I received this as a sample (thanks) so this is based on only one shave. I'm a soap user and maybe this cream is unsuited to straight razors, but it gave me an only average shave.

First impression is the smell: medicinal. Took me straight back to primary school and the doctor's waiting room. I can't place it but it's a slightly herbal scent I associate with minor injuries. Not unpleasant, but not what I want to accompany my morning shave.

The cream lathers okay on the face but needed a little more water than just a wet face (as per instructions). Using a brush is a huge improvement over fingers.

The critical bit for something called Super Close Shave Formula: how was the shave? Nothing special, especially given the price. Lots of lubrication, no pulling and smooth glide, but it just the razor just didn't want to cut as well as it does with Proraso. If it was named Average Shave and cost $10 I'd let it go, but it's not.

Finally, clean up was a little messy (it seemed to get everywhere) and left my face slightly "soapy", a little like the lubricating strips on cartridge razors do, requiring a wash where I'm used to wiping off with a towel.

Summing up: nothing special at this price. Maybe it would work okay for someone with a less coarse beard and a safety razor but I cannot recommend it.

I was not really bothered by the medicinal smell of this product as one reviewer was, more the consistency and the mess.

Whilst it was easy to dispense, it becomes clear very quickly that this product doesn't lather any better than a moisturiser! So the only practical method of application is directly to your skin.
As a quick way to shave it is fine, but I would imagine that this is a product best used in conjunction with a regular safety razor (i.e. disposable) that you can pick up from the supermarket or 7-11 ...
I can't really be inspired by this product at all and have used it about 6 times in total. I am perhaps too involved with the ritual of straight razor shaving, I like the brush and lather ...

Can lather this with my hands and it gives good razor slip and texture. I have a tough beard and sensitive skin and I have been more than happy with this.

I don't know if this stuff is supposed to be brushless, but it just disappeared into the brush when I tried to lather it. Absolutely useless (the lather, not me)! I would have given it 1 star, but I ended up squeezing in some TOBS to my bowl and the combination produced a very slick lather which gave a superb shave.