Martin de Candre Shaving Soap - UPDATE!

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Nick
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[@amw154]

I have been using MDC Origial for a really long time now and I got almost 3 YEARS (shaving 5 days per week) from my last 200g container. I have just purchased and started using their Fougère and it's even better than the original. So, in my opinion, it's really not expensive and well worth the up front cost.

[@nevermore311]

Objective, informative, and thorough updates like this are the reason we follow you.

[@kylewaters3853]

Glad you came back to it. I use it, and while I don't count shaves I can tell you I expect it to last me over a year. I don't use a ton of shaving soap, but that soap just explodes into lather every time.

[@rbrrhllngswrth]

Hi Nick! Yep ~ it's worth it. There are many soaps, and tons of creams. But only one Martin deCandre'.....

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

I agree with Anthony Esposito, I prefer the regular scent also. I do have the Fougere and use it, though, and I love it too. Sometimes it dries me out but overall it's amazing.

[@davinb28]

I will say that this update made me buy their original scented soap. I have 4 shaves under my belt with it and it looks like it's not even been touched. Oh and I let a buddy try it as well. So 5 shaves and the puck looks untouched. So yes, I think it is worth it. It is indeed a top performer in every aspect for sure. Quality stuff.

[@The_One_BABA]

9 years later, and MDC soap is just as phenomenal today! Fantastic soap, worth the price, it lasts, and lasts. It’s the everlasting Gobstopper of soaps! High quality, super slick. Saponificio Varesino is another outstanding soap! The energizer bunny of shavesoaps… it goes and goes, and keeps on going😜 Has to be way cheaper per shave.. higher upfront cost, but longevity is crazy good🙏🏼

[@tbonepat2882]

Hi Nick. My wife just bought me some MDC original scent for Christmas and I have to agree with you. This soap blew me away. When I first opened the jar it was a huge scent of lavender with over tones I couldn't make out. After my first shave, I left the top off the jar and came back and smelt it again. I smell lavender and a little smoke. Very pleasant if you like lavender. I was able to load my brush for about 5 seconds and had enough lather to have a three pass shave. It was insane the amount of lather I got for so little of load time. Also the performance was excellent. Slick, creamy, dense, and gave great cushion and protection. Also like you it barley touched the soap. I can defiantly see how this will last for an extremely long time. Yeah the price is high however if you consider what you get, it's very hard to beat.

[@finnnielsen9690]

I bought one Original from your sort of positive first review, and I find it extremely good, and like you I find it cheap in the long run. Martin de Candre says one year of shaving from one jar/glass of slap. But as most wet shavers are collectors, this sell point on the soap will not go down well in the "community", but as HTGAM and Mitchell's they are very economical in the long run, and most will like scoop up soap as using a steel brush instead of a badger.

[@slowjoe7492]

Thanks Nick for the update. It is hard to believe you ever used the soap. It looks untouched. I have considered purchasing this soap but have been hesitant due to the price. Now seeing your video it seems quite economical and I feel now that this soap could be a good purchase for me Thanks for giving us entertaining and informative videos

[@originalteepo]

We can always trust you to be honest, that's why your subscription base keeps growing. Keep it up!

[@davidpulkka5796]

I knew you would come around! I have about 15 shaves on my jar of MDC, and it still looks virtually unused - it really is a great value once you get over the sticker shock. Tough to describe the Fougere scent, but it is incredible, and the performance is second to none, IMO. Thanks for the vid! BTW - it would be cool if you would do a Cade review - another fine soap from that part of the world...

