Shaving soap or cream?

When I started this journey back to safety razors, I knew I needed a mug, brush, and soap.  The mug was easy, they were all over the second-hand stores and really, you can use almost anything.  There was a brief side-step to scuttles, more on that later.  I got a few, and found that I prefer the round bottomed ones.  Flat bottoms just didn't seem to lather as well.  Brush, a little harder, but found some in those same second-hand stores.  Don't be repulsed, you can sterilize them using alcohol.  The lather was actually the hardest to find.  No stores around carried anything but the white, round block of soap that doesn't want to build a decent lather.

So what about the soap?
In order to activate it, and start building a lather, a very wet brush is required.  This leaves a weak lather, that drips down the face and doesn't provide enough lubrication for a good shave.  It reminded me slime more than lather, and more importantly, the closeness that a safety razor can deliver never came through.
Secondly, no matter how much you drain the mug, the soap get mushy from the bottom up, sliding around the cup after a few days.  What was a disappointing shave before became frustrating as well, not what I was looking for.  I even got my hands on an antique scuttle, and tried that.  No go.  So had to find something else.

And if you know something that I gotta try, please let me know but this soap has got to provide a rich lather, maintain its consistency day to day (no mush and slime), and does not require a lot of water to activate.

So, I looked and looked.  Nothing, nada, zip.  I asked a couple local barbers what they used.  All used product meant for the profession.  Bulk.  Easy to use.  I can't buy.  But, did lead me down the road of a cream, and not that nasty self-foaming stuff you get in a can.  Ok, you say, why didn't I use the internet?  I have a love/hate relationship with shopping on the internet.  I love the convenience, hate the hands-off nature.  I prefer to read a box, smell it, and get some feedback from the sales person.  You can imagine how surprised I was going into Bath and Body Works just on a whim, and finding a nice selection of C. O. Bigelow.  I'd not used their products before, but being the only cream I could find, jumped on the chance to try it.  What a game changer.  After a few shaves, the learning curve was done.  I prefer a fairly rich, dry shave, wetting my face first, just a few drops of water, and a fingernail of cream. I can control the consistency perfectly.  Best, it is pungent with mint and eucalyptus and keeps any irritation to a minimum.

My biggest complaint: it's difficult to try various brands since most come in 3 or 4 oz sizes (or larger) which last me six to seven months of daily shaves.  I'd like to see (shaving stores do you hear me) collections of 10 - 20 small tubes, maybe .5 - .75 oz, that allow for easy trial of different brands.  More about others later.