Thread: I'm number one!

Originally Posted by churley

The white one remains with the appearance of milk, upon close examination there is a fine layer of oil (essential oil) resting on the top. But the overall appearance of the white remains that, of a glass of full fat Vit. D milk....not skim.

Joe I'm still puzzling over your white aftershave turning clear.

Has it been sitting in the sun ? or in the Dark ? or undergoing any radical temperature changes? No cooking right

Glad you're feeling a little better today!

Nope, no cooking . It's been sitting on a counter in the bathroom... no sun, just indirect light from a window. It probably has not exceeded a temp of 85F since it arrived. Who knows what happened in the USPS, but this is Arizona where the afternoon temp (in the shade) has ranged between 108 and 115 for the past month, so I'd guess it likely experienced as high as 140F sitting in a truck somewhere. (My mail gets delivered between 2 and 4pm... the mailman parks his truck a couple streets away and then rides a bicycle from house to house delivering the mail, returning to the truck as needed. So the truck sits in the hot sun for a couple hours before he moves on to the next neighborhood.)

It definitely was milky white when it arrived, although not as bright a white as the sample from the earlier round. I checked it again last night... it had been sitting for two days and had a couple very thin layers of colorful stuff on the bottom and top, the liquid in the middle was kinda a dull yellowish gray color. When I shook it vigorously it turned dirty dishwater white until the bubbles disappeared and then just settled down to a dull yellow dirty dishwater color.

Colleen, if you think heat is the culprit, maybe you could put a small sample of yours in a bottle and drop the bottle in a pan of 140F water and just let it sit in there until it's down to room temp... and then see what happens over the next week.

Regarding menthol... I gotta tell you I didn't detect the 'cooling' effect typical of menthol in either sample. So my dumb question of the day is does menthol have some other properties that are beneficial... like astringent, or something?

Originally Posted by azjoe

Glad you're feeling a little better today!

Nope, no cooking . It's been sitting on a counter in the bathroom... no sun, just indirect light from a window. It probably has not exceeded a temp of 85F since it arrived. Who knows what happened in the USPS, but this is Arizona where the afternoon temp (in the shade) has ranged between 108 and 115 for the past month, so I'd guess it likely experienced as high as 140F sitting in a truck somewhere. (My mail gets delivered between 2 and 4pm... the mailman parks his truck a couple streets away and then rides a bicycle from house to house delivering the mail, returning to the truck as needed. So the truck sits in the hot sun for a couple hours before he moves on to the next neighborhood.)

It definitely was milky white when it arrived, although not as bright a white as the sample from the earlier round. I checked it again last night... it had been sitting for two days and had a couple very thin layers of colorful stuff on the bottom and top, the liquid in the middle was kinda a dull yellowish gray color. When I shook it vigorously it turned dirty dishwater white until the bubbles disappeared and then just settled down to a dull yellow dirty dishwater color.

Colleen, if you think heat is the culprit, maybe you could put a small sample of yours in a bottle and drop the bottle in a pan of 140F water and just let it sit in there until it's down to room temp... and then see what happens over the next week.

Regarding menthol... I gotta tell you I didn't detect the 'cooling' effect typical of menthol in either sample. So my dumb question of the day is does menthol have some other properties that are beneficial... like astringent, or something?

Menthol has no beneficial skin care properties that I'm aware of......in layman's terms it's what is leftover from the distillation of peppermint oils. I'll have to look that up, that was an interesting question.

What kind of COLORS are we talking about in your white AS. There should be no colors other than yellowy colors of essential oils. There should be no pinks.......pink would be mold Nor am I comfortable with the dirty dishwater color. I want you to mail it back to me and I can do a culture test. I will pay for the shipping.

and Rich, I must say that it really is some odd comfort that you are ALWAYS here

Soapmistress

Originally Posted by churley

and Rich, I must say that it really is some odd comfort that you are ALWAYS here

Soapmistress

That's almost what my wife says. Instead she says "I can't believe you are still here"!!

Originally Posted by RichZ

That's almost what my wife says. Instead she says "I can't believe you are still here"!!

