Thread: Modern soaps with an old look and feel

Hi,


I have another post which is in search of an authentic traditional american brand of shaving soap. A soap that has adhereds to its original recipie or has been around since the days of billy the kid and Pat Garrett... This has now led me to wondering if people could post a list of soaps that have a packaging or design that gives the soap an ambiance of the past, but has really only recently come onto the market. What I am looking for is shaving soap packaging that looks as though it could have been designed in 1860... I think what I really mean is a Retro look and feel

There are things out there. Sometimes you just have to catch them right. Several years ago Caswell-Massey came out with a limited edition Aftershave which was (they say) an absolutely authentic rendition of an 1800s barbershop scent kind of a lavender sage scent from the U.S West. It came in an ornate cut glass bottle. They sold the thing for a crazy price (around $100). I picked it up when they were just about out and even at 60% off was still expensive. Of course MWF has a retro ceramic jar but it's English.

The English shaving soaps often come in turned wooden bowls that look very nice but they don't stand up too well to moisture, for example DR. HARRIS is a fairly old company that makes good soap that comes in wooden bowls.

And then there's Mitchell's wool fat(that Spendur already mentioned) that comes in a ceramic jar(haven't tried it so I can't vouch for it but many people like it).

Martin de Candre's soap(fantastic soap) is made using old style techniques that were used in France IIRC and it comes in a glass jar(I think they have other options too) which is retro-ish, they used to make the labels out of paper which I thought looked great but now they've switched to plastic labels that on the other hand can withstand moisture a lot better.

I personally don't understand why you'd let the packaging factor in to which soap you'd buy since it's the contents that matter but I think you'd be happy with any of the soaps mentioned.

My opinion is that a good portion of the soap manufacturers are trying to make their product lines with the ambiance of the past. Examples would be naming a fragrance after nobility, significant historical dates, or events.

For a treat you should look up antique shaving cream pots and aftershave bottles. I think Bongo, a member here at SRP, started a couple of threads featuring such products. You could buy a modern product and just put it in a vintage container.

Originally Posted by Baxxer

I personally don't understand why you'd let the packaging factor in to which soap you'd buy since it's the contents that matter but I think you'd be happy with any of the soaps mentioned.

Believe it or not it's more about the storage. I purchase three or four of an item and keep the others, not in use, in storage but on display. Most people tend to purchase food, clothes , cars etc based on the looks of the packaging and label.

Look at this gang's stuff...Olagalla bay rum co. I put up the Amazon link, because it was easiest. Make Bay Rum aftershave and cologne in cool old fashioned bottles. Amazon.com: Two (2) of Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum Shaving Soap - Each Puck 4.5 oz: Health & Personal Care

I personally don't understand why you'd let the packaging factor in to which soap you'd buy since it's the contents that matter but I think you'd be happy with any of the soaps mentioned.
I never understood the importance of packaging either. Always when you see a de razor or new soap review, the reviewer treats the packaging as some sort of gateway to a good experience. The first thing I do with the packaging, is throw it away! I've bought a couple of modern de's where the manufacturer spent way too much on a fancy wooden box that I promptly discarded.

If a vintage look or reenactment is your goal, get an antique mug or 2 and stuff some good pucks down in them. OR, you can grate a puck up and compress it into almost any vintage container.