[@zalcrux]

This video update mirrors my thoughts on MDC. I have read of some people getting a year of daily shaves with this soap, which I find to be incredible. My situation is different since I have a great amount of different soaps which I rotate frequently. At this rate, I expect to get a few (if not more) years out my my jar of MDC. I have the original scent and its lovely. I plan to purchase the fougere very soon.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thanks for the update Nick... good to know for sure! I'm still on the 'too expensive' side of the fence...BUT... if it is a long laster then it might even out over time in regards to the value (Assuming the scent is something you'd want as a daily shaver:) I wish they had a sample size or a scent swab like Douglas sends out. Thanks again... looking forward to the moustache being 'carved' out:) Joe

[@jimstull]

I just got a tub of the original. I will do a review soon. I'm going to use a silvertip badger, in that they recommend badger. I'm also going to use a boar brush. I almost always use boar - like it a lot more. The badger shave was a pain, that brush has no backbone, wimpiest thing you can imagine - when I bought it about twenty years ago for $76 they said it was their finest because it is silvertip hair. Give me the hard stuff. I went to my beloved VDH boar brush today , but must have used too much water. I shook it out - next time I'll squeeze it out. I have to think this is fine stuff. Also some will tout it because it costs a lot. I've now used it seven or eight times. This is just great soap, so good my face is bbs all day and the next day not so much growth has come and really a fast , good shave. This and Cade are probably my favorites.I'll always love Tabac. Pre de Provence is great too. I'm really thinking anything French is just going to be superior !!

[@VikingShaver]

I own all 3 glass jar versions of MDC, and it will always be part of my den. Own 82 shaving creams and 39 shaving soaps, MDC is solid in my Top 5 of best products. Tip: order with a couple of shaving buddy's, then split the expensive shipping, and MDC all of a sudden seems more fairly priced. Cheers, Claus

[@jimstull]

I love that you have 82 creams and 39 soaps - nice to know somebody is more out of control than I !! In my life I have to think I've tried a total of right up against 100 !! Recently I was totally serious ( very important stuff going on ) and shaved with Cade - I love that !! Same situation and I shaved with Bath & Body Works dual action shave cream. They stopped selling it fifteen years ago and it's stayed good. I suspect American Crew may have made it. Shaving with the two are as close to identical as one can get - I really should look into it. Others have agreed that was the best they ever tried ! I bought the first tube about twenty years ago, but balked because 7 oz. cost $ 4. After the B & B purchase I loved it so much the next time I saw my dad I gave him the tube. In 2000 when I heard they were not going to be selling it anymore I just kept buying it - still have about 14 tubes left. I think the problem was you wouldn't expect B & B Works to sell phenomenal shave cream !! Too bad.

[@VikingShaver]

+Jim Stull since then I have added 75-80 soaps and 25-30 creams. I will slow down now. I have a pending order for 5 Barrister & Mann (bringing my total to 15), 8 Cold River bringing my total to 16) and 6 Caties Bubble (bringing my total to 12) Will then order 16 of Michelle's new Mystic Water formula and I will slow down :-)

[@jimstull]

Viking, does anything ever go bad on you ?

[@minikdam4617]

VikingShaver hej Claus. efter barbering er MdC tør? jeg tænkte at den vil minde lidt om Klar Seifen

[@oconuco]

Thanks to your reviews, in between others, I got my first DE razor.. an Edwin Jagger Rubber Coated Ivory. It is a fantastic shave.

[@johnpowers2627]

Nick: Happy to see your update. Based on your first shave review I purchased this in Pasadena CA at The Old Town Shaving Co. I use a TI straight and can't tell you what a superlative shave this stuff gives. It just keep giving...and the puck never seems to wear-down. I figure it's good for 24 months of regular use. Keep up the great work! Best Regards. J

[@Falcon988]

I bought MdC original scent in Los Angeles a month ago and have used it exclusively every day. I've only just made the slightest of impressions in the stuff. Considering how long it's going to last, and how little you need to get a phenomenal lather, it's absolutely worth the price.

[@jptherrien92]

I use with a Simpson "soap killer" chubby 3, loading it for a minute and it's barely going down, so it will probably last you for many many months. It's quite cost effective. A truly epic soap quality-wise, that is quite easy to lather, even with hard water. ATT S1 + MdC + Rapira SS (or Polsilver SI) = constant BBS

[@AnthonyEspositoTheStallion]

I personally like the Original scent better, IMO it's worth the money !! I believe I'm a dozen shaves in on each and both are barely touched !!!

