Thread: Crabtree Evelyn and OUCH!

Purchased a bowl of Crabtree and Evenlyn Moroccan Myrrh and tried it out with this mornings shave. All I can say is ouch!
After several failed attempts, I was able to produce what I thought was a decent lather. Wrong, it got bubbly and thinned out quickly, making a little sizzling noise. Seemed like it was sucking the moisture out of my face. Ended up with the worst razor rash ever, after the first pass on my cheeks. I washed off the remaining soap and finished my shave with a travel standby (Arco). Applied Nivea after shave balm, which usually has a soothing effect. No today, it had a slight burn.
Both checks were red and the rash spread to areas that I shaved using only the Arco.
An hour later, before heading out the door and after the redness had left my checks, I tried a splash of Pinaud Clubman. OMG it burned like fire. Glad no one saw my little "damn that burns" dance about the hotel room.
I know this is speculation but: Did I just screw up that bad with lathering this stuff? If so any tips? Or, have I found something, I'm allergic to, and any guesses what? I've used the cheapest can stuff for years and several different products (VDH, Arco, Proraso, CO Bigalow, BBB ...etc) since starting to wet shave. Nothing like this has ever happened.
I suspect, I didn't have the right mix of water/soap and it just dried the hell out of my skin.
Lastly, anyone else had a similar experience?

Originally Posted by stove

Purchased a bowl of Crabtree and Evenlyn Moroccan Myrrh and tried it out with this mornings shave. All I can say is ouch!
After several failed attempts, I was able to produce what I thought was a decent lather. Wrong, it got bubbly and thinned out quickly, making a little sizzling noise. Seemed like it was sucking the moisture out of my face. Ended up with the worst razor rash ever, after the first pass on my cheeks. I washed off the remaining soap and finished my shave with a travel standby (Arco). Applied Nivea after shave balm, which usually has a soothing effect. No today, it had a slight burn.
Both checks were red and the rash spread to areas that I shaved using only the Arco.
An hour later, before heading out the door and after the redness had left my checks, I tried a splash of Pinaud Clubman. OMG it burned like fire. Glad no one saw my little "damn that burns" dance about the hotel room.
I know this is speculation but: Did I just screw up that bad with lathering this stuff? If so any tips? Or, have I found something, I'm allergic to, and any guesses what? I've used the cheapest can stuff for years and several different products (VDH, Arco, Proraso, CO Bigalow, BBB ...etc) since starting to wet shave. Nothing like this has ever happened.
I suspect, I didn't have the right mix of water/soap and it just dried the hell out of my skin.
Lastly, anyone else had a similar experience?

you tried the soap. The same for the Moroccan Myrrh Shave Cream. It dries too quickly and if you splash any water there is no slide whatsoever, and it smells somewhat close to hot chili peppers. I might when I feel like I am using much higher quality items I might add it to my uberlather just to add a dimension to my woody scents. other than that the only thing good I got out of it was the tube key that came with the shaving cream. I look back and wish I didn't spend the $30 for it.

Do a web search and iirc you will find the current C&E are said not to lather well.

Bob

Dang, thats unfortunate. I actually like the scent. But I do not want to repeat this mornings shave. The Pinaud sensation was somewhere between CS gas on moist skin and a direct blast of pepper spray.
Luckily, there was a nice cool breeze this morning and the pain went away quickly.
Guess I spent $25 for a teak bowl and a strong smelling hand soap.

I too had considerable burning after trying Moroccan Myrrh. I tossed it immediately, it was supposed to be my Christmas soap but I found it to be too unpleasant.
On a side note, the only other product that I have ever used that caused burning was Mama Bears Frankincense & Myrrh, I now suspect it was the myrrh and not the Mama Bears soap.
It is the only Mama Bears I've tried and I blamed the burning on the soap. Now I want to try a different scent and may have to change my opinion of her soaps.

This type of skin reaction is the textbook for myrrh allergy. You may also notice you have allergic reaction to other tree material such as cinnamon.

C&E soap is on my list of soaps I will never buy again. The stuff was terrible.

Rolodave, have to agree. But, have to give them credit. Full refund on used shave soap. Where else can you return used Soap? Thats pretty awesome. I wish they sold just the bowl.

I've been using C&E Nomad. I really like the scent and I can get a good lather with it, (after asking lather building questions and practice). It is a thirsty soap, that's for sure. I had made a couple of changes to my routine and really should only make one at a time. I have now decided to take a step back and see which change didn't agree with my skin. My head shaves have gotten irritating since making the soap change along with trying to use my DE. SO.... I'm going back to using only the HB sport on my skull and applying a thin layer of Cremo before applying the lather for added slickness. This mornings head shave was much more comfortable. I may have been applying too much pressure with the DE. I went back to using Med Prep Blues in my Merkur DE for my face and I'm really rinsing well and applying a lot of witch hazel. Seems to be settling down. Will have to try and remove the goatee next to see if the corners of my mouth can take the blade again.

Sad but true it seems. I am a big fan of the older C&E soaps and have had great luck with Nomad, Sandalwood, and Sienna. Recently I picked up a tube of the new Nomad creme, not great. Far too difficult to lather and the end product is severely lacking. Pity...