The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[Augustagj]

The SMN after shave cream (balm) is just awesome!

[Obie]

Gentlemen,

I had not used my Lea shave soap in its wooden bowl for quite a while. Today I used it. What a delightful soap. The fragrance is woodsy and clean. Lea lathers well with ample moisture, and quickly, and it has impressive glide and cushion. Lea also claims to be kind to sensitive skin. Sometimes we forget what good stuff occasionally slips in the back of the shave soap parade.

[HopChugger]

Gentlemen, I had not used my Lea shave soap in its wooden bowl for quite a while. Today I used it.

My bathroom looks like a soap store, yet Lea is a new one on me. Thanks for the heads up. Time to seek it out!

[Obie]

My bathroom looks like a soap store, yet Lea is a new one on me. Thanks for the heads up. Time to seek it out!

It's a good soap. I think I have it in the Second Tier. Also, it is relatively inexpensive.

[Pithor]

I don't tend to pay close attention to ingredient lists. If something works for me, it works.

One specific ingredient (or its absence) doesn't mean much to me; I have a few favourites in all camps. It's about the symbiosis of all ingredients.

Lähetetty minun PLK-L01 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[niftyshaving]

Regarding tallow...
Soaps are made by reacting an organic acid with a base (saponification).
The acid can be tallow or any of a massive list of oils and fats each with different results.
The differences in soap for shaving are subtle but important.

We want good skin care and feel, we want a lasting stable lather, we want
it to work with our water, we want our soap maker to get the chemistry correct.
Slightly alkaline can soften whiskers too much burns the skin.

Saponification Table and Characteristics of Oils in Soap

Some of us with crazy hard water might appreciate a coconut oil based bar soap like Kirk's. Some of us
need a great cleansing soap to sort out the grime of the day. All different...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap#Effects_of_fats

Some laundry bar soap can be very alkaline and harsh to the point that I need gloves.
Sadly olive oil based Aleppo soap from Syria may be in short supply (very harsh but interesting).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppo_soap

There are good but hard to find vegan shave soaps (no tallow).
There are good soaps without pork fats: kosher, hallal.

The adventurous can grate and mill together this and that making a blend. Perhaps...
10% Kirk's, 80% Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile, 5% Dove, 5% bar soap from Palmolive.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape, press, dry.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape, press, dry.
Grate, mix, spritz with enough water to shape and press. <--- I wonder if this is triple milled like.


What the Heck is Triple Milled Soap Anyway? And Why Should You Care? - Baudelaire

If we look hard at the label we can often discover the organic acid blend used in our favorite hard shaving soap.
Of interest one of my favorites depends in part on Lanolin that is not an organic acid but something different.

I know a soap maker and got schooled... Her shave soap is ideal for her husband and her young men.

Given the differences it pays to get sample or 'refill' pucks to try. The worst shaving soap I ever found was coaxed
into a marvelous lather with a pea size bit of Proraso so try that before tossing. Practice latherin... never toss.

Practicing has turned second rate into first rate once I found the secret.

[SemperFi]

Ordered some different software this past week while recovering from surgery (doing fine, back to using a straight, and getting a few new items to try was a nice way to pass time).

Tried out Le Pierre Lucien’s limited edition “Italian Barbershop,” and frankly it was disappointing. The lather wasn't particularly robust (loaded heavy to compensate for hard water) and once applied, it broke down rather quickly (it's a veg soap). Lubrication was lackluster and the scent was barely noticeable (in fairness here, I had sinus surgery years ago so I sometimes miss more subtle scents, which may be the case with this product). “Italian Barbershop” aftershave wasn't much better, after the alcohol scent gave way, I picked up the aftershave’s aroma briefly for about 1 min. before it faded, and the aftershave did not do much for a couple spots of chin razor burn (ended up using another product to calm those areas).

Overall, both “Italian Barbershop” products did not work for me and are not keepers.

Also tried Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” (great scent) and “Dark Limes” (a more bitter lime and earthy scent…jury is still out on the scent) pastes. Opinions on MT vary quite a bit, but for me, both pastes worked exceptionally well. For a veg product, I was surprised at how well it lathered—one of the best veg lathers I've had—and it was very water tolerant. Its lubrication was very good and its post shave properties were excellent. Night and day experience in comparison to the LPL above.

Overall, Meißner Tremonia’s “Wild Oranges” and “Dark Limes” worked well for me; “Wild Oranges” is definitely a keeper and will see if the scent of “Dark Limes” grows on me.

[HopChugger]

I had sinus surgery years ago so I sometimes miss more subtle scents

I'm in the same boat here. I gave away my Razorock soaps because I could barely smell any of them despite the decent performance. And while I can smell Stirling's shaving soaps fine, their bath bars have almost zero scent to me. Among a few other companies. I need a BIG scent or I'm missing out.

[SemperFi]

HopChugger, I totally get where you're coming from...lol! One of the benefits of that surgery is that I also don't pick up some nasty smells that others detect!

[Pithor]

Meißner Tremonia is a product family that, for me, has it all: relatively easy lathering; great lather; really good skin care and a wide array of interesting, well executed scents.

Dark Limes happens to be one of my favourites, but I pretty much at least like all of their scents. Which, me not really being a scents or cologne person, is no mean feat.

Best regards,

Pieter