Thread: Ontario soap maker

I picked up a couple of shave soaps the other day, one was a soft soap the other a hard puck. Both from a manufacturer here in Ontario called Soapstones. I really like the scent cedar and saffron. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried these products? I can't get a good lather from either, no matter what I do I get a very bubbly lather that falls apart and disappears before I'm half done my shave. I'm disappointed because I love the scent and it's nice to find a maker close to home. If others are having a good experience perhaps you could give me some pointers, I can lather any other soap or cream I've tried

I have soft water here if that helps with suggestions.

add some glycerin

I have not tried it myself, however some use glycerin to get a better lather. Just add a drop or two before you lather it. The method I use with soaps that do not work great for lathering is to kick them to the shower. Most poor shavings soaps have been great shower soaps. There are so many great and inexpensive shave soaps I just move on.

Try and use less water. After wetting the brush, shake most of the water out of of brush, and then go at the soap. When you think you have enough on the brush, keep going. Then slowly add little bits of water to what you have on the brush.

Nowhere on the Soaspstones site Soaps | Soapstones Soap & Skincare, Inc. does it say they make a shaving soap. If you are trying to lather their soap to shave with you won't get a good lather using a bath soap.

If you want try try an Ontario based shave soap company you could go for this First Canadian Shave Soap Co. - brand products . I have a couple of their tallow based shave soaps which work very well as they are designed as shave soaps.

Bob

Oops they do make a shave soap, my apologies. Can't be very a very good variety then if it is that hard to lather. I think some craft soap makers don't really understand that shaving soap is different from bath soaps. I say that after having tried a few craft made shaving soaps the reacted the same way you are experiencing. they give a thin runny lather like a bathe soap.

Bob

As stated above, this is the problem I have had, I have tried with the brush only damp and progressively adding water and no luck. I will use it in the shower as it smells good.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Try and use less water. After wetting the brush, shake most of the water out of of brush, and then go at the soap. When you think you have enough on the brush, keep going. Then slowly add little bits of water to what you have on the brush.

This is good advice, sadly I have tried this to no avail.

Originally Posted by maliboy67

As stated above, this is the problem I have had, I have tried with the brush only damp and progressively adding water and no luck. I will use it in the shower as it smells good.

Sadly, that sounds like a plan consigning it to the shower.

I have used an Ivory soap bar with better results than some of the craft shave soaps I have tried.

Bob

BobH thanks for the link, I'll have to give them a try.