Thread: Williams Soap - (My) Last Word

Frankly its a mystery to me. When WIlliams annouced discontinuation of the shaving soap I soon saw a one dozen buck-pucks deal on Amazon (free Prime freight). WTH... I have a mug, a nice backboned new boar knot, a little bottle of glycerine and time on my hands.

Well, I say unto you, a miracle happened. No crazy soaking (just wetted a new puck in the mug); no crazy brush treatments (held it under water for 30-40 seconds until it was dribbly) and no fancy footwork making lather in the cup in 30-40 seconds (other than needing to add a good bit more water than for most soaps/creams). The stuff is a pleasure. Not sure if my new brush is better suited, if my skills have improved so much, my well water changed or the last-gasp production included some extra measure of pixie dust.

The lather held up plenty well enough as long as I wasn't daydreaming.

I've never been a Williams hater but, even so, I favored a long puck presoak and some glycerine. Truth be told and given my d'ruthers I always preferred something else. This time it just worked. I hope the next 11 pucks age well.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Solidly in the Pro-Williams camp here. New or vintage. Never understood the hate, stuff has always performed fine for me as well.

Now that is an classy photo of The Hedgehog!

If I did not already have a couple hundred years' worth of shaving soaps, I would stockpile more Williams soap. I have a puck that I started on about 15 years ago that still works fine so I believe that it ages just fine.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Now that is an classy photo of The Hedgehog!

If I did not already have a couple hundred years' worth of shaving soaps, I would stockpile more Williams soap. I have a puck that I started on about 15 years ago that still works fine so I believe that it ages just fine.

But that I just now declared my "Last Word" on Williams soap I would have said, "This is encouraging, thanks."

Vintage Williams was great, "CombeCastrated" Williams was bad. Last time I used it I worked my butt off and whipped up an impressive lather but after the shave I was left with an "angry" face. My biggest disappointment since switching to traditional shaving. I would have loved using an iconic American product dating back to 1840, and have never tried harder to like something. But Combe was a horrible steward and the truth is that Williams was killed 10-15 years ago.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Vintage Williams was great, "CombeCastrated" Williams was bad. Last time I used it I worked my butt off and whipped up an impressive lather but after the shave I was left with an "angry" face. My biggest disappointment since switching to traditional shaving. I would have loved using an iconic American product dating back to 1840, and have never tried harder to like something. But Combe was a horrible steward and the truth is that Williams was killed 10-15 years ago.

You summed up my opinion . I think the 1840 Williams is Mitchells Wool Fat today.