I use the original tub of Bulgarian Rose soap (from Straight Razor Designs). Soak my brush in hot water while I shower, after shower, with face still wet, put a little hot water on top of soap in tub, shake most water out of brush, vigorously brush top of soap with little pressure, add about a teaspoon of hot water to soap on brush & put brush to face and beard to build hot lather.
I do need a soap dish to use some other soap pucks, but not a separate one to build lather. Some shavers do & then there is the scuttle.
Just a thought...
A bar of Lava Soap scrubbed over the beard area? Would remove a couple of layers of skin to expose more of the whisker