describe it as competent rather than stellar though.
Full review here.
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longplay, how did you use it? I mean did you scoop out a little into a bowl or lather it in the small sample container? I tried the former for the first usage and it didn't work very well. I then just bloomed it for the second shave with a small amount of hot water on top of the soap in the sample container and then loaded my synthetic brush from the small sample container as well. World of difference.
I pressed the sample into the bottom of a bowl, as they recommend. Kudos for being able to load from the sample container, it's about the size of my little finger around -- I didn't think I could even get my brush in there.
I wonder if spreading it out (in a relatively thin layer) had a negative effect, hence my comment about using the sample compared to a full size product (drying it out too much perhaps, or exposing it to air for so long causing a change in the composition -- who knows).
I wonder if spreading it out (in a relatively thin layer) had a negative effect, hence my comment about using the sample compared to a full size product (drying it out too much perhaps, or exposing it to air for so long causing a change in the composition -- who knows).
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Bloom the little sample tub and then swirl the damp brush on top of it like a normal sized tub while cupping the sample tub in your hand. That way lather overflow will still be in your hand to use & not lost. Trust me & try it.