[@corradogiorgio]

Maybe if the company was too find a few distributors in North America the price would come down and make it more affordable .

[@jimstull]

The price is challenging, but they tell you it should last about a year, so it really is not that expensive.

[@1morepassWill]

Go ahead and buy the original scent if you want it. I used to deliberate for an age about these things but now as long as it's reasonable I just buy. For something like MDC it's pure absolute luxury I think for those of us into traditional shaving it's a must have. I've had mine since March and I probably only use it 3 times a month but like you said it is a very hard waring soap and when in a rotation it will last years.

[@KadenNephi]

Love the video Nick. Great update!

[@robertscandiffio718]

I never understood why you were so tough on MDC for the price, but $18 for the Captain's Choice bowl was a "great deal."

[@melvin7591]

Nick, I love your videos. You really are providing a service. Anyway, removing price from the equation, which would you prefer, Cella or Martin de Candre?

[@j.walker6845]

Yeah if you read people's experience on forums, many actually consider this a good value soap because of it's longevity.

[@finnnielsen9690]

Even in Europe it's an expensive soap €35,00 plus postage from their shop, but each shave is very cheap compared to almost all the rest

[@harryparadise615]

it'll last ages, and i read the scent just gets better with time. you really may want to look into getting the original, but beware you don't get the unscented. i prefer the original, too, but i'm a certified lavender perv.

[@billjohnson8928]

Nick - thanks doing these vids. are you on twitter?

[@ropr5898]

Sampsons All Natural shaving soap has the same ingredient list as MdC and shaves equally well. Hardly any scent to it, lasts forever. Less than half the price. It may be a clone, but a high-quality one at that.

[@kentoboy90]

I just tried this soap at my dad's place this morning bc I ran out of the Lancôme shaving foam I've been using for years. Put Clarins shaving oil beforehand, used a poor nylon brush and my everyday Wilkinson quattro razor. I didn't even try to build a beautiful lather like you bc I didn't know anything about that :) But one thing struck me in my ignorance : I really got the closest shave in years..... I also enjoyed the discreet lavander scent. OTOT my face was softer than a baby's ass ^^ This soap costs about 42 euros (44 US$) here in France, which is really expensive. However it's way cheaper than using Lancôme shaving foam all year long (25€ x 8 = 200 € a year). I have no idea how long a 200 g Martin de Candre soap can last but if I stick to it I think I'll feel the difference both on my face and in my wallet.

[@knightmare1015]

I'm kindly on the fence about this because one of the main reasons I got into wet shaving was to save money and to get a really good shave that doesn't damage your skin like the cartridges do. If the soap lasts a really long time and performs extremely well on a consistant basis, then I can see paying a higer price but that one just might be a bit too high for me. Castle Forbes also falls into this price point range with the only difference being that people have told me that it doesn't last anywhere near as long as the M.c.D does and depending on where you go, it can cost nearly as much by the time shipping costs are factored in. My cut off point is around $20 bucks for a shaving soap or cream.

[@elviejoinez]

Dr. Selby claims to last 400 shaves and costs less than $20. I bought one at Razor Blades and More but am not sure who else sells it. It is my top soap along with RazoRock XXX.

[@knightmare1015]

elviejoinez Well so far my top soap is How To Grow A Moustache (or HTGAM) in which they've collaberated with RazoRock a couple of times (The Beach scented soap and aftershave). I've bought several 8 ounce tins and I've barely scratched the surface of them and all of them were under $20 bucks. I just can't see paying $50 bucks for a shaving product that doesn't last no matter how good it is. But if it lasts like my Merkur 37C does, then yeah I can see it because it's no longer a liability. It became an investment.

[@knightmare1015]

I'm just NOT going to spend that kind of money for this soap when I don't have to and according to Douglas Smythe who makes HTGAM's soaps and products, these 5 inch 8 ounce pucks will last for years and I kindly belive him because I've had my pucks for months and some of them look like they've barely been touched.

