I think most people start out just lathering in the mug. I did that for years and years and never thought about it. Then, last December I got a scuttle and discovered the advantages of bowl lathering, which basically gives you more control over the amount of soap used, the water content and the consistency of the lather. For example, if you add water to the brush and go to your face, you risk runny soap and water dripping off your face. If you add water to the brush and then mix it into the lather in the bowl, you can mix the lather to right consistency before going to your face. Plus, with a scuttle, you get warm lather, which I think helps soften the beard more.