Today I am reviewing a really popular shaving soap by a really cool American company: Blades Grim’s “Smolder”.
Founded in 2014, Blades Grim is an American company based in Idaho. They actually have some really cool videos posted on their website about their company history and values that I recommend checking out if you want to learn some more about the company and what they stand for.
What I learned from the videos though was that when Blades Grim was just getting started, their company goal was to make premium straight razors in America that rival the performance of something you’d get from Germany. It was a pretty ambitious goal for some guys that really didn’t know much about straight razors at the time, but they have certainly delivered.
Over the last several years Blades Grim has really just taken off as a company. They now have an extensive and diverse product line that includes: straight razors, safety razors, shaving soaps, creams, gels, lotions, pre-shave, aftershave, knives and even leather valets. So while they’re not just a shaving company anymore, that definitely is still their bread and butter.
Like I said, today I’m going to be reviewing their “Smolder” shaving soap. And while I only recently started using it a few months ago, I’ve been really impressed and now it makes sense to me why it’s one of the most popular shave soaps online. Not sure what took me so long to give it a shot.
Alright, let’s dig in and see if this is the right soap for you
Pros
- Very slippery lubricant when applied so it helps prevent razor burn
- Made with all-ingredients so it’s gentle on skin
- Soft soap so it is quick and easy to load and lather
Cons
- Messy lathering in container
Product Overview
- Most popular scents: Smolder and C-4
- All natural ingredients? Yes
- Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Coconut Oil, Water, Lye for saponification, Vegetable Glycerin, Fragrance
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Container: metal container with a screw top lid
- Made in USA
Key Features
Soft Soap Makes For A Quick, Easy Lather
Blades Grim is definitely a softer soap. It’s almost a blend between a soap and a cream, which some wet shavers refer to as “croap”.
I personally like softer soaps because they are usually quicker and easier to lather. With a hard puck of soap, you have to soak it for several minutes to prep it before being able to load your shaving brush. But with a softer soap like Blades Grim though, you can start loading pretty much as soon as you have your brush prepped.
I will say that I find the design of Blades Grim containers make it a little messy when loading and lathering. Why? Well the container is pretty much filled to the top and I would prefer a little more spare space so it would keep the lather contained better.
Very small quibble though. Overall, this is just an awesome soft soap that is quick and easy to load and lather.
Dense Lather That Doesn’t Dissipate
Speaking of the lather, Blades Grim soap develops into a really good, dense lather. It isn’t overly thick where it’s just going to clog your razor up, but it is thick enough where it really covers the face and preps the beard to be shaved.
I also appreciate that it doesn’t really dissipate. With some soaps, you get it applied and then 30 seconds later you’re wondering where all the lather went. But Blades Grim has really good staying power and stays a thick lather throughout the shave.
Premium Lubrication
In my opinion, excellent lubrication is always the most important trait of a great soap. And Blades Grim passes this test as it is very slippery when applied.
It really is an incredibly slick soap and does an amazing job at preventing razor burn. So as long as you’re shaving with good technique, the thin layer of lubrication from Blades Grim should provide more than adequate protection.
Made With All-Natural Ingredients — Should Hydrate and Not Irritate
Blades Grim is made with an awesome list of all-natural ingredients. And why is this a big deal? Because these ingredients will cleanse and hydrate your face instead of drying out or irritating the skin.
Next time you're in a drugstore, grab a can of shaving cream or shaving gel and take a look at the ingredients. You’d be amazed at how many of them have a bunch of harsh ingredients in them like propellants and other chemicals. Needless to say, those ingredients are not what your face wants on it.
And while Blades Grim is obviously going to perform differently on every man, my experience is that it’s incredibly gentle on my skin. I still apply an aftershave balm, but my skin never feels dry or irritated post-shave.
Refreshing and Unique Scent
Blades Grim does have several different scents available, but I’ve only ever used their “Smolder” scent. I have heard really good things about their “C-4” scent and want to try it but just haven’t yet.
“Smolder” has a smokey citrus smell to me. Blades Grim describes it as a “warm and toasty mix of orange peel, mandarin, coriander leaves, star anise and Venezuela Tonka.” It is definitely a very refreshing scent, in my opinion.
If you’re interested in “C-4”, they describe it as a “blended citrus infusion (lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit - citrus times 4) that is eye opening fresh with a hint of sweet spice.” So I’m guessing C-4 has more of a citrus scent if that’s what you’re looking for.
Who Do We Recommend Blades Grim Shave Soap For?
Blades Grim makes a top-notch shave soap. I’m a huge fan of their “Smolder” scent and think it’s a great option for men that want a softer soap that is easy to lather and made with all-natural ingredients. On top of that, it’s an incredibly slick lubricant and should do a great job of preventing razor irritation as long as you shave with good form.
What Are Some Other Safety Razors To Consider?
Colonel Conk’s World Famous Shave Soap
Colonel Conk makes one of the slickest shave soaps on the market — it is just an incredible lubricant. It is also a true, hard puck of soap. It’s not a softer soap like Blades Grim. It also doesn’t have as clean of a list of ingredients as Blades Grim, in my opinion.
That said though, it still is an awesome soap. And their “bay rum” scent is hugely popular.
Overall, just a really great soap though and great option if you want a more unique scent like bay rum. And checkout their company history and where the name Colonel Conk comes from. One of my favorite origin stories...
Sir Hare Shave Soap
Sir Hare makes a shave soap that is very similar to Blades Grim. It is made with high-quality, all-natural ingredients that won’t dry out your skin, it’s a softer soap and it provides excellent lubrication.
Sir Hare makes their soap in a few different scents, but Barbershop” is their most popular.
One thing I really like about Sir Hare is the oversized container the soap comes in. This makes it much easier and less messy when lathering.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street makes some of the most popular shaving creams on the market for wet shavers. Why so popular? Because they check off all the boxes for what you need.. Easy to get a nice, thick lather. Great lubrication. Won’t dry out face. Smells great.
Sandalwood is their most popular scent I believe, but they have over 20 scents available so there’s an option for just about everyone. I think TOOBS is a really great option for men new to safety razors and wet shaving because a good shaving cream is just a little easier adjustment and not quite as difficult to get the lather consistency right.
