Review on 🧼 Chiseled Face Shaving Soap Sampler: Explore Santa Paula, Pine Tar, Sherlock & More in Handmade Soaps by Tracey Gonzales

I got to a point where I had run out of other base soaps and wanted to try alternatives before moving on to another one of my known favorites. I like to give others a chance every now and then. I won't name any other favorites because I don't want to advertise anyone else. I'm here to check this one out. Let's start with the shaving experience. I scooped this out of a small sample container into a suitable small bowl. I used the same method I've used successfully with other milder shaving soaps: I use a good quality synthetic brush to lather, soak it in warm/hot water for 5-10 minutes, then shake most of the excess, this soap, ab doesn't bloom as it's a soft product and they generally don't need to bloom (and sometimes work worse when they bloom) and then I brushed vigorously for about 30 seconds to pick up the soap. I switched to a foam bowl to shake and turn what I picked up into a nice foam and added a little water a few times to get the consistency I like, not too thick or runny and wet enough to be slippery. It lays down well at first, looks smooth enough and does not run if lathered properly. But then when I shaved it it dried too quickly before I could complete the pass and after numerous shaves and trying different amounts of water I just couldn't get it to go through the pass without drying out. on me. [Updated Review: After more experience with soap, I'm getting better at adding just the right amount of water to get a reasonable consistency that goes through the passage without drying out. Mixing with a brush will require adding some water, but with practice this is possible. So I upped the score from 3 to 4, but I'm still not as happy with the smoothness as my favorites. It's not bad at all, just not 5 stars.] Now the flavors are mixed as I said in the title. I see some reviews where people criticize other reviewers for rating a scent high or low suggesting it's subjective so maybe don't down vote if you don't like the scent. Well, yes, that's subjective of course, but that's the MOST of a review! I rate it lower, they rate it higher, and somewhere along the way it gets average. Likewise with scent. Maybe it smells like sweaty buttocks to me, but some people like it, so they will rate it high, but I don't, and most people don't like sweaty buttocks, so they will rate it low too, and generally will come out. bad is the way things work. So, my SUBJECTIVE opinion on fragrances? Most of them were enjoyable, some were great and one was just awful. I really liked Ghost Town Barbershop, Sherlock, Rum Bay and a few others. Neutral to Cryo - anything that smells the same as Vick's Vapor Rub - and Pine Tar, which is interesting but also a bit medicinal and I'm still debating what to do with the one that has a slight citrus scent (Santa Paula) , because it also has some "earthy" (i.e. dirty) undertones that leave me unsure if I like it. This is the reality of fragrances. You can't please everyone and it just comes down to what works for you. That's the great thing about a sampler like this - you can see, and you'll probably really like something about it. I commend Chiseled Face for daring to try a few unconventional things, including one or two that I really liked. What I absolutely DON'T like is Midnight Stag, which they actually describe as "gloomy, gritty". , and utterly irresistible, this is a fragrance for those who are proud to be a man.Notes: Russian Leather, Motor Oil, Hoppes #9, Birch Gum, Oakmoss, Gasoline, Smoke, Cedarwood, Cadé, Bergamot, Vanilla. if THAT symbolizes how someone who is "proud to be a man" will smell like, I just have to hand in my "man card" because I really don't like smelling like GASOLINE, SMOKE, MOTOR OIL and BIRKENLOOK. . Believe me, it is these smells that prevail. Can't say I noticed leather (well, maybe an old worn leather work boot) or bergamot or vanilla. Gasoline is superior. The first time I took off the cap and sniffed it, I had to take it out immediately because it smelled like I'd just spilled gas everywhere. This scent is probably perfect for ONE guy whose life is VERY different than mine, but I guess I'm not some muscular jock who spends hours chasing deer under a car and dripping testosterone to appreciate it properly. I skip it for a good rum bay and have a few sips of pina colada. I think I'd be a little apprehensive about dressing a woman who might break me in half while spitting her tobacco into an empty soda can. At least I'm going to try all the others in the pack - this is the only one I don't even think I'll be lathering up because I can't stand the smell of it for more than a few seconds. All is well. Someone else will like it, but not me. A few REALLY NICE fragrances actually smell pretty amazing (particularly Sherlock and Ghost Town Barber, two of my favorites) so I think this company has fragrances that if you like the actual experience of shaving with soap (regarding lather/ Smoothness) ) would be a good choice. The price is correct. For handmade soap, the price is good. I spend a little less on the ONE soap I like best, but I also spend about 50% MORE on my #1 favorite soap. Admittedly, the one I spend less on is very atypical. Sculpted facial soap seems to be on the lower end of artisanal soap prices so I'd say it's considered a bargain if you're happy with the shaving process. It's fairly inexpensive, so I'd suggest trying it for yourself, maybe starting with a sample, unless you have good reason to know what flavor you're likely to like. I think the company's fragrance descriptions in the Q&A are accurate. One last thing about cost: the company also states in the Q&A that you get about 8 shaves from each mini-jar. I'd be happy with that, but even if I lather generously, I seem to get almost double the amount of each. This sampler set gives me a lot of benefits, and I expect a single-flavor, regular-sized canister will likely go a long way as well.