Thread: Traditional US shaving soap?

I don't think you're going to find any. I was about to say Old Spice, but they like many companies were bought up by larger companies and their products have changed over time. Old Spice is now owned by Procter & Gamble, as are Gillette and the Art of Shaving

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I don't think you're going to find any. I was about to say Old Spice, but they like many companies were bought up by larger companies and their products have changed over time. Old Spice is now owned by Procter & Gamble, as are Gillette and the Art of Shaving

This almost makes me want to research old defunct brands and look at the mixture, packaging and gain some feedback to see if perhaps some of these old brands can be brought back to life.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I don't think you're going to find any. I was about to say Old Spice, but they like many companies were bought up by larger companies and their products have changed over time. Old Spice is now owned by Procter & Gamble, as are Gillette and the Art of Shaving

Yes, and Old Spice shave cream is now made in India.

Bob

Well I hope some silver lining appears during the night... To wake up in the morning and find a hidden treasure of a US soap; still in production from an old barber, 10th generation, based off of Texas that has retained the production values of their original fathers' creation. It's a nice dream :-)

Williams was made in the US in the 1850s or thereabout. I could not be lazy and hit up the interwebs....but I'm pretty lazy!

It's still around, but I'm not sure where it is made anymore. I also know it has been reformulated. You can still grab some vintage pucks. And you can buy new pucks almost anywhere in the US.

Not a great soap, but it is certainly serviceable. And it has the history.

Wm. Neumann & Co. | Wm. Neumann & Co. Fine Apothecary for Men
I think this is kind of what you were looking for.

I was actually talking about the regular Williams Mug Soap (kind you can buy at Walgreens or Target). But thank you for posting this - I have never read the "about" on this site.

I don't see much about early shave soaps on here other than Colgate, Old spice, and Palmolive on here. I would like to know what might have been available in the USA back then...seems like Williams is the earliest listed at 1840? Maybe my Grandmother would know she's 90 might have to pick her brain....

I suspect if you went way back and found an original soap from the 1800s you probably wouldn't be too impressed with it. Many of those old soaps produced a lot of suds but things we prize today like cushion and glide were another matter. Many folks just used bar soap or whatever they had on hand. Many of the ingredients in modern soaps weren't around in the real old days.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Wm. Neumann & Co. | Wm. Neumann & Co. Fine Apothecary for Men
I think this is kind of what you were looking for.

Clicked on the link. Pretty interesting product line-and they certainly don't skimp on the portions.