Ratings:

Price: 10

Cushion: 10

Slickness: 10

Scent Pleasantness: 10

Scent Strength (balance): 10

Moisturising: 8

My sample puck of Mama Bear’s Awakenings Natural Mentholated Shave Soap has been sitting in my shave cupboard for a few weeks and I finally cracked it open this week and was blown away with its performance and fragrance. I had a really good experience with Mama Bear’s Soaps a while back with their Turkish Mocha shave soap, my only reservation with that soap was the sweetness to it’s scent.

I’m a big fan of Proraso Green, of anything menthol really, but at times I have to admit that the scent can become a bit overwhelming – in your face a bit too much. That cannot be said about Mama Bear’s Awakenings – I wouldn’t say that the menthol is weak – it just isn’t in your face. In fact I would say that there is, at least for me, a slight sweetness to it. Very refreshing, almost difficult to compare it to something like Proraso Green because the scent is that much of a departure for me. I also found that the scent didn’t linger around after my shave, making it a bit easier to decide what aftershave products to use.

The lather. What can I say about the lather? Fantastic. In every way. After the initial breaking in period, where I learned that the soap is a bit thirsty, the lather I produced with this soap was unreal. Wonderfully thick and creamy lather that was a joy to apply, and really easy to build. The lather produced the slightest tingly sensation while on, enjoyable not irritating. Lots and lots of cushion and a blade pleasing slickness. To be honest I don’t think they could improve this soap.

It is products like Mama Bear’s Awakenings Natural Mentholated Shave Soap that make me wonder how some of the current ‘top’ brands that you see in grocery stores and pharmacies instead of a wonderful product like this. I realize that marketing is the major factor, education and economics the other, but come on – why settle for a Gel from Gillette or foam from a can when you could be using Mama Bear’s to start your day?