We've just bid farewell to 2024 and what a year it was! 

Among other things, I picked up some great shaving soaps this year. I've compiled a list of my top 5 favorite soap picks for the year. To be clear, this doesn't mean the soap was released in 2024, but only that I picked it up in 2024. 

In no particular order, here are my top 5:

1- Gentleman's Nod Outlaw

This is one of my most recent soap acquisitions and I have been loving it lately. Gentleman's Nod always has interesting, complex, and beautiful fragrances, but I haven't loved their soap base until this one! Easy to lather, slick, and luxurious. It's just a wonderful experience from the packaging to the scent, it's just fantastic. This fragrance develops as you wear it, but the main notes I get are luxurious leather, dark fruit (plumb I think), and grassy vetiver. It's just wonderful. 

2- Catie's Bubbles Top of the World 

Ok fine, this pic might be a little biased considering my logo is on the label, but it's fantastic nonetheless! I worked with Chris from Catie's Bubbles for this soap release and I couldn't be happier with the results. The soap lathers effortlessly (I even lathered without a brush on a family trip where I forgot my brush at home). The scent transports you to a high altitude trail with notes of green plants, mild florals, water, and dirt. It's a refreshing scent that I love to wear in the warmer months. 

3- Ariana & Evans Barbiere Classico

I picked up this set from Ariana & Evan's this year and It's one of my favorite "daily drivers". I've heard people describe barbershop scents as "old man" fragrances and, while I love the old school scents, this is not one of them. I'd call it a "modern barbershop" scent. It has all the classic elements of a good barbershop (powder, herbs, citrus, and wood) without going heavy into the oak moss and musk that some of the old school barbershops go into. The result is an easy-to-wear fragrance that fits every occasion from mowing the lawn to a formal dinner date. 

4- Phoenix Shaving Good Vibrations

Oh what a scent! This one is exclusively a summer scent for me. It's a fun, beachy vibe that has me longing for days I wasn't even alive to see in a place I've never been. Idaho is a long way from California, but when I smell this, I am there! We all know the CK6 base is excellent, and with this scent, it's a no brainer blind buy for me. Lavender, amber, powder, and a bit of oak moss and wood notes make this one a fun summer barbershop that makes me wish for warmer weather. 

5- Macduffs Soap Company Dark Sky Preserve

I'm a sucker for a good lavender scent and this is excellent. I've picked up a lot of Macduff's soaps this year but of all in my collection, this one is my favorite. They list several scent notes on the site, but what it really boils down to is an elevated lavender scent. Lavender is classic, it's a bit like a 2-button black suit, it's always in style. That's what makes this one my favorite; a luxurious lather that is good in every situation.