[@Kennygrooms]

What scent did you purchase?

[@pelambre8128]

Donde puedo comprar ese jabon? Vivo en mexico

[@RickyTGonzalez]

WSP claim their soap was made to the standards of MdC or in resemblance to it. I tried out the WSP since it was around 6 bucks for a 4.5oz. In all honesty, it's the best soap i have ever used. every morning i'm in awe. I was going to try out MdC until i came across WSP soap--the quality of WSP killed any curiosity i had.

[@nevermore311]

I've been curious about WSP myself, specifically because of the MdC comparison. Perhaps Nick can save us some money and do a comparison for us whenever he starts shaving again.

[@j1mdunb4r]

I've got the WSP Fougère Noir and it's definitely one of the best I've used. Smells amazing. Super slick, cushiony lather. Loads up fast and easily. Like Nick is saying here MdC, it's also really hard. I've been thinking about getting another tin, since the Rustic line can't possibly last at $5.99 for 4.5oz. The regular price of his other soaps are $15 for 4.5oz. Even at that price, I would still continue to buy it.

[@RickyTGonzalez]

Dulse & Roe the Fougère Noir scent is a dream.

[@Meanstoend]

WSP is an excellent soap. I have tried that, and MdC. I can agree WSP is similar, and very good. Since they are so new, it will be interesting to find out how long a tin lasts. All of my other soft soaps, B&M, Mike’s, Catie’s, Petal P, and so on, they all show noticeable use after one or two uses. This is not a problem at all, it just is. So, if I’m paying $10-15 a tin, or puck, and only get 90 days out of it, then that seems to add up to the same usage as MdC. If WSP only lasts 3 months, then I would rather have MdC in my cabinet by far. If it does go the distance, then MdC may have some competition.

[@RickyTGonzalez]

how is the scent? does the WSP fougere compare to MdC? i've only smelled the LA Co, Maggard and WSP fougeres and am wondering if any of them resemble MdC.

[@elviejoinez]

Have you tried the poor man's Martin De Candre, as the Traditional Shaving Evangelist calls Dr. Selby? Many think it performs just as good as MDC at a fraction of the cost (less than $20 at Razor Blades and More).

[@joeygabbert6455]

what aftershave pairs well with this soap?

[@MikeThePike316]

Sampson's All Natural makes a less expensive equivalent that performs amazingly.

[@fartzerelli1385]

Cost-per-ounce is not the same as cost-per-shave, as you discovered :)

[@badmiloo]

MDC is the best shaving soap - PÉRIODE- The people who will buy it are already shaving connaisseurs and enthousiastes. It's funny to hear talking about the price by people who have enough shaving supplies to be able to shave 10 Wookiees from head to feet everyday for the next 15 years, with of course the money that goes with it. I bought mine in 2012 (paid €30) and use it as a kind of ceremony soap for special day when I really want to treat myself. It's always the same enjoyment and in the middle of the other soaps of my rotation, I have only used half the jarre. It's like enjoying the best Champagne and we are not drinking some everyday but the bottle can be left open for years !

[@clownworldresidentii5184]

MdC says that it should last a year of daily shaves

[@fruitarian]

What year did you get to the bottom? Time for a second update. 2014 Nick has questions, 2021 Nick has answers.

[@OmarYoussef11]

When i saw the original review i thought "good quality soap, but too expensive especially with the wide range of soaps available in the wt shaving world", but after seeing how little this weared i think the price is justified given the quality and durability of this soap. You get good quality for a very long time so I guess it wasalways going to be pricey

[@phehibs]

Anyone know how to get this in the uk?

[@Vahan210]

I just ordered one from France 53 Euro 57 US with shipping.

[@fercanizales19]

This thing last for ever, 3 years of use and jar has 80% (200g)

[@1809grantave]

If you do the math per ounce it's really not more expensive,since you get so many uses.

[@FWild-eb1rd]

Man for this price it's a cheap thing. This Soap lasts sooo long