I want to start by saying the Italian Soda scent is incredible and brings me (and my wife) such joy. Particularly the aftershave. It starts out so sweet, but then mellows to the tobacco and vanilla. I shave in the evenings, as to have time to enjoy the process, and the armoa permeates my house and sets such a tone of a sophisticated, relaxed evening with my wife. I adore it.

But this shave soap isn't it! The first quarter of the container smelled likely brewery waste. And it takes finesse to get a proper lather out of the soap, which one doesn’t always have the capacity for. And, for some odd reason, I couldn't get the "Italian Soda" scent to come out for the first 6-10 shaves.

The Farzad's tobacco is the best shave cream in the world, hands down. Primarily in terms of consistency and ease of use, but also the ease at which the scent envelopes a space and the user during use. I have converted so many men (and their wives) to it that I probably should request royalties.

Merge the two, somehow, and it will be unstoppable. Same goes for the Embargo scent. I'm going to continue to get the Italian Shave soap (and the Embargo blend when its restocked), as I am IN LOVE with the scent, and don't mind the extra work now that I understand what it takes. But it has potential to be so much more.

Italian soda has been my go to for a few years now ever since i smelled the lineup of historic and oak at my local barbershop. apparently it wasnt a big seller but the smell is just incredible, sweet vanilla and tobacco, i think. no citrus. very warm and sweet, great for summer but i wear it year round. this was my first time trying the shaving soap and it lathers well and smells more or less the same as the aftershave. my order had a handwritten thank you on the invoice which i found very touching

I tried this soap and it made me sticky and waxy feeling afterwards. The lather was weird. It has this filthy bathroom smell to it.