Con * Tact Reviews

Reviews for the soaps of Contact Caffeine. I love these soaps, and so might you! I just needed a place to ramble on about them to excessive length! I do not work for Con*Tact, these are just my personal opinions on the soaps. I thought they might be helpful to other people who were considering buying one. Soon To Be Reviewed: summer peach melon monster bighorn blueberry lavender saturday morning cartoons vanilla oak spirit guide Other Contact Caffeine review blogs: CleanWuffPaws by Dakota Spooky Clean by Mulder Calico Corgi

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Wicked Patchouli - Full Review

Soap Name: Wicked Patchouli Still In Production: yes!  http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-wicked-patchouli  Sample or Full Bar: full bar  Date Tried: September 2014

Dry Scent: wicked patchouli is POWERFUL dry. honestly deceptively intimidating. very sagey and organic, but also very spicy. 

Wet Scent:  it's pretty mellow when wet. it's still spicy and sagey, but not nearly as powerful as when it's dry. it doesn't really scent up the entire bathroom either.

After Scent:  if it is there, it's really super mild. unless you actively sniff your skin, you won't get much. even then it's like this real weak spicey sweetish scent.

After Thoughts:  so i'll level with you. i didn't know what straight patchouli smelled like before trying this soap. so i can't tell you if it's true to its origin scent or not. but, if you were worried it was going to smell too 'hippie' or w/e, don't worry. it's both really mild and also just genericly sage-y.  it's probably either a masculine or unisex scent.

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Cougar Coffee - Full Review

Soap Name: Cougar Coffee

Still In Production: yes!  http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-cougar-coffee

Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: august 2014

Dry Scent: this one has a STRONG dry scent. it's not straight up coffee beans, or even fresh brewed coffee while dry. it smells instead kinda like a coolata? lotta milk and sugar, if this were a coffee, basically. and whipped cream. 

Wet Scent:  excuse me while i trip down memory lane because of this soap. the smell took me straight back to a place i haven't thought about in years, this weird cheese-and-gift shop in frenchtown nj that probably didn't survive the recession. everything was wicked expensive there, but wicked high quality. i remember they carried like hands down the best dinosaur toys but all of them were so pricey my like 7 year old self could only dream of owning one. but this is what the shop smelled like inside. they must have also sold expensive coffee in bulk, i guess. but damn if it wasn't exactly the scent this soap gave off.

After Scent:  you won't smell it through your clothing, but if you do get a wiff of after scent from this soap, it's really the same as the wet scent. which for me is just this really nice warm nostalgia scent.

After Thoughts:  sir i will take 200. i wish i'd bought more already, because dang i like this soap. it's also VERY pungent and makes your entire bathroom smell like a coolata and/or ritzy gift-and-cheese-shop-from-frenchtown-nj. 

if you expected it to smell like a bag of coffee beans, you might be let down. it's not as acidic or harsh, and it's VERY different from their last coffee-related scent, curly tail. i for one am 200% pleased

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sorry for not posting so much lately, soap friends :x but i'll be doing better, starting: right now

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Vanilla Cream - Full Review

Soap Name: Vanilla Cream

Still In Production: yes! http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-vanilla-cream

Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: May 2014

Dry Scent: reminds me a lot of spearmint vanilla, except minus the spearmint. the vanilla is very strong when it's dry, and not sugary or buttery. it smells an awful lot like if you wave a freshly opened cream soda under your nose, to me. totally nice, but pretty powerful.

Wet Scent: i was a little concerned by how powerful it was dry that it might like blast my nose off with a vanilla bean laser while wet. not a problem. when wet the vanilla goes to a real mellow version of itself, and even that is only really smelled when you've got a major lather going or are bringing the lather/soap close to your face.

After Scent: p dang faint. you get maybe a few wiffs of vanilla for a couple minutes to an hour afterwards, and then it's gone. it doesn't make the bathroom smell like vanilla either.

