Thread: Differences in Alum

I received for Christmas two blocks of alum. One shavex made in India and one bloc osma made in France. The one made in France looks like frozen glacier water from a stream on a hillside while the one from India looks like someone took armpit sweat and fossilized it. Honestly putting the side by side makes me a tad worried about using it. My question is should I be worried or is all potassium alum the same???

Yes both are potassium alum not other types. They are both single ingredient potassium alum blocks so why the difference in appearance?





Bloc osma France right. Shavex India India India left

Its hard to tell by your picture, but I use Shavex, love it, but mine have always been a lot clearer than the one in your photo.

I've been using Osma for over a year and love it. One small block should last a year. My first one about gone.

RazoRock makes a nice one.

Soldier their all about the same as to ingredients, but some don't refine them as much,, like the ones I get from Turkey real cheap look like crap and are very rough in the beginning. now get an Osma block and its smooth and clear, they just spend more on the quality of finish and purity ,,, Tc

Ok, I feel better how about using it. I am using the osma for the face and the shavex as a deodorant. I do however like the look of the osma. Looks cleaner.

Alum is a salt, the potassium aluminium sulfate, that dissolves in water (14 grams / 100mL, thanks Wikipedia). When the water evaporates, the alum critalizes. The temperature, the pressure, the rate of water evaporation will determine the aspect of the cristals and the transparency or not. I have an old block, wich is translucent as a quartz.

Personnaly, I use it for cuts and nicks, not for the entire face. I prefer to use a puck of common ice in a glass ramequin (those of "crème brûlée") direct from the fridge.

I have used three brands of Alum so far. 1st AOS Alum block, a seemingly high quality hunk of crystal that melted well and didn't get gritty even if you didn't dry it or take care of it properly but came with the crazy expensive AOS price tag. I'm a sucker only once. 2nd Shavex Alum, a large bar like crystal that doesn't behave well after storage. It is large and works well enough but gets an annoyingly pockmarked and sandy surface that tends to scratch up your skin. not the best post shave experience IMO. Do dry this one after using or it will become rather horrible to use later. 3rd Osma Block about as good as the AOS in terms of quality without the sticker shock. Nice crystal that doesn't get rough even if you just throw it wet back in a container. This is the sweet spot on price and performance in my book and you need look no further. But that's just my experience.

Hello,

The Osma block takes a beautiful appearance with time. Smooth and translucid (until I break it into the sink). I use it for small cut and as deodorant. Maybe the Shavex will have a better look with time.
It's important to keep it in its cardboard box, which absorbs residual moisture.

BR

Here are the three I use. You can come to your own conclusions on which ones you prefer.

YMMV

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