Thread: Williams Shaving Soap 40 years Later

I can get good cushiony lather from Williams that will last for over 30 minutes.
I'm not sure what I do differently than those who have problems...

Originally Posted by IamSt8ght

I am a Williams fan, and I have some great soaps and creams, and for me, Williams is just as good. I get a great lather from Williams, and I don't add anything but water and the use of my brush, and I don't put any water on the puck. I face lather, and keep adding water to the brush as I build an awesome lather on my face that does not dry and gives me a good shave with a straight. Williams is good stuff.

Now, we are blessed in that our water comes straight from the snow melt of the Sierras, and as far as I can tell, it is not hard, but good and pure. Pixelfixed, you should have the same water, unless they do something different in Roseville.

What snow?? in all fairness, the old williams was great stuff,very high tallow content.
Think I may pick up a puck of the new just for grins.

Y'know I was expecting to be disappointed. Instead I was pleasantly surprised. So this morning I googled the ingredients. The first listed is potassium stearate, an emulsifier among other things. Next, in order of volume, sodium tallowate, the famous 'animal fat' ingredient that many of the celebrated British soaps stopped using years ago. To the detriment of the product as far as many are concerned. Still a big part of the current Williams.

Next comes sodium chocoate, a derivative of coconut oil widely used in making soap. Next is water and would you believe it ......... glycerine. I won't bore you with the rest because I got tired of googling/linking and I don't think it matters that much.

I will say that in the spirit of my avatar, I'm just telling it like it is for me. The fact that some folks enjoy Williams while others can't get a decent lather with it just shows the YMMV nature of our sport.

Mo Glycerine, Mo Betta! I love to Uber other soaps (particularly Proraso!) with the stuff! It lives in my mug!

Williams will always be in my rotation. Don't get me wrong, I love my soaps that provide great lather along with a variety of heavenly scents, but Williams is brings me back to basics. I have no problem getting a great lather with it and I also like its scent. With the cost being around $1.30 a puck it's the best bang for my buck. IMO

Anyone else think Williams smells like a citronella candle? On a side note it makes an amazing shampoo.

Originally Posted by Vegita182

Anyone else think Williams smells like a citronella candle? On a side note it makes an amazing shampoo.

I dunno about that, but I also like the smell of citronella...

OT: PICS OF THE BABY, MAN!!! WHERE ARE THEY???

Originally Posted by crouton976

I dunno about that, but I also like the smell of citronella...

OT: PICS OF THE BABY, MAN!!! WHERE ARE THEY???

Just posted under show and tell haha

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

...You're earlier assessment was dead on.

You'll have to excuse Jimmy. He hasn't been himself lately.

Maybe. Maybe not.

A few days ago at Lowe's Grocery Store - $1.49/puck in the familiar, pathetically old fashioned white and blue cardboard box.

Stuck the puck in a 6 oz. Krispy Kreme coffee mug and commenced to scour with a Semogue boar; nothing. Very slow to react. I recalled the sorry transparent glop I used to slather on my face preceding butchery by Bic. I added a little more water and kept on. Something like whipped cream began rising to the rim and, a little more water later, I had some very nice, rich lather. I am astounded. I shaved two passes with a Solingen straight and did touch ups with a re-lather and a Rolls Razor. Results 3x were excellent.

OK, so the stuff wants to stick to the razor a bit; that's tallow is all. It's the look of quality at about $0.008 per shave.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

OK, so the stuff wants to stick to the razor a bit; that's tallow is all.

I noticed that too. Instead of my usual rinsing under the tap between passes, I'm wiping on a folded piece of tissue. Kind of cool because you can really see those pesky whiskers in the lather on the tissue.