Thread: Why Mitchell's Wool Fat is #1

I realize that is quite a provocative title.
I also realize that it is decidedly not #1 for everyone, and in reality, may not even make it into everyone's top tier. That's alright, I will not try to convince anyone. But, for me it is pure shaving nirvana, and I have good reasons why.

The scent is pure, understated British elegance! Every time I use it, I picture myself preparing for an afternoon at Ascot with Royalty. It is like no other, and transports me to a different time and place ... A more civilized era, if you will.

All the attributes of a good shave soap are contained in this puck for me .. Cushion, glide, pretection ... And my face would notice the absence of any of them.

Most of all, my face feels soft and smooth after the shave. Truly like no other soap or cream I've ever tried. I suppose, besides the tallow, I attribute that quality to the Lanolin. So much so that I wish more soaps would contain lanolin. I squeeze out my brush after the shave and luxuriate in the remaining soap as it soaks into my face .. while I perform my clean-up duties. The softness of my face, and the scent wafting up into my face for hours after, combine for a synergistic effect, that is, for me at least, incomparable! I always thought that, if I were marooned on a tropical isle, inhabited only by tribes of Polynesian girls and I only has one razor, and enough supply of Mitchell's Wool Fat to last the rest of my life, I would feel in no way cheated, and would, in all liklihood, not even send out a note in a bottle in hopes of rescue...

Feel free to post your thoughts, whether pro or con ..

No objection from me. While I'm not a one soap only per shave (uber lather uber alles) any time I add MWF to my ongoing conglomeration of soaps and creams I do have a distinct after facial feel. Anytime the uber feels a litle flat I make sure to add MWF and it perks right up.

Originally Posted by Druid

The scent is pure, understated British elegance! Every time I use it, I picture myself preparing for an afternoon at Ascot with Royalty. It is like no other, and transports me to a different time and place ... A more civilized era, if you will.

Wow an ascot. Really??? "British elegance" I guess I'm the peasant folk from the Americias. For me while its a fine working shaving soap. The smell reminds me of a Grandmothers linen closet stink. Old smelly outdated soaps, who in the day couldnt produce a good scent due to the fact of the times. J.M.H.O. though.

Yes, the scent does remind me of my old English grandma, a clean smell. I believe that is Ascot as in horse race course not tie.

Bob

It's definitely good, but I find its only shortfall is in the slickness/glide department. That doesn't mean it has no glide, or even insufficient for a good shave, just that so many other soaps do have it. The Messner and tremonia soap is so slick it makes skin stretching a difficult task even when using an alum block. Slickness is the biggest deal breaker for me in a soap, but I still use mwf specifically for the after shave face feel.

It's a good solid soap. I'd put it at the very bottom of tier two.

Which makes me ask, how many tiers are there? Obie?

What makes it #1? I can't think of a reason to make it number 1, it's a good middle of the road soap. Boring scent and a mediocre aftershave skin feeling, this soap has been around a long time so it has a following, and I don't hate it, just not top tier. I keep a puck just for lathering barbers hones and dry strops, YMMV and to each his own, I will never fault you on sing it, 10 times better than canned goo. Tc

You've got to try Scottish Fine Shaving Soap - it's like MWF could be, same price, beautiful jar, and lathers and performs like a star. MWF isn't even in any of my "tiers" anymore, it's in a box in the furnace room with the other outcasts, but the Scottish Fine Shaving Soap, really, really nice stuff....what MWF strives to be in my humble opinion

Originally Posted by Phrank

You've got to try Scottish Fine Shaving Soap - it's like MWF could be, same price, beautiful jar, and lathers and performs like a star. MWF isn't even in any of my "tiers" anymore, it's in a box in the furnace room with the other outcasts, but the Scottish Fine Shaving Soap, really, really nice stuff....what MWF strives to be in my humble opinion

I'll take whatever MWF you have buried away off of your hands!


I haven't tried a soap that gives me the same after shave soft skin feel that MWF does. Not to derail the OPs question, but if MWF isn't in your top tier, what other soaps do give you a better feeling afterwards?

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

I'll take whatever MWF you have buried away off of your hands!


I haven't tried a soap that gives me the same after shave soft skin feel that MWF does. Not to derail the OPs question, but if MWF isn't in your top tier, what other soaps do give you a better feeling afterwards?

Acqua di parma, martin de candre, antica barbiera colla, razorock mudderfocker, Messner & tremonia...