After Thoughts: i'm into it. i'd say this is almost a stealth indulgance smell, cause once you're done bathing, no one's the wiser you were using fancy vanilla soap. i think it's good it went the sort of mellow subtle vanilla path on this one, it means you get to enjoy it without being overloaded by it. if you like cream soda (or vanilla) give it a shot. probably good for any time of the day washing, or hand soap too.

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ps, the spring soaps are out!

i'm not sure if i'll be able to afford them (i really want to though) but you should definately grab 'em before they're gone in a month or two.

they come in a six pack, two three-packs, and of course individual.

i'm pretty sure lucky fox and regal roses are re-releases of older scents previously retired, and i know strawberry is a classic re-issue. but vanda orchid, vanilla cream and pink sugar are new!

here's my older reviews for lucky fox and regal roses.

[irisjaycomics]

An illustration I did recently for the fine folks at Con*Tact Caffeine, purveyors of quality smells. This is a label for one of their upcoming soap flavors that’ll be rose-scented, though I don’t know what they’re going to call it yet. Something suitably punny, most likely. Go buy some of their stuff!

[skullwizard]

oh boy i can’t wait to rub this all over my nude body

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Just reblogging to go OH BOY, IAN'S DOING A LABEL!

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hey friends! i’ll be getting back to my reviews later today (starting with vanilla mint and then, in a few days, fizz cola) 

but before i do just know this! the cocoa soap? is the same as choconite! so i’ve prettymuch already reviewed that one. 

[malytwotails]

Actually, it’s half Choconite, half vanilla. I always thought Choconite could be better, and Hot Cocoa was my solution. They’re different enough to have their own pages in the recipe book. :3

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i stand corrected! they're both delicious smelling though~

it's really no wonder it sold out so fast

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Spearmint Vanilla - Full Review

Soap Name:  Spearmint Vanilla

Still In Production:  no, it sold out too fast! but might be back soon?

Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: December 2013 

Dry Scent: the vanilla is strong with this one. but the spearmint is right there too, after it. it's a very sweet smell, but not strong enough to be smelt through the wrapper or from a distance when dry.

Wet Scent:  okay so you know those vanilla tootsierolls? they're  like, one of the rarest flavours and you really only can find them in massive packs of mostly crumby candy around halloween? it smells very strongly like a vanilla tootsie roll when wet, with just very slight hints of mint. it's not like vanilla extract or even vanilla ice cream or anything. vanilla tootsie rolls is really the only accurate parallel i can draw.

After Scent:  none that i noticed, though we're going through a pretty harsh winter so i've been wearing a lot of layers. your mileage may vary.

After Thoughts:  personally i really enjoy this scent, though i can say with conviction it won't be for everyone. some people may find it just too weird to shower with, or too sweet. but hey if you love vanilla tootsie rolls, this is totally the one for you. 

HOWEVER if you're a big fan of mint soaps and were hoping for a nice dominating mint scent? you're in the wrong place. it's very much vanilla first, spearmint as an afterthought.

[contactreviews]

hey friends! i'll be getting back to my reviews later today (starting with vanilla mint and then, in a few days, fizz cola) 

but before i do just know this! the cocoa soap? is the same as choconite! so i've prettymuch already reviewed that one. 

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YEAHHHHH after several months' wait, contact released new soaps today! i can't wait to try these.

they also have the old guard of winter favourites out again, and the black friday sale going on. get soap, dudes! they make excellent stocking stuffers and function as a subtle hint for that one stinky guy you know. you know the one.

(also i've got some stuff for sale, if you want to buy them and help fuel my soap obsession haha)

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Cinnamon Sugar - Full Review

Soap Name:  Cinnamon Sugar

Still In Production:  yes, but limited Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: September 2013 

http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-cinnamon-rolls

Dry Scent: this one has a really really strong cinnamon smell, along with a sort of buttery sweet baked goods scent similar to the buttercream cupcake soap. 

