I was reading in this forum on the "Hones-a comparison table" under the Belgian yellow where it stated "In the recent past many barbers would use lather on the stone as a honing vehicle and referred to threir coticules as soap stones". So, I incorporated this to my both Coti and Chinese 12k routine. It is a very good lubricant and it keeps the stones clean. But what does the lather do to the honing? Juan