Love Caswell-Massey Soaps.
I am obsessed with soaps. I have an entire closet designated for my soap collection. This set was the first set from Caswell-Massey that I purchased. Their soap has everything I look for in a soap bar. I tend to judge bared soap on 5 areas. I am able to use this bar both as my facial and body soap. Physical Shape and Size: The shape of the bar is easily held with no squared off edges for easily gliding for all curves and nooks of your body. Its a perfect size for your hand while being large enough to not have to replace for weeks (if not months). Lathering Capabilities: The bar lathers very nicely with a thick creamy lather that doesn't leave your skin greasy or feeling like there is still something on it. I'd also like to mention that the lather is just as good in a cold shower as it is in a warm shower. I realized that this isn't necessarily true with all soap bars, so I thought I'd mention it. Scent: As to the particular scent, that will differ depending on each individuals preferences, however, what I appreciate about Caswell-Massey is, the scent is quality and evenly distributed throughout the bar. It leaves your skin with a light, clean scent, not like you just sprayed yourself with perfume, cologne or other scented oils. Caswell-Massey offers a wide range of quality scents. This particular selection is more manly, but I'll discuss the scents later. Skin Hydration: I have normal skin type, and tend to get oily skin in the T-zone of my face. I also live in a desert, so, even with normal skin hydration, I have to pay extra attention to how soaps and lotions hydrate my skin. Unfortunately, despite high prices and brand names, many soaps leave my skin dry. This is not so with Caswell-Massey bar soaps. That creamy lather mentioned before leaves my skin smooth with no cracking, peeling or white flakey-ness. Most times, I don't have to use lotion after a shower. Soap Quality: This is almost a given, having gone through everything above. Aside for the scent integrity, lather effects and creaminess, I judge a soaps quality by how well (and how long) it lasts. Of course, size will always play a factor here, however, I've noticed higher quality soaps tend to wear down slower than those made with cheap ingredients. I'm impressed with how long the 5.8 oz bars last. And though this is hard to gauge as soap usage per person is different, lets just say I'm a heavy latherer, I take longer showers and I assure my entire body is meticulously clean. This soap lasts longer than most. With my five bar soap judging criteria out of the way, I did want to mention the scents that came with the Presidential set. I'm not going to regurgitate Caswell-Massey's scent descriptions, as they are there for the reading with the product. I'm going to try to describe them in basic layman terms. By the way, the soaps come in a quality box with a beautiful description page enclosed - classy and great for gift giving. Heritage Jockey Club is that classic Man scent. The scent makes me think of when I was a child and we went to special occasions like weddings or funerals. Places where men, who were not my family, would have to take the extra time to be respectfully clean and presentable amongst other men, women and children (without overpowering colognes). Heritage Number Six is my favorite. It's kind of a generic soap smell that, to me, represents clean. The description says notes of Neroli, Rosemary, Bergamot, Musk, Amber and Dry Rose. Though I don't doubt those are oils in the soap and maybe what someone with a more sophisticated nose would smell, however, I only note the very light Musk and light Amber notes and definitely the Rose. This scent is that freshly cleaned smell that is great to cuddle up to. Warm, protective, and familiar. Centuries Almond Cold Cream & Aloe Vera scent, on first smell, seemed to cross over into the traditionally feminine scent, however, after using it, I was pleasantly surprised at its neutral scent when used. Though the soap smells like a type of almond cookie my grandmother used to make, the cream and aloe scent is what follows me when I leave the shower. It's a light, fresh from professional pampering smell, be that barber, salon or spa. Read more