Wet Scent:  don't be concerned about the buttercream/baked goods smell overpowering you in the wash, it's all cinnamon at this point. 100%. just a really nice, sweet, spicy cinnamon smell. 

After Scent:  faint sweet cinnamon, it fades fairly quickly.

After Thoughts:  in all honesty, i thought i might dislike it because of the baked goods buttery smell that the dry bar has. but that was honestly a non-issue once it got wet and worked into a lather. i really enjoyed it. it's just a straight up sweet cinnamon. 

if you're a fan of the other spice-oriented soaps (like painted dog pumpkin or absinthe) this compliments them nicely. its dry smell is a little girly, i guess, but unless you're really against your bathroom smelling like cinnamon cupcakes that shouldn't deter you. 

it's a good one. grab it before it's gone, cause i don't think they've released anything as uniformly cinnamony as this before or since.

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hey all, contact's having a spring sale

...even though it's nearly summer (shhh)

from now until 6/15/13 they're offering 10% off for y'all. just put spring10 in the coupon field during checkout!

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Koala Colada - Full Review

Soap Name:  Koala Colada

Still In Production:  yes, but limited Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: June 2013 

http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-koala-colada-coconut

Dry Scent: a sweet, milky faux coconut smell. really, it has to be faux coconut, cause real coconut hardly has a smell at all. it reminded me a little bit of the unisex soap, which was milk, oatmeal and honey. not very strong smelling, just kind of nice.

Wet Scent:  if you were hoping for another tiki giraffe, i'm sorry to let you down. this soap is a very, very mild smell. there's a sort of vague sweetness to it when it's lathered, but it's really not strong enough that you can identify it as coconut, and it doesn't really smell tropical. it's still nice, just not quite as bold as it could be.

After Scent:  i couldn't smell one, personally.

After Thoughts:  it's not a bad soap, but unfortunately i feel like it fell a little short of expectations. see, there's really only two types of people - those that like coconut and those that hate it. if you like it, god damn, you want that coconut smell IN YOUR FACE, DIAL THAT SHIT UP TO 11. this soap is more somewhere around a 4, a 6 when dry in bar form maybe. while this might be great for those who aren't fond of coconut, they probably would not have purchased the bar anyway. 

in other words, if you're a fan of coconut, you might be a little let down. but it is still very nice, and doesn't overpower or over-saturate you with a sweet smell. but i personally felt a little let down, it didn't fill the tropical void i felt deep in my heart as spring turned to summer.

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Patchouli & Honey - Full Review

Soap Name:  Patchouli & Honey

Still In Production:  yes, but limited Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: may 2013 

http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-patchouli-honey

Dry Scent: a distinctly sage-y smell, a wee bit spicy but mostly just a nice clean plant scent. not overpowering, or sweet, or sugary. 

Wet Scent:  the sage smell is the patchouli, i guess, and it sticks around through the wash. i personally can't smell the honey, perhaps it just takes some of the spicey edge off the patchouli? anyway, during the wash the soap continues to smell sage-y, and a bit more like a freshly picked plant. it's a bit reminiscent of the yuzu soap, with less citrus.

After Scent:  a very clean sagey smell sticks to your skin for several hours afterwards. it is noticable, but not overpowering. it just makes you smell clean and a bit like a hippie. 

After Thoughts:  holy hell, if you like the hippie scented soaps or just sagey soaps or were on the fence about this in any way? BUY THIS SOAP. it was an immediate hit here, and has been used so much over the last week and a half that it's almost entirely gone already. and i actually ordered another bar. 

i guess i should also lay to rest any fears of what i mean by 'hippie scent' - i don't mean it smells like anything dirty or like pot, it just smells...kind of natural? earthy, but a wee bit mystical? it is definately a clean smell, though, so don't worry about that.  probably both guys and gals would enjoy this one, it's just a really excellent scent all around. 

my only complaint? it's a limited run. noooooo whyyyy!!

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Cedar and Saffron - full review

Soap Name:  Cedar & Saffron

Still In Production:  yes, but limited Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: april 2013 

http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-cedar-and-saffron

Dry Scent: a very spicey smell, with a little bit of a mild pine undertone to it. really pleasant and attention grabbing. 

Wet Scent:  the spices mute down a bit in the wash, and begin to smell more like almost a vanilla and cinnamon than anything else. the cedar is still there, and seems more akin to the smell of the evergreen soap (aka "sweet pine") than to earth dragon ("cleaning supply pine"). sweet but spicy in a sort of cozy way.

After Scent:  mostly you just wind up with a pine scent on your skin. like, you know those cinnamon encrusted pinecones they sell in stores around xmas time? dial that back from 10 to 2 and you'll have the afterscent of cedar and saffron. really nice.

After Thoughts:  i really like this soap, but i can't help but feel it might have been released in an off-season for these sorts of smells. the cedar and cinnamon-y combination seems very wintery, and this is a limited spring release. i hope it comes back during hte holidays, because it would be a REALLY good addition to a holiday-themed soapy six-pack.

if you like the spicy smells, nab this soap. if you like the piney smells, nab this soap. if you've always thought the spicey smells needed something more earthy to balance them out or the pine smells needed something spicy to make them work for you? grab this soap. it's a really good one, don't miss the chance for it.

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Moonflower Dream - Full Review

Soap Name:  Moonflower Dream Still In Production:  No, early 2013 only Sample or Full Bar: full bar

Date Tried: march 2013 

  Dry Scent:  i'll be honest - overpowering is the first word that comes to mind. it's a really strong exotic floral (almost fruity) scent, with a powerful blast of mint in there as well. i was concerned that this would be one of those 'straight from the first wash to the trash' soaps like aeronaut. 

Wet Scent:  crisis narrowly averted! it's fine to shower with. everything is dumbed down and muted and it honestly begins to smell more like a spearamint leaf gummy candy than anything. still very feminine, but no more assault on the senses.

After Scent:  a very basic soapy clean scent, maybe a bit femmey. nothing to worry about.

After Thoughts:  regulars to these reviews know i'm not a fan of floral scents, and this is sadly no exception. i'll give it credit where it's due - it was a lot better than i was expecting, with mint being more of a smell than flowers. but still, just not really my thang. 

i believe this scent was also a brony con scent (princess celestia, maybe?) but i'm not sure.

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Toil & Trouble - Full Review

Soap Name:  Toil and Trouble Still In Production:  yes, limited release Sample or Full Bar: full bar Date Tried: march 2013 

http://contactcaffeine.bigcartel.com/product/soap-toil-and-trouble-patchouli-nag-champa-lavender

Dry Scent:  this soap is a very, very hippie-smelling soap. it's extremely similar to sapphire dragon in that nag champa is the main smell you've got here. but there's also some patchouli mixed in...just very much a headshop smell. it's not really overpowering, it has a kind of a gentleness to it. perhaps that's the lavender's doing.

Wet Scent:  this is a muted wet scent, you probably won't notice it if you're zombified with tiredness or otherwise just not alert to smells. it's mostly a muted nag champa. unlike sapphire dragon which seemed almost masculine in its straightforwardness, toil & trouble is dialed back a bit by the other scents mixed in. it's not as feminine as hemetite dragon, though.

After Scent:  a very mild nag champa and patchouli smell sticks to your skin for a few hours. perfect for those of us who like hippie smells but don't want to be telegraphing it to others wherever we go.

After Thoughts: this is just a really nice smell, and would fit right in with the incensey dragon line. it's unfortunate that it's a limited release, because it's definately teh sort you might buy several times in a row if you like it. for those of you who like the incenseyness of the draconic scents, nab this one immediately before it's out of stock. plus the art on the sticker is just cute. who doesn't love magical owly-gryphony-things?