Rich I can only imagine how much fun you are to live with, never a dull moment I'm sure

It occurred to me that I should check in and let you know where we are, and where I am. I can only hope that all will continue to be patient with me, while I work on these aftershaves "after the fact" of my daily life, and I hate to sound girly.....but after the work day, and then dinner and Husband time....I'm just managing to squeeze in wee bits of time for my "extras" like the Aftershaves, Website, Colognes, EDC's, Lotions, Shampoo, Conditioner, Packaging and Design....LMAO

I have continued to slip out a few small bottles of AS from the 1st round to men who place orders, of course I also know that many men who order from me are new to wetshaving, they always say they like it.....but I understand from a test point of view, that perhaps they've not had the experience of using some of the finer AS so their opinion would be biased.

I am in agreement that the base of the white AS is acceptable, and I can continue to refine the ratio of ingredients. I can also continue to work on the scent blends, and just because I am sooooo OCD and Type A....I'd like to try a few more rounds of testing. Using the base that everyone likes, but continuing to refine, and let's try a few more scents. Maybe a little more upscale just for fun. BUT the problem is, I don't see it happening until the end of August.

I have 6 baskets to do this month, plus my regular.....oh and I will be having a sale next week for shaving soaps in an odd assortment of fragrance oils, but with the same quality base.

The basket for Mr. NY's recipient was received with "the greatest pleasure", and in the meantime I got to speak with Mr. Jim Ayers of Vintage Blades, whose brushes are being used in these baskets. WoW! what a nice man he is....I'll look forward to meeting him at the convention.

I have attached photographs of the finished basket, the small card is written in Calligraphy. Originally I had everything out.....the brush, everything! but not all would fit into the chest, nor would the lid close....LOL.

I ended up putting the wife's things in a smaller chest, put the brush back in the box, and the nickel stand is holding up the "Journee" jute bag. This way the lid would close, and the tassel was attached to the clasp, but tucked inside.....this way when the lid was opened, the tassel fanned out. Oh it was so very Handsome! I did not add any additional wrapping or tulle based upon everyone's advise....and it was "Perfect"....Thank You!!!!!

The other card, is attached just for fun.....also going to NY but not the same person. The card is an announcement of a surprise arriving in the mail (wedding basket) The card is woven with matching strips of the same paper used in the Wedding Invitations, also written inside in Calligraphy and is held together with a curly peice of grapevine. A little out of the norm, but hey it worked !!

Ok......back to business here! I wanted to know how you would feel about the SRP Aftershave being introduced at the Convention in Chicago ? This gives us time to refine the formula, decide upon a scent, bottle and label design. And while that seems like a long way off....it isn't.

Any thoughts, comments or opinions.....Rich; you can start first

Soapmistress

Hey why not. I won't be able to attend but I think it could work very nicely. This would be a get target group to start off with.

How do you plan on showing it? Samples? Real deal for sale?

I would make up at least two bottles as a finished product and present one to Lynn at some conspicuous time. Then have small samples for the guys to take with them nothing big just the small testers.

Just my 2 cents....

Originally Posted by RichZ

Hey why not. I won't be able to attend but I think it could work very nicely. This would be a get target group to start off with.

How do you plan on showing it? Samples? Real deal for sale?

I would make up at least two bottles as a finished product and present one to Lynn at some conspicuous time. Then have small samples for the guys to take with them nothing big just the small testers.

Just my 2 cents....

Mornin!! Rich

vera interesting! I hadn't quite thought of that angle, but perhaps this idea would work better as I would only have to figure out how to transport smaller amounts of liquid and bottles, and still it would be a nice gift for those who came to the convention.

Currently I'm trying to figure out if I can have my wares shipped to the hotel prior to my arrival. Don't suppose they'd let me on the airplane with all that AS do ya

Colleen

Originally Posted by churley

Mornin!! Rich

vera interesting! I hadn't quite thought of that angle, but perhaps this idea would work better as I would only have to figure out how to transport smaller amounts of liquid and bottles, and still it would be a nice gift for those who came to the convention.

Currently I'm trying to figure out if I can have my wares shipped to the hotel prior to my arrival. Don't suppose they'd let me on the airplane with all that AS do ya

Colleen

I think not . I am sure you can preship them to your hotel a few bucks but much less of a hassel.

Colleen,

If you are doing any more samples don't send it to the address at law dept as they fired me Friday. This really pisses me off. Now I have to work overtime finding a new job.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Colleen,

If you are doing any more samples don't send it to the address at law dept as they fired me Friday. This really pisses me off. Now I have to work overtime finding a new job.

NO SHIT !! are you kidding me.........????????????

Colleen

Originally Posted by churley

NO SHIT !! are you kidding me.........????????????

Colleen

No I wish I was. It sucks being 53 with two kids having to look for work again.