Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl, 150ml, Sensitive Skin Shaving Soap with Green Tea and Oat, Made in Italy, White

I've been using this Proraso for a few months now and it is by a long way one of the best shaving soaps I've experienced. Using a decent brush and technique it whips up into a fantastic lather that lasts for the whole shave, unlike many foams and gels, thick enough to provide good protection and lubrication against a double-edge blade, but not so thick as to clog up cartridges. After the shave it leaves my skin feeling quite pleasant unlike some that can have a bit of a dessicating effect, and even my throat which has particularly sensitive skin rarely has any irratation afterwards. The scent is light and pleasant, no stong chemical scent to it (pleasantly non-irritating if a bit of it gets in one's nostri), and, for better or worse, once shaving is done the scent won't linger long. As a solid block soap it will last months even with daily use and for the price it makes for good economic sense. If I were pressed for a demerit it would be that you will need a decent shaving brush to make best use. All in all it makes for an outstanding daily use shaving soap. You could do a lot worse for a lot more money.

I've probably tried every method of shaving available over the last 25 years or so, and going back to basics is the best thing I've ever done. This stuff, a shaving brush and a safety razor are the quickest, most comfortable and safest shave I've ever had. It came this morning and so I tried it straight away. I have sensitive skin which often means I end up allowing my beard to grow for a few days because shaving would make a mess of my skin, so I started out with maybe a week's growth. Lathered up with this stuff and 99% of the beard was gone in a couple of minutes. I followed up with another quick go around with the soap and razor and I was done in maybe another minute. The closest shave I've probably ever had, with no discomfort, no razor burn and no remaining stubble. The soap lathers up easily with the brush, and it produces a pleasantly cool sensation on the face. Other shaving products that claim to have a cooling effect usually make my skin react badly, often causing the opposite effect and making the skin hot, red and painful, but this soap just did its job, preparing the beard for the razor and keeping my skin soft, smooth and cool while I shaved. The razor glides exactly as it should, and the whole process is a joy where previously it was a tense, uncomfortable chore. Brilliant stuff. If you have sensitive skin and you're frustrated by the mass-produced crap available on supermarket shelves, if you've had enough of paying through the nose for razors with umpteen blades that don't actually work, and mean you spend 5 minutes shaving and 30 unclogging the blades, if you're curious about how men managed in the days before Gillette and Wilkinson Sword created their ridiculous tax on facial hair, get yourself a simple safety razor, a pack of blades (you can buy 50 or so for less than a Gillette Fusion, and each one will last a week or so), a shaving brush and this stuff. You won't regret it.

The soap makes a good lather, that doesn't dry out before I have completed a shaving pass (like Arko does). However, it does take slightly more effort to make a lather than with some other higher end (i.e. more expensive) soaps I have tried. I have also used the cream version of this soap, which comes in a tube & although it is easier to make a lather with the cream, I find that the tub / soap version makes a thicker, more substantial lather & also, a tub seems to last a lot longer than a tube, thus making it more economical. The fragrance is subtle & pleasant & not overpowering & "chemically" like some soaps, which to me smell more like products used to clean a toilet. I don't have particularly sensitive skin, but some shaving soaps (TOBS varieties in particular) do cause my face to sting & leave my face post shave, with the same hue as baboon's bottom! No such problems with this Proraso soap, or in fact with the green, or red tub varieties either.

The consistency of this product is a croap: softer than a soap and harder than a cream. That means that it takes a little more work than a true cream to get a proper lather, which out of preference I do on my face rather than in a bowl or mug. The aroma is fairly neutral - I can definitely smell the oatmeal, and it's perfectly pleasant. I'm not a fan of mentholated shaving products, and find the Proraso green range too pungent for my taste, but this is absolutely fine. It will deliver an unctuous lather that provides a good cushion and decent lubrication for the blade - in my case a traditional safety razor. Given that this type of shaving usually requires two or more passes, it's important that the lather doesn't degrade too quickly, and I've found that it holds up perfectly well to re-lather for a second and third pass. My skin felt moist afterwards with no irritation, something that's particularly important for me as I suffer from rosacea. As with other Proraso products I've tried, the performance is good without being stellar. Others swear by it, and it's definitely worth a try so you can make your own judgement. And at this price point, it won't break the bank.

Great soap lavers well for a nice shave

Good value for money, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, lathers well and smells wonderful. I am a convert

Great product

I always use the proraso brand. The shaving soap is always creamy and thick .ideal for a wet shave. The scent profile is good as well.