Thread: williams mug soap

I go through phases where I dislike the smell, and sometimes I quite enjoy it. This soap is a little tricky to get "right", but once you do it delivers a very good shave. Not T&H great, but awfully good, and spectacularly good for the price. There's a reason it's been around so long, after all.

I find the scent identical or nearly to Dr. Harris "Arlington" scent aftershave milk & soap. Mike B

I absolutely love harris arlington, when I started my last cake of it I used nothing else until it was gone. But Williams' scent is an ok-with-it or hate-it deal for me. I think arlington is more lemony and less citronella, so there's not enough citronella for me to notice.

I suppose you are right. MikeB

Water is the key with the williams. It is all I have used, but I don't have a problem with it drying out before I can finish.

I use the hottest tap water, and just fill the mug to the top of the soap, while my brush soaks in the hot water in the sink. I take my shower, while everything is soaking. When I get out I pour the water out of the mug and use the hot water in the brush and whip up way more than enough nice warm lather. I keep the mug soaking in the hot sink water with the brush in the mug. I'am using a boars bristle brush currently.

I've experimented with how I build the lather. You can build it in the mug or on your face. Building on your face works quite well. It seems this soap just needs plenty of water to work well. I can have my face looking like a meringue pie if I work at it for a minute.

I like the clean smell. I just started using the Nivea after shave cram a couple days ago as well. Good stuff.

I love Williams soap. For around a buck, I don't think it can be beat.

I found a nice "recipe" online somewhere for tweaking it a little, and that makes it even better (and still uber-cheap).

Grate up a cake of soap (say, with a cheese grater)
Melt it in a pan, bowl, double boiler, whatever with:
A little water
1 tsp Castor oil
1 tsp Olive oil
1 tsp Glycerin

Add a touch of whatever scent you want... rose oil, lavender, whatever

Pour the mixture into your mug or bowl and let it harden. Voila.

I get about 4-5 months of daily shaves out of a single cake of soap this way. If you have hard water (we have a softener), I reckon the soap won't last quite as long.

Best,
Bob

This may be a bit o/t, but has anyone used the Williams cream? I've had great experiences with the green stuff.

I find that a badger brush works a lot better than a boar brush, especially with the William's soap. Because water really is the key to using William's and the badger brushes hold more water, it's something you could benefit from. The brush really makes all the difference.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

This may be a bit o/t, but has anyone used the Williams cream? I've had great experiences with the green stuff.

Nope. Never have been able to get ahold of any.

I know it's available in Chile, but I haven't seen it in Canada. It might be available in the states