For this experiment the camera was 6 feet from the subject in a room with white 8' ceiling. The shot at the extreme left is a Nikon SB-800 flash on camera directed at the subject. Second from left is 45 degree bounce flash off the ceiling. Third from left is 45 degree bounce flash but with the pull-out white bounce card on the flash unit extended to direct a little light forward at the subject. Third from right is direct flash softened with the use of a Photoflex XTC inflatable mini softbox attached to the flash unit and also with the built-in 14mm diffuser of the flash in place over the flash head. Second from right is the flash directed straight up with a Honl 8" reflector velcroed in place behind and around it to produce a "scooped" reflector. The extreme right is the same arrangement with the flash head tilted about 30 degrees down from vertical.

I conclude that the Honl reflector is quite effective at softening compared to direct flash or the Photoflex XTC and also provides more light in the eyes than bounce flash using the built-in